Authors: Daniel J. Williams
“At least they’re all on foot,” Chelsea observed nervously through an old pair of binoculars. The Plaguers marched slowly closer. She handed the binoculars to Maya.
“There’s a lot,” Maya said with a slight shake in her voice. They were still a few hundred yards out. It was a Plaguer splinter group, drawn to the area by the strange magnetic connection. They hadn't yet connected with the other group and weren’t even sure why they marched. They were simply seeking their purpose. They were about to discover it.
“I wonder what’s happening in the front,” Kelly asked nervously. She pictured Roger and Tom at the top of the hotel in the distance, with JB, one of the Rangers, as their scout.“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“They’re almost to the mines,” Jim said loudly as his heart raced faster and he picked up the Walkie-Talkie. He turned to Yvette and said, “We should load the catapult once they trip the first one.” He clicked on the radio. “We’ve got a large crowd gathering at post four,” he relayed. “If there are no other present threats, we need backup now.”
Three, three-wheeled catapults existed inside the camp. Built like giant slingshots, they operated by a crank. Travis’ hands shook as he heard Jim’s declaration. He manned the catapult in this quadrant, and he started loading a few large stones that would launch fifty feet outside the walls when released.
On the roof of the hotel, Roger, Tom and JB took sniper positions at different corners. They could see for fairly long distances from their vantage points.
As the Plaguers drew closer, Roger, Tom and JB would descend into the stairwell to defend the Alamo from different floors, windows, and positions. So far, the only movement on their side came from the two horses that now trotted slowly towards the camp from the Riverwalk area.
Watching through the scope, Tom’s heart dropped as he zeroed in on the pained expression on Lisa’s face. “I’m going down,” he yelled to Roger from the rooftop. “Radio if you need me back. I’ll help cover Post Four for now. Lisa looks bad.”
“Stick to the staircase!” yelled JB. He’d helped plant the mines. He knew every location. “Leave through the 2
nd
floor, room 213.” They’d placed an old garbage bin underneath.
From behind them they heard the first explosion from the rear of their compound. Roger spun around and aimed the scope in its direction. It was too far to see anything but a large dust cloud.
“Go!” yelled Roger. “Get them inside and provide cover.”
The radio squawked and Jim’s voice said excitedly, “We’re letting the first catapult go. They’re running towards the second mine. They’re confused.”
Another explosion sounded at the rear of the compound as Travis let the small boulders fly. Tom picked up his speed as he flew down the stairs. He wanted to get Lisa out of harm's way.
Chelsea watched in horror as a limb hit the dirt thirty feet outside the wall. Screams sounded from the dust cloud and part of a torso bounced off a debris pile in the near distance. Travis cranked the slingshot back into firing position as several boys rushed a second wooden contraption forward.
Another blast sounded and the crowd of Plaguers started to retreat. Travis released the slingshot and a ten-pound boulder flew end-over-end through the air, arcing at midpoint and dropping at a high rate of speed to smash into a Plaguer’s back as he ran. He went down hard, his face slamming into concrete. He didn’t budge.
The confusion was almost instantly replaced by rage. “We are under attack!” one yelled. As if some psychic connection filled the air, another one yelled out, without knowing exactly why, “It's a curse! We're being attacked by witches!”
The others yelled out in agreement. “We must not retreat!”
“We must destroy them!”
Tom ran up to Lisa’s horse, speaking quickly to Crockett. “Plaguers are attacking Post Four. We need to get you inside.”
“We heard the explosions,” Crockett said in agreement. “I can only move her so fast, though.” Lisa barely held on.
“What happened?” Tom asked, shocked by her appearance.
“They tried to crucify her,” Crockett answered bitterly.
Tom’s eyes grew wide in disbelief. “Shit, let’s get you inside.” He helped lead the horse towards the front of the compound.
From the roof above, Woody ordered the gate open. “Close it the minute they get through,” he yelled down.
Regrouped, the Plaguers at the back of the compound prepared for a second assault. “We can’t stop,” one said. “It doesn’t matter if we die. We must kill all witches!”
From Texas and beyond, the vibration grew stronger. More Plaguers from Louisiana and Mexico turned their attention towards Texas, reason unknown. They all started marching towards San Antonio.
“Oh my God,” uttered Chelsea as Herman scampered down her back. “They’re going to come back!” The Plaguers started running towards the Alamo, screaming in outrage at the curse inside the walls. Several more explosions went off as more stepped on mines. The Plaguers didn’t slow as their comrades blew apart. More raced past their dead or dying companions, now covered in blood and dust; their eyes filled with rage and an intense sense of purpose. This group numbered over fifty. As they approached the wall, over three-quarters of them still lived and charged.
“The catapults!” screamed Jim. “Keep firing the catapults!” Travis hit the lever and more small boulders launched, now passing over the first line of approaching Plaguers and connecting with those behind. Several gunshots rang out as the Plaguers who carried weapons fired wildly upon the adobe fortress.
Woody jumped on the Walkie Talkie. “Roger, clear on other sides?”
“Yes,” Roger answered as he scanned the area from the hotel rooftop.
“Get to the rear compound!” Woody yelled, as he slid down the ladder from the chapel roof and sprinted towards the back. The third catapult rolled up and was being loaded right when he arrived.
Those at the wall now fired steadily at the approaching Plaguers. Another explosion to the right blew off a Plaguer's legs and he landed with a thump on his side. Delirious, he looked at the where his legs used to be and raged towards the camp. “Kill the witches!” he screamed. He crawled rabidly forward until an arrow pierced his head. Chelsea’s hand shook as the arrow stopped his progress.
Balancing the sniper rifle across the wall, Yvette yelled “Holy shit!” as they kept running towards the wall. The entire camp now raced towards the back wall, weapons and machetes at the ready.
The first Plaguers made it to the trench and tried to jump across, getting instantly tangled in the razor wire. They screamed in defiance as they fought to pull themselves free. Feeling close to panic, Chelsea fired an arrow at a huge Plaguer who was struggling to free himself. It embedded deeply in his shoulder, and she gasped as he yanked it completely out, glaring at her as he did so. He threw it to the side and fought harder to come after her.
Dolphin and Miles suddenly leapt over the wall next to her. They’d passed through the front gates on horseback and were instantly intercepted by Woody, who gave them quick instructions. They raced straight to the back, where they jumped off the horse and grabbed machetes as weapons. Leaping over the wall, they were determined to prevent any Plaguers from making it any closer.
Chelsea yelled out in fear as the huge Plaguer pulled himself free and jumped towards Dolphin. She swiftly shot another arrow at him and it punched straight through his heart. He tumbled backwards, falling on the razor wire; the metal prongs holding him fast. Dolphin swung his machete at the Plaguer next to him as he tried to scale the trench, lopping his arm off above the elbow as the man reached for him. A second blow to the skull scalped the back of his head off and the Plaguer toppled over.
Dozens of Plaguers now screamed as they rushed faster towards the trench. Their numbers looked endless. Their collective rage overflowed. Woody ran to the boys manning the catapults and yelled, “Fireballs!”
Travis took off to get the improvised fireballs and torches for the arrows.
Over a year earlier, Mace buried dozens of 55-gallon plastic barrels around the inner edge of the trench, filling them with gasoline and leaving capped spigots protruding through the dirt in the trench. Dolphin and Miles now swung their machetes at the spigots, causing gasoline to pour steadily into the gully.
Jim yelled out as a group of Plaguers pulled out weapons and fired a barrage of bullets towards Dolphin. Dolphin clutched his side as two bullets tore through his waist. He turned and stumbled towards the wall as projectiles riddled his back. He fell against the wall directly below Chelsea. Sliding slowly to the ground, he left a splattering of blood against the wall.
Chelsea screamed out in horror, and Herman braced himself on her shoulder. Seeing Dolphin fall, Miles charged towards the Plaguers. Leaping over the razorwire, he landed just inside the other edge of the trench, where he climbed swiftly and lifted his machete, screaming, “You bastards!”
The camp fired desperately at the Plaguers, trying to provide cover for Miles as Travis returned, dragging a small wagon with several heavy bundles of cloth and twine covered in homemade pitch. Four unlit torches lay on top of them.
A Plaguer rushed at Miles just before an arrow sliced through his upper chest. Chelsea quickly slipped another arrow in place as Miles pushed through him, not slowing down or pausing. He swung his machete at the next Plaguer, and blood sprayed from the wound as he sprinted past.
A young teenage girl ran screaming towards Miles and it momentarily took him off guard. She was absolutely beautiful. A bullet grazed his shoulder as the girl lifted a handgun and fired, screaming, “Die!”
Miles swung the machete at her neck as she rushed him, shocked as it sliced clean through. Her head toppled off as her body slammed into him, almost knocking him down. He pushed her body away and faced the next attacker. An old man jabbed a homemade spear at his face and Miles ducked quickly, swinging the machete up. The spear broke in half as the old man plowed directly into him and they both tumbled backwards. Struggling with each other, they wrestled and rolled until they slipped over the edge into the trench.
The first fireball sprang from the catapult as Chelsea dipped an arrowhead in pitch. Maya lit the arrow with the torch as Chelsea followed the fireball's trajectory and aimed. Blue flames licked at the arrowhead as Chelsea let it fly. The fireball smashed into a Plaguer in the crowd and the arrow pierced straight through it, embedding the fireball into the Plaguer’s chest. The Plaguer burst into flames.
The old man still held what was left of his spear, and he shoved it into Miles side as they tumbled about, struggling to get the upper hand. Miles cried out in pain as the old man pulled it out and scrambled towards the razor wire to attack the wall. The body of the huge Plaguer Chelsea killed created a bridge over the metal barbs, and he quickly scaled over it and sprinted for the wall. His brain was so focused on his purpose he no longer felt any limitations from old age or arthritis.
The old man jumped, getting a solid handhold on the wall. Crazy with determination and rage, he pulled himself up enough to try to jab Chelsea in the face with the broken spear. A wicked smile was plastered across his face.
Chelsea jumped back as the spear thrust towards her and Herman leapt off her shoulder in reaction, landing directly on the old man’s face. Herman scrambled towards the top of his head and the old man tried to swipe at him, losing his grip. Falling backwards off the wall, Herman's wings suddenly spread open and he jumped, gliding back around to cling to the front of the barricade. Scrambling back up lizard-like, a few seconds later he appeared back on Chelsea’s shoulder.
As more Plaguers attempted to vault over the trench, Miles clutched his side in pain while producing a lighter out of his pocket. The Plaguers couldn’t clear the gap and toppled back into the gully. As they made eye contact with Miles, they instantly turned towards him, screaming in rage. Knowing it was over, Miles looked up at the wall as they came upon him, briefly locking eyes with Maya, who looked on in horror. He dropped the lit lighter and smiled sadly at her as the entire trench suddenly erupted in flames. Maya screamed as the flames roared up and horrific shrieks emanated from the burning pit as the bodies were engulfed in fire.
The three catapults with fireballs sprang forth at once, causing a large fire to spread through one of the debris piles. The Plaguers suddenly started to retreat, realizing they wouldn’t be able to breach the camp as fire and black smoke poured from the trench.
The camp stood in shock as the newly infected fled. Bodies littered the grounds as far as they could see. Flames still danced off a few of the charred corpses that lay sprawled in the field. The trench and debris fires burned hot and the smell of burning flesh breezed steadily over the wall. They’d just lost two of their own. It was their first deaths in three years. As they processed what just happened, no one moved a muscle.
Lisa was lying still in a hospital bed when Chelsea burst through the doors of the clinic. “Mom!” she yelled out fearfully. Word spread quickly through the compound after the shock of the attack wore off.
“Hey, Kiddo,” Lisa answered, stoned out of her mind. "Have I told you lately that I love you?" They didn’t have much for pain-killers. Lisa chose to heavily indulge in her stash.
“What happened?” Chelsea asked as she looked at her mom’s wrists, which were now wrapped in elastic bandages. Small circles of blood seeped through the middle of each one. Lisa’s face and body were bruised and swollen from where she’d taken a beating.
“I’m gonna kick their asses!” Chelsea yelled in outrage as she stared at her mother’s condition.
“Yes, honey, kill them all for me,” Lisa said, completely dazed. “That’s a good girl.” Her brow furrowed for a second and her head wobbled. “Do you think my eggs are runny as shit?” she asked.