Dark Sky

09 - Opportunity

Chapter Nine

He sat huddled between the toilet and the bath. The whole room had shook violently and Travis had ducked for cover.

The vibration had been that intense that he was surprised the bathroom had not come crashing down on top of him. What had just happened? An earthquake? He was not sure as he scrambled from the floor and out onto the landing of his house.

A strong breeze was blowing in through the hole in the wall where his window used to be and the air felt hot. Very hot, sending him back down to his knees as he tried to shield himself.

It was like he had stepped too close to a bonfire and he felt his skin tighten against the unnatural heat. He rubbed his arms as if he could brush away the hot air and he pulled himself to his feet wanting to know what had just happened.

He staggered to to opening in the wall where his landing window used to be and gazed out at the street below. Parts of buildings had broken free and were now littering the road below between the cars that had spontaneously burst into flames.

Flames. They had taken hold of almost anything that was combustible including Mrs Bennett from number forty three across the road. She lay on the pavement opposite on fire and clearly still alive. Her screams were ear piercing as she burned alive and Travis found himself transfixed on her.

He couldn't take his eyes off the suffering woman but no part of him felt compelled to help, he was happy enough just watching her die right in front of him. He stared until she fell quiet and still. The kind of still that followed death. He felt no pity for her suffering, only intrigue at what he had just witnessed and he gazed at her body for a few minutes after death had passed.

Finally his eyes moved from the body in the street below to the sky above the roof line. The distinct shape of the mushroom cloud could be seen rising into the atmosphere some miles away and he became suddenly aware that he was only alive because unlike Mrs Bennett, he had been inside when the heat wave had hit.

Even in here it had gotten hot and so outside was obviously worse. Mrs Bennett was proof of that and as he ventured down his staircase he decided he would remain inside his house until things appeared to have settled a bit.

He went straight to his garage and upto the steel locker in the corner,unlocking the door. The bolt freed noisily as the key turned in the lock and he swung it open quickly.

Standing for a few seconds he viewed his collection of shot guns housed within the reinforced cabinet before choosing one and grabbing as many rounds as he could carry. Something told him the world was a different place and his weapon was the key to controlling his destiny now.

He placed the shot gun and a few boxes of cartridges onto the kitchen table and sat down. He remained here just staring at the firearm for a long time. He needed to time his exit from the house just right. Too soon and he might not survive, but it had to be soon enough to take control of what happened next. He waited patiently until the right time came. If he was clever about it, this village would belong to him now. There was unlikely be any law to stop him.

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Travis walked slowly down the street. Despite the rubble that littered the area this village had faired better than others he thought to himself. The damage and Mrs Bennett were nothing compared to what must have happened to places closer to the bomb. The destruction here was was just enough for Travis to take control. No longer would he need to hide from societies rules. Society would have to live by his rules. Well, in this village anyway. As long as he had his gun people wouldn't mess with him.

Before the bomb he had been wanted. Wanted for a killing that had occurred a few years ago. He had found refuge in this village shortly after, apparently the law didn't expect a villain to settle down in a quiet place like this. He had lived four peaceful years here under the radar conducting his so called business and nobody had ever suspected anything. To him this nuclear attack was the icing on the cake. He knew that if he played it right, he could become a very powerful person.