War Games (1)

314 days until extinction.

It had been some time since Harper last went to war, but for her it was just like riding a bike.

In addition to the rifle she was planning to use the armoury had been able to supply her with most of the items she needed. A fairly sizable chunk of Styrofoam, several metal cans, just under three litres of gasoline siphoned from cars nearby, and a very special surprise she tied to the back door for anyone trying to blow through the padlock she had set on the back door.

Her first course of action was to cut the cans in half filling the bottom of each with gunpowder before packing each with nails, glass and sharp stones and sealing them up before putting a small hole in the top with the tip of her knife.

After that she began to break down all the Styrofoam into the gasoline until it formed almost a gel-like substance that she then split into two sizable chunks, then separated one of those chunks into six much smaller segments that she rolled into a thin strip and then fed into the hole at the top of the cans.

Once that was done she set up a simple strip of razor wire on two of the staircases leading up to the fourth floor where she had situated herself. Pressed the Styrofoam gel she’d made near the top of the second staircase, and the makeshift bombs all throughout each floor.

Her preparation took most of the morning, and as afternoon gave way to an early evening she took point at the top of the apartment complex and fired a shot into the air, and a few moments later another. There was no way The Captain would not send his cronies running to investigate.

All she had to do now was wait.

-----

It had been roughly three days since Jason last saw the two random scavengers who had given him the chewing tobacco he swiftly worked his way through, he had hoped he’d never have to see them again.

But one late afternoon as a rifle shot cut through the silence he suspected that hope was about to fall short.

He was called into the master bedroom where the boss of their little militia had situated himself after they took control of a mansion that had long ago been turned into a museum. Half expecting to see a scantily clad woman laying in the luxurious bed Jason was surprised to see the man himself sitting at the end of it facing the room as they all gathered. Most of them looked just as confused as he was, though Razeena was standing at attention near the man who seemed to hold all of their lives in his enormous dinner plate sized hands. Leaning forward he laced his fingers together before speaking in a faux gentleness that did not suit his gravely voice.

“So, I think I need to apologize to you all.”

Tension hung heavy in the air as the man’s black eyes looked over the crew of ten gathered, a faux smile barely hiding the rage behind his eyes.

“I do, because I must have failed to truly impress upon you all the gravity of the situation and how important that rifle is. How it stands between us and EVERYTHING we have been trying to achieve.”

Rising to his feet he strode toward them all towering over them, eyes darting between each of them. Jason hated the way his eyes felt, like a hot poker through the chest meant to pull out every lie, every single bit of weakness that he might use against them.

Turning away from them he walked over to the large window that oversaw the compound that they had established, in particular the section where most of the families were housed.

“I swore to you all that I would protect you, protect your families. But our filtration devices are failing one after another, and we cannot simply rely on the rain for water. We need that filtration plant. Every day we don’t is one more that your families run the risk of dehydration, or starvation.”

He turned then and gone from his face was any semblance of rage, replaced instead by a mask of concern and affection. Jason almost had to admire the way he could turn emotions on and off at the whim of whatever worked best for him.

“All of you have become a part of this family, and I will protect my family,” he gestured with one meaty finger to the Philadelphia skyline. “That rifle is the best chance we have of getting that filtration plant without a bloodbath.”

As the man spoke the sound of a rifle shot echoed across the skyline.

“You see? You see how they mock us? Mock our needs?”

The crew became more heated as he spoke, several of them beginning to shout about the injustice they suddenly believe had been committed against them. Jason feigned enthusiasm as best he could and engaged in the shouting as well.

“Let’s go get that rifle!”

“That’s what I like to hear!” The Captain shouted in praise before pointing directly at Jason, and he felt the air escaping from his lungs.

“Sir,” Razeena stepped forward. “I promise me and my unit will bring this rifle back to you.”

He turned to face her and put both enormous hands on her fairly broad shoulders.

“I know you will, Raz. I know you will.” He wore a bright smile as he uttered, “because if you don’t, I will crush your windpipe and watch as you struggle for your final breath.”

It was only a brief moment but the terror in her eyes was clear to all before she turned to the rest of her unit and shouted, “get your asses in gear!”

Closing in on the building Jason could not help but feel a strange aura of trepidation, the feeling like he was being watched.

They clung close to the alleyways, making sure that it would be hard to get a shot on them before they made a move. Razeena had informed them that there was a likely chance of them getting shot at before they closed in enough to make the rifle basically useless.

“Keep moving, don’t stay still or that rifle will take you out.” Razeena’s voice was firm, but she looked clearly at each member of her unit. Her one true redeeming quality was that she knew how to lead with authority.

“If you get clipped, keep moving until you’re near the doorway then you can treat it there. Clear?”

“Clear!”

Slowly nodding she spoke loudly, “go!”