Unknown enemy, p.23
Unknown Enemy, page 23
part #1 of Broken Earth Series
"Oh, shit!"
Ross turned and ran with everything he had. Not even time to pick up his rifle. He sprinted back the way he came as the almost continuous ringing noise followed him. He took the final bend. Donny and Miles were waiting for him.
"Run!"
They looked shocked to see his dishevelled state, but didn't question him, seeing the urgency in his face and speed he was moving. They were out of the door in seconds. Ross was a way back from them and just reached the broken doors when an almighty explosion erupted inside the building. Flame and dust burst out at his back, and he was launched clear of the building. He landed face first in the dirt and tumbled several times, coming to a halt as dust settled all over them. He spat out a mouthful of it before getting to his feet. As he got upright, there was a loud creak and then a cracking sound.
"It's coming down!" Miles shouted.
They all turned and ran for the bus as the building toppled at their backs. The ground shook beneath them as the ruins shattered against the ground. Dirt and dust were thrown into a thick cloud that engulfed them. Ross was coughing as he struggled to breathe, but Donny and Miles guided him through to the bus. He staggered aboard to see the faces of almost thirty people looking back at him. They looked stunned and numb to it all. They could find no more words for it than he could.
Olsen’s body lay in the corner of the seat behind him. The engine fired up, and they began to move off. The Tuckers' bullet-ridden truck tore past them to lead the way. Ross was exhausted, aching, and at a loss. He was distraught, but he felt a tapping on his shoulder. A middle-aged man was leaning over him.
"What was his name?"
Ross looked confused.
"Your boy there," he added, looking to the body behind him.
Ross nodded as he coughed to clear his throat. "Olsen, his name was Bobby Olsen."
Ross didn't understand what was going on, but the gentleman turned back to address the bus.
"You hear that? This man, he gave his life for us. His name was Olsen...Olsen!"
The weary group began to repeat his name slowly until it became a chant. "Olsen, Olsen, Olsen!"
The bus was alive with energy. Ross looked over to his fallen comrade, smiling as a tear came to his eye. They soon piped down, waiting for him to say a few words.
"I never expected to come here to fight, none of us did. But that's the way it went. These kids that fought with us, they were school kids a few weeks ago. Now they are soldiers. We are at war. It's hard to imagine, but it's the truth. We are here to fight. Will you fight with us?
There was silence for a moment as they all reflected on his words. The man who'd addressed him looked back to confirm he spoke for them all, and he didn't need to ask.
"We're with you. We're ready to fight!"
The bus erupted with deafening cheers of support. Ross was finally able to sit back down. He slumped, exhausted.
"You see, there is strength in this town." Emma sat down beside him.
"Enough do you think? After all you just saw?"
"We won, didn't we?"
He smiled in agreement.
"They're gonna come for us, probably harder next time."
"So, we'll be ready for them."
"Today was a battle. What we just started, that's a war."
"Bring it on," replied Miles from the seat across from them.
"So long as we stick together, we've got this," replied Emma.
He couldn't believe the positivity they were exhibiting, but it was enough to raise his spirits.
"Today we had our first victory," replied Burns from the driver's seat.
"Damn right. Today we took back people, soon enough, we're taking back our town!" Emma shouted.
Cheers rang out as her voice echoed down the bus.
Ross could barely believe it. They were inexperienced and untrained, and yet he'd rarely seen a body of men and women so eager to stand their ground.
"Then we do this. We're taking the town back. We're taking Wood Point back!"
THE END
Nick S Thomas, Unknown Enemy
