“So how are we looking, Mr. Maps?” I ask Mike as we jogged down the path.

  “We’re nearly there, less than a mile to go,” he answered with an optimistic smile on his face. The kid was gaining in confidence. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the sign of an arrow embedded in ice on the tunnel wall. Alexandria.

  A half-mile later, we reached the end of the tunnel. We set our dynamite, detonated, and then used picks and shovels to clear the debris to get through. And then we saw something unexpected. A ladder mounted in the wall in front of us. It didn’t look too steep, maybe around eight or nine feet, but it was strange, nonetheless. I climbed up first, pushed through the makeshift manhole, and entered Alexandria. Still intact, and with a giant ice roof formed over the entire city.

  “You can get out of our way any time now, Brad.”

  I shook myself out of my shock and climbed out to let everyone else onto the surface. I could see the sky through the almost transparent ice. Ice that went on for what I could only assume would be miles. It seemed that we were inside of a dome that surrounded the city. Buildings were still standing, if not a little beat up and blanketed with ice and frost, and even a couple of cars were still around, though I doubt they would have much use in this place. Cars. Buildings. Streets. We hadn’t seen these in a long time. The surface land area was supposed to be uninhabitable, and our lives to end in caves. Alexandria was supposed to be a symbol of faint optimism, a pipedream to fuel our diminishing hope, at best another wasteland. But here it was, a reminder of the life we’d lost.

  “It’s beautiful,” Scarlett observed, putting her arm around my side. I put mine over her shoulder to pull her in close. It’s how you appreciate the things you used to take for granted. Friendship Firehouse, The Lyceum, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church. A place so full of history, now itself protected and preserved forever as a monument to this new world. Who knew what history would be written here?

  “Robert would love it here,” I spoke out loud. Scarlett seemed to agree, and she leaned her head onto my shoulder as we continued to explore what I would have loved to make our new home.

  Unfortunately, Alexandria’s majesty distracted us from our mission, and we mindlessly separated from one another, Scarlett and I falling behind as Roy, Mike, and Dan strode down the road and started to turn a corner. That’s when a gang of Alexandria’s surviving population ambushed them.

  Scarlett began to shout a warning, but quickly covered her mouth. We watched in horror as at least twenty men armed with guns surrounded the three miners. They shouted at them to put their hands behind their backs and drop to their knees. They had no choice but to comply, and their captors tied our men’s hands behind their backs. A tall, muscular man in glasses, who I assumed was their leader, walked in front of them. He was saying something I couldn’t make out. Scarlett and I had taken cover behind a storefront to stay out of sight. When he stopped speaking, the gang dragged their captives away. We carefully followed them, making sure we stayed far enough behind to keep out of sight. I didn’t know what we were up against, but Scarlett was certain she recognized them.

  “These’re the raiders, Brad. That’s how they’re sustaining Alexandria, by stealing from everyone else. It has to be them.”

  Whoever they were, they had our men, and we’d come too far and gone through too much for it all to end like this. If they were new enemies, so be it. But if they were the raiders, then our revenge would be as cold as the ice surrounding us.

  “We’ll have to split up.”

  We’d hidden behind an abandoned church.

  “How do you want to do this?”

  She spelt out what she had in mind, and I thought long and hard before giving my answer, “Okay, I agree. I’ll go after our guys and get them out. You know what medicine you’re looking for. We’ll meet back here and make a break back the way we came. We’ll use whatever explosives we have on us to keep them from chasing us when we get back underground.”

  Scarlett nodded. “If we’re both not back in thirty minutes, I’ll come looking for you, or you come looking for me.”

  I thought about how much more difficult the task I’d given myself would be. She must have the same idea. “It shouldn’t take me too long to find what we need. Unless it’s hidden behind those guns, in which case it may be a problem.”

  She’s putting her life on the line. She shouldn’t even be here. It should be me alone. The kind of mission they trained me for in the Rangers. Scarlett, and also Roy, Dan, and Mike. If any of them die because of me…

  “Brad.”

  I looked into her glowing blue eyes. “It’s going to be fine. You can do this. I can do this. And we’re going to get home safe, together as always. This is us. Forever.”

  She pulled me close and sealed it with a kiss that seemed to go on for an eternity. The most blissful, comforting eternity a man could ask for.

  And then she was gone.

  CHAPTER 4

  We followed my men back to an old detention center about two miles north of where we emerged from underground. It didn’t look too difficult to get into, and I doubted any of the electrical security components worked anymore. Even so, looks can be deceiving, and I had to make sure I knew what I was doing and where I was going so we’d all of us survive. This was the endgame. If I died, then my men died, and Scarlett would probably die. The ten children with pneumonia would die. One of them was Robert.

  The fences were torn down from previous natural disasters, so I was able to sneak against the southern side of the brick building. To my right was the former entryway into the building. Somehow, I doubted they were allowing visitors at this time, so I searched around to find out if there was anything for me to climb through; a window, a vent, some other entry point that would get me inside unnoticed. Making my way to the left, I carefully peeked through a window low enough for me to see an office, or so it seemed. I didn’t see anyone guarding the room, so I carefully broke open the lock, and shimmied through as quietly as I could. I was inside the building. I was a man on a mission.

  I couldn’t help but have somewhat of a thrill putting my Ranger skills back on to use, stealthily slithering through the facility. I felt like I was back at Basic, and I remembered myself as the aimless eighteen-year-old trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life. My parents were trying to figure out the same thing and growing impatient at how slow that particular process was going. As I grew older and worked my way through the ranks, travelling around the world, I realized what my passion was, to protect and serve. I always felt a sense of pride when people thanked me for my service, showing their appreciation for what I was doing. It felt good to know you were the reason someone’s day was better, that they were able to have the freedom to enjoy their day.

  My first tour in Saudi Arabia circa 2007 was an incredible eye-opener as to how lucky we truly had it. People were living in a constant state of fear, if you could even call it living. They were denied basic rights and privileges; women weren’t even allowed to show themselves in public, or travel anywhere without a male in tow. I wished I could have done something about this situation. But I was just one young man who couldn’t change an entire country overnight. Instead, I made sure I was going to provide the best life I could to the people that I loved. My girlfriend Scarlett would never have to worry about anything like the life they lived in Saudi. I vowed that much to myself. I might not be able to control the rest of the world, but I could control my personal life. If I could cut it there, then I could cut it back home. What could possibly go wrong?

  A lone gunman walked in my direction, unaware of my presence. As he passed an open janitorial room door, a mop fell out and landed loudly, momentarily frightening him. He carefully crept up to the door, gun pointed, and ready for action. He leapt inside to check it out, sighing as he picked up the mop and put it back into the bucket where it came from. He never saw my chokehold coming, and now I had an AR-47 at my disposal.

  Boy, it’s been a while since I’ve had my hands on one of these.

  I followed the signs to enter the designated area for the cells. The doors were of the electrically controlled type, so I wouldn’t have to worry about finding keys. All I had to do was figure out where exactly they were being held. I saw another lone guard with his back toward me, so I decided to take a moment of his time, shoved my gun into his back, and popped the question.

  “Live to see another day, and tell me where they are.”

  His body trembled with fear. “Who?”

  “The three prisoners you just brought in. There aren’t that many of them, and there certainly aren’t many of you, so if you want to live, I’ll ask one more time. Where are they?”

  “P-P-Pod D, on this floor. Take a right, then a left.”

  “Show me, or else you won’t get your walkie-talkie back,” I ordered, relieving him of his radio.

  I walked him down the hall to the upcoming right, and after a few yards we made a left. We were walking for some time, and I prepared myself for a possible ambush. Further down the passage I could make out the D-Pod signs. Two subsections marked on a sign, D-1 and D-2.

  “Heh, so you weren’t lying to me after all. Let’s keep this streak of honesty going by telling me which one they’re in.”

  He pointed to D-2.

  “Thanks. A deal’s a deal, you get to live.”

  I hit the back of his head with the butt of my gun to knock him out.

  “But I’ll keep the walkie-talkie,” I said to his unconscious body as I dragged him into what looked to be the doctor’s quarters, which meant I could find some drugs to boost Scarlett’s supplies. She wouldn’t be the only one coming home with medicines.

  I had to act fast, for any second one of the bodies would be discovered, and the place would be swarming with hostiles. This pod had an upper and lower level that circled around the hall. It looked to be about fifty cells in total.

  I raised my voice loud enough so that anyone in the place could hear me, but not loud enough to echo and alert someone on the outside.

  “Roy? Mike? Dan?”

  “Brad?”

  Upstairs to my left!

  I raced up the stairs to find them.

  “Yeah, it’s me. Where are you?”

  “Cell 15,” Roy sang out.

  I pulled open Cell 15. Their feet were tied together and hands tied behind their backs. Dan’s face looked bruised, probably for standing up to them in his trademark Dan Cooper fashion. I quickly untied all the knots.

  “Wow, you didn’t take long getting here,” Mike commented as I untied his.

  “I doubt they expected a Special Forces operator to arrive,” I responded, “Okay, you’re free.”

  I led them back down the stairs and began to work out our escape.

  “If anyone gets in our way, we’ll have to kill them,” I laid it out for them, “Our survival is on the line.”

  We couldn’t go back the same way I’d come. I didn’t want to risk the man I knocked out waking up and alerting the rest of them. Rather than taking the left to go back where I’d come from, I turned right at the D-Pod intersection to see where it would lead us. Whatever was down there we had to make it quick, because the walkie-talkie came to life, a bad sign. I cranked it up a little bit louder to hear what was being said.

  Code Orange, intruders on the premises, not known if armed. Begin lockdown procedures.

  “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” I urged as the three of us started to run faster. Dan was trying his best to keep up, but his limp slowed him down.

  “You’ll be okay. Come on, we’ll help you along. Roy, give me a hand. Put an arm under his shoulder.”

  The two of us dragged him as fast as we could down the corridor. We eventually made it to another junction, one passage leading to another Pod, and the other to the kitchen. Having little choice but to see what the kitchen had to offer us, we went toward it, and found a set of double doors. Roy took Dan from me, and I grabbed hold of my gun to enter first. It was clear, and I motioned for them to come on in.

  The walkie-talkie chattered again.

  Code Red, intruder confirmed armed. Repeat, intruder confirmed armed. Shoot to kill. Continue lockdown procedures.

  “Look, there’s the exit sign!” Mike pointed to the other side of the kitchen. We raced through the door and came out on the loading dock, where they probably brought in the food for the prisoners and took out the trashcans to dispose of the waste. We were outside. The problem was we were on the other side of the building, and in front of us an open field, covered with a thick layer of frost.

  “Left or right?” Roy asked. I quickly looked in both directions, trying to measure the length of distance we had to cover. I then made what I prayed wasn’t the last decision I’d ever make.

  “Left, stay low, and keep moving.”

  I led again, gun drawn, preparing for whatever awaited us. When we reached the corner, I stopped them and poked my head around it.

  Six armed men were guarding the front entrance. I murmured what I’d seen to the men behind me. It didn’t look good. Even with my military experience and the weapon I carried, one against six was a lost cause. Who knew how many others were circulating through the facility as we watched and waited. It would only be a matter of time before they came out through the kitchen loading dock and discovered us. All we had left was a Hail Mary.

  “There’s a small church where Scarlett and I are due to meet. It’s a mile ahead.” I handed over the medical supplies to Roy.

  “Brad, what’s this?”

  “I found them inside. Now go, I’ll cover you guys for as long as I can. Find Scarlett, and make sure she gets back safe.”

  “Don’t be stupid, Brad,” Dan intervened, “I told you about this gung-ho hero nonsense, yet you’re about to get yourself killed.”

  “Just get to Scarlett. That’s all that matters.”

  Protect and serve. I’d die the way I’d lived, protecting the ones I loved. Roy, Dan, Mike, and Scarlett would be safe. Robert and the other children would get the vaccinations they needed. Their lives would go on, and with the knowledge that a place like Alexandria existed, and so would their hopes of a better future. We’d made it. All it would take was one small sacrifice to benefit the greater good. I peeked around the corner one more time and began the countdown.

  Three, two, one...

  Shots echoed around the building, but they weren’t from my gun, or any of the six guards. Now five guards, because an unknown gunman in the distance put several bullets into number six. The rest began to panic as he fell at their feet, dead. They began shooting in the direction of the mystery shooter, not paying attention to us. I took advantage of this opportunity by motioning my men to break for it, and I began to unload on the unsuspecting gunmen. I shot three, while the gunman took care of the other two. We were clear. I caught up with everyone, and we made a mad dash to the church. When we arrived, Scarlett was nowhere to be found.

  She was the most important person on this mission. We’d ensure she made it back; there was no other acceptable option. Even if it meant I had to die, if any of us had to die to make sure she got back to Stafford, so be it. And we couldn’t afford to wait much longer.

  Fortunately, we didn’t have to. Scarlett popped up from around the corner, clutching a bulging bag full of medicine, food, and other supplies. She also had an AR-47 in her hands, which shocked us all.

  “Nice heat, babe,” she smirked.

  I could only smile a greeting and thank God for this amazing woman.

  “Now let’s get the hell out of here,” Scarlett said, taking charge.

  We made it back to the makeshift manhole we’d used to enter Alexandria from the tunnel. As my wife and I stood back-to-back against each other to keep watch, Roy opened it, and let Dan crawl down the ladder first. His son Mike was next. Then Roy disappeared down the hole.

  “Go,” Scarlett barked at me.

  “What, no, you…”

  “Go!” she repeated, firing off her gun into the distance. They’d found us and were coming. I stood next to her, and we emptied our clips at the oncoming mob. We got more than a few good shots in, and they started to retreat and take cover.

  “Brad, you have to trust me, go, now!” Scarlett exclaimed one last time. She didn’t sound like she was about to start a discussion. Once I’d convinced myself the coast was clear, I quickly made my way into the tunnel to meet the other guys.

  I looked up from the bottom to wait for her to come down. And waited. And waited. More gunshots. I continued to wait. And wait. The gunshots stopped, and I felt my heart sink. And then a figure with a gun strapped across their back made their way down the ladder.

  Scarlett!

  We all ran for about half a mile before Scarlett suddenly stopped in her tracks. She reached into her bag and pulled out two sticks of dynamite, placed them either side of the tunnel, took out a fire starter and ignited it.

  “Move!” She sprinted toward us. Seconds later they exploded, causing the walls and roof to collapse, closing the entryway behind us.

  * * *

  “You seem a lot braver this time around,” Scarlett complimented Robert as she gave him his shot.

  “I feel a lot braver after they told me about what you guys did,” he responded with a cough.

  She smiled. “You’ll feel better in no time, hon.” She gave our son a warm motherly hug, “I love you so much. I hope you know that.”

  “I know,” he said, hugging her in return.

  I stood watching them, feeling better than I’d felt in a long, long time.

  “Kenny’s going to be fine, too,” Roy came to inform me about his son, “Thanks to the two of you.”

  “We all did it, Roy, all of us. That was a team effort.”

  We all felt good. We’d restocked our explosives and brought back new pickaxes and shovels. More food. We were becoming a functioning community again.

  We felt good then, but I knew it wouldn’t last. The raiders of Alexandria would seek retribution for the raid we’d carried out to get back what was ours. We’d need to think about relocating somewhere, somewhere safer, a place we could defend. Before they came, and, it was a matter of time.

 

1 2 3 4