Martial Law - The Tale of Samuel Turner

Chapter Two

Chapter Two 

Yeah yeah, I know. Kicking the shit out of someone then inviting them on a road trip, real gentleman like. But she did try to kill me so. Anyways, it kinda runs in my family, act first ask questions later. My Dad, Sam Sr. Was best known for it. He was a good man but sometimes his flaws showed a little too much. Of course being deployed several times in Iraq and Afghanistan will do numbers to your self-awareness. After retiring from the Core, he became a mechanic. Same with my mom, Alex. After I was born, My dad became paranoid with anything that involved being safe and prepared, which is a good thing to a degree. I also had a sister, she was named after my dad's favorite gemstone, Sapphire. She uh, she went our mom's route and became a Pastry Baker. On the bright side, free food for me. My mom and dad did their best, raised us to be who we wanted to be, not what would be best, which is the best in our book. When I was six I told my dad I wanted to be in the army. Three months later and several weeks of overtime, he could afford a training course be built by hand to get me the upper hand. By the time I was ten, I could fly through the training without a problem. Sapphire wanted to be a mechanic, so mom set aside a savings account to help her build her own car. By the time she was 15, her makeshift 2007 Ford Mustang was built and street ready. But our idea of family changed in '08 after the Government declared martial law in Boston. An outbreak of protests broke out after President Romney won the election. They sent armed troops into the city to calm the riots but, more harm than good occurred. A few jackasses decided to throw rocks at a few troops stationed right outside of a commons, even after being told not to open fire, over on did. Then two, then ask of them did. Leading to a repeat in history. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if Obama won the race, would things be different or just the same thing with a different man. After the second Boston Massacre, the whole nation lit up like a match in Gas. The whole country was under martial law because of that incident, because of those men. The thing is, there weren't enough soldiers to be deployed in every city and town in every state. Therefore people saw freedom. People started rioting, protesting, raiding, looting, destroying everything they could. In '10, my life changed for the worst. We were camping in the Arizona desert when it happened. Of course, we were armed just in case someone tried to steal our things. In the morning, we drove to the inner city for a supply run. The US displayed a message, loud and clear to everyone in the country. As we left the car, we ran into the nearest building for anything we could grab. Paper, pencils, food, water, etc. After we finished three building, that's when the hell show began. A series of bombers berated the city with bombs, leveling buildings, killing anyone or thing in its wake. Some of the people were my family. I was off getting things out of the tent a few miles back. When I heard the sound of explosions and planes within the city, I drove as fast as my sister's Mustang could. When I found the remains of my family, I dropped to my knees. My mom's locket of her and my dad was in her hand, few feet from her body. My dad's old Colt m1911 still holstered, perfectly unscathed. From that day on, I realized what it's like to be lost alone and broken. I had one thing from each of my family members, three blood-soaked medallions of their memory. Gut stabbing memories. For as long as I live, my dad's Colt is gonna be the gun I kill every last person until I find my peace.

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I look back at Rachell, her eyes fixated with mine, her fearful expression switched to a confused one

"C'mon, we're burning what little daylight we have."

She gets up off her knees with her gun in hand, hesitant to follow

"Also, load that gun of yours, you'll feel safer."

she quickly nods, finding an unopened case of 9mm rounds and soon follows behind me. "Why are you doing this?" She asks in a stern tone

"Life's a bitch. I know what it's like to have family stripped from you when you could have prevented it."

Things were silent for a while. That awkward, empty silence.

"Where you headed?" Finally, the silence was broken

"Columbia. I've got a feeling something of mine is there"

"Columbia? That place is a dead zone"

"Good, makes my job easier" I mount my Yamaha, turning to Rachell "C'mon"

"Mind me asking what you're looking for there?" she mounts the bike, her arms around my waist

"A car." I responded shortly

After a long 20 minute drive, we arrive at the Mizzou Stadium. The city was beyond fucked. Looks like Arizona came to Missouri.

"Look for a black, almost too clean car" I state, taking off my helmet, throwing it away into the rubble

"Kind of a broad statement, what kind of car" I could feel her tensing up. Looks like bad memories lived here for her.

"07 Mustang, Mag rims, semi tinted windows". We pull off into the Wal-Mart just off Grindstone. My gut tightened at the sight of my old local store. I missed Mizzou. Supplies were the last thing on my mind. I needed to get my car. We walk around to the back, towards the shipping dock where old semis are parked.

"Why do you need this car so bad?" Her eyes glance towards me

"Don't worry about it"

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"Dad? Why is Momma upset?" I look up at my father, his dark blue eyes off in the distance. His brown curly hair, which he made blonde and straight fell in his face and blew back with the wind.

"Honestly, it's because of what I told her in high school" I could see the pain on his face, the sorrow that's swallowing him whole. "When you're my age, you'll understand why your mother's upset" a tear ran down his face, picking up the dirt that stuck to his peach white skin.

I couldn't help but hug my father's arm. Just to give him some comfort. "Dad? When's the baby gonna come?" I could tell that made him happier, but not cured.

"Soon my boy, soon. She'll be born in February" he ruffed up my hair as he always does as we look over the city of Philadelphia from the perch of a cliff.

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"Sam? Sam." Rachell shook my shoulder as I snap out of my flashback "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, just lost in thought" I look in front of the semi we were hiding behind, realizing I was staring at the car the whole time "Oh shit, it's actually here!" I run up to vehicle, not a scratch on it "my baby, she's here"

Rachel rolls her eyes as she runs her hand along the hood "Why...does it feel oily?"

"My sister would put a coat of that "hydrophobic spray" on it, both to paint it and to make sure it doesn't rust" I grab an old coat hanger out of my bag and pick the lock of the car door, the sound of it's beeping when the door opens fills me with joy "it's been too long"

"So it's your sisters, that's why you're attached to it?" I look at her and nod, taking a seat behind the wheel. "Yeah, she worked on this ever since she was little. Completely finished it when she was 15" I took the keys out of my pocket, revving the engine till it started up. A light flashed right in front of the gas, indicating it was low, but not empty. Rachell hopped in the passenger side, her body sinking into the seat

"This is so comfortable" she rubbed the arm of the car chair "maybe I can relax for once"

I pull the map out of my bag and begin marking major highways and back roads, predicting which one would be quicker. I mark off St. Louis along with Kansas City. Didn't need to hit them anymore, not that I have my car. I outline all the back roads leading to Atlanta, GA.

"Sam? Since we're gonna be together a while, why don't you tell me some things about yourself" she turns to look at me her soft smile interrupted by frown "you don't have to if you want"

"You really wanna know?"