The Red X_Complete Edition Read online

  The Red X

  By

  Robert P. Sullivan

  © 2015 Robert Patrick Sullivan

  Act: I

  Prologue

  “Murderer… Thief… Rapist… That’s what I was called by the world. The day they locked me up the newspaper read ‘Justice is served.’ But now… The world is coming to an end. I saw it on the news, the infected are coming this way, and by my guess they should be here any minute. Cue the zombies!” The prison alarms started to blare. “Ah right on time boys, this is going to be a good show! My finest hour.” Jethro Davidson sat whispering to himself in his cell.

  The crack of gunfire echoed through the halls of the prison, and the men in their cages grew restless. “Davidson!” Burt Madison cried out from the cell next to his. “Jethro answer me.” He said in panic.

  Davidson reared his head back and turned his gaze toward the ceiling of his cell. “What, Burt?” He replied in a snide tone.

  “Is this it? Are we goin’ to break out of here?”

  Davidson got up from his bed and stretched his back. “Hold up. We have to wait for the rest of the actors to hit their mark.” He washed his hands in his sink, and took care to cup a small amount of water in his hand. He swirled it around, and waited for his moment.

  The door to the control room for the cellblock flung open, when two guards walked in. “Wait you’re not going to let these fucking psychos go?” said the older guard to the younger one.

  “I’ll say it again Jensen, these men don’t deserve to be left in here to rot.” He was trembling, as he put his hand on the cell release.

  Jensen stopped him by grabbing his shoulder. “I get that for the others we let out, but these men have a life sentence. They were put in here to rot! No good will come from letting them go Ben. Shit half of these men will probably just kill us as soon as the doors are open.”

  “That’s not true!” Jethro yelled out from his cell.

  Jensen shot a glance toward the cell. “Shut up Davidson! We all know that you’re one twisted fuck. Statutory rape is part of the reason that you are in here.”

  “She was seventeen, and she wanted it. You know in a lot of places around the world sixteen is the age of consent.” Davidson’s words came out seeming rehearsed, but they fell flat, as if he wasn’t sure about himself.

  “Oh what the fuck ever! If it was so innocent why did you murder her?”

  Davidson sunk his head into his left arm, and leaned against the bars. “It’s because… It’s because…”

  “What? Because she was threatening to turn you in because you got her pregnant?” Jensen shouted in his rage at the man in the cell.

  Davidson brought his right hand to his face as if to wipe away tears. “It’s because I was evil.” He took in a deep strained breath. “I knew that what I was doing was wrong… The thing was, I just didn’t care. I was only concerned for myself… I regret that I was that kind of person. I regret that I killed her… If I…” His voice quivered, but he took a deep breath to compose his words. “To be honest… if I were you I wouldn’t open these gates…” He lifted his face to show the water pouring down his cheeks. “Open the doors for anyone else, but let me stay here I deserve it.”

  Ben hung on Davidson words thinking them over, until he made a decision. “I’m letting him out.” He said, and walked over to the controls.

  “Wait.” Jensen stopped him. “Are you sure about this?”

  Ben looked over to the cell where Davidson had since gone back to his bed and sat down. “I’m sure.” He fiddled with the controls until the single cell door opened. Davidson got up from his bed and walked out of his cell. He inhaled deeply, savoring the air of a free man. He walked up to the control room over to the guards. Ben made his way to the door and opened it. “The exit is over there.” He pointed to the hall in the back of the room. “There aren’t any other guards left, they all left to see to their families.”

  “This is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me…” Davidson was grinning, and he wiped the water from his cheek.

  “Go on, you’re free… get out of he-” Ben was cut off by a pain in his gut.

  Davidson had thrust a shiv into the young guard. His clothes soaked with the blood, and dripped down off the blade. “And the dumbest.” He continued pushing him over and rushing Jensen. Jensen countered him with a punch to the side of the head, but Davidson had sunk his blade into the throat of his adversary. Jensen fell to the ground clutching his neck. “Fuck! You hit hard.” Davidson said and kicked the downed man in the ribs. “Well I guess not anymore.”

  Jethro rubbed the side of his head, before he set his sights on the control panel. He was giddy as he walked over to it, and started pressing the buttons to release his friends. “There’s one free man, and another, and another! It’s like Christmas!”

  Those who were loyal to him made their way to where he was at, when the other prisoners started shouting. “Hey what about us?” One cried out, and the cellblock began to roar.

  Davidson pressed the last button he had originally intended to and stopped. “You know boy’s, they have a good point.” He walked out of the control room to speak to the other prisoners. “What about you men? Do you want freedom?” The prison trembled at the sound of the inmates cries. “Hmm… how about this? Swear your fealty to me, and you can all go free? Huh? How about it?” The prisoners were silent. “Oh for fucks sake it means loyalty!”

  “Why would I want to take orders from you?” one voice called out.

  Davidson walked further into the hall with his hands raised as he addressed the men. “Look here boys, this is the end of the fucking world as we know it. Our slates are all wiped clean as soon as we strip these clothes off, and walk out that door. But what if we walk out there alone? What good does it do for us? We all go our separate ways, and then what. When society is made anew we get thrown back into a shit hole like this, or more likely just killed.

  No! I say that is not going to happen! Because if we stick together we can make society what We! want it to be. We can form it in our vision! I don’t promise a second chance… I promise power, wealth, whiskey, and women! No more shame because we take what we want, when we want. Why go out there and earn a new life, when we can band together and just have it now?” The inmates hung on his every word. “So… how does that sound?” The sound of their agreement was overwhelming. “Good!” Davidson yelled back.

  Davidson walked back to the control panel, but noticed that the young guard Ben was trying to crawl away. “Hold on a second!” he let his thoughts fly. “Drag him out into the cell block.” They did as he said leaving a smeared trail of blood behind the man. When they had laid him down where Davidson directed, he called out to the prisoners once more. “Alright before I let all you fine gentlemen out, I want to prove that I am for you! Consider this guards life for example.” He picked his face up from the ground by grabbing the hair on the top of his head. “We all know this man! Correctional officer Benjamin Cooper, he was good to some of us, and bad to some of us…”

  Ben Cooper begged. “Come on Jethro… I let you out… just have mercy.”

  “You hear that? He wants mercy, but I will let his fate be up to you! So what will it be? Do we let him live?” Davidson dropped his face back to the ground.

  The men raged out in unison. “No!” was their decision.

  “Aw you hear that Ben? I don’t have much of a choice now.” He looked up to his crowd. “Alright! It’s been chosen he dies!” Davidson took his shiv and stood over the bleeding man. “Hmm… Where should I stab you…? Here?” he said as he plunged the blade into his thigh. “Or how about the arm?” Again he dug into the flesh while he questioned. “Oh I know where.�
� He took the blade and started at the guards shoulder sticking it in, and dragging it down and across his back, then again on the other side, making a large ‘X’ out of the blood, which drug screams out of the guard during the entire process. “‘X’ marks the spot!” He yelled before he finally stuck the shiv deep into the spine right where the ‘X’ met.

  The crowd cheered as Davidson rose to his feet and held his arms up in their acknowledgement. “Open the gates!” he directed his men, and walked back to the control room.

  “You didn’t have to kill those guards Davidson. You could have just waited for them to leave, then came back and set us free.” Burt said quietly to him.

  “I know! But it was all just so, theatrical! I had to do it, and besides it really hammered down my point! These men know I’ll give them what they want now. So… open the gates!” One of his men went to hit the control, but Jethro stopped him. “Wait! If we let all these dumbasses out without some sort of marker we’ll lose track of who is on our side…” He looked out into the cell block. “I’ve got it!” Davidson walked back to the corpse of Ben Cooper. “Men we need a symbol! Something that says ‘This is us!’ Look here on this fallen man. We shall let this mark be our signifier.” He pointed to the bloody ‘X’ carved into the dead man’s back. “So that we know who is friend and who is foe. Let us don the red ‘X’ across our backs, and we will be united as one brotherhood!” The crowd cheered, and Davidson looked back to the control room, with a serious expression. “Now open those fucking cell doors.”

  Chapter 1

  50 years later.

  Two men approached a clearing in the forest silently. Jake Grumman was sixty five years of age although it didn’t show much. He was lean, and strong, the kind of man that lived off the land, not because he had to anymore, but because it was his way. The red streaks of hair that were present in his youth had faded to grey, leaving his hair mottled with a brown base. His face was intense, yet kind. He pointed out the buck between the trees.

  Dustin Miller was Jake’s grandson. If Jake was lean, then Dustin was leaner, but not lacking in strength for his age of eighteen. His hair was brown, and thick. He nodded to Jake acknowledging their prey.

  Jake slipped an arrow onto his bow string, and Dustin did the same. He held up five fingers, and tapped his wrist where a watch would be. Dustin nodded, and readied to loose his arrow. Five seconds passed and they released their shots in unison. The arrows struck the buck, and it whined in pain before collapsing to the ground. The men approached the creature, it was breathing long and slow.

  “Finish it.” Jake said handing a knife to his grandson. “And make it quick, I’m late.”

  Dustin did as he was told. He wrapped a rope around its neck to hoist it into a tree, in order to dress it. “What are you late for?”

  “I’m suppose’ to meet some man from the Aegis Historical Society. I guess they want some interview about my part in saving the town of Aegis.”

  “Oh so you’re going to tell them your life’s story?” Dustin was mocking, but in a playful way.

  “Yeah just about…” Jake felt all the memories coming back slowly, first the good ones… then the bad. “Bah! I don’t much care to tell it again.”

  “It really is a big part of the history of the town though. I think it’s a good thing that they want to document what you did for us.” Dustin threw the rope over a branch that looked like it could support the weight and began pulling the body up.

  Jake let out a deep sigh. “Yeah yeah alright. Let’s get this done first though.” He took a hold of the rope. After field dressing the buck they made their way back to Jake’s house.

  Barry Bradford sat on the hood of his car out front of Jake’s house. “Where is the old guy?” He said to himself as he rifled through his papers to triple check that he had the date and time correct.

  His gaze shot to the note on the door which simply said. “Out hunting, back by 3:00 at the latest.” It wasn’t even near three, but their meeting was scheduled for earlier than that, which only got him thinking that Jake had forgotten that he was going to be there.

  Barry had just barely turned forty, and was looking the part. He wore a cheap suit, and looked slightly disheveled. “Why am I still doing this job?” Barry questioned himself. There was little reason for him to remain in his position, but he knew it beat doing paperwork to try and get the job done. So he took a moment to enjoy the outside air. But his peace was interrupted by Jake and Dustin pulling up in Jake’s old jeep. “Phew! That’s a relic!” Barry called out as they pulled up to the house and into the carport.

  “Hey don’t insult the old clunker.” Jake jested back.

  “That wasn’t an insult, I meant it in appreciation. That thing has to be, what, a hundred year old?”

  “I don’t know, probably. It wasn’t mine before the fall, and it’s hard to find records on stuff like this. Anyway, Jake Grumman.” Jake got out of the car and held out his hand to shake Barry’s.

  “Barry Bradford, nice to meet you.” Although his tone suggested that he was annoyed.

  “Sorry I’m late, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Just you know, our little hunting trip ran long. Got a buck though.”

  “Yeah, it’s no big deal. It keeps me out of the office I guess.” Barry tried to act modest. “Dang though. Nice car!” Barry bent over to look at the grill. “Mind if I ask how it got this bullet hole?”

  “Oh, there’s a whole story behind that, I’ll talk about it later. I had to get the radiator replaced, but it runs great now.” Jake started to untie the Buck from the front of the car.

  “Hey, mind if I sit in it?” Barry asked.

  “Go ahead. We have to get this buck in the fridge anyway, so take your time. Oh, and this is my grandson Dustin Miller.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Dustin said, as he slung his bow around his shoulder and helped Jake pick up the buck.

  “Likewise.” Barry said and climbed into the old jeep. He looked it over, and even though it was well worn it was still sturdy. “They just don’t make ‘em like they used to.” He ran his fingers over the old seats feeling the nicks in the leather, and smiled. “I gotta get me one of these.”

  “Hey Barry!” Jake yelled from around the side of the house. “When you’re done come on inside.”

  Barry got out of the car. “Yeah, I’m comin’.” He grabbed his bag from his trunk and headed inside to see Dustin stepping out the door beside him.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow Grandpa?” He asked.

  “Well I don’t think I’m likely to finish the story today, I told them that over the phone. It seems you’ll be here tomorrow right Barry?”

  Barry was a little stunned. “Well if it really is going to take that long, then yeah.”

  “There you go, I’ve got Barry here to check up on me tomorrow.”

  Dustin nodded his head. “Ok, well I’m going to get going then, have a good day Grandpa.”

  “You too.” Jake turned to Barry while Dustin got in his car and drove off. “Good kid. Hell of a lot tougher than I was when I was his age… still, spitting image of me when I was younger. Well, except the hair. Mine had red in it.”

  “So you live alone then? That’s kind of dangerous.” Barry asked.

  “Well my house is sturdy enough to keep anything from breaking in.” He rapped at the bars on the windows. “And I have people come to check up on me, and leave notes and stuff, you know, little things make it possible.”

  “Yeah about the note, what was up with the time on that? Three? It’s only one right now.”

  “Oh yeah, I always give myself leeway in the notes, just in case there is a simple problem, you know like a flat tire. Anyway don’t worry about it, I’m here now, so let’s do this.” Jake showed Barry the way to the living room, and stopped in the hallway. “Dustin forgot his bow.” He mumbled to himself, when he saw it in the corner. “Anyway! You want a beer?”

  Barry shook his head. “Nah, I probably shouldn’t be drinking on the job
.”

  “Fair enough.” Jake grabbed a beer from the fridge for himself and sat down in his chair in the living room. “So what exactly are you here for?”

  “I’m with Aegis Historical Society, and we are trying to not only piece together what made Aegis a successful town after the fall, but what we are really interested in finding out is any information on the red ‘X’s.”

  Jake tensed up for a second. “Why would you want to know about them?”

  “Well they had big impact in shaping Aegis. And because of the refugee situation after their disillusion, some of the citizens are interested in preserving the history.”

  Jake rubbed his forehead, and took a drink. “You came to the right place then. Just let me know when you’re ready.”

  Barry took out a tape recorder and pushed the button to start it. He pulled out a note pad brimming with questions. “Ok first question.”

  “Hold on there.” Jake said interrupting Barry. “If you really want to know what happened you are going to have to hear the whole story. You might as well put the notepad away, because I should have the answer to all your questions.”

  Barry was a little frustrated that he was going to have to go through this old man’s whole story, but he took a deep breath, put away the notepad, and settled down in his chair. “Alright, we’ll do it your way.”

  “Well it started when the zombies destroyed the world.”

  Chapter 2

  Jake leaned back in his chair, and paused for a moment. He looked through the glass of the picture frames, gazing briefly at the faces from his past, each one bringing up the old memories, and he began to tell his story.

  “Everybody who was alive then remembers two days of their life clearly. The first is the day the disease started making zombies. People just couldn’t believe it, so they went about acting like it was nothing, just another bizarre news story. The second, is the day when the zombies destroyed their lives.

  I was not in the initial outbreak zone. I lived about seven hundred miles away in a suburb. So when we started hearing stuff on the television about a whole city being wiped out, it didn’t seem like it wouldn’t affect us. In school the day it happened, it was actually a pretty nice day. The faculty was horrified and stunned to the point that all they wanted to do was watch the news all day. They held some boring assembly about feeling sad for the victims of the event, but I was just a dumb kid who was happy my test got pushed back. That was the first day I remember about it.