“Let’s go before the cavalier is here,” I say.
The captain nods. “To the vehicles!” he commands the soldiers.
We go back on the path to the end of the road where our SUVs were parked. Our plan of surrounding them from all sides with the lieutenant and his soldiers coming back from the gas station worked well.
Before getting into our cars, the soldiers slash the tires of the Saviors’ vehicles.
We head back to the highway. I hear a helicopter flying above us in the direction of the cabin. Cavalier is on the way.
We see several patrol vehicles rushing in the opposite direction on the highway. They don’t bother wondering about our SUVs.
“The plane is ready to take off,” the Captain says, attaching his radio back to his shoulder. I share a look with him before speaking. “You go to the airport… Give me two soldiers and an SUV,” I say.
He narrows his eyes at me and purses his lips together. “What do you mean?”
“I will meet you at the airport. If I don’t come back in two hours, take off without me. I have one more thing to do here.”
Chapter 44
“Turn left right here,” I say to the soldier who slows down as we approach the apartment building where I used to live in.
“Shoot those two idiots from their feet for me, please.” I point to the two Saviors patrolling at the corner. They’re the ones who kidnapped Kathleen. It looks like the same two men are still in charge of this street.
The driver pulls over near the patrols. They look at the giant SUV, probably trying to figure out what business the Saviors’ special ops unit has in this part of the town.
“Going after a target around here?” one of the Saviors asks while the two soldiers get out of the car.
“You got some intel to share with us? Where the girls are, huh?” the other Savior says while smirking. Their ugly faces become serious when the soldiers point their rifles to them.
I would never think of having pleasure hearing someone screaming in pain, but I actually enjoyed it when both Saviors crippled to the ground after getting shot from their feet.
The soldiers bandage their wounds before cuffing them and taping their mouths.
“Follow me,” I instruct the two soldiers once they were done with the miserable Saviors.
I walk to the front entrance of the building. A parade of memories goes through my mind as I get closer to the door. I remember the days I rushed home with friends after hanging out outside when I found out that my parents were going to visit me and bringing an ex-girlfriend to watch the sunset at the rooftop. This time, I am entering the building in a completely different mindset with a passion for revenge.
As we storm into the building, Steven jumps off from his chair behind the concierge counter. He stares at me looking like he is completely lost. He probably thought I died somewhere during the first weeks of the outbreak.
He sees the soldiers behind me. He walks around the counter to greet us. I get closer to him.
“Matt! I didn’t think—”
I punch his right cheek, and he falls on his stomach.
“This was for ratting out on Kathleen’s apartment!” I say. As soon as he turns his head to me, I hit him one more time. This time right on his nose. He tries to talk while trying to stop the bleeding.
“What… I… Matt…” he murmurs in shock. I kick his stomach with the edge of my boot.
“This was for all the things you did to this community!” I say. He tries to stand up, but he crumbles back on the floor by holding his stomach and nose. I take the master key from his key chain.
“Wait for me here,” I tell the soldiers, and they nod.
I head for the stairs and walk up to the 9th floor. I stand in front of the door numbered 905. I slide the key in and turn it.
Here I am, my beloved apartment. I am back. I walk to the living room and sit on the couch. I pick up the remote next to the pillow while extending my legs on the ottoman. This was my favorite thing to do after I got home from a long workday.
The TV turns on surprisingly. It looks like Saviors restored the electricity.
The emergency tone fills the apartment. I see the government’s shelter-in-place order they broadcasted about two months ago. I switch between channels. The same tone and message remain. I push the power off button on the remote.
I go to my bedroom and throw myself on the mattress. I move my head over my pillow and close my eyes. No matter where I stayed in the last few weeks, my bed is still the most comfortable surface among everything I slept on.
A loud chirping sound startles me. It came from my alarm clock. The low battery icon is on display.
I get off the bed and walk to the hallway door. A photo in front of my books on the shelf captures my attention. It’s the photo my brother took while my mother and I were standing in the front yard of our house. I take the photo out of the frame, fold it, and shove it in my pocket.
I turn back and look at the apartment one last time before closing the door and leaving memories behind. I wonder If I will ever have a chance to come back.
I walk down to the lobby and go behind the concierge counter. Steven is still grunting on the floor. One soldier keeps an eye on him while the other one scans the street through the window.
I look over the control panel. There is a red button with EAS letters on it. I assume that this is something to do in emergencies. I hit the button. The color
