The Collapse of Mankind

Chapter Ten - Part One

Cisco, Jess and Nick stood around the small, single flame in the dark room. They talked to each other and discussed how to escape.

Cisco: There's no windows, no weapons... No nothing. We're so screwed.

They hear talking outside which caused them to all fall silent.

Cisco: Wait. Shhh.

They listened closely and were as quiet as they could possibly be. Their hearts felt like they stopped as  they held their breath. They could hear two deep voices talking to each other.

Unknown 1: What if they find a way out? I mean, the handle is quite visible.
Unknown 2: Shut your mouth, they might hear you. I know we're only passing by, but we can be heard. Besides, the handle isn't that visible.
Unknown: They haven't heard a thing.

The group could hear the voices getting further away. The group gasped for air as they started breathing again.

Nick: Idiots.
Cisco: Handle... Handle. There can't be a handle on this side of the door.
Jess: Check. There has to be a handle in here somewhere.

Cisco walked over to the door and felt around the cold door for a handle.

Cisco: Nick. Flame, now.

Nick walked to him and gave the lighter to Cisco. Cisco took it from him and lit it. He searched the door using the flame. There was nothing.

Cisco: Shit.
Jess: What? No handle?
Cisco: No, I just burned my finger. I was expecting there to be no handle. I'm not surprised.

Nick walked away from them, thinking. He sat down on the hard, dirty floor and placed his hands on either side of him. He touched something cold. He moved his hand to get a better feel of it. It felt like metal.

Nick: Cisco. Flame.
Cisco: On it.

Cisco quickly walked over to where Nick was. Nick grabbed Cisco's arm which was gripping the lit flame and brought it towards the metal thing.

Nick: Hell yeah.
Cisco: Awesome!

Cisco got on his knees and pulled the metal thing his way. It was very heavy. But worth it. He struggled and tugged it until it opened fully. The hole was not very big. But big enough for them to fit through one-by-one.

Nick: Ladies first.
Jess: Good one, bird-brain. But if you think I'm going first, you're wrong.
Cisco: I guess it's me then.

Cisco cautiously and slowly lowered himself down the small hole. He placed his feet down silently on the ground and crouched. He looked around and saw nothing. He glanced up through the hole and motioned for them to follow. The other two noticed his motions and came down, too. Jess went first and Nick followed. Once they were all out, Cisco reached back into the hole and closed up the hatch. It was getting dark outside. But it was still light enough to shock them. Their eyes weren't adjusted to the light.

Jess: This is totally unsafe. We're unarmed and have no clue where the fuck we're going.

Cisco looked directly in front of him and noticed a figure moving. The person turned around and revealed the fact that he was holding a machine gun. Cisco smirked and looked at Jessica.

Cisco: We won't be unarmed for long.

Behind the man there was a small wooden shack. He was clearly guarding the shack for some reason.

Cisco: I bet there's weapons in that shack.
Nick: But how do we get to it?
Cisco: I have my ideas. Jessica. You see that rock on the floor?
Jess: Yeah?
Cisco: Pick it up. When I say, throw over his head. When it lands, it'll make a sound, obviously. He'll look towards it. Maybe even slowly walk that way. It's a great strategy for stalling. Take note.
Jess: I can't throw for shit.
Cisco: Did your family think that?
Jess: Probably.
Cisco: They didn't. I can promise you that. So that means you can. Okay?
Jess: Fine.

Jessica picked up the stone and sighed.

Cisco: Nicholas. The second that stone is thrown, you and I are silently going to sneak up on him and take him out.

Cisco waited for the man to be looking away from the group. As soon as he was, Cisco let Jess know.

Cisco: Now!

Jess threw the stone... perfectly. The man sharply looked towards where the stone landed. He slowly started walking towards it with his gun drawn. The boys silently ran towards him. Cisco rapidly whipped out his knife, placed his right arm around the man's neck and put the knife against his skin. Nick kicked the back of the man's legs, causing him to fall to the floor with a thud. Cisco then slit the man's throat, blood pouring onto Cisco's arm and the man's clothes.

Cisco: Ah shit that dude's shirt is nice.
Nick: Your loss.
Cisco: Technically not.

Cisco reached down and took the man's machine gun from him. He lifted it up and put it on. The strap fit around him perfectly. He smiled to himself. Jessica ran towards them and grabbed their arms. She dragged them into the small shack.

Jess: We need weapons, come on!

They looked around. The shack was full of ammo and weapons. All kinds of weapons. Jessica picked up a machine gun. She put the strap around her and immediately felt safer. She picked up a knife and pistol, too. Nick felt left out so he decided to find a machine gun, as well. Whilst also picking up a pistol. He noticed that there were some silencers there too. So he picked up three and gave everybody one. He picked up Cisco's revolver at the same time and handed it to him with a smile.

Nick: Got everything?
Cisco: I think so.

As they were leaving, Jessica noticed something from the corner of her eye. It was almost like it was glimmering.

Jess: Hold on.

She walked towards the glimmer. It was a machete. It was Ellie's. Jessica picked it up and put the strap around her body, ready to give back to Ellie as soon as possible.

Jess: I found Ellie's machete.
Cisco: Wow.
Nick: I thought they would have gotten rid of it or something.
Jess: I guess machetes aren't exactly easy to find.
Nick: That's true.

They stood in silence for a few seconds, staring at each other.

Jess: You know what, we should probably get our of here before we get killed.
Cisco: Probably. You guys ready?
Nick: For what?
Cisco: Getting the hell out of here. Let's fucking go.