Read Online A New World: Return by John O'Brien - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John O'Brien
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looked directly at targets when observing them but just off to the side. We definitely avoided looking into their eyes for the reason that this would trigger an even more intense feeling of being watched. Early on, I found that looking at targets caused them to turn and look directly at you as if they knew exactly where that energy was coming from. I can’t pinpoint any certain direction now but it is emanating from the darkness inside.
“Red Team, we’re heading inside. Don’t go any further than where the light fades into shadow and we’ll analyze it more from there,” I say as the flashlights arrive and are passed out. I can’t see very far inside but we should be able to make out more once we are in. The flashlights will definitely help. I can tell that the interior stretches both ahead and to the right as the entrance doors are on the left hand side of the building. Using the tape, we secure the flashlights to the front rails.
“Henderson, Denton, cover the right. Gonzalez and McCafferty, directly ahead. Rogers and Bartel, you’ll cover the right forward flank. I’ll be with Robert just behind,” I instruct the team.
“Hooah, sir,” they respond quietly.
“Lights on. Lock and load ladies and gents. The curtain is rising and the show is about to begin,” I say to the sound of selector switches being flicked from safe to burst.
“Go,” I whisper.
Henderson, followed quickly by Denton, slips in the door and moves quickly the right, both of them panning their lights around the interior. Gonzalez and McCafferty enter on their heels followed by Rogers and Bartel. They all come to stop kneeling right at the light/dark demarcation line shining their lights into the interior. Robert and I follow in with our guns up and ready to throw down a curtain of steel. The hush of the dark greets us. The only sound is the faint shuffling of boots and knees on the ground as everyone shifts positions. As everyone settles into their station, the silence is such that we can hear each other breathing.
The lights reveal a layout similar to any warehouse style store; a large open area similar in size to a medium Wal-Mart or Fred Meyer. The food is fortunately situated on our side of the store with the merchandise on the other side. Our lights can’t penetrate the full length of the interior so half of the store remains shrouded in darkness. I would call out to see if anyone is there but I do not want to overtly alert any night runners. I am sure they must sleep during the day, if they sleep at all, and I definitely do not want to disturb their slumber. Besides, any person staying here would already have found the others or would be outside during the day. Our lights in the store will alert anyone we were there. Unfortunately, that also means night runners. I find myself really wishing we all had night vision goggles. Radios for everyone, with throat mics, wouldn’t hurt either.
The aisles line up from front to back so our lights don’t really give us a clear view of everything. The lights from Henderson and Denton flash over a large aisle in the front of the store and the bank of cashier stands. The ones from Gonzalez and McCafferty show the first aisle clear but only penetrate a little way down the next aisle. The aisles seem to continue to the other end without a break which makes it easier for us and the goods on the shelves appear relatively undisturbed and fairly well stocked. Some items have definitely been taken but from the look of things, it was probably by the remainder of the personnel stationed here to sustain themselves. The strong odor of decaying food I remember from previous stores is absent. Most likely because the generators worked until this morning keeping the food items fresh. There is a hint of mustiness in the air that triggers unpleasant memories. The spots of light from our flashlights
“Red Team, we’re heading inside. Don’t go any further than where the light fades into shadow and we’ll analyze it more from there,” I say as the flashlights arrive and are passed out. I can’t see very far inside but we should be able to make out more once we are in. The flashlights will definitely help. I can tell that the interior stretches both ahead and to the right as the entrance doors are on the left hand side of the building. Using the tape, we secure the flashlights to the front rails.
“Henderson, Denton, cover the right. Gonzalez and McCafferty, directly ahead. Rogers and Bartel, you’ll cover the right forward flank. I’ll be with Robert just behind,” I instruct the team.
“Hooah, sir,” they respond quietly.
“Lights on. Lock and load ladies and gents. The curtain is rising and the show is about to begin,” I say to the sound of selector switches being flicked from safe to burst.
“Go,” I whisper.
Henderson, followed quickly by Denton, slips in the door and moves quickly the right, both of them panning their lights around the interior. Gonzalez and McCafferty enter on their heels followed by Rogers and Bartel. They all come to stop kneeling right at the light/dark demarcation line shining their lights into the interior. Robert and I follow in with our guns up and ready to throw down a curtain of steel. The hush of the dark greets us. The only sound is the faint shuffling of boots and knees on the ground as everyone shifts positions. As everyone settles into their station, the silence is such that we can hear each other breathing.
The lights reveal a layout similar to any warehouse style store; a large open area similar in size to a medium Wal-Mart or Fred Meyer. The food is fortunately situated on our side of the store with the merchandise on the other side. Our lights can’t penetrate the full length of the interior so half of the store remains shrouded in darkness. I would call out to see if anyone is there but I do not want to overtly alert any night runners. I am sure they must sleep during the day, if they sleep at all, and I definitely do not want to disturb their slumber. Besides, any person staying here would already have found the others or would be outside during the day. Our lights in the store will alert anyone we were there. Unfortunately, that also means night runners. I find myself really wishing we all had night vision goggles. Radios for everyone, with throat mics, wouldn’t hurt either.
The aisles line up from front to back so our lights don’t really give us a clear view of everything. The lights from Henderson and Denton flash over a large aisle in the front of the store and the bank of cashier stands. The ones from Gonzalez and McCafferty show the first aisle clear but only penetrate a little way down the next aisle. The aisles seem to continue to the other end without a break which makes it easier for us and the goods on the shelves appear relatively undisturbed and fairly well stocked. Some items have definitely been taken but from the look of things, it was probably by the remainder of the personnel stationed here to sustain themselves. The strong odor of decaying food I remember from previous stores is absent. Most likely because the generators worked until this morning keeping the food items fresh. There is a hint of mustiness in the air that triggers unpleasant memories. The spots of light from our flashlights
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