Scattered screams roared as they launched over ten feet into the air before landing roughly on the other side of the fence and coming to a full halt. The force of the landing shot through tailbones and stomachs as all of them fought the urge to vomit.
"Did we make it?" Ashure asked, with his eyes still sealed tightly.
"Open your eyes and find out," Boulder said, tapping his shoulder softly. As he opened his eyes he saw that they had indeed made it over the fence and into the base. He couldn't help but erupt with laughter. Slowly everyone joined him, laughing uncontrollably not only knowing they made it but also the idea that they flew in on a giant grass buck and a mutant dog.
"I honestly thought we were goners," Eden, said, laughing hysterically.
"I honestly didn't know if that would work," Miles laughed. Everyone caught their breath for a moment and calmed themselves.
"Okay, let's leave the bags, they're going to be too heavy to lug around we each take a weapon and some water the rest stays. Deal?" Miles said, pulling his machete and a bottle of water from his bag. Everyone else followed suit before dropping their bags down and climbing off of their mounts. As they stood on the grass inside the one place they hoped to find answers the feeling of hope rekindled in each of them.
Most of them tried not to get their hopes too high while others hoped that they would finally get the answers they needed. Scott was the last to dismount sliding off of Hyde's rear and landing on the grass below.
"I hope this isn't a waste of time," He uttered angrily.
"There he is, our designated dickhead, who finds the worst parts of every situation," Amanda said, rolling her eyes.
"Trust me, sweetheart, I can find the good parts too," He said, looking her up and down.
"Fuck you, you pig," She said, scoffing with disgust. Abel and Miles stepped in between the two and stared him down angrily.
"What, want me to beat your ass again, Henderson, and little Henderson?" He asked, unfazed.
"Back off or leave," Miles said sternly.
"Oh, and who put you in charge?" Scott asked, mockingly.
"In case everyone forgot Henderson's name was stamped on the fucking bomb that did this!" He shouted, smirking back at Miles.
"Yeah, and in case you forgot a bald asshole with too much pent-up anger is the one who greenlit the attack," Miles said, scowling at him. The group let out some scattered chuckles as the two faced off while others prepared for another meaningless fight.
"Enough, for fucks sake," Selena said, wedging herself between the two of them.
"Whatever," Scott said, pushing past her and ramming his shoulder into Miles'.
"Okay, everybody take a look around, the information we'll need will most likely be in the command center. There could be useful tools and weapons in the barracks so feel free to take a peek," Miles said, securing his machete on his belt. Everyone began to fan out heading in different directions to explore the base for themselves. Ari, Ace, and Art headed toward the range and training area. Selena and Eden started heading toward the school. Amanda, Ashure, and Boulder headed toward the landing strip.
Abel, Miles, and Beck went toward the command center leaving Scott by himself to head toward the barracks. Thicket and Hyde lay in the grass near the fence and waited patiently for their friends' return.
"Wow, there are so many husks here," Art said, staring at the crisped bodies of soldiers caught in the blast while they were training. There were countless runners and climbers along with a few of them crawling through the mud.
"It looks like they weren't taking the threat seriously," Ace said, looking at the drill sergeant still holding his whistle between his teeth.
"Maybe they weren't told in time," Ari said, looking at the husked man waving a clipboard in the air as he seemingly got caught sprinting across the field. She reached up and pulled the clipboard from his hand. As she pulled the hand it was resting in crumpled into ash and blew away with the steady breeze. Her mind had grown numb to the husks the more she had seen them.
So much so that the hand fading to ash didn't even faze her. She immediately looked down at the paper attached to the clipboard and read it.
The impending threat from Russia has been confirmed. Retreat to the nearest shelter and aid civilians to safety. Women and children take priority when the blast hits regardless of casualties ensure the door is and remains closed, Colonel Peters.
"You guys should see this," She said, waving the clipboard over her head.
"What is it?" Art asked grabbing it from her.
"What does it say?" Ace asked, curiously. Art read the message aloud and stuttered as he did.
"They knew. The time stamp says 8:15 pm. The night before," He said, trembling with anger.
"They sent that letter the night before and nobody here took it seriously," He continued, slamming the clipboard on his knee and snapping it in half.
"What does this mean?" Ace asked, concerned.
"It means we were fucked from the get-go," Ari replied, quietly. As they stood there frustrated wondering what this all meant until a rustling sound startled them. They jumped and turned back to see the vines that were focused on the buildings and streets were now sprouting out of the feet and faces of the husks around them. They Grew at a rapid pace wiggling as they pushed their way out of their mouths and wrapped around their faces.
"What the fuck?!" Ace shouted, stumbling backward.
"Oh, shit what the fuck is that?" Art gagged.
"The vines, they're going to take everything," Ari said, nervously
"We need to get the fuck out of here, now," Ace said, as he began running toward the command center.