Sylum Snippet: Matt & Murder Bird (Joel)
Writer: Bj Jones
Note: This is a small snippet I’ve had in my head for a while … it’s in the Yet to Come and so very out of context 🙂 Just enjoy the moment. Music that inspired it is listed after the snippet.
“I don’t want to alarm you, but I’m going to do something very Gryffindorish.” Matt hung up the phone, drowning out Richard’s colorful cussing. He focused on Joel who was leaning against the wall, looking as if this was a normal everyday occurrence.
Well for him it likely was, considering his past circumstances.
Teddy was watching Matt intently, his gaze too old for such a young man. Ellie on the other hand, looked as if they had told her they were going to Disneyland.
“What’s a Gryffindor?” Ellie asked curiously.
Matt paused and blinked at her. It was so rare to find a kid who had not read, seen or been influenced by the series, but then again during these times it’s not shocking. So many of these areas banned books of all types including anything about ‘magic’.
“I’ll let you read the books when we get out of here.” Joel stated. “I’m pretty sure you’ll love them.”
“What’s the plan?” His focus was on Joel, as he was the one with the most experience raiding an enemy compound with just a rifle and tenacity. This isn’t what Matt did, he built shit – sometimes weird shit – he didn’t go looking for a fight.
“Straight in.” Joel stated with ease. “They built the walls around the center section of the town, so it’s all straight lines. Should be easy to get to the holding area.”
“The captive is held in the back of the complex, there’s a lot of checkpoints and guards in between.” Teddy added to the planning. “The problem with the straight shot, is the fact we’ll be easier targets.”
Joel shrugged. “Matt, you drive. Ellie, you stay with Matt.” He gave her a pointed look, stopping her argument. “Teddy, the moment we head down the main street you get onto the walkways along the wall.”
Teddy nodded, checking his weapons. “Then what?”
“What more is there? We take out these assholes, free your friend and we’re out.” Joel blinked over at the kid, not sure what he was asking.
“How do we get out?”“Same way we get in kid, shooting.” Joel smirked and gave him a slap on the shoulder. He turned towards Matt. “This is not the time to be squeamish.”
Matt rolled his eyes. “Your whole group has made sure I’m trained in ways I never wanted to be, that made my Rook of a Mate jealous.”
“Richard doesn’t hesitate to kill anyone with those knives.” Joel pointed out, as they headed for the truck.
“Not the ones he cooks with!” Matt couldn’t help the chuckle as they settled into the truck. Ellie settled next to him. He gave her an encouraging smile, though he had a feeling she was more prepared for this than he was. “You need to stay in the cab, or with one of us at all times.”
“I can defend myself.” She rolled her eyes in a way only teenagers could. “Been doing it for a while now, the past few years hasn’t been a walk in the park for anyone.”
Matt gripped the steering wheel hating how right she was. “Well your parents are assholes.”
“Accurate.” She held up her fist, smiling when Matt gave her a fist bump. “I will make sure to stay behind Teddy, you or Mr. Grumpy.”
He started the engine, then started down the road when Joel thumped the roof of the cab. A few calming breaths, and he pushed hard on the gas, aiming for the barricade of the compound.
It was one of many in the area, all claiming to be their own sovereign nation, succeeding from the US and defending their God Given Rights to be assholes. The fact this one was called Fort Lee was not surprising and said everything about the white supremacist that ran the place.
The guard signaled them to stop.
Matt pushed down on the gas pedal.
One shot and the guard was dead.
He barely missed the body as he slammed through the small barrier into the compound. He took the turn tightly, smirking only slightly at Joel’s cursing. Chaos erupted through the town. He focused on the roads, not on the bullets that were flying. At one point he reached over and shoved Ellie down, keeping her out of the crosshairs.
Joel ordered Teddy to make his move, without waiting for Matt to slow down, the kid was off the truck and up the side of the buildings to the main walkway in seconds. He should introduce him to the red sash society, but that was a thought for a later date.
He barely had a chance to swerve out of the way of the approaching vehicle, only to go headfirst into one of the abandoned buildings. When the car came to an abrupt stop, he took stock of everything. He could hear Joel cursing, and when he glanced over at Ellie, she was getting out of the car before he could grab her. After scrambling with the seatbelt he followed, pulling his gun.
Joel dropped down next to them, checking his weapon before focusing on the approaching townspeople. Ellie got a shot off, before Joel, who without hesitation started picking them off one at a time. For a moment Matt felt as if he was in some bad apocalyptic nightmare where zombies had taken over the world. Sadly this was real life, and humans had just turned against each other for stereotypical reasons.
The three made their way out the back of the building, and down the alleyway. They were able to dodge the townspeople for at least two blocks, leaving them only a few away from the cage where the captive was being held.
Hopefully he would be grateful for the rescue and help them escape. Teddy was the one closest to the prisoner, who swore he was trustworthy. Matt glanced around the corner to see one of the guards near the entrance, he put away the gun and grabbed a piece of pipe that was nearby. He was exceptional with guns, after working with the ‘Murder Birds’ for the past decades there was no way he wasn’t, but his skill was always in blunt objects.
Richard was exceptional with sharp things
Matt was skilled with a hammer.
Two blows and the man was down. Joel shot the one behind him, while Matt took the third’s knee cap then a hit to the head. Ellie rushed past them, and up the stairs as they raced to catch up. He could hear Joel cursing the girl’s tenacity, which Matt thought was hilarious.
Joel grabbed her by the backpack she was carrying, shoving her behind him, letting Matt get to the terminal that would open the gate. He set the pipe down, trusting Joel to keep everyone off his back. Snagging the upgraded phone he’s been carrying for a long time, thanks to Harold.
He set the phone down, ignoring the over two dozen text messages from a variety of people, Richard included, demanding to know what the ‘fuck was he doing’. The only reason they stopped was because of the helicopter that had been tracking the whole situation.
Whoever said the revolution would not be televised was dead wrong.
“I have no idea how you work half the time but this is the time to do your thing.” Matt muttered to the phone, sighing in relief when instructions started to pop up. He glanced over his shoulder to see Teddy at the other terminal typing away. The kid didn’t need a fancy phone to hack into it, he knew all the codes.
“Hurry up!” Joel demanded voice gruff.
“This isn’t as easy as the movies make it out to be!” He snapped. Only for the phone to beep and the system to start the unlocking sequence. Matt grabbed the phone and put it in his pocket turning towards the cage watching the roof of it start to retract.
“NO!” A scream was heard from below them. “You’ll release the monster.”
Honestly Matt was pretty sure the monster in the situation was not the one locked up in the cage. He turned towards the opening, to see a large metal hand reach up and grip the ledge of the roof, followed by another. Slowly the prisoner stood, sending all the townsmen running for cover.
“Hound!” Teddy yelled as he ran toward the Autobot.
“Teddy.” There was a sound of fondness in the mechanical voice.
“Great, you’re reunited.” Joel drawled as he dragged Ellie behind him, as she kept trying to escape to shoot people. “Let’s get out of here.”
Hound glanced over at them, assessing the situation quickly. “I have a way out.”
Matt quickly turned to face the threat coming up the stairs. He grabbed his gun, with consecutive shots, took two down as he started backing up, settling next to Joel with Ellie behind them. Both were moving towards the Autobot, hoping he had a plan to get out of here.
“Now!” Hound yelled.
All of them broke formation and ran towards him, and in a flash of the eye they disappeared. Leaving confused townsmen and a whirling helicopter trying to figure out what happened.
Song that inspired this scene:
Awesome! This is going to be very interesting!
It’s one of the flashes of story that has been in head for a while that fits a much bigger story – but just had to get it out!