The End Boxset: Postapocalyptic Visions of an Unstoppable Collapse Read online

  What bothered him the most was the way she spoke to him. Like he was a mental patient. The same way she would nod along when they were dating as he rambled on about their deteriorating rights as citizens under an oppressive government. Such topics never seemed to keep her interest. Then it ultimately hit him why she was being so agreeable and polite just a moment ago. It had everything to do with the child sleeping in the house. As if Jeremy would be even capable of doing such a thing. He hadn't seen her in two years, and he felt now that she would always think of him as a monster. It turned out that Linda didn't know him as well as he thought she did. And she never would.

  Jeremy didn't want to take Philip back to the house. What would he have possibly said to his parents? It would be best just to make up a story of his whereabouts. As long as he could get them on the road with him, they would soon forget about Phillip. Jeremy took corners quickly and ran every stop sign down his path. He was certain that after he left, Linda and Kirby would call the cops. He had to get home and get to his parents before it was too late. The authorities would be looking for his truck in no time.

  He was too late. As Jeremy neared his parent's house he saw three police cars parked in the driveway.

  “How the hell did they get here so quick?” he shouted. He slammed on his breaks, causing his truck to swerve. The tires screeched along the pavement. “Shit. Shit!” he said fumbling with the gears. He managed to do a rapid three-point turn in the other direction. He was hoping to remain unnoticed, but such hopes were futile. Jeremy steered his truck in the other direction. It was over. There was no way he could get his parents now. He would be arrested for assault and put in jail. And prison was the last place he wanted to be, come tomorrow. He shifted his truck frantically throughout the neighborhood streets, making his way to the highway. A few miles more and he would be on the main interstate out of the city, and if things went well, closer to a cabin in the mountains.

  Chapter 4: Alice’s Adventure

  Exhausted, Alice was finally near her son's high school. She had to stop and rest a few times along the way, as well as avoid groups of people walking or standing around their cars. She had underestimated how hard it would be to ride a teenager's bike for nearly ten miles. Then she would have to find a way to get Kiya. A hopeless quest if thought about for too long. She was running on maternal instinct which fueled her adrenaline. She was within a mile from the school, riding in the middle of the long road that led to Cyprus Creek High. What waited ahead didn't look very encouraging. It would seem other parents thought of the same thing that she had. In addition to the abandoned cars along the road, there was a mob of people—hundreds it seemed—funneling in and out of the school. The chances of finding Brian in this mess seemed slim to none. But she had to give it a shot.

  It was normally the time for school to let out, and in such an instance, Brian would be taking the bus home. But there were no running buses just as there were no running cars or anything mobile whatsoever. Alice weaved repeatedly through the parked cars and people. At the front gate stood a small group of police officers and school administrators trying to maintain order among the chaos. Nothing they said or did seemed to be having much of an effect. People were entering the school as people were leaving. The gates did nothing at this point, the crowd has pushed them open, and there were too few officials to do anything about it.

  Though a tad disorderly and overwhelming, the situation hadn't turned into outright panic yet. Everybody was reasonably calm. The only commotion came from parents shouting their kids' names. The police officers were on edge because people were asking them endless questions about why cars weren't working, what they should do, and how they were going to get home. “I don't know lady, our squad cars broke down about a mile away as well. Everyone just needs to get to their homes,” one officer told a particularly pushy mother in the crowd.

  Alice braced herself for what was to come. She hopped off Brian's bike, and walked toward the formation of the crowd. She did her best to move through the crowd while pushing the bike, but it wasn't easy. Teenagers pushed past her. Parents—left and right—bumped into her. She nearly tripped over a small child. She had to stop and make sure the little girl was okay, but when she did, she realized that the force of the crowd was something to be reckoned with. Alice tried to look past the countless heads in front of her, and the faces passing in the opposite direction.

  “Brian!” she called, “Brian! Where are you?” He voice soon joined the chorus of other parents calling for their children. Alice was tightly packed between a tall burly man who blocked her view, a woman carrying a small child, and some teenagers trying to squeeze through the opposite way. Her determination to find Brian led her into the crowd, but once in, she realized she was stuck. She hadn’t even made beyond the gates yet. There was no finding him in the mess, so she started to push her way out of the crowd. “Let me out!” she said.

  She was pushed towards the school, and before she knew it, the bike was gone. She glanced into the distance over the heads of the mob and saw a teenager in a yellow hoodie peddling the bike away from the crowd. “Hey!” she shouted. Without the bike, however, she could move more fluidly and perhaps make her way out. Uproar started to move throughout the crowd like a contagion. Parents were growing restless, as the local police grew in number. There was commotion as the police attempted to shut the school the gates and hinder the flow of people. One officer ordered the crowd to disperse. “No admittance into the school!” he said, “The students are being released. Be patient and wait outside the school ground.” It seemed like a simple enough request, but the people just weren't listening. “I'm here to get my son!” one parent would yell as they pushed their way into the school. “I'm here to get my daughter!” another would say. “Caroline!” “Steven!” “Carlos!” “Jessica!” “Jimmy!” “Amanda!” The names went on and on.

  The mysterious explosions seemed to have everyone is a heightened panic. It certainly wasn't helping them find their children. Alice was nearly out of the crowd when she tripped over a small child and fell to the asphalt ground. Shoes everywhere in all directions surrounded her. Anonymous legs of the crowd moved by without care. The little boy she tripped over couldn't have been more than five. He was sitting on the ground crying. The footsteps around him were quickly gathering. He would be trampled before long. Alice yelled for the people to stop, but her cries were drowned out by all the commotion. She felt the first footstep over her back. Then another. Then someone nearly stumbled over her. She screamed again, and then pushed herself up enough to where she could crawl over to the crying child. Legs hit her from all sides. A few people nearly fell over, but Alice persisted. She grabbed the child and hoisted herself up, pushing her way through. The child cried and cried, as Alice held it tightly in her arms. She struggled through the last front of people and made her way out.

  Escaping the crowd was like a breath of fresh air. It had grown in size even in the short time she had been a part of it. She leaned against a car and rocked the bawling toddler, trying to put him at ease. “Shhhhh. Everything is going to be alright.”

  “My son! What are you doing with my son?” A twenty-something woman yelled from the crowd. She pushed her way out and was quickly to Alice. She couldn't have been more than five feet tall, but had enough rage to equal someone twice her size. “Give him back to me!” she yelled.

  Upon seeing his mother, the toddler then really started to cry.

  “Calm down,” Alice said, clutching the kid.

  “Calm down? Who in the hell do you think you're talking to, bitch?” the woman snapped.

  The woman pulled on her child, trying to pry it from Alice's arms. Alice resisted, again through some type of maternal instinct. The only problem was that the child's mother was running on maternal rage.

  “Your son has just been through a very traumatic experience and you're not making it any better for him,” Alice said.

  “Let go of him. I'll have you arrested!” the woman said pulling
.

  “You're hurting him,” Alice said loudly over the cries of the toddler. The woman was not going to budge so Alice loosened her grip on the child. He slid into his mother's arm, still crying.

  “You got a lot of nerve, lady. A lot of nerve,” she said to Alice while pulling the child into her chest. His cries grew faint and he soon calmed. Alice's heart was racing, as she couldn't recall a moment where someone had been so rude and confrontational with her. Then she thought of her children. This filled her with anger at her inability to take control of the situation and keep them safe. She stood in front of the woman, and got within inches of her face.

  “You want to talk about nerve? What kind of mother takes a small child into a crowd like that? He could have been seriously injured. Do you understand that? I had to pull him out before he got trampled!” Alice shouted.

  The woman was silent. Alice couldn't tell if she had put her in her place or just enraged her further. She had no idea what to expect.

  “I can't find my oldest. He's a special needs child. This is his first year of high school. I need to get into that school and find him. I'm scared to death for him. I know I shouldn't have taken Conner in there with me, but what else could I have done?” the woman said with a noticeable change in tone and demeanor.

  “I'm looking for my son too,” Alice replied.

  “It's just—I didn't have a choice. I've got nothing else but my two boys. I'm sorry I yelled at you.” The woman extended her free arm to Alice, “My name's Susan.”

  Alice shook her hand. “I'm Alice. It's quite alright. Things are very crazy right now.”

  “I was driving along to get Robert at school like I always do at this time, then my car stopped. It just stopped. Right after that explosion. Looked like a bomb went off in the sky.”

  “You saw it?” Alice asked.

  “Yep, a big bright burst of light, like a quick flash. Like lightening or something.”

  “I didn't see anything. I couldn't start our car earlier. And our power went out,” Alice said.

  “Maybe the lightening took everything out. Like when a transformer blows. I can't even get my cell phone to work.”

  “Me too,” Alice said with her attention focused over Susan's shoulders to the school. The crowd was becoming more unruly, and she was desperately hoping for Brian to emerge.

  “Listen,” Alice said looking ahead, “Best of luck finding your son, I need to find mine before things get too out of control here.” With that, she started to walk away and back towards the school.

  “No wait!” Susan called out. Alice turned. “I know I was a like a big super bitch to you and everything, and I'm glad you accepted my apology. But, as you said, I can't go in that crowd with Conner.”

  “I'm sorry, I really have to find my son,” Alice said.

  “I have to find mine too,” Susan said. Her voice was shaky and tears were forming. Susan continued, “All I ask is that you watch Conner while I go into the school and get his brother.”

  “Susan, they're not letting anyone else in the school,” Alice said.

  “Trust me, they really don’t want to get in my way right now.”

  Alice cracked a smiled, feeling like she was being unwittingly pulled away from her goal.

  “The problem is that I have another child, a girl in middle school. And I have to get as well,” she said.

  Susan looked at Alice in disbelief. “You're going to walk there?” she asked.

  “What choice do I have?” Alice said.

  Susan began to cry making the situation more awkward than Alice could contend with. “Please,” Susan said between sobs, “Please help me.” Alice wanted out. If she could teleport to another time and place, she would have. “Isn't there someone else you can ask to watch your son? Any friends of family in the area? Perhaps nearby?” Alice asked.

  “I have no one. Please, if I can't get passed those gates in ten minutes, I'll come back,” Susan said.

  Alice took a deep breath. She looked at the crowd. Its size only grew. Her eyes followed the large gate around the school. An idea suddenly struck her. To the right side of the school were the woods. A path leading into this wilderness was not far ahead. Everyone was trying so hard to get into the front gates, it never occurred to anyone to find another way in.

  “I'm going to find another way into the school,” Alice said

  “What other way?” Susan asked, rocking her Conner.

  “I'm going to jump the fence on the side. I'll look for your son and mine. You wait here. That's what I can do. What I can't do is stand here and play babysitter.”

  “I guess that could work,” Susan said looking at the ground.

  “What does your son look like? You said his name is Robert, right?” Alice asked.

  Susan looked up. “Yes, his name is Robert. Check classroom 2A first. That's his homeroom. He's about five feet, five inches, with short dark hair, sort of a shaggy crew cut. It's been a while since he got it cut. He's wearing a SpongeBob SquarePants shirt, blue shorts, and Nike sneakers?”

  “That’s good enough. I've got to get moving. I won't be long.” Alice faced Susan directly. “Stay in this spot. Do not move. If I can find your son, this is exactly where we'll be meeting you.”

  With that, Alice was off. “Alice,” Susan called. Alice stopped and turned. “Thank you,” Susan said.

  “I'll be back soon,” Alice said. She hurried to the path into the woods remaining unnoticed to most of the people that walked by. Susan cradled her son, holding him tight. “Not much longer, we'll be home soon.”

  Chapter 5: Kiya: Lockdown at the Middle School

  For Kiya, there was noticeably less commotion at Sun Crest Middle School. The principal, Mr. Wright, true to his word, had effectively put the school on lockdown. It was after 3:00pm. School would have normally gotten out by now. Instead, the students were told to stay in their classrooms until further notice, with threats of suspension or expulsion if they failed to comply. As soon as the power to the school went out, and rumors of terrorists attacks in the air, Mr. Wright wasted no time in sealing the school off from outside elements. The school had large, non-scalable concrete walls surrounding it. All gates had been closed, and Mr. Wright ordered that no one could leave or enter the school. In similar fashion to Brian's school, a mob of parents had gathered outside to get their children. In effect, the school literally looked like a prison at this point. Mr. Wright stood on the top of the north tower, near the front gate, grasping a megaphone. He was flanked by the Vice Principal, Ms. Foley, and the school's security officer, Deputy Willis.

  “I assure you that your children are safe and secure here. Due to recent unforeseen events, I've been instructed to place the school on complete lockdown. No one gets in, no one gets out. This is for the safety of not only my faculty, but for your children as well.”

  Mr. Wright's announcement was nearly drowned out by the crowd outside the gate. It was unconscionable to think that they couldn't get their children.

  “You open those gates!” an angry man shouted from below.

  Mr. Wright continued, “Please, sir. The best thing we can do is wait—“

  “What are you waiting for?” a woman yelled.

  “Until we know that it's safe. You have to understand, while the students are here, they are our responsibility. And we're going to ensure that they are free from harm.”

  This only upset the crowd further. Mr. Wright talked into the ear of his Vice Principal, “I think our work’s done here for the time being. Come with me to my office. There are some things we need to go over.” Ms. Foley nodded. They looked over the crowd of confused parents at the gates. Mr. Wright spoke again into the megaphone, “We promise to keep you regularly updated on the situation here. It shouldn't be much longer. Please be patient and we'll have your children to you in no time. Thank you.”

  Mr. Wright lowered his megaphone and handed it to Deputy Willis.

  “Keep an eye on them,” he said, “Make sure nothing gets ou
t of control.” Shouts from the crowd below could be heard making all sorts of threats against Mr. Wright. “I'll have your job!” “I'll sue you and this school!” “Let our children leave!”

  Deputy Willis nodded back to Mr. Wright. The principal and his assistant climbed down from the north tower and went back into the school.

  Kiya's sixth grade classroom was currently in a state of normalcy. Causal chatter between students filled the room as their teacher, Mrs. Crabtree, sat at her desk reading a magazine. The windows were open, letting in the cool breeze from outside. The commotion in the front of the school, so far, went unnoticed. A fire still blazed in the distance, over the school walls and beyond the surrounding town. There was no power in the room, but for now, natural light was enough. This would become a problem, however, once night time came. The students were getting noticeably anxious. Mrs. Crabtree was looking forward to getting home herself. Her husband, a college professor, was currently away at a writer's conference in Boston. She planned to use the alone time to work on her book of poetry that she longed to get published. Any minute, she believed, Mr. Wright would announce that the school gates were opened and that everyone could go home.

  Kiya was doodling in her notebook. Mark Nelson, the annoying kid that sat in front of her, turned around to engage her in conversation.

  “So when do you think they're going to let us leave?” he asked.

  “I'm not sure. Soon I hope,” Kiya said.

  “I've got to get home. I'm kicking ass in Dragon Slayer, but if I don't get online soon, I'm toast. Have you played Dragon Slayer?”

  “No,” Kiya said looking down and scribbling.