Part 17 (2/2)
”I would like to go as well,” Elliot said. ”I set out on a mission to find out what is going on and if there is a way to stop it. It seems to me that you are the best bet in completing that mission, so I would like to do whatever I can to help.”
”I said before that I'd like to go with you,” Tyler chimed in. ”If it's alright with you, of course.”
”I guess if stupid is going then I'm going, too,” Layla said with contempt for her husband. Sophia let out a sigh of relief as she said this. Tyler rolled his eyes. ”I saw that Tyler, you a.s.shole.”
”Why do you insist on acting this way?” asked Tyler. ”I've done nothing but provide for you the best I can. You know what? I'm done fighting. We live in a collapsed society where we face death every moment we're alive. I'm done wasting energy on you.” Tyler stood up and walked toward out to the garage.
”Now I'm a waste of energy?” Layla yelled as she chased after him. She was obviously far from done fighting with him.
”I say we take her for sure,” said Elliot. ”You never know when we might need live bait or a distraction so we can run for our lives.” He noticed that everyone was staring at him. ”What? All I'm saying is if I had to cut her feet off and feed her to the dead so we can run away, I certainly would.”
”Thanks.” Jonathan said hesitantly. ”You are more than welcome to come with us. Nora, I would like you to stay here. You will be safe here.”
”Of course, as long as I won't be a bother.” She looked at Sophia, who gave the older woman a warm smile.
”You won't be a bother at all,” she responded. ”We'd love to have you around, and it would be great to have someone with experience to help us teach the twins as they grow.”
The thought of teaching what would now be the true future of the nation brought tears to the woman's eyes. She reached for a napkin and dried her face. ”First thing tomorrow I'll work on setting up a few lessons just to see where they are at.”
Jonathan looked at the remaining group sitting around the table. They would be able to start rebuilding the world right here. Together they could succeed. He knew it was all about having faith in the humanity that remained in each of them. He just hoped everyone here was ready for the responsibility that would follow.
Chapter 25.
The two days of preparing and planning went by quicker than Jonathan had thought. Elliot had asked many questions about Sam and anything else they may have found at the BCRC building. He was also curious to read through the notes they brought back. In their free time, Elliot taught everyone a few of his combat techniques, while Guillermo tended to the plants in the greenhouse with Sophia and the twins.
Deacon did a little bit of work to the Prius in an attempt to increase its survivability out in the world. With a lack of supplies, all Deacon could really do was bolt a few stainless pipes to the frame to protect the tires and undercarriage. The small plow made from the pipes would push most light objects off to the side and away from the tires. He then changed the oil, and made sure everything was running well.
Tyler and Layla fought the whole two days. ”You should probably stay here,” Tyler said.
”Why? Because you want to be rid of me?” Layla shot back.
”No, because I want you to be safe. Besides, there probably won't be any hot showers.”
”I'm riding with you two,” Elliot said to Jonathan and Guillermo as the arguing couple pa.s.sed by. ”I would shoot them both.”
”I have something for you, Elliot,” said Jonathan. ”Follow me.” He led Elliot back into the house and to his room. He opened the safe in his closet and pulled out the Steyr HS50 fifty caliber rifle. ”It is far too much for me to handle, take it and all the rounds if you want.”
”Wow, this thing is a beast! I've only shot a few fifty cals in my time. This isn't really something you find in the possession of civilians very often.”
”Yeah, honestly I do not even know why my father bought it. He did shoot it a few times, and he really enjoyed having it. I do not think it was worth picking up though, but maybe in your hands it will be.”
Shaking Jonathan's hand, Elliot said, ”I suppose everyone should finish their preparations. We set out first thing in the morning. I'll double check that we are fully stocked and fueled up. I showed Guillermo and the love birds the route we planned on the map. I think everyone is up to speed.”
”Thanks. Make sure to get plenty of rest,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan spent a few minutes talking with Deacon and Sophia before deciding it was time for bed. He was restless for much of the night. He watched as the minutes ticked by on the clock, tossing the blankets and sheets, and then he would pull them back up over himself. Dizziness struck him, sending his brain swirling in his skull as if it had been flushed down a toilet.
He climbed out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. Dropping to his knees, Jonathan bent over the toilet. One good heave, followed by a second, and then his supper came up into his mouth in a warm chunky liquid. He held onto the side of the toilet as his head continued to spin. The vomit splashed into the water as it spewed from his mouth. A thick slime that contained traces of his supper dripped from his nose.
After several more rounds, he flushed it all down and leaned back into the sink. He reached for the hand towel hanging on the wall and pulled it down to wipe the mess away from his face. Jonathan climbed back into bed after cleaning up. Feeling better now, he was finally able to sleep.
The fog horn sounded somewhere in the mist. Jonathan stood near the water trying to see through the thick fog. The fog horn sounded again. Gunshots erupted from all around. Explosions shook the ground. A distant rumble grew louder with each pa.s.sing second, and then the fog horn once more. The rumble turned into a small airplane, and it buzzed over Jonathan. A rain of chemicals poured down onto him. His skin burned, but then the fog horn sounded yet again.
Jonathan sat up in his bed. His alarm had been going off for several minutes. Reaching over, he turned it off. From out in the hall he could hear the movement of the others as they made the last of their rounds before setting out. He climbed out of bed and dressed, double checking the small duffle bag that he had packed with his personal supplies. Jonathan took one last look around the room. He knew he wouldn't see it again, at least not for a while. His gaze stopped on the mirror above his mother's dresser. Looking back at him was the man he has become.
”You can move your things into my room,” Jonathan said to Sophia. ”I will not need it anymore.”
”I can't take your room, Jon. You're not leaving on a suicide mission. You'll be back soon enough.” She pulled Jonathan close and hugged him tightly.
”I know. For now, please, take my room. Even when I return I can use one of the other rooms. This is your house now. You and Deacon will be in charge of it.”
”Thank you. Please be safe out there.” Sophia wiped the tears from her eyes as they let go of each other.
”I will, and you take care of Deacon and the twins. They will need you to hold everything together here,” Jonathan said. He had not expected to feel so much pain when saying goodbye to her, yet he felt like a piece of him was dying. ”Even though I said goodbye to the twins last night, would you please tell them again for me?”
”Of course,” she said, ”and I'll keep an eye on the remaining supplies like we talked about.” They hugged one last time before Jonathan headed out to find Deacon.
”Everyone all set?” Jonathan asked as he stepped out into the garage. Tyler was standing next to the driver's door of his Prius, Layla's bare feet could be seen up against the window as she lay across the back seat, Guillermo was already in the driver's seat of the BMW, and Elliot was climbing into the back.
”You be careful out there, mate. If you come back here dead tying to eat my face I'm going to kick your a.s.s before I put a bullet in your head,” Deacon said with a smile. Before Jonathan had a chance to respond, the strong Australian pulled him in for a hug. ”I'm going to miss you, mate. I understand why I'm not going, and I respect that. I'll have a big party waiting for you when you come back with your family, and I'll take care of mine here.”
”I really am going to need you when we get back, Deacon,” Jonathan said as he took a step back. He offered his hand to Deacon, who shook it firmly. By the time Jonathan was ready to go, Guillermo had already backed the BMW out of the garage and turned it around. The Prius was parked just inside the gate.
”Good luck!” said Deacon. Jonathan waved at him before climbing into the pa.s.senger seat of the car. Deacon pushed the b.u.t.ton for the gate that was mounted to the wall inside the garage and began walking down the driveway.
Tyler turned wide as he pulled out onto the street to give Guillermo room to move past him and take the lead. Down the street, Elliot had built a barbed wire barricade to keep any fiends out. He and Deacon made a run back to the library to retrieve as much of the barbed wire, wood, and metal as they could. The two men made a plan to start slowly blocking off the street and secure a few other houses in the area for people to live in.
The house disappeared quickly as the two cars sped off north. They left the suburbs and entered the business district in the middle of Clay Hills. There was about a mile of office buildings, schools, and stores before they would reach one last suburb before leaving the city all together. Most of the cars had been moved out of the way by the military that came in shortly after the attack.
Guillermo noticed that the firehouse Deacon talked about sat to the right. The tattered and faded American flag still flew high. Sandbags and barbed wire were built around the flagpole as a small barricade to keep it safe. The large bra.s.s numbers, Thirty-Four, held firmly above the large doors. Seeing the firehouse stirred Guillermo up emotionally. He knew that this was a place for true heroes, and he knew one of those heroes as a friend.
It was about a half an hour drive to reach San Clemente. This town also appeared to be fairly empty as they moved along the San Diego Freeway. Fiends roamed about, but none of them would be a problem for the group. It wasn't much longer before they turned off onto the Ortega Highway.
”I don't know if the military would have had any reason to clear this road out,” Elliot said. ”It may be harder to get through then the curves of the hills make it.”
”Hopefully this guard Deacon installed on the front will help clear the way then,” replied Guillermo. ”As long as there is nothing too big.”
I'm more worried about the tactical advantages that others would have over us. Living or not, Elliot thought. He didn't want to worry anyone else, so he would keep that to himself.
”What is that?” Tyler's voice came through the walkie-talkie that Sophia had found in the garage. The group had made it several miles into the hills.
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