The Ark of Asylum (The Ark Series Book 1) (11 page)

Maggie sits against the wall trying to process the situation while Heather and Kristie sit next to her, still crying, still in shock. Eric and Nate go over to the television and turn on the news, which seems to be on every channel. In an attempt to appear calm, they stare at the television with the hope of finding some sort of explanation and possibly obtaining a little bit of clarity. Eric sits with his head resting on his hand, dumfounded and scared shitless, and the news report is only making things worse.

As soon as he realizes how he must look and not wanting to look weak in front of the girls, he stands up and clears his throat. “Alright, you guys, we need a plan. The world’s going to hell. This is serious shit going down out there, and none of us have a clue as to what we’re supposed to be doing!”

Maggie wipes her eyes and squeezes her roommates’ hands. “We’re not going to do anything right now. We all saw what happened to Todd, and that’s not going to happen to us. We have enough food and water to last us a long time, so we’ll just wait until the National Guard comes in and takes care of all of this, okay? We’re not going outside. We’re fine down here. We’re all safe.”

Eric shakes his head. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing. People are dying out there, people like Todd, and they need our help. You want us to just sit around and do nothing while innocent lives are lost? I’m sorry, I just can’t do that. I think
—
”

Maggie stands up. “Go out there and help? Are you crazy? The police or National Guard or military will handle that. We don’t have the training or knowhow to go out there and play G.I. Joe! This is not up for discussion. My family should be in contact with us soon, and they’ll know what to do. Until then we sit tight!”

Nate spins around in his seat and then jumps up. “Listen, Maggie, I have to agree with Eric on this. We can’t just sit around and let people die out there. It wouldn’t be right. And most of us have had target practice like Eric, Kristie, and me, and so have you. We have plenty of weapons and protective gear to go out there and help out. It’s not like
—
”

Suddenly, the computer makes a beeping noise, and Maggie runs over to it and clicks the mouse. She lets out a sigh of relief when she sees her uncle on the screen with her parents behind him. “Mom, Dad, Uncle John, I’m so glad to see you guys. What the hell is going on out there? Our friend, Todd, was killed by some psychopath who attacked and killed him!”

Her family’s looks of concern quickly turn into looks of shock, and John responds, “I’m sorry to hear about your friend, but are you guys alright?”

Her mom, Stacy, places her hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Honey, are you okay?”

Maggie starts to cry a little. “We’re all okay physically but not so good mentally or emotionally. I miss you guys so much. I should have listened to you and moved up there. That was so foolish of me.”

Stacy dabs her eyes with a tissue. “Listen, honey, you moved down there for school. No one is faulting you for that. We‘re just glad you guys are alright and safe in the bunker. Just stay down there until help arrives and this is taken care of by the military.”

Maggie turns her head and looks directly at Eric. “We are, Mom. We’re not going anywhere. Eric and Nathan want to go out there and help people, but that’s not going to happen.”

Maggie’s dad, Bill, bends down and cranes his head into the screen shot. “Like hell you are! You guys stay put!”

John moves his head around Bill’s and gently pushes him back. “Under no circumstances should you kids leave that bunker anytime soon. You hear me, Eric and Nathan? The initial reports coming in say the people that were affected by this tear gas have demonstrated behavior like that of a rabid animal. They are attacking anyone and killing them! You saw what happened to your friend, Todd, and the same could happen to you if you venture out there. So until we learn more about this and gather more information on what’s going on, you are in no way to leave that bunker.

Because I’m not even sure if you would know who to trust out there anyway. At this point, we have to consider the possibility that this was in fact the police or government who caused this, and it wasn’t just another terrorist attack. I don’t think they would do something like this, but who knows? And by the way, how was your friend Todd attacked? Haven’t you been in the bunker since this all started?”

Maggie looks at her friends and turns back toward the screen. “We were actually in Denver when it happened.” The look of shock on her family’s faces force her to choose her words very carefully. “We
—
were part of the protest when the police fired the tear gas into the crowds. We were pretty far from the center of the protest, and we also had gas masks on. We got out okay, but on the drive home sitting in a traffic jam, some psychotic, crazed lunatic smashed the window and pulled Todd out and just killed him. Eric jumped out to help, but it was too late. He had to shoot and kill the guy.”

John slowly turns his head and glances at Bill, who is visually stunned at what they just heard, and then turns back toward the screen. “You guys were at the protest when this all happened.” He puts his hand on the side of his forehead and slides it through his hair and drops his head. “Jesus Christ, you guys, you’re lucky to be alive. Do you have any idea how fortunate you guys are that you weren’t all killed or affected by the tear gas! And why the hell were you carrying a gun with you, Eric? Do you always carry one around?

Eric hesitates but then enters the view of the screen. “No way, sir, I don’t usually carry a gun with me. Yesterday Maggie let us check out the bomb shelter, and I took a handgun without her knowing it. It was only for the day just for protection in case something happened, and I was going to return it with the gas masks we borrowed. I’ve apologized to Maggie, and I’m sorry to you, sir, and Maggie’s parents. It was stupid of me to take it.”

Stacy shakes her head and inches toward the screen. “Not smart, Eric. You could have accidentally shot my daughter or one of her friends.” Eric quickly casts his eyes away and looks conflicted.

John scratches his head and looks up. “Well, thank God you did. I guess doing something stupid turned out to be a life saver. Everything happens for a reason, you guys. Just be thankful you’re all okay and safe.”

Maggie replies, “We are, Uncle John, and you’re absolutely right; everything does happen for a reason, and we are just grateful to be safe.” She looks over at Eric and smiles ever so slightly.

Knowing that the whole Ark was full of very scared people wanting some answers as to what was going on, John takes over the conversation. He tells them they will be sending a drone out to recon the Denver and Boulder areas, anticipating the loss of news coverage in the next couple days. The government has already declared martial law in every major metropolitan area, and they’ve issued a state of emergency for all the protest states.

The National Guard has been dispatched, and all military troops serving in other countries have been ordered to come home in fear of another terrorist attack. He elaborates on the probability that this was a terrorist attack and that the initial reports said that the tear gas had been tampered with and was somehow turned into some kind of chemical weapon. He finishes by reminding them that things are going to get real bad out there and he needs them to sit tight and stay calm.

Maggie and Eric both nod their heads yes, and Maggie ends the call with saying I love you. She turns and looks at her roommates who have calmed down a little and have stopped crying.

“Alright, we’ll stay here for now.” Eric looks at Maggie and then everyone else. “Your uncle and you, Maggie, are absolutely right. We’re lucky to be alive, and we shouldn’t put ourselves in harm’s way if we don’t have to. The government will take care of this, and we’ll be out of here in probably a week or two tops. Until then, let’s just go through and inventory our supplies and keep up on the news and do a lot of praying.”

Maggie looks up at Eric and smiles. “Exactly, a lot of praying.”

The guys get up and walk over to the guns and begin inspecting the weapons. Maggie looks at her friends and smiles. “Come on, you guys. Let’s get our minds off of everything and go check out the food and water supply. I’m sure the guys are perfectly content with checking out the guns.” She stands up and reaches her hands out to her two roommates still sitting on the floor. They look up at her, grab her hands, and walk over to the food shelves, arms linked together.

Before she falls asleep that night, Maggie thinks about how fortunate they are that she has someone who cares about her so much that he would build a bunker under her house just in case of something like this ever happening. Not many people have the luxury of such an extravagant thing as this safe haven they now all sleep in, and for those people who aren’t safe tonight, her heart aches. 

Peter sits in his chair, flipping through the channels of nothing but the news on almost every channel. Three days after the initial incident, Denver is in total lockdown with no one in or out. What’s left of the National Guard has been allocated further outside the city, surrounding it in attempts to contain the infected but with very little success. Because the threat of an airborne toxicity is no longer an issue, the surrounding suburbs have lost all control and the people are starting to loot and pillage. The remaining police force has attempted to maintain law and order, but they are so busy fighting off the infected that roam the streets of almost every suburb within a mile of Denver. The news reports also state that similar scenarios are occurring in every major city that has been affected by the tear gas.

Peter just wants to give up as he listens to yet another news report detailing the breakdown of modern society. With power grids starting to shut down in random parts of the city and its surroundings, people continue to panic. Shootings and stabbings are being reported all over the metro area, and the emergency phone lines are so overwhelmed that they are unable to answer most calls. Every flight coming in and out of the country has been shut down in fear of terrorist attacks being carried out at a very vulnerable time. The military has yet to move in to help out the affected cities with reasons unknown.

Simon sits at the table talking with the rest of the group, explaining to them what he told Peter about his knowledge and experience with this type of chemical weapon. Just as stunned as Peter was, Jason, Kelly, and Dave sit and listen, trying to comprehend what they are hearing. Kelly tries her best to hold back her tears while Jason and Dave sit there stone-faced but obviously devastated by the information.

After Simon’s explanation of his past experience, they start to discuss a plan and strategy for what they need to do. Time is not on their side, and action needs to be swift and concise. After coming up with a plan, they decide to bring Peter into the conversation.

Simon turns around in his chair and looks at his son, again flipping through the channels. “Peter, hey, would you come over here for a minute? We need to discuss something.”

Peter looks at his dad, turns down the television, and walks over to the table and sits down, not saying a word.

“Alright, listen, son, we’ve been talking, and after I explained to them what I told you about this chemical weapon, we’ve come up with a plan on what needs to be done, okay?”

Peter nods his head in agreement as Simon continues on. “Alright, now with the extra people that will be staying here, our supplies aren’t going to last that long. I only stocked enough provisions for the two of us, and with an extra three people, the food and water that we have just won’t last us as long, of course. So we’ve come up with a plan on what we’re going to do. The looting around town has already begun, and if we wait any longer, then supplies will be gone and we’ll be left with scavenging houses, something I would like to avoid for as long as possible. So we’re going to have to go out there, and we’ve all agreed that our best chance of survival is that we all go out and work as a team.”

Peter looks at his dad with furrowed eyebrows. “Yes, son, and that means you too. At first I didn’t want you coming with us. I thought it might be too dangerous. But as I told them, quite frankly, you’re the best shot I’ve personally ever seen with a sniper rifle. These two military guys didn’t believe me since you’re so young, but I think I’ve convinced them. So, the plan is to leave here at dawn tomorrow and hit the grocery store and pharmacy and get as much food, water, and medical supplies as we can get. Now it’s been decided that the three of us, Dave, Jason, and I, will enter the store alone. While you and Kelly camp out about a hundred yards away in the trees with a sniper rifle, you’ll watch our backs, and Kelly will watch yours.”

Peter looks at Kelly and then at his dad. “Ah, she’s going to be watching my back . . . What does that mean? Why can’t I go with you guys?”

“Because, son, we need you to be our eyes and ears out there, but we will be in constant radio communication, so you just need to make sure no one hostile surprises us while we’re inside gathering supplies. And Kelly will do fine. She knows how to handle a weapon.”

Kelly looks at Peter and says, “I may be just a girl in your eyes and have never been in the military, but I do know what I’m doing. My daddy taught me how to shoot when I was young. So like your dad said, I know how to handle a weapon. Not to mention I’m married to a military man, so you don’t have to worry about me. I have your back, okay?”

Peter lowers his head and lets out a sigh while he shakes his head. “Alright, if you say so.”

Jason grabs his wife’s hand. “Alright, then it’s settled. We leave tomorrow at dawn.”

Peter nods his head yes, and they all get up from the table. Kelly goes over to some cans on the shelves and begins to prepare dinner for the group. Over dinner, they discuss a few details about their plan but eat quietly and quickly. They then all retire to the bunk beds with Dave having to sleep on the floor. He isn’t very comfortable there on the floor, but not a single one of them will sleep well this night.