Good Night: An Apocalypse Story

The next morning, Stephanie met with a man standing outside Mihai’s shop. He was a gruff-looking guy, his face weathered from years of hard living in the apocalypse. Without much introduction, he tossed her a hand radio.

“We’ve got trouble,” he said. “Freaks have gotten into an old mineshaft nearby, and we need to destroy it before they start spreading.”

Stephanie caught the radio, arching an eyebrow. “What’s the plan?”

“We’ll ride there,” he replied, already walking toward his bike. “Once we’re at the mine, I’ll go in—I’ve got experience with these kinds of situations. You just need to distract the freaks long enough for me to get in position and plant the explosives.” He turned, tossing a stick of dynamite to her before straddling his bike. “You’re the distraction.”

Stephanie caught the dynamite, her fingers gripping it firmly as her mind ran through the possibilities. This was dangerous, but then again, everything was dangerous now. She swung her leg over her own bike and started the engine.

“Let’s get this over with,” she said, her voice steady.

They sped out of the camp, the road to the mineshaft a winding, broken path through the wilderness. The sky was clear, but there was a tension in the air. As they neared the site, the old mine loomed ahead, the entrance dark and ominous, a relic of the past now infested with creatures that had no place in this world.

“Who’s going in?” Stephanie asked as they slowed their bikes near the entrance, the faint sounds of movement coming from within the mine.

The man dismounted, adjusting his gear. “I’ll go,” he said confidently. “I’ve done this before. You just distract them, make noise, throw that dynamite in, and I’ll slip inside while they’re after you. They don’t need to know I’m here.”

Stephanie nodded, gripping the handlebars tightly. The plan was simple, but simple didn’t mean easy. The second that dynamite went off, she’d have the attention of every Freak in that mine.

The man nodded at her, then pulled his bandana over his face and ducked down, disappearing into the brush to circle around the mineshaft. Showtime.

Stephanie revved the engine and then gunned it toward the entrance. Dust and dirt kicked up behind her as she tore forward, skidding to a halt just before the mine’s gaping mouth. She stood up on the bike, pulling out the stick of dynamite, her heart pounding in her chest. With a swift, practiced motion, she lit the fuse and threw it straight into the dark maw of the mine.

The explosion came a second later—BOOM!—the force of it rattling the ground beneath her feet. Smoke and dust billowed out of the mine entrance, the walls shaking as the sound echoed into the mountains. The blast alerted the Freaks inside, their screeches piercing through the noise. And then, they came.

A horde of Freaks, their pale bodies scrambling over one another in a chaotic frenzy, poured out of the mineshaft, their eyes wild with hunger and fury. There were dozens of them, their limbs moving in unnatural jerks as they charged at her, their screeches filling the air.

“Shit,” Stephanie muttered under her breath, kicking her bike into gear. The wheels spun in the dirt for a split second before she tore off, the engine roaring as she raced away from the mine, the horde hot on her heels.

The Freaks moved fast, their twisted bodies sprinting after her, gnashing teeth and clawed hands reaching out as they closed the distance. Stephanie gritted her teeth, weaving in and out of the trees that lined the rocky path, her bike bouncing over the uneven terrain. The roar of her engine mixed with the wild screeches of the Freaks, the sound of their footsteps pounding the earth in a relentless chase.

Her heart pounded in rhythm with the bike’s engine as she pushed harder, accelerating down the narrow trail. Every time she looked back, the horde was closer, their grotesque faces twisted in a frenzy as they ran, faster than anything human. She swerved sharply to avoid a fallen tree, but the Freaks barely slowed, their hunger overriding any obstacles in their path.

As she gained a small stretch of open ground, Stephanie glanced down at the radio on her belt and snatched it up with one hand. “They’re on me!” she shouted into the receiver. “You’re clear!”

There was a brief crackle before the man’s voice came through, calm but hurried. “Good. Keep them busy for a little longer, I’m going in now.”

Stephanie cursed under her breath, focusing on the trail ahead. The Freaks weren’t going to let up. She pushed the bike harder, the engine roaring in protest as she swerved left and right, dodging obstacles and trying to keep enough distance to stay alive. The sun beat down, casting long shadows across the road, and she knew she needed to keep the horde out here as long as possible—until they were too far from the mine to interfere.

But they were fast. Too fast.

A sharp rock outcrop loomed ahead, and Stephanie saw her chance. She twisted the handlebars, guiding the bike sharply toward the rocky edge. As she reached the outcrop, she veered hard to the right, throwing up a cloud of dust behind her. The horde, blinded by the dust and too consumed by their chase, slammed into the rocks. A few of them stumbled, crashing into one another as they tried to follow her sharp turn.

Stephanie glanced back, seeing the confusion in their ranks. It was a brief moment of respite, but it was enough. She sped down the trail, gaining precious seconds on the horde.

But the sun, now high in the sky, was starting to affect them. The Freaks, sensitive to the sunlight, began to slow, their pale skin blistering under the heat. One by one, they stopped running, retreating back into the shadows of the forest. The screeches faded, leaving only the distant rumble of her bike.

She exhaled sharply, slowing the bike to a stop and grabbing the radio. “They’re turning back. You’ve got a few minutes, maybe less.”

“Roger that.” The man’s voice came through, calm and confident. “I’m planting the explosives now. We’ll collapse the mine and trap them in there for good.”

Stephanie turned her bike around, keeping a watchful eye on the mineshaft in the distance. The remaining Freaks slunk back inside, unwilling to stay out in the daylight for too long. A few moments later, the man emerged from the shadows, dirt-covered but grinning.

“Got it done,” he said, jogging toward her bike. “They’ll be trapped once we blow the entrance.”

He crouched in the bushes, hiding as the last of the Freaks returned to the mineshaft. The moment the final one disappeared inside, he pulled out a small detonator from his jacket and gave Stephanie a quick nod.

“Time to finish it.”

With a press of the button, another explosion rocked the mine, the entrance collapsing in on itself, sealing the Freaks inside. Dust and debris filled the air, the sound of crumbling rock echoing through the valley.

Stephanie let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. The threat was gone—at least for now.

The man stood, dusting off his pants and grinning. “That should do it. Freaks won’t be getting out of there again.”

“Good,” Stephanie replied, her voice calm but tired. “Let’s head back.”

They both mounted their bikes and sped back toward the settlement, leaving the collapsed mineshaft and its trapped horrors behind.

Arriving back at the camp, Stephanie and the man were greeted by Mihai, who handed them credits as a reward for the successful mission. “Go spend them how you want,” he said, his voice as casual as ever, though a hint of approval showed in his eyes.

Stephanie pocketed the credits and scanned the camp. Nearby, a vendor was set up with various supplies on display—tools, ammo, survival gear, and even weapons. Her eyes skimmed over the assortment, but one item in particular caught her attention: a CZ 550 Safari Magnum, a bolt-action rifle built for taking down big game. It was sleek, powerful, and, from what she could tell, well-maintained—ideal for when things got tough and dangerous, especially against anything bigger and nastier than a Freak.

"Good for bear defense," the vendor said, catching her eye as he noticed her interest. “And for things even tougher.” He smiled, tapping the barrel of the gun. The price tag, however, was steep—more than her credits could cover.

Still, the rifle was exactly what she needed. After some haggling, she used up all her credits and agreed to go a little into debt with the vendor. In return, he threw in a small supply of ammunition—just enough to make the purchase worthwhile.

Satisfied with her new weapon, she slung the rifle over her shoulder and made her way back to Mihai’s building. When she found him, he looked up from the stack of papers he was shuffling through.

“Need something else to do?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” Stephanie leaned against the doorframe, her new rifle gleaming on her back. “Got any more tasks?”

Mihai set the papers down and studied her for a moment, then asked, “You know how to track people?”

Stephanie’s expression hardened slightly. “Yeah, I know how. My father taught me.”

Mihai chuckled, the corners of his mouth pulling into a grin. “What was your father, John Wick or something?”

Stephanie blinked, the name unfamiliar to her. “Who’s John Wick?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Mihai gave her an incredulous look but didn’t say anything for a moment. Instead, he just shook his head, the grin fading into something more serious. “Forget it.”

After a brief pause, Mihai continued. “We’ve got a problem. One of the guys here ran off. Decided he didn’t like the work and thought he could make it on his own. He headed for a nearby town, but we need him back—or at least know what he’s up to.”

Stephanie crossed her arms, nodding slowly. “You want me to track him down?”

“Exactly.” Mihai leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady. “He’s not too far. Just keep your eyes open. He’s good at hiding, but you’ve got the skills. If anyone can find him, it’s you.”

“What happens when I do?” Stephanie asked.

Mihai’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Bring him back if you can. If not, make sure he’s not a threat.”

Stephanie gave a short nod, her hand briefly brushing the stock of her new rifle. “I’ll find him.”

Mihai smiled faintly, that hard edge of trust in his voice. “Good. Let me know when it’s done.”

With that, Stephanie left Mihai’s building and headed toward the camp’s exit, her mind already focused on the task ahead. Tracking the runaway wouldn’t be easy, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. After all, tracking people was something her father had drilled into her since she was a child.