Chapter 4

  Lee Shaw sat bored at the back of the classroom. The teacher was speaking, but he wasn't taking any of it in. He was lost in a daydream, though, imagining where Sam would be.

  "You think they ran off together?" Foster asked.

  "What?"

  "Sam and Emma? It’s not like his parents were too happy about the whole thing. You think they skipped town together?"

  He looked to where she would normally be sitting. A look of surprise overcame him. He hadn't even realised she was gone. He practically worshipped the ground she stood on, even though he would never admit it to anyone.

  "You didn't even know she was gone?" Foster smiled.

  "What? No, I was thinking about Sam."

  "I can see that. Maybe I was wrong? Maybe it was him you've been after all these years?"

  "Piss off," he said, pushing Foster away.

  But that was enough to catch the attention of the teacher.

  "Lee!"

  He quickly looked at her with a guilty expression upon his face.

  "Do you have something to add to this class, Lee?"

  He shook his head.

  "I know you must have a lot on your mind with your friend being missing, but you are here to learn. The Sheriff and the others will find him, if he doesn’t show up himself. You are here to study, and to learn. It is my job to prepare you for life beyond school, and by hell I’m going to do so, do you understand me?"

  "Yes, Yes, I'm sorry. Please go on," he said in an embarrassed tone.

  He was a star football player, but he'd always put a lot of work in at school. He was ashamed to be disappointing his teacher, although his mind wandered again as he looked out across the football fields beyond the classroom windows.

  "What is it out there which is so interesting?"

  His head snapped back around, and he felt even more foolish than before. Foster was giggling away beside him, and trying to hide it from their teacher.

  "Both of you are a disgrace. Sometimes, I really don't know why I bother. I sure hope football proves as fruitful to you in your future as you think. Because I guarantee you, it doesn't work out that way for many. If you can't make money from playing ball, you sure as hell better have some skills beyond it."

  "Yes, Ma'am," he replied honestly.

  "Yes, Ma'am." Foster still tried to hide his chuckles.

  "The day will come when you won't find this so funny. When you are looking for work, and you will be wishing you'd paid attention in school!"

  He hit Foster; angry at how he wasn't taking the situation seriously.

  "Mmm, guys," Mikey was sitting at the desk behind them. Nobody listened to him as the teacher continued to lecture them.

  "You have one shot in this life. In a few months you will be leaving school, going on to work, or more education. If you refuse to put the work and effort in right here and now, you can kiss a future in either of those things goodbye. You boys have potential. You know you do, but do you want to end up in a dead end job, all your hopes and dreams forgotten?

  "Wow, that's deep."

  "Yes, it is deep, Mr Foster. This is your whole life we’re talking about. So you can sit around laughing and joking, and then be a bum the rest of your life. Or you can buckle up and see this through. What's it going to be?"

  The class was silenced as they waited on his answer, all but Mikey.

  "Guys!" he yelled.

  The teacher went to scold him, but noticed he was pointing to the windows. She followed his gaze, as did the whole class. A small aircraft was hovering over the football field. It was coloured in blues and whites, as if camouflaged against the skies. It had no wings and yet hovered as if it were some kind of quad copter, but there was no sign of any rotors.

  "What the fuck is that?"

  The teacher was too distracted to notice Lee’s language, and the whole class went to the windows to see what it was.

  "We got some kind of Army display team coming today?" Mikey asked.

  "That's not the Army, not ours anyway," said Lee.

  There were flashes of light from beneath the craft, and humanoid-looking armoured robots descended down onto the pitch. They were armed and looked like nothing any of them had seen in their lives.

  "Well, this doesn't look good," said Foster.

  A dozen of the robots had dropped, and more were still coming when they heard a police siren ring out, and a cruiser rushed into view. The brakes locked and smoke arose from the tyres as the car slid to a halt on the asphalt between the school and the football field.

  "This really doesn't look good," added Foster.

  Two Sheriff's deputies leapt out of their cruiser, but before they could get a word out, the robot-like soldiers opened fire. One deputy was hit and went down.

  "Jesus Christ!"

  The other deputy grabbed his wounded comrade and hauled him back behind the cover of the cruiser. Shots of light rang out from the weapons of the machines that were advancing across the pitch. Glass blew out from the cruiser as the deputy frantically called for help, but he didn't seem to be getting a response. One burst of light smashed through the window above Foster and into the far wall, passing straight through it, and burning into the next room.

  "What the fuck is that!"

  "Everyone out now. Run!" yelled the teacher.

  They didn't need to be told a second time. They had all trained for lockdown so many times before, but nobody was under any illusions that this was a very different story. Screams rang out from many in the room, panic setting in as they rushed for the door. The teacher was ushering them out as quickly as possible, but she was as terrified as the rest of them.

  "What are those things?" Foster cried.

  Nobody had any answers as they heard shots continue to smash into the cruiser outside. Gunfire rang out in response from the deputy returning fire with his shotgun. Lee looked back in time to see a slug strike one of the robots. It blew a hole right through it. It went down as the deputy kept firing, but he was hit in the shoulder right after. He cried out in pain and collapsed behind the car. That’s when he met eye contact with Lee. He was the father of a kid in the school. They knew each other by sight at least.

  "Run!" he yelled as he drew his pistol.

  He reached around the car, just enough that he could see down the sights of his pistol, and fired three shots at another, knocking it down, too. He looked back to Lee with a look of sincerity on his face. As if knowing it was his time to die.

  "Run! Get them out of here!"

  He didn't need to be told a third time. He rushed out into the corridor, pulling the teacher along with him. But they found themselves stepping into absolute chaos. Students were pouring out from every door. The corridor was packed, students shoulder to shoulder as they pushed forward to try and escape. Screams of panic echoed all around. Mikey tripped ahead of them and was kicked in the head, but Lee quickly reached him and hauled him up. He looked a little dazed and confused. There was a long cut on his forehead.

  "Come on. We’ve got to get out."

  He realised he’d lost his hold of his teacher and spotted her fighting back the other way down the corridor, towards the Principal's office. He wanted to go back for her. Mrs Ward was a hard ass all the time, but he respected her for it. He still felt bad for ignoring her lesson, although now it all seemed so pointless.

  "What's going on out there, what are those things?" Foster asked.

  But he had no answers.

  "Sam. Emma said he was taken. Do you think this is all connected?"

  He didn't know what to day, but he could hear the gunfire intensify outside as others joined the fight.

  "We've got to go."

  "Where?"

  "Anywhere but here, come on!"

  Lee led the way out towards a fire escape where it was a little quieter. He pushed on the bars to open it and could see why they were the only ones there. It was rusted solid. It clearly hadn't been opened in years.

  "Come on. Help me."

  The two of them slammed into the door with everything they had, but it wouldn't budge.

  "Lee!" a deep voice roared.

  Two identical brothers blocked the corridor behind them; so large they nearly filled the way standing shoulder to shoulder.

  "Boy, have I ever been so grateful to see you."

  The Tucker twins were the biggest players on their team. Each weighed more than three hundred pounds. Jamel and Lemuel Tucker, known as Jam and Lem.

  "We need an opening, right here."

  They looked at one another for a moment before charging at the door. Lee had to quickly jump out of the way as they moved at a hell of a pace despite their size. They crashed into the door like a herd of elephants and blew both from their hinges. Lee looked for his car, but the robot attackers were already closing in on it.

  "Our truck’s around the corner," said Lem.

  It was too large to park in the school parking lot, and Lee was very thankful of that right now. They ran between the cars as light bursts flashed all around them. Car alarms were ringing out, and the smell of chlorine wafted over them.

  "What the hell is going on around here?" Jam asked.

  "You think we know any more than you do?"

  They took a bend. Two-dozen students were backed up into a corner by three of the machines that had landed on the football field. They weren't firing, just holding them there as if taking prisoners.

  "This way!"

  Foster guided them through the line of teachers’ cars. They burst out into the street where they found the huge long wheelbase Dodge truck that the twins drove. Two robots were standing between them and the vehicle.

  "Ah, shit!"

  A car engine roared, tyres squealed, and then it rocked into sight. The driver’s window was down and a shotgun pointing out toward the robots. A shot blew the first of the enemy apart. It was Emma. She racked another shell and fired at the other as it turned to face her. The shell blew off one of its arms, but it recovered and continued to raise its weapon to fire. She loaded, fired again, and blew their attacker away.

  Lee was speechless.

  "Come on. Get in!"

  "Follow us!" He yelled to the twins, and he and Foster leapt into the car. The Tuckers threw Mikey into the back of their truck. As Lee slammed the passenger door shut, the shotgun was thrown onto his lap, and an open box of shells after it.

  "Load up. You're gonna need it." Emma put her foot to the floor. The rear wheels of her mom's car spun as they surged forward.

  "What’s going on here? What are those things? And why'd you turn up to school packing this?"

  "I wasn't bringing it to school, Lee. I went looking for Sam."

  "And?"

  "Well, I didn't find him, obviously. But I saw these things coming for town."

  "What are they?" Foster asked.

  "Hell, if I know. All I do know is we are under attack."

  "But, why?"

  "Hell, if I know, Lee, does it matter?" She leaned forward to look up into the sky as another enemy craft soared overhead.

  "Watch out!" Foster yelled.

  She looked back to the road. Two cars had crashed, and there was gunfire ahead. Three robots were assaulting a house, and gunfire was coming from inside. She yanked the steering wheel hard. The back end of the car swung out. She had it under control, but not before the tail clipped one of the vehicles, busting her taillight. The car shook violently, but she put more power down and kept going forward.

  "Jesus, where did you learn to drive?"

  "Hey, Foster, shut up. If I wasn't around to save your asses, you'd still be back there!"

  She took a turn onto the high street of the town and slammed the brakes on. They were facing a roadblock. Two hi tech looking four-wheeled vehicles were spread across the road with more of the robot-like soldiers standing beside them.

  "Back away!" Lee yelled.

  She slipped it into reverse but held it on the brake. She was breathing heavily and trying to think what to do. A voice yelled out as if from a loudhailer. It was deep and coarse, and sounded human.

  "Stop now, or you will be fired on!"

  "Fuck that," replied Foster.

  "What are they doing here?" Emma looked at the intimidating line of vehicles and well-armed soldiers. Unknown to her, they were smaller and more fragile than the things that had attacked Donny and Ross' team. But this was the first time she'd seen so many of them, the same mechanical-looking soldiers she had knocked down with her shotgun.

  "You didn't hesitate to fire at them before, why?"

  "You haven't seen the things I saw coming here. Anyone who is fighting back is being killed."

  The gravity of their situation was finally hitting her. For the others it was something entirely new. But she'd been living this hell for a few days already.

  "If we give up, what will happen to us?"

  "I have no idea, Lee, but they killed Sam. I know they killed him," she cried.

  "Then to hell with them!"

  He reached across and pushed his foot down onto hers, putting the throttle down. The wheels spun as they rocketed backwards.

  "All right, all right, I got it!"

  She spun the wheel and hit the brakes, forcing the heavy saloon into a J turn. They slid around in a full one hundred and eighty turn and came to a standstill. She slammed the shifter into drive and floored it once more.

  "Where the hell did you learn to do that?"

  "You think you're the only one that joyrides your mom's car!"

  Foster smiled, but he was showered with glass as the back window was blown out. The soldiers at the roadblock were firing on them.

  "Turn!" he yelled.

  She ripped the steering wheel aside as two of the pulses flashed past the tailgate. The car slid a little before powering on down another street. The Dodge truck roared at their backs as the Tucker twins stayed close.

  "This is crazy. This can't be happening," said Foster.

  Lee finally slid the last shell into the tube of the shotgun and racked one into the chamber.

  "I don't know what the hell is going on, but whatever it is, it is happening. So get your head in the game."

  "The game? This isn't football anymore."

  "No shit," snapped Lee.

  They were passing a left hand turn that only Foster was looking at.

  "Look out!"

  Emma saw a vehicle that had been at the roadblock. It was coming right for them. She turned a little as the vehicle slid into the street to give pursuit, and they crashed together so that they were nearly paired. The glass of all four windows was blown out from the impact, showering them all with the debris.

  "Christ, they don't give up," said Emma.

  The voice they’d heard before rang out again.

  "Stop your vehicle, now!"

  It was calm but authoritative, as if it were the police.

  "Screw that," said Lee.

  "We don't know who the hell these guys are. Maybe we should stop?"

  "Pick up your balls, Foster."

  A window hatch opened on the side of the vehicle, revealing the driver of the vehicle pursuing them. It was one of the robot machines they’d been fleeing from. Though this one had some kind of unique identifying mark on the right shoulder. It lifted a small weapon as if to fire. But Lee took aim with the shotgun, the barrel inches from Emma's face. She hadn't even noticed as she was staring down the barrel of the enemy’s weapon. The shotgun burst to life. Her hearing was gone as it fired, but the weapon was blown out of the enemy’s hand. The vehicles pulled back a little, and Emma swerved back and forth across the road, trying to recover her bearings.

  She could barely hear anything and was stunned, too. It felt like she'd been clobbered on the head with a mallet. Lee reached over to straighten the wheel for her. She spotted the shotgun and realised what had happened.

  "What are you doing? Are you crazy!"

  "You're welcome!" Lee looked behind. The vehicle was still hot on their tail.

  "We’ve got to shake this asshole."

  Her anger flared up further as she spotted the vehicle. It was bright silver with an almost mirror finish, like something from the future, or an outrageous concept car at least. Towering over it she could see the twins’ Dodge following. The black truck with black windows looked angry in its design, and she knew the drivers well enough to know the sort of people they were.

  "Your boys back there, are they willing to get their hands dirty?"

  "You bet," Lee smiled.

  Foster laughed at the prospect. "If you knew them, you'd know they're about as subtle as that truck they drive."

  She watched the vehicle carefully in her rear view. Then back to the road. She accelerated towards the T-junction ahead, and she could see Lee uncomfortably sitting up, forcing his feet into the foot well as if looking for the brakes.

  "What are you doing?" he asked in a panic.

  She didn't reply as she was concentrating on the road and the vehicle behind. They were forty feet from the turn, and she still hadn't slowed down.

  "You're gonna get us killed!" Foster screamed.

  As he yelled, she snapped the wheel around, slammed the brakes on for a moment, before going onto the power once again. They slid sideways, and Foster was thrown across the back seat, almost flying out of the open window. The vehicle pursuing them performed the same manoeuvre. But as it got sideways, the Dodge T boned them at high speed. The huge vehicle smashed the other across the road like a freight train, crashing it into a pharmacist on the far side of the junction. The shiny vehicle vanished through the storefront as the Dodge burrowed its whole front end and came to a stop.

  Emma floored the brakes and brought them to a stop. She leapt out the car as the hulking Dodge rolled back. Its engine roared through the vertical pipes behind the cab, and smoke belched out across the street. The windows were rolled down, and the twins were grinning like idiots. Lem gave her the thumbs up. But Lee and Foster were pale-faced from the whole experience.