Cherreads

Chapter 10 - The Great Flood

The group continues down the tunnel with Mitchell leading as he spots an opening with sunlight beaming down. A ladder is connected to the opening.

Mitchell: This is it.....

Kyle: You sure?

Mitchell: I'm no plumber, but I say we've reached the end of the lie.

Mitchell climbs up the ladder and presses on top of the opening as he slides the male hole seal off. Mitchell pulls himself onto the surface, and helps Walter up. The two then help Sarah up, as she helps Beth up. Caleb is after Blake, then Nathan, Billy, Zed and finally Kyle. Zed closes the hole up as the others look at the massive dam of Fontana Dam.

Mitchell: Ladies and Gentlemen....Welcome to Fontana.

Fontana Dam is still in standing shape, but a giant crack with water leaking from the crack.

Sarah: And it's still standing with that big damn crack.

Zed: That's because we haven't exploded the dam yet.

Mitchell: Yeah...the locals back in the day built it up nice before the war.....but it looks like we can crack it.

Kyle walks up to Zed.

Kyle: Uh.....we?

Zed: Yeah, "we". We're gonna blow the dam up. The Water will flood the tunnels and drown most of the Ghouls.

Billy: Yeah, and us.

Walter: Yeah, that's fuckin suicide! I'm kind of not ready to die yet! Especially not by drowning.

Kyle: Yeah, I agree. You're gonna kill us and the Skinwalkers.....

Blake: Not if we avoid it.

Beth: How the hell do we avoid it?

Billy: Let alone not get caught in the wave? This structure is unstable.

Zed: By not being in the explosion.....simple....plant explosives and get away from the dam...

Sarah: How do we explode it?

Zed pulls out a detonator.

Zed: With this....

Mitchell: Yeah, we just gotta plant the C4 at the weak points..

Nathan: I don't like this....

Kyle: Neither do I.

Mitchell: This is the only chance we'll get.....if you guys want to bail, it's your choice....

Nathan talks to Kyle.

Kyle: what are we thinking?

Nathan: Part of me is thinking we should've left for Fort Warren when we had the chance.....

Kyle: Well....there's no turning back now....we have to do this, man....

Nathan: I know, but I'd feel more better if Sarah was home with Ashley....I'd rather have myself drown and not take her with me....

Kyle: This can work....I hope....

Kyle yells to Mitchell.

Kyle: Mitchell.....How long is this gonna take?

Mitchell: About a few minutes tops.....you know; why don't you take the guys and find those bombs, while Zed and I see what kind of shape the dam's in? It's still running power.

Zed: Well, actually, you can deal with this. (To survivors) I'll give the guys some cover.

Zed leaves with the others.

Mitchell: Hey, dude, shut the door. I don't want any of the Skinwalkers to spot me.

Zed: Sure.

Mitchell: Oh, here's the detonator. Just in case.

Mitchell throws his detonator to Zed, who catches it. Mitchell gives a thumb up as Zed closes the door behind him.

Mitchell: All right...let's see what type of shape you're in....

Mitchell looks at the schematics and blueprints of the dam, seeing the last checkup was a few months ago.

Mitchell: Well, shit....this should be a piece of pie! 

Mitchell talks in radio.

Mitchell: Zed...the dam's about to crack...it's just going to take a big ass hammer to crack it.

On the structure of the dam, the survivors gear up to plant the C4 on the dam.

Zed talks in radio.

Zed: Got it, Mitchell..... We should split up in two's. Sarah, Walter, you're with Kyle. You're heading for the middle of the Dam. Billy, Blake, you guys plant the bombs on the left wing. Caleb, and Beth, you two plant the bombs on the right wing. Nathan, you're with me. We're going to try to plant the main flooding chambers. Give us the signal to detonate and get clear so I can detonate. Once we collect the bombs, we meet over on that hill.

Walter: God I hope I live to regret this.

The group splits up into their twos and walk with their guns out to their assigned wings. Caleb and Beth begin to plant two bombs on the right wing while Kyle, Walter and Sarah plant the other three bombs. Blake and Billy begin to wire the wires to the bombs. Mitchell continues looking over the blueprints of the dam. Suddenly, A noise gets Mitchell's attention as he looks outside. He notices a group of Skinwalkers heading towards the other survivors with Spike and Skull leading.

Spike: They're up there....let's go.

Mitchell backs away to the window.

Mitchell: Shit!

The survivors are just about done setting up the bombs. Mitchell calls on Zed's radio.

Mitchell: Zed? Zed, you there? Zed? Answer, goddamn it!

Zed picks up his radio.

Zed: Talk to me, Mitchell. We're done here. You heading up!

Mitchell: Can't! We got a problem. The Skinwalkers are here. There's an army of them heading your way.

Walter and Kyle look over the top of the dam's side and notice the small army of Skinwalkers either climbing up the wall or running up the stairs.

Kyle: Oh, shit!

Walter: Those Ghouls are coming.

Sarah: What?

Kyle: Billy! That sniper rifle got any rounds left?

Billy: Yep.

Kyle: Okay, can you provide us sniper support from the tower?

Billy nods.

Billy: got it.

Kyle: Blake, you cover him.

Sarah gets on the radio.

Sarah: Beth? Nathan? Can you read me? Josh?

Beth manages to hear the voice of Sarah on her radio. Beth picks it up off of her side.

Beth: Sarah, that you? What's up?

Caleb: What's she want?

Sarah: There's an army of Skinwalkers heading our way! Get back here ASAP!

Beth: Okay, thanks!

Beth puts her radio down.

Caleb: Who was that?

Beth: That was Sarah. She says the Skinwalkers are en-route on our position. We should....

Caleb looks at her, then something else as Caleb's eyes widen.

Caleb: Look out!

Caleb tackles Beth as a bullet hits the concrete. While on the floor, the two look at the bullet hole, then each other. The two smile just as Caleb tries to speak, but another bullet hits the floor. The two spot a Skinwalker holding a one-shot rifle as she loads up the next bullet. Caleb shoots at the Skinwalker, but hits the pillar instead. Caleb is then grabbed by the arm by Beth, who throws and pin him to the wall as The Skinwalker shoots again.

Beth: Hey, just stay calm.

Caleb: Fuck! Stay calm?! We're fucking pinned!

Nathan hears the gunshots and turns to Zed.

Nathan: Zed! Zed!

Zed turns around.

Nathan: We may have trouble.

Zed pulls out his gun and points it behind Nathan.

Zed: Behind you!

Nathan turns around and is grabbed by the throat by Hammer. Zed tries to shoot; a stray bullet hits him in the shoulder as he turns around and shoots the Skinwalkers behind him. Hammer throws Nathan, as he lands on the floor. Another group of Skinwalkers appear and shoot at Zed, who takes cover. Scarecrow appears steps on Nathan's chest three times, but Nathan's pulls out his knife from his socket and stabs him in the foot. Scarecrow cries out, and then looks at Nathan with an angered look. Scarecrow punches Nathan in the face and tosses the knife away. Nathan then punches Scarecrow in the face, causing his grip on his chest to wither as he backs up in pain. Nathan gets up and tackles Scarecrow. Nathan lands brutal punches on him. Walter, Sarah and Kyle are holding off the squad of Skinwalkers in front of them. Kyle, Sarah, and Walter are killing most of the Skinwalkers, while Billy and Blake kill most of the Skinwalkers while using their sniper rifles. A Skinwalker continues to shoot at Beth Caleb. Beth looks over the side, before she then looks at Caleb.

Beth: Watch out for me, Caleb.

Caleb: What?

Beth: I'm going to get the advantage.

Beth climbs over to the side, as Caleb grabs her hand.

Caleb: Uh...are you fucking crazy?!

Beth: I'm going to go get the advantage.

Caleb: No, you'll fall off. You could get hurt or...or

Beth: Please....just keep her busy....

Caleb: Okay, yeah, we go with your idea.

Beth: Keep her busy.

Caleb: Have you done this before?

Beth: Of course...

Beth looks down and gives a shuddering exclaim.

Beth: (quietly) I wish....

Beth hangs on the side with her hands, and skivvies to the left. She slips at one point but manages to catch her grip. The female Skinwalker moves in as Caleb holds his shotgun behind cover. Nathan knees Jackal in the stomach and punches him, knocking him in the wall. Nathan looks at Zed, who opens fire on the Skinwalker squad.

Nathan: Zed!

Blood jumps down behind Nathan. Zed looks at Nathan.

Zed: Nathan, behind you!

Nathan turns around with his gun in his hand, but Blood grabs his hand, and uses a back fist to stun Nathan. Scarecrow gets up and punches Nathan in the face. The two then take turns beating Nathan. Blood is the last to take a punch at Nathan. Nathan falls to his knees as he spits up blood. Blood pulls out his gun and points it at him. Scarecrow kicks Nathan in the stomach.

Scarecrow: motherfucker broke my fucking nose!

Zed points his gun at the two, but Hammer grabs his hand and crushes the gun. Hammer picks up Zed by the hand, before Hammer laughs. Mitchell continues to hide in the room, until he accidently knocks down a wrench.

Skinwalker: Hey, you hear that?

Skinwalker: Yeah, I think it came from in here.

Two Skinwalkers enter the room, as Mitchell readies himself and then throws himself onto the first Skinwalker, grabbing his rifle. The door slams behind him, knocking the Skinwalker behind him out. Mitchell and the Skinwalker struggle, until Mitchell kicks the Skinwalker in the chest, knocking him to the floor. Mitchell aims his rifle at the Skinwalker, but he kicks the rifle into the air, firing some stray rounds. The Skinwalker then gets up and grabs Mitchell's head and bashes it into the steel. Mitchell breaks free and punches the Skinwalker in the face. Mitchell punches him again, but the Skinwalker blocks the next punch and knees him in the stomach. He then uppercuts Mitchell before punching him twice in the ribs. Mitchell then punches the Skinwalker in the face and then backhands him. The Skinwalker throws another punch, and Mitchell punches him again. Mitchell then grabs a wrench and hits the Skinwalker in the temple with it. Mitchell then hits him on top of his head. The Skinwalker falls to the floor. Mitchell gets on top of him and begins to pummel the Skinwalker to death. Mitchell throws the wrench to the floor.

Mitchell: Asshole.

Kyle, Sarah and Walter finish off the last of the Skinwalkers attacking them. Kyle laughs as he gives a thumb up to Billy. Billy laughs.

Billy: Easy as cake.

Walter: All right, let's get the hell off this thing and warn the others.

Sarah: Walter! Up high!

Walter and Kyle look up to see Skull jumping down. Skull kicks Walter as he slips and falls on the side of the dam. Skull then punches Kyle in the chest, knocking him on his back. Sarah attempts to shoot Skull, but Spike jumps down and grabs her, throwing her to the floor. Spike moves in on Sarah, who suddenly backhands Spike. Spike recovers from the strike and grabs Sarah by the throat. Sarah punches Spike in the ribs, before Spike throws her into the wall and punching Sarah. Skull swings at Kyle, who dodges and punches Skull twice.

Skull: That the best you got?!

Kyle attempts to punch Skull, who blocks the strike and grabs Kyle, head butting him. Skull then punches Kyle, before Kyle dodges a strike, punching Skull in the ribs and the face. Skull backhands Kyle, before ramming him into the wall. Billy tries to get a shot at Skull.

Billy: C'mon, Kyle.

Blake: Billy!

Suddenly, a stray bullet hits the concrete as Billy ducks. Billy drops the sniper rifle and grabs the lying assault rifle next to him as a squad of Skinwalkers converges on his position. Billy and Blake open fire, hitting four of the Ghouls. The two take cover after being shot at. Skull throws Kyle away as Sarah is tackled by Spike. Spike manages to punch Sarah twice, before Sarah maneuvers and pummels Spike into unconsciousness. The female Skinwalker finally moves onto Caleb, who springs up with his gun aimed at her as Caleb pulls the trigger, but a click is heard. Caleb shoots again but the clip is dry.

Caleb: Shit...

The female Skinwalker smiles and aims her rifle at Caleb's head.

Female Skinwalker: That was nice.....but not great.

The female Skinwalker is suddenly grabbed by Beth. Caleb puts the 12 gauge in his holster on his back before he grabs the female Skinwalker's rifle as she shoots some stray rounds in the air. The female Skinwalker head butts Caleb. As he stumbles backwards, the female Skinwalker gets one of her hands from and elbows Beth in the face. As Beth is kneeling on the ground, the female Skinwalker aims her rifle at her, but Caleb uses his 12 gauge to whack the female Skinwalker in the back. The female Skinwalker turns around and aims her rifle at Caleb but he swings again and knocks the rifle out of her hands. The rifle falls over the dam and into the river. Caleb swings but female Skinwalker dodges and punches Josh in the stomach. The female Skinwalker then uppercuts him and punches him in the nose. The female Skinwalker turns around as Beth gets up and backhands her, before Beth throws her head into the wall and tosses her over the dam to her death. Beth spits.

Beth: Bitch!

Walter still manages to hang on to the side of the dam.

Walter: Kyle! Sarah! Is anyone fucking there?! Hanging for my fucking life here!

Kyle is grabbed by Skull by the head and he bashes him against the concrete. With Kyle lying on the floor, Skull attempts to kick him, but Kyle blocks the kick. Skull attempts to kick again, but Kyle grabs his foot. Kyle twists his foot, causing Skull to cry out and back up. Kyle gets up and punches Skull in the face with haymakers. Skull blocks the third punch and knees him in the stomach, shortly lifting Kyle into the air. Skull then hits Kyle in the back while he is in the air, knocking him flat onto the floor. Walter's grip on the edge begins to wither.

Walter: Ahh! Fuck! Help!

Sarah punches Spike unconscious, before springs up and looks at the edge, running to Walter's aid. Sarah then leans forward and spots Walter.

Sarah: Walter! Hang on!

Sarah reaches out her hand to Walter.

Sarah: Give me your hand! Walter! Give me your goddamn hand!

Walter reaches out, but cannot reach the length of her hand.

Walter: (straining) shit! I...I can't! I can't reach!

Behind Sarah, a beaten Spike sneaks up behind Sarah, preparing to stab her until Walter calls out.

Walter: Sarah! Look out!

Sarah turns her head and dodges as Spike continues to attack Sarah with her blade. Meanwhile, Nathan and Zed are being held hostage by Blood, Hammer and Scarecrow.

Zed: You can go ahead and kill us. I'd rather die like a man, than an animal.

Blood: Oh, trust me. You will die, but first....

Blood smiles and makes eye contact with Scarecrow.

Scarecrow: We're gonna play a little game.

Nathan: What ? A little Russian roulette? 

Nathan laughs.

Nathan: Fucking cowards

Hammer kicks him on the back and Nathan groans.

Hammer: Shut the fuck up and learn, cocksucker!

Scarecrow: Hammer....

Scarecrow looks at Nathan and Zed.

Scarecrow: We technically are going to play Russian roulette, but....

Scarecrow pulls out revolver and unloads five of the bullets.

Scarecrow: We're gonna play it with two guns.

Scarecrow nods to Blood as he himself pulls out a revolver and unloads five of the bullets. Scarecrow grabs Nathan's right hand and puts the revolver in his hand as Blood puts a revolver in Zed's left hand. Nathan and Zed look at each other.

Zed: what the fuck is this?!

Scarecrow: It's real simple...one of you lives, if the other shoots the other, but not fatally. We'll kill whoever is shot, and whoever shoots first, we'll let go.

Nathan and Zed give shocking looks. Nathan looks down.

Nathan: Fuck that.

Zed: We're not killing each other.

Blood: Okay, then you both die.

Blood raises his gun, but Scarecrow grabs his hand.

Scarecrow: No, no, no.

Scarecrow turns to Nathan and Zed.

Scarecrow: Boys, it's survival of the fittest. So I'll have you make a decision or in ten seconds, you both die.....Ten...Nine....

Nathan and Zed breathe uneasy and in hesitation.

Nathan: Zed....we don't have a choice.

Scarecrow: Eight.....Seven...Six....

Zed: Nathan, please, I-my family...my little brother...niece and nephew, man.

Scarecrow: Five.....Four...

Zed: They need me.

Scarecrow: Three....Two...

Nathan: We each only have one round.

A moment.

Scarecrow: One

Nathan and Zed look at Blood, Hammer and Scarecrow. Blood readies his gun.

Jackal: Sorry, boys....but-

Nathan looks at Zed.

Nathan: Zed....

Zed turns to Nathan.

Scarecrow: you both...

Blood raises his gun at Nathan.

Scarecrow: Must die.

Nathan: I'm sorry.

Blood prepares to pull the trigger, until Nathan raises his gun at Blood. In a tense moment, Nathan then aims his gun at Zed's leg and shoots as bullet hits Zed's leg before he falls on the ground screaming. The Skinwalker's cheer in happiness as Nathan stand as s shocked at what he had just done.

Scarecrow: Oh! 

Scarecrow laughs.

Scarecrow: Oh, shit! I did not expect this!

Zed: (groans) fuck! Nathan, why?!

Blood walks to Zed, and grabs him. Scarecrow walks up to him, and grabs his face.

Scarecrow: Why?! Why?! Because it's fucking fun! 

Scarecrow looks and points at Nathan.

Scarecrow: you're a man of understanding.

Scarecrow lets go of Zed's face and begins to take punches at his stomach. Scarecrow backs up after the final punch and signals Hammer, who walks over to him and punches both his knee caps, causing Zed to kneel. Blood grabs a bottle of gasoline from his holster, before he begins to pour it all over Zed. Nathan gives a ashamed and saddened look. Blood hums, while pouring the entire bottle of gasoline on Zed, as he throws the bottle on the ground. Scarecrow grabs a cigarette and puts it in his mouth. He lights the cigarette and then hold the lighter in his hand. Zed begins to cry as he looks at Nathan.

Zed: Nathan....don't do this....please.....

Scarecrow, still holding the lighter, looks at Nathan.

Scarecrow: Nathan...do you have any final words?

A moment. Nathan looks at the Skinwalkers, noticing the detonator on the floor. Nathan then looks at Zed.

Nathan: I'm sorry.

The Skinwalkers smile and laugh. Scarecrow looks down at Zed, who is still looking at Nathan.

Zed: May God have mercy on your soul, you bastard.

Scarecrow drops the lighter on Zed. The flame lands on top of Zed, as he is engulfed in flames. Zed screams as he rolls on the floor burning. The Ghouls laugh as Nathan begins to skid around them while they are distracted with Zed rolling around on fire.

Blood: Goddamn, we have our own barbeque!

Hammer sniffs.

Hammer: Mmm...mmmm...mmmm! Smooth skin grill!

Kyle tries to stand up, but Skull kicks him in the face. Kyle lies on his back as Skull gets on top of him and begins to punch Kyle in the face. Walter is losing his grip as Sarah holds back Spike's attack. A group of Skinwalkers are trying to get into Mitchell's location. Mitchell checks his clip and notices his clip is almost dry. Caleb and Beth are seen moving into the gunfight as Blake is out of ammunition as he tosses his gun away.

Blake: I'm out of ammo!

Billy: I'm almost of out of ammo too.

Billy is running low on ammo, as the Skinwalkers move in. Hammer turns around and notices Nathan missing. He looks around and notices Nathan, almost at the detonator.

Hammer: Hey!

Nathan turns around as Hammer lunges at him. In slow motion, Nathan lunges at the detonator and presses the trigger, before Hammer can grab him. The C4 pressed on the dam explodes, breaking the dam. Nathan and the Skinwalkers are knocked aside. Spike is knocked down by the explosion as Sarah head butts Spike and stabs her in the throat. Skull notices this.

Skull: Spike!

Spike, mortally wounded, stumbles and eventually tumbles off the side of the dam to her death. Skull roars and advances towards Sarah, who attempts to stab Skull. Sarah cuts Skull's wrist, before he backhands Sarah and grabs her by the throat, attempting to strangle her.

Skull: Die, bitch!

Kyle grabs Skull by the throat as the dam begins to spring water. Walter manages to get a grip with one hand while Skull stumbles off of Sarah and Kyle falls off of Skull. Mitchell ducks down as the Skinwalkers on the other side of the door are knocked aside. The Skinwalker's engaging Billy and Blake are killed by the debris as Billy and Blake jumps into the corner. Water begins to leak from the cracks on the dam. Kyle jumps on the floor and yells down to Walter.

Kyle: Walter, you gotta jump up now!

Walter pulls himself to the ledge, and presses his feet on a stump. The Water begins to spring out. Walter pants three times and pulls himself into the air. Walter reaches out his right hand as Kyle grabs him. Kyle slams into the wall as Kyle grunts.

Kyle: Fuck! you're heavy!

Walter: Motherfucker, just hang on to me!

The entire Dam cracks as the water flows through with debris shifting with it. The platform that Kyle, Sarah, Walter and Skull are standing on begins to shift. Skull stumbles and falls into the wave. Sarah turns around and notices the entire structure, shifting.

Sarah: Oh, shit! Kyle, get Walter up here!

Kyle pulls Walter onto the surface on the platform. The platform that Nathan and the Skinwalkers are standing on splits in half. The Skinwalkers platform falls into the wave. Nathan hangs onto the wire, while his platform shifts. He looks down at Zed's lifeless and burnt corpse, before it flows into the dam. The platform Billy is standing on falls and he falls into the wave. Blake falls in as well. The platform Caleb and Beth are standing on gives away and shifts. The Skinwalker squad finally breaks through the door as Mitchell aims his pistol at them. The Skinwalkers aims their guns at Mitchell.

Mitchell: C'mon, motherfuckers.....!

The Skinwalkers look to the right and back away. Mitchell laughs and stands up. He then walks to the door. and stands outside the door.

Mitchell: Yeah, you better run! Don't ever fuck with the Midtown Manhattan!

Mitchell's smile turns into a frown as he hears the wave and turns around. His eyes widen as he spots the giant wave.

Mitchell: Oh, fuck me!

Mitchell turns around and hangs onto the pipes as the wave finally reaches him. Beth tries to run away, but is caught in the wave. The wave enters the room and sweeps Mitchell out. The wave gets into the tunnels and ultimately floods them, drowning the Skinwalkers. The giant wave carries the survivors.

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