Desolation

“Jesus and Mary, you sure do snivel a lot. You said that most of the supplies are either in Thompson’s beach house or the one across the street. That should be more than enough for us for a while.” Clyde was annoyed at having to explain himself, but he wanted the little pervert fully on his side so that he would continue to do things for him. It was a lot easier than threatening and looking over your shoulder. “Look, Judas, we kill two birds with one stone. We kill the Kings; we have full access to Thompson’s supplies. So, please hand me our presents. It’s Christmas in July.” He flashed a politician’s grin.

Judas shrugged, giving in, and reached into a box they had both hauled to the beach wall earlier. He took out two of the many bottles marked Jose Cuervo Gold with rags stuffed in the neck of each and handed them to Clyde.

Clyde eyed them like a child with new toys, only these were much more deadly than any toy ever given at Christmas. Turning them upside down, he watched the bottles’ contents wick into each rag. The pungent scent of tequila filled the air. Clyde figured he would find a use for this crappy tequila someday. He giggled at the irony of this. Every year he received a bottle of Jose Cuervo from the Kings around Christmas time. He wasn’t about to drink the stuff when there were so many good tequilas in Mexico. Why waste your palate on a bad one? Yet, he accepted each with thanks and stored them away, for what he didn’t know. Well, now was the time he could re-gift them their own tequila. “Okay, light me up.”

Judas flicked his disposable lighter a few times before a blue flame danced all over the top of one bottle. Clyde touched the other bottle to the lit one, and then took a few steps back judging weight and distance. He stood still, his muscles tensing, ready to release.

~~~

Bill removed all the screws of the bracket that held the plastic lip of the skylight in place, then climbed down the ladder and ducked into their safe room for a while.

“Señor Bill is smart, Señora Lisa. He goin to shoot dos men from da roof,” Miguel said, still training his gun on the spot where the two men had ducked behind the wall.

“Oh.” Lisa now understood Bill’s plan, but didn’t care for it one bit. “Yes, I’m afraid you’re right.” Trying to get her mind off it and relax a little, she forced herself to smile. “Congratulations on your new baby, Miguel. What is her name?”

“Ana, after Maria’s sister who—” He stopped and they both turned to see Bill coming out of the safe room’s doorway carrying another rifle like the one Lisa had, and a bundled roll of rope and poles. He headed to the kitchen, went back up the ladder, and proceeded to set up the rolled-up emergency ladder on the skylight frame, now open to the sky.

“Señora Lisa, sompin is happin!”

Lisa turned to see Clyde appear in the mouth of the beach-access stairwell holding a smoking object in each hand. He leaned somewhat backward, his left arm sticking straight back to the beach, looking for a moment like he was going to tip over. Then, like a mouse trap, he sprang, releasing whatever was in his hand. “Oh my God, Miguel, get back from the window!” Lisa yelled as she raced back toward the living room, desperate to put distance between her and the patio door. Miguel practically leaped after her. They all heard a bottle break against the wall followed by a whoosh. Only a couple of seconds later, a second bottle broke right outside the open patio door. Some of its pieces scuttled inside, sliding all the way into the kitchen. Another whoosh and…

“FIRE!” Lisa yelled. They all scrambled for the front door.

“Shit-shit-shit!” Bill let the escape ladder drop, landing beside the kitchen island, and he jumped off the A-frame. “Lisa, is it clear out front?”

“No, dammit.” Her face dripped with fear. “Lots of men with guns.” Then she spoke in a quieter tone, “Some across the street and one outside our window right here. Whatawedo?”

“Miguel, shoot a couple of rounds out the patio door. I’ve got another idea,” Bill yelled, already racing into the safe room entrance, and then disappearing into the garage.

Miguel walked into the kitchen. Pow-pow, he fired off two shots with Bill’s .45. Maria and Ana stayed with Lisa, crying as their panic grew. After a couple seconds, pow-pow, another two shots.

Bill appeared again with a much longer extendible ladder. “Miguel, go up first. I’m going to hand you this. Then Maria, then Ana, then Lisa, then me.” Bill took controlled breaths, trying to remain calm, pleased he wasn’t panicking. He watched Miguel scurry up the ladder, disappearing for a moment in the void outside, before reappearing to reach down for the extendible, which he grabbed and hoisted through the opening.

After the flames started eating their blinds and the ceiling above, the hungry monster unleashed by their neighbor reached into the dining room to consume its furniture.