The End

JANUARY 5, 2015

San Diego, CA

Tossing and turning in his sleep, Gordon’s dreams had taken him back to his final tour in Iraq. He was reliving the brutal horrors of war. He couldn’t escape the bodies no matter how fast he ran. Each time he took sanctuary in a bullet-ridden building he would find more bodies. Bullets were raining down on him but he was not getting hit. The cries, he heard cries. These were the cries of a baby. With every door he opened, the cries would grow louder but he was never closer to finding the baby, just more bodies. In the distance, he heard his name being called out, “Gordon, Gordon!” The cries soon morphed into sounds of a different kind of gunfire. The sound of his name being called grew louder and louder.

“Gordon, Gordon!” Nelson yelled coming into Gordon’s bedroom.

Gordon sat up sweating from the dream, the room was pitch black.

“Gordon, Gordon, wake up!” Nelson yelled urgently.

Gordon looked over in the direction of Nelson’s voice, then he heard the crack of gunfire through the window. Grabbing his rifle, which lay next to him, he sprang out of bed and past Nelson.

“Gather the family and have them stay in the master bedroom. I’m going to find out what’s going on.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me?” Nelson asked, following Gordon down the stairs.

“I’m sorry I keep leaving you at home, but there isn’t anyone else I would trust with my family’s safety.”

Holloway and his family had spent the night at Gordon’s house. He came out of a lower bedroom with his rifle and asked, “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know; but come with me.” Gordon said.

Gordon took note that the gunfire was coming from the vicinity of Jimmy and Eric’s houses. Grabbing a handful of loaded magazines for his rifle and pistol, he opened the front door to leave.

“No one comes into this house unless you properly identify them, got it?” Gordon exclaimed.

“You got it, boss,” Nelson acknowledged.

Before the door shut, Gordon was stopped by Samantha’s voice, “What’s going on? Gordon what’s going on?” she ran down the stairs and to the front door.

“I think that Mindy and Dan are attacking Jimmy or Eric.”

“Don’t you think you should stay here?”

“Nelson is here and so is his dad. I need to go help.”

Reaching out to him, Samantha hugged Gordon tightly and kissed him, “Be safe, I love you.”

His injuries were still slowing him down, but the pain was numbed by the medications and the adrenaline pumping through his veins. The gunfire grew louder with each step he and Holloway took. Rounding the street corner, he could faintly see the front of Jimmy’s house thanks to a half moon in the sky. The garage door was fully open with shadowy figures running in and out. Gunfire erupted from the second floor, followed by screaming.

Not bothering to identify who was running away from Jimmy’s house, he opened fire on them. His assumptions were if you were running away then you must be a bad guy. Holloway followed suit, and was also engaging those in the street ahead of them.

Gordon made a mental note that they had shot four people before they began to move on Jimmy’s house. Screams still echoed out of the second floor of the house.

“Cover me, I’m going in,” Gordon commanded.

“Roger that,” Holloway replied taking a knee and scanning the street.

He was not able to take five steps before gunfire rained down on him, followed by a familiar stinging pain in his upper left arm.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he cried out in pain.

Holloway took aim and engaged whoever had fired the shot. The sparsely lit night made it almost impossible to identify and know if you had hit someone.

“You okay?” Holloway asked Gordon.

“Yeah, I just can’t stop getting fucking shot!”

Feeling that the wound was only a graze, he kept moving toward the open garage door. Loose debris and boxes littered the sidewalk leading up to the garage. Entering the garage, he stepped on someone. Whoever it was let out a grunt then pleaded.

“Help me please,” they whispered in pain.

Pulling his light out Gordon flashed it in the man’s face. It was Gerald, Mindy’s husband.

“Please help me,” Gerald pleaded.

Not showing mercy, Gordon leveled his rifle at Gerald’s face and pulled the trigger.

Flashing the light around the garage he saw that Mindy and her people had ransacked Jimmy’s supplies. However they gained access was not important, but they had been successful. Jimmy did defend his house, as was evident with Gerald and a lifeless body near the door to the house. Panning quickly over the garage, Gordon also saw the small pit bull that Jimmy had rescued lying dead in a pool of blood.

The screams were still coming from the second floor. It sounded like Simone. Gordon couldn’t stall any longer; he needed to make it to Simone as soon as he could. A loud crash came from the doorway to the house. Two men appeared out of the darkness and into the garage. Not wasting time, Gordon pointed his rifle and let the semi auto do its job. Both men fell to the ground with a thud. Moving with purpose, Gordon stepped over them and into the house. What little light he had outside was now gone. The house was totally dark. Gordon took two steps and tripped over what felt like another body. When he tried to get up, he slipped and fell down again. The tile floor was covered in blood, making it extremely slippery, and with zero light he didn’t know where to step.

After he fell the second time, someone shot at him from inside the house. The bullets hit the hallway wall above him. If it hadn’t been for him falling down, he would have been hit. Gordon sprayed bullets into the part of the room where he’d seen a muzzle flash. The only sound that followed was a loud crash of what sounded like a body falling over.

Sweat was pouring off of Gordon’s brow and his new wound stung. Simone’s wailing continued; the stairs seemed like a million miles away, with someone shooting at him each few steps he took. Not knowing what he would be walking into, he stood up and made his way into the living room. Reaching out with his left arm, he felt the wall and followed it to the bottom of the stairs. Gordon took the brief moment at the base of the stairs to transition to his pistol. He slung the rifle and pulled out his Sig 240. The stairs went up halfway then hit a landing, there he’d have to turn left and go up the remaining set of stairs to the top. With his pistol out in front of him, he began his march upstairs.

Reaching the landing without incident he called out, “Simone, it’s Gordon!”

“Gordon, hurry quickly, it’s Jimmy; he’s been shot; please hurry.”

Gordon raced up the remaining stairs and toward Simone, who was kneeling with Jimmy in her arms. They both were bathed in the light of a lantern. He re-holstered his pistol and began to examine a blood-covered Jimmy.

“Simone, where’s he shot?”

“They shot him in the chest; those bastards came in and shot him in the chest,” Simone cried.

“Let me see, Simone,” Gordon said softly to her. He handed her the flashlight so he could see.

Gordon reached out to Jimmy and took him out of her arms and laid him on the floor. The motion caused Jimmy to moan and cough. Gordon ripped open Jimmy’s blood-soaked shirt and saw something he had not seen since his time in Iraq. Jimmy had a small-diameter hole in the center of his chest that sputtered blood with every breath that he took.

“Simone, go get me some clean towels, something to wipe up the blood.”

“Simone, don’t go.” As he spoke he coughed up blood.

“What, baby? I’m not going anywhere,” Simone said crying.

“Simone, please go,” Gordon pleaded.

“No, Gordon, please have her stay,” Jimmy said with difficulty.

Gordon looked at Jimmy. His friend’s face was pale from the loss of blood. Knowing the wound was bad, he couldn’t give up on his friend.

“Please, Simone, I can help but I need to get something to clean this up,” Gordon said looking at Simone.

Simone kept her attention on Jimmy, who coughed up blood again.

“Gordon, just sit here with me please,” Jimmy said with almost a whisper.

Simone pulled Jimmy into her lap as she cried aloud, “No! No, God, please!”

Jimmy reached out and took Gordon’s hand and held it with as much strength as he could muster.

“G., you’ve been a good friend to me and my family. You’ve always been there for us and I hope you feel the same way,” Jimmy said with ever-increasing difficulty. Gordon could hear the blood bubbling in his chest as he breathed.

Knowing that this was it for his friend, Gordon said, “I feel the same way. You’re a good man and good friend.”

“Take care of Simone for me,” Jimmy said, looking over at Simone.

“Baby, please don’t leave me, please,” Simone cried.

Jimmy’s grip on Gordon’s hand grew weaker; Gordon knew the time was getting close.

“G. come close, I need to tell you something,” Jimmy’s voice had become very faint. Leaning over he placed his face next to Jimmy’s, “There’s a hiding place behind the water heater. Look for the wooden box,” Jimmy coughed and finished his time with Gordon by saying, “Now go, let me have a moment.”

Gordon honored his friend’s wish and left. Simone was crying uncontrollably, she held onto Jimmy and just cried. Gordon took each step down the stairs with heavy sorrow at the loss of his friend.

When he reached the last step, Simone screamed out, “No, oh my God no!” Gordon knew Jimmy was dead. A cascade of emotions ran through him. Sitting on the last step he put his head in his hands and grieved. Gordon’s grief would be short-lived, as the night’s action still was not over. The faint sound of gunfire in the distance penetrated the walls of the house.

“Gordon, something’s going on; it sounds like it’s near your house!” Holloway yelled from outside the house.

Gordon was running on pure adrenaline now. His left side was aching as the pain meds were wearing off. The gunfire was short lived, no screaming or other noise could be heard except his and Holloway’s heavy breathing. Reaching the front of his house, Gordon and Holloway ran up on a body lying outside of his front door. Pulling out his flashlight, Holloway flashed the light on the body. To Gordon’s surprise, it was Dan and he was still alive.

Gordon grabbed the light out of Holloway’s hands and pointed it directly in Dan’s face, “What are you doing here?”

Dan’s eyes expressed the fear that gripped him. Knowing that Gordon was hovering above him he knew that he was close to death’s door.

Gordon examined his body and flashed the light across it. It appeared that Dan had suffered a single shot from a shotgun to the chest.

“What do we do with him?” Holloway asked.

“Nothing, let him bleed out,” Gordon said handing the flashlight back to Holloway, then proceeding to the front door. Banging on it he called out, “Open up, it’s Gordon. We’re all clear out here!”

Moments later the door opened and Gordon was greeted by Nelson.

“Get your ass in here,” Nelson said.

Gordon and Holloway stepped inside and closed the door.

“Is everyone okay?” Gordon asked concerned.

“We’re fine. Dan and about a dozen of his cronies attempted to get in. My old man and me greeted them with Mr. Remington and Mr. Glock,” Nelson said holding up his Remington 870 shotgun.

“Where’s Samantha and the kids?”

“Here, Gordon,” Samantha said from the top of the stairs.

Gordon ran up the stairs and into Samantha’s arms. Haley was standing next to Samantha crying. He reached down grabbed her and pulled her close.

“You alright?” Gordon asked.

“As good as we can be considering.”

Then Gordon noticed Hunter wasn’t there. “Where’s Hunter?”

“He’s in his room,.” Samantha answered.

“Is he okay? I want to see him.”

“Gordon, he’s having a tough time dealing with what just happened,” Samantha said, holding Gordon back from going to Hunter.

“What do you mean?”

“Nelson and his father were at the back of the house in the patio stopping some of them from coming in when the front door was kicked open and—”

“And what?”

“I tried to stop him but Hunter ran downstairs to help Nelson. I told him not to go but he took off. When the front door was kicked open he stopped them.”

“Who stopped them? You’re confusing me.”

“He had run downstairs with your old double barrel shotgun and when the door was kicked open he turned and shot.”

“Hunter shot Dan?”

“I don’t know who it was he shot but I was coming after him when I saw it happen. I heard the door get kicked in and I saw Hunter turn around and then the gun went off, I’m sorry,” Samantha said still shaking from the incident.

Reaching over and touching Samantha’s face gently he said, “Honey, you don’t need to apologize; it’s no one’s fault but Dan and his horde. Let me go to him.”

As Gordon attempted to pull away, Samantha stopped him again and said, “Your arm, you’re bleeding.”

Gordon looked quickly at his bloody left arm, “It’s just a flesh wound, no concern.”

“What happened? How’s Jimmy and Eric?”

Gordon paused for a moment then answered, “Jimmy is dead. I was there with him just before. I don’t know about Eric. I ran here as soon as I heard the shooting.”

“How’s Simone?”

“She’s not good; we really should go back and check on her. Listen, let me go and check on Hunter, please,” Gordon pleaded.

“Okay, go,” Samantha said, letting go of Gordon’s arm.

He went to Hunter’s bedroom door, gently knocked then opened the door. The room was lit by an electric lantern which gave off a yellowish glow. Scanning the room, he didn’t see him, he looked to the far side and still nothing. Whimpering from the closet told Gordon where he was. He slowly walked over and knocked on the closet door.

“Leave me alone!” Hunter cried out.

“Hunter, it’s Daddy.”

“Go away. Leave me alone!”

“Hunter, can I open the door?”

“No, leave me alone!”

Gordon didn’t want to press his son so he sat down next to the closet door. “Mommy told me what happened. I want you to know how proud I am of you. I know you are scared and don’t understand what happened. Know this: You did exactly what I would have wanted you to do.” Gordon softly said. Hunter continued to whimper. “Hunter, you did nothing wrong, do you understand?”

“I didn’t mean for the gun to go off, I’m sorry, Daddy!” Hunter cried out.

“Hunter, please don’t apologize; you did nothing wrong. You were scared and that man should not have been in here. If the gun had not gone off he might have hurt you, your mommy or your little sister. I am proud of you, I really am. Now can I open the door?”

With an answer just above a whisper Hunter said, “Yes.”

Opening the door slowly he saw Hunter curled up in the corner. Gordon reached in and touched his arm gently, and Hunter responded by lunging toward him and into his arms. Embracing him tightly, Gordon rocked and kissed his head.

Hunter cried and kept saying, “I’m sorry Daddy, I’m sorry.”

Losing himself in the moment, Gordon was reminded of the long night he still had before him. Samantha quietly stepped into the room and touched him on the shoulder.

“Gordon, we hear some more shooting.”

“Hunter, Daddy has to go.”

Hunter clung tight and said, “No, Daddy, don’t go.”

“I’ll be back, I promise.”

“No, please don’t go Daddy, I need you.”

Hunter’s need for Gordon at this moment broke his heart, “I’ll be right back.”

Samantha leaned down and said, “Come here, baby.” Hunter grabbed hold of Samantha and clung to her tightly, still sobbing.

Gordon walked out of the room and went immediately downstairs.

“It sounds like it’s the opposite side of the community from Jimmy’s house,” Nelson said.

“I don’t think I can go, it might be a ploy to draw me out. The rest of our group might have to fend for themselves right now.”

Gordon, Nelson, Holloway and Nelson’s father chatted for a few minutes about the evening and the need to leave first thing in the morning. Their conversation was cut short when Samantha spoke.

“Absolutely not,” she said from the top of the stairs.

Gordon looked up at her. “Absolutely not, what?”

“You are not going to stay here. You need to go. I want you to go see Mindy and end this,” Samantha said walking down the stairs. After putting Hunter to bed she had overheard their conversation downstairs.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Sam.”

“We’ll be fine, go finish this. This is all because of that bitch. You said Dan is out front dead so she’s the only one left to deal with.”

“I said he was shot, he’s not dead.”

Samantha looked surprised after hearing that Dan was still alive. Pressing him further, “Gordon, we can handle this here. I’m telling you to go and finish this. Go now! Once you’ve taken care of things then go get Simone.”

Gordon was surprised by how forceful Samantha was being. “Sam, I really don’t think I should go.”

She walked up to him, looked at him squarely and said, “Go finish this!”

Gordon looked at Nelson, who raised his eyebrows and winked at him. Looking back to Samantha, he nodded his reluctant approval.

Gordon walked into the garage, reloaded his magazines and wrapped his arm. As he walked to the front to leave he turned to Nelson and said, “Dan was out front bleeding out, can you take care of him?”

“Sure thing, I’ll take care of it STAT,” Nelson answered pulling out a 7-inch knife he had sheathed on his side.

“Let me go with you,” Holloway asked.

“I got this,” Gordon answered, stuffing his pockets with more loaded magazines and double-checking his pistols.

Opening the door again Samantha stopped him, “Gordon.”

Anticipating her comment he said, “I love you too.”

“Gordon.” She said again.

As he turned to look at her, she said, “Kill them all.”

Ensuring that he survived the night, he took his time getting to Mindy’s house. Each step he took was careful and calculated. With so much fighting he knew they too were out for blood. When he reached her street he stopped and squatted down to just listen. Taking a moment to listen to his surroundings, he also thought back on what had transpired earlier in the evening. The thought of Jimmy being dead weighed on him, the loss his group would suffer without him would be great. He vowed he would avenge his friend tonight.

His eyes had begun to adjust to the complete darkness. Only his knowledge of the streets kept him going in the right direction. After spending minutes listening to the eerie quiet he felt confident that he could move. Walking briskly, he made for her house. His anxiety grew with each step; his eyes darting from left to right straining to see anyone. He wasn’t sure how long it took but he finally arrived. He touched the familiar large shrub just outside her house. He took up a position there and listened. The night had finally remained quiet for a long time. The shooting he heard when he left had lasted only moments. It ended as fast as it had started. Not hearing any movement in her front yard he stood up and walked around the large shrub and into someone.

Startled by his surprise encounter, Gordon reacted by pushing the man away from him. Whoever it was groaned as they fell on the ground. Not taking chances, Gordon raised his pistol and shot toward the man twice. The man yelled out in pain and was moving on the ground. Gordon shot two more times. The man stopped moving and fell silent.

The sound of broken glass made Gordon move quickly to take cover along the side of the house. Gunfire and yelling now erupted from inside the house. Gordon recognized Mindy’s voice but could not tell who the male voice belonged to. He wasn’t sure how he should proceed; knowing her floor plan was an advantage but if Mindy was smart she would have blocked off doors and hallways with furniture.

Someone was shooting and it was near the middle of the house, which would have been the living room. Only hearing two voices, Gordon decided he would attempt to enter through a glass door on the opposite side of the house. The glass door was off a side patio and entered into the formal dining room.

Gordon slowly made his way along the side of the house. Mindy was sounding hysterical inside and was barking orders to the other person in there with her. It took him minutes to make his way to the patio and finally to the door. He first tested to see if by luck it was unlocked. Unfortunately, Mindy was thinking and the door was not open. Gordon’s plan was to shoot the glass out and walk right in. Knowing it was risky, he couldn’t think of another way to get in unless he was going to kick down the front door. Leaning up against the side of the house he was hesitating. He was hoping the glass would shatter and fall. Not being an expert on glass, he was hoping it would work. He stood and placed his rifle in his shoulder and was squeezing the trigger when gunfire came from the front of the house. This was different though, it was coming from outside. Gordon hesitated again and took cover. Mindy and her companion were screaming and exchanging fire with whoever was out front. Sensing an opportunity, Gordon changed his plan and went to a side garage door off of the same patio. It, too, was locked, but when a volley of gunfire erupted from inside he took the opportunity to kick the door in. He walked in and went directly for the door that led into the house. It was locked, but still seizing on the chaos in the house he shot the door knob and kicked in the door.

“Someone is at the back door!” Mindy cried out.

More unintelligible chatter went back and forth between her and the man inside. Leaning up against the door frame taking cover Gordon laid down a volley of fire from his M4.

“I’ll get him Mindy, don’t worry,” the man said.

Hearing the man’s voice clearly now he knew who was with Mindy.

“Hey, Max, I would say that there’s not much you can do. You’re surrounded and most of your men are dead including Dan!”

“Fuck you, you prick!” Max yelled.

“We won’t hurt you Max, all I want is Mindy. If you surrender I won’t hurt you!”

More gunfire erupted toward the front of the house. Gordon could hear Max and Mindy taking cover.

“Fuck this Mindy, I’m outta here!”

“Please Max, don’t; he’s bluffing. We sent 30 men after them tonight. There’s no way they killed them all,” Mindy pleaded.

“You sent 30 and we killed 30, that’s why I’m here!” Gordon responded to Mindy’s plea.

“Sorry Mindy, I gotta go,” Max said, standing up and tossing his pistol. “I’m surrendering Gordon!”

“Walk down the hall toward me!” Gordon instructed him.

Taking out his flashlight Gordon flashed it down the hall so he could see Max to confirm. With his arms raised, Max followed Gordon’s command and walked down the hallway toward him.

Knowing there wasn’t a better time to deal with Max, Gordon stood up and pointed the rifle at Max.

“What are you doing?” Max asked, concerned.

“I said I wouldn’t hurt you, I didn’t say anything about not killing you,” Gordon said, then pulled the trigger twice.

The force of the two rifle shots hitting Max caused his body to fly back and land a few feet back then where he had previously stood.

Mindy started screaming hysterically. He heard her run from one room into what sounded like the kitchen. Advancing inside, Gordon took up a position just outside the kitchen door.

“Mindy, there’s no way out, my guys are out front. You can’t escape,”

Expecting a response, Gordon was surprised when she didn’t say anything.

“You’ve never been one for a loss of words,”

To Gordon’s surprise, he heard the front door burst open and someone come in.

“Who is that?” Gordon calls out.

“Holloway,”

“Roger that, Max is dead and Mindy is holed up in the kitchen!” Gordon informed Holloway.

“I know just what to use,” Holloway said.

A few moments passed; Gordon could hear Holloway down the hall in the family room. There was a kitchen door off of that room too.

“Fire in the hole!” Holloway yelled.

Gordon took cover, not sure what Holloway was throwing into the kitchen. A loud bang echoed out of the kitchen followed by a scream then silence.

Gordon and Holloway both entered the kitchen from their respective doors. The room was full of smoke as Gordon entered with his flashlight and handgun out in front of him. Both men looked for Mindy but could not find her, then turned their attention on the only other door in the room: the pantry.

“I know you’re in there,” Gordon said, knocking on the pantry door. He had tried to open it but Mindy had locked the door from the inside.

“Gordon, you can take what you want, just let me live,” Mindy pleaded with him.

The desire to blast the door and pull her out kicking and screaming was strong, but he changed his mind.

“Mindy, I’m not going to kill you,” Gordon told her.

With Holloway’s help, they pushed in a large china cabinet from the dining room and placed it in front of the door. Once he felt that she could not escape, he informed her of her situation.

“Mindy, I left you alive tonight so that you finally see the reality of the new world we live in. Your good friend Dan let the Villistas know where our pleasant little community was. They will be here any day, and if they find you, you will finally experience what so many have on the outside. When you finally close your eyes and death takes you, remember that it didn’t have to be this way. You chose this path.”

Realizing the truth in Gordon’s words, Mindy cried out, “Let me out, please!”

As he and Holloway walked onto the street and headed back home, her cries and screams grew fainter with each step he took until he could no longer hear them. He knew there was a good chance that someone would release her, but he felt confident that she wouldn’t survive the realities of the world outside her protected community.

Before going to pick up Simone, Gordon decided to check on his family. Exhausted, all he wanted to do was rest, but the day had only just begun.

“Hi, baby,” Sam said sweetly, greeting him with a hug and kiss.

“It’s done,” is all Gordon said. He didn’t want to go into everything that had happened at Mindy’s house. Kissing her, he asked, “How are the kids? How’s Hunter?”

“They’re both asleep in our bed. Hunter is doing better; I don’t know if he’ll ever be the same after tonight.”

“He won’t,” Gordon replied. He paused, then said. “I’m going to go get Simone. I want to leave as soon as the sun rises if that’s possible, okay?”

“Sure thing, babe; we’ll be ready.”

Gordon was very short with Samantha; the night had been long and his strength was waning. As he closed the door behind him, he thought that this would be his last walk to Jimmy’s house. He had walked to Jimmy’s house hundreds of times over the years and now this would be the last. Thoughts of his times in Rancho Valentino came to him in rushes: times of celebration, a birthday party, Easter egg hunting, the Christmas Eve nights walking with his family and looking at the Christmas lights. As he looked at his community now, he saw a broken place. Not only had the houses physically decayed, so had the peacefulness and civility. Life was falling apart all around him and he knew their only chance now was outside the gates and in Idaho.

Jimmy’s death was just the beginning. He didn’t want to admit it, but death now was the norm.

Entering the house through the still-open garage door Gordon got a better look at the casualties from earlier. He only recognized Gerald of the three dead. He stepped carefully inside so as not to fall again. Now that he could see, he saw that one of the bodies on the floor in the hall was Lance Corporal Fowler, his eyes wide open. He reached down and forced his eyelids closed then pulled his dog tags off his neck and pocketed them. Continuing on into the living room, he saw another dead body. It was the person who had shot at him just hours before. Gordon had many fond memories of this room; just last year they had watched the Super Bowl from here. The memories now proved depressing and he needed to find Simone so he pressed on further into the house looking for her.

“Simone, it’s Gordon,” he called out.

No response.

He called out again, “Simone, it’s Gordon; where are you?” Not hearing a response, he ran upstairs to where he had left them. They were not there. He looked in every room upstairs and couldn’t find her.

Then he realized there was one place he hadn’t looked; the back yard. His concerns were put to rest when he looked out the kitchen window. There, he saw her kneeling on the ground next to a shallow, freshly dug hole.

Opening the door to the back, he said, “Simone?”

She did not respond. She just rocked back and forth. He could hear her mumbling words, but they were unintelligible. Walking up behind her, he glanced into the grave and saw Jimmy wrapped in a bloody white sheet. For some reason, Gordon took note that the grave was very wide, wide enough to fit two people.

“Simone?” he said again, this time touching her shoulder.

Jumping at his touch, she turned around.

“Hi, Gordon; you’re just in time. Do you want something to drink?”

“What? Umm. No. Simone, do you want me to help you finish burying Jimmy before everyone comes over for the ceremony?”

“No, that won’t be necessary,” she answered. She glanced back to the grave and stared at Jimmy. Her voice seemed oddly calm and subdued.

“I need to get you back to our house and cleaned up before we come back here for your stuff and Jimmy’s funeral.”

“That won’t be necessary,” she replied. She stood up and said, “Follow me.”

Gordon just looked at her strangely; he had seen shock before but her behavior was different.

She led him to the garage and pointed to a wooden box on the work bench.

“I heard what he whispered to you, so while you were gone I fished it out for you. Jimmy loved to hide things but I always knew about them,” she opened the box and held the lantern above the opened box so Gordon could see its contents. Peering in, he saw several tall bottles and two smaller boxes.

“What is it?” Gordon asked.

“Go ahead,” she said motioning to the box.

Gordon reached in and pulled out a bottle of Macallan 30-year-old single malt scotch.

“The other two are the same; the two small boxes are little humidors with Cuban cigars. He knew you’d appreciate this, but wanted to surprise you once we arrived in Idaho. Now that won’t happen,” Simone said, then put the cover back on the box.

“Simone, I am so sorry. I wish I could have made it here quicker—”

“Don’t say any more; you did what you could. It’s just fate. First Mason, now Jimmy; we weren’t meant to survive this for whatever reason. God knows I can’t figure it out, but there’s a reason; it’s either that or we’re just unlucky,” Simone said with a slight smile.

“We don’t have a lot of time, so let’s get you home.”

“Gordon, I’m not going with you. I’m staying here with my family.”

“That’s crazy. You have to come with us.”

Simone placed her hand on Gordon’s arm and said calmly, “Gordon, everything you need from us as far as food and supplies is here in the garage. I took anything you could use and put it out here. There will be no need to go into the house, do you understand?”

“This is crazy talk Simone, you’re coming with us; I promised Jimmy.”

She grabbed his hand and looked at him deeply, “Gordon, I have lost everything. My life has lost all meaning. What is there to live for? My life was them.”

Gordon pleaded, “Please don’t do this! This is not what Jimmy would want.”

“Gordon, go. Please go. And when you return, don’t come inside the house, do you understand?”

“Just wait, let me get Samantha; let me have her talk to you.”

“I’ve made up my mind; I am very clear about this. Please kiss Samantha and the kids for me,” Simone said. Letting go of Gordon’s arm, she turned and walked inside. He could hear the dead bolt lock behind her after she closed the door.

He was in total shock. He couldn’t move. He stood frozen, staring at the door. Knowing how influential Samantha was, he quickly left to go get her. Simone looked determined but Samantha could help. The sound of the single gunshot stopped him in his tracks. He knew what she had done and wished it could have gone differently. In one night, two of his closest friends were dead, his son had shot someone and their life in Rancho Valentino was over for good.

USS Makin Island off the coast of Southern California

When the door to the brig opened, Gunny was the last person Sebastian thought he’d see.

“Corporal Van Zandt, stand up! You’re coming with me, shitbird,” Gunny said in his scratchy voice.

Sebastian didn’t hesitate; he stood up and followed the Gunny. As they were walking, Sebastian noticed how empty the passageways were. Many questions came to mind at first but he thought it not worth it to ask. One passageway after another was devoid of life. He wasn’t sure where Gunny was taking him, and the further they walked the more concerned he got. After 10 minutes of walking, they finally made it to their destination. Gunny opened the hatch and motioned for Sebastian to exit.

Stopping before he crossed the threshold, he turned to Gunny, “Gunny, if you’re taking me out here to kill me, just let me know. I hate surprises.”

“No one is going to kill you, now get your dumb ass out here.”

Sebastian took the Gunny for a man of his word and stepped out onto the deck. The sun was attempting to make an appearance, but the clouds and fog were keeping its rays at bay. Looking around, he tried to get a fix on where the ship was, but the fog was too thick.

“Where are we?” Sebastian asked.

“Corporal Van Zandt, I like you. I have known you for over a year and I have seen a squared-away Marine. You’re a damn good sniper and a good NCO; but you let your emotions get the better of you. Do you know what I am saying?”

Sebastian tried to answer, but Gunny continued to talk.

“Van Zandt, I understand your dilemma. I know you look at all the bullshit and wonder what it’s all for. Well, I can say that there’s a lot of bullshit in the Marine Corps. I’ve seen it, but in the end we are an institution of men who come together because we have common values. Now the world has dealt us, meaning the United States, a shit sandwich. Listen, son, the U.S. is fucked, period. I don’t know how it survives this; but just because our country falls doesn’t mean we have to. I know you don’t like the colonel, but he has given us all a chance to make it through this. Now, you could have been a piece in this survival puzzle but no, you had to open your mouth and get stupid, now look at ya, corporal. In a nutshell, you’re going to get what you wanted. We are leaving San Diego in a week. Once the last of our men is done gathering their family members, we will dump the garbage, meaning you, on the beach. You will be given a weapon, a few magazines, a few MREs and some water. Then you’re on your own. What you don’t know is this; you will have two total shit storms to deal with on your hunt for your brother. First, the nuclear reactors at San Onofre have melted down. Second, there is some renegade Mexican militia conquering parts of San Diego. Now, if you manage to make it to your brother’s place, you might find him already dead or gone. You’ll not only have to deal with two fucked-up situations, but you’ll have a million starving San Diegans trying to kill you for a scrap of food. The moral of the story, Van Zandt, is that you should keep your mouth shut. Your chance of survival out there on your own is not high, but let this be a lesson to you.”

Sebastian’s mind just went blank listening to the Gunny bloviate. He thought many times that the Gunny liked to hear himself talk. He wondered if now might be a good time to be honest with him and tell him to fuck himself. He decided against being honest. If he wanted to get some kind of advantage from the Gunny, then he should take his advice and keep his mouth shut.

“Thank you for the words of advice, Gunny.”

“You’re welcome, corporal, now let’s get your ass back down below.”

“One second, why did you take me up here?”

“I thought I’d show you something but the fog isn’t cooperating.”

“What’s out there?”

“San Diego, San Diego is right there,” Gunny said, pointing over the railing into the fog.

Sebastian leaned forward in hopes of getting a glimpse, but nothing.

“Let’s go,” Gunny ordered.

Sebastian kept staring, hoping to see something.

“Let’s go, corporal,” Gunny said sounding impatient.

Giving up, Sebastian turned and started to walk back to the hatch. Right before he stepped in he saw something out of the corner of his right eye. He stopped and looked; a break in the fog exposed the hidden city behind it. He kept staring until a landmark that was unmistakable appeared; the Hyatt Towers stood darkened in the distance. The fog continued to clear and more of the city became visible. Sebastian could make out the outline of the buildings but not a single light was visible. The city was completely dark.

“We made it, we’re in San Diego!” Sebastian exclaimed.

“That’s correct, corporal, that’s San Diego; we made it home.”

Sebastian stood looking at the skyline of the darkened city. His journey had taken thousands of miles and had forever changed his position within the Marine Corps. When the ships pulled away in a few days, he would no longer be a Marine, he would be a survivor left alone to fend for himself in this new wilderness.

Anza, CA (89 miles outside of San Diego)

As the sun began its decent on what had been a long day, Gordon was happy that he and his convoy of five vehicles had driven the distance they had. Taking the smaller state highways they had been able to avoid the congestion of abandoned vehicles and the droves of wandering people. He also had pushed his convoy as far east as he thought was safe, but now he was at a crossroads. He and Nelson had been discussing which way to go. Their convoy sat at the intersection of Highways 371 and 74. Right would lead them into Palm Desert and left would lead them into the mountains. The mountain pass was risky because they could find themselves snowed in. But the route into Palm Desert provided risks, too. It took them through a populated urban area, something he wanted to avoid. Nelson thought it best to go through Palm Desert, as he felt the chance of wintry weather could cost them a vehicle.

Gordon finally let his instincts reveal the direction and that was toward the desert. Nelson was happy with the decision and away they went down the long car-less highway. As they headed east, Gordon looked in the side mirror and saw the sun just above the mountains. He thought of his brother Sebastian; they had taken short trips to Palm Springs in the past. He hoped his brother was okay. He wondered if they had been victims of the same fate and were now stuck in Afghanistan. He wondered if he’d ever see his brother again. Just before he departed his house, he had left a note for Sebastian on his desk. He figured the odds of him finding it were slim, but if by chance he made it back to the States, Gordon knew Sebastian would go looking for him, and going to the house would be a good place to start.

Looking again in his side mirror, he noticed the sun had disappeared. It was now hidden by a dark set of clouds over the mountains. Gordon now felt good about his decision to head east, as the clouds to the west portended bad weather in the mountains.

“Look what I found in Jimmy’s stuff,” Nelson said, pulling out an old cassette player.

“Does it work?” Gordon asked. He looked amused at the sight of the old player.

“Shit, man, I never checked. I just grabbed it when I saw it. There was also a case with old cassettes,” Nelson said, picking out a cassette tape. He put it in the player and hit play. The player sprang to life with the soft, subtle strumming sounds of a banjo.

“What is this?” Gordon asked. At first he thought it was some type of bluegrass music, but there was something Irish in the sound.

“Flogging Molly is the name of the band. The song’s called, ‘The Sun Never Shines on Closed Doors.’ You want me to change it?”

“No, I kinda like it. It’s soothing and almost fitting for our journey,” Gordon said.

Both men sat and listened to the music, neither saying a word.

With the clouds to their backs and clear skies ahead, Gordon thought again of everything that had taken place over the past five weeks. In that short time, the city he called home had collapsed into chaos after suffering an attack that destroyed its power grid and made useless all electrical devices. Misery, suffering and death caused by starvation, disease, and murder had now become the norm for the survivors left in San Diego. For those able to leave, now was the time. For those who stayed, their lives or what days they had left would be marked by horrors not seen in centuries. Reflecting on all of this, Gordon drove into the darkness and the unknown with hopes that a brighter and more hopeful day existed at the end of the long road.