Death Has Fallen: Freedom Rock Chronicles: Book 1 (13 page)

              The drum took a couple minutes to empty completely.  Once emptied he grabbed it hauling it over to the underground gas tank. We sat the wet vacuum top right on the drum and flipped it on.  Aaron was holding the hose that went into the ground.  He was moving it back and forth trying to find any gas that we may have missed.  The drum took about twenty minutes to fill three quarters full. 

              Aaron stood up and stumbled looking extremely high on the fumes.  We dragged him over and sat him next to the truck so he would not pass out.  “I think it is empty,” He stuttered as he was sitting down.

              I walked over placing the lid on the tank then grabbing the dolly.  Everyone, but old Jim helped to put the massive drum in The Dozer.  The extension cords were used to secure the drum in the corner making sure it would not bounce out on the way back.  We headed back to town happy we found so much, but saddened at the loss we suffered.

our extra ammo giving her the chance to feel useful.  We then set o
              The way back everyone was silent.  Jaime got to drive the dozer and Aaron turned back over and over making sure we were still close behind.  This first load took a heavy toll on the trucks forcing the drivers to take their time on the way back.  It was past midday the sun beat down right in front of us making it difficult to see anything.  We hit the valley Jaime and I had practiced killing.  The dead bodies were easy spot against the dead brush of the hill.  While we passed I contemplated my reservations on killing.  I understood that this was a part of the world we lived in now.  Death and destruction would be a common sight from here on out. 

              Turning on the dirt road Aaron and I focused on holding onto the sides of the trucks so we did not fall out.  The cords surrounding the drum struggled to hold it in place.  I saw the truck dip into the ground almost throwing both the drum and Aaron out.  Aaron slammed on the top of the truck yelling, “Slow it down!”

              She moved to a crawl now driving afraid.  He leaned over to speak in the driver side window.  I couldn’t hear what was whispered, but it seemed motivational since she picked up the pace once again.  Reaching within vision of the wall once again filled me with a safe feeling.  The closer we got though the more undead lay on the ground.  It looked as though the town had been attacked once again.  The bodies had not been picked up and burned yet.  We pulled in the front gate seeing blood splattered on the ground right before it.

              Aaron and I both jumped out of the trucks to examine the scene and ask what happened.

              As the guard approached he said, “The worst attack we have had yet.  There was at least thirty of them that rushed the front.  We killed them all, but we lost a guard.”

              After the guard was done speaking Aaron tilted his head back to the truck saying, “So did we, but it was not the undead that got him.  We were attacked by five bikers who are all laying face down.  Before we were able to finish them they shot Tim in the neck.”

              The guard seemed a bit more distressed than what I had expected.  The expression on his face told me he had known the man we lost.  Aaron seemed to be consoling him somewhat.  He put his arm around the guard and said, “Sorry we lost your brother Nick.”

              The only thing Nick could say was, “He knew what he was getting into and would have gladly died to keep others safe.”

              A couple moments after Aaron yelled into the gate, “Open up.”

              The gate rose showing us the city and welcoming us into its safety once again.  The trucks slowly drove in with Aaron yelling at them to drive to the security office.  Aaron and I walked down following. 

              “Think Earl will be impressed?” I asked.

              “I am pretty sure he will like what he sees.” Aaron said.

              Once we reached the office Old Jim still sat in the truck seeming to wait for some instruction.  Aaron passed right by and into the office leaving him.  I looked up and said, “Follow me.”

              He smiled getting out of the truck and followed me into the office.  It was warm and there was around thirty or forty guards present all screaming.  They were all addressing Earl and he attempting to calm them.  Aaron and I stood in the back with Jaime and Old Jim.  The driver of the Chevy seemed to have walked home.  The man who handed me the binoculars and large knife stood next to me. 

              Turning to Aaron I asked, “What do you think is wrong?”

              Without a second of hesitation he simply stated, “They’re scared.”

              We waited for a solid twenty minutes before Earl was able to convince them they were safe and to get back to work. As the men left the office we headed towards where Earl was standing.  He finally saw us and said, “I hope you guys have good news.”

              Aaron told him to follow us out.  When he saw the back of the trucks full of military grade weapons a big smile shined on his face.  He looked through The Dozer first asking if the drum held water.

              “That’s forty gallons or so of gas,” Aaron said.

              His smile seeing the amount of gas grew wider knowing it meant more runs for supplies. After looking through the back of The Dozer he turned to Aaron noticing he shared none of his sentiment and asked, “What’s wrong with you? You guys did great out there today.”

              Aaron was standing next to Earl.  He pointed to the blanket in the back, “We lost a man”. 

              Earl quickly understood why Aaron and the rest of us did not seem thrilled to be back.  He pulled the blanket away uncovering Tim’s face.  He saw the wound on his neck and threw the blanket covering him back up. 

              “What the hell happened?” He asked visibly upset.

              “Gang on bikes attacked us while we were loading the trucks.  Five of them flew down the road shooting. Tim was standing out the driver’s side door unloading, but was hit as they drove by. Turns out Jake here has a good eye on him took two out by himself and Jaime shot one as well.  Very good recruits you found Earl.”

              Though still visibly upset at the loss of his man Earl continued looking through everything we found.  He stepped in the back of the Chevy grabbing a few guns and asking us to help him haul them in.  Jumping out the truck and walking back to the office Earl stopped suddenly finally realizing the presence of Old Jim who still stood behind me.

              He looked up at him and asked, “Who are you?”

              Aaron realizing he had completely forgotten about telling Earl about Jim introduced them. 

              “Earl this is the man whose store provided all of this.” Aaron said.

              Still looking at Jim he asked, “So you run a military store?”

              Jim finally gaining enough confidence to speak for himself said, “No just a small gas station with a bunker out back.  There is plenty of food still in the bunker you are welcome to.”

              As he said this Jim looked as though trying to gain the approval to stay.  Earl seeing this simply said, “You don’t have to buy your way in this town you just need to be able to work. Are you good with a gun?”

              “I am better at working with my hands than I am guns.”

              Earl seemed pleased with this.  Looking him up and down he pointed to the town hall and said, “If you good with your hands my brother Timothy will be interested in you.  He can usually be found in the large building up there.  If there is a meeting just wait patiently for him to finish.”

              Before he sent him off I remarked, “Earl we will need him if we are going back to get the food. There is a lock on the bunker that only he knows the code to.”

              Earl looked up at him with an interested expression, “We don’t like to let ordinary citizens leave the town on scavenging missions.  If you really want to go you can, but I highly recommend letting guards go in your place and you giving the code to Aaron and Jake here.”

              As soon as Jim heard the word citizen he realized that this town was his home and did not want to go face danger if he didn’t have to.  He quickly gave the number to us.  It was a five digit number and quite easy to remember.  Aaron began repeating the code fearing he would forget it, “55611, 55611, 55611”.  Earl seemed a bit annoyed at the repetition and told Aaron, “Come inside I got a pen and paper you can use.”

              “Oh thank god my memory is terrible,” Aaron responded.

              Earl looked back at Jim and said, “I will ask Nick if you can have his brother’s room.  If not there are many around here that will help you set up near Jake, Amanda, and Jaime.”

              Once again Jim’s eyes seemed so thankful.  He turned and began walking towards the large building Earl had pointed to.

              Unloading the trucks went much quicker than loading.  A few guards interested in the new weaponry came over and began helping.  In the security office we quickly ran out of room for all the new weapons.  Earl began taking down the weakest rifles walking them in the back room.  By the time we finished there were guns covering the first room.  Rifles standing against the walls and the piles of pistols on tables looked as though they would topple. We had no idea of the amount of guns we picked up until seeing them sprawled across the office mixed with the guns already found. 

Chapter 16

              “Do you want us to head back out?” Aaron asked Earl after he handed him the paper and pen.

              “No wait till tomorrow we need to get those zombies burned and have a funeral for Tim.”  As the words fell out the sadness in his voice was obvious. 

              Jaime and I left the house and saw Amanda and Timothy walking towards us.  Her steps were those of someone forcing themselves to move after their body has been exhausted.  Timothy had the same look and speed as he always did, but this time with his arm around Amanda.  Jaime and I looked at each other and smiled knowing what was going on between the two. Once the couple reached us Jaime looked at Amanda and said, “Wow you look rough.”

              Amanda gave a little smirk and said, “Yea I am exhausted.  Timothy seems to run at a hundred miles an hour, it is impossible to keep up with him.  I am going to go lay down.”

              They walked past us down the road and Timothy keeping his arm around her holding her up. Jaime and I headed up towards the kitchen to see if they had any dinner ready yet.  Walking in, I smelt deer cooking once again.  The cooks were bustling trying to get dinner ready for seven hundred people.  With no one around we figured they had not finished and went to go sit on your designated dining log to wait.

              Sitting on the log with Jaime she slowly put her arm around me and placed her head on my shoulder.  As she did I felt my heart skip a beat. Ever since the forest I had been attracted to her, but because of the circumstances did not want to push for anything besides friendship.  I put my arm around her and we sat watching the sun fall behind the iron wall which surrounded us.  It was easily one of the most romantic moments in my life.  After a few minutes we heard the cooks yell out of the kitchen that dinner was ready.

              We stood slowly and walked to the kitchen holding hands.  This simple gesture would have been something to laugh at in my former life, but with a world filled with such monstrosity and travesty the simple gesture of holding someone’s hand took on a new meaning.  Neither of us wanting it to end we stood a minute looking at the bowls before letting go.  After getting food we walked back sitting on our log and enjoyed eating together in silence after the day we had.

              When we got back to our house Amanda and Timothy were together in Amanda’s bed sleeping soundly.  I walked back to my room and laid down, but was shocked as Jaime entered my room after me.  She looked absolutely beautiful in the moonlight which was able to pass through the small holes in our roof. She walked up to me slowly grabbing my hand then looking up and moved forward kissing me deeply. 

              I took a step back shocked at her actions.  Because of the position that I had found her in, all of my sexual motivations were suppressed.  After being held prisoner I figured she would not want any type of relationship.  She looked at me with those blue eyes smiling and said, “I know you are worried about me, but it is not helpful if you keep treating me like I am broken.”

              She stepped forward once again and I leaned forward to meet her kiss this time.  Realizing that our life expectancy had dropped dramatically from the period of the outbreak I felt as though we should live every day as if it was our last.  Slowly we move locked together towards the pile of blankets making up our bed.  Her blue eyes held firm to mine and the blond hair seemed to encompass me.  We laid slowly together on the blankets Jaime lying on top of me.  She reached down pulling my shirt over my head and I did the same to her. 

              As the shirt slipped above her head I saw how wonderfully her body had recovered.  We once again locked in a kiss.  I rolled her over taking top.  She had her hand between my legs gently massaging. Reaching down I began untying the cords she had continued to use for keeping her pants up.  After a minor struggle I was able to untie them and she helped me strip her completely.  My hand slid between her legs slowly sliding my middle finger inside her.  As I did she let out a moan making me even more excited.