Maggie wound down the window, inhaling the cold mountain air. Breathing deep, she blew out her frustrations and anger. She needed to stay focused and get these kids to safety.
The sounds of an engine revving and tires squealing reached her, carrying up the mountain. Maggie grabbed the other rifle. She unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped from the van. Bringing it up to her shoulder, she searched for the source of the noise. She spotted two 4x4s tearing up the mountain road, catching a glimpse of red on the driver’s side.
Pivoting, she yelled to Alice, “You drive! Let’s go!”
She ran around to the passenger side and waited for Alice to shimmy over behind the wheel. Then she hopped in and heard the van rev before lurching forward, its wheels spinning in the loose gravel before getting a grip on the tarmac.
Becs cried out, “Maggie!”
She turned around. “Stay in your seat, sweetie.”
Maggie checked that the rifle was fully loaded. She reached down and pulled some ammo out of the bag, shoving them into her pockets. Thoughts of her training focused her to the task ahead. She now understood the endless drills on loading and unloading her rifle. It was during tense times like these when muscle memory was critical. You had to be able to do what was necessary when you needed it most.
She clicked on the safety and grabbed the other rifle, repeating the task. Ready, she spun her head around, searching for the 4x4s. The groaning of their engines sounded closer, but she couldn’t see them. Maggie felt the van crest the top of the pass and drop down with the road. She glanced back around. Rolling hills cascaded down, petering out into flatter land. A city hugged the small natural harbour. Turquoise water glittered off the Pacific Ocean, lapping up against the hundreds of boats moored in the bay. Maggie’s heart leapt at the sight. Maybe, just maybe, I can go home.
The van swerved around a tight bend, its wheels screeching. Maggie maneuvered herself around in her seat, watching for their pursuers. A black 4x4 squealed around the corner and bullets pinged off the van. The kids screamed.
She turned to Alice. “Keep going. Try to ignore what’s going on. We have to reach that harbour.”
Without waiting for an answer, Maggie wound down her window and steadied herself. Breathing out, she sighted the 4x4 and let loose with a barrage of lead, aiming for the tires.
FOURTEEN
Boss peeked out from the flax bushes. He could see six of the beasts as they scampered back and forth along the edge of the crater lake, pausing and sniffing as they desperately searched for them.
Boss gently took off his pack and rummaged around for more ammo. He kept one eye on the creatures as he filled his pockets and loaded his shotgun and Glock. Max and George were huddled against him. Their body heat and the sounds of their breathing calmed him somewhat.
Boss looked up through the twisted, gnarled branches of the pohutukawa tree. The darkness of the night was beginning to fade as the sun crept above the horizon. Boss hoped he could hide out here for a while longer, knowing that the Variants didn’t like the sun so much. He pulled down his shirt, tucking it into his pants, then held out his hand and clenched it into a fist, trying to stop the shaking. This night had been a nightmare.
Boss checked his weapons again. Satisfied, he searched for a way out. There is always a way out, eh Jack? The waves crashed softly as they lashed the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Glancing once more at the tree, Boss wondered if the branches could take their weight. But then what? Swim out to sea? He tried to remember where the nearest boat was, but came up blank.
Max broke free of George’s grasp and ran to the entrance of their flax hidey-hole, growling a warning, his teeth bared. Boss looked up at the noise and scanned the lake shore. Two of the Variants stared back at him. They raised their heads and let out a blood-curdling shriek. A bellow answered, the awful sound bouncing around the caldera walls. It wrenched at his soul. Boss watched, mortified, as the Alpha of his nightmares lumbered out of the cave. The Alpha looked out to the island and pointed his huge, meaty claw. The children’s heads mounted on his shoulders jiggled as he bellowed, ordering his Variant kin to attack.
The two beasts closest to the island leapt into the water and started thrashing their way over the lake. Several others scampered around the sides, clinging to the walls.
Boss stood up. With their cover blown, it was time to flee. He hoisted George to his feet. “Up the tree, now. Quick! Run around the rocks and hide.”
He boosted George up, watching as his little hands and feet grasped onto the thick bark.
Boss pivoted and raised his shotgun, aiming for the beasts on the walls. He let loose with a blast. He hit a couple, but they didn’t slow down. Cursing, he aimed a little in front of the lead one and squeezed the trigger. A section of its head painted the cliff wall, and its lifeless body splashed into the lake. A shriek and the thrashing of water shifted his attention to those swimming to the island. They were only a few metres away now.
Boss glanced up at the Alpha. He swore the monster grinned at him as he raised his left arm and bellowed. Dozens of Variants flooded out of the cave and started to climb and swim their way over to the island. Boss glanced to the island shore and quickly dispatched the two monsters climbing out. He risked a glance up the tree to see George had reached the top of the caldera wall.
“Go, George! Run. I’ll hold them off.”
George stared back at him, his red hair glowing angel-like in the early morning sun. He shook his head at Boss.
“George, run! Please.”
George’s head dropped away from sight.
Clenching his jaw, Boss squared his shoulders. He pumped the shotgun and twisted to his left, firing at the Variants. So many of the bastards. Boss managed to kill a number of the beasts. He aimed and fired until his shotgun clicked empty. With no time to reload, he reached down and pulled his Glock free. Several of the Variants had reached the island now, and were standing on its obsidian-laden shore, oblivious to the sharp edges.
The Trophy King lumbered forward and waded out into the lake, his bulk causing ripples as he strode towards the island, his towering frame easily staying above the surface. The Variants climbing around the caldera walls started to reach the island and were dropping down, landing with a thud, their yellow eyes watching him. Several pushed their sucker mouths towards Boss, tasting the air.
Boss slowly turned in a circle. He was surrounded. Sweat ran down his spine, soaking the waistband of his pants. Boss stared out at the Variant horde collected around the lake and island. He could feel his stump quivering, all his adrenalin used up during their flight. His nerves were starting to re-establish themselves, telling him that he hurt all over.
At least George got away.
Using the standoff, Boss clicked a fresh magazine into his Glock. He looked down at Max, who was still growling and baring his teeth. Boss’s heart hammered away in his chest. After all I’ve been through to survive, it’s going to end like this? Surrounded by man-eating monsters. After all those hours playing video games, killing all manner of beasts, and I’m going to be torn apart by them. Ironic.
Boss sighed, remembering his life. Home had been fine, and school was too, until he reached 14.
It wasn’t his fault she liked him. Anya was her name. Beautiful blue eyes and long blonde hair. All the boys liked her, including Boss. Especially his best friend, Thomas. Thomas chased her for months. When Thomas finally asked her out, she declined. Boss was surprised when she texted him, asking him to the movies. Boss agonised over his decision, but in the end accepted. Thomas then turned on him and accused him of ‘swooping’. He launched a vicious social media campaign, bullying Boss mercilessly.