Darren Wearmouth - First Activation

“That was a close run thing,” I said, “I thought we’d lost.”

“We can always go back, get the respirators and ear defenders, and then get as far away from here as possible. Why risk ourselves anymore? That was nearly the end of us,” Jack said.

“No. We’ve come this far now, so we have to see it through,” Lea replied. “Do you want to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder? Because that’s what will happen.”

It was difficult to think straight, but the only option I could see, was for us to carry on. Running away wouldn’t solve anything or make our lives any easier, Lea was right. If we wanted any chance of a future, it was now or never. I started to feel a deep surge of anger over what we had endured.

“So you’re in then, Lea?” I said.

“Of course I am, why wouldn’t I be?”

“All the way in?” Jack replied.

“All the way,” Lea repeated.

I nodded, “Straight to fucking Ron’s.”

“I hope you both know that this will probably be a one way trip?” Jack said.

“I don’t see that we have any other choice. The next activation is this morning, Genesis Alliance probably wants us dead, and the entire civilised world has fallen apart. We might not get out of this alive, but I’d rather die trying,” I said.

Jack and I made our rifles ready.

Lea pulled out of the car park and we headed towards Oak Street, the next few minutes were filled with silent contemplation. I was curious about what kind of man Ron was, a monster like that would be unrepentant, I imagined, but I would probably feel the same if I put a bullet between his eyes. Ron deserved nothing less for what he had done to the world, and was now going to reap what he had sown.

We reached the road leading to Oak Street just after ten in the morning, the route through Monroe to his house was clear. Not only were there no abandoned cars or rotting corpses, but there was also no sign of any guards. Perhaps our opponents at the plaza were supposed to be guarding the entrance to the road.

Lea drove slowly along Conant Street towards the entrance of Oak Street. As we reached within a couple of hundred yards, our vehicle stopped slowly.

“Get down!” she hissed.

I ducked into the passenger foot-well and Jack lay across the backseat.

“What is it?” he said.

“There’s two people dressed in black at the end of the Oak Street. They must be a couple of guards stationed by Ron.”

We had expected some form of resistance; it seemed unlikely that Ron would let anybody get within range to his house — if that’s where he was. The presence of these guards at the end of his street suggested that Ron was home.

“We can’t stop here for too long,” Jack said, “they might get suspicious, and we’ve less than an hour before the next activation.”

“Lea, wind the windows down and drive slowly towards the guards,” I said. “They’ll assume we are fellow members of Genesis Alliance, we’ll be on top of them before they know it. When we get close, tell us which side of the vehicle they are on and we’ll spring up and take care of them.”

“Where do you want me to go after that?”

“Drive straight up in front of Ron’s house. We’ll jump out of the car and use it as cover in case there’s any retaliation. I wouldn’t bet against more armed guards being inside.”

Lea paused for a moment, “What if you don’t take the guards out?”

“We will, just make sure you get close enough,” Jack said.

The Range Rover started to move forward slowly.

“They’ve seen us, but they’re not moving,” Lea said.

A few seconds later, when we must have been very close to the end of Ron’s Street, Lea said, “They’re both armed, but the rifles are slung by their sides. They’re coming around to my window…”

“Stop talking, and let us know when they’re a few yards away. If they get too close, then they’ll see us,” Jack said.

“Now!” Lea shouted.

I sprang from my crouching position in the foot-well and saw the two guards very close to Lea’s window. I aimed for the female, who had a look of open-mouthed surprise on her face, and fired twice into her chest. She dropped to the ground. I heard Jack’s rifle fire three times in quick succession.

“Drive,” I yelled.

She sped away from the scene, and I looked back. Both of our victims were motionless on the ground.

“I think they recognised me,” she said. “I’ve seen both of them before in the house.”

“That’s probably the last you’ll see of them,” Jack replied.

The Range Rover screeched to a halt in a matter of seconds.

“We’re here,” Lea said, “it’s the one on the right with the wooden door and large porch.”

“Out. Get out now!” I shouted.

Lea flung her door open and exited quickly. I dived over her seat and jumped out of the same door. Jack was already crouched beside Lea with his AR-15 ready. I turned back to look through the vehicle windows at Ron’s house.

Jack nudged my shoulder and pointed left and right. Two black Range Rovers had appeared at the far ends of the street — about three hundred yards from us in either direction. This was starting to feel like a suicide mission, but it was our last roll of the dice. The only way we would get out of this alive now, would be to capture Ron and use him as leverage to escape. We had to move quickly, as we were exposed on the street. If more Genesis Alliance showed up, we wouldn’t last long in a firefight.

“We’ll have to go into the house, but Ron needs to be taken alive. Are you ready to move?” I said to Jack and Lea.

Both nodded.

“Lea, what’s the layout?” Jack asked.

As he said this, I looked to my left. Slowly appearing around the corner, was another vehicle.

“Fuck it,” I said, “there’s no time. Straight through the front door.”

I looked up and saw the door to Ron’s house open. An old man with silver hair, wearing a red checked shirt and cream trousers, appeared with his hands up. He was smiling.

“Is that Ron?” Jack asked Lea.

“Yes.”

“Guys, there’s no need for all of this. Come in and I’ll fix you a drink,” he shouted over in a strangely jolly voice.

I looked at Jack in confusion. He shook his head.

“Come on in,” he shouted again and beckoned us towards the house before he disappeared back into it, leaving the door open.

I looked at either end of the street; both our exits had been cut off. I checked my watch; we had fifty minutes before the next activation.

“It could be a trap. He didn’t seem stressed at all,” Jack said.

“That’s the way Ron is,” Lea replied, “he’s a cool customer.”

“I think we’ll have to take our chances following Ron. He is what we came here for, and he’s the best chance we have of getting out of this alive. Lea, you go first. He’s less likely to want you killed,” I said.

She rolled her eyes.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.”

“Right, we’ll just have to go with the flow on this one then. If we find any raised weapons, we shoot first and ask questions later. The first chance we get to take Ron, we do it.”

“What do we do once we have him?” Lea asked.

“We’ll make him to tell us how to stop the activation. After that, we’ll bring him back out at gunpoint and get the hell out of here,” I replied.

“Let’s go,” Jack said.

Lea stood up and started walking across the street towards Ron’s front door. Jack and I followed behind. As we walked up the drive, Ron appeared again at the door, smiling.

“You’re going to have to leave your weapons outside. I’m sorry, but it’s the house rules.”

“Do you really expect us to do that?” I replied.