Pack Animals [An Undead Post-Apocalypse Thriller]

by Cain, Kenneth W.

  One of the civilians Sydney referred to as Mrs. Egerton, manned what Dale came to believe was a bar. She reached into a small bucket, examining the fresh cut limes. When she threw open the coolers, those hanging around the bar gasped, taking in an array of sodas, bottled water, and beer. It had been so long since Dale had any sort of alcohol, so regardless of what rules they might have, he hurried to the end of the line, standing behind a handful of soldiers.

  Mrs. Egerton grabbed a beer, opened it, and fitted a lime in the top. This reminded Dale of the good old days. Whenever they could afford such extravagant trips, his family would frequent restaurants that served some of their import beers this way. While Dale tended to favor cheaper brands, right about now, all he could think of was having one of those lime-topped beers.

  A soldier took a beer and started pushing the lime down the neck of the bottle. He stopped, withdrew the lime, and flung it at Mrs. Egerton. The lime struck her in the nose, rousing a wave of laughter from the other soldiers. Dale wasn’t laughing.

  “That lime is too big,” the soldier said. “Next time don’t cut them so thick.”

  The nervous woman fetched another lime and handed it to the soldier. The soldier took the lime, once more trying to fit it in the neck of the beer. With no luck, he yanked it out and flung it too at Mrs. Egerton. This one struck her forehead.

  “Again,” the soldier said.

  Before she could fetch another lime, Dale pushed his way up front and glared at soldier. “This one better fit.”

  No doubt the soldier’s buddies would stick up for the lame ass. But Dale wasn’t about to stand by while someone like that treated this woman so badly.

  “And if it doesn’t?” the soldier asked.

  Dale didn’t answer. He only watched.

  The soldier took the lime and didn’t bother checking the fit. He flung it at the Mrs. Egerton.

  Dale had met many guys like this before. They infuriated him.

  The soldier smiled. “See that, fellas. Turns out our gallant friend is—”

  Dale reached back, and, in one swift motion, coldcocked the soldier. The soldier dropped, his eyes rolling back in his head. One of the soldier’s friends seized Dale by the arms. Dale didn’t stop there. He kicked the fallen soldier in the ribs, stomped on his head, and kicked him in the side before they finally pulled him away. He was so angry he barely noticed the grin that had formed on the woman’s face.

  “Haven’t you ever learned how to treat a lady?” Dale asked.

  “Stop!” Allen was running to them. “Stop right there!”

  One of the soldiers said, “Sir, this man was—”

  Allen stopped, catching his breath. “This man was sticking up for a civilian. Have you forgotten what we are supposed to be fighting for? Have you?”

  The soldiers just stared at him. It was apparent Allen was some sort of ranking official to them, and they were lucky no one had questioned that. It was a good thing the jester cracked when he did.

  They relinquished their hold on Dale. He could see by the look on Allen’s face he shouldn’t feel empowered, but Dale did.

  “Put him in the brig until I figure out what to do with him,” Allen said.

  Dale felt like clobbering Allen for this, but knew there must be some reason for Allen requesting this. What it was, Dale didn’t know. But Allen had a plan. After all they had been through, Dale felt like his best option was to trust the man.

  CHAPTER 62

  Back in their quarters, what was once a sporting goods store that had been cleared and equipped with cots, Sydney confronted Allen. “Why would you do that?”

  “We don’t need any heat on our group right now, Syd.”

  She frowned, worried Allen was too far back in his element. “Why? Why do we need to avoid anything?”

  Allen sighed and looked her straight in the eyes. “We are in their house now,” he said calmly. “They control whether we stay or go, if we live or die. These men are leaderless, and right now, they think I am something of a leader. I see that as our only hope. What we’re seeing here, this is the early stages of martial law. Trust me, if this group is in charge, that doesn’t bode well for us in the end.”

  “You just want to be in charge, don’t you?”

  She strode away. Orson’s eyes followed her.

  Sydney felt Allen’s hand on her back, then her arm, spinning her to face him while the others watched. “No, Syd. That isn’t what I want at all.” He gestured to their entire group. “But if they find out who I am, what I really am, do you think Landon is just going to let me or any of us leave? Is he going to let us determine our own path? Or is he more likely to have us all killed?”

  The rest of the group appeared to agree with Allen, some of them nodding even.

  “So, what then?” Sydney asked. “We leave him there?”

  Allen’s eyes thinned. “No. But I can’t have him acting out around these soldiers if we’re going to be successful at getting out of here alive.”

  Sydney clenched her fists. “You can’t—”

  He slouched. “I have to. We can’t let America rebuild this way, not under Landon’s rule. We can’t let Orson, or, for that matter, anyone live under his law.” He lifted her chin, and when he did, Sydney felt a slight electric tingle. “Don’t you see?”

  Sydney moved into Allen’s arms, and he embraced her. “Yes, but… I’ve only just—”

  Allen moved to her side, so they were facing the rest of their group. When he did, Orson turned away. Sydney thought he might be crying. The boy had this ability to cling to a grudge no matter how difficult things got. He was so stubborn, much like herself.

  She stretched up to his ears, using her tippy toes and whispered in Allen’s ear, “Are you going to kill Landon?”

  “We are, Dale and I.”

  “You’re sure?”

  Allen rested his head against her forehead. “We don’t have any other choice. If I know Landon, he’s feeling pretty comfortable right about now. And if there is one thing a man like him does when relaxed, it’s that he gets cocky. Not only that, but guys like that tend to get sloppy. Perhaps—”

  Sydney waited for more from Allen, but he offered no more on the matter. She drifted away from him, seeing his attention had gone elsewhere.

  “Sir?” a young soldier said, appearing in the doorway.

  Allen’s eyes went wide. “Yes?”

  “We have prepared more suitable quarters for all of you.”

  Allen crossed to the soldier.

  “Do you…would you…,” the solder started. “Should I prepare your quarters for company?”

  “Yes. There will be two of us.”

  Sydney’s face flushed, already considering a night alone with her husband.

  “Fetch my man from the brig,” Allen said. “He’ll be staying with me.”

  With the realization of what he’d intended, her cheeks went red hot, as she realized a night with his wife was likely the furthest thing from his mind. But Sydney also knew Allen didn’t want to room with Dale, he had to because Dale was part of the bigger plan. Knowing that, as they made their way to their new rooms, she wondered if she would ever see her husband again. Would she even get to say goodbye?

  CHAPTER 63

  They brought Dale to Allen’s room in cuffs, as he expected they would.

  “Remove those,” Allen said. “He isn’t a prisoner.”

  Dale’s eyes said much about what he would’ve done to Allen if he hadn’t known this was part of some plan. Even knowing that, Allen wondered if upon his release, Dale might assault the soldier, or even Allen for that matter. He hoped not.

  “Sir?” the soldier asked.

  “You heard me. Why would I ask you to bring him here only to keep him locked up?”

  Allen realized this soldier was one of those Dale had toiled with, so Allen didn’t blame him for being reluctant. Still, the soldier did as Allen requested and removed the cuffs. Afterward, he took a quick step back, appearing ready to
fight. But Dale only stood there, which was good.

  “That’ll be all,” Allen said.

  The soldier remained in place for a second before moving on. He pulled the door shut behind him.

  A fraction of a second later, Dale went off. “What the—”

  Allen hushed him with a quick forefinger. He thumbed to the door, knowing there was a possibility the soldier might be suspicious of Allen’s actions, and could be listening in on their conversation.

  Dale nodded, but Allen could see it wasn’t easy for him to hold back. The brother wrung his hands together, clearly uneasy about not be able to bitch Allen out.

  After a several minutes of silence, Allen went to the door and opened it. He checked the corridor. All was clear. He closed the door and returned to his chair.

  Allen twirled his fingers in the air. “You were saying?”

  Dale stood over Allen, his fists coiled, ready to deliver a well-earned beating. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

  “If you meant what you said back on the dragon, then I need you to focus.” Allen rose out of his chair despite Dale’s posture. “But more so—”

  “There isn’t any more so.”

  Dale bumped up against Allen, as if trying to force him back down into the chair. Allen sidestepped Dale and made his way to the other side of the room. Dale followed.

  “There is. If these people find out who I am, then we’re toast. Do you understand that?”

  Dale seemed too angry to hear Allen’s words.

  “I had to show them I was in control. Not only of you, but of them. I had to make an example.”

  Dale’s fists clenched and released. Each time they did, his knuckles became a little more crimson. “What do you want to do then? Just wait?”

  “No, I want to get this over with as quickly as you do, but we need a solid plan. We’ll only get one shot at this, and if you’re the slightest bit as furious as I am about everything that’s happened these last few years, we need to have a very good plan.”

  Dale’s hands dropped, and he hung his head. “If he’s responsible for what happened to my family, then that’s all I want.”

  “Good. He won’t be expecting me, let alone two of us. That gives us only a slight advantage. But he has plenty of followers, many of them. They’ll die for him.”

  Dale looked up at Allen with a bit of a crazed grin. “You’re saying they’ll resist?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Dale’s smile disturbed him a little, yet it was likely an expression he had shared with his brother many times while getting drunk together. Though the look wasn’t as effective without the twin. “First, we plan. Then we prepare. Understand?”

  Dale nodded. With that, they talked well into the night.

  CHAPTER 64

  They each packed a light bag, needing little other than weapons. Allen had secured the dragon for the rest of their group, specifying they were to continue on with the president’s orders of ridding the eastern half of the United States of the creatures. Of the soldiers that were around when Allen gave the order, they all seemed to buy into the story. But Sydney wasn’t convinced they should go back toward the Midwest.

  “Allen, this is a bad idea.” Part of her wished he would just give up on fighting Landon. “We shouldn’t split up. We should—”

  “Syd, we’ve been over this.” The veins on his temple stood out. He had been stressing over this for days now. He glanced down the hall, then back the other way. “I’m going to see this through. One way or another, Landon has to be stopped.”

  “Why can’t we just stay here?” Sydney asked, already knowing the answer.

  He checked for signs of intrusion. “You saw how they treated that woman, Mrs. Egerton?”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t—”

  “It’s going to get worse, Syd. This outfit has too much power and no real leader. They’re just a bunch of kids with too much free reign and no one to reel them in.”

  “You can! You can control them.”

  “No, I won’t be here. Besides, you’ve heard plenty of stories about mutiny, how a crew overthrows their captain if left out to sea too long? These soldiers, they’ve been out at sea far too long, and they’re chomping at the bit for some action.”

  Sydney broke away from him and paced down the hall as she considered his words. Allen stayed behind, watching her. She could feel his eyes trying to pry inside of her thoughts. He wanted to make sure she was on board with this plan.

  When she returned, she didn’t bother checking the hallway. She could care less. “Fine. We’ll go. But you should know that you’re abandoning your family all over again.”

  That wasn’t the truth, of course. But she wanted to make him feel guilty, enough so that he wouldn’t go.

  Allen met her attempt with a grin. “It will be okay, Syd.” He put his arms around her, and she felt weak in his embrace. “I need you to be strong, like the woman you were when I wasn’t around. For our family, Syd, and for your safety. Can you do that for me?”

  She nodded, unsure if she really could anymore. It had been so easy here, safe behind guarded walls, in the company of so many people. It reminded her of the old days, back before any of this happened. And having Allen so close, willing to look out for her and be there for her son, only made it easier. She had gone too long without these comforts and now that she had them back, it was hard to let them go. Apparently, though, she had no choice.

  “Good,” Allen said.

  “What about the others?” Sydney asked. “Those I know from the school?”

  For a long time, Allen remained quiet. Maybe he was trying to work out the odds of freeing them. After a few minutes, all he did was shake his head.

  She met this with a sigh.

  “Maybe later. Once things are safe,” Allen said.

  He rested his forehead against hers. She could smell his breath. Feel it tickle her face. Then, he kissed her, quick and light with, but a whisper of a real kiss.

  “We leave early in the morning, before most of the soldiers are awake. Got it?”

  “And tonight?” she asked, her voice wavering.

  Allen’s lips found hers, his forehead still resting on hers. “Tonight, Dale sleeps with the others.”

  Sydney smiled.

  CHAPTER 65

  Their bodies writhed together, meshing as one. He was over her and yet under her at the same time, all around her and inside of her. There was a warmth between them which Allen could compare to no one else. This was love.

  She was on top of him. Then she was behind him, all over him. She sipped him in at first, then drank of him in gulps. Together, they quivered and convulsed until they were spent. They were lovers sharing an intimate moment that neither of them would forget.

  Silence followed.

  Allen stared out the window, observing the moon. This was one of the few things left untouched by Landon’s wrath, unscathed by the man’s madness. That gave Allen some solace, knowing he couldn’t ruin the moon.

  Behind him, Sydney curled against his back. Her body was warm.

  Time heals all.

  Though they’d both been harmed by Landon, things were back in order, back to where they should be, cured much like the water. Allen couldn’t help but wonder if the water would always be safe from here on. How long would people fight over what was left in convenient stores and supermarkets before they finally realized the water was safe again? Perhaps, many still didn’t know, especially those in the far corners of the States.

  Surely the west was a vast unknown at this point. Who knew how many packs ran freely in that territory? California was likely the closest thing to real-life Hell there was, but the less densely populated areas might be somewhat safe. It was all speculation, but that was where Allen wanted them to go, as far north in Minnesota as they could. That was where they would meet up if Dale and he succeeded. The fishing would be good enough to keep them fed and maybe, eventually, they could even cross over into Canada.

  On the ho
rizon, Allen saw morning’s light beginning to peek out over the tree line. Soon, it would be time to move, while most of the troops were reading for their day, before breakfast. Realizing the time, part of him wanted to shake Sydney awake, but he didn’t. He let her sleep a little longer. She needed her energy. He needed her to be strong.

  Allen crept out of bed and stood over her. He watched as she pulled the covers in close around her, compensating for the loss of his body heat. He loved her, everything about her. Her reddish locks. The curve of her back. Her ample breasts and her neck. He wanted to take her again but there wasn’t time.

  After pulling on his pants, he made his way to the door. He threw on a t-shirt, unsure where the shirt came from. Had it been left in the room for him? Whatever the case, he needed to wake the others. He would come back for Sydney when it came time for him to don his uniform.

  Allen looked at her once more, then left for the department store, where the rest of their group stayed. As he neared their quarters, he marveled at how they had converted such a large place into a well-defended building. He barely recognized it as a mall anymore.

  He didn’t run but took long strides. When he got there, he wasn’t surprised to find them up and preparing for their departure. Isaac seemed to be in control, hurrying them all along, taking charge. Allen couldn’t risk losing a guy like Isaac, not when he wouldn’t be there to protect his family. The man would watch over the group, a role Isaac had grown into recently.

  Dale ran a hand through his greasy hair, still looking rather tired. He shook himself vigorously. “Is it time?”

  “Yes.” Allen walked among them to Isaac. “You know what you need to do?”