Escape

“What’s up?” Parker rushes into Haven’s security room, drawing in sharp breaths after the steep climb.

The subtle odor of gun oil hangs in the air along with burned gunpowder. The familiar scent doesn’t ease his anxiety as it usually does, brought on by William frantically announcing “Warning: red” through the speaker system in the compound. They are words Parker didn’t want to hear; they mean a hostile attack is in progress.

William Hess stands grounded in front of a multitude of screens displaying tiny pieces of the outside world: goats pace around a pen, earth-churned farm fields in the afternoon sunlight, lush forest, and a shaded stone-steepled church, to name a few. Not seeing anything amiss, his friend’s silence draws Parker’s eyes to the big-screen TV on the back wall. Ticker tape races across the bottom of the screen while a 24/7 news channel plays on mute. What’s on that screen takes Parker aback: a chaotic aerial satellite view of New York he hasn’t seen since 9/11, but this is different. The destruction isn’t confined to a few city blocks.

“It’s happening, Parker.”

He gazes at his friend’s stiff linebacker shoulders. “What’s happening?” Parker doesn’t need to turn around to know Donovan and Hoss are both entering through the nondescript door behind him. Their breaths come in quick succession, too, albeit slower and shallower than his own.

“You called?” Hoss asks.

William turns to them, the shock plain to see on his face. “The US is under attack.”