Chapter 56.

Lightshow.

Hiru Knight.

Time/Area: August 4th, 2013. Brooklyn, NYC.

9:30 AM

“W-why did we stop?” I asked, barely going above a whisper as the truck pulled into an alley. It had seemingly taken twenty minutes for most of the screaming outside to devolve into a more quiet, peaceful sense of hopelessness- but that wasn’t because anything had gotten better.

No, it was just because everyone around here was dead.

Now, all that remained were distant explosions ringing past buildings, inhuman growls sounding from all directions, and the ever building columns of smoke twisting into the morning sky.

“Henry,” I glanced to my left at the driver’s seat, eyeing Henry’s tight grip on the steering wheel as his eyes pierced into the window.

We were just facing a Dumpster.

“Hen-”

“Hiru.” He cut me off, “You haven’t said anything since we took off….I’m done wondering,”

He looked at me, eyes red, “What happened?”

I gulped, looking away from him and glancing at the rearview mirror.

Behind us was a line of stores that I recognized…we were on a street that actually wasn’t so far from where I lived…where-

“Don’t ignore me!” Henry nearly shouted.

I didn’t move, but I cleared my throat, “You already know.”

Henry grabbed my shoulder,

“Just answer me-!”

My heart jumped as I latched my hand onto Henry’s wrist, sliding my finger down to the base of his thumb as I pressed hard into the pressure point.

Henry grunted and let go quickly, my eyes now full of fury as I stared directly at him,

“What do you want me to say?!” I shouted, shaking as tears began streaming down my face,

“Tim turned into a monster!” I said, “He smashed John against a wall, then h-he…”

I was breathing heavily, sweat mixing with my tears as I stared blankly at Henry.

Tears were on his face as well, but his teeth were gritted.

“Then he b-broke her neck…” I muttered, slumping backwards into the seat cushion.

Henry looked at me for a moment, “I..I-”

“Are you happy now?!” I shut him up, “So don’t yell at me as if I didn’t just watch both of our friends and my mom just-!” My voice cracked, “Just…die.”

After about a minute of silence, Henry kicked open the door, getting out the truck before walking away.

I cursed as I fumbled for my door handle, getting out while taking in a breath of the smoke-filled air, “H-Henry!” I called after him, stumbling on my still broken ankle as I used the sides of the car to stand.

He paused, only a couple feet away, “What-”

“Where the heck are you going?” I asked, gritting my teeth as I put more weight on my bad foot.

Henry pointed at the rows of buildings parallel with the sidewalk across the street,

“This is that street with all the sports stores, remember?”

He began walking again, “I’m going to go get some stuff from that hunting store we used to go to.”

I followed him, stumbling over more than once before Henry got mad,

“Hey, idiot,” He pointed at the truck, “Obviously, you stay here.”

I stood up.

We were about halfway across the street,

“I’m not staying there by myself, idiot.” I returned his words, feeling dizzy and somewhat nauseous as waves of stinging pain washed up against my leg.

“Yes,” Henry stepped towards me, “You are-”

“I’m not waiting around for someone else to die again!” I hissed, “I am coming with you.”

Henry looked up at the sky for a moment, as if judging the time, before walking beside me,

“Okay, whatever,” He muttered, slinging my arm over his shoulder, “Maybe we can find something to wrap your foot.”

-

As we came up on the first building, I spoke again,

“I-is Tris-”

“He’s fine. With Damien at Synth.” Henry answered my question, stopping in front of a small store labeled ‘Sports and Hunting’.

The double doors were smashed open, glass littered in front of the welcome sign as the stench of bodies was wafted towards us,

“I-Is Synth where we're going to go?” I continued as Henry brought us one step into the store, “And slow down…”

Henry sighed, “I…I guess I’ll drop you off there before going to check on my parents.” he said, “And no…”

Before I could respond, our eyes adjusted to the darkness of the shop, allowing us to get a good look at the space.

It wasn’t pretty.

Torn down shelves laid sprawled against cracked tile, drops of fresh blood dripping from the roof while broken bulbs joined the clutter of items on the floor.

I couldn’t see the deeper parts of the store at all, but the areas sunlight did scrape portrayed parts of bodies…parts of parts of bodies…and then just fully put together corpses.

I wanted to puke,

“H-henry-” I began, “How badly do we really need guns?”

Henry took another step inside, “L-let’s just get this over with...do you have your phone?”

I nodded, using my free arm that wasn’t pressed against Henry’s shoulder to grab the device and flick on the flashlight.

I clutched it firmly as the details of our setting flooded my eyes.

Now we could see the tops of shelves that were still standing, the claw marks torn through plaster on the far walls…and the firearms section.

“There.” I nodded at aisle fourteen, noting the smashed display cases bordering the section, “If anything is left- it’s over there.”

“Got it.” Henry began walking again, “Hold on.”

I battled the urge to close my eyes as we trudged through the building, knowing that everything from here on out was far past the boundaries any seventeen year old should’ve been allowed to see.

The store was actually much bigger than I thought- something we both realized as we reached areas that we couldn’t see without a light.

The building went on for at least ten more aisles, but luckily we wouldn’t have to go that far.

Just before we reached fourteen, Henry paused.

“Hey, shine the light up at this one…” Henry nodded at aisle 13’s overhead sign.

I obliged, lifting my phone to reveal a string of words detailing all the stuff in this section.

“Camping supplies,” Henry said aloud, glancing at me, “It could have medical stuff.”

I gulped, “Dude,” I said, “I don’t really want to stay here for a long time…”

I nervously glanced at part of a finger that was laying on the tile next to us,

“What if something is in here…still?”

Aisle thirteen seemed to go way deeper than fourteen did, so it looked like a stupid idea to even think of exploring what might’ve been down there.

Henry sighed, “Well I don’t really want to be carrying you around all day either, so here’s an idea.”

He walked us over to aisle fourteen.

This section was actually less of an aisle, and more of a separate shop.

Immediately, we were greeted by a sort of checkout counter, a dead man’s corpse slumped against the cash register behind it as a blanket of blood turned the tabletop’s brown, woodish color into a deep red.

Past the counter was a shelf with a couple of guns and packets of ammunition still on its racks, an actual working lamp standing next to the shelf while providing a small bit of light on the area.

The entire section was bordered by what looked to be some kind of an entertainment aisle, boxes of fireworks and trinkets forming a wall behind the gun shelf while making the rest of aisle 14 one enclosed space.

I guessed it was just remnants from independence day.

“How about you stay here and start looking at what’s left,” Henry leaned me against the bloodied counter, pulling out his own phone while tossing me mine,

“And I’ll go get you something for your ankle.”

I tried to ignore the wetness on the counter,

“So we’re splitting up now?” I groaned, “You really are stupid.”

Henry began walking away, “Dude, I am one aisle over, chill.”

I watched him turn on the flashlight on his phone, disappearing behind the next aisle.

I could still hear his footsteps echoing off the walls, which I guessed was good,

“Alright then…” I turned to face the shelf with all the weaponry, glancing down at the shattered glass that used to cover it, “I should get started…”

-

I could name just about every model in the store- it was the same stuff they had always sold, and recognizing modern weaponry was a sort of hobby of mine.

I skimmed past a couple of Glocks, over a group of Rugger models, until I reached what remained of the rifle section.

My heart skipped a beat as I witnessed my all time favorite hanging from a hook.

It was the Winchester 70…Super-grade, which was an old gun but still a really good one.

I didn’t know about its use against…well…monsters, but it’d be better than nothing.

I grabbed the weapon, flicking the safety off before pulling the silver knob up and back.

Tick!

As expected, no cartridge was ejected from the gun (That would be disturbing), so I just slid the knob back forwards, flicking it back down again to close off the exposed chamber of the gun,

Click!

The weapon didn’t have a scope upon its top, but that shouldn’t have been too much of an issue for me.

I located a small box of ammunition beside the gun, absently checking the labels to make sure they would work,

“Polymer tipped…blah blah blah.”

I mean, it looked about right.

I cracked open the case, emptying its contents into my palm before sliding the chamber of the rifle open again.

I picked up a handful of bullets, pressing five of the long, slender spears into the spring-loaded interior of the weapon. The rest of the bullets I put back into the cardboard box, and the box I shoved into my jeans’ pocket.

I had shot at least one hundred guns in my life, either at competitions with Henry or just for fun at one of the ranges. My dad used to promise we would go someday, and he would teach me how to shoot as well as he used to, but I ended up just teaching myself.

I picked up the gun with both hands, finding its presence comforting as I slid the knob down.

It felt smooth and polished, the all-black wrapping reflecting the light of the nearby lamp with a bright glimmer.

I let down the weapon, flicking back on the safety before going back to the shelf.

“Should keep looking.”

I managed to find a shoulder strap for the rifle, which I put on immediately, and an AR-15 for Henry leaning beside one of the firework boxes behind the shelf.

Now, I didn’t really know why anyone would ever need to buy a gun like that, but considering the situation- all matters of gun safety were out the window.

Smash!

I grabbed my rifle from the sling over my shoulder, pointing it at the entrance of aisle 13 while flicking the safety back off.

My fingers were shaking slightly, but I tried to focus on my breathing.

Something had just broken…

I couldn’t hear Henry’s feet.

“Henry.” I spoke, letting my voice carry across the store, “Henry?”

I gulped, raising the weapon at an arch while bringing its base in front of my right shoulder.

Before I could call out again, I heard footsteps…rapid footsteps.

I felt adrenaline rush through my veins as the echo of sneakers meeting tile rang through the store, nervously glancing at the lamp next to me as it began to flicker.

ZTZT!

POP!

I jumped a little as the lamp’s bulb shattered, plaguing the area in darkness.

Except…it wasn’t.

I cursed rapidly as a bright, pulsing green light shined from behind the shelves bordering aisle thirteen, a vibrant hum rippling through the space as I felt my bones shake.

“NEEEEd..I–NEEeed it?”

Just then, Henry’s form came sliding out of the same aisle, running at me with wide eyes,

“We need to go, now!” He yelled, glancing back at the green glow slowly trotting out of the camping supplies section.

Henry had a plastic store bag in his hand stuffed full of medical supplies,

“C’mon Hiru, now!”

I reshouldered my rifle, blatantly tossing Henry the AR-15 as Henry slung my arm over his shoulder,

“What the heck is that-”

“You really don’t want to know.” Henry interrupted me, “But it's massive.”

SHRIEEEEEK!

I looked over Henry’s shoulder as the entire shelf of aisle thirteen and fourteen slid inwards, as if drawn by something, while the pipes on the roof began to bend and twist themselves downwards.

I didn’t have time to process what was going on before one of the same pipes came completely undone, tumbling straight down towards us.

Henry didn’t seem to notice, so I pushed him aside, both of us falling in separate directions before a large piece of metal slammed against the tile floor between us.

Bang!

“THERE YOU ARE.”

The voice sounded like mega speakers at some kind of outdoor rock concert, the very vibrations of the sound causing the bits of cracked tile on the ground to shake.

I looked back as green light flooded my eyes, staring at the giant that had just made its way out of the aisle.

How could something so big be here all along?

It was easily as tall as the building’s ceiling, and from the looks of it, its back was hunched over so that it might even fit that description.

Green electric arcs ran along the metal covered skin of the creature, its eyes flashing brilliant globes of the same kind of emerald as the tip of its right arm was shaped into some kind of metallic spike.

It looked like some scary, possibly demonic, version of the Iron Giant.

Both me and Henry cursed loudly as Its ginormous leg took another step towards us, waves of metal flying at the monster before sticking to any exposures on its skin like an overgrown magnet.

I planted my good foot down, standing up on one leg before hobbling for Henry.

He got up way faster, grabbing my arm while practically dragging me towards the door,

“GO GO GO GO GO!” He shouted as we dashed out of the shop and into the street.

The creature’s roars kept blasting through the sky, and we could hear the building’s interior begin to shatter as we charged straight for the truck.

I realized that the monster was attracting things even from out here, ducking my head downwards as a soda can flew over me to join the mountain of armor behind us.

“DID YOU WAKE IT UP OR SOMETHING?!” I yelled, frustrated.

“JUST SHUT UP!” Henry shouted over the sound of electric booms and breaking pipes.

“RAAAAGAH!”

“RRAAAARRR!”

“MRRRRAAGHM!”

Something that we should’ve expected, but didn’t in the slightest suddenly appeared to our far left.

Down the street, a bundle of monsters had materialized, all probably attracted by the green beacon following us.

Henry cursed.

It wouldn’t have mattered though- we just needed to reach the car-

As if on cue, the truck began to…shift.

‘NO NO NO!” Henry skidded to a stop as the truck’s wheels began reversing, the vehicle slowly being pulled out of the alley.

I squinted at the car, then at the seemingly unaffected Dumpster right beside it.

This thing…

It was targeting the car…it could control what it magnetized.

Or at least, that was the only explanation that made sense.

I turned to Henry, “It’s-!”

“I know!” Henry interrupted me, “It’s not gonna let us leave!”

I glanced back down the street, a shiver going down my spine as the group trotted, crawled, or ran at us like mindless zombies.

Henry let go of my arm, “This isn't happening!” he yelled as he ran hopelessly for the truck.

It wasn’t going to stay on the ground for much longer.

Street lamps had flashed back to life temporarily all around us, lighting the street up even as it was covered with smoke.

I racked my brain for ideas, trying to think of something…anything.

I looked all around.

Monsters…trash can…bench…smoke…fire…fire…fire.

Wait…

Fire.

I spun back towards the gun store, trying not to lose my breath as the entire roof of the building was torn to bits,

BOOM!

The creature drew to full height as the one thing restricting it was destroyed , the walls of the building still caging the beast as swirls of emerald-green light wrapped around the reflective tint of its arm-spike.

When I thought of a monster apocalypse…this was not what I had in mind.

I looked down, eyeing what was left in the store as I struggled to see past the millions of bits of metal swishing through the air. If its field kept growing…I was going to get torn to pieces.

I got out my rifle, trying not to shake as I aimed at the creature.

Then I brought the weapon down a couple of inches.

I let my eyes scan what remained of the store…looking for a particular aisle…

“There!”

I noted the rows and rows of boxes labeled Fireworks parallel with the gun aisle- they were right beside the creature’s foot, the electric arcs washing over them seeming to have no effect on the contents inside.

I was going to help with that…

Hopefully…

“HIRU, I DON’T KNOW…I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO I-”

“HEY SHUT UP!” I yelled, focusing on the box, “I’M TRYING TO THINK!”

“WHAT?!” Henry was getting angry, “WE ARE LITERALLY ABOUT TO DIE AND THAT’S WHAT YOU SAY-?!”

“I SAID BE QUIET HENRY!”

“SCREW YOU!”

The distance was about 100 meters…I’d have to aim a bit higher to account for resistance…

“HEY HIRU, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING-”

BANG!

Tick!

I brought the bolt back, ejecting the spent cartridge,

Click!

I pushed it forwards once more, loading another bullet.

Henry blinked after two seconds of pure chaos, “THAT DID NOTHING-”

B

O

O

M

!

Red, white, and blue light blasted through the sky, rendering all smoke and even the creature’s own green color obsolete as I felt a surge of heat pass over us.

My ears rang as explosion after explosion sounded from the building, fireworks launching directly into the forty foot abomination as the most patriotic spectacle was unleashed into its ironclad face.

I could barely hear Henry as I felt him pull me towards him, only able to make out a few words as we reached the truck.

The vehicle wasn’t moving anymore, the monster probably much too preoccupied at the moment to focus on us two leaving.

I climbed into the passenger side as I was slowly able to hear again, my hands fidgeting over the ordeal as Henry got in on the driver’s side.

As soon as he was inside, he stepped on the gas, reversing the car out of the alleyway as fireworks still rained overhead.

Monsters upon monsters upon monsters were now running about, Henry swerving around each one less than smoothly as earth-shattering roars echoed from behind us.

“Did you do that!!??” Henry shouted, and even then I was barely able to hear him.

Still shaken up, I just nodded,

“I think so…” I muttered.

Henry didn’t once ease on the accelerator, even when we were in the clear.

He glanced at me for a brief second, unable to keep a small grin off his face.

I managed to form one as well, both expressions founded in pure relief,

“That…” Henry took a deep breath, turning on one of the roads that would eventually take us out of Brooklyn,

“Was one heck of a lightshow.”