The scene was pure carnage. Bodies, none really whole but divided by the random hewing of machine gun fire were splayed all around an area twenty feet in diameter. In the center of this gory patch stood a young girl, perhaps ten years old, covered in small bits of unidentifiable muscle and bone from other bodies that must have shielded her until now. The surface of her right arm appeared jagged from many bites torn from her flesh. The little girl took a step forward and reached out her matted and mangled arm to the chopper while opening her beastly mouth. Her teeth were bloody and even from a distance Alexandra could see that the little girl, as one would expect for a child her age, was missing a tooth. The Blackhawk hovered for a moment with an unreal stillness.
A single low-pitched “Bloop” sounded from Reiss’s Grenade launcher causing Alexandra to flinch. She saw the projectile lob in an arc through the air before the young girl suddenly exploded in an orange-white ball of fire. Reiss turned and smiled at the squad with a sickening look of accomplishment. The men sat dumbfounded for a moment then began to smile. A cheer erupted over the sound of the helicopter. Alexandra quickly felt around with one hand underneath her seat to see if there was an Air-sickness bag nearby. She breathed quickly and tried to choke back her vomit.
“More contacts Sir at eleven o’clock. Looks like law enforcement.” Denkinger said.
“Son of a bitch!” Richardson shouted into the microphone surprising Alexandra and giving her something to take her mind off her revulsion.
“Chief Murdoch,” said Richardson. “Take us down, now!”
“Sir, the area’s not secure.” Said Denkinger.
“On the deck now!” The old man demanded.
The Blackhawk glided sideways to the shore then forward for a landing that forced more water into the air. Alexandra thought Richardson was having some sort of mental breakdown when he began yelling over the intercom.
“Murdoch! You had one simple job; to watch out for my boy!” he shouted as he released his seat belt. He was still yelling when he removed his helmet and left the chopper, breaking intercom contact. The three men in the door jumped from the Blackhawk and raised their weapons to escort the old man. Denkinger leapt out and the rest of the men followed forming a defensive half moon shape. She saw the policemen approach, noted their torn clothing and recognized them as infected. She saw Richardson reach into his jacket and produce an automatic pistol. He gestured to the three soldiers with him and they fanned out firing at two of the police, blasting their heads open so that their bodies fell back like rag dolls. Richardson appeared to be taunting the remaining police officer as he back peddled to stay out of its reach. Richardson fired his pistol at the creature, hitting it square in the chest. He did so while obviously yelling at the thing and fired as if to punctuate some statement. Alexandra recognized the name Murdoch as Whisper’s Chief of Police from the city files.
The old man’s losing his mind
, she thought,
he’s chiding a God-damned corpse
.
Richardson fired a bullet into the Chief’s face at point blank range, turning the back of his head almost inside out. The body slumped to the ground and Richardson stood over him, still yelling. He fired eight more times directly at the Chief’s face, reducing his head into something that resembled crimson mashed potatoes. He then spit hard on the chief and holstered his weapon. Denkinger was soon at his side. They said a few words to each other and then Richardson casually, as if nothing odd had just happened, buttoned his jacket and walked back to the chopper surrounded by his men.
What the hell was that
? Alexandra wondered and looked away.
Thirty-Seven
“Where the hell’d they go?” Tony fumed. He closed the glass double doors and looked for something to secure them. He called to Billy.
“Bill, there’s a tie down in the bed of the truck, grab it for me.” He said. Billy was ashen and made no acknowledgement. Mason sat Gabe on the tailgate and dug out a short nylon strap from the bed.
“Keep an eye on him.” Mason said to Billy and then dashed to Tony where he started to wrap the tie down around the two door handles. He spoke to Tony.
“Do you have any peroxide or alcohol?” Mason whispered.
“I don’t think that’s gonna help?” Tony said quietly.
“I know. Try anyway. Try anything.”
Nikki tossed the diaper bag from her shoulder and held her gun at the ready, keeping the infant laden nurse behind her. She scanned the area.
“Two, over there.” Nikki called out while training her pistol on the creatures. She dropped one hand and touched the nurse to steady her. “Its gonna be okay.” Nikki said.
“Where did my Bronco go?” Tony called out while removing a bottle of Iodine from his pack.
“Son of a bitch!” Mason said removing his hand radio and turning it on.
“Veronica. Come in. Are you there?” he received no reply.
The wound in Gabe’s neck wasn’t very large nor was it bleeding profusely. The ghoul had missed any blood vessels and only left teeth marks on the flesh. But Tony had seen someone bit before; that person died from a similar wound. The Iodine antiseptic he had could kill just about any sort of microbe. Tony wondered if it would keep Gabe from turning. He poured the Iodine over the wound as Gabe gripped the truck bed hard and moaned.
“I know it stings, but we gotta clean this.” Tony said and used a gauze pad to scrub lightly at the wound, working the iodine in. Billy put his hand on Gabe’s shoulder.
“Hang in there man.” Billy looked at Tony.
“Where’s the bag from the Pharmacy?” Tony asked.
“Jack put it in the Bronco.” Billy answered, “Why?”
“There’re antibiotics and shit in it that could help… maybe.” Tony frowned.
Nikki noticed three more ghouls emerge from around the far corner of the building.
“I got three more!” she shouted to no one in particular.
Mason attached the radio to his belt leaving it on in case Veronica might reply. The corpse of a red-haired woman slapped against the glass from inside the hospital, startling Mason. She looked through the glass with a determined scowl and bared her teeth. Mason was taken aback by the shape of the woman who was clad only in a blue bathing suit; a matching sapphire stone earring glinted in the reflected sunlight.
“I bet you were something two days ago.” He muttered. He took two steps away and swung up the shotgun. Aiming, he saw that the tie-down held the double doors together firmly.
She shouldn’t be able to get through that
.
“Getting closer!’ Nikki’s voice wavered but she held her pistol steady. The closest creatures were further away then she thought she could hit accurately. Over her ear plugs she noticed a mechanical hum approach from the far corner of the building, increasing in volume. Suddenly, a blur of yellow shot out from the front of the building and side swiped the group of three ghouls. They spun and toppled into one another as Andy pulled away. The bronco swung around and pulled in close to its original position. Tony jumped down from the Chevy to meet them.
Tony opened the passenger’s side and threw the seat forward. Denise, hiding behind the driver’s seat, lurched back in surprise.
“Hand me that bag,” he said pointing. Panicked, Denise looked around through the windows, weary of more corpses. She seemed to register his request and complied slowly.
“Make some room back here, we got more survivors.” Tony said.
Nikki led the nurse and the infant to the Bronco. She saw how seeing the child brought an expression of relief to Denise’s face. She left the nurse in Denise’s care to help her get settled in the back seat. Nikki joined Tony at the tailgate.
“Is he gonna be okay? She asked.
Tony tore through items in the duffle bag, searching for something. She saw him pick up small boxes, read their contents and toss them back in. She noticed Gabe, his head lolled forward, sweat on his brow. Billy held his shoulders to support him, or was it in case he changed. Gabe lifted his head.
“I’m gonna die.” He said.
“It doesn’t look that bad,” Billy said. Tony continued his search without answering. Gabe looked to Nikki and forced a weary smile.
“Hi. I’m Gabe.” He said.
“I know, we met earlier.” She smiled back and put her hand on his arm. His skin was hot and moist.
“Yeah, but Tony didn’t properly introduce us.” Gabe lifted his head with a single quiet laugh.
“Here it is.’ Tony said opening a heavy plastic bottle. He looked at Gabe for a moment. “Let’s try three.” He removed three tablets from the bottle and gave them to Gabe with his canteen.
“What is that?” Nikki asked. Gabe took the tablets.
“Cipro. It’s the one the government people were given during all the Anthrax scares after Nine-Eleven. I remember it from T.V. It’s supposed to be pretty kick-ass.” Tony said and then indicated that Gabe should finish the canteen. “Drink it all, you want them to dissolve in your belly.”
The strap holding the doors now stretched under the weight of four creatures pounding against the glass. Mason couldn’t tell how many more were behind the ones he could see but he knew the number wasn’t good. Andy tapped him on the shoulder.
“Two of the guys I hit got back up.” Andy said.
“Yeah, they like to do that.” Mason said assessing the perimeter. Four Biters in front, an unknown number being held back by a six-dollar tie down from Cycle Gear, an infant and a wounded man, wasn’t a good situation. If they started shooting, they would just call more dead. It was time to leave.
“We gotta get moving.” Mason called out. Tony looked to him and nodded.
“Try not to bump around a lot.” Tony said to Mason as he pulled the tailgate closed. Billy and Tony pulled Gabe further up into the bed of the truck. Tony cleared the heavier, more dangerous items, like Mason’s climbing axes, out of the way of his patient.
“Don’t let me change.” Gabe said with some effort.
“We got you man, its gonna be okay.” Billy said.
Gabe shook his head, “No, I don’t wanna be like Travis.” Billy looked at Tony with an expression of desperation, as if Tony had some sort of answer. Tony tossed him the other tie-down.
“Tie his hands, just in case.”
Tony handed the pharmacy duffle bag over the bed of the truck down to Nikki.
“Take this for me, its crowded back here.”
“You’re riding with them?” she asked with a tone he thought was sadness.
“Yeah; to keep an eye on Gabe.” Tony said.
“We’ll follow.” She nodded.
“Hey,” he said leaning over the tailgate, “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten to your parents yet.”
“Oh, no, I know; things happen…” she said touching his arm, “Plans change, right?”
Tony nodded and smiled. The truck started. Nikki felt the warm exhaust through the fabric of her pants. She jogged to the Bronco. She looked back and saw Andy in the passenger’s side of the Chevy with Jack at the wheel, Tony and Billy in the bed helping Gabe.
“I guess we’re the girl’s car.” She said and closed the door.
*****
Alexandra sat stiffly in her seat staring at the grooved surface of the Blackhawk’s floor in order to avoid eye contact with others. As they flew back to the estate, she tried to console herself that the worst behind her. Though Richardson’s son was dead, the search was now over. She could soon get back to her facility and away from these armed thugs. Alexandra expected that she would have to stay with him for another day but in the safety of the estate. Perhaps she would stay in the spare house with the other guests rather than in the mansion with Richardson and his men.
I’m not sleeping near any of those creeps
, she thought as her jaw clenched.
Suddenly a voice on the intercom squawked, startling her.
“Alexandra” said Richardson, “I’d like to borrow your laptop now if it is accessible.”
“Yes sir,” she tried to hide her exhilaration as she pulled the laptop from her bag, “I have it right here.”
Denkinger poked out from the bulkhead and patted a man on the shoulder. Alexandra handed the laptop to the men next to her and it was passed up towards Denkinger.
“It’s ready to go, just open the Firefox browser on the desktop.” She said, her heart beating wildly.
This was it
, she thought,
the bastard is going to do it
. His every move on the laptop would be documented, every character typed, logged and stored for Alexandra to access later. Perhaps this nightmare would yield something of value. If she could get his password and get into the most secure areas of the company database, she just might be able to bring the old man down.
Thirty-Eight
While nearing the edge of town, Nikki saw the Chevy’s brake lights and felt a shiver of foreboding from within. She followed Mason’s truck as it turned off the road and parked underneath the awning of a quiet gas station. She glanced over her shoulder and around the area and saw nothing alarming. Denise, her eyes bloodshot and squinting spoke over the low fussing of the infant.
“What are we doing?” Denise asked.
“I don’t know. But I don’t think it’s good.” Nikki said and grabbed her twenty-two from the passenger’s seat. She checked the safety and got out of the cab looking around wearily, eyes searching the area for movement.
“Wait here, if something bad happens, we’ll get going.” Nikki said with her head in the door. She saw the look of fear in Denise’s face and on that of the nurse, whose name she still didn’t know, and nodded to them for reassurance. She paused for a moment and then removed the keys from the ignition and placed them in her pocket. The other women looked pretty scared and Nikki decided that no one was going to pinch her transportation ever again.
Nikki approached the Chevy to see Tony quickly open the tailgate. She stopped in front of the Bronco not wanting to disturb the flurry of movement or get in the way. She thought that the best way for her to help would be to keep a look out. She held her rifle at her waist with both hands, ready if need be, and looked around to find no threats. The smell of gasoline was in the air but everything was quiet except for the activity in the Chevy.
“Stretch him out.” Tony said as he jumped down from the bed. Billy supported Gabe’s head as he laid him flat on the tailgate. Nikki saw Gabe’s face, white as the paint on the Chevy, and glistening with perspiration. His head fell to the side where their eyes met for a moment. She saw no recognition in his eyes as if he looked past her without focus. Billy straightened Gabe’s head and placed a shirt under it. Jack emerged from the truck and Tony said something to him that Nikki couldn’t hear. She removed her ear plugs, forgetting that she still had them in. No wonder she had so easily ignored her passenger’s conversation on the drive. Mason handed Tony his canteen. She saw Tony pour water on Gabe’s face and pat at it with a gauze pad. Andy emerged and the men engaged in some discussion.
No one who’s been bitten has made it
, she thought. The strength in her arms failed her and suddenly the rifle felt very heavy. Tony looked to her almost as if he could feel her distress from ten feet away. She forced a weak smile. His eyes tried to reflect some optimism but she recognized his effort as being for her benefit. She nodded at him, appreciating his effort. Mason lifted his radio and spoke into it while pacing slowly towards her.
“Veronica, please come in. Are you there? If you can’t speak just press the talk button a few times.” There was no response.
“Do you want the medicine from the hospital?” Nikki asked. Mason shook his head,
“I don’t think it’ll help. If I could get a hold of Veronica maybe she could tell us what to use.” A cry from the Chevy spun Mason around. He sprinted back towards the truck. Denise opened the driver’s door to ask about the situation. Before she could speak Nikki turned to her and shook her head slowly. Denise pulled the door closed and sat back down.
Tony poured the rest of the canteen on Gabe’s forehead. She heard Tony mention that his fever was high. Mason opened a large freezer near the front and brought over a bag of party ice. Tony motioned for Mason to hand it to him quickly. Before they could use it, Gabe began to convulse; his chest jumping high, throwing his head back into the tailgate. Billy held his right arm while Andy held his left. He thrashed and flailed while the men restrained him. It wasn’t until he cried out that Nikki realized she had tears in her eyes. She made no attempt to wipe them away instead allowing her vision to cloud. She looked away, blinking at her tears, quickly surveying the perimeter again and finding nothing of note. She saw the pale expression on Denise’s face within the Bronco. She saw the nurse rocking the infant back and fourth, speaking to the child. Another sad bellow from the young man trailed off shaking her soul. She couldn’t look, but the sounds had calmed down. Her jaw was tight; her lips pursed, and her breathing slow and heavy when she saw Tony approach. She looked up at him without wanting to speak, without wanting to ask that question,
is he dead
? Nikki didn’t need to speak, her tears asked for her.
“He passed out.” Tony said while turning to lean on the front bumper of the Bronco. “His fever’s really high so we put some ice on him. It might help.”
Nikki backed up a foot and joined him. He put his left arm around her lower back and she leaned into his shoulder still unwilling to speak. His hand was ice-cold on her hip but she didn’t care at all. She took a deep breath and tried to harden her countenance. Tony spoke.
“I don’t know if he’s out because he’s dying or if the antibiotics are working. I got some Morphine drops but don’t know if that would mess him up.” He whispered. Nikki remained silent. She only leaned into him a bit closer. They stood there in front of the Bronco watching Billy speaking to Gabe, reassuring his passed out friend. Suddenly Mason, his arms spread wide leaning on the tailgate, pushed away from the truck in an explosion of anger. He turned to Andy and thrust a finger towards him, causing the large man to take a step back.
“This wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t take off.” Jack Mason accused.
“What?” Andy said; his face slack and confused.
“You heard me! We had the exit blocked with the trucks; that’s why we parked that way, until you split!” Mason pointed an accusing finger.
Andy’s shoulders fell and his jaw dropped as he looked over to Gabe.
“Shit!” Tony whispered to Nikki, “Like this is helpful.”
Mason turned and walked to the small market of the gas station. He wrenched on the door but it was locked and wouldn’t open. Furious, Mason moved over to a roll up garage door next to the store and pulled upwards. The unlocked door rolled up allowing Mason entry to the workshop area. A loud crash was heard as Mason kicked open the inner door to the store. Andy walked a few paces and stopped, unsure of what to do. He then looked to the Bronco. Tony motioned to Andy to join them. Andy, his pace reluctant, made his way to the Bronco.
“Sorry about that man.” Tony said with a shrug, “he can be pretty harsh when he gets mad.”
The row of gasoline pumps next to the vehicles all made a pinging noise in unison. Nikki stood up from the bumper, startled by the sound. The pumps digital readouts all read “Begin Fueling.”
“Jack got the pumps working.” Tony said.
“How?” Nikki asked.
“He pumped gas for about four years after high school.” Tony said, “He must know how this system works.”
Mason unlocked the front door and exited the building with a hard look on his face. He walked directly to the nearest gas pump, took the nozzle and began fueling his Chevy. His actions were loud and curt and he avoided looking at the others. Tony sighed and took a step towards the Chevy. He paused and looked to Andy.
“Why don’t you guys check out the market? See if there’s anything in there that’s useful.” Andy didn’t move. He just stood in a daze with his spirit wounded.
“Look man, I know you and Denise haven’t had any food for a while, just go look around and see what you can find for her. I’m sure she’d appreciate it.”
Andy nodded. Nikki followed him towards the store. She found it interesting how Tony had motivated Andy into action. He had appealed to Andy’s gallantry; to go get something for Denise to eat. Tony tapped her on the shoulder.
“See if they have any beer. I think I could use a drink later.” Nikki nodded with a smirk, feeling the same.
Tony hated dealing with Jack Mason when he was in one of his moods. If anyone could mollify Mason, it was Tony but that didn’t mean that Tony enjoyed any part of dealing with him. During their high school years Mason could get into a fight at a party in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, the fight would usually be over just as fast. But it would always be Tony who had to be the voice of reason, trying to contain Mason’s temper. High school was over twelve years ago and the stakes were a lot higher now; it was time to find another way to behave. As he approached to try and smooth things over, Mason spoke first.
“Lets hurry up and drop off that prescription.” He said without looking at Tony, “I can’t get Veronica on the radio. She might have an idea about what to use on Gabe.”
“Sure, sounds good.” Tony said. He didn’t dare ask for Mason’s help reuniting Nikki with her parents. With Gabe’s injury, Tony knew that Mason was already a short fuse. Nikki seemed to understand so; perhaps they could wait until tomorrow. The idea of having her around another night brought him some comfort for he was in no hurry to say goodbye. Jack finished pumping gas and removed the nozzle. He lifted the hose high and walked around the Chevy to fill the left side saddle tank. Tony smelled the gasoline. It seemed stronger then usual. Three days without a cigarette may have done his sense of smell some good. He knew there were probably cigarettes in the market, but now that he had come this far, didn’t want to break his streak. He needed to shape up fast though he still felt the yearning for a smoke; a yearning increased by the stress of dealing with Mason’s anger. Andy exited the store with two bags full of items. Mason saw him and looked away. Tony decided to have a go.
“Cut him some slack man. He and that chick were trapped in like total darkness for a couple of days.” Tony said. Mason flashed him a look that he wasn’t in the mood to talk. Tony moved to the rear to check on Gabe, leaving Mason with a thought.
“Dude! Not everyone grew up training for the apocalypse.” Tony said.
Gabe’s respiration was slow and labored. His chest quivered with each breath but his body had relaxed. Small ice cubes were packed around his armpits, on his chest and his head rested on the remainder still in a plastic bag. Billy sat on his knees next to Gabe in the truck bed.
“How’s he doing?” Tony asked. Billy, his face tired and pale for his dark complexion, shook his head.
“I don’t know? Travis changed really fast. He’s still breathing, that’s gotta mean something.” Billy said.
Tony removed his hand radio and turned it on.
“Veronica are you there? Come in.” He heard his voice echo from the radio clipped to Mason’s belt. Mason scowled and turned his volume down.
“Try again when we get closer” Mason said removing the gas nozzle from the Chevy. Nikki exited the store with a large bag and smiled as she passed Tony. He couldn’t help but smile back. The moment faded fast as Tony felt something was wrong.
Gabe’s body went silent. The wet sounds of his breathing ceased.
“Gabe?” Billy said frantic. Tony reached for his neck and couldn’t find a pulse, not that he ever looked for one before; it just seemed like the thing to do.
“Do you know C.P.R.?” Billy almost pleaded.
Mason approached with his shotgun. “Get clear of him.” Mason said.
Tony put his hands together on Gabe’s chest like he had seen actors do on Television. He pumped Gabe’s chest area three times but most of the energy was translated to the Chevy’s suspension, causing the bed to rise and fall a few inches.
“Get clear of him!” Mason said again, his voice strong and clear. Tony lifted his hand in a gesture of frustration and backed away. “You too man,” Jack said looking up to Billy in the bed of the truck. Billy stood and picked up one of the twenty-twos then jumped down from the truck. The three men stood about four feet away from the tailgate, watching Gabe’s body; a minute passed, then another, then five. Mason took a step forward with his shotgun extended. He poked Gabe’s legs twice to which the body did not respond.
“I don’t remember it taking this long?” Mason said.
“Maybe he’s not gonna come back?” said Billy with a tone of relief.
“I wonder if the antibiotics did something.” Said Tony. Mason backed away wondering, “How long’s it been?”
“A while; longer then any of the others.” Tony answered.
“I don’t like timed explosives; let’s…” Mason was interrupted.
“Oh god!” Billy said lifting his rifle. Gabe’s body twitched, at first just the head; a single spasm that could have been just a random nerve firing. Gabe’s corpse was reintroduced to the world by opening his jaw slowly and then closing it. He seemed to take no notice of the three men. The corpse just stared upward from the tailgate. It opened its mouth again and inhaled, dragging air over its drying mouth. The three men, silent with shock, stepped back further, guns raised. The corpse raised its head towards its chest and exhaled then closed its mouth mechanically once again. The ghoul craned its neck to the side towards the men, finally noticing them. Its yellowed eyes opened wide upon recognition of their shape yet it didn’t rage into action. Its mouth opened again and a trickle of greenish drool fell to the cement floor. It turned its entire body and reached out with its bound hands, melting ice cubes slid off and shattered on the floor. The corpse moved past its balance point and rolled off the tailgate, quickly spinning and smashing to the cement.