Matthew Mark - Dark Days Rough Roads

Haliday had strung up some balloons filled with air and gas over this area. They were tied up in small bunches with fish hooks taped to the strings supporting them. A couple jerks on the fishing line caused them to burst. The gas dropped and then had he used a flare from the 37mm to ignite it. The rest was the brutal nature of fire and it took its course.

The track had been abandoned now and was completely engulfed in flames. A truck came flying up and two militia tried to help their friends. Three had succumbed to the flames and two were badly burned. Only the two outside the track had avoided the inferno. The militia grabbed the injured and retreated, leaving the track to burn.

Back near the airport, another alarm had sounded. Every person in the militia group was responding and taking up defensive positions. There was sporadic gunfire as they fired into the woods and surrounding buildings. No one knew what they were firing at. Shadows, light dancing off windows, or just their imaginations.

There were vehicles heading in all directions around the entire perimeter. People were then getting out and either lying prone and watching their area or taking cover behind their vehicles. It was a mix of adults and teens. They all had the same Russian camo on too.

The crowd had cleared out and was completely out of sight. More than half had gone home. About a dozen of the remaining members stayed behind by the feed store with Rob. In about 15 minutes Haliday and Blake came up from the other direction on their bikes. They ditched them inside a truck well at the feed store.

Haliday walked up to Rob. “How’d you make out?”

“One guy got hit in the leg and old man Burton got shot in the back while he was running away. He didn’t make it. He owned the Burton tire shop. He didn’t have any family, but we’ll get him taken care of.”

Haliday said, “It ain’t over yet. I guarantee these guys are going to try and remain in charge. That or they are going to come after you.”

They heard a vehicle coming down the street and watched as the truck pulled up to the main gate of the airport. After it entered, the gate stayed open but four people stood there with rifles ready and sweeping the area. Another vehicle came up less than five minutes later. This continued for about another 30 minutes as all of their patrols had made it back to the HQ.

Haliday pulled out his binoculars and looked over at the compound. “Rob, these guys are bunkering down. There isn’t going to be any chance of getting in there any time soon. Blake, take some notes.” Blake went and grabbed the notebook out of the saddle bag and came back.

“I count five quads, four ‘four’ wheelers, three motorcycles, I see 15 trucks or Jeeps, about eight golf carts, the two deuce and halves. They must have fixed the tires on the one. I count over 60 people total. I’ll assume if they have any younger kids other than the teens, they are shielded inside somewhere. I have no idea how many prisoners they have if they are even still alive. Hell, I don’t know how many others may be inside. They hid their numbers rather well. More recon is what I should have done, this sucks. I’m not sure what the hell they have total.

“That means they had a good at least a good 60 to start with if you subtract the 10, or was it 11 or 12 we killed?”

Rob looked at him. “You guys took out that many?”

Roger continued, “I don’t really know. Oh, that reminds me. About a half mile north along your wood line is going to be a kid tied up. He’s hurt pretty badly, most likely broken ribs and bruised. You guys do what you want with him. There’s a quad and some toys in your pole barn. Keep those. You might need them.”

Haliday called the group, who was waiting with anticipation. They filled him in on the activity they encountered and he told them he would let them know what was going on when they got back. They would be coming in very soon. He told Rob about the militia vehicle. “You might want to see if you can go get it. It’ll help you as well. He gave Rob a couple of frequencies. Use the kid’s ham, you can run it off the quad.”

Rob said, “I can’t thank you enough for all of this.” A few of the other guys were there as well and thanked them. They were all huddling around the burn barrel.

“If I could give you guy’s any advice, this is what I would do.”

Roger was just about to give them a little advice when one of the other men pointed and said, “I think we have company.”

A four wheeler from the compound was pulling out and headed their way. It had a large white flag waving from it. They stopped out in the street just a short ways from the feed store. They yelled out, “We want to talk to whoever is in charge.”

Haliday and Blake both stepped back and took aim. Haliday was scanning the area, he had that feeling. “Step back Rob.” Rob stepped back too.

There were three of them out there. “Can we speak to who’s in charge?” someone yelled.

One of Rob’s friends said, “Hell, I’ll go.”

Haliday said, “No, don’t go out there,” but the guy did anyway. “Rob, who is that guy?”

“His name is Jim, he always wants to be in charge and run things. If it’s our fantasy football league or anything else not important, we just let him. He’s kind of like Mr. Haney from Green Acres , always has a money-making scam going on, the next big business, that sort of thing.”

Haliday looked around and backed up some more. “Back up guys, back up.” Most backed up, but a few just stood there. A couple of guys went over by the dumpster and grabbed some rifles they had hidden. Haliday had specifically told them not to bring weapons to this rally. Jim talked to them for a bit, then returned.

“Hey Rob, one of them is Ernie, you know, the deputy.”

“Ya, I know him, he always hassles my boys about the scooter.”

“Well listen here, they wanted to know who the leader was and I told them I was it. Told them I designated you to talk for us when we were at the gate. They want to make a truce. They said if we disband, they won’t do anything to us.”

“Bullshit,” Rob said. “I don’t trust them.”

Jim spoke again; “They also wanted to know who these two were.” He pointed at Haliday and Blake. “I told them they were my cousin and nephew from the suburbs.”

Haliday spoke next. “Listen Jim, I’m not sure you fully understand what’s happening here.”

Jim pointed at Roger. “Hey, you ain’t from around here, I know these people.”

Roger replied, “Oh you do, So you knew what they were prepping for and everything?”

“Well, no, but they are mostly good people,” Jim said.

“Look Jim, I’m telling you this is bad shit going down.”

Jim wouldn’t listen to reality. He told Roger, “You don’t know that. I think it’s a good deal. We might be able to get something else out of it too.”

Another guy piped in. “Jim, I think this guy is legit. I mean he’s gotta be Special Forces or something, look at the shit he’s pulled.”

“No, I’m not, nor would I portray myself to be. I’m just a guy who took advantage of all the training I ever could. Practiced and honed those skills, read everything I could. Knowledge is key. Operators are a different breed, I know a few. I wish we had some right about now. I’m just a dirty fighter.”

Haliday spoke to the group. “Look, these guys are just buying time. They will come after everyone here. They won’t stop. I guarantee they will not give up that food and supply stockpile without a fight. You all heard the stories of what they’re doing.”

Jim spoke, “Oh bullshit, I got this handled.” Jim walked back out to meet them. A couple more people told him not to. Haliday looked around; he motioned for Blake and Rob to back up a bit more.