by Dawn, M. K.
“We do whatever we can to convince them.” A small surge of relief washed over him. “Now that we have a destination, we’re going to need a vehicle.”
“What do you suggest we do?” Angie stuck a hand on her hip. “Steal a minivan?”
Axel leaned against the wall next to the window. “That or an SUV or a truck. Anything will do, really.”
Rainey dropped into the nearest chair. “Stealing? I don’t know how I feel about that.”
Axel hated it with every fiber of his being; it went against everything he stood for. “I understand how you feel, but we don’t have much of a choice.”
“Maybe if we call it borrowing….” Rainey shrugged.
Mac cracked his neck. “Well, we best get on it.”
“How we going to do this?” Gunner rolled up the sleeves of his ratty old T-shirt. “Scout the area from the front window and pick out our best option?”
“First things first.” Axel pushed off the wall. “We need to search the building for weapons, ammunition, and anything else that be useful.”
Shifter tugged at his beard. “Extra clothing, vests. Stuff like that might come in handy.”
“Let's get to it. We leave in ten.” Axel didn’t know how the others would take to him barking orders and didn’t care. They needed to get out of there.
“I’ll take the office.” Mac headed that way.
Gunner eyed the jail. “What about the two dead in there? Both had uniforms on. Think they have anything good we could use?”
“They would each have a sidearm. Extra clips.” Gus followed Gunner to the door and peeked inside. “And they still look dead. Might be worth checking out.”
Axel would keep his mouth shut unless they asked for his opinion. They knew so little about the infected; he wasn’t sure the reward outweighed the risk.
“I found a couple of backpacks.” Angie tossed them on the desk. “They’re big and should hold quite a bit of stuff.”
Shifter had wandered toward the back and returned a few minutes later while the rest of them gathered stuff from around the office. “There’s a safe back there. Probably where they keep the guns and other important shit. Anybody find a set of keys?”
“Keys.” Axel snapped his fingers. “Gunner had the sheriff’s keys. Maybe the one for the safe is on that. They’re in there checking the bodies.”
“Gunner!” Shifter called out.
“Yeah?” He came back into the room; both he and Gus had a police belt and gun in hand. “We got some good stuff from. May they rest in peace.”
“You got the sheriff’s keys?” Shifter asked.
Gunner laid the stuff on the desk and reached in his back pocket. “Here you go. You find something?”
“Possible gun safe.” Shifter cocked his head toward the back. “Wanna give me a hand?”
Gunner and Gus followed Shifter while Axel checked in on Mac. “You find anything in here?”
Mac lifted a limp backpack from behind the desk. “Not much. A bottle of whiskey that might come in handy.”
The corner of Axel’s mouth twitched at the thought of a stiff drink. “Guard that with your life.”
Mac chuckled and tossed Axel a clear Ziplock bag. “Here’s your wallet and keys. And I found the sheriff’s cell phone.” Mac draped the backpack on his shoulder. “There’s no signal.”
“I’m not surprised.” Axel left the room and tossed his wallet into a backpack. He left the motorcycle keys on the desk. He wouldn’t need those anymore.
Angie and Rainey were huddled near the desk talking quietly when Axel and Mac joined them.
“We packed all the medical supplies.” Rainey inspected Axel’s arm. “How’s your shoulder? I found some painkillers.”
Axel winced as he rotated his arm. “Maybe when we get settled. Don’t want them clouding my judgment.”
Angie glanced to Rainey, then back to Axel. “Are you sure? Lord only knows what we’ll face when we leave this building.”
Axel removed the sling and grabbed a gun from the table. “I’ve had worse injuries under worse conditions. I’ll be fine.”
Gus, Shifter and Gunner returned with a smaller bag than Axel had hoped.
“Damn small towns.” Shifter threw the bag on the table. “There wasn’t much in the safe, but we took it all. See you already picked your weapon. Should we each take one?”
“That depends.” Axel moved closer to the arsenal. “How many of you know how to use a gun?”
“I do.” Gunner raised his hand.
Gus crossed his arms. “I’m retired military. Hand me a gun.”
“Anyone else?” The others shook their heads. “Three out of seven. We can work with that.”
“So the rest of us will go out there with no protection?” Mac ground his teeth. “No way. I want a gun.”
Axel didn’t blame him. He wouldn’t want to go outside without a weapon either. “You ever shot a gun before? Held one?”
Mac shook his head and picked the small handgun off the table. “Do video games count?”
Axel hated the idea of someone with no experience walking around with a loaded weapon, but what choice did they have? “The gun already has one in the chamber. You flip the safety off, aim and pull the trigger. Do not forget to flip the safety.”
“Got it.” Mac wrapped his fingers around the handle.
“Anyone else want a gun?” Axel asked.
The girls shook their heads.
Shifter pulled an axe from the bag. “Found this beauty hanging on the wall. Didn’t even know they still did that. I think she’ll make a damn fine weapon.”
“All right. Are we ready to go?” No one answered, but they also didn’t argue, so Axel took that as a yes. “Okay. Rainey, Angie, you two want to grab these backpacks?”
They each took one and secured them on their backs.
“I got the weapons bag.” Gunner slung it across his body.
Mac patted the backpack he still wore. “And I have the stuff from the sheriff’s office.”
“Is there anything else we need to take?” Axel tucked his gun in the side of his jeans. He hated doing that, but with a bum arm, he didn’t have much of a choice.
“I think we’re good.” Gus held his handgun by his side. “Let’s go.”
They followed Gus into the receptionist area and hovered close together, everyone on guard.
Axel scanned the parking lot and spotted a police SUV. “Gunner, there any car keys on the set you have?”
Gunner fished them out of his pocket. “Yep. There’s a clicker. Want me to try it?”
Axel blew out a breath. “The infected are attracted to sound. If you hit that button and it beeps… well, it’s like ringing a dinner bell.”
“Maybe it’s already unlocked?” Rainey suggested. “It is a small town.”
“Yeah.” Axel continued to scan the dark area; the moon wasn’t even out to offer light. “But with all the equipment in there, I doubt it.”
“What do we do?” Angie asked. “Take a chance and go out there, hope those are the right keys?”
Axel turned to look at them. “We need to decide together. We can try to unlock it now, but if that draws their attention to us, I’m not sure we can keep them out of here.”
“I say we go for it.” Mac moved closer to the door. “Run for the vehicle, unlock it when we get there.”
“And if it doesn’t unlock?” Angie huffed.
“Let’s worry about that if it happens.” Shifter patted her on the back. “I’ll drive. Everyone else needs to call out where they’re sitting too. Don’t want people fighting over seats.”
Axel hadn’t thought of that. “I’ll get in the back. The trunk. Cargo area. Whatever it’s called.”
“Me too,” Mac said.
Gunner called shotgun.
“Guess that leaves the girls and Gus in the middle. That’ll also give us a gun at each point.” Axel looked over at the three who didn’t get to pick. “That okay?”
“Le
t’s get this over with.” Rainey shook out her hands. “Before my nerves get the best of me.”
Mac wrapped his hand around the doorknob. “Clear?”
Axel took in the parking lot one final time. “It’s dark, but I don’t see anything. Girls—”
“Women or ladies,” Angie corrected.
Axel furrowed his brow. “My apologies. Ladies, since you don’t have weapons, stay in the middle. We need to move fast but as quietly as possible. It doesn’t take much noise to alert them. If we’re….” He hesitated, trying to find the right word that wouldn’t cause any panic, but couldn’t think of any. “If we’re attacked, aim for the chest. That seems like the only way to take them down.”
“Huddle up,” Gus ordered. “Weapons ready. Mac, you got the door.”
“Yep.” He twisted the knob, opened the door and peered out. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Axel’s heart raced as they rushed out the door. It was hard to move fast and keep their group together, but they managed. The SUV couldn’t have been more than a hundred feet away, but it felt like miles.
They all kept their heads moving and their mouths quiet. Bringing up the rear, Axel took up jogging backward to make sure nothing came up from behind.
“Unlock it,” Gus ordered as they approached the SUV.
“I’m trying,” Gunner mumbled. “I don’t think these are the right keys.”
“What?” Rainey whimpered.
“It’s locked,” Shifter said, tugging on the door handle. “Try the key again?”
“It’s not doing anything.” Gunner shoved the keys at Shifter. “Maybe the battery’s dead. Try the actual key.”
“Wait!” Axel reached out, but it was too late. Shifter had already stuck the key in the hole, setting off the alarm.
A chorus of roars filled the night air.
“Fuck!” Axel shouted. “They're coming!”
“What now?” Angie screamed.
Gunner started for the police station. “We have to go back.”
“No.” Shifter slammed the butt of his axe in the passenger-side window and hit the lock. “Get in.”
Everyone piled into the vehicle just as a group of infected scrambled down the street. There were so many of them—no way they had enough bullets.
“What now?” Axel called from the back. “We don’t have any keys!”
“Give me a second,” Shifter yelled back. “I almost got it.”
The infected barreled into the SUV, rocking it to the point that Axel thought for sure they’d knock it over.
“Hurry!” Gunner screamed, firing his gun at the infected swiping at him from his broken window.
The back glass shattered as the infected tried to claw their way in.
With no open shot to the chest, Axel saved his bullets and slammed his foot into the infected’s faces, knocking them back.
“Got it!” The engine roared to life. “Hold on.” Shifter threw it into Reverse, plowing into the infected at their rear. “Which way?”
“That way.” Axel pointed, trying to catch his breath. “Then east. Out of town. The way we came in.”
Shifter floored it, the SUV jerking and then hauling ass down the road. “Looks like they aren’t that fast.”
Axel lay back next to Mac, his heart pounding. “You okay?”
Mac swallowed. “Yeah. You?”
Axel nodded. “Everyone okay up there? Gunner?” He was that most exposed.
“I’m okay,” Gunner replied. “Did you see how many there were? And their teeth and claws. What the fuck is going on?”
Bile burned Axel’s throat, but he forced it back. Whatever it was that caused these people to turn had consumed an entire town so quickly. He couldn’t imagine what the rest of the world looked like.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Come on, kids.” Britney drew back the curtains of her front window and checked for the sheriff. “Turn off the TV. It’s time for dinner.”
The movie continued to play, and Britney rotated around. She didn’t have the heart to get after them, but it was getting late, and after the trauma of the day, they needed some sleep.
And she needed time alone to grieve.
“You guys have to be hungry.” She crouched beside the TV and hit Stop on the DVD player. “I made your favorite.”
Most days the simple act of turning off their movie would cause mass hysteria, but today wasn’t most days. They didn’t react, didn’t say a word, just lay on the couch, their eyes still focused on the black screen.
Britney moved closer and ran her hand across each of their cheeks. “I know how hard this is, how much it hurts, but Daddy wouldn’t want to see you like this. He wants you to be happy.”
Carson’s eyes locked with hers, and he ran his fingers over his still-red scratch. “Am I going to be like him?”
“What?” Britney cupped his face. “Why would you even ask that?”
“Because Dr. Hildebrand was sick, and he scratched me. That’s how Dad got sick.”
Tears welled in Britney’s eyes. “No. Your dad got… bit, and it healed really fast. Your scratches still look the same.”
She didn’t know if that was really how John had gotten sick, but it seemed to ease some of his fears.
“I’m scared, Mommy.” Molly wrapped her arms around Britney’s neck.
“I know, baby. But I won’t let anythin’ happen to you.” She kissed her cheek and patted Blake on the leg. “You okay there, kid?”
He bobbed his head.
“Good. Let’s go to the kitchen and eat. I made mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. Then for dessert, we’ll have a bowl of ice cream.”
Molly’s eyes lit up. Dessert always lightened her mood. “With sprinkles?”
“Sure.” She guided the kids to the table. “And chocolate syrup and cherries.”
“Yummy.” Molly licked her lips.
Britney fixed them all a plate and sat down with them at the table. They ate in silence, which never happened; Molly alone could keep the conversation going even if no one joined in.
Britney popped a chicken nugget in her mouth and chewed it slowly, trying to keep it down. Her eyes bounced from the kids to the empty spot at the table John sat at just a few days ago. Tears clogged her throat, making it hard to swallow.
She needed a distraction—they all did—but for the life of her she couldn’t think of anything to say.
Weekdays they’d talk about what happened at school. John had a knack for storytelling, captivating the kids with tales about ranch life. Most nights he’d have them in stitches.
Britney forced the memories away and focused on the present.
“You’re not hungry?” The kids had barely touched their food.
Molly pushed the noodles around with her fork while Blake played with his dinosaur chicken nuggets. Neither answered.
Carson stood suddenly, nearly knocking his chair backward. “Can I be excused?”
“You want some ice cream first?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I want to go to bed.”
Britney checked the kitchen clock. Seven o’clock. Never had any of her kids asked to go to bed so early. “There’s no school tomorrow. You can stay up for a little while if you want.”
“I’m tired.” Carson pushed in his chair.
“Me too.” Molly stood, rubbing her eyes.
Blake yawned. “Yep.”
“No ice cream for you either?”
“Can we have it tomorrow?” Molly asked.
Britney forced a smile and got up from her seat. “Sure, honey. It’s not goin’ anywhere. Let’s go upstairs and get your pajamas on and your teeth brushed.”
Carson paused at the bottom of the stairs. The twins stopped behind him.
“What’s wrong?” Britney asked. “Why did everybody stop?”
“I don’t want to sleep in my room.” Carson took a step back.
“That’s fine.” Britney moved in front of them and crouched down. “Why don’t we all sleep in my
room tonight?”
Molly and Blake smiled, but Carson shook his head. “No. There're windows in there. What if there are more like Dad and they break in?”
“On the second floor?” Britney asked. “I don’t think we have to worry about that.”
“You don’t know that for sure.” Carson backed away from the stairs. “I don’t want to sleep up there.”
“Me either,” Blake and Molly said in unison.
Britney bit her bottom lip, trying to come up with the best way to handle this. She didn’t want to give in to their fears, but after everything they’d gone through today…. “Carson, I know you’re scared, but if we all sleep in my room together, we’ll be safe.”
“No.” His body trembled. “I want to sleep downstairs.”
“Okay.” Britney smiled. “We can sleep on the couch, have a slumber party.”
Carson shook his head. “I meant the basement. There are no windows down there.”
“Oh.” Years ago they’d remodeled the basement and turned half of it into a guest room. The other they used as a pantry for the fruits and vegetables she canned. “Um, I don’t know about that.” She didn’t like the idea of them sleeping so far away.
“Please, Mommy,” Molly begged. “I don’t want to sleep by the windows.”
“Okay.” She rarely gave in to them so easily, but she didn’t want to argue about it. “You guys head down there, and I’ll go get your stuff.”
She went upstairs and collected their toothbrushes, pajamas, favorite blankets and stuffed animals, hauling them down to the basement.
The kids were already under the comforter together and not fighting, a sight she’d never seen before. The king-sized bed allowed them each plenty of room, but they snuggled together, Carson in the middle with an arm around each of the twins.
More surprising than that, they were already asleep.
She draped each of their blankets on top of them and placed their favorite stuffed animal above their heads.
With a quick kiss on each of their foreheads, she told them how much she loved them.
Before leaving, she did a quick check of the basement, making sure everything was in order. The last thing they needed was more surprises.
Satisfied the room was safe, she headed back upstairs.