Chapter 35 #3
The plan, which hadn’t been announced to the public yet, was to dig two tunnels side by side through the mountain like they did over in Squirrel Hill, which opened recently, but would end up on top of each other city-side.
They would open up right on to a new bridge they will build, creating a highway straight through the mountain, instead of having to go around.
It would directly connect the northern and western townships to the City of Pittsburgh, our new airport and PA Route 60 that was recently completed that takes you there.
The industrial park at the point of the city triangle where the three rivers connect and two of the current bridges would be demolished and the point would be expanded for a major highway interchange, exits, on-ramps, off-ramps and bridges into and out of downtown in multiple directions.
Not just to and from the tunnel, but north, northeast, and south as well.
It would be a record setting project that would take years to complete.
But to do all that, the mine had to be stabilized, and the mountain side had to be cleared so they could dig safely.
They needed the railroad back open as soon as possible to bring machinery, steel, and concrete in to complete the job.
Everyone had their work cut out for them, including my former coworkers, who the city said would make sure they had jobs to help, and they would be able to continue to live in Chatham Village as the city was taking that over as well.
For how bad the outcome had been or could have been, I was happy with this result. Job security for those that needed it, in a growing and soon to be vast infrastructure that will keep people busy for a long time to come, and allow our city to grow.
We parted ways with Will and John, both giving me a hug, asking me to pass them along to Charlie. I needed to grab them in private to invite them down to visit either our new home and The Underground, if and only if they feel comfortable.
David and I walked back together. He didn’t branch off for his place, keeping me company, chatting about what we hoped for after the move, and maybe this will be the motivation he needs to get out on his own too.
After we turned down Olympia Road, I started to smell smoke. Toxic burning smoke and a glow in the distance. I took off, leaving David behind mid-sentence, only for him to yell and chase after me.
Oh shit, oh shit…
Then I saw.
It was my unit.
As I got closer, I noticed one of the windows overlooking the street on the second floor was open. It was the spare room, and I know I didn’t leave it like that. Then I saw books fly out and land in the yard below.
FUCK!
Charlie!
I bolted for the door, but it was consumed in flames. The whole front of the house and kitchen were up in flames.
No way in.
I ran back to the side of the house, barely dodging a stack of books as they flew by my head.
“CHARLIE!”
“Oh shit!” I turned and it was David. “Is he in there?” His eyes were full of fear.
“Go! Anywhere. Pound on doors. Get help!” I ordered, before turning back to the open window where my books were flying out to safety. Where Charlie should be instead of in my burning god damn house.
“CHARLIE!!!”
Smoke was starting to pour out of the window more heavily. I saw his arm with books being cradled. When he was close enough to the window again, I screamed, “HONEY!”
His face looked out, his eyes looked like they were watering for the toxic fumes, and he was coughing up a lung. “HONEY! Come down to me, please! You’ll have to come out of the window, the door is blocked. I’ll catch you!”
He experienced another coughing fit, but started to crawl out the window when a gun was fired, shot from behind me, hitting my unit, making brick shatter and barely missing Charlie’s leg, making him fall back inside.
I whipped around and standing there, gun raised was Karen.
“He’s going to die a fury death like all you fags deserve.” Karen’s eyes were as hot as the flames burning my unit down. And her hatred is the worst I have ever witnessed. Even worse than her dead husbands.
I gasped out in shock.
I needed to get Charlie out of the hell he was in. “Karen, why are you doing this? Please let him come out. This doesn’t need to happen.”
“He ruined my life and killed my husband. All of you are an abomination to society and don’t deserve to live.
” She lowered her gun to me, when I started to move in her direction making me stop in my tracks.
“I was on my way to his unit to deal with you both when I saw him leave. So, I followed him here. It wasn’t both of you but at least I would get the main culprit that ruined me.
A bonus was that it would leave you living…
,” she paused for a breath, then continued in a scream, “feeling what I am feeling!”
The rage in her was making her unstable.
The gun was shaking in her grasp as she raised it higher and more level to my head.
“But now that you’re here, I might as well finish the both of you.
Society will thank me when they find out,” but right as she pulled the trigger, David came flying from the side out of nowhere, slamming into her and making her arm jolt to the side.
The shot went wide, the bullet hitting the unit again and they both went down, David on top of her.
Before I could react to jump in, a second shot went off, making David scream, “You bloody bitch!” Then he clocked her once in the face, making the gun go flying to the side.
I got a hold of the gun and tossed it farther out of reach. That’s when I got a clear look, and saw I had blood on my hands.
David was hit in the shoulder. “Fuck, this hurts. What the fuck, man. I already survived a fucking bomb. Did I really need to get fucking shot? What is it with this family? Huh!”
“Jesus, David.” I went to look at him, but he pushed me away.
“No! Go! Get Charlie! I’m fine. It’s just blood. Help’s coming,” he was holding down a struggling Karen, who was spitting, shrieking unspeakable things and trying to kick out from underneath David.
I bolted for the window again and yelled, “CHARLIE! Come on Honey! It’s safe now!”
Nothing.
“CHARLIE! Please! Come to the window!”
I waited, panic started to overtake all my other senses.
My heart of coal which had been engulfed in flames since he came into my life was losing oxygen, the flame dying.
I couldn’t lose Charlie! As I tried to look around to see how I could get up there, I heard a cough.
I looked up and a leg was sticking out the window.
Oh God.
“Come on Honey! I got you! You’re okay! I’ll catch you!
” I was crying, either from the fumes getting to me or because of how scared I was, I didn’t know.
Charlie got his other leg out and was hanging by his forearms and elbows.
He tried to lower himself straight down slowly, but his strength gave out and he dropped.
I swooped in and caught him as best as I could, both of us landing on the ground.
Him on top of me.
“Charlie!” I flipped him on his back, over my lap, and started patting his face. “Open your eyes, Honey. I need you to open your eyes and look at me,” I said in a full panic. I couldn’t lose him. I thought I already lost him once, I can’t go through this again.
In the background I heard David yell, “Bitch, stop squirming or I swear I’ll knock you the fuck out with my next blow like I did your husband!”
Yeah, he was pissed. But I would be too, if I got shot.
The tapping wasn’t working on Charlie’s face, so I moved to check his breathing, and looked into his mouth, which was black with soot.
He was breathing but struggling. Fuck, where was the help!
“Charlie, please,” I sobbed. “Please wake up. I need you to wake up, Honey. I love you. I need you.” I kissed all over his smoke covered face, not giving a shit if anyone saw anymore.
Then I heard the sirens.
I looked up the street and saw black and white police cars heading our way. Behind them a ways was a fire engine. Hopefully an ambulance was behind them. Fuck the unit, Charlie was more important.