The jeep continues to drive down the main road. Multiple people can be seen running with luggage strapped to their arms and shoulders. Cars overtake the jeep or came racing down the other side of the road at incredible speed.
“Crazy, it’s like the end of the world” Grace said.
“Isaac, over there.” Isaac yelps.
Jack turns to look up the driveway to see a number of The Hidden attacking a group of four young adults. One of their heads becomes severed as a Hidden slices its long-serrated fingers across his neck.
“I see them. Do we help them?” Isaac said with a panicked and shocked look on his face.
The others in the jeep look away in disgust but could not see the creature that did it.
“There’s too many of them. I’m barely able to lift my arm from fighting that last one.” Jack says, feeling guilty for his response.
Isaac slumps back into his seat with a remorseful look on his face. Jenny reaches her arm from the back of the jeep and touches Isaac.
“I know its hard Isaac. But you can’t help everyone.” Jenny consoles as a tear runs down Isaac’s face.
Jack uses the rear-view mirror to see Jenny and Grace both teary from witnessing what they saw. Such a strong woman Jenny is Jack thinks to himself.
The group continues driving until they exit the suburban area with the green trees slowly turning to small shrubs and the grass turning to sand. Jack knew they were heading towards the Mojave Desert.
Jack sees a big turn road with and then feels a tap on his shoulder.
“Turn up that road.” John requests.
Jack turns the car up the dirt road and they continue for what felt like to Jack another ten minutes.
The group pull up to the entrance of an abandoned industrial complex. Jack could see multiple buildings that were clearly abandoned due to the untidiness of the ground and the smashed glass windows. The car slows down to drive through an opened boom gate with a small security personnel box next to it and a large wall with barbed wire making the buildings now difficult to see as they got closer.
The jeep continues to drive down the long driveway until they reach a large central but rundown building approximately 6 floors in height.
“The complex is surrounded by 8-foot-thick concrete walls with buildings on each side. There is this north side and south side gate entrance. Inside that central building is a bomb shelter. I found it when I was younger and have been stashing things into it ever since.” John says as the jeep parks in a car park at the entrance of the central building.
“I love it Sir. I am going to call this Safehouse Bravo I think.” Isaac says with a smile on his face.
The group get out of the jeep and move to the front door. John pushes the heavy door open. Jack walks in with the group. The main door led to a hallway which Jack could see a set of two lifts in the center of the large building. On each side was offices with multiple desks that were partitioned using walls with glass.
“This must have been the industrial complex’s office. You said there was a bomb shelter?” Jack questions while peaking into one of the office rooms to see dusty desks and office chairs.
“Opposite the elevators. Follow me” John replies as he opens what looks like a cleaning cupboard.
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John picks up cleaning equipment and moves them out of the cupboard. He then removes a cleaning checklist poster that was stuck to the wall to reveal a small dial and handle coming out of the wall like a safe.
“8464 is the code.” John states as he pulls on the handle.
The door wedges open to lead to a set of stairs moving downwards. The group follow the stairs to be confronted with another but double the size.
“Same code as before. I think this is an airlock” John once again states after putting in the code and pulling on the door.
The group proceed through the door to see a caged elevator with a large chain going a wheel and then into the wall. Jack looked down but could not see the bottom due to the limited light.
“I think this building was an old weapons factory during World War 2. I have no idea why they abandoned it. But that explains this bomb shelter and the walls outside” John says as he began pulling on the chain.
John continued pulling the chain. The elevator manually descends slowly down until they were in darkness. Grace took her mobile phone from her pocket and turns on its torch. Jack could see that the elevator was reaching a thick metal floor. This can’t be it Jack thinks to himself.
The elevator got closer until the floor suddenly begins to part until there was enough room for the elevator to continue on. The group descends down to be met with another similar metal floor which also opens as they approached.
“Wow. Is this all run of that one metal chain?” Isaac questions.
“I think so Isaac. I think it has different gears and chains inside that wall there.” John responds while pointing to the concrete wall.
“What if it fails Dad?” Grace asks.
“There are two more just like this and another three ladders with ladder hatches leading to the surface.”
“This bomb shelter must be huge!” Isaac excitingly replies.
“You’ll see.” John beams in excitement as the elevator finally makes its stop.
Still in darkness, Jack looks to John who takes off a small lamp from the wall. John then pulls a lighter from his pocket and lights the wick. The room glows an amber light and reveals yet another large vault styled door.
“They all have the same code.” John says as he twists the circular dial.
“How do you even know it?” Isaac says in a curious voice.
“Like I said, I once explored here when I was about 17. Your age. One day I found a little book inside one of the cleaning buckets near the elevator. I think someone hid it there. It was like a diary from what I think was a military officer from back in World War 2. At the back of it was a quote that said ‘I changed the codes to 8464 and am the sole person now knows it as commanded.’ I gave them a go and the door opened.”
John pushes the door open. Grace uses her torch to shine the light down to what appeared to be a long hallway with multiple blast doors on each side.
“This is huge! Are you sure no one else will come looking for something like this?” Isaac blurts as he pulls out his phone, excitedly skipping down the hallway.
“I used to hide my car in one the factories on the surface. Many times, in the past I saw military vehicles pull up into the complex. The men went into the main office and then came back out. After they left, I checked to see if any of my possessions in here had been moved. They have also escorted other people off the property including myself. So, they know it is here. But I think they don’t have the door codes and have seen it as a waste of time to attempt to access this section due to how many doors they would need to get through. Well, that’s my theory anyway.” John responds as he escorts the group down the main hallway.
The group stop at a double door with the words ‘ARMORY’ written on it and underneath ‘AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY’ in smaller font.
“Here we are.” John says dialing in the code and then sliding the thick metal doors open.
Jack peers into the room to see on the left an array of military grade weapons hoisted in partitioned racks including various assault rifles, pistols and shotguns. On the right was a wall with a large range of melee weapons hung up, some not even from this era such as swords, maces, and rapiers and staffs.
John’s eyes gleam with pride as the group walk deeper into the armory. Jack notices a table with soft rubber grooves holding an assortment of various grenades. Further beyond that another table with what Jack believes was two large caliber sniper rifles.
“Fuck Sir. I though this would have the old World War 2 weapons.” Isaac says in amazement.”
“I’ve been collecting for a very long time.” John beams as he exits the armory.
Jack continues moving deeper into the armory to see various forms of body armor sitting on mannequins at the back of the room.
“Try on the body armor Jack.” Isaac blurts as he takes down a long old staff from the wall.
Jack grabs the chest armor off the mannequin and slides it over his body. He then grabs the boots and knee protectors, sits down and fastens it together.
“That looks great!” Isaac says with a gleaming voice as he twirls the staff around.
“Well. I guess welcome to Safehouse Bravo!” John shouts from outside the armory.