First Wave [MAD]

I threw back the bed covers and ran to the window, thrusting it open, waiting… watching… listening. Silence and darkness greeted me as I stuck my head out of the bedroom window into the cool, damp spring night air. I stood there scanning up and down Summerset Street, waiting for the first signs of recognition to the call for action. Silence, dear God, there was nothing but maddening silence that seemingly turned seconds into minutes and minutes into hours. Waiting. Watching. Listening.

I dare not be the first. My part in all of this would be played out at a later date. I simply dare not be the first, for I knew what most did not.

“I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”, the rallying cry of the news caster, was a rouse. The trusted news caster seemingly getting irate on TV, urging everyone to throw off apathy and move into action was nothing more than a paid actor. The plan, nick named “First Wave”, was to get the everyday average Joe whipped up into taking action forcing them into the open without thinking of the possible consequences. But I knew… dear Lord… I knew.

As I continued to stand there scanning up and down the still silent and dark suburban neighborhood street, it was with a sense of relief that thus far no one had taken up the call to action.. These were my neighbors, my friends. These people with whom I’ve shared backyard barbeques, good times, bad times, accomplishments and defeats were good hard working folks, the backbone of this country really.

I hated myself for what I knew would happen to them if they decided to take the action they were being urged to do but I tried to warn them. I tried so hard. Is their silence an acknowledgement that they heard my thinly veiled attempts in the past to save them from what I knew was coming? “Oh please” I said in a barely audible whisper, “Oh please let it be they heard and finally understood that I was not some tin foil hat wearing nutcase”. And then it started to happen.

Soft light began appearing from living room windows, bedroom windows and front porches up and down Summerset Street. Next came the sound of windows being flung open, soon followed by the first cries of “I’m mad as hell…..”. First one voice then another joined and another until the silence of the night was shattered with the sounds of descent. They started pouring into the streets still attempting to wrangle on overcoats and robe’s over their night clothes all the while their chant growing louder, more urgent, more angry and more in sync with each other. It was this sudden blinding anger ‘they’ were counting on. The rouse worked.

“NNNOOOOOO” I screamed in silence as the reality of the situation that I had played out many times in my head hit me full force freezing me solidly in place, unable to move. It was not until I heard the troops spring into action from their well hidden locations that I myself was able to move once again.

I quickly left my perch at the window and grabbed the “disposable” cell phone I had purchased a while back just for the possibility of this day actually happening. There was only one other person who knew the number and as of yet he had not called. I flew down the stairs as fast as my legs would carry me. Thank heavens I had practiced this ad nauseum in the dark so my route would be second nature to me, no second guessing, less chance of a misstep or injury along the way.

I threw open the door to the coat closet remembering to close it behind me. I suspected I had about 10 minutes before the door to door searches would begin in an attempt to round up the rest of us who had perhaps not yet been awake enough to join the rally in the streets. Tossing the winter coats aside I tripped the switch to the hidden door and slipped inside, hoping that the mechanism I had rigged would slide the coats back into place when the hidden door was closed behind me. I moved deftly and with lightning speed preparing for what I knew my next step would be.

I was just adjusting the straps on the backpack when the phone vibrated in my pocket. Flipping it open the message simply read “Prepare 2nd wave. Meet at rally point #3”. Tossing the phone to the floor and driving the heel of my boot into it crushing it to bits, I hesitated only long enough to say a silent prayer for my friends and neighbors, who after months and months of trying to educate them as to what was coming chose to ignore me. “Don’t lose hope my friends, I will return with help. We know where they will be taking you and by hook or by crook…we will do what we can to save you because we are also mad as hell… we are refusing to ‘take it anymore’ and we refuse to give up”. And with that I headed off down the dark secret tunnel on my way to join with the 2nd wave.

reply to post by MyMindIsMyOwn
Nicely done!

S&F

reply to post by beezzer


Thanks Beezer! Appreciate the kind words... your's is pretty awesome too I think!

reply to post by MyMindIsMyOwn
Thank you! It's fun.

reply to post by MyMindIsMyOwn


Short stories is a forum that I don't visit frequently. Reading your piece will change that. IMO very well written and crafted, and thought provoking as well. I give it a 3 out of 3

Very well written. I like the many details. I think this is one you could build on. It would make a great mini series of stories. S&F from me.

Originally posted by usmc0311
Very well written. I like the many details. I think this is one you could build on. It would make a great mini series of stories. S&F from me.

Wow... thank you so much! Yeah the more I think about it the more I think I would like to take this a little further even if only for my own edification.

Well written.
S+F

Definitely continue, I loved it!

Bravo!

great story and very well written.
You have a real talent for this

Well i have just read it, and frankly i'm amazed. It leaves you a lot to think about. Very well done my friend well done.