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~ 24 ~

 

 

The Coward’s Way Out

 

 

 

 


Date: May 29th, 1999

Time: 7:56 A.M.

Place: Philadelphia, Pa (9 days after the emergency landing)

 

 

+ Howie+

 

 

 

I stood behind the trees just as they came into view. Every bone in my body wanted me to just run and get the hell away from there. Nick told me he’d be alright and to go find the guys. He gave me permission to leave him, but I just couldn’t do it. I’m really disappointed in myself for running away to begin with. This is the second time since we’ve been here that I have taken the coward’s way out.

 

The first time it happened was a few days ago at the warehouse. Ironically it was just Nick and I then too. We were down in the basement. It was my turn to baby sit him while the others along with Charlie and Larry, concocted the plan that would get us out of here and into New York.

 

I was sitting on a folding chair as Nick slept on the cot when I heard a lot of rustling coming from above us. I remember standing up and walking towards the steps but just like now, every bone in my body was telling me not to go up there and check it out. If it was something that important, they would come and get us. So, I just stood, staring at the door and praying it wouldn’t open anytime soon.

 

Just like now, as the men holding guns walked closer to Nick, I stood here staring as if I was watching an action movie. I looked around for something to use as a weapon if it came to that but the only thing I could find was a rock. It wasn’t even that big or sharp and it definitely wouldn’t help me fend off the three people who were now surrounding Nick.

 

One of them walked over to him and bent down beside him. “What’s your name?”

 

Nick remained surprisingly calm, “Tony Donetti.” He said without any hesitation.

 

“We need to see your ID, Tony.”

 

“I lost it.” He answered sounding really tired and weak.

 

“Where do you live?”

 

While he was being interrogated by the one guy, the other two began looking around. I stepped backwards and hunched as low to the ground as I could get.

 

“I kind of roam around, my place was destroyed.”

 

“You by yourself?”

 

“It’s just me.”

 

“How old are you?”

 

“21.”

 

“You don’t look 21.”

 

“Everyone says that.”

 

I heard footsteps coming towards me. It was clear that they didn’t believe he was by himself out here. My grasp on the rock tightened. I would have to hit one of them directly in the head if it came down to that. Just like I thought I might have to do when that cellar door actually opened up at Charlie’s.

 

When the door opened, I jumped out of the way and moved into the shadows. It was pretty dark down there so there was a good chance I wouldn’t be seen. By the time that door was opened, I knew something horrible was happening. At first I couldn’t make out what it was, it actually sounded like someone was letting off firecrackers. I realized after hearing too much of it also accompanied by screams, that it was gunfire.

 

I never once thought to wake Nick up, not that he was sleeping either. At that point he was just lying on the cot with his eyes wide open. I didn’t pull him to safety, just thought about myself.

 

It had all happened so fast that day. First the basement door opened and then a bunch of people came running down the steps. I had grabbed a broom and was ready to hit the first one down but thankfully I stopped myself just as Kevin said “We have to leave now!”

 

I had dropped the broom as the others made their way down the steps, Charlie and his brother the last ones before closing and locking the door behind them.

 

“What happened?”

 

Brian had pulled Nick off the cot as Don and Charlie broke the small windows that led to the cars out back.

 

“Not sure how, but they found us. We don’t have much time.”

 

Don stood by the window as we all one by one used his interlocking hands to help boost us to safety. Larry and Alan were sitting in one of the vans with the door opened and as we came up out of the basement window, they made sure we all got into the car.

 

We didn’t have much time before those back doors opened and a bunch of guys with guns came barreling outside taking aim at the van just as Don started it up and we drove away.

 

It very easily could be the same men that were out here with us now.

 

“We saw someone else with you. Where did he go?”

 

Crap, I knew they saw me. I swallowed hard just as one of the other ones started walking very close to my hiding place.

 

“When I hurt myself, he left me here. He said I would just slow him down.”

 

Maybe he really believed that. It made me sad.

 

“Well, you’re going to come with us so we can verify your story.”

 

The guy, who was kneeling beside Nick, grabbed him by his shirt and yanked him up.

 

“How are you going to do that?” I was so impressed with Nick. There wasn’t even an ounce of panic in his voice. I was hoping it was bravery and not just him giving in to the situation. Sometimes it’s hard to tell those differences.

 

 Just like in that van with the Eppe’s family, and Larry, at first I was pretty sure it was determination I had witnessed, only to find out it was something else.

 

“Where’s Amita?” I had asked once it seemed we were safely out of harm’s way.

 

There was a few minutes of silence followed by a, “She didn’t make it.” from Don as Charlie just stared out the window.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“Who were those fucking people?” AJ asked. He was sitting right beside me.

 

“We’re not really sure.”

 

“How can you not be sure?” Kevin asked while looking over at us making sure we were all okay.

 

 

“We heard they were just people like us working for the enemy in exchange for food and clothes.”

 

“Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with this place?”

 

“Are we heading towards New York?” I asked, hopeful that maybe we were just one step closer to ending this nightmare.

 

“You are.” 

 

“What do you mean? Aren’t you coming with us?” Brian asked. It’s sad that I didn’t care as long as we were going to be out of harm’s way.

 

“My fight is here. My father and brother will go with you.”

 

“Don’t be stupid, Charlie!”

 

“I’m not being stupid, Don. They just killed Amita and pretty much everyone else!”

 

“If you go back its suicide, you know that!”

 

“I don’t care!”

 

“Well, then we’re all going back.”

 

“No!” When they all stopped and looked at me, I tried to salvage my cowardice. “I mean, what good will that do?”

 

“So you’re saying if someone killed your fiancée, you’d just leave them be and run?” I’m sure he didn’t want my real answer so I lied.

 

“No, probably not.”

 

“Well good, because I’m not going to either. My brother is going to drop me off here.”

 

“No, I’m not.”

 

Charlie banged on his window with so much force that it actually cracked. Don stopped the car and my heart stopped as well. Right then I knew we weren’t going anywhere. All hope of getting to New York was gone.

 

They both barreled out of the car and off the side of the road arguing. “My son is giving up. He just wants to go back and sacrifice himself.” Alan whispered as he watched the scene between his two sons unfold.

 

“Don will make him change his mind, Alan.”

 

He looked over at Larry and smiled, “and just when I thought you knew Charlie better than I did.”

 

None of us said anything because we all felt like it wasn’t our place, so instead we just watched as Don and Charlie hugged each other. The younger brother was weeping into the older one’s shoulder. I felt bad for ever doubting Don. This place was such a hard, cold place to see this much warmth was almost unheard of.

 

I would witness this kind of warmth a few days after this while watching Clara and Randy as well.

 

Don and Charlie walked back towards the car and got inside, “Here’s the deal…”

 

Just hearing those words made me brace for bad news and of course I was right.

 

“Charlie and I are going back. It’s up to you guys what you all want to do. Dad, I think you should go with the guys, make sure they get to New York. Larry I think you should do the same.”

 

“No, if the two of you are staying than so am I.” Alan answered, much to no one’s surprise.

 

“I am too. We’re in this to the end.” Larry didn’t sound as convinced but he was loyal I’ll give him that.”

 

Charlie nodded, “Are you sure there’s nothing I can say to change your minds?”

 

Alan reached over the back seat and placed a loving hand on his son’s head, “Where do you think you got your stubbornness from?”

 

Don handed Kevin the set of keys but he refused to take them, “No, you guys should keep the van. It’s too long of a walk for you. Drive us to a place where we can get a car.”

 

And that’s what he did. We drove for about another five miles until we came to a small parking lot of a grocery store that had long since ceased to exist. There were a few cars there.

 

“I’ll hot wire one for you.” Don got out of the car and walked over to a nice Blue Ford Escort.

 

While he did that Charlie was busy writing down a ton of information and just as Don came back to the van, he handed the notes to Kevin.

 

“This is everything you need to know about what to ask Matt when you get to New York. Just give him this letter from me first so he doesn’t think you’re crazy.”

 

Kevin nodded at him and then he went into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of pills. At first I thought they were for Nicky but I was wrong. “If the Star Troopers catch you, it’ll be bad. Take these pills. They’re painless. Otherwise you’re death won’t be.”

 

He held them out to Kevin for a long while but it was Brian who finally took them.

 

“Thanks, but we won’t need these.”

 

Charlie smiled, “Let’s hope not. I really wanted to see the look on Matt’s face when he found out about you guys.”

 

“We’ll take a picture.” I said, trying to break up the tension.

 

As we all got out of the car, I took one long last look at Charlie, knowing we’d never see him again. He saluted at me, which was odd and then a minute later they pulled out and left to go fight their battle.

 

“Think they’ll make it?” I heard Brian ask his cousin as we all crammed into the small Escort.

 

He didn’t answer.

 

My attention went back to Nick as he was being pulled along by two of the people with guns now.

 

“We have our ways of finding out and for your sake; you’d better be telling us the truth.”

 

If I was going to make a move it had to happen now, but once again I felt frozen in place. I wasn’t sure what kind of a move I could make exactly. All I would be able to do was bring attention to myself and Nick was way too weak to even run away from them. So, I stayed back and followed them as they walked past what used to be Clara and Randy’s shed and onto the main road.

 

The shed had been destroyed but there was no sign of the older couple anywhere. I didn’t have time to worry about that though. I just had to make sure that I didn’t lose Nick. Once I saw that big black van my heart sank. There was no way I’d be able to manage to keep up with a van.

 

I had to do something. I was running out of time.

 

They scooped Nick into the van and I could see that there were a few people in there. Maybe others from the neighborhood, maybe even Clara and Randy. I realized I was still holding the rock in my hand as the van started up. I tried not to think about anything as I ran full force and threw it at the window with all my might.

 

It managed to break the glass and also managed to make the van come to a sudden stop.

 

“Shit.”

 

I had no clue what I was going to do next as the driver got out. Maybe put my hands up in the air and surrender before they took aim. Luckily I didn’t have to think too hard because out of nowhere another van plowed into the one that Nick was in, running over the man who had gotten out of the car as it did.

 

I jumped out of the way as two people came running out of the van shooting at the other rebels as they all climbed out guns blazing as well.

 

I knew I needed to get to the van and make sure Nicky was okay but all I could do was just stand there and hope no one would think to shoot me. After a few minutes of gunfire, it all suddenly stopped. It looked like the two good guys had won, if they were good guys. For all I knew, they could be even worse than the bad guys.

 

One looked in the van while the other started walking towards me.

 

Once again I took the coward’s way out and ran until I heard my name, “Howie!”

 

I stopped and took a double take as Don Epps started running towards me.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

He looked past me, “Where are the others?”

 

“I thought you were dead.”

 

He smiled at me, “Don’t believe everything you hear.”

 

“Are the others in the van?”

 

I shook my head, “Just Nick. We got separated…”

 

Just then Charlie called from the van as he dragged Nick out of it, “We need a doctor. I’m not sure he’s going to make it!”

 

Don took off and I started to run but my paralyzing fear prevented me from taking another step forward.

Chapter End Notes:

I hope this one wasn't too confusing. I refuse to use *flashback* and kind of hope that my writing makes it easy to tell the difference between the two. Anyway, hope you enjoyed and I hope anyone in the path of Irene stays safe and sound! I made sure I got this update in before she hit! LOL thanks for reading!!