Unrelenting Adversity Read online

  Darkness Falls:

  Unrelenting Adversity

  Book 2 Martin W. Francis

  Copyright © 2015 by Martin W. Francis

  Cover illustration © 2015 by Martin W. Francis. All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or electronic or mechanical means – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews – without written permission from its publisher or author.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real

  persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN

  First Edition, 2015

  Copyright © 2015 Dark Storm Press

  All rights reserved.

  Dark Storm Press

  2108 57th St

  Lubbock, TX 79412

  www.darkstormpress.com

  This is for my dad who probably won’t notice the dedication until someone tells him. Thanks for teaching me how to fix a car, the difference between right and wrong, how to be strong, a leader, to always follow my heart and my own path in all things, for keeping me safe with a roof over my head, for raising me with old fashioned morals, for your wisdom and advice, for the big things and the small. I know I don’t say it often enough, but I love you dad! Thanks for always being there when I needed you.

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1 Deep Dark Woods

  Chapter 2 Heroes and Villains

  Chapter 3 Retribution

  Chapter 4 Out of the Darkness

  Chapter 5 Living Nightmare

  Chapter 6 End of the Road

  Epilogue

  Introduction

  Handfuls of survivors amongst billions worldwide infected have become the norm. Those of us that make our way through the daily hell do whatever is necessary to see another tomorrow. I am one of those few survivors among the living still wading through the abyss. Truth is that even those of us among the living have lost some of our humanity. I’m no stranger to death or killing, but in a world where it has become an almost daily thing it wears on your mind and soul. My name is Jessie Sparks, previously known as Colonel Sparks of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. My closest companions or sparse family that survived prior to the epidemic called me Jess for short. Strangers simply knew me as the tall, attractive, black-haired, green-eyed, female with the tanned complexion. I had been out of the US on a mission when the epidemic first began. As my team were abroad we watched the news of the massive explosion in New Mexico. Right after it occurred the government barricaded several cities. We paced as we saw the civil unrest unfold. The military back home were sent to restore order in all the major cities. There were several small altercations which led to inevitable deaths of civilians. Among those that died were elderly and children. The everyday citizens of the nation rose up overpowering the military. The government itself soon fell with the leaders and politicians fleeing to foreign countries. We saw a massive blizzard overtake the states spreading the epidemic they called Living Death faster than any epidemic ever seen before. Pneumonia Mortughetlicatis was the medical term for Living Death. The symptoms were similar to pneumonia only nothing seemed to cure the ailments that persisted. Those that were infected became deceased within a matter of days. Once they died, they came back as something no longer human. They became known as the Fallen (the name deriving from an evil that had fell upon them taking their humanity). We saw the first media coverage of the undead creatures referred to as the Fallen attack a couple in a park. These Fallen had a pale blueish glow in their eyes. They attacked with a strength that was incomprehensible. They were capable of tearing limbs from their victims, crushing bones, and ripping the flesh open to feed their bloodlust.

  We were warned not to return. We were told to stay put awaiting further orders by some General we had never even heard of. Continuously watching all these horrible things transpire we made a decision to return home regardless of orders. Many of the men under my command were seriously worried about their families or loved ones.

  On arriving at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma my team was overrun by Fallen that had once been men and women of the military. I lost everyone that returned with me having to put down the last one the following day back in the states. During an altercation with a Fallen he was bitten which is another way the virus is transmitted. I made my way towards Colorado which is the only place I knew as home. I didn’t get very far because the Hummer I borrowed from the base broke down. In Guymon I was traveling on foot when I befriended three brothers; Dan, Kurt, and Sam. The three of them were heavily built, strong muscled men, with similar appearances other than Dan being a little shorter than the others. I stuck with them while they searched for their family. One of the family member they were searching for was their sister Amy. I was immediately attracted to her even before we met in person from an old photograph I stumbled upon in their family home. Yes, she was a gorgeous young white female with short blonde hair (same color as her brothers), blue eyes, a nice smile, and had curves that were unbelievable. Her swim-suit model appearance was only half of what really drew me to her though. I have always been a good read of people. It was important in my line of work to notice every detail that made up a person to identify my enemies especially if they were a terrorist cleverly hiding among civilians. I could tell from the picture that she was a strong-willed woman, worked out often to keep her figure, a tiny bit of a tomboy, very spoiled, was friendly to whomever she met, knew how to communicate, had no problem being honest or open unless it negatively affected someone she cared for, and had a little bit of a kinky nympho side that she kept in reserve only for those she fell deeply in love with. Finding a letter she left behind, we safely rescued her from a campsite. Unfortunately their father had died sacrificing himself to save Amy. From the first day we met, Amy showed that she was attracted to me. We began building something that quickly developed into a relationship from that point on. From Colorado we traveled to Ruidoso, New Mexico to meet with Ryan Pendleton. The brothers had met Ryan (who prefers to be called Rye) previously in Texas, but it was the first time that Amy or I had met him. He had dark brown hair, blue eyes, and was athletically in shape. He had an almost olive complexion which I later found out was due to his Irish, German, and Greek heritage. On first impression I analyzed that he was a competent leader, intelligent, free-spirited, and a kind man that had endured many hard misfortunes recently. One of those misfortunes was recently losing his wife whom had been the one true love of his life up to that point.

  For a little over a year our group created a small community that we called home. It may sound complicated to those who thrive on old social norms, but Amy and I both fell in love with Rye over time. He treated us equally in all things including love. The three of us shared a bond greater than I can begin to describe. During that time of building the community we found other survivors that joined us. We also lost lives of people that had become like family to us. There were a dozen of us and a dog named Tempest, the last time I saw them. Tempest was a pure white half Akita, half wolf, female hybrid that saved a few members of our party from a man who cared only for his own self-preservation. We began to accept our lives as they were with what happiness could be found in a world which had been overran with Fallen. During that time a minor military presence moved into our backyard metaphorically speaking. While out on reconnaissance, I acquired intelligence that a new danger from my past was now threatening the survival of my group, potentially every other survivor that might be out there. The weapon had a usefulness in that it could eliminate the Fa
llen, but would also decimating what was left of the human race in the process.

  I entered the makeshift military facility constructed at the airport wearing my military uniform hoping to find a way of stopping the danger that the weapon proposed. Inside I met General Ortiz who had once been my mentor and commanding officer. He looked like the same old tough leader I recalled only now had a deep scar that ran across his face. I managed to persuade him into placing me in charge of project ‘Raven Storm’ of which I had once been part of an oversight committee for. It really was not difficult due to the fact incompetent troops were not yet able to acquire the missing prototype necessary to complete the order given by our president residing in another country to use the weapon on the Fallen.

  I easily found the location of the missing scientist named Anthony Clayton that had led its development many years ago. I knew him as a friend outside of the project, occasionally having dinner with his family. Leading a team to the location of his lab we found the prototype. I sent the team back to headquarters on a helicopter with an injured man except for one man so not to raise suspicion. The two of us were supposed to be returning the large prototype weapon, parts, photographed equations, and blueprints back to the base on a cargo truck that had been loaded prior to the rest of the team lifting off. I left timed explosives at the lab to make sure nothing overlooked or not taken could be used from the site. On the drive back to the base, I sequestered the cargo truck leaving the officer named Arnolds with only a knife to defend himself. I also made sure he had no way of communicating with the military prior to sending him on his way back to the base on foot. I then returned to the cabins where my group had built our community. They had already left Ruidoso which I had recommended as a precaution prior to entering the military facility in case I failed. Rye left a letter behind in our cabin telling me where they were headed since they had not been certain at my departure. I read the letter stuffing it into a small packed bag they had also left behind. Tossing the bag in my S.U.V., I proceeded to set timed explosives on the cargo truck before hightailing it out of the city.

  The explosion filled the sky fifteen minutes later as I pulled over at a gas station just outside the city limits. I saw the familiar black helicopter off in the distance just before turning around to walk into a deep dark forest that lay just beyond the grounds of the gas station. I took with me the duffel bag and an assault rifle slung over my shoulder. My success brought about a smile that lasted for hours walking in those dark woods.

  Chapter 1

  Deep Dark Woods

  -1-

  I find it difficult to believe how peaceful it is in these woods. Without camping grounds or residential living in the area I have yet to come across any Fallen. It has been three days since the explosion of the prototype. I stowed away my military uniform for custom stealth black. I ditched most of the extra military gear I had borrowed from the military base in a fox hole except for the basics to make traveling easier. The black military chopper from the makeshift military base has flown overhead a few times. General Ortiz was even thoughtful enough to send a small search party into the woods at one point. He is obviously grasping at straws trying to figure out my location. I’m sure he is not thrilled that I utterly sabotaged his entire mission beyond repair that the once president of the United States (now known as the Allied Nation after the demise of the government) ordered him to undertake. Now that pompous ass, power hungry, bastard sitting in some unknown country would have to find another top secret weapon to kill off the few survivors left while eradicating the Fallen.

  At the first sign of the search party I quickly camouflaged myself in the hollow of an old broken tree. I hid there for nearly an hour before I felt it was safe. I prepared for the worst making sure I left no tracks of any kind for them to follow ever since leaving the black S.U.V. at the gas station. It seemed like a good ten years since I had been in circumstances like these. I had grown accustomed to giving orders, overlooking projects, and slacking off a little for several years. That changed when I had been reassigned to duty for an assassination mission of a terrorist leader with my team abroad. Since then staying in shape to survive the post-apocalyptic world has prepared me to deal with almost anything that comes my way.

  I knew I could take out the entire search party one by one if necessary. However, if I did then all attention would be directed on the woods I was currently hiding in. Instead, I played it safe pretending instead to be the mouse chased by the cat. I have no doubt General Ortiz told them to stay in as tight a formation as they could because the mouse was actually a deadly wolf more cunning and dangerous than the lot of them. Regardless, I kept a step ahead of them, up high, or hidden in plain sight. This went on for almost thirty-six hours before they finally gave up. After they left the vicinity I crept to the edge of the forest at nightfall finding they had flattened all the tires on the S.U.V. and any other transportation nearby.

  I took out my map and compass plotting a course in the direction of Salt Flat, Texas where the others had headed. It looked like I was going to have to walk for a couple days cutting through the woods. I would have to find transportation shortly after or I would be in for a very long walk. Starving I had a quick meal consisting of a can of warm potato hash while sitting just inside the woods. My night vision is excellent which made the long walk after the meal somewhat easier since I refused to use my flashlight in the off chance they left someone behind. I continued to walk until the sun began shimmering through the trees. Tying a hammock to branches up high in a tree I took a much needed rest.

  After I awoke I decided to take inventory of what supplies might be left in my duffel bag. I found there were only two bottles of water and very little food. Apparently whoever had packed my bag had thought I would be traveling in a vehicle making the trip a pretty short one. I was going to have to find more supplies as well as transportation soon after exiting the woods. I also came across a journal that Rye had written in. It was like a biography of his life. He had apparently started writing it back when things started going to hell right after the explosion. It included everything that had happened since I met him ending with them departing Ruidoso. On an impulse I began writing down everything that I could possibly think of for the last several years including stories or details I had been told by other members of the group. I would find a couple hours out of every day from that day forward to write in that silly little journal if for no other reason than to pass our story on to another if something were to happen to us beyond our control. After a few hours I packed everything back up before I started walking again, only at a much faster pace.

  The sun set, darkness fell, and I continued to walk. Early in the morning, three by my watch I came to a clearing in the woods. There had been no problems in the woods other than a large bear I had come across. He seemed hungry, but too weak to attempt to take on a puppy much less prey that would give him a challenge. I was amazed simply at seeing him when wild life has become seemingly scarce. My amazement continued when he glanced my way before slowly trotting off in the opposite direction. I have to admit that I did have my assault rifle trained on him at the time just in case. I would have killed him without fear or hesitation. I could have made a nice bear stew perhaps, but the thought did not cross my mind at the time. It came to me later though in the form of cramps from overexertion and hunger pains.

  At the clearing I found no sign of any buildings nearby. All I found was a road that appeared to be endless in both directions. Glancing at my map I saw Mescalero was the next closest city to my location. It would take nearly a day to walk the distance. Hopefully I would find transportation on the road before that.

  I hoofed it for several hours before noticing the first building on the main road off in the distance. It took another hour before I arrived at a shanty roadside motel called Hellen’s Stayover. It was an old two story home converted into a motel. The place consisted of six bedrooms total; one of which the owner likely lived in year round. She was the only Fallen I had
to deal with after entering through the locked front door. She heard me when I kicked it in to gain entry. She began banging around upstairs followed by the sound of glass breaking. The door of the room where all the noise came from was locked when I inspected it.

  I kicked in the bedroom door which she was standing directly behind knocking her to the ground in the process. Pulling my knife from its sheath I quickly put an end to all the noise that it was making. I commenced to searching the entire motel finding a few supplies to add to my own meager ones. In the kitchen hanging on a pegboard near the back door were a set of keys. Looking out a small curtained window on the back door, I saw a station wagon parked in a stony driveway. I decided it was probably best if I stayed the night to get one good night’s rest since I really needed it.

  -2-

  Rye led the small caravan with his RV safely to Salt Flat within a few hours of leaving Ruidoso, New Mexico. During the drive he discussed with his two passengers Amy and Jerod what they thought would the best course of finding new living quarters for the group. Jerod is an elderly black gentleman with white hair retired from the Texas Rangers and an excellent sniper. They both agreed that the best bet was probably to find another secluded neighborhood as in Ruidoso. Shortly after entering the city limits it became apparent that they would have to drive around to familiarize themselves a little with the area. After thirty minutes of driving with occasional stops to deal with Fallen or to move cars that blocked the road, Rye pulled over next to a large sign at an intersection. It had an arrow that pointed away from the main road through town. Below the arrow it stated that there was an airport two miles away. He looked over to his passengers to see if they were thinking the same thing he was.