Fallen; Chapter II, Newcomers

II; Newcomers

I awake, yet I am dreaming
I walk, yet I do not move
I am amongst the living, but surrounded by the dead

I awaken, my eyes dancing around the bathroom In which I fell asleep, a short trip to oblivion, a short escape from a new life in hell.

Thirty odd children; I myself are cuddled up with Madeline, and Chad, the boy Karl attacked. Karl and a few of the older boys are talking quietly in the corner.

“Wha-“ I saw, and the four of them jerk to face me. I push Chad softly, making sure his head rests lightly on Madeline’s shoulders.

“You up, then Sarah? I don’t think its that early; some of the others might starting to get up soon.” I stand up, nodding, and walk over to him. He has a few of the Russian combat vests slung across his shoulder.
“Yeh, Im up,” I reply gruffly.
“your sounding calm for someone who just watched their school get blown to pieces.” I look at him, deeply.
“So are you,” I comment. He laughs, a coarse, deep voiced laugh.
“I didn’t loose anyone I cared about,” he says. “meet the boys, most of them year ten on eleven, were gonna go have a look outside, see if their still their. Bloody Koreans, and the Japs, too. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if their were a few Germans and those middle eastern blokes. Probably one of those conspiracies to bring us down.” Karl begins to get off track and the three boys come to shake my hand.
“Michael, I’ve met you,” says the first.
“Shane, it a pleasure.”
“Hey, your Sarah, right? Thomas is the name.”

I shake all of their hands in turns, and face Karl.

‘So you going, then?” I ask. Karl nods.
“Can’t stay cooped up here for much longer; have to start thinking about getting some foo, soon too.” I smile. Food, by the looks of them, his had his fare share. His bulk, his glasses, so nerdy… So… Un-leader like. And yet, he saved every man and woman here. Even me…
“Im coming too, then,” I say.
“No your not!” he says, a little to sharp and loud for my liking. He looks around; A young year five girl is beginning to stir. “I mean, I don’t want you to come- I don’t want you to get hurt-“he says hastily, but i interrupt him.
“I’m coming whether you like it or not, Karl.” He looks at me darkly, then, a smile lights up his chubby face. I look like the slender, blonde, girly girl you’d find in most schools. Actually, till yesterday, I was. But things have changed now, and I would surprise him about what I can manage.
“I like that,” he says, and he digs out a small, black, hand held gun from his jacket pocket.
“I presume you know how to use this?” he asks, and I nod. I’m not particularly happy with him, after attacking Chad and expecting me deal with him, but he is letting me tag along. after all.
“Isn’t it you just pull the trigger?” I ask. He shrugs.
“Pretty much, now…” He gives a year nine girl sleeping a slight nudge.
“Huh-“ she begins, but Karl covers her mouth.
“Where going, Susie. Look after the others.” She nods lazily. “Tell them were going to look around. They are not to leave the bathroom.”
“O.k., alright, just let me get some sleep.” He lets her mouth go, and she slowly droops back into another girls lap.
“Let’s go,” says Michael, and the four of us slowly open the creaking bathroom door…

Outside is quiet. Deadly quiet. The quiet humming off the crickets and one galahs low laugh is all that separates us from complete quiet.

“Shhhh...” whispers Karl, who takes the lead. I see he has given the vests to the others boys, he has only a large rifle at his shoulder, sacrificing his safety for others. He opens the gate leading to the outside world, the rest of the school, and waits till all of us our out. He closes it with a soft, metallic “Clang.”
“This way,” he murmurs, as he begins to creep around science block. Our group slowly creep around the walls of the science class, avoiding the bodies, the blood pools, the spent ammunition littered around the school. We walk for 20 minutes, maybe, before Karl gives us the clear, on the oval.
“You can talk now, all,” he says to us, an all of a sudden we begin to breathe freely.
We sit down in a circle on the oval, and Karl slings his vest off.
“Well, will you have a look at this?” Karl slips off a large, radio like machine off his vest. The Koreans must have had it.” I nod eagerly.
“Turn it on,” says Shane in a low voice. “Hurry up!” Karl looks at him coldly.
“Dont give me orders, ever.” Then he turns the radio on.

“Es gibt keine verließ. Sie sind alle tot.”
“Bist du sicher? Wir können irgendwelche, nicht eins, Nigel nicht lassen.”
“Krijgt u wat die kerels zegt is?”
“Negatief ga, terug aan huiskanaal?”
“Zeker, maar breng uw ploeg ertoe om de brandpost op Weg te controleren Gargnae.”

Karl switches off the radio.
“Any idea who the hell where dealing with?” We all shake our heads.
“Mighter been some Russian in their, I swear I got the number one in their somewhere,” offered Thomas. Karl sighs
“Nothing definite, then?” Karl asked.
“Sorry, nothing, but its not all Russian, either. I studied German at my old school, I swear thiers some German in their, too. It could be- Maybe a full on assault? By everyone!?” Karl laughs.
“In Australia? Sorry, mate, don’t think that’d happen.”
“But its happening.” I saw a flash out of my eyes, and instantly roll down the hill were sitting on.

“Get down!” I murmur, and the other three follow, except of course Karl. He stands.
“What did you see,” whispers Michael. I Nudge Karl, who is looking out into the bush.
“A man, someone, In the bushes; Hiding.” Karl starts to walk towards the bushes.
“No, Karl…” I whisper to myself, but he keeps walking, drawing a hand gun from his belt. What the hell is he doing…

He walks straight up to the fence separating the school from the mighty bush land, and scales it with one hand, the other firmly grasping the gun. He shoves the gun into a nearby bush, the barrel directly inside.
“Come out, boys, all three of you. Where not the enemy.”

Slowly, a big, Kiwi appears from the bush. I notice he has a bat in his hand- A blood covered bat.
“You heard the man, get up,” the odd kiwi says.

He is big, and muscle bound, dressed in rags and a white jacket. He towers over Karl, and yet Karl shows no fear. A born to be warrior, that Karl. Can’t fear, no mercy, survival the key instinct. Perfect solider. But you wouldn’t tell by his build.

Two other boys stand, a tall, chubby, a bit like Karl. Not a Kiwi. The other boy is built like the Kiwi, except looks Australian.

“Jump the fence,” say Karl, pointing the gun at the Kiwi. He obeys, jumping the fence. I get up to walk over their, Michael follows, Shane and Thomas soon after.
“Whats your name, cowboy,” asks the Kiwi, his back turned to Karl. His facing us, as we walk over to assist Karl. Karl smiles.
“Cowboy, hey?”

As quick a s a flash, Karl lunges out at the Kiwi, hitting him over the head with the butt of the gun, knocking him to the floor. I don’t know if his dead, alive, or unconscious. But he sure isn’t moving…

Karl turns to the other two boys. “Name!” he shouts, poiting his gun at the fat one.
“Ral- Raph,” he stutters. Karl turns the gun to the other boy, the tall one.
“And you?”
“David,” he replies, his voice calms. “So, the bloody Jap’s recruiting children, now, are they?” Karl shakes his head.
“Those bastards attacked this place last night. Thirty of us survived.” David laughs.
“What kinda super hero saved thirty kids from the bloody Jap’s. Jap’s killed all of us, didn’ ‘ey?”
“You talk like a drunk, brother,” says Karl. “Both of you, jump the fence.” Ralph and David jump the fence, and kneel down by the fallen Kiwi.
“Who is he?” I ask, as I had reached the fence line.
“Tristan. Names Tristan. Lead us outta that ‘ell hole, and right into another one. Damn him, I say.”
“Pick him up,” says the other boy, Ralph. “His one of us, isn’t he?” Tristan sighs.
“Yeh, he Is, and we cain’t afford to lose any more soldiers, can we?” The two boys pick up the big Kiwi, who is unconscious, I can see now, and begin to drag him back to cap, the bathroom, following me and the others up the front. We slowly begin to walk back to the bathroom where the others await. We pass the car park; Only one or two flashy cars remain, the rest stolen or burnt. And then we reach English block.
“What the-“ begins Michael. “What the hell is that?” I look out to the distance; The enlgish block is built inside a hiil, and outside of it is a long, grassy meadow, where me and my friends used to hang out.
“That,” said Ralph. “Is what the Jap’s like to do to their victims.”

Maybe thirt odds pikes stick into the grassy meadow, and on each of those pikes….
“Heads,” I bloat out, disgusted. One of them look like they could belong to a third grade-
I vomit onto the floor, the stench consuming me, the sight making me hurt, making me cry, making me loose faith in all that is good and wrong.
“A moral raiser for them, a put down for us,” murmers Karl. “Lets just go around…”
“The sick-“
“I SAID GO ROUND!” he roared. “Just let it go.” He turns his head from us. I spot a tear running down his cheek. “Let is go…”

We walk for minutes taking as much time as possible, and finally get out of the sight of the fence of dead souls.
“So,” says Kar, trying to stop his men thinking about the subject of the dead children. “Who has been attacking Australia? Who have we seen, so far? Who’s behind it?”
“The Russians,” I say. “Were sure about them.”
“The Germans, heard them to,” says Michael.
“Koreans, definitely saw some Koreans,” says Thomas.
“And the bloody Jap’s….” mutters David. “Damn the lot of them.”

The six of us wait for Karl to open the gate, and casually stroll in to the bathroom. Inside, Susie, the girl who Karl left it charge, was tenderly hugging one of the youngest children, telling them it was “Ok”. Everyone was awake; morning seemed to bring no hope, as all where miserable and in despair.

“Who’s this?” asks Susie, looking up at the kiwi and the two supporting him.
“Newcomers” murmurs Karl as he drops off onto the floor. “God Im tired…”
“Was their anyone out their?” asks a Year six, of which I don’t know.
“No…” he murmurs, has he shakes his large, flabby face.
“No Japs, no Germans, no survivors. It safe to go out, but don’t leave the school, stay with someone, and don’t bring attention to us. If anyone comes, run for help.” The survivors, the older and younger alike, start to shuffle out of the bathroom.
“Oh,” Karl adds, and all of the shuffling children’s head turn towards him.
“Stay away from the English block unless you wanna chuck.”

With that, the children leave the sanctuary Karl had provided and moved out into the real world. Or at least, a small part of it.
“Im gonna rest for a while,” says Karl. “You can all go, you’re cool.” Michael shakes his head.
“Were just gonna stay here for a while. Think things over,”

I didn’t leave the bathroom, preferring the company of those who remained. The boys who I had followed, the boys we had found. Karl, Shane, Michael, Thomas, David, Tristan and Ralph. We all didn’t move from our places in the small room. Why?

We all knew what was out their.