A Start

The lights were brighter than he imagined when he walked down the white hallway. There was the slightest hum coming from the machines evenly spaced down the way. The hum would almost breach its comfortable din when he walked past them, but would settle down until he walked by the next. They all appeared to be in use.

The machines, or hubs, as he’d been told at the entrance, were as white as the walls, but had a gloss finish. The lights’ reflections slid across the hubs in pace with his steps. His steps, and the steps of the one before him, were the only sounds that broke the hum of the hall’s machines.

The hall seemed to be endless, but the boy’s guide stopped between two hubs before the boy could be lost in the hall of white. The boy might as well have been lost when the guide walked toward an empty wall. But when the guide placed his hand on the wall a digital number and word appeared. It seemed they’d stopped at room 425B and under the blue numbers was the word ‘CLEAR’. When the guide tapped the wall again it seemed to gasp and collapse backward in the shape of a doorway. The guide gestured him inside.

When he entered he was surprised to find the sustained hum of the machines had subsided and all he could hear was the doorway closing back behind him. What surprised him even more was that the room he just entered was no more than the size of his own bedroom and had a much dimmer and greyer tone than that of the hall he had entered from.

There was one hub in this room, right in the center. It had more of a metallic finish, but reflected the light all the same. The guide again placed his hand down, but this time he placed on the hub. It gasped just as the door had and split around its middle. The top half rose up and slid back to reveal a comfortable looking seat. The guide gestured again before activating something on a blank wall causing a digital keyboard to appear like the room number outside.

While the guide continued to type, the boy found his way into the seat, finding it much more comfortable than he first thought. Before entering the hub he made sure to investigate the machine. It was rounded, mostly towards the top and became wider at its base. Four cylindrical columns seemed to be grafted to the corners of the base. One very large and wide cord came out from the front of the hub and curved directly into the ground. There was one similar on the back of the device. It was exactly like the ones in the white hallway, the metallic finish being the only noticeable difference.

As he got more comfortable in his seat the boy noticed that the room was much warmer than the hallway was. The dim light and warmth of the room made the boy drowsy, sinking deeper into the chair. He had never felt so comfortable.

The guide had finished typing and walked to the edge of the hub to see if the boy was situated. Once confirmed the guide placed their hand again on the hub causing it to gasp like before —softer this time— and it began to close around the boy. Lights came on inside the hub as it closed and the soft thump it made didn’t bother the boy at all. Everything seemed to be in place to keep him as comfortable as possible. A screen appeared inside the machine that showed the guide standing by the keyboard.

As the boy’s reality began to shift he heard the guide say the same as he did when the boy walked in, “Welcome to the museum.”

Adventure Friends: The Port of Kanel, Brennan, and the Fight in the Restauraunt

“So who exactly is this Brennan,” Aurelius asked as they passed briskly through the intersection, the flashing red hand ahead urging them forward. The canvas bag he had over his shoulder bumped against his hip in an irregular fashion, provoking an occasional wince as one of the sharper objects poked out through the fabric. The sharper objects hidden on the insides of his sweatshirt sleeves caused him no discomfort at all, however.

Altered Alliance: Urban Survival; In and Out (Chapter 2)

Max descended the stairs slowly, taking each step one at a time. He aimed his flashlight at the landing below, checking every inch of the walls and the floor. But there was nothing dangerous in sight, only trash. Things such as cans, bottles and old faded news papers.

As Max set foot on the landing he saw a door to the level they were on. Signaling to his squad to stack up, Max reached for the door lever and opened it slowly, peering around and into the hall on the other side.

The hallway was lit much better than the stairwell, but the light that was cast through the windows were dull and gloomy. Max could see dust particles floating up through the rays of light. It made him a little uncomfortable not knowing if there was anyone or anything in the building with him, however the dirt and dust helped reassure him into thinking that the building was truly abandoned.

Max carefully stepped over the mess on the floor and glanced up and down the hallway making sure it was clear as his squad piled into the hall behind him.

"Tilsen, you're with me... Brooks. You, Adams and Riley check and clear all rooms on that end of the hallway," Max ordered, pointing with his hand down towards one end of the hall. Then tapping his ear piece said, "Keep the comm. open."

Brooks nodded and signaled Adams and Riley to follow him as he headed off down the hall away from Max.

Patting Allen on the shoulder, Max turned and headed in the opposite direction. When they came to the first door along the hall Max and Allen stacked up on either side of the door. Allen looked to Max as if to ask for permission and Max nodded.

Cautiously opening the door, Allen stepped through and Max followed, weapons at the ready for anything that may lay on the other side.

Shining their lights around the room, the two soldiers revealed nothing but a desk and a few filing cabinets. Atop the desk was an assortment of papers, all yellowed with age, and an old computer monitor lying face first at an awkward angle.

Max and Allen began sorting through the filing cabinets, but there was nothing but useless files and paperwork in any of them. Max then changed his sights to the desk, where he again found nothing useful to the Safehouse.

However, when he opened the last drawer of the desk, he saw a container of paperclips, some pens, pencils and a small box of golf balls. Max guessed that whoever owned this office space seven years ago must have played a lot of golf after work, possibly with some co-workers.

Grabbing as many of the paperclips as he could that were still seemingly intact, Max stuffed them in one of his pant leg pockets. Next he grabbed the pens and pencils and tested them on the sheets of paper on top of the desk. Almost all of the pencils had broken tips and nearly every pen's ink had dried up and blocked the balled-point.

But after tossing the broken pens and pencils back into the drawer, Max scooped up the few working ones and put them in his pocket with the paperclips.

Max was about to close the drawer but stopped and reached back in. He opened the small box of golf balls and grabbed four, putting them in a different pocket.

"What are those for?" Allen laughed.

"Don't worry about it Tilsen." Max smiled, "You never know when something might come in handy."

Placing the box on top of the desk, Max and Allen exited the room and continued on to the next door.

As they neared it, Max looked out the row of windows and saw the downpour of rain that was going on outside. The rain was coming down so hard that some rain drops hit each other on the way down and created their own small splashes in mid-air.

Max turned his attention back to his immediate surroundings as they reached the door. He and Allen again stacked up on either side and Allen entered first again. But once again there was nothing useful in the room, only a desk and a few filing cabinets.

They did the same with the next few rooms, switching off who entered first on every other door. You know, to mix things up a little... but still, they couldn't find any supplies.

Max didn't get too discouraged though cause most military bases kept their supplies on the lower levels where they were more accessible.

"Brooks, find anything?" Max asked through the comm. system.

"Not a thing, First Sergeant." Brooks sighed, "Should we regroup and head downstairs?"

Max stopped and thought for a little bit and then replied, "Yes, we have a limited time and I'd like to find at least something useful. Brooks, head back to the stairs. Allen and I will meet you there."

"Roger that, Top."

Max looked at Allen, "Alright lets go."

Nodding, Allen followed him back down the hall to the stairwell where they met up with Brooks and everyone else. Max then led his team back down the stairs.

The next three floors produced nothing either and Max was beginning to get discouraged. But as they exited the stairwell to the second floor his hopes were raised.

In front of them was an open room, where at some point there would have been cubicles but had been replace by tables and desks. This room was less lit than all the other ones due to the fact that the only windows were in the office spaces that skirted the edges of the room. Max guessed that at some point in this bases life, this would have been the nerve center, where all the strategic coordinating and communications would have taken place.

There were maps and various ammunition cases laid out on the tables nearer the center of the room. Rifles, radios and other military equipment were also scattered atop the other tables.

Max pointed to some of the rifles and ammo cases, "Adams, Riley, check the rifles condition and grab five good rifles each and a couple box's of ammo. Then carry them up to the roof so they're easier to EVAC."

"Roger."

The two soldiers stepped towards the tables, but Max grabbed Adams by the arm delaying him, "When you get them up there come back down and grab as much ammo as you can. Understand?"

"Yes First Sergeant!"

Max released him and then turned to Allen and Brooks, "Alright, spread out. Grab as many supplies as you can carry and whatever you think could be useful to the Safehouse."

When they had all started searching the room Max then laughed when he saw something he liked, "And feel free to take a souvenir or two."

Reaching forward Max picked up the silenced USP compact .45 caliber pistol that was lying on a desk inside of a drop leg holster. It appeared to still be in excellent condition.

Removing it from the holster, Max unloaded it and took off the slide and examined all the parts on the inside of the weapon. Everything was in relatively good condition and would not require too much cleaning. Max smiled, this would be perfect.

The USP compact .45 was smaller than his standard issue Beretta M9. But even with the silencer attached, it was nearly the same size. It also weighed less and used a larger caliber bullet than the M9 which allowed for better mobility and stronger stopping power.

This was probably going to be the best souvenir Max had ever picked up from a mission. But just to make sure it worked smoothly, Max pulled back the hammer without actually charging the gun and then pulled the trigger. The hammer clicked back into its original position in a quick and clean motion.

Satisfied, Max reloaded the weapon and then hooked the drop leg holster onto his leg and slid the pistol into the holster to test it out. It was different from the holster on his chest where the M9 rest, but he liked it.

Max checked the drawers in the desk his new weapon had been on and found eight, ten round USP magazines and a couple box's of .45 caliber ACP rounds. Setting his rifle on top of the desk Max took off his pack and lay it next to the gun. Max took a couple of his M9 Mags out of the Mag pouches on his body armor and put them into his pack. He then grabbed the eight USP Mags out of the desk and took the time to load each Mag with the .45 ACP rounds.

After he finished loading them he slid his new Mags into the Mag pouches he had just emptied. And then took one of the box's of .45 rounds and stuffed them in his pack so he would have more rounds if he ever needed them.

Max closed up his pack and put it back onto his shoulders. He then took the four remaining box's of .45 rounds and set them on the desk where Adams and Riley would see once they came back down for an ammo run.

Grabbing his rifle off the desk, Max walked over to the tables in the center of the room where there seemed to be the most maps. He looked at the Maps and decided that they could be useful to the Safehouse because they had the positions of other military bases marked within a fifty mile radius of where they were.

Max looked around the table and found a plastic map tube, he then picked out the maps that appeared to have the most information written on them and rolled them up and slid them into the tube. Max took off his pack again and hooked the map tube to it so that it wouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Once he shouldered his pack again Max took another look around the room. There really wasn't all that many useful supplies here.

"So, who planned this mission anyways? Max asked over the comm.

"The General said it was anonymous..." Riley began.

"Actually I heard that Joe may have planned the whole thing, Max." Tilsen interrupted.

"Joe Hunt?" Max asked worriedly.

"The one and only."

Max let out a sigh, "Crap. He knew I couldn't resist. Alright gentlemen... Keep your eyes peeled."

"Why what's wrong Top?" Brooks asked.

"Nothing... It's a long story. Just stay on your toes."

"You don't think he's still upset do you?" Tilsen asked.

"Allen, the man needs help! And it's all my fault."

Riley came in over the comm. with a worried tone, "Whoa, hold up! What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it Riley. It's a story for the ride home... Hopefully... In the mean time stay alert. I have a bad feeling about this..."

Riley reluctantly let the matter go and the squad remained silent. Max then decided that they should have a look around on the ground floor and hopefully find something a little more fruitful.

Max wanted to leave now but when he checked his watch they still had about ten or fifteen minutes till the EVAC chopper arrived, so he figured he shouldn't waste the time they had.

"Allen, we're headed down a floor, so follow me. Brooks keep looking. Riley and Adams... don't forget the ammo run."

Max's squad acknowledged him with simultaneous, "Roger that."

Tilsen exited one of the small offices in the room and met up with Max. Together they headed across the room and to a set of stairs, separate from the ones they had traversed earlier. This set however, were only capable of going down.

Max lead the trek down the dark stairwell and out into the building's main floor. It was another, large room that was relatively empty apart from the lonely desk that sat facing the building's entrance. The desk had formerly been a welcome desk but was all but useless in the abandoned office building.

Across from where they stood was a door less opening to another set of stairs, which probably linked up to the one they had been on earlier. But next to the stairwell was the opening to a relatively large public bathroom entrance, which Max instantly deemed unnecessary to explore.

Max turned and examined the wall where they had just entered the room and saw a few other empty office rooms. However, then he saw along the back wall, opposite to the front entrance, was a large black and silver vault door which peaked his interest. Max guessed that this building must have been a bank at some point in time.

Motioning towards the vault, Max began walking towards it. When he and Allen neared it they noticed that the vault door was askew, which automatically indicated that there was a possibility that some supplies could be inside. But Max still remained cautious remembering what he had said earlier to his squad and decided to take this room the same as they had with all the others.

Max and Allen stacked up on the wall adjacent to the vaults opening and prepared to enter. The vault was darker than all the other rooms that they had cleared and it made Max uneasy, but nevertheless he peered in and shone the flashlight around. But this was something that Max instantly regretted.

Within the few seconds that Max kept his flashlight on, he had time to make out the pale and naked forms of sleeping Cretin. And in the center of the vault there was a deep hole that the Cretin had somehow dug into the ground and turned the vault into a Hive.

A sharp chill went through Max's body as he hoped that he hadn't woken any of the beast.

And when Allen noticed Max trying to back away from the vault he asked in a moderately loud voice, "What? Max what is it?"

Before Max was able to make him shut his mouth the crying of infantile Cretin rung through the air. The screams were ear piercing and made Max and Allen have to cover their ears.

The crying baby Cretin woke up the rest of the Hive and a deeper but more menacing scream came from the deep. Max and Allen looked at each other with panicked faces and began a headlong sprint for the stairs they had come down.

At the same time they turned, Max heard an identical screech come from inside the bathroom of which he had deemed unimportant. This made him curse under his breath.

He had taken no more than five steps, when he heard the vault door squeal open as an onslaught of Cretin slammed their bodies through the opening for a mad dash towards the invaders.

"Everyone! Roof! Now!" Max yelled into his microphone.

As he and Allen reached the base of the stairs more Cretin started pouring out of the bathroom. Most of whom headed towards Max, but a few headed towards the other stairwell... Max hated how smart they were.

When they were halfway up the stairs to the second floor Brooks asked, "What happened?"

"Cretin!" Max panted, "There's a murder on our tail!"

Max heard Brooks and the others curse but then remain silent.

When Max and Allen reached the second floor they sprinted for the stairwell across the room. but before they where even halfway to it, Cretin busted through, knocking the door off its hinges. They were trapped.


Max thought quickly and dragged Allen to one of the office rooms on the side, choosing one that had the fewest windows. They closed the door behind them and quickly barricaded it, using a desk, filing cabinets and whatever else they could find.

The mass of Cretin slammed into the door trying to get in. But after a good minute of running into the door, the banging subsided, and through the single window facing the inside room, Max could see a hoard of pale Cretin staring at the two soldiers intently. Their greenish-white faces were scrunched and wrinkled with anger. But the enraged creatures just stood there and stared at them.

Max then decided to see how the rest of his team was doing, "Brooks, report!"

"First Sergeant, the Chopper is landing now!" Brooks panted seeming to be very short on breath, "The door to the roof is holding for now. What's your situation?"

Max let out a deep and exasperated sigh, "We're trapped..."

As soon as Max said this, he watched as all the Cretin outside the office back away a few steps. Each one grabbed a various heavy object and began heaving them at the Plexiglas, which quickly started cracking and giving way.

Max looked to Allen, "We're screwed."

100 words - There was once this girl.

There once was this girl.

All the worst stories start and end this way and this one is no different. I mean. It starts with that line. I’m not saying it’s going to be one of the worst. Well I hope it isn’t. That’s up to you, and whether or not you like this story.

So, there was once this girl.

Well there’re usually girls, not just this once. Girls have existed for a while. Like me. Well, maybe. I’m a narrator. I’m not sure I have a gender.

As I was saying…

Uh…

I can’t remember the story now.

Altered Alliance: Urban Survival; The Promise (Chapter 1)

Max Urban held onto his girlfriend for as long as he could. She didn’t want to let him go and, quite frankly, he didn’t want to let her go either. But the safe house UAV and surveillance team had found a military base that may be full of supplies to scavenge... or at least that's what the General said when he had put together a squad to check it out.

When Max’s brother Allen Tilsen had come home all excited about the mission Max couldn't resist and had to volunteer. The General of course made the First Sergeant the leader of the mission because Max was the highest rank in the squad which Max was truly okay with seeing as he loved both, being a leader and danger alike.

Allen was not related to Max in blood, but as far as Max was concerned they were as good as brothers, for they had grown up together in the same household doing every activity together since he was six-years old. Max's parents had adopted Allen when Max was eight years old and the two had become best friends almost instantly. However Max didn't like to think about it too often because anything dealing with his parents was a sore subject.

Max could see Allen now from over his girlfriend's shoulder. Allen was hugging his beautiful wife Hannah as she saw him off. She had the same air about her as Taylor did and Max could clearly tell that Hannah was not happy about Allen going on this mission either.

Another thing that made Max and Allen one in the same was their constant desire for danger. Even since they were kids they had loved anything that got their adrenaline pumping. And now with the world in ruins and Earth's dominant species now being the once human, cannibalistic psychopaths, the two brothers had been turned into nothing more than adrenaline junkie soldiers. Fortunately, although they had learned it the hard way, the two soldiers found that adrenaline is not the only thing to live for.

“Do you have to go Max?” Taylor asked holding on to him tight, “You went on two missions last week. Can’t someone fill in for you?”

Max smiled and kissed her gently on the forehead, “Tay, don’t worry I’ll be back before dark… I promise.”

Taylor Dorrian was an amazingly beautiful girl. Max had run into her seven years ago, a year after the first Cretin appeared. She gave him the same look every time he gave her a promise. It was like she was studying his eyes to ensure that he was telling the truth. He could remember the first time she gave him the look.

They had both been raised in Newton, New Jersey where they had gone to the same school and lived in the same neighborhood for ages but they never really noticed each other. Taylor was from a more privileged family, and Max… well, Max wasn’t.

Taylor, Max and Allen were the only teens amongst the few survivors in his neighborhood. Their entire family had turned into Cretin. However, while this was a sad subject, Max never showed his emotions on the matter. He felt that by doing so people would think he was a wimp, even though he seemed to ignore the fact that nearly all of the other survivors were distraught with tears, even a few of the soldiers. But this is how he came to really meet Taylor for the first time.

Max knew who Taylor’s parents were, for they were a big part of his neighborhood. However he didn’t see Taylor’s parents on the Transport and Max expected the worst. Taylor was sitting alone with tears pouring from her eyes and when Max went over to comfort her, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder.

Even though she barely knew him, she made Max promise that everything was going to be fine. So Max promised, and he meant it. Max had always tried to keep his promises ever since his mother made him promise to take care of Allen and himself.

After they arrived at the Morristown National Historical Park Safehouse Taylor and Max became great friends, even with Max joining the Safehouse’s Army.

Max joined the US Army when he had turned eighteen after the Ayra had shown themselves to be hostile. However, he had never gotten the chance to go into battle before the Cretin started showing up.

Allen joined the Safehouse Army with Max and they were put through training by some Army Ranger and USMC Veterans. Both Max and Allen volunteered for mission after mission and became highly decorated soldiers amongst the Safehouse. Max volunteered to lead missions from time to time, it somehow helped him to cope with the loss of his family.

He began dating Taylor two years after settling down into the safe house. And six years after that, was ready to ask Taylor to marry him. But he was still thinking of how to pop the question and worried about how Taylor might react.

Max looked over Taylor’s shoulder again to see Allen wearing his ACUs and in full gear giving Hannah a last kiss goodbye. Although Allen was younger he had managed to get married before Max had which often made Max jealous.

Allen’s wife, Hannah, was also a very beautiful young woman and was nearly 9 months pregnant and was expecting in the next few weeks. Max thought that Allen probably shouldn't go for that reason but he didn't want to argue with him. He hated arguing with Allen.

Taylor finally released her grasp on Max and proceeded to unhook her necklace, "Bring this back to me Max."

"I know," Max laughed, "Taylor, we do this every time."

He smiled as she stared him in the eyes. Once she was sure that he understood, she nodded and reached around him to hook the necklace around his neck. Max looked down at the silver chain and the small crossed that hung delicately from the end.

This cross had an intricate design across it which reminded him of his childhood, when read the Bible everyday and went to church almost twice a week. Ever since to Ayra had shown up he had become a lot more lenient in his faith, which he often regretted, but even more often ignored.

As Max stared at the cross he could hear the UH-80 Black Hawk starting up behind him. The military hadn't had time to advance much of their technology since the Cretin had begun appearing around the world. Looking up Max saw Allen and Hannah walking over towards him.

"Time to go Max," Allen said, half-heartedly trying to hide his enthusiasm for the mission.

Max nodded and looked at Hannah, who stared back at him with a serious look, "Max, promise me that you will take care of Allen and yourself and come back safe and sound."

Max froze when he heard her say this. It sounded just like his mother had all those years ago. It made him ache inside but he quickly shook himself out of it.

"Don't you worry Hannah. I'll have us home before dinner."

She crossed her arms and smiled, "Good, you'd better."

He laughed and then leaned over and kissed Taylor, "I'll be back."

She smiled reluctantly and gave him one last hug. Max then turned and began walking towards the helicopter, he hated doing this to Taylor, but the part of him that longed to stay was overcome by his need for adrenaline.

Max looked at his squad who were all huddled at the edge of the helipad. Including Allen and himself there were five squad members, all of different build and personality, but they had been doing missions together for years and all got along just fine.

"Alright boys! Today should be plenty of fun, but I don't plan on having any more excitement than necessary. So let's load up gentlemen!" Max yelled over the sound of the roaring chopper.

All the guys replied will a loud and distinct Hooah and began loading into the chopper.

Max was always the last to load onto any transport vehicle ever since the accident on his first mission as a leader years ago. But as he was about to climb in, the soldier in front of him turned around.

"First Sergeant, I am ready to kick some Cretin butt!" The soldier was short and stocky and had a rugged, scarred face.

"Shut up Riley and get in the Heli!" Max laughed grabbing him by the strap on his pack and pushing him into the chopper.

Max pulled his assault rifle off his shoulder and sat on the bench inside of the Black Hawk. Where he propped his rifle up against his leg and watched as two Safehouse soldiers slid the Black Hawk doors shut from the outside. Max then removed his Kevlar helmet, placing it in his lap where he then slid a headset over his ears and could hear the banter of the two pilots in the cockpit.

The whine of the engine grew louder as chopper rose off the ground. Max stared out the hatch window and at the blue and white painted concrete walls of the Safehouse. When the Safehouse's were constructed into underground facilities to house and sustain families long periods of time they weren't meant to be permanent living quarters, but that's what they had turned into.

The Black Hawk rose up through the horizontal bay door in the ceiling of the cavern and Max watched as people wearing bright orange and yellow vests scrambled around below. On the surface above the bay doors there were canvas tents erected in various places and a makeshift log wall spanning around the entire surface perimeter, which covered a couple acres or so in each direction.

The surface was where the crops were grown and where the Safehouse Army did much of their training. Max spent a lot of his time on the surface running and taking walks with Taylor all of which he probably enjoyed more than anything... well anything other than going on missions.

Looking up at the sky, Max saw that they were headed for some rain and thought out loud, "Ah, good Ol' New York."

"I hear that, First Sergeant!" One of the pilots piped in on the headset.

Max laughed, "So pilot, what's the ETA?"

Max could see the pilot in the right seat of the cockpit turn his head in Max's general direction to show who was talking, but didn't actually look at Max directly, "Name's Norlin Sir... And I'd say about thirty, forty minutes."

"Nice to meet you Norlin. And good."

He was happy with the fact that Norlin hadn't used military time. Max hated that! he just liked to be told things the good old fashioned way, you know the way that everyone is used to.

The tall and skinny soldier sitting across from Max leaned forward, "So, Top... When are you going to propose to that beautiful Miss Taylor?"

The voices of the whole squad could be heard over the headset all 'cooing' at the soldiers question.

Max smirked at the soldier and held up a hand to quiet everyone, "I'm working on it Adams don't worry about it."

"Aw com'mon Top," Riley jumped in, "how long have you two been together?"

"About ten years I think," The largest man in the chopper laughed.

"Shut up Brooks! No its only been six," Max defended himself.

"SIX YEARS?!"

"Ha, Jesus Top!" Adams gaped.

Riley put a hand on Max's shoulder, "Sir, do the girl a favor and ask the question now... She's suffered long enough."

Max could hear Allen chuckling, "Tilsen you have something to say?"

"No offence Max, but they're right," Allen laughed, "Come on I was there with you when you picked out the ring... When are you going to ask her?"

The room got quiet then Brooks asked, "You got the ring?!"

"If you've got the ring... First sergeant, what are you waiting for?" Adams questioned with a mock irritated tone.

Max looked down at his helmet on his lap, "I don't know... The right moment I guess."

"Max, listen you must have some sort of plan?" Tilsen pried.

The squad nodded in agreement and waited for Max to inform them on his plan.

Max looked up at them and shrugged, "I guess. I don't know if it's a good one though..."

There was an uproar as the soldiers bugged Max to tell them, which made Max uncomfortable. But he finally gave in, "Alright fine!... So I was thinking that Taylor's birthday is coming up in a few days and well..."

Tilsen urged him to continue, "Come on Max. And... what?"

"And I was thinking maybe I'd take her out on a picnic on the surface and propose to her then... I don't know."

Everyone then chimed in, "Do it!"

"That's perfect Top!... Better than my idea," Riley mused.

"You think? Well I already knew any of my ideas are better than yours Riley but thanks," Max laughed, "Alright then. I guess it's settled, I'll ask her on her birthday."

The entire Helicopter began 'wooing' and cheering obnoxiously. Max thoughts he could even hear Norlin and the other pilot joining in on the ruckus, which made Max more uncomfortable at first, but soon he was laughing with everyone else.

As soon as everyone had calmed down and started talking about other things than Max's personal life, Max looked out the window and watched as the New Jersey landscape flew by far below. He loved flying in helicopters, it somehow cleared his mind and helped him to think.

Max clutched the cross that Taylor had put around his neck. She had come up with this dumb thing where whenever he went on any mission she would give him the necklace and claim that she wouldn't be whole until he brought it back to her. It was very important to her and it actually did motivate Max to ensure he wouldn't let her down.

Max smiled as he thought about the countless times they had done it. Even though he thought it was dumb, he loved when she did it. He couldn't explain why, even if he tried. It was just that it made him happy and feel like she was there with him when he was away...

Max was broken from his trance though, when Norlin's voice came in over the headset, "Alrighty gentlemen. Ready up, drop zone in less than 5."

After that Max's squad quieted down and the air of the cabin became more serious as the soldiers ready their weapons and gear.

Max peered back out the window and could see a bunch of large buildings below and tall skyscrapers further inside the city. The helicopter had slowed down somewhat as they neared their destination, and the clouds that Max had seen earlier were even darker here above New York City, and it was going to storm for sure. Max could see Cretin far below, scrambling through the streets towards their hives. It was as if they sensed the inclement weather and were scared of a little rain.

"First Sergeant, we're here!" Norlin informed Max, "We'll land you on the roof and then go. They're sending another Chopper in twenty minutes! So that'll give you and your squad about an hour to scavenge. Good luck, Top and stay out of trouble!"

"Thanks Norlin!" Max replied, "Fly safe!"

The frame of the Black Hawk rocked informing the squad they had landed. Max pulled off the headset, replacing them with his helmet and sliding his combat headset onto his ear. He then wrenched the side door open and jumped out onto the roof of the building weapon raised towards his surroundings. When he saw it clear he stood by the door, waving his team out.

Once everyone was clear of the Black Hawk, Max gave the pilots a thumbs up and a little wave, and he watched as the vehicle lifted itself of the roof and headed back towards the Safehouse. Then walking to the side of the roof, Max took a quick look over the side of the building.

They were about five or six stories up and the parking lot around the building was fenced off and had broken run down tanks and humvees scatted around the base of the building. This had definitely been a makeshift Military base at some point and Max wondered if it would even bear them any fruit.

Putting this thought to the side, Max readied his weapon and signaled his squad towards the door to the stairs. They all piled up against the wall on either side of the door ready to go, and Max reached for the knob and tested it. Locked.

Pointing to Adams, Max signaled him to pick the lock and as Adams kneeled down to pick it, the first drops of rain began to fall.

Looking up at the sky Max scowled. He loved the rain... but sometimes, it had uncanny timing.

"We're in." Adams stated, backing away from the door.

Max gave a quick Hooah, and switched on the flashlight at the end of his gun barrel. Reaching for the knob again, he turned it and opened the door cautiously. Continuing forward Max opened the door the rest of the way and lead his squad down the stairs, and through the darkness.

The Top of Her Head

A long time ago, when I was little, I remember seeing this tall woman. I knew she was tall, because I could see the top of her head outside of my bedroom window. I always saw her in the mornings before school, so I never had a chance to walk over and get a better look. There was something strange about her, too. She always sort of spooked me.

I could never see her eyes; just the hair on the top of her head.

Once, though, I was sick. Usually when it was a weekend or when I was sick she’d be gone, as if she knew I might look. But this time I threw up right before I was going to leave… to get on the bus. I can recall nausea as I went back into my room, and saw the top of her head just outside the window frame.

I crept over, and looked.

I only bring this up because a week ago I saw her again outside of the kitchen window. And while I looked away before I could really make out any of her features, I knew that she had risen high enough so that she could stare back at me.

And that’s why I’m not going to be staying in your apartment anymore, Madeline.

House of [Cats

A few weeks after my [wife left, an awful yellow [cat began to come up to my back door in the mornings before I left for work. The door was glass, so I could see it pretty clearly. I never fed it, so I’m not sure why it kept coming back.

I only mention the [cat because on the morning they found my grandfather dead at his house, or rather, when I got the call, the [cat was covered head to feet in a dark red blood. There were patches of visible fur, particularly along its back, which made me wonder if it’s been in a fight.

I’ve always been particularly afraid of things like rabies, or other infectious pathogens that wild animals can gift with a bite, so I didn’t open the door to check on it. It stared at me through the glass that morning. Usually it ignores me, but I’m pretty sure it was watching me. It left around noon. I left around two, feeling pretty spooked. I intended to come back before dark, but I forgot, and so once I realized the sun had set, I booked a room here.

That’s when I found the body, and called you.

I get the impression you think the [cat was involved?

Not really. I don’t know. It’s just weird, isn’t it?

Have you been back home since then?

No. I’m afraid, sir.