Never Far Gone, page 28
“Damn,” Corver mutters under his breath as I place his rifle against the large window pane overlooking the borough.
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to come up here,” I admit while sulking in the view. Even in the darkness, you can see the entire borough from here, and I can’t help but wonder why no one has occupied this place yet. It would make for one hell of a sniper’s nest.
Not a bad idea…
“So why now?” Corver asks as he turns to face me. “Why come up here? Why bring me?” he asks as I intercept before he can ask another question.
“You see that?” I ask as I point to the Consulate, which would look abandoned to the naked eye. I, however, can make out small lamps and candlelight strewn across various rooms throughout the building. “Come sunrise, the Consulate’s defenses will be complete. We made one building more secure than any other in the borough,” I declare while basking in the pride of our hard work.
“We just did what we had to,” Corver says in an attempt to justify the labor.
“No, you see, we didn’t just unify a single building or even the people in it…” I say as I lift my arms to my side and glance out of the window. “We united a city. We brought people together for a cause more important than just ourselves. We created a permanent fire in the eternal darkness,” I proclaim as I point toward the ill-lit metropolis.
“Boss, I get that you want to leave all this behind. Hell, on some levels, I can even relate…” Corver confesses as the look of achievement on his face slowly dissipates. “But, none of this was possible without you. It was possible because of you,” he says.
“That’s exactly why I need to leave,” I say with conviction. “With you guys holding the reigns, that place has a chance. With me at the helm-“ I say before being cut off.
“With you at the helm, we’re a family,” Corver says.
The words hit me like a brick. I’ve always looked out for the people we’ve taken in, but I had not thought twice about how they viewed me. Amidst all the stress and the seemingly endless loss, those eight words were enough to bring me back to who I am, who I truly am, under all the power: I’m human.
As I’m staring at Corver, who tries his best to hold back a smile, I notice his face instantaneously becomes all the more visible as a light source radiating from the outside seeps into where we’re standing. Just as it does, the sounds of Spectrals groaning in the distance put us on high alert. Only when I peer outside the window do I realize where all the light is coming from.
Oh my god…
Without a second thought, Corver and I slide down the ladder as the Consulate is engulfed in light. The exterior spotlights illuminating the sidewalk from above light up the entire area like a Christmas tree. All the lights from within the school are simultaneously turned on, and I don’t waste a second trying to figure out why, even as we run toward the only place we knew was worth protecting: Home.
13
Corver and I practically throw ourselves through the west gate as the sound of rapid gunfire simultaneously fills the rear courtyard. I eject the Kimber’s empty magazine before inserting my last one. I half-expect to hear the sound of covering fire raining down from the Overwatch Convoy, but the first thing I noticed as I sprinted to the Consulate was that the train was missing entirely.
“Where is it?!” I shout out over the Thrivers running to secure the metal gates. Judging by how quickly he answered, I could tell Francis knew what I was referring to.
“Don’t know, boss. They haven’t been answering our transmissions!” Igor hollers as Jawbreaker grabs my shoulder from behind. As I turn and begin storming toward the Consulate, Pancho hands me my MPX before extending a few magazines to me. He must’ve gone into the Armory when shit hit the fan.
“I didn’t check them out. I just grabbed what I could and ran,” he admits. Once his hands are clear, he grabs the shotgun slung around his back before loading a shell into the chamber. I don’t give it much thought, as an incorrect inventory count is currently on the lower end of my priorities.
“Where are the kids?” I shout out with concern as I load the MPX. Even though they are holding, the sound of ferocious banging on the metal sheets that were recently welded onto the exterior gates only makes me more paranoid. Corver, who is slightly out of breath after running half a mile, digs into the pack he brought for our commute to flush out some rounds for his rifle. He and I both transition to stare at Pancho for an answer to the question.
“The girls are getting them together…” JB says as he stomps around in place. The anxiety from the chaos around us is undoubtedly getting under his skin. "I think they’re bringing them upstairs,” he recalls.
“No! We need to get them out of here,” I proclaim as I turn to address those outside. “Protect the perimeter! Get half of the vehicles ready for withdrawal!” I shout as some of the Thrivers, who were previously helping to hold the infected back, rush to prepare the transports. As I turn to address the two men in front of me, the sounds of gunfire begin to emerge near the front of the Consulate.
They’re everywhere…
“Use the PA in the main office and have the kids brought to the Main Lobby. Some food and water from the pantry, too. Go!” Corver instructs one of the unarmed Thrivers, who takes off running toward the rear of the Cafeteria.
“Follow me,” I say to Corver and JB over the gunfire as we sprint straight for the Power Room.
The dusty room containing all of the generators and power equipment for the building must be what started the ruckus unfolding outside. The room, usually secured with a 2” padlock, was recently pried open, and one of the generators we had recently brought in had been powered on. While entering the room, using our guns to check every corner as we do, the three of us make our way to the panel where the switches are. All the fuses are turned in the same direction: On.
In a desperate attempt to flip one of the switches on the circuit board, I immediately retract my hand as sparks violently fill the air once I do. Someone tampered with the panel once all the lights in the building were turned on. This wasn’t an accident. This was intentional.
“Listen up! All juvenile Thrivers and their caretakers must be brought to the lobby now! I repeat, all kids and their guardians need to be brought to the Lobby now!” I hear a male voice frantically say into the PA system. Judging by how muffled some of the dialogue is, I can tell JB’s mouth is too close to the microphone. As the rumbling of the large generator overshadows the distant gunfire throughout the building, I turn to face the machine and bring the MPX up before repeatedly squeezing the trigger.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
With the generator being destroyed, the rumbling subsides almost instantly as the lights above us go out. I can only assume the lights throughout the rest of the building simultaneously do the same, as the sudden shouts emanating in the hallway begin to ring out after our room goes dark.
There we go…
“Corver, head to the sick bay and bring Derrick to the roof with the others to help with the barrels. I can’t have him risking another injury by running with his leg,” I say, remembering Derrick is in recovery. Without a word, Corver begins to hightail it out of the room before having his arm grabbed by Jawbreaker.
“Here, give him this,” Pancho says as he tosses his pump-action shotgun to Corver. He nearly fumbles the firearm before getting a better grip and bolting out of the room. I look to my right to face Pancho, who grabs the Glock tucked idly behind his jeans and chambers a round.
“Let’s get this done, JB,” I say before storming out of the room behind Corver. Jawbreaker follows right behind me as we traverse the dark, dismal corridors of the Consulate.
“Get back, guys! Get back!” I hear Hope yell as she extends her left arm to protect the children behind her. Even as Pancho and I make our way down the stairs leading to the Main Lobby, I can see the stainless steel revolver quivering in Hope’s hand as she keeps the barrel pointed at the front entrance. Some of the armed sentries, nearly all of which are supposed to be patrolling the other floors, also position the barrel of their guns toward the entrance as the ferocious banging continues from outside.
“Check your weapons! I need you all to be ready for what’s next!” I instruct as the sounds of slides and bolts being retracted echo throughout the room. Hope nearly drops the revolver as the wooden doors leading into the first-floor hallways swing open behind her with force: It’s Renata and Graham.
How the fuck…
My eyes don’t leave Graham’s, even after I am nearly tipped over by Renata throwing her arms around me. I assume JB also shares my discomfort, as he inherently raises his weapon toward Graham. As one would typically expect, given his track record for unpredictability, Graham effortlessly throws his hands up to show he isn’t a threat. As I wrap my free hand around Renata’s neck, I grip the MPX harder with my other hand and usher Jawbreaker to keep his attention on the man.
“W-where’s Vito?” Renata asks as her voice trembles. The luminescent green radiating from the glow sticks being sporadically tossed onto the floor around the Lobby makes her look of concern readily apparent.
“We haven’t seen him,” JB admits as his attention remains fixated on Graham. After a brief pause, Renata looks down before turning to run up the staircase.
“Wait! Wait!” I say as I sling the MPX over my shoulder and use both hands to prevent her from running into the darkness above.
“No, no, no, no! No. This is my baby boy we’re talking about, Miles… I won’t-” she shouts as I interrupt.
“Neither will I! Neither will I. But we don’t know who’s up there! We don’t know if any of these things got in. We will find him…” I assert with certainty as I hold her face in between my hands. “But I need your attention to be on the kids who need you right here,” I confess. Her eyes seem to be looking through me rather than at me, and I can tell she’s paralyzed in fear.
“Listen to me! I’ll send someone to find him! But the kids need you here, now! Okay?” I shout while shaking Renata’s shoulders to break her trance. It seems to work because, after a brief pause, she gradually gazes at Hope and the group of nearly a dozen children crying behind her. Renata’s motherly instincts naturally kick into overdrive as she consoles the scared kids.
Fuck, fuck…
Two Thrivers who overheard our conversation look at me as if trying to assess what’s running through my mind. I point to the ceiling, silently indicating that I want them to search the upper floors for Vito, and one of them gives me a thumbs up before hitting his companion’s shoulder with the back of his hand and sprinting upstairs. As more Thrivers enter the Lobby, some with guns in their hands while others are holding plastic crates filled with consumables, I turn to address them all.
“I need all of you with food to take the kids to the rear courtyard and prepare the trucks. You’re leaving now,” I command without any hesitation. Their safety is the most important thing right now. I speed walk over to Hope, still shaking with fear in her eyes while facing the foyer, and embrace her. She puts her forehead into my neck as she lets out a whimper.
“Thank you…” I whisper into her ear. After a few seconds, I hastily pull back and give her a nod. I wait for her to nod back to confirm that she understands the urgency of the situation. She does, then turns around to address the children standing behind her.
“Alright, kiddies… let’s go, gimme your hands,” Hope says in a tone that I can only describe as forcefully cheerful. She wants the kids to think she isn’t scared when, in reality, she’s terrified. Hesitantly, Renata helps her gather the little ones around and ushers them through the door leading to the rear courtyard, toward the vehicles out back, and toward safety.
“You’re going with them,” I mumble as I focus on Pancho. He constantly shifts his gaze between Graham and me, making it clear he’s not fully committed to the idea.
“But boss, I-” Pancho says before being cut off.
“They can take care of themselves, but I want someone I can trust to watch their backs. Take them to the house in Duchess County. We can’t trust the PCC right now…” I whisper so only he can hear. Even with his handgun still in the air, Pancho’s frantic movement in place demonstrates that he’s still not sold on the idea of leaving. I take a moment to address his discomfort. “And I wasn’t asking, either,” I proclaim sternly. His eyes meet with mine before he lowers his gun and tilts his head to the side in defeat.
“Fine,” Pancho mumbles. I turn back to Renata, who’s still focused on getting the children out of the lobby.
“Baby, you need to go with them, too,” I say to her before Graham takes a step forward, lowering his hands in the process.
“What, why?” Graham asks demandingly as I step before him to prevent his sudden advance.
“This does not concern you, old man…” I growl as Pancho realigns the barrel of his handgun with Graham’s left temple. He stops moving, but the silence is quickly broken as the metal panels fortifying the large windows near the entrance start giving way to the pressure from outside. Renata uses the diversion to interject into the conversation.
“No, I am not going anywhere without my son,” she says matter-of-factly. I can tell she means it, yet there’s more at risk if she stays here.
“We don’t have a choice! How is he going to live if both of his parents are dead? You- you need to live so he can, too…” I proclaim as her look of concern decreases slightly. “I will protect that boy with my life, so you don’t have to,” I confess.
Please… just go…
Renata pauses for a few seconds even as the distant sounds of gunfire throughout the Consulate, both inside and out, fill the room. She takes a step back for every shot that rings in the distance, her shoulders lifting from being startled in the process. As her back is propped up against the door leading into the hallway, I take a few steps forward and grab her face to pull towards mine. The kiss seems to last forever, with her quickened pulse vibrating off my palm resting near her neck before I bring my hand around her lower back and yank the door open using the bronze door handle. She briefly looks behind her before staring back at me.
“Just protect him. And come back safe… both of you,” she says before kissing me and bolting through the doors leading into the rear courtyard. It takes me a while to break my paralysis and return to the mundane situation we are faced with: we need to defend this place.
“Go…” I say to Jawbreaker as I extend my MPX to him. He hesitates before grabbing it with both hands once I shake it in the air to make him realize time is running out. He tucks the Glock behind his belt before reaching to grab my rifle. I nod once he does while simultaneously lowering my hand to my side. “Make me proud…” I whisper out to him.
“Yes, sir,” Pancho says as he gives me a fist bump before running around Graham and following suit behind Renata. Graham’s gaze transitions back to me, yet I ignore him; there are bigger problems to deal with. Corver nearly trips as he practically throws himself down the staircase and lands in the main lobby.
“Alright, Derrick is up top with Abdul, and the defenses are primed,” Corver says, clearly out of breath as he tosses me a handheld radio. He doesn’t even acknowledge his brother’s presence as he stares at me, anticipating our next course of action. “What do we do now?” he asks impatiently as he retrieves a two-tone Beretta from his thigh holster. The sound of metal hitting the concrete outside emanates throughout the building from the large windows in front of us.
They tore down the gates…
“Stand away from the windows!” I yell out as I turn to face the foyer. I take a few steps back as the men around me do the same. “D, do you copy?” I call out over the radio. The sounds of the metal doors separating us from the Spectrals giving way at the hinges is enough to give anyone nightmares, but I maintain my composure.
“Just give the order, Captain,” Derrick blurts out before cutting his transmission. With that, I yell out to the Thrivers in the lobby to back up and wait until there is enough space between my guys before bringing the handheld to my mouth and holding down the transmit button.
“Light ‘em up!” I holler over the radio. After a few moments, the darkness peering through the exposed gaps in the windows is illuminated with a bright orange, just as a barrel of ignited gasoline is tossed from the rooftop onto the front courtyard.
Boom!
Whatever glass remained on the windows is gone now, and I find myself bringing my arms up to shield me from the shrapnel. The heat from the explosion also makes its way into the Lobby, both through the windows and the now-open entrance. The demoralizing moaning previously echoing from the front of the Consulate is reduced almost instantaneously with just the press of a button. Still, I know there are more to come.
“Everyone on the stairs!” I hear Corver shout out as I draw my .45 from its holster. Those still on the main floor begin pushing up the staircases along both sides of the lobby. I bring the radio up again and hold the button once more.
“Don’t let up, D!” I instruct as various entities, completely engulfed in flames, limp through the main entrance. I imagine the Specs feel pain because their agonizing screeches gradually increase as the burns worsen with every fleeting second. One of the Thrivers behind me passes me a Riley Defense RAK-47 with three full magazines of 7.62x39mm rounds, and I insert one of them into the rifle before yanking on the charging handle and aiming the iron sights at the Spectrals stumbling into the Consulate. As soon as another explosion shakes the room, I hear it.
