Chapter 0
Helicopter blades furiously chop through the air sending shockwaves to the ground that is quickly approaching just 10 feet below. Strong gusts of wind kick up dust from the ground, bouncing debris off the tiny little house that sits alone on the hill. The house is made of rotten tanned wood. Inhabited by termites and carpenter bees for decades. It appears empty.
“Fuck me. They’re here,” says Howard. “Kids. Get to the hideaway. You two,” he says, pointing at his newest rescues. “With me.”
Howard guides Stephy and Greg Jalkower to a pantry in the kitchen.
“Get in here and don’t make a sound,” he says, cramming them into the closet.
Howard takes a beat to make eye contact with the poor young couple he is trying to salvage from a cruel, cruel world. He stares into their eyes.
“Thank you,” Stephy whispers as the door is quickly shut in her face.
Howard runs across the living room from the kitchen and places the rug back on top of the trap door to the hideaway. Just as the last corner of the rug touches the ground, trampling footsteps bellow outside.
Howard rushes over to the kitchen drawer and produces a small revolver. His hands shake violently as he spins the cartridge revealing only 3 bullets. He opens the refrigerator door and steps inside.
The shelving has been removed and plumbing hasn’t worked for months. It’s a perfect space to fit a body if you don’t mind the smell of rotten eggs and decaying rationed lunch meat. Howard plugs his nose.
The front door to the wooden house opens slowly. The old door squeals as it sways. Howard holds his breath.
The floor creaks as military boots give their weight. The sounds get louder.
“Howard!” yells a voice. “Howard we just want to talk.”
Silence.
“Howard, it’s been some time, hasn’t it?” Asks the voice, as more footsteps trail behind it.
The creeping sounds of boots on hardened flooring get louder. Closer to the fridge. Then stop.
“Check the rooms,” the voice instructs.
“You, over there. Look around. Find me this son of a bitch.”
Howard closes his eyes. His breath is short and quiet. He is doing his best to maintain his composure. He has been through this before.
The footsteps trudge away from the fridge and deeper into the kitchen.
He’s going for the closet.
He hears boots trailing away from the voice as it gives instructions on where to search.
There’s probably 4 or 5 of them by the sounds of it. They’re separating.
Howard opens the fridge door silently. The hinges are perfectly greased. He sees the back of a tall and husky man in Leadership uniform creeping slowly toward the pantry. He recognizes the man immediately.
Howard looks around quickly. It’s clear. Just the sounds of rummaging from the bedrooms.
The man is directly in front of the pantry now. He reaches out his hand to open the door when the sound of a cocked hammer stops him in his place.
“Fuck off Bryan.”
BOOM
Howard takes one shot, folding Bryan to the ground as a single bullet enters his brain. He takes off with haste toward the open door to the outside. Howard unlatches the helicopter door and enters a code into the reader. The blades begin to swing.
He cocks the hammer back to load the next round as two members of leadership appear at the doorway screaming.
“Traitor!” They howl at him as they aim their rifles.
Howard shoots at the door as the aircraft lifts into the air. Bullets are returned, narrowly missing him but striking one of the landing sticks at the bottom of the helicopter. Howard escapes and with one bullet to spare.
Under the hideaway, Francie and David are crammed into a tight space.
“Can you breathe?” asks Francie.
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Ok, it will be over soon. I think dad got away again.”
“You don’t always have to take care of me you know,” whispers David.
“I’m your big sister. That’s my job.”
David scrunches his face.
“You know what happens if we get caught don’t you.”
“Yes!” says David. Clearly annoyed.
“Ok. What?”
“They’ll make us get weird jobs and take all our money and control everything. I’m not an idiot.”
“Your right,” says Francie. But you’re only twelve years old. You still need me and dad.
“I know,” says David crossing his arms. “Why do they do this to us anyway? Why can’t we just choose how we live our lives?”
Francie sighs. “Dad says it’s just human behavior. He says when humans get too much power, they abuse it.
“Abuse it?” asks David.
“Yeah. Sometimes the monster just gets so big, you can’t beat it. They make it seem like you’re just living in a normal world. Everything is good. Taken care of. When really, they know everything you’re doing. They control everything you see. Everything you hear. Everything you do. There’s no more thoughts, opinions, or heroes. Just Leadership, regular people, and traitors.”
“And were the traitors?” David asks.
