Prep For Doom Page 11

  “Then again, you could be overthinking things. You tend to be a bit presumptuous,” Kiana giggled.

  “It’s my job to overthink and be presumptuous, especially with a sixteen-year-old,” he answered, kissing her forehead. “I couldn’t care less about the legalities and investigations behind the outbreak. My goal is to gather enough information to keep you safe. I’ll leave the pharmaceutical company, CDC, government, and whoever the hell else is involved in this mess, to hash it all out amongst themselves. Hopefully they’ll find answers and a cure in the process.”

  “Thanks, Dad. You’re the best,” Kiana chimed, hugging his neck.

  “You’re the only good thing I have in this godforsaken world, and I would never take you to a place with questionable risks. Besides, Kingston is closer…although, it might take half a day to get there by foot unless we find transportation.”

  “That’s what you get for buying that old beater.” Kiana rolled her eyes. “I told you to invest in the newer truck.”

  “You did. But that old beater ran for nine good months, and I didn’t have to make payments on it. It’s the reason you have that new iPhone, so don’t knock her. Her engine just happened to blow at the worst imaginable time.”

  “Yeah,” Kiana exhaled. “Well, I better go scrounge up some lunch. Your brain will need more than Coke and Twix to run on.”

  “You should also recheck our gear and packs to make sure they’re set. If things get any worse, we might have to leave sooner than later.”

  “I don’t think we can survive any longer than a day here. It’s hotter than hell, and I feel like I—I can’t breathe.” Kiana grabbed her neck and rolled her eyes back, choking and gasping for air.

  “Not funny.” Neil shook his head, unamused. “Remember, don’t run the outside AC. Use your portable fan.”

  “My fan just circulates hot air,” she huffed. “I give us a day to survive here before we suffocate.”

  “That’s all I need. Just give me a day.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise,” Neil said, reassuring her.

  “Fine,” she sighed. Kiana knew if anyone could get them to safety, it was her dad.

  Before she left the room, his attention was already turned back to the screens, his fingers zooming over his keyboard. She smiled, shook her head, and then walked out.

  Kiana threw together some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to avoid the use of the stove. When they finished lunch, she made her way to the bathroom. She couldn’t shake the images on her dad’s computer screen, or the look of David’s little blood-covered face. They were on constant replay through her mind, and as much as she tried, she couldn’t shut it off. Overwhelmed, she pressed her back against the door and slid to the ground, hugging her knees and weeping.

  After she gathered herself, she washed her face and leaned in close to the mirror to examine her eyes. They weren’t bloodshot like the others with the virus, but they were tinged with pink from crying.

  Next, she headed into her bedroom to check their gear. Their protective suits and masks were neatly laid out, making them easily accessible. They’d practiced putting them on countless times to make sure everything could be secured quickly and adequately.

  Then she re-checked the contents of their packs, assuring they had everything needed to survive for a few days. In her pack, Kiana included a few photos and some of her favorite books to help get her through the tough times. There was no doubt they were coming.

  As she walked past her dad’s room, she smiled. Because of him, they had answers. And although they were horrifying, they put periods to most of the question marks so they could move on to more important things, like survival.

  As soon as the first person was diagnosed with the virus, Neil was notified. That’s when he began to seal their apartment, making sure no contaminants could get in.

  He was part of the world’s finest network of computer specialists and apocalypse preppers. Nerds and hackers who could crack codes, build walls, send viruses, and virtually make themselves invisible to whomever they wanted, including the government. They were secretly preparing for the apocalypse, and it was finally upon them. Not in the form of zombies, which many of them suspected, but as a fatal and highly contagious virus with no known cure.

  The group was proving to be proficient. With a few touches of buttons, members in critical areas managed to secure and connect secret information to associates around the country. Neil was one of them.

  It was nine o'clock when Kiana finally lay down on the couch in their living room. The light from her dad’s room seemed to offer a bit of peace. Her mind was reeling with the day’s events, but somehow, she managed to fall asleep.

  * * *

  It was still dark when Kiana was shaken and jolted awake.

  “Get up. We have to leave…now.” Her dad’s voice was quiet yet demanding. Knowing he meant business, she didn’t hesitate. She jumped up and headed straight for the bedroom.

  “What time is it?” she breathed.

  “Around two in the morning,” he whispered.

  “What’s going on?”

  “There were gunshots and screams in the building. It could have been on our floor.”

  “What if they’re still out there when we leave?” Kiana’s pulse began to race.

  “We aren’t going out the front door. We’re taking the escape ladder down the side of the building.”

  “You’re kidding, right? That rusted old thing? With our gear and masks on?”

  “We’ll go slow. I’ll even tie a rope around you, in case you fall.”

  “I’m not worried about falling. I’m concerned about who else will be on the ground when we get there. You know, like the crazy people with the guns or the infected?”

  Neil hesitated. “Here,” he said taking hold of her hand and placing a cold metal object in it.

  She immediately pushed it back at him. “No way. I don’t even know how to use a gun.”

  “It’s just in case. You probably won’t even need to use it,” he whispered softly. “But if we come into a situation where our lives are jeopardized, all you have to do is aim and pull the trigger.”

  “Dad—”

  “I need you to be strong. We have a long way to go, and there are a lot of sick people out there who couldn’t give a damn about us.”

  “Fine,” Kiana sighed, reluctantly taking the small revolver and placing it on the bed while she dressed. She knew he was right.

  The Personal Protective Equipment made her feel like she was preparing for a secret op. Everything her dad bought was black: long-sleeved shirts, vests, gloves, boots, and gas masks. Her father insisted on the gas masks because he didn’t trust the simple medical masks. It was another risk he wasn’t willing to take.

  As Kiana secured the gun in her pocket, a thundering boom in the hallway made them freeze. Then, a loud scream from a neighbor pierced the darkness.

  “Who is it?” Kiana whispered, tightly gripping her dad’s arm.

  “I don’t know, but we need to move,” he urged.

  In the dark, they quickly made their way into the living room where Neil began peeling away layers of duct tape around the sliding door. As he did, Kiana pressed her ear against the front door. The hallway had gone silent, and she wondered what was more horrifying—the screaming or the silence?

  “Kiana,” her dad whispered loudly, making her jump.

  He motioned her to follow as he disappeared outside onto the balcony. To the right, against the brick wall, was an escape ladder that led down to the ground. It was thin and badly rusted, and he prayed it would hold them both. Glancing over the railing to confirm the alleyway was clear, Neil signaled for Kiana to go first.

  “Take your time,” he said, encouraging her. “There’s no need to rush. Just make sure your grip and footing are secure before you take your next step. Okay?”

  “Okay,” Kiana responded.

  “You’ve got this,” he said, helping her over the railing. He
tied a small rope around her waist, and then secured it around his. “Slow and steady.”

  Grasping the rungs was easier than it appeared. Kiana began to descend while Neil followed directly after. Halfway down, distressed screams reverberated against the buildings, making Kiana and Neil freeze on the ladder, blending into the darkness.

  Running down the alleyway was a couple wearing white medical masks. The woman tripped and tumbled to the ground.

  “I can’t do this anymore,” she bellowed, then began incessantly coughing. She leaned forward, throwing her mask off, and began vomiting.

  “Shit,” the man cursed. He stepped behind the woman, holding damp hair from her pasty face. When she lifted her head, the streetlight illuminated blood running down her chin onto her light colored clothes. “Help! Somebody help,” he shouted. But his pleas filled barren streets. “Hold on, honey.”

  Kiana moved slightly, tensing the rope.

  “Don’t move,” Neil whispered loudly between his teeth.

  But he didn’t need to worry. Kiana was frozen. Fear had gripped every inch of her as she watched the virus claiming another victim.

  The screeching of tires and sounds of roaring engines echoed from an adjacent street. Soon, two cars pulled into the alleyway.

  “Help us, please!” the man bellowed, holding the woman’s convulsing body in his arms.

  A white lowrider passed right by the pleading man.

  He extended his arm to the second vehicle.

  A red car, with airbrushed flames and skulls on the sides, came to a screeching halt. The driver rolled down his window; his face was concealed behind a dark gas mask that had two round circles for eyes. A long black hose, resembling an elephant, extended from the bottom of the mask and disappeared into his chest, which must have housed the filter.

  “Please help us. My wife is sick,” the man cried, desperation embedded in the deep lines on his forehead.

  “Yeah, sure. We’ll help you,” the driver said in a gruff voice.

  “Thank you,” the man replied. “Thank you so much.”

  The driver twisted his head back and gave a nod. Then, the rear window rolled down and a long black shotgun barrel emerged. Within a split second, gunfire blasted and echoed through the alleyway as if a bomb had been detonated.

  When the firing ceased, the man and woman lay lifeless, riddled with bullet holes. The pavement was puddled with blood. The driver swung open his door, stepped out, and began dumping a bottle of liquid over them. He then lit a match and tossed it. Raging flames engulfed the bodies in an inferno.

  “There’s your help,” the driver laughed. “I did you a damn favor.” He turned back to the passenger. “Effing infected walking around trying to kill us all.”

  “Let’s get the hell outta here man,” the passenger urged.

  The driver tossed the empty bottle into the flames, then jumped back into the car and sped off.

  “Kiana, we need to go,” Neil coaxed. When she didn’t respond, he stepped down toward her. “Kiana. Move. Now.” His voice was desperate and filled with urgency.

  After a moment, she responded and slowly climbed down. As soon as their feet touched the ground Kiana turned and fell into her dad’s arms.

  “They killed them,” she sobbed “They only wanted help, and they killed them.”

  “I know, sweetheart. A lot has changed out here. We need to be extra careful.” He placed his hands on the sides of her mask and lifted her face to meet his. “I need you to be strong, and do whatever it takes to survive.”

  She nodded, blinking the tears away.

  Neil pulled his cell phone from his pocket and brought up a map while Kiana untied the rope from their waists. Shortly after, a message from PFD 117 popped up. It was an address.

  “Is that the location of the bunker?” Kiana questioned.

  “Yes,” he replied, punching in the address to route them. “If we move fast enough, we might be able to get there before noon.”

  “You lead, I’ll follow.”

  She was trying hard to hold herself together, but her heart and mind were reeling with the horrors she’d just witnessed. She knew the outside world was going to be bad, but she never expected it to be monstrous. How could people be so cruel?

  Her safe, simplistic life was forever changed in the moment they stepped outside of their apartment into the real world. She knew she had to be strong, not only for herself, but for her dad. She wanted to save him and get him to the bunker, just as much as he wished to do the same for her.

  Sirens blared in the distance.

  “Stay close,” Neil whispered.

  “I will.”

  Quickly and silently, they slipped into the barren streets, away from the burning bodies.

  They stayed in the shadows, zigzagging through dark alleyways and side streets, trying to avoid contact with anyone. Knowing the sun would be rising in a few hours, they pushed on.

  Kiana remained directly behind her dad and never complained. She was a pretty tough kid, growing up and learning to deal with feminine things on her own. Although Neil didn’t voice it as much as he should have, he was very proud of her.

  Neil’s mind replayed the horrors of the murdered couple. It was beyond him how twisted and evil people became when faced with death.

  How many innocent lives were already infected? How many were at home dying? How many parents were watching their children suffer?

  No one had suspected a fatal pandemic to hit, silently and swiftly spreading. The fear of waking up with a fever, knowing it could be the virus taking hundreds, if not thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of lives, was a reality. A horror. An invisible and violent death with no preference and no cure.

  Because Neil tried to steer clear of the heavier population, it wasn’t until eleven in the morning that they’d traveled two-thirds of the way. The sun was high in the sky, slowing them tremendously. The heat was getting to Kiana, but screams and gunfire a few blocks away kept Neil pushing.

  “Dad,” Kiana groaned. “I need water.”

  “You can’t take your mask off out here.”

  “I can’t go anymore. I’ll pass out if we keep this up. I need to take a break,” she pleaded. Her mouth and throat were parched, her head was throbbing, her muscles were cramping, and she felt nauseated. All signs of heat stroke.

  Neil didn’t want to stop until they reached the safety of the bunker, but after seeing his daughter’s flustered face, he decided to find a place to rest. Down an alleyway was a small Mom & Pop shop with a “Closed” sign hanging from the window. From his pack, Neil pulled a little pouch with some tools in it. Within minutes, he had broken in.

  After locking the door behind them, they made their way toward the back and found a small, empty storage room. Neil turned on the light, closed the door, and sealed it quickly with a few layers of duct tape.

  “We’ll rest here for a bit. Drink some water and try to take a nap.”

  Kiana peeled off her mask and drank most of her water before cuddling up into a ball on the floor and immediately passing out. Neil stayed up and rerouted their current position. They were so close to the bunker. In less than a few hours, they could be safe.

  After letting Kiana nap for a few hours, Neil finally woke her.

  “Hey, we need to get moving.”

  “Alright,” Kiana yawned. After finishing her water, she reattached her mask. “How much further is it?”

  “Not much. Just a few hours away.”

  As they headed back out of the alley and rounded a corner, Neil’s arm flew back, halting Kiana. He stood, frozen, a few feet away from a red car painted with skulls and flames. Behind it was the white lowrider, and leaning against it were three men, two of whom were involved in the murder.

  All three horrifying masks turned toward them.

  “Dad?” Kiana’s voice trembled.

  “It’s okay,” he answered.

  He reached back and took her by the hand, tucking his phone into his pocket. His h
eart beat against his chest as he placed his fingers around his Glock 26, filled with jacketed hollow points, in a ten-round magazine.

  Neil gave a nod, then turned and started walking in the opposite direction.

  “Hey,” one of them called.

  Neil cursed under his breath but turned back, pushing Kiana behind him. With a wave, he answered, “Hi.”

  “Where are you two headed?” the man asked.

  Both Neil and Kiana recognized the mask. He was the one who shot the couple.

  “I’m trying to get my daughter to…” He paused, quickly glancing backward, not wanting to give them any information as to where they were headed. “…to her mother’s house. My car broke down.”

  “Need a ride?” the man questioned, slowly stepping forward. The other two men stepped behind him.

  “No, thank you. We aren’t far.”

  “We’re just trying to help,” he replied. There was something in his voice that felt insincere.

  “Thank you,” Neil answered. “We better be on our way.”

  Neil took hold of Kiana’s hand and tugged her down another alleyway, heading away from their destination. He quickly went a few more blocks, and then stopped for a moment in a small alcove on the side of one of the buildings.

  Kiana bent over, resting her palms on her knees, trying to catch her breath. “Those guys scare the hell out of me.”

  “Yeah, they’re trouble. We have to be more cautious.”

  Neil pulled his phone from his pocket and checked their location. In another few blocks, they could be back on track. But before they moved, he faced his daughter.

  “You have your gun right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “If you need to…if we’re put in a position of trouble—”

  “I know, Dad. If I have to, I’ll use it,” she assured him.

  “Good. I just need to make sure you aren’t afraid to defend yourself.”