Clovis’s ‘boys’ spread out, with an even split of six on both sides. They scraped at the ground with their huge paws, and growled more intensely as the rumbling increased.

  Bryan then saw what the source of the ground shaking was. A four legged creature looking like a cross between an elephant and a crocodile, was striding towards them. But that wasn’t all. To each side were more E.L.F’s, some so strange Bryan rubbed his eyes trying to focus better on what they could be. And then he saw the strangest thing of all. Accompanying each E.L.F was a human being, either walking alongside or riding on top of, as was the case with the large dinosaur looking breast leading the way.

  “Are they Cascaders?” Bryan said it more to himself, and immediately regretted voicing an opinion remembering who was standing above him.

  “Yes.” Came the growled reply.

  Clovis jumped down from the hood, leaned inside the cabin and grabbed his shotgun. He then strode confidently forward, keeping to the center of the road. As he did his pets stayed level with him. After a few moments the other E.L.F’s and their people stopped moving. The guy who sat on top of the largest, climbed down and started walking towards Clovis.

  Everyone’s heart beat faster than they preferred.

  Clovis and the man who was wearing a leather jacket, with a beard and moustache not dissimilar to a pirate, stopped ten feet from each other. Bryan, ignoring everyone else hiding best they could, walked forward keeping to the grass verge so he could hear what was being said.

  “You’re in my way,” said Clovis.

  “That’s a matter of opinion,” said the man.

  “My opinion is you’re in my way.”

  The man looked to each side at the sharp teeth and spiked fur clawing at the ground and air, just a few tens of yards away.

  “So you’re like us? A Cascader?”

  “What of it?”

  The man turned slightly to those standing behind him. “We’re the same. We used to fight for a human, now we fight for ourselves.” He then did something that surprised Clovis and those who were watching. He stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m Erin Santiago, of Irish and Hispanic stock.”

  Bryan fully expected Clovis to lower the barrel on the shotgun and blow this strange man away, but instead he shook his hand.

  CHAPTER 33

  Abbey walked uneasily through the thick forest in the early morning sun. She had no idea where she was going and no idea how to get back to the house where she had slept for a few hours the night before. She had learned some more about the man who lived in the woods, enough to take him up on his invitation to see his home, but not enough to fully trust him.

  Mo soared high above keeping an eye on both of them.

  Through the gaps in the trees she could just about make out a double story white pained wooded house, which looked like it belonged in a different century. Gradually she could make out a trail that they started to follow which then became a path. The house rose up in front of them, being built a little into a slope. Each window was boarded up and a part of the triangular shaped roof was broken with splintered beams peeking out from under some tarpaulin. There was also the remains of creatures hanging from poles and hooks on trees. The intense smell made her feel a little dizzy. She then realized the smell which followed Burt was the same as was around her now.

  Burt noticed her looking at the dead things swaying in the wind. “I found out some months back that hanging the carcasses of the creatures around my property keeps them away. I also rub some of their blood on my clothes when I go out.”

  She tried smiling but she couldn’t help but communicate her unease at what was around her. Instead she removed her eyes from the rotting corpses of E.L.F’s and looked at the other things that lay scattered.

  A pickup truck with a crane on the back, and a car which was missing it’s wheels sat near the entrance. Other pieces of machinery laid close by.

  “I collect what I can when I’m out and about. After the initial wave of monsters things died down a bit, but recently it has gotten worse again…” He walked past the parts of cars and appliances into a garden area. Abbey followed. “Me and Joanne used to have a nice little garden going here. I still grow some potatoes and such but without the critters to do their thing, it’s hard going. Anyway, take a look at this.” He walked closer to a plant with long stalks and bright red-orange flowers.

  Abbey was a bit confused as to why he was pointing this attractive flower out from the pretty but admittedly much smaller ones around. “I don’t understand?”

  “I never planted this, and I’ve not seen a flower like this anywhere around here before a few weeks back.”

  Abbey still looked mystified.

  Burt looked a bit exasperated. “Could this be because of the Cascade? Maybe the plants were changed too?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “I’ve not heard of that, but maybe.”

  “Yeah well, every time I cut it down and pull its roots it’s back here again a few feet high within days. I’m thinking of burning this entire area just to keep it gone, and then start a new patch somewhere else. It’s not like I don’t have enough land.”

  Abbey smiled and nodded.

  “Okay let me show you inside.”

  He walked up onto a small porch and slide two keys into different locks and pushed the door open, he then walked inside. As Abbey followed she was glad the incessant smell of death stayed outside.

  She was also surprised at just how clean and organized the large living room was. A comfortable looking sofa sat with patchwork pillows across it, as well as rugs that covered a wooden floor. Around the outside were shelves full of picture frames.

  “Make yourself at home, I’ll get some coffee on.”

  “Thanks.” She put her pack and rifle down, then walked over to one of the frames. It, like many others contained pictures of an attractive woman in her forties, together with two children.

  Burt reappeared in the doorway.

  Abbey quickly put the picture back down. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. That’s what they are there for, to be remembered, even if you didn’t know them. Do you want some stew? I’ve got some left over.”

  Abbey swallowed hard, thinking what it could contain. “I’m fine thanks.”

  Burt laughed. “Right. Of course. I guess you’re a vegetarian now then.” He walked back into the kitchen.

  She hadn’t thought of that until now. “Guess I am.” She noticed another photograph, this one was of a much younger Burt, in military uniform. Around him were others and behind were sandy looking buildings. “You were in the military?”

  “Yes ma’am, staff sergeant in the marines. Did two tours in Iraq.” Burt shouted from the other room. He reappeared with two mugs both steaming and a packet of what looked like nuts, with dried fruit. The latter he tossed to her, while putting down the mugs on the large wooden coffee table.

  Abbey sat down in an old chair with coverings. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to Joanne and your kids?”

  He sat down opposite in a similar chair, and drew in a long breath, before letting it out. “We were in town. It was our monthly trip to get supplies. Usually I would go alone, but Joanne didn’t want to stay alone here because of the attacks that were becoming more frequent on the other towns. So, myself, Joanna, Alden and Annabelle drove the ten miles or so to Lankin. The radio was reporting of some new attacks in the city of Pittsburgh, but that was some way away, and we thought we would just grab some things and be back home.” He took a sip of coffee, then continued. “So anyway, the first part went according to plan. We arrived at Garry’s, got the things we needed and were driving out of the parking lot, when Belle spotted something sitting on the roof of a nearby building. To be honest, as you can see, we didn’t really go in for modern appliances, so we had no computer or TV and had no idea what any of these ‘E.L.F’s’ that kept being mentioned on the radio looked like…but what we saw looking down at us, wasn’t anything that was natural on Gods green earth.” He then sat silent staring at the table in front of them.

  “Look, if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine, maybe—”

  “I need to talk about it.”

  “Okay.”

  “You’re the first person I’ve had back here since they passed…So I hit the gas pedal and we sped past whatever the thing was, but we didn’t realize it was just one of a pack, and we drove straight in amongst the rest. The pickup flipped and I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke it was a few hours later and Joanna and my—” Tears started to roll down his unshaven face.

  Abbey got up and sat on the side of the chair, and hugged him. A few moments later he steadied himself, and she returned to her chair.

  “Anyway, they were dead, as were most in the town. No one was prepared…” He shook his head. “And there were no military out here. They were trying to save the major cities.” He then looked at her directly. “How did it happen?”

  “The…Cascade?”

  “Yeah, you said there are scientists in that camp of yours down south, that are trying to find out. What are their theories?”

  She could feel the pressure of his questions. He knows it was you…

  “They say some kind of virus they think.” She took another sip of her coffee, then opened her packet of dried nuts and fruit and started chewing on some.

  “I reckon it was some government thing gone wrong, I would bet this house on it.”

  “Could be,” she continued eating.

  “So you really think your parents could be alive in Boston? Last I heard the camp there was under daily attacks. Some of the guys on the radio before they stopped broadcasting didn’t figure it had long. I don’t mean to be mean, but it’s a long way to travel, even with your monkey bird creature protecting you.”

  “I’ve come too far to turn back now.”

  He stood and walked to the sideboard, then picked up a large frame with himself and his family smiling happily close to the camera. He then put the frame back down and looked at Abbey. “If you want, I can help you get to Boston.”

  CHAPTER 34

  “In the history of dumb ideas this has got to be the dumbest,” said Bower facing Zach, Raj and Fiona. “You don’t even know if it’s going to work!”

  “Wyatt and Miles tell me they can do it, but we gotta be in and out of there within a few hours, any longer than that and we won’t be hidden to the E.L.F’s anymore.”

  Diaz pulled back the curtain in the apartment they were all in. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon. “To be sure, you need me to come with you as well.”

  “You need to stay here to protect the others,” said Zach.

  “We can protect ourselves, although if we have to come after you to pull your asses out, then things might get antsy,” said Bower. “But, I still think it’s the wrong call. With all greatest respect to the doctor here, what use is all the data in the world if you’re dead?”

  Raj cleared his throat. “I also have the latest prototype of my audio device with me, it’s proved quite effective in the tests we have run.”

  Bower shook his head.

  Zach put his hand on Bowers shoulder. “We both know there’s something going on in that city, and the doctor can maybe tell us what it is. This could be real important Cole. We’ll be on comms, so you can track us all the way.”

  “Okay. Make sure you stock up on the grenades, explosive and stun.”

  Zach smiled. “Wouldn’t leave here without them.” He then turned to Fiona. “Ready?”

  She picked up her pack and her rifle. “Yup.”

  They all walked down the narrow stairs and out back to the parking lot. Gray clouds were beginning to roll in amongst an otherwise clear blue and orange sky.

  “Few hours and we should be back,” said Zach to a somewhat somber looking crowd headed by Bower.

  “I just get here and you’re heading out on a mission without me!” said Michael.

  “They’ll be plenty of others to risk your life on,” said Fiona getting into the drivers seat in the turreted Humvee.

  Zach got into the passengers seat, while Diaz stood up in the main guns position, and Miles, Wyatt and Raj squeezed in the back.

  “All ready doctor?” said Zach to Raj who was sitting awkwardly between the others, with a small bag in his lap.

  “Yes.”

  “How’s things looking for E.L.F’s, anyone sensing anything locally?”

  “Nothing near us,” said Wyatt, before Miles could respond.

  Fiona started the engine, and they pulled away.

  Zach switched on a small flashlight and pointed it down at the map of the area. “Keep to this road, then we take a left after a few turns. We need to get on the nineteen,” he said to Fiona.

  Soon they were on the four-lane road surrounded by hills, which headed north into Pittsburgh.

  As the gloom increased Fiona turned on the Humvee’s headlights, setting them to low.

  In the back Raj pulled out what looked like a black plastic handgun, but with a sphere where the barrel should be.

  “That’s an interesting looking gun?” said Miles trying to see what the strange looking device was in the almost complete dark around him.

  Raj held it closer to him. “It’s an audio defensive weapon. There’s a dial on the side, which you can set from low to high, and then you just pull the trigger. It will send out a single pulse of high frequency sound waves which in a lot of cases we have tested will disable most E.L.F’s. It won’t kill them, but it might give you some precious time to escape.”

  “What’s the range on that thing?” said Zach listening in.

  “About thirty feet.”

  “So you have to be close then,” said Fiona.

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “You only got the one?” said Zach.

  “Yes, I just grabbed it at the last minute from the lab.”

  “Let’s hope you don’t need to use it.”

  After a short while, Wyatt closed his eyes. The back of his neck was tingling. “I think there’s E.L.F’s up ahead.”

  Zach switched his flashlight back on and looked down at the map. “We’re passing over some rivers.”

  “You want me to slow?” said Fiona as the road rose upwards.

  “No.” Zach then turned slightly to those behind. “If you sense that anything senses us, let us know.” They all agreed.

  The dark shapes of homes and businesses flowed by, and smashed clumps of metal became more frequent as they continued moving closer to the center of the city.

  “Whoa,” said Miles.

  “What?” Said Fiona.

  “There’s a lot of something ahead.”

  Diaz ducked back inside. “I’m picking up E.L.F activity ahead. When do you want us to do our thing?”

  “Not until any of you sense that something knows we’re here and it’s heading our way,” said Zach. He then turned to Fiona. “Let’s slow a little.”

  Raj cleared his throat.

  Zach went to allay Raj’s fears, but that would just be sugarcoating things. They were heading into serious danger, there was no other way of putting it.

  Wooden poles that a year ago were used to hold up traffic lights and utility cables leaned precariously across the road, threatening to join the others that had already fallen. Fiona drove around them, sometimes having to drive on to the sidewalk.

  As they progressed the buildings around them grew in height and proximity to the side of the road.

  “Stop!” shouted Diaz, then crouched back inside.

  Fiona hit the brake.

  “Now would be a good time for us to do this plan!”

  Howls and screeches rang out around them in the night.

  “Do it,” said Zach.

  Diaz gave a quick glance to Wyatt and Miles, and they all closed their eyes in unison. She then stood back up in the gunner’s position. The ground started to shudder, and a creature twenty feet high with four muscular legs and a leathery hide lumbered across the street. Behind it others that were similar but smaller followed.

  Raj leaned forward wide eyed as the creatures moved across their route, just visible at the edge of the vehicles lights. “A family,” he whispered.

  Fiona gently pushed down on the gas pedal and they moved forward slowly pushing further into the city, as the sounds of an unnatural nature echoed all around them.

  Soon they were stopped again.

  Zach flicked on his light, and looked at the map. “We’re real close to the downtown area. Ahead of us—” Something slammed into the side of the Humvee making them all jump. “—No one move.”

  The sounds of snorting drifted through the air, and a plume of mist hit the back windows.

  After a few moments of standing like a statue Diaz ducked back down. “Phew, it’s moving away.”

  “The mind thing still working on them?” said Fiona.

  “For now,” said Miles a little out of breath.

  Zach continued. “Ahead of us is a tunnel that goes under the river, I don’t think that’s an option, so we need to take the next right, and move towards one of the bridges.”

  Fiona slowly drove forward, as she did the vehicle started hitting storks of plants that were a few feet high.

  “Fascinating,” said Raj.

  “This is nothing, you need to prepare yourself for what is further in,” said Zach as the Humvee took a right and then joined one of the main roads that headed towards the bridges.

  As they drove further on, Zach clicked on his radio. “We’re about to cross the river to the downtown area, so far plans working. I’ll check back in, in another thirty. Over.”

  Bower briefly acknowledged the message.

  “Take the next left, then right,” said Zach.

  As they turned the headlights caught the eyes of something large sleeping just off the edge of the road, making them all take in a breath.

  Fiona kept a constant speed as they moved away from it.