Children of the After: The Complete Series: A Young Adult Postapocalyptic Action and Adventure series (20 page)

As the truck trundled loudly down the road, his thoughts drifted from monkeys flying space ships to the most important question of all. Who would they meet in the hours ahead? Though he tried not to think about his parents directly, not wanting to get his own hopes up, Will wondered if he would know anyone in St Louis. A classmate. A cousin. Maybe even Grandma and Grandpa? After all, they had left several newspapers on the porch and Grandma didn’t like clutter. Maybe they had left before the invasion and were now safe with the resistance. Will hoped he would see a friendly face. A familiar face. Try as hard as he could against it, however, he couldn’t help but imagine seeing Mom and Dad and running into their open arms to be caught up and squeezed silly. But he couldn’t get excited. Not for that.

Knowing he would just have to wait and see, Will rubbed his eyes and leaned his head against Sam’s knee. Shooting a smile across the bed of the truck to Tammy, he watched her smile in return before closing his eyes. He would have to try and let the time pass without making himself cry, thinking about stuff that wasn’t gonna happen. He couldn’t keep acting like a baby.

* * * * *

Tammy sat in the bed of the truck, her bottom going numb from the vibrations that shook the pickup, as it bounced and jostled her as it wound around obstacles in the road. The day’s chain of events had led them a long ways from where they had begun in the morning. Though it appeared that things were looking up, she couldn’t help but be frightened. Large groups meant more attention, and more attention in this world was bad. Groups of one drew groups of the other and Tammy had already lost enough to know how those encounters ended.

Still, though the thought of running away had crossed her mind on several occasions, she felt an odd attachment to the three siblings she had saved. They were her friends and she didn’t want to leave them behind. Even so, joining a group of hundreds was risky and Jack, Sam, and Will were naïve to the world now. They had been locked up in safety for months and had no idea what they were facing out here. They didn’t know the risks and the rules to staying alive, even if they had made it a week on their own. Tammy knew, though. She knew the dangers and had survived them on her own for months. She had learned a lot about different species of the invaders. If only she could explain it to them.

Pondering her predicament as the afternoon faded into evening, she realized as darkness fell that her chance to flee into the safety of loneliness was gone. Slowing to idle, the truck she rode in honked several times as she leaned back to look ahead past the cab.

There, in the road ahead, was a large cart of some sort piled high with debris and wrapped all around in several layers of barbed wire. To either side of the road, stretching out and away from them was a wall of piled cars, and other various junk all likewise decorated with barbed wire. As the cart rolled aside to clear the road the driver, Tom, sped their truck through the gap in the makeshift defenses, pulling off of the side of the road just a moment later and jerking the vehicle to a stop. As the engine wound down and was turned off, people came from all directions out to greet them.

Ahead, in the center of the camp, were two long buildings made entirely of metal. They were huge hulking things that Tammy recognized as hangars where airplanes would be stored. Shaped like half cylinders, the parallel buildings rose in large arcs from the concrete ground, only to peak and plummet back to the earth once more. Lights shone within the doors of the buildings where they had been left open. Lights. Electricity. But there was no comfort in seeing the hint at modern amenities. No. Instead, Tammy watched the crowd begin to gather around the pickup as her heart started to hammer in her chest. Oh how she didn’t want this.

There were people. Lots of people. Even in the dark he could see them coming. Jack almost couldn’t believe it. For more than half a year the only voices and faces he knew were those of Samantha and Will, and over the last days he had added four new faces to that list. Now, however, there were so many more. Jack couldn’t help but think that this was it. This was the end of running. This was civilization, the proof and hope they had been seeking.

It wasn’t until the mob grew nearer that he realized that things weren’t quite what they seemed. Sure, they were people, but they were different. All of them were dirty and gaunt, and though they smiled at the sight of newcomers, their eyes showed no real emotion. Most were teenagers though some were children, and a few adults dotted the converging crowd. These were people, but they were broken. The world had changed them, stripped them of hopes and dreams and left them bereft. They were the empty carcasses of people carried forward by the slavery of cause and duty alone. It took only seconds to discern the driving force behind them as a single man stepped out from the crowd with a politician’s smile, raising his hands for silence.

Jack took that moment of silence to quickly look back to his siblings, seated behind him in the bed of the pickup. Looking to both Sam and Will, and then to Tammy as well, he found there the signs of emotional turmoil that threatened him from within, clearly painted on their faces as well. Though Will’s eyes shone with hope, the serious expression on his little face showed his uncertainty and fear of disappointment. Jack watched as Sam instinctively wrapped her arm about their little brother’s shoulders, a look of determination on her face like he had never seen before. She didn’t like something about this place. Tammy, on the other hand, looked outright terrified. Her eyes shot this way and that and it was obvious that she trembled like a beaten animal in a cage. Looking within, Jack found much the same inside himself. Maybe it was anxieties, or nervousness about a crowd after months of isolation, but he didn’t like it.

“Welcome to the resistance,” the man with raised hands greeted as he approached the truck.

Jack watched him lay his hands on the side of the truck’s bed and watched as the older man inspected each of them one at a time, finally meeting Jack’s eyes. He was an average guy, more or less. Perhaps in his early forties, he showed signs of a hard life with toned muscles and tanned skin. About his eyes and mouth were wrinkles that made him appear older than his movements hinted. It was obvious he was slightly better fed than the majority of the crowd. His shortly cropped blond hair pointed to his military roots, but it was his eyes that set him apart. Unlike the rest of those broken teens and children, his eyes were alert, predatory, and cunning. Instinctively Jack didn’t trust him.

“My name is Grant, and this is our home,” the man said, stepping aside to gesture towards the buildings behind him. “You seem uncomfortable, is this the first time you have seen people in a while?”

Jack thought about the man and his words, his instincts warning him to be cautious. Something about him seemed off, sinister even. Grant’s expression, eyes, and gesture all seemed genuine, but even so, Jack couldn’t help but feel something was wrong. He would answer the man. Be polite, even. But he was going to be careful.

“Yeah, sorry,” Jack answered. “I’m Jack and these are my sisters, Samantha and Tammy, and my little brother, Will.”

“And where do you hail from, Jack? That you haven’t seen people in a long time?”

“We’re from Chicago. Our dad locked us in a survival shelter before the invasion and we’ve been there ever since.”

“That is quite the story,” Grant mused after a moment’s reflection.

Again Jack watched as Grant looked each of them over. Though he didn’t know what the man was looking for, his stare was uncomfortable. Jack could only imagine how creeped out the girls must feel by it.

“Tom, take Jack and his family to Dr. Burch. Let’s have that ankle looked at, shall we?” Grant asked, looking to Jack once again.

He had almost forgotten about his injury. It felt better than it had in days and he had grown so accustomed to the makeshift splint that he barely noticed it. Shaking off the thoughts, he turned his attention back to the man awaiting his answer.

“Yeah, sure,” Jack replied. “Thank you,” he added, so as to not appear ungrateful.

“After that we’ll find you all a place to settle in before we can talk about what your coming here means,” Grant concluded.

Without another word the man turned, removing his hands from the truck and began to stride away. The crowd parted for him, still watching on in silence as Tom rounded the truck to guide them wherever it was they were going.

* * * * *

Sam watched as Creepy McCreeperton strode away from them without a backward glance. With a tingle climbing her spine she shivered at the remembered look he had given her, as if he could see through her. Yuck.

Giving Will a push to help him to his feet, she reached up and took Jack’s offered hand before rising. Tammy stood without assistance, and together they climbed out of the truck along with Cole, to join Tom. She didn’t know why Jack had lied about Tammy being their sister, but she wasn’t about to say otherwise either.

Looking around as they slowly began to make their way through the crowd, she found herself ushering Will along ahead of her to keep him between herself and Jack. She couldn’t think of any reason he needed protection just now, but the feeling of unease refused to subside. Whether it was the leering faces or hushed whispers of those crowded about them, or it was the creepy way Grant had looked them over as if appraising a steak, she couldn’t be sure. Something here was not right. Why did she feel like it was more a prison than a salvation?

They had expected a joyous reunion of sorts. Not fanfare as if they were heroes or anything, but something more than this. Instead they got a crowd of zombie-like faces watching them suspiciously. Something had happened to these people, and Sam wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what.

Crossing what she knew now would have once been a landing strip, they entered the nearest metal hangar through a door in the end of the building that she assumed was the front. Finally free from the crowd, she felt as if it were easier to breathe, and Cole spoke up from behind them.

“They’ll settle down once they realize you aren’t a threat.”

No one answered. Sam hoped he was right. If it was going to be like this every day, she doubted that they would want to stay, but couldn’t help but wonder if they would be allowed to leave.

Though she had expected one giant open chamber when they entered, what they found was quite different. Entering what could only be called a hallway, they walked along a narrow corridor lined above by dim hanging light fixtures. To either side of the hall doorways stood open at regular intervals, open portals where the actual doors had been removed. Inside the rooms were cubicles, showing proof that the building had been renovated at one time or another to accommodate offices and other professional spaces. Oddly, however, inside some of the rooms were beds and other evidence of habitation. It seemed that the rooms had been repurposed once again into small apartments for those living under the rules of the resistance.

From time to time they saw movement ahead, watching as someone darted from one room to another, and occasionally they could even hear voices from parts of the building unseen, but for the most part it was a quick, straight, and boring trip. Reaching the end of the hall, they entered a large room with military style cots covered in white sheets and various stainless steel trays loaded with medical devices and small vials. While it appeared vacant, it wasn’t until a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, stepped out from behind a small curtain in the corner with a wide smile that Sam felt somewhat at ease.

Looking upon the tall blonde she imagined the woman had been a fashion model or cheerleader, but seeing her lab style coat it became apparent that they were meeting Dr. Burch.

“These here ’ems some newcomers. Grant says ta look at Jack’s ankle and sees to any injuries they mighta got,” Tom announced as they approached the smiling blonde.

“OK, Tom. Why don’t you wait outside with Cole there, and I’ll make sure they’re taken care of,” said the doctor.

“Yes’m, I’ll do that, but be quick bout it, Grant wants to see them again before lights out,” Tom replied, trying to stand his ground before the young woman it was obvious he was enamored with.

“I’ll be certain to do that,” Dr Burch said with a sly grin.

Sam watched the retreating forms of both Tom and Cole, before returning her gaze to the doctor. She was young for a doctor, and not nearly as thin and gangly as the other residents they had seen thus far. With high cheekbones and a perfect smile she would have been the envy of any teenage girl, including Sam, but that was before the invasion. Sure, she was still the model of perfect proportions, but unlike at school so many months ago, Sam’s self-esteem didn’t feel threatened by the woman’s beauty. At least not yet.

“You handled
them
pretty well,” Sam said with a knowing grin.

“Well, all them boys like to hang around. It gets tiresome, but it does make them easy to manage,” the doctor admitted. “Now don’t ya’ll be shy. Come on over here and let me have a look at you. It’s been a while since we got anyone new around here. I’m just happy to see some new faces.”

“So you’re a doctor?” Jack asked.

Sam wasn’t surprised. Hot girl syndrome all over again. Her poor brother had already forgotten who the woman in front of him was. Dumb boys. But then, looking to his face, she didn’t find the open-mouthed stare of a doting idiot, instead his expression was firm. Distrustful.

“Well, to be honest, before all this, I was just a nurse from Houston, on vacation with some friends. But you know, with the way things went, here I am. The best doctor in these parts, if I do say so myself,” she said with another perfect smile.

OK. The smile was annoying. The rest, the southern drawl, sparkling eyes, perfect curves, and all that Sam could deal with, but her perfectly white, after the apocalypse smile, was just a bit too much.

“So, Dr. Burch, what can you tell us about this place?” Sam asked, hoping to banish the smile.

“What’s to tell? It’s like any other place, I suppose. But please, call me Alyssa.”

“What do you mean, like any other place?” Sam continued her line of questioning.

“Well, you know. It’s as safe as Grant and his boys can make it. Life isn’t easy, but we make do. We’ve started a garden and even have a few head of cattle round back. Grant says if we keep working hard, eventually we’ll do better than just survive. We’ll thrive.”

Sam watched as the woman gushed all over herself, obviously blind to reality. Maybe the event had caused her some sort of mental breakdown or something. Sam couldn’t be sure, but by the looks of the people, they needed more than a garden and a couple head of cattle. Though the doctor looked amazing, and Grant had looked healthy enough, the majority of the people she had seen were dangerously thin. They couldn’t wait for a few cattle to grow into a herd. Even Sam could see that much.

“That sounds good and all, but how come you seem in so much better shape than everyone else?” Sam said, a bit more demanding than she had intended.

“Grant takes good care of me cause I’m the only doctor we got,” Nurse Alyssa Burch admitted, casting her eyes to the floor.

The girl was living on her looks. Sure, she had an occupational talent that made her an essential member of any group. Who wouldn’t want educated medical personnel on their team? But picking and choosing who ate and who didn’t seemed ethically and morally wrong, especially for anyone claiming to be a doctor. Sam had already seen enough.

“Alrighty,
Doctor
,” Sam said, drawing out the word. “Why don’t ya check out Jack’s ankle so we can be on our way?”

She didn’t mean on to their apparent future visit with Grant. No. Sam was already ready to leave. This place was not what they had expected. It was not what they had wanted. Here, they would likely waste away like the others. They needed to keep moving. Her mind was made up.

* * * * *

Will didn’t like this place. If it were a comic book, this would certainly be the villain’s lair. Dark and dingy, filled with minions. Everyone here was weird, except for the doctor nurse lady. She seemed OK. Until Sam basically yelled at her, anyway.

Watching as Jack sat down on the edge of one of the cots, Will reached up to take Sam’s hand. Tammy stood behind them, and together they watched in silence as Jack pulled off his boot. Dr. Alyssa carefully removed Jack’s splint and examined his ankle for several minutes. She had him bend it this way and that before she poked here and prodded there. Will could smell Jack’s foot from way over here. He could only imagine what the poor doctor was smelling. Yuck.

Smiling nervously, when the doctor was finished she proclaimed that it was healing fine and shouldn’t require any treatment. She removed an ace bandage from a package and wrapped Jack’s foot back up before allowing him to pull his boot back on, leaving the stinky sock behind. Will felt bad for his boot.

Anxious to leave, because he was hungry, Will kept his mouth closed and watched as Jack thanked the doctor before Sam began pulling him back towards the hallway where he could see the other, bigger boys waiting for them. Within seconds they were being ushered back down the long hall in the direction they had just come. Though his tummy growled loud enough that all of them had to of heard it, Will ignored it and kept walking, eyeing Jack’s bag, knowing that there were jars of yummy goodness just inside.