The class bell rang the following morning. Everyone shuffled off to their morning class. Astrid was lucky in her scheduling. Her first class was English and every one of her friends was sitting alongside her. Eret was the last to show just as the final bell rang. He walked down the aisles of desk to the one next to Astrid. He gave her a smooch and took his seat.
"Good morning class." Mrs. Gothi said.
"Good morning." The class echoed
Mrs. Gothi was a lovely old woman. None of the students knew exactly how old she was but most guessed she was somewhere between her eighties and eight hundred. She had thick grey hair and would often stand hunched over. She was the sweetest woman in the whole town.
"Please open your textbooks to page 394" she said, "Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Now whoever did the assigned reading please give a brief synapsis of the first chapters of the book."
Astrid raised her hand and Mrs. Gothi nodded to her, "The story revolves around a group of young boys who crash on an island. In the first few chapters the boys organize and form a leadership hierarchy to better survive until rescue."
"Very good Astrid. One of the themes of the story is civilization. Golding questions the fragile nature of society and civilization in catas…"
"Mrs. Gothi!" A student in the back interrupted pointing out the window.
The entire class gazed out toward the athletic field. A mob of men were parachuting down on to the field. Their black silk chutes fluttering in as they landed and started to fumble with large packs. The class gathered at the window to try and see better as to what was going on. A professor exited the school and strolled up to the men. As he got closer he held up his hands and started talking to them. One of them raised a rifle and opened fire. The teacher dropped dead without another word. Several students screamed. Then more men raised weapons and fired on the school.
Students scrambled and ran in panic. Glass shattered, and gunshots rang out as bullets whizzed by. Astrid and the gang ducked low and ran from the class room with the mob. Someone ended up pulling the fire alarm, alerting the whole school to evacuate. The mob flooded the hallways.
The gang burst out the door and into the parking lot. Gunman had already circled around the school and fanned out into the parking lot. They were stopping anyone trying to leave and killing anyone who resisted.
The gang crouched low as they weaved between car after car avoiding gunmen as they made their way to Eret's Jeep. As they neared the back row a lone gunman stepped in their path. He raised his rifle toward them and shouted something they didn't understand. When they didn't respond he shouted again with much more ferocity.
Then the unexpected happened. A pickup truck slammed into the gunman, vaulting him fifteen feet from where he stood. The truck stopped and backed up until it was in front of the group. The passenger door quickly opened.
"Get in!" Hiccup yelled.
The group quickly moved to get in the truck. Astrid climbed into the open passenger door while the others jumped into the bed. Hiccup slammed the gas, not even waiting for the last person was completely in. There was a high-pitched wail from one-person half hanging out. Neither Astrid nor Hiccup knew Snotlout had such feminine tone.
He was quick on the wheel, expertly weaving between obstacles in his path. A knock on the back window made him look in the rear-view mirror. The knock was a warning that the soldier had recovered and was now taking aim at the truck.
"Get down!" Hiccup cried.
He grabbed Astrid and forcefully pulled her down into the seat. Her elbow slammed into the center console making her wince in pain. She then felt Hiccup slouch over covering her with his chest. The rear glass then shattered as bullets flew through the cab. Hiccup spun the wheel into a hard-right turn.
Hiccup sat up in his seat. He had managed to aim the truck for the parking lot exit. At the last second, he had to swerve to dodge a fleeing student. He struck the curb, vaulting half the truck causing those in the back to slam against the metal surface. Fortunately, the groans and one slightly high-pitched scream (Again neither Hiccup nor Astrid knew Snotlout could get to such high notes) signified at least everyone was there and alive. Hiccup turned down the road and away from the school.
Astrid finally had the nerve to sit up again. She rubbed her elbow noting the tenderness and soreness. She looked around to take in her world. She peeked back in the bed. The others were starting to move and reposition themselves. She looked forward and saw the windshield had several holes and a spider web of cracks from the bullets. Her attention then went to the boy next to her. Hiccup stared out the window with cold intense eyes.
He pointed in front of her, "Open the console and pull out the metal box."
Astrid did as she was told. The glove box door opened to her and she found the box she was looking for. It was black and cold and about the size of a book. There was a six-digit dial lock.
"Enter the code: 03-26-10" Hiccup commanded.
Astrid again did as she was told. The task proved a bit difficult as her hands were shaking uncontrollably due to fear and pure adrenaline. When the numbers were aligned as necessary the box opened to something that scared Astrid silly.
Hiccup reached over and seized the stainless-steel revolver. It was a .44 Special Bulldog. He held it in front of him and popped the cylinder out. Five full chambers stared at him. He flicked the cylinder closed and stuffed it in the waistband of his pants. It was then that he could feel Astrid's eyes boring into him.
"It's my dad's," He said without looking at her, "He keeps it in here for when he drives this around during hunting season."
He didn't get a reply, but he felt Astrid adjust in her seat to face forward. Hiccup became occupied trying to see through the cracked windshield. No matter where he moved his head his view was obstructed.
Hiccup threw on the cruise control. "Take the wheel." He commanded Astrid.
Astrid slid and leaned over the center console and grasped the wheel. Hiccup relinquished control and adjusted in his seat so that he was facing backwards with his knees in the seat. He lifted his foot over the steering wheel and gave the wind shield a few good mule kicks. He felt the glass loosen under the force.
"Heads up!" He yelled to the back
With a final kick the slab of glass gave way. The wind immediately swept under the sheet and lifted it in the air. It sailed beautifully over the truck to crash into the street behind them. Hiccup immediately readjusted his position, so he could take control again.
As they rounded the bend to the city everyone's hearts sank. Smoke bellowed from several buildings. Large black planes soared above. Out their back ends they deposited paratrooper after paratrooper. Their shoots, like black clouds, rained down into the town.
Hiccup entered the town without letting off the gas. He rocketed down the service streets. The unnerving thing was there wasn't a soul to be seen. The area was utterly dead. The only sound to be heard was the truck and the planes over head.
Hiccup made a turn down main street. Red brick buildings and shops lined the way. Several loud jets roared overhead. Everyone watched as the fighter jets flew by. Hiccup was amazed at how low they were. Formation after formation flew by. Then an incredibly loud boom resounded around them. Hiccup still watching the jets tried to figure out what the boom was.
"HICCUP!" Astrid yelled.
Hiccup looked at her. But she stared straight ahead pointing a finger. He looked ahead and immediately slammed the brakes. A less than fifty yards ahead of them were two large black armored vehicles forming a road block.
Hiccup without any hesitation slammed the truck into reverse and floored the gas. The wheels squealed as they searched for traction. Three soldiers noticed them and were waving around frantically. One leveled his rifle and fired several shots. The bullets whizzed by with whistles and cracks. One of the armored vehicles started rotating their gun turret to bring it to bare on the truck. Hiccup spun the wheel to turn down an ally. The cannon followed the truck as it started to retreat. The cannon unleased a shot toward them and blasted the building behind them. Hiccup kept his foot to the floor as the engine roared down the street.
The group settled into the bed as they navigated though their hometown. With one final turn Hiccup was back on course to getting out of town. They ran parallel to the piers and Norse Harbor Bridge came into view. The bridge was damaged and ablaze. Hiccup came to the conclusion the bang he heard earlier was an attack on the bridge. Astrid gasped and put her hands over her mouth in shock. Hiccup silently cursed under his breath. He floored the gas pedal as they started to leave the town and moved into the hills. The last thing they saw through the trees was Norse Harbor Bridge fall into the sea.
They drove and drove through the mountainous hills on the outskirts of the city. The roads wound back and forth as they got further and further from the town. The sounds of war and destruction were still prominent over the growl of the engine. Hiccup pulled into the driveway of a house and came to a sudden stop. He threw it in park and climbed out of the cab. Everyone in the bed scanned around trying to make sense of the situation. Hiccup jogged up to the house.
"Gobber!" Hiccup yelled.
A large burley blond man stumbled around the house. Most of the group were shocked when they saw his unique prosthetic hand and leg. Almost as shocked at the large pistol he was holding. He stumbled up to Hiccup.
"Hiccup, what's happening?" He said with a heavy Scottish accent.
"Soldiers! Soldiers parachuted in at the school and the town! They just started shooting!" Hiccup said frantically.
"Slow down Hiccup. Have ya heard anything from y'er father?"
"No. We just booked it from the school. Whoever they are they're dangerous"
"Do you got y'er dad's gun?"
"Yeah."
"Okay I want you to go to your house. Get supplies. Then head to the lodge."
"Okay." Hiccup acknowledged.
He climbed back in the truck and started the engine. He threw it in reverse and started rolling back. Gobber walked alongside the truck as it went.
"I'll come get you as soon as I find your father and things clear up!" Gobber called.
Without another word, Hiccup rolled the truck down the drive and back onto the road. With an easy press on the gas the house disappeared behind the rows of trees.
After a quick ten-minute drive, the truck rolled up to a big steel gate. Hiccup pulled a remote and opened the gate. The gate smoothly slid open. Hiccup then accelerated up the long driveway. In front of them was a magnificent house. Everyone knew the Haddocks had wealth, but this wasn't what anyone expected. The house was massive. It had two stories and, on the side, was a round tower that stood above the house.
Hiccup swung the truck around and backed the bed up to a warehouse garage connected to the house. He turned the truck off and climbed out. He briskly walked up to the garage and started to punch in the code to open it.
"Come on everyone" He commanded, "We gotta make this quick. We roll in ten minutes."
The door raised open. Inside the garage had an even more prominent aura of money. Expensive cars and fancy toys were all over inside. Hiccup moved past most of it toward the door and a rack of tubs and containers.
"Eret, Snotlout, load this entire shelf into the bed of the truck." He ordered indicating the rack of tubs, "The rest of you follow me."
Hiccup entered and passed through a mudroom with the group in tow. They walked moved quickly through the house. Hiccup stopped briefly and grabbed a stack of folded cardboard boxes and a roll of tape then moved into the kitchen. He dropped the boxes in front of a pantry and opened it.
"Astrid, Ruff, Tuff, fill these with all the food in the pantry. Canned and dry goods first, then perishables." Hiccup made a 'come here' gesture with his finger to Fishlegs and left the kitchen.
Fishlegs followed Hiccup down to the basement. Hiccup's dad spared no expense in building his man cave. Two giant leather chairs were positioned in front of two sixty-inch TVs flanking a giant ninety-inch TV. Along the walls were cabinets of movies and video games. Behind the chairs was a gorgeous pool table.
Hiccup walked over to the pool cue rack. He took hold of a plain cue and pulled it from the rack. There was a metallic click. He slid the rack on a hidden rail revealing a black steel safe behind it. Hiccup applied his thumb to a scanner and had it open before Fishlegs knew it. Hiccup quickly grabbed two small black boxes and a silver remote. He pointed it at the opposite wall and pressed one of the buttons. A section of the wall slid aside revealing a shiny vault door. Hiccup put the stick back in the safe and locked it.
Fishlegs then followed him over to the revealed door. There was a digital key pad and a black and yellow warning sign which read,
Warning!
Vault is armed
Tampering will result in detonation
Fishlegs gulped in fear. Hiccup hid the panel and typed in a code. There was a beep tone and green letters appeared on the pad Welcome Hiccup. The very audible sound of metal bolts retracting was heard. Hiccup spun the lock and swung open the door.
Motion sensors activated the florescent lighting. Fishlegs' eyes grew wide at what was inside the vault. Wall to wall rows of guns. An arsenal of every style and kind were in that vault.
"FISHLEGS!" Hiccup yelled.
The teen snapped from his daze. He had been so enthralled by the sight he hadn't noticed Hiccup trying to tell him something.
"What?" Fishlegs said sheepishly.
Hiccup pointed to two large black backpacks. "Take these out to the truck then come back."
Fishlegs grabbed the packs and scurried out of the vault and upstairs. Hiccup grabbed an empty duffle and set it on a table in the middle of the vault. He grabbed two 30.06 hunting rifles off the wall and tucked them into the bag. He then walked over to some metal shelves and nabbed a couple ammo cans and set them in the bags. He made sure to nab a short twelve-gauge shotgun as well. Finally, he took the two black boxes from before and tucked them into the duffle. When he zipped it shut Fishlegs stuck his head back in.
"Perfect," Hiccup said as he looked at his watch, "We got three minutes. Take this."
Hiccup passed off the duffle. He then slung on a large tan backpack. He picked up another full duffle and grabbed the barrel of an AR-15. He hesitated as he was lifting the rifle. He set it back down and dropped the duffle. He turned and followed Fishlegs out of the vault. He closed and locked the door. He quickly typed in this combination and a second three-digit code. The screen read out in red letters, User Lockout.
"What's that mean?" Fishlegs asked.
"I'm the only person who can access the vault." Hiccup replied, "If someone tries to force my dad to open it. Everything inside gets turned into a molten soup."
"Nice."
Hiccup pressed a final button and the wall started to slide back into place. He then concealed the safe behind the rack. The two teens then sprinted up the stairs.
They came out to see Ruffnut carrying the last container of supplies. They quickly followed her outside. The truck bed was full. Trunks, tubs, and containers had been neatly arranged to fit as much while leaving room for people to pile in. Hiccup noticed that it was Astrid directing how things were to be loaded.
"Times up. Everyone load up." Hiccup ordered.
Ok so I'm moving the story pretty fast but I got a pretty good idea where to take it. So, please review and let me know how y'all like the start.
