Chapter Twelve

"We have to cover every opening in this house."

Charles is standing looking around the house in the center of the dining room floor."

Is Julia Okay ask Nicky looking concerned.

"She will be good answers, Charles."Have you forget her background her training and military experience?

She is a smart woman, and if there is anyone who can save her family, it would be her.

Charles has decided against moving into the basement. If he has the antidote in his bloodstream, why go downstairs?

His family is safe for as long as he has the cure running through his veins.

"We need to go shopping says, Nicky. We are running out of food and supplies."

The stores are all closed, how are we going to survive this?

Charles looks over at Nicky. Since I am immune to the virus, I could go.

Quiet down. He says, looking out the window, he sees four guys carrying guns, wearing masks walking up to the house.

"Go the basement now,"

Do Alex and Crystal ask what happened?

"There is no time or questions. Just do as I say."

Nicky now sees the four guys approaching as she rushes them to get into the basement.

Is a knock on the door?

Charles goes quiet into the basement, but before closing the basement door, he pulls the carpet over for the door not to be visible.

Another knock on the door, as the four guys become impatient and kick open the door.

Holding their guns up, they look around.

The one guy then says, "they are not here."

"Shut up, Harold"

Charles can hear everything in the basement.

They have to be here. They start searching the rooms, "Jerry, check if there is a basement."

Looking around, Jerry confirms there is no basement, "where could they have gone."

"I think they were told we were on our way, or maybe they went out and died?" Says Harold.

"Maybe we will come back tomorrow, "Charles hears the four guys' footsteps as he hears the door shut close.

"Mom and Dad whisper Alex, what did they want?

Charles looks over at Nicky. And explains the virus and the antidote is in his blood.

"Dad? Yes, son? Are they coming back?"

So what are we going to do?

"We have to stay here for a while or find another hiding place."

They hear a truck in the road driving slowly, and suddenly shots are fired and people screaming. Nicky and the two kids are scared "be quiet, Charles whispers."

"They then hear their windows shattering as the bullets fly through their house, " it is guys killing those people who survived.

Why are they killing those people who survived?

I do not know. Then they hear kids screaming as they are dragging onto the truck.

That has to be the kids who carry the antidote in their blood as I do, he whispers.

Nicky looks over at her husband. How are we going to get out of this mess?

Julia, he whispers, I am sure she has a safe house.

He attempts to call Julia, but there is no signal.

"I need to go upstairs for signal strength," No! Says Nicky, what they catch us?

We will wait until things calm down before we go upstairs," Is there light inside here? says Alex?"

"Charles switches on the lights as the kids move over to the bed" It is starting to rain; they can hear the rain pour outside, "It should be safe now.

"You stay here" Charles slowly climbs up and unlocks the lock of the basement door, then slowly opens it. He looks around and sees no one in sight.

Everything in the house is broken. All his hard work and he has nothing to show after so many years of working sacrifice.

Charles takes out his phone and dials Julia.

"After a few rings, Julia answers her phone, "Charles? Is everything okay?"

"There were four guys here heavily armed. We are safe. These guys were heavily armed, and we overheard them saying they would be back tomorrow. Can you help with a safe house? I do not care about myself, but my family's lives are at risk."

Charles? Cant, you go to the neighbor's house since they will be coming back?

I do not get it; why are we a target? And they killed all the people around us. What do you mean to kill everyone around you?

A truck passed by, and they shot through everyone's house. It looks like they have used 223 Remington ammunition.

"Remington? That gets used in rifles "how do you know what type of ammunition that is?

"Just read a lot says, Charles."

"Ok, since everyone around you is dead, they are going to burn those houses, including your house, to contain the virus."

Maybe that is why they are coming back tomorrow, says Charles? Yes, that is why they are coming back tomorrow. You and your family need to leave that house immediately.

Where do we go to? I am too far to come to you. Inside the basement in a box is personal protective equipment that covers you from

Head to toe, excuse me? Says Charles, how did that get there?

No time for questions Charles, there are four, one for each of you. Make sure your family is fully covered, and it has no openings.

You have to climb in your jeep and take short roads. Head Northeast until you find a place called Silverton binaries. The key to that store is under a loose brick that looks slightly dull to the others. You lift that brick put it into removing the key place it right back the way it was in less than 20 seconds. If you do not, the alarm will activate, and the place will explode.

Charles takes a deep breath, "Okay, and then what?"

When you are inside, it's a bullet shield door on the outside. It appears like an iron gate closing a store. Remember that the iron door that pulls down is not iron. It's a reflection of a steel door with a shop thats closed.

If you are on the inside, you will find all the supplies you need to keep safe, and when you are inside, make sure to take off your ppe. And there is a 3x3 room where you put those PPE in its sanitizer, similar to the steam room. There is enough food supply and water and beds. Under any circumstances, do not leave when you are inside. It will alert the others, and the alarm will go off.

You can get going, and please call me to let me know when you have arrived. One more thing, Charles, you have abilities that you do not know about, you passed it onto my daughter, and I got you to thank for that.

Is it only me and Kathy? No, there is more but right now, get yourself to the safehouse. Julia checks the radar. You are safe to move around, and do not forget twenty seconds to put back that brick.

"Thank you, Julia,"

Charles hangs up and goes down to get the PPE. Get this on. We need to get going.

Why? I thought we were safe here, "No, we not, Nicky, they coming back burn the house get those clothes on we do not have much time."

Charles is dressed and helps his kids put on their's, take whatever belongings we only have five minutes meet me outside. Charles removes the painting portrait off the wall as he opens the safe. Firing a 9mm colt, where did you get that? Can you even use that says his wife?

Yes, meet me outsides; Charles climbs into his jeep and starts it as his family comes out. There is a truck coming down the other road he can hear.

Hurry up! The family runs up to the jeep and climbs in Charles takes the corner just as the truck turns im on the other corner.

The houses are being set alight he can see the black smoke up in the air. Charles accelerates and speeds off in the direction he was told to.

We made it just in time.

We did, says Nicky relieved, where are we going? Silverton binaries. That place is closed. What are we going to do there?

We are going to stay there for a while. Alex looks over at his sister Crystal, wondering what dad's plans are.

Honey, is Julia and Robert coming through?

"Yes, I need silence. We need to stick to the short roads."

Nicky turns around at her kids and takes their hand. We will be okay.

Nicky has never seen this side of Charles more focused and somehow appears more dangerous.

Does Charles have a hidden agenda?

Is he really and accountant, he wore every day a black suit and briefcase? Was the money he had his last money? Was it his savings? Where did the gun come from?

She had a lot of questions to ask him when they arrived.