Part 74

Alma

Alma woke up in her bed with the sun coming through closed curtains.  There was no telling how long she’d been out.  She wasn’t certain but it felt like a long time. She had foggy memories of coming in and out of consciousness. 

When she tried to sit up pain shot through her midsection, but it was bearable.  She sat swung her legs to the side of the bed and looked down at the bandages on her side.  She was wearing a sports bra and boxer shorts. 

She really hoped Cass had changed her and not one of the guys.  Especially not Alex.  That would have been extremely awkward. 

She saw a pair of fuzzy slippers (not hers) but didn’t see a robe or any other clothes within arms reach. 

After painfully standing up, she shuffled to her closet and rummaged through her things.  Most of it was cargo pants and t-shirts.  She didn’t want anything as tight as a t-shirt so she found an AC-DC hoodie and slipped it on and then a loose, cotton dress over sweatpants.  Then, for added style points she pulled Cass’s Voltron blanket over her shoulders.

She wasn’t out to win any awards.  She wanted comfort and warmth. 

And food. 

She was starving. 

Alma made her way down the stairs one step at a time.  Each step caused fire to burn through her abdomen. 

Where the hell was everyone?

“Hello?”  She called out in a voice that sounded weaker than she would’ve liked.

When no one answered she continued her descent, swearing with each step. 

No one was downstairs but she heard people talking outside.  She stumbled to the front door and opened it. 

The “town square” was full of vehicles and armed people going around.  She didn’t see Cass, Alex or Lisa anywhere.  But she did see Rebekah standing on the porch with her arms folded and a Remmington 700 slung across her back. 

“Rebekah, what’s going on?”  Alma said.

Rebekah turned around and gave her a wide eyed, huge smile.

“You’re awake!”

“I noticed that already.  What’s going on?”

Rebekah hurried over and helped her down into a rocking chair.  Great.  She was turning into an old woman now. 

“We’re fueling up all our vehicles.   That humvee there is going to go on a patrol to find these Provisional Government jackwagons and the other three trucks are heading to Farmville for the meeting.”

“Meeting?”

“Yeah, the big council of the towns.”

“Start from the beginning.  What’s this council?”

“Well, last week we got an invitation from Farmville to go to this council of all the surviving towns.  We’re taking fifteen people in three trucks.”

“Who’s going?”

“Well, Alex and Lisa are going.  Cass and Jason are staying.”

“Jason?”

“The big fellow that saved your life.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

She remembered now.  The past week had been a little confusing. 

“What’s this meeting about?”  Alma asked.

“Trade, mutual defense, borders.” 

“Sounds fun.”

“You bet it will be!  I can’t wait to see other survivors.  I hope there’ll be a cute Jewish guy…or at least rabbi.”

“When you heading out?”

“In an hour or so.  Want me to go get Alex?”

“Sure.”

Rebekah hurried off and ran over to where Alex was organizing supplies for the trip.  She saw Alex’s head shoot up and him and Lisa quickly walked over to the porch.  Alex walked up the steps and leaned up against a pillar.  Lisa was right beside him. 

“How you feeling, Sis?”

“Peachy.  You heading out to some post apocalyptic United Nations?”

“It’s a start.  We need to trade for things we can’t get or make.”

“Like what?”

“Glass, medicine, ammo.”

“And the Provisional guys?”

“We’re going to talk about them too.  Jason mapped out their location and strength.”

“Where is this Jason guy?”  Alma asked.

“He’s over with the recruits,” Lisa said. 

“What’s he doing there?”  Alma asked.

“Training them.  He’s very good,” Lisa said. 

“Sis, you mind being in charge while we’re gone?” Alex asked.

“I think so.  Cass is staying, right?”

“Yeah, she’ll be here.”

Alex walked over and sat down on the porch swing next to her. 

“You had me worried,” Alex said. 

“That’s what I get for being introspective and crap and wandering on my own, right?”

“Something like that.” 

“Won’t do it again.”

“Good.”

Lisa turned around and started to walk off but then stopped.

“Cassidy will want to know that you’re awake,” Lisa said.

“Thanks, hun,” Alex said.

“Now its my turn to tell you to be careful,” Alma said.

“I will be.  Lisa and Rebekah are coming with me.  Adam is as well but Jen’s staying here.  Keep your eyes open.  I don’t want the Provisional Fascists sneaking up on you.”

“We’ll keep lookouts and send out patrols,” she said. 

Then Cassidy came running into view.  She was holding down her cowboy hat as she approached the house.  She stomped up onto the porch and threw her arms around Alma. 

“Bout time you woke up, girl!”  Cass said, almost smothering her.

“Easy there, Cass.  I just came back from the dead.”

“Right.  How you feeling?”

“Like I was shanked by a psychopath.”

“Oh, yeah.  Makes sense.” 

Then she looked back to Alex.

“How big a threat are these Provisional guys?”  Alma asked.

“Big enough.  They have military vehicles and lots of big guns.  That’s why we’re having this conference, to discuss a mutual defense treaty.  We can’t take them by ourselves.”

“The world’s just ended and we’re talking about war already.  I was hoping for a generation or two before it started up again,” Alma said.

“We’ll talk about that as well.”

“Sounds like you got a lot of work to do,” Alma said.

“We’re building new countries.  It’s not as easy as it sounds,” Alex said. 

Lisa walked up and slipped her arm under Alex’s.  A public display of affection from Lisa?   How long had she been out?

“You’re going to help me out, right Cass?”  Alma asked.

“No, more like I’ll be doing all the work for you,” Cass said. 

Alex turned to look at the vehicles and the assembling people. 

“We got to hit the road soon,” he said. 

“Fine, go do what you gotta do.  I’ll be here,” Alma said. 

He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. 

“Take care, Sis.”

“Take care, bro.” 

Alex got up and walked over to the trucks with Lisa in his arm. 

“They’re buddy buddy,” Alma said.

“They’re engaged,” Cass said.

“I feel like that Hand Solo guy from Star Wars.”

“Han Solo.  See?  My nerd education is rubbing off on you.”

She watched as Alex and his crew drove off to their conference in Farmville.  That had to be the most unfortunate name for a town.  Eventually the memory of Facebook will die out though and Farmville could take some of its pride back.

She knew she’d see him soon so she wasn’t worried. 

Cass relaxed in the porch swing and flung her hat on a nearby chair. 

“This aint so bad,” Cass said. 

“At the moment, I guess it aint,” Alma said. 

They were building a confederacy of towns to stop the progress of a bunch of uptight politicians that thought they were still in charge.  They had to form trade routes and find other survivors.  Farms had to become self sustaining and civilization had to get back on its feet. 

She knew it’d be a long time before they got close to what they had, but at least they were on their way. 

Things could have been worse.  At least they didn’t have zombies, mutants or Cthulhu running around.  No.  The biggest threat had been other people and always would be. 

Alex was happy.  Lisa was a soulless ice queen, but Alex seemed to love her so she couldn’t wish Lisa harm.  Nobody was perfect. 

She looked over and saw that Cass was smiling as she looked out over “Town Square.”  Cass saw the good side of things and right now she was happy.  That was something else of Cass’s that was rubbing off.  If only she could get Cass to swear then things would be even. 

Life at Promised Land wasn’t bad at all.  It wouldn’t always be rosy, but it could be good.  They had a home.  They had a family.  And they had a future. 

END OF BOOK I

Stay tuned for Book II, coming soon!!
Also, keep in touch because Sins of Prometheus might be coming to a bookstore near you! 
If you like this, keep an eye open for Zach's other stories.
Gods of miskatonic
The Lost Promise

Part 73

Lisa

Lisa watched as Alex suffered.  He paced around the hall as the doctor continued to work on Alma.  It was a blood transfusion and Alma was mostly out of danger, but still Alex worried. 

She wondered if he’d worry like that for her or did Alma hold more of his heart than she ever could. 

Lisa shook her head and cleared away those thoughts.  Of course Alex loved her.  There were different kinds of love.  At least that’s what she had heard.  She had never had a family like that so didn’t understand exactly how it felt. 

“Hungry?”  She asked. 

They had skipped breakfast hours ago and it was time for lunch now. 

Alex just shook his head. 

She didn’t know what to say.  What would normal people say in a situation like this?  All her life she had been taught that death was just a part of the job.  It was inevitable.  The few people she had know that died she hadn’t known well enough to mourn.  

Lisa, unable to come up with anything to say or do to help Alex, went down stairs to the kitchen. 

The large man, Jason was sitting at the table talking to Jen.  Jen looked over her shoulder to her. 

“You hungry, dear?”  Jen asked.

Lisa nodded. 

“All my kitchen help are out guarding against those Provisional Fascists.  It’s just me today,” Jen said as she got up. 

Jen fixed her an egg sandwich and let her have the seat at the small table across from Jason.   Jen excused herself to go off and find her helpers.

She took a bite and knew she had to say something to the stranger.

“Thank you for helping Alma,” Lisa said. 

The man just shrugged. 

“Where are you from?”  Lisa asked.

“I’m from nowhere.”

“Where’s that?”

“All over.”

Lisa looked the man over.  He wore all his gear as if he knew what to do with it.  Everything was in the right places, tightened or loosened in the right places and the way he moved was with controlled power.  This man was a dangerous person. 

“You from Kentucky?”  She asked.

“I’m not from the Provisional Government.  I passed through and saw how they rolled.  Didn’t want any part of it so kept riding.” 

“And how do you roll?”

As she asked her hand slipped down to the butt of her Beretta. 

His eyes went down to where her hand would be.

“I’m not a threat,” he said. 

“You are.”

“And so are you.  Do they know what you are?”

He had read her better than she had read him. 

“Some of them do,” she said.

“And if they find out?”

“I don’t imagine it would go well for me.” 

“I fought people like you.” 

“Women?”

“Chinese operators.”

She knew she was scowling but no longer cared.  This man saw through her. 

“Are we going to have a problem with that?”  She asked.

“Not from me.  But are we going to have a problem down the road?”

“Not from me.  I’m trapped here.  Same as everyone.  This is my home.  This is my family.” 

“You’re hardly the same as everyone.  Neither of us should pretend that.”

“You’re wrong.  A few months ago I might have agreed.”

She took a moment to look him over.  He was definitely trained by the best.  She saw the calluses and scars on his hands from training and putting that training to use.  The only question was, who was he?  Ranger? Force Recon?  Green Berrets?  Delta?  

“Army?”  She asked. 

“Used to be.  Rangers.”

“And then?”

“Black Thorn.” 

He was a mercenary.  That explained it.  He was former special forces and then went to the private sector.  Chances were, he saw much more action as a mercenary than a soldier. 

“Jason, I have a new life here.  I love Alex and they are my family.  Alma is my family.  If you do anything to damage my life…”

“Relax, I’m not going to do anything.  I don’t care where you’re from.  That war’s over.”

“What are your plans?”

“I was looking for someplace quiet that could use an individual with my talents.”

“We’re going to have problems with this Provisional Government.”

“I’ve met them before.  They didn’t like what I had to say.”

“Are you willing to talk to them again?”

“If I can have food, shelter and polite society, I’ll talk to anyone.” 

Lisa nodded.  She didn’t trust him and she knew mercenaries were greedy.  If he tried to blackmail her down the road, she’d shoot him in the head. 

But the truth was, they needed every fighter they could get.  If this Provisional Government had the resources they suspected they did, then they could definitely use Jason’s help. 

“As Alex said, you’re welcome to stay.  In fact, we’d like it if you did.” 

Jason nodded and took a drink of coffee. 

“I think I’d like that as well,” he said. 

Lisa then grabbed and apple and went back upstairs.  She handed the apple to Alex.

“Eat it,” she said.

Without thinking he took a bite. 

“She’s going to be okay,” Lisa said.

“So they say.”

Not knowing what else to do she put her hand on his shoulder.  It felt awkward until he took her hand in his and pulled her in for an embrace.  There was nothing she loved better than being close to him.  He was the most important thing in her life now. 

“I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you,” he said. 

She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. 

“Don’t think about that,” she said. 

Then she reached up and kissed him.  They kissed for a long while.  When she would normally stop and break away, she didn’t. 

Then he picked her up and held her in his arms.  Her legs dangled out to the side but she felt comfortable as he cradled her. 

“I love you,” he said. 

“Will you always be there for me?” She asked.

“Always.” 

He then carried her to his room and her heart pounded through her chest as he did.  She wanted this more than she had ever realized.  Alex wasn’t just someone she loved or someone that she helped.  He was her partner: her other half.  And after the door closed she was going to share everything she had with him. 

 

New story

Check out my new fantasy adventure.  I hate to say this because it's so cliche, but...(plugs nose) If you like Sins of Prometheus, then you'll like "The Lost Promise." But its a story I've been wanting to write for a long time now and since Book I of "Sins of Prometheus" is coming to a close and you need a good literary fix, try this out.  Don't worry, there will be a Book II of Prometheus.
http://thelostpromise.blogspot.com/

Part 72

Alex

Alex threw everything into the back of the truck and looked around for Lisa.  He had food, medical supplies and ammo.  Alma was out there when enemies were around and he was going to find her.  They had enough natural gas for their converted truck to get them to Roanoke and back if they needed to. 

It had taken all night to clean the mess from the battle and secure the surrounding area to make sure there weren’t any more of them.  The whole time he kept thinking about where Alma was. 

He had a bad feeling and he had learned not to ignore his gut.

Adam was organizing home defense and Jenn was moving the children into the house.  They knew what to do so he didn’t have to babysit them.  He had to go look for her.  She drove across the United States to find him afterall.

Lisa came running out of the house with her FS2000 and a portable spotlight.  It was dark out there and there were a lot of places to hide. 

“I think we’re ready,” Lisa said. 

“Alright, let’s go.” 

Without further discussion they jumped in the truck and started it up.  It didn’t have the horse power it used to have when it ran on gas, but it worked.

He pulled out of Promised Land and stopped at the highway in front of Walmart.  To the left went off into the country with scattered rich people’s houses and a truckstop.  To the right was Lexington and Buena Vista. 

Alex hadn’t slept and the sun was coming up.  Something had to be wrong if she was gone all night. She would not willingly make him worry like this.  

“VMI,” Lisa said. 

He agreed and drove up the steep hill to the top where the VMI barracks and main campus were.  He didn’t see Alma’s horse or any sign of any disturbance.  Still, he had to check. 

They got out and shouted out for Alma.  After a half hour of searching they moved on to Washington and Lee University next door and searched all through those buildings. 

“Now Lexington,” Lisa said. 

She was thinking logically and clearly.  He wasn’t.  She led him block by block, shouting out her name and checking inside the windows of each building.  If it were him he’d just run through the town in a frantic dash. 

As he was looking through the glass doors of a movie theater he heard the distant sound of a whining engine. Lisa looked up as she heard it as well.  

Their truck was still on with headlights on two blocks away.  Whoever was coming would see it.  No chance in hiding that but they could still set up an ambush.  The sun was now fully up so whoever it was, he’d be able to asses any potential trouble.  

They took positions behind the corners of buildings on opposite sides of the building.  He watched Lisa take her position and give him a thumbs up. 

She was gorgeous.  She was more than he ever wanted in a woman. 

Then a single light came into view.  It was coming from the direction of Buena Vista.   It came up over the hill and stopped.  It must have seen their truck.  It was a man on a yellow dirtbike. 

The rider then started back up, riding slow down the street toward the truck.  This man might now something about Alma but just because he wasn’t in an SUV didn’t mean he wasn’t with the “Provisional Government of the United States.” 

If whoever this was caused a problem, he’d just shoot him and hurry on with finding Alma. 

Across the street, Lisa shouldered her FS and readied herself.   

As the rider came closer Alex stepped out and aimed his M-14. 

“Don’t come any closer,” Alex called out. 

The dirt bike came to a slow stop and the man put his hands in the air.  

“I’m looking for a man named Alex,” the man called back in a deep voice.

“You’re speaking with him.  You better make this quick.” 

“You have a sister named Alma?”

His chest tightened and suddenly he couldn’t breathe.  He knew something bad had happened or this stranger wouldn’t be here.  Every horrible scenario played out in his head. 

“Yes,” he managed to get out. 

“I found her in a town down the road.  She’s hurt and needs a doctor.”

All his worst fears were coming true. 

“How badly?”  Lisa called out when he didn’t say anything. 

“She was stabbed.  Lost a lot of blood.  We need to hurry.” 

Lisa ran across the street to him and whispered. 

“I hate to say this, but this could be a trap,” Lisa said.

“Right now, I don’t care.  I’m going.” 

Lisa opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it and nodded.  That meant she was coming with him.   

Alex approached the man.  He was large and looked like he could hunt bears with his hands.  And it was all muscle.  He had a shaved head, a pistol on his thigh and a rifle strapped to his back.

“Where is she?”  Alex asked.

“A library in Buena Vista.”

“What happened?”

“She was stabbed. She shot the guy but she’s hurt.  We need to hurry,”

Lisa ran and brought the truck up. 

“We’ll follow you,” Alex said. 

“If you’re less than honest with us, I’ll shoot you first,” Lisa said.

“Of course,” the man said.

They followed the large man on the dirtbike back to Buena Vista and up the hill to Southern Virginia University.  The whole time he kept wanting the man to drive faster.  

When they pulled up to the library he threw the truck into park and jumped out.  He ran up the stairs and into the library. 

Lying in the middle of the floor was Alma.  There was blood everywhere.  She was lying on her back with her hands over a mass of tightly bound bandages on her belly. 

She looked over and her eyes went wide. 

Alex ran over and kneeled down. 

“You alright?”  He asked.

“No, idiot.  I’ve been stabbed by a psycho.”

“How bad?”

“Pretty bad.” 

Then Lisa came in behind the large man.  She had her pistol drawn on him. 

“It’s okay, Lisa.  He helped me,” Alma said. 

Alma frowned but holstered the pistol. 

With the stranger’s help they got Alma into the rear seat of the truck.  They threw the dirtbike and the man’s backpack into the bed of the truck and tore asphalt back home. 

They got the doc, a former male nurse, and they got to working on Alma right away.  A blood transfusion was needed and they didn’t waste time in asking Alex. 

As he sat there with a tube in his arm he saw the large man come in.  He carried a FAL on his back but it looked like a small carbine to him. 

“How is she?”  The man asked.

“She’ll make it,” Alex said. 

“She don’t look like your sister.”

“Step sister.  I want to thank you.”

The man shrugged. 

“Just helping out,” he said.

“What’s your name?”  Alex asked.

“Jason.” 

“Well, Jason, I owe you.  You may stay here as long as you want.  If you do leave, take whatever you can carry with you.”

Jason nodded but didn’t say anything.  Alex could tell that his mind was churning.  Whoever this man was, he saved Alma and that was a debt he could never repay.