Screams rang out from survivors of the first wave, now being hunted by drones.

• Continued from Chapter 4

Two Hours Earlier

Anderson led his party to the lower level offices of the Capital Police leadership. Usually a rock under pressure, his hands struggled to unlock the door.

“You’ve got this.” Dr. Chase’s hand and calm tone was welcomed. 

Bob opened the door, and all entered. 

“FREEZE!” Private Charles Brown stood between the group and his chief.

“Chuck, it’s Bobby.” 

“Anderson?” Chief Walton Edwards had only been on the job as head cop for a week, but he had been at the Capital Building, and held every position on the force for twenty three years. Edwards’ hand lowered Brown’s aim to the floor. “Congresswoman Chase, are you OK? Congressman? Private, get the first aid kit and help Beaumont. You three must be part of the special Michigan delegation. Robert, what can you report? We have no contact with the outside. Phones, internet, even radios seem to be down.”

“It’s bad. Worse than any movie I’ve seen. I got a brief glimpse outside. Actual UFOs just burnt DC to a crisp – literally scorched earth. But something knocked them out of the sky. Doubt it’s a common cold. Something hit these things.  But now smaller – things – drones I think – unless the aliens are really tiny – these things are deadly. We saw one just destroy a man, close up and personal, without any respect for life. Like cattle mutilations. We saw hundreds, perhaps thousands, fly out of their mothership, swarming all over the city. It’s a death squad.” Bob started just reporting the facts but his terror grew as he had time to think. Training kept him focused before.  Now it took everything to not fall apart. If he survives this, major PTSD therapy is in his future. But for now, Semper Fi.

More screams were heard through the vents from the floors above.

Congresswoman Chase stepped in, “We need to gather weapons and resources and head below to the bunker. It’s our best chance to survive and make a stand. One way in and we can protect a narrow entrance way, should these things break through. We can collect as many survivors on the way, but our primary goal has to be surviving today. If we can get through the night we have a chance to regroup.”

“Chuck, signal the boys below, we’re coming down.” Chief Edwards turned back to Chase and Anderson. “Old school, we still have pipes and morse code.  Corporal Stevens’ team collected a few tourists, staffers and congressmen – sorry, ma’am, congress people – then made their way down. If I got the messages correct, we have not heard of anything from any Senators – yet.”

“We just have to get to the end of the hall. There is a secret passage to the bunker there.” Chief, who knew every inch of the Capital, gave a questioning glance towards the Congresswoman. “Sorry, Edwards, no one knows every secret. I’m sure you have a few I don’t know about this place.”

Bob helped Chuck fill a few bags with bottled water, snacks, first aid kit and ammo. 

“Do you know how to use this?” Bob handed Dr. Chase a glock nineteen.

“Liberal, yes, but I’m a Michigander.” She took the gun, removed the clip, checked the chamber, reloaded. “How many clips?”

“Based on what we’ve seen?” Bob pondered. “Not enough. Do you have the nuclear codes?”

He was only half joking. The time for levity was brief but welcomed. Edwards brought the team to order.

“OK. We have three trained officers and a bad ass Congresswoman to escort three teenage girls and Beaumont downstairs. It seems quiet but we have no clue what is on the other side of this door. When we open up, Sergeant Anderson and Private Brown will take the lead. On your signal, I will cover the left flank with Private Brown. Anderson will take the Congresswoman down the hall. The second you have your secret door open, we’ll send Beaumont and the girls. OK? Let’s go.”

Chuck slowly unlocked and opened the door. No hums. All other horrors sounded from above. He stepped into the hall to the left as Bob slipped behind to check the right. With the all clear signal given, The Chief took his place alongside Private Brown. Dr. Chase followed Bob down the hall. Once Bob checked around the corner, Margaret placed her hand on what seemed a random cinderblock in the wall. It glowed red as an AI voice declared “Dr. Margaret Chase confirmed, door opening”.

“Guess that titanium lined shield did the trick,” Dr. Chase was then hyper focused on her secret weapon. “Girls, now, let’s go!”

Chief Edwards added, “Help the Congressman.”

“Don’t touch me!” Dickie stayed true to form. “Stay away from me, demons.”

As the four civilians headed to refuge, Chief Edwards barely had a chance to consider Beaumont’s disdain towards the girls before screams came from just down the hall. As they went silent, a humming rose. 

When the drones turned the corner, Brown and Edwards opened fire. Edwards, turned to Anderson, “Go and shut the door. We’ll buy you as much time as we can.”

“But sir… “

“Bob, go, now! You have civilians to protect. You’ll be the ranking officer down there. Your job is to save lives. Do your job. Do you duty, Sergeant!”

“Yes, sir. Go with god!” Anderson ushered Dr. Chase and pulled the door shut. 

As they bolted the door from the inside, they heard Chief Walton Edwards scream, “You will not mutilate me like cattle!” 

Edwards pulled the pin from every grenade on his vest. He smiled thinking of every Hollywood movie that glorified this action. He started to laugh, but the moment was cut short.

As the blast shook the entire wing, Anderson took a moment to honor his commander, his friend, before turning to lead his party on, hoping that with every door they lock behind them, they are not sealing in their own grave.

• To be continued… Chapter 6: One Hour Earlier