Previous Chapter - The Last 3 Days (20): Cluster's F**ked All published chapters can be found here. 00:26:54 Nick burst from the back door of the house. His mother was the first to notice. “Nick!” Hearing his son’s name yanked Don’s attention from Bobby. Relief at the sight of his son, even bruised, barefoot and dirty, was enough of a distraction that Bobby was able to twist his body from under the Sergeant’s boot and jump up, ready to run. Nick had other ideas. He launched himself onto Bobby’s back and they tumbled to the grass. Bobby collapsed face down, unable to move with Nick sitting on his back. “Oh my God,” Anne cried. “You’re home!” She rushed to him and, crouching, threw her arms around him. The Sergeant, satisfied Bobby was restrained once more, said, “I’ll get a zip-tie.” “Get a bunch,” Ryan answered. He held the service revolver pointed at Becky’s head. He took note of all present and smiled. Everyone froze in place, except Jack, who ducked behind a lawn chair. Bobby pushed Nick away and regained his feet. Waving the gun towards the house, Ryan said, “Bobby, go with Sarge, make sure he doesn’t get lost.” Noticing the gun in Ryan’s hand made him hesitate. “Where’d you get the piece, Ryan?” “Lucky find. On second thought, Sarge, stay put. Bobby, you go. They’re in the belts hanging behind the office door.” Bobby obeyed. Don stepped between Ryan and his family. “Put the gun down, son.” Ryan’s self-satisfied smirk became laughter. “Put the gun down? Just when I finally feel like a real king? A king — a king has the power of life and death.” Waving the pistol for all to see, he added, “And now I do too.” Don kept his calm. “But you’re not a king.” Ryan’s head shook, defying Nick’s father. “I am, I just didn’t know it. Until Friday. Until the rock. The rock showed me I was right and you were wrong.” “How so?” Exasperation entered Ryan’s tone, as if his audience still didn’t understand the scope of his victory. “A king takes what he wants. Which is exactly what I said outside Jay’s. I was explaining how I take what I want. Then you showed up, with your ‘my job is to stop people like you.’ Look how that turned out.” Bobby pushed the Sergeant, holding a handful of zip-ties, out the back door. “Fine,” Don conceded. “You’re a king. You win. Now why don’t you just go?” Ryan’s temper built. “No. You just don’t get it. It’s not enough to have the power of life and death. You have to exercise it. And so I will. On your knees.” Don knelt on the grass. Ryan waved the gun over the rest. “All of you. In a line. Bobby, tie their hands.” “Even the women?” “Gender equality. Them too.” Jack watched Bobby systematically move down the line of captives, securing their hands behind them. Ryan paced in front, randomly aiming the pistol at individuals and mock executed them. “Now what?” Bobby asked as he finished binding Olga’s wrists. The smile was back. “Now the fun begins. But not out here.” Ryan halted in front of Becky. “I see Becky and Nick and Don and even Peter. But no Jay. Where’s Jay, Becky?” Defiant, she said nothing. Which earned her a back-handed slap from Ryan. She cried out. Olga growled, shifting her weight as if to rise, but relaxed when Ryan pressed the barrel against Becky’s forehead. “Where’s Jay?” Ryan shouted. 00:21:14 Roused by Becky’s cry, Jay heard his name shouted. With great effort, he slowly climbed slowly out of bed to look through the window. 00:21:03 “Fine. Have it your way,” Ryan said, and hauled Becky to her feet. Using her a shield, he pointed the weapon at each man in turn. “You four. Up. Inside.” Nick, Don, Peter, and the Sergeant entered the house ahead of Becky and Ryan. After a moment’s hesitation, Bobby followed. “You’re not really going to shoot them, are you?” “As a king, it is my duty.” “No, it isn’t. The cop’s right, Ryan. You won. Let’s just go.” “Stop,” Ryan ordered, and his captives halted in the open area between the stairs and the sofa. “In a line. Back on your knees. You, too,” and pushed Becky away. Turning back to Bobby, he said, “Go where? I can’t think of anywhere better than right here, right now, with the lives of my — enemies — in my hand.” Savouring his power over his captives, Ryan didn’t see Bobby back out of the room. 00:18:56 Jack used a bread knife to saw through the nylon tie binding his mother’s wrists. “Me next, Jack,” Eileen urged. “Hurry.” Jack moved on to Eileen while Anne helped Olga stand. Bobby stepped out of the house. For a moment, he stared at them, but then he turned and ran. As soon as Eileen was free, she reached for her purse. 00:18:12 Ryan’s face hovered so near to Becky’s, he looked like he might kiss her, if not for the gun barrel he pressed against her temple. “Last chance. Where is Jay?” A voice from behind him replied, “Right here, asshole. Leave her be.” Jay stood on the stairs, using the rail for support. “Jay! Welcome! You look terrible, but you made it.” He pointed the revolver at Jay. “You’re first.” Eileen stepped into the room, assumed the combat stance she learned from her husband, but could not keep her eyes open as she pulled the trigger. Bam! A window shattered. Nick hurled himself at Ryan’s legs as he pulled his trigger, ruining the shot. Click! Ryan aimed at Nick, pulled the trigger a second time. Click. Again. Click. Click. Click. His gun wasn’t loaded. Bam! Ryan’s body jerked, his gun flying across the room. Eileen opened her eyes to aim once more. Ryan studied the blood seeping from his sleeve to pool in his palm, then looked up, confused. Jay was unhurt. Bam! Once again, Eileen’s shot went wide. Ryan saw it was now or never. He darted towards the front door and through it. 00:17:02 Ryan raced straight to the Escalade, keeping low as he climbed in and started it. Cranking the steering wheel, he accelerated, and the huge tires tore up the lawns of several properties as he maneuvered towards the street. As the SUV lurched over the curb, Ryan raised his head over the steering wheel — and grazed Hunter’s Beater coming the other way. He doesn’t stop. 00:16:52 Eileen lowered her weapon and embraced her son. Jack, holding the bread knife like a sword, led Anne and Olga from the kitchen. He wasted no time, making short work of the remaining zip-ties. Don hugged Nick, Anne and Jack joining them. Olga threw her arms around Becky. Noticing Peter standing alone, she motioned him to join them. The Sergeant eased Eileen’s gun from her then collected Ryan’s, stripping them on the dining table. The front entrance darkened, inspiring a moment of terror. Behind Dean was his father, Hunter, whose arm embraced a woman. “Hi,” Dean said. “Nick invited us.” Nick untangled himself and greeted the newcomers, shaking hands with each in turn. “Come in, come in. These folks brought me home.” As Don and Anne thanked the newcomers, a scraping noise emanated from the TV. The on-screen timer on the empty news desk read 00:12:24, despite being slightly out-of-focus. Then the camera shuddered, and the desk came into focus. The Anchor entered the frame. He looked the consummate, well-groomed professional as he settled into his chair. He checked the screen on his desk for updates and then addressed the camera. “In the short time we have left, I want to thank those who called in to share their stories. These last hours spent with you have been the most poignant of my life.” 00:11:23 Tomas kept his head down and his collar up as he entered Veteran’s Park, struggling to keep his cool as he weaved through the crowd, even though those who weren’t actively praying watched the sky. He followed the curving path lined with tailored shrubs and suddenly there it was — glowing in the morning light was a statue of a small group of soldiers patrolling a steep granite ridge. It took a moment for him to realize people were watching him. Embarrassed, he turned to leave, only to come face to face with an Elderly Woman — who hugged him. “Thank you for your sacrifice.” No sooner did the Elderly Woman release him when someone else took her place. Then another and another. Others clasped his arms or shoulders, clapped his back, and he could not hold back his tears. 00:08:47 The crack had become a steaming fissure on the surface of Benevolence B7438, when suddenly it shattered. The largest pieces of the mysterious asteroid which Noah Hoag hoped would herald a new world, skipped across the upper atmosphere and continued their journey towards the sun. However, the sky was filled with smaller, yet still deadly, fragments streaking across the heavens and the air reverberated with an angry chaos of sonic booms as they passed overhead. 00:00:00 Eileen sat beside Jay, one arm draped over his shoulder. Her other hand gripped that of the Sergeant perched on the arm of the sofa. Don hugged Anne on one end of the second sofa next to Hunter and Alice, while Jack watched Dean play his handheld on the floor. Peter and Olga had pulled dining chairs between the sofas. Olga giggled as Peter whispered in her ear, but made no effort to hide the crimson flush on her cheeks. Nick and Becky stood together behind the group, oblivious to everyone else. The TV timer hit 00:00:00. On-screen, the Anchor cringed slightly, raising his eyes upwards. Nothing. He gaze upwards for a few moments, looking more and more embarrassed. Gesturing for patience, he moved out-of-frame, but a few moments later, the camera jerked and the image swirled. When next resolved into focus, the view was of people dancing in the street, the sky seemingly peaceful. 00:01:22+ All of those gathered at the Burns’ residence spilled into the back yard, scanning the sky for additional dangers. But then a solitary new light flared and split the heavens, a billowing dirty cloud trailing its descent towards the camera. A roar grew as it approached, becoming deafening as it passed overhead. As the thunder receded, it was replaced by the music of exuberant joy. 00:02:12+ The image on the huge flat screen in the empty living room faded into white noise for several moments before revealing a new, unfamiliar anchor. A dour yet beautiful young Asian woman spoke some words in a foreign language. Suddenly, horrible martial music made worse by out-of-synch public speakers accompanied camera panning an endless sea of serious faces whose attention was on a short, corpulent man standing alone on a huge stage before a microphone. The music stopped and Kim Jong-un threw his arms out as he made his announcement and his audience erupted with cheers. A tiny window blossomed in the corner of the screen — a doll-like translator repeated her leader’s words. “Today we are heroes. Today the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea assumes our rightful place as the saviours of the planet. All the world must bow to our superiority — “ 00:04:43+ The Lieutenant stood on the balcony of the hotel suite wrapped in a towel, drinking vintage champagne from the bottle. “Think we’re expected for duty, today?” she asked. “Nope. There’s still no cell service.” “That’s the answer I hoped for,” she replied. Turning her back on the morning, she dropped her towel. “I need a reason to have another soak in that giant tub.” 00:06:34+ Frantic blows from the far side of the steel doors leading to the Benevolence community bunker echoed in the fresh morning air, but the rubber stops held their ground. 00:06:57+ Ryan drove the Escalade like he’d stolen it, the tires protesting as he gained the highway. He laughed. He’d made it. Then the last piece of Benevolence B7438 landed on him. FIN Also published . here

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Heads & Tails: A Tale of Chance, Faith and Morality - Part 1

The Last 3 Days (20): Cluster's F**ked

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