Children's Games: A Story of Modern Punishment

Chapter 47 - Gabriel

~Gabriel~

The old car swerved as the blasting song on the radio cut-off. The tyres smoked and damp dirt flew through the air as it came to a stop, crashing against the steel barrier on the side of the road. The radio spewed a loud white noise buzz before the Emergency Broadcast System cut through, followed by a stern voice.

"This is the Emergency Broadcast System. We are interrupting the regular programming of this channel to bring you an important announcement. Please stand by for an urgent message from the United States government."

Gabriel leaned forward over the steering wheel, holding his breath as his heart pounded through his chest. The humid summer air seemed to be choking him, encouraging sweat to fall down his brow now that the wind wasn't blasting through the open window to cool him down. He was incredibly still, his eyes glowing wide like the moon.

"This is Joan Strong, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from the MacDill Air Force Base. At 0037 GMT, the first of many coordinated nuclear airstrikes have been launched at key locations around France. Early reports have diagnosed significant damage and confirmed its nuclear nature. The radius of these attacks were wide enough to reach neighbouring towns in all eight bordering countries. This is a confirmed act of war, and all international communications will be suspended immediately following this broadcast to maintain national security and prevent the spread of misinformation."

The voice paused, allowing the burden of the news to settle. Gabriel felt a weight in his chest greater than he had ever felt before, dread stabbing at his eyes like knives. It didn't feel real, nothing felt real. He frantically grabbed at his phone on the passenger seat and saw that he had an angry cross through the bars of connection. It dropped from his hand as his muscles weakened, shock setting in.

"All citizens are advised to remain calm and stay informed through official channels only. Further instructions will be provided as the situation develops. We urge everyone to prioritise their safety and the safety of their loved ones. This broadcast will repeat as necessary. God bless America."

The broadcast ended abruptly, filling the car with the low hum of static despair. Gabriel stared at the radio, thoughts of his family floating through his mind like a funeral procession. He was in a state of shock, his body unmoving while pulsing with a dull ache. He flinched when the radio spurted a burst of white noise, kickstarting his heart again.

He yelled and screamed to stop himself from sobbing. He picked up his phone and checked again, the lock screen carving a hole in his heart before he smashed it against the window. The screen shattered and cut through his hand in a bloody mess, but he never felt it.

A few minutes rolled past as he stared at his shaking hands, opening and closing them, begging to feel the blood that covered them. Then there was another short burst from the radio, flinching him back to life as he shakily grabbed for the door and stumbled into the humid night air.

He yanked open the car boot and his hands grabbed the large radio that was strong enough to reach international destinations. It was a stretch, but his desperation was stronger than his logic. Adrenaline coursed unregulated through his veins, allowing him to lift the heavy radio from the boot and accidentally throw it as a sob escaped his throat. It was as big as a car battery, but it didn't break like a car battery would as it tumbled across the road.

Gabriel dropped to his knees in front of it, hyperventilation making his head hazy and disturbed. But he finally calibrated it and fixed the satellite dish, then clutched the mouthpiece to his heart then called in.

"Hello? This is Sergeant Gabriel Laurent! Is anyone there?! I'm communicating my position from Leesburg, Florida, waiting for instructions!"

Radio silence denied him an answer. He repeated his message three times before he had to stop. The white noise was haunting him, his voice breaking. His brain was going a million miles an hour, but he was also floating in an abyss, with no way to sort through it or control it. His muscles weakened and he felt like he might've collapsed.