Free Cheap Thrills (6 Thrilling reads) by Luis Samways

prison. Maybe it’s the fear of Mr Conway exploding in a fit of rage as he has done in the past. Either way, the people attending the meeting are far from calm .
    Mr Conway sits at the end of the table like the spearhead of an army overlooking his cowardly advisors with distain and authority. Mrs Harriet sits at his right, like a noble warrior who has earned the right to sit so close to perfection. The rest of the seats occupied at the table belong to the yes men and women of the operation. Each one of them dressed in smart clothes but they don no smiles on their faces. It’s evident from the cold atmosphere in the room that bad news is to follow.
    ‘So spit it out then, tell me what was so important that I had to open my doors to you lot,’ Mr Conway says as he sips on his whisky, his eyes never leaving the gaze of his minions in suits.
    ‘It’s the Beacons sir’ one brave woman says from across the table opposite him
    ‘What about them?’ he asks
    ‘Well, we have picked up some stragglers’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘The New York sewer system’
    Mr Conway laughs
    ‘And that’s supposed to be a problem because?’
    ‘Well, there are at least ten people underground now. Not all of them seem to be in the same area. Some of them are in the east section and some of them are wandering by themselves’
    ‘I don’t see the problem’ he says impatiently, tapping his fingernails on the big oak desk
    ‘Well, if they form a group then it’s just a matter of time before there are more of them. They could form a rebel group of sorts, and once the aboveground is cleared of resistance we could face a rebellion from under the streets’
    ‘Look, I hardly think ten people under the streets of New York counts as a rebellion’
    ‘Yes, I understand, but they aren’t the only ones sir’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘New Jersey has around eight hundred people underground,’ the woman says calmly
    ‘Eight hundred? How the hell did that happen?’
    ‘Well, the beacons went off at a sports game and they managed to find their way underground’
    Mr Conway gets up from his seat while donning a red face. The group of men and women at the meeting brace themselves for an outburst from the boss.
    ‘I don’t care how you do it, or when you do it, but make sure these underground rats are dealt with. I can’t have eight hundred people roaming underground. Eight hundred people is enough to overthrow a city, let alone defend one,’ Mr Conway says calmly
    ‘We can’t be sure if the underground folk have weapons, but I assume they do,’ interrupts a man in a General’s uniform
    ‘Well, so do we, so at least it will be a fair fight,’ hisses Mr Conway

Six
    New Jersey, East Rutherford, Met Life Stadium
    Sam my Banes steps up onto the Bud Light crate in front of the mob of survivors.  An audible sound of dissatisfaction is heard through the crowd as he tries to beckon their attention. He puts two fingers in his mouth and wolf whistles loudly. The crowd of people in front of him quieten down as the inspirational leader takes his fingers out of his mouth and raises his hands.
    ‘Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention please?’ Asks Sammy
    Someone in the crowd heckles Sammy, the rest of the crowd laugh at the man on the crate.
    ‘I wouldn’t shout obscenities at me if you want to walk out of here alive,’ Sammy says calmly while balancing on the wooden beer crate.
    The dark surroundings of the area in which they find themselves in adds to the hostility of the atmosphere. A flickering of industrial lights echo off the walls as a distant sound of electrical buzzing is heard as the crowd of survivors quieten down. The heckling man steps forward.
    ‘Was that a threat?’ The irate man asks as he looks up at Sammy
    Sammy doesn’t say anything; he just quickly extends his right leg out in a kicking motion and lands a stiff kick onto the man’s face. The man hits the ground hard, landing in a puddle, splashing dirty water on some