Station Hope (Book 1): Humanities Last Stand (2 page)

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  I sprang out of bed and attempted to comprehend the sound blaring in my ears. So loud it was disorientating, my mind cleared enough so I could recognize it as the attack alarm. I jumped into my shoes, grabbing my rifle, which was never more than an arm’s length away, and ran out the cell door. James was just in front of me as we entered the common area of the cell block. My father and uncle were already there, rifles in hand. James and I fell in line behind as all of us ran out of the cell block and headed to the front entrance of the jail. As we ran outside I was surprised to see it was dark out. I felt like I had just put my head on my pillow, that was hours ago. Odd that at that moment I was grateful for a good sleep. I followed my father, Uncle and James up the stairs that led to the top of the concrete wall. If need be a person could walk around the entire compound from up here. We took up our assigned positions and peered out into the darkness. The spot lights could only penetrate into the darkness about 200 yards. What lay beyond their reach is what filled us with fear. Other members of the wall security team (WST) took up positions on either side of us. A few minutes passed and the alarm went silent. Now just the sound of trees rustling in the wind filled the cool, crisp night air. The early spring breeze on my face gave me a chill down to my bones, or maybe it was not knowing what was out there. Either way the hair on the back of my neck was standing on edge, never a good sign. Out of the corner of my eye I could see my father looking at me. I turned to look at him as he gave me a reassuring smile. Suddenly, a single creature cleared the tree line running towards the wall directly in front of me. The creatures were fast and could climb the wall although it was difficult for them. They were stronger than an average man and used their long fingernails to claw up the concert wall. I raised my rife, took careful aim, and fired. The creatures body jerked, blood spattered out of its chest but it was still running. One bullet was rarely enough to stop them unless you were lucky enough to hit them in the head and take out enough brain matter. The creature barley slowed down as the entire wall erupted in gun fire. The sound was defining and the mussel flashes made the night look like someone turned on a strobe light. I watched in slow motion as a bullet hit the left shin of the creature in front of me, the lower part of the leg tore away leaving a bloody stump. The creature fell to the ground unable to run, it continued to desperately claw at the ground dragging itself closer to the wall. Other creatures were emerging from the tree line all running for the wall. Not as large a group as in the past but still enough to make the adrenalin surge. I took careful aim and finished the one legged creature off with a shot that exploded its head. I quickly searched for another target as my father, James and Uncle Phil fired repeatedly. I spotted a creature just emerging from the trees, a young male, I thought, that's odd to see such a young one in an attack party. I raised my rifle, put that little evil bastard in my sights and pulled the trigger. It looked like the little creature run straight into a brick wall as the bullet entered its chest cavity. It fell back and was unable to get up again. The gun shots began to fade until the wall fell silent. Shouts of “all clear” began to make their way around the wall. I looked to my left and saw James staring back at me. I saw both fear and the effects of adrenalin in his eyes. I thought to myself, James could be a loose cannon, he acted on impulse too often.

   “Are you alright?” I asked as I reached out and grabbed his arm.

   “Ya, I'm fine just pumped up now”.

   “OK good, stay here and cover us while we go finish them off.”

   “Be careful out there big bro”.

   I stood up and let go of his arm, “always am squirt.”

  I followed my father down the stairs and we made our way to the main gate. James and Uncle Phil remained on the wall. A group of five heavily armed men assembled and prepared to go outside. It was necessary to go out right away and make sure the creatures were dead. We had learned from costly experience that some creatures were able to rejuvenate themselves. Others played dead only to attack later when we were less prepared.

   “Stay close Billy Boy,” Father yelled over. “Stay sharp”.

   The big green steel doors of the main gate creaked open exposing a vast field in front of us. We all headed out and to the left, moving fast. The lights from the wall cast shadows onto the tree line. It was eerie and made my mind think there were creatures moving everywhere. As we moved around the wall, we checked each body to make sure it was dead. A few hundred yards out and I saw the small one I had shot laying just ahead of me. Its evil eyes penetrated me sending a shiver down my spine.

   “This one is still moving!” I yelled towards my father.

   “Keep it covered Billy boy!”.

  I looked down at the creature, it was the youngest I had ever seen. There was something different about it and not just its age. I looked closer and then it hit me, this one was wearing clothes. Nice clothes, better than anything we had in the compound. I also noticed he didn't have that rancid odor like the others. All the other creatures I had encountered up to now were in rags and stunk to high heaven. I looked around at some of the other creatures lying about. Most were in rags, but a few were also in nice clothes. I noticed their physical features seem more human, less zombieish than the others. The rest of the WDT members gathered around the little bastard, most of its chest was gone, but It was still clawing towards us, growling and hissing.

   “Father, do you notice something different about this one and a few of the others,” I asked.

   “No not really,” he glanced around, “just that it's a young one.”

   “Look how it's dressed, nicer clothes than we have. Well, they were nicer before I blew a hole the size of pumpkin into his chest. And look at some of the others, they are dressed well too.”

   “Your right Billy Boy, what the hell is this all about?” He stroked the end of his beard, trying to figure out what was going on. “In all my years I have never seen one of these God Damn things dressed like this.”

   The group stood silent, wondering why such an evil animal like the creature would bother to dress itself. After several confused glances within the group, someone spoke up and said, “maybe they just stumbled across the clothes and were imitating us.”

   “That's possible,” I said but didn't believe it, “but why don't they stink like the others or look as savage?”

   No one had a good answer, nothing like this had happened at the compound before.

   “Do you think Doc Hendricks would want this one?” someone asked.

   “It's odd for such a young one to be with an attack party” father said. “It's even odder that it's dressed like this and doesn't stink. I'm sure Doc wants a look at him”.

I heard myself say, “Ill get the net and straps.”

   “Alright Billy Boy, hurry up and get back here”.

   The night seemed surreal as I ran back to the main gate. One of Uncle Phil's deputies was waiting with the net and straps.

   “Be careful out there kid”.

   I garbed them, turned and headed back with a smart ass reply, “always am!”.

   Each man of the WDT had done this several times before. Each man knew even a scratch from the creature could turn them. With great care the creature was restrained, its mouth gagged. It was taken to a holding cell in Doc's makeshift laboratory. The restrains were removed and all the men quickly exited the cell. The creature dragged itself to the bars, growling and hissing as it clawed across the floor. I stood back looking down at it. Suddenly it stopped and looked up at me, its eyes bloodshot, full of evil. I looked into them, it stopped growling and hissing, just for a split second I thought I saw fear. The evil soon returned along with the growling, I turned and walked away shaken by the eye contact. I have seen other creatures up close before, but this was different, very different.

   I made my way to the main cafeteria where most of the members of the WDT gathered. Hot coffee was enjoyed as stories about what just took place were told. Who had the best shot, who shot the most creatures were popular topics discussed at great length. But why the creatures were dressed up dominated the conversations. This is a time for the group to unwind, to enjoy the comrad`ery and to bond. There was no class system within the WDT.

   Dawn was only a few hours away, no one in the compound was sleeping anymore. I made my way down the main corridor to cell block F. Ivy lived there along with her family, I was very anxious to see her. We had grown up together and were seldom seen apart. I entered the common area of the cell block, she was sitting at a metal table reading a book we found on the last scavenging trip. Her long jet black hair hung down around her face. One hand was keeping the book open while the other rested near the trigger guard of her trusty rifle. She seemed to be reading all the time and was never without her rifle. The book had her full attention which enabled me to walk up to the edge of the table undetected. I waited there silently until she felt my presence. As she raised her head to look up, I could see those piercing blue eyes though a few hair strands. I am in love with her and she with me, everyone in the compound knows it too.

   “Reading so early in the morning?”

   “I have a few minutes before I have to help Doc Hendricks.”

   “Whats Dr. Frankenstein working on now?”

   Ivy slammed her book shut and began to stand up. “Don't call him that,” her voice had a touch of anger in it, “he's doing some important work that will help everyone, especially you.”

   “OK, OK, don't bite my head off, I'm sorry.” I stepped closer and put my hands on her shoulders, I looked into those eyes. “You know I was just joking; I really am interested in what you're working on.”

   She looked back at me and knew she was not really mad. That familiar, beautiful smile told me all was forgiven.

   “He is attempting to produce a chemical that would be an irritant to the creatures, maybe even kill them if they were exposed to a large quantity.”

   “Really, that would be great. How would it be delivered?” She turned away causing her hair to brush up against my face, she smelled so good. I followed Ivy like a puppy as she made her way back to her cell.

   “We are just in the beginning stages of development, but I think it could be delivered in a spray or even in a dart. The hard part is going to make it safe for humans to be around it.”

  I knew she was the smart one and happy that she never made me feel stupid. She was Doc Hendricks apprentice and was well on her way to becoming a great doctor. As we reached her cell, I realized she didn't know yet about the newly captured creature.                                                                                                      With excitement I said,

   “you know we captured one this morning, a young one, dressed.”

   Ivy turned and looked at me, her expression was a mix of excitement and annoyance, “why didn't you tell me that right away?”

   “I just thought of it now.”

   “What do you mean, dressed?”

   “It was dressed like you and me, but even better.”

   Ivy threw her book on her bed, slung her rifle over her shoulder and headed for the laboratory, mulling over what I had just said.

   “Does Doc Hendricks know?” she asked. “I’m sure he will want to start work right away.”

   “I don't know, but I'll go find him.”

   “OK good, I'll see you later for lunch.”

   With that, she was out the door and off to the laboratory.

   Before finding Doc Hendricks I headed down to the old sally port, I hoped to find Spencer. Along with James and Ivy Spencer was one of my closest friends. He just turned 18 and is the largest man in the compound. Just over 6'4” and 260 lbs, mostly muscle, he is an imposing figure. He has rugged good looks and thick blond hair, overall a fine specimen. He was a genius when it came to anything mechanical, he could fix any engine. Outside that realm he was not know for his smarts. Always well meaning but doesn't possess good old common sense. Spencer and I became instant friends several years ago when Spencer wondered in from the wilderness. He never speaks of his time alone in the wilderness, I never ask. Both of us have been on several scavenging excursions together. I have witnessed Spencer utilize his size and strength on several occasions. I entered the sally port looking under and around several large tucks, no Spencer. I knew to check the back office, that's where Spencer liked to spend much of his down time. He had an old television and DVD player back there that still worked. He would get lost in several old movies we had found during our trips to the city. Spencer was leaning back in his chair, his dirty size 13 boots resting on an old wooden desk in front of him. He didn't hear me enter, Raiders of the Lost Ark was blaring. I crept up behind him, grabbed his shoulders and yelled:

   “Hay there old buddy!”

   Spencer jerked and swung is feet to the floor knocking over his cup of coffee in the process.

   “What the hell you doing there shit for brains?” Spencer was now towering over me looking down with a perturbed expression. “I ought to kick your ass for that, I just got that coffee from the kitchen.”

   “Sorry big guy, I couldn't resist. I see your up early along with the rest of the compound.”