Episode 15.
SURVIVORS OF THE L-TRAIN CAR #8222
I was completely lost.
I had run towards the last point where the red beacon lights had sparked, crossing over fallen buildings, burnt out cars, and bits of just about everything, only to come to a point where I was totally lost.
The lights hadn’t come back on the tracker since I started moving, so all I really had was a general direction to go by. I knew I was close. I had to be closer than I was. But where exactly? Well, that was the question.
I tried to keep my hopes up. That whoever they were, they were hiding out, or just covered by whatever was covering them. I didn’t want to think of the alternative, that something got them. That they were gone.
I stopped running. I was sure I was close. I turned in circles looking over the skyline to make sure that I wasn’t followed by the aliens. I was freaking out. There was only three hours of light left, maybe a bit more. After that, if I didn’t find them, it would be another night on their own. But, that also meant that I’d be out here by myself with that battalion of whatever’s they were.
“This sucks,” I said out loud. I reached into my backpack and took out a joint and a pack of matches, then lit it, and took a few drags.
It was getting colder. There was a breeze coming in.
I thought about Carlos back at the ship, and just prayed that those things didn’t go in his direction. I mean, why were they walking around? What were they doing? They looked completely different than the ones I killed when I stole the ship. What the hell did that mean? How many different types of aliens were out here?
I took a swig of water. There was an old 1970’s Volkswagen Bug turned over on the next hill. I let out a good laugh. The thing looked like it was still in decent condition, other than being on its side. I used to remember my father telling that they were made so well they’d probably drive right through the end of the world. Funny.
I walked over to it, checking it out. It really was okay. Not even the windows were cracked.
I took off my bag and placed the “Big Gun” beside it. Then I placed my weight firmly on the ground and pushed the thing with all that I had. It rocked a few times, then it came down on its tires with a good loud roar.
I reached into the car and pushed its horn. It rang out in all directions. I let out another laugh and beeped the horn a few more times. Then I wiped my hands against my pants and looked around again.
“Help! Is someone there?” came from behind me.
“Anyone! Help us! Can you hear us?” came in another voice.
I picked up the big gun and cautiously walked down the hill toward their voices. Where the fuck were they coming from, and what was blocking them? I passed a train entrance about two blocks back. I started to wonder.
“Where are you?” I screamed into the air, as I turned around a corner of debris.
“We’re down here!” a woman’s voice screamed.
I looked a few more feet ahead of me, and there in the ground was a gaping hole about four car lengths long. I walked over to the edge and looked down into a subway tunnel that was filled waist high in water, and there standing in it were seven people looking up at me.
I smiled.
“Don’t worry. I’m here to help.” I said to them. “I’m going to get you out of there.”
