Decay of Humanity Series | Book 4 | Dawn of Humanity

by Dawn, M. K.

  ***

  “I’m full.” Blake sat his bowl on the patio table, leaned back, and rubbed his belly. “Anyone want the rest of mine?”

  After clearing the house, they had started a fire outside in the massive fire pit and cooked a big batch of ramen.

  “Can I have it?” Isaak asked, head down.

  He, like Molly, had been quiet really quiet since Vegas.

  Axel passed the bowl to him. “Go for it, kid.”

  He dug in with a weak smile. Poor kid must have been starving. At his age, Axel’s dad always joked that was eating them out of house and home.

  “I’m done, too.” Molly slumped in her chair. She had barely touched her food. “Can I go to bed?”

  “You need to eat, baby.” Axel reached out to touch her face but she moved away.

  “I’m not hungry. I just want to go to sleep.”

  “Well, you can’t go by yourself.” They might have cleared the house, but you could never be too careful.

  Molly blew out her cheeks and sulked. “I can go by myself. I’m not a baby.”

  Sloan jumped in. “We know, but would feel better if someone went with you. I’m tired myself and the girl’s room has two beds. Do you mind if I share with you?”

  Molly bobbed her head. “Sure.”

  “Can I sleep with you girls as well?” Liyah asked. “That is, if you guys don’t mind keeping an eye on Isaak?”

  “I can take care of myself,” Isaak grumbled.

  “Certainly.” Sloan offered her a tender smile. “The more, the better.”

  “Thanks.” Liyah kissed Isaak’s forehead. “Goodnight.”

  Isaak watched his sister head into the house then turned to Axel. “Can we play basketball?”

  It was the first thing the boys had noticed. “You need a ball.”

  Blake brought one out from under the table. “Got one. Isaak even found a pump and put air in it.”

  Axel looked to Archer who shrugged. “I’m okay with that. You boys have fun but only ‘til dark.”

  The boys ran off, leaving Axel and Archer alone at the table.

  “What do you think?” Archer jiggled his leg.

  Axel took a sip of his bottled water, savoring the fresh, clean taste. It took all his willpower not to chug it. There were several cases in the pantry, but between seven people, they wouldn’t last long. “Of what? The house? It’s nice.”

  “Yeah, it is, but not just that, the whole situation. No infested, no people. I mean, this place is massive and nice. Where the hell is everyone? And what about The Boss? Think he’s coming after us?”

  Axel shifted his attention to the sky and laced his fingers behind his head. “Fuck if I know. One part of me is relieved, the other scared shitless.”

  “You and me both, brother.” Archer drummed his fingers on the table.

  “As for The Boss, I think we would have run into him by now.”

  “True. What about this place? Do you think we should try and stay here a while?”

  The question was one they needed to figure out, but Axel was surprised Archer brought it up so soon. They hadn’t even been here a day. “I haven’t given it much thought, if I’m being honest. Thought maybe we’d get through the night first. You know, make sure we survive and all.”

  Archer chuckled. “Sorry, guess I’m just tired of being on the road.”

  “We all are.” Axel yawned. “Who should tell the boys it's time to come in? It’s about dark.”

  Archer shrugged with a smile, but he didn’t volunteer.

  “Fine.” Axel stood to call them in when the roar of an infested ripped the air.

  The boys dropped the ball and rushed toward the house.

  “It’s okay.” Archer held the door. “Head upstairs and get ready for bed. It’s nowhere close. We’ll be up in a sec.”

  Archer closed the door and joined Axel at the edge of the patio.

  “Definitely not close, but still scary as hell.”

  “We should get some rest.” Archer squeezed Axel’s shoulder. “Standing out here’s not doing us any good.”

  “Yeah. I’ll be right there.” Axel watched the sun dip into the horizon, listening to the infested continue to howl, but it never got closer.

  He gave up watch an hour later, locked the doors, and checked each window on the bottom floor to make sure they were secure. Once he was sure there was no easy access point, he settled in on the couch with a blanket he found in the hall closet and closed his eyes.

  As exhausted as he felt, he struggled to fall asleep. His mind raced, replaying all the horrors they’d experienced since leaving the farm. It was well after midnight before he crashed. But even as he slept, his mind didn’t. Nightmares plagued him, waking him over and over again.

  Britney’s death was the worst. He woke up, tears streaming down his face. Most days, he didn’t allow him to feel the pain of losing her. The kids needed him to be strong. But now, alone in the living room, he let loose all the emotions he’d bottled up since her death.

  It wasn’t until he heard footsteps on the stairs the next morning that he wiped his eyes and shoved the pain away into the deepest part of his heart where it belonged.

  ***

  Four days of peace had them loving their new living arrangements.

  Archer and Axel had gone out a couple of times to collect supplies from nearby houses. Strange enough, all the houses had the same sorts of food: ramen, canned food, and bottled water.

  This was a fancy neighborhood—Axel expected more of a gourmet selection.

  It was a mystery they had several theories about, the most likely being that there was some sort of a Red Cross aid that had come through and passed out supplies. But whatever happened, the only thing that mattered was they had food and water. And for that, they were eternally grateful.

  “Ugh.” Molly threw herself back on the couch. “When will this game ever end?”

  “Monopoly can go on for hours.” Axel tickled her and she squealed. “Aunt Sloan and Isaak are the only two with money left. Whoever runs out, loses. We can play another game while we wait.”

  “I’ll pick!” Blake jumped up from the floor and started for the closet but stopped short. “What was that?”

  Axel had heard it, too. “Sounds like a truck.”

  “Slash,” Archer said as he went for their gun, “you and Liyah take the kids upstairs.”

  She shook her head, and they all fled out of sight.

  Archer peered out of the cracked curtain. “Military vehicles. Two that I can see.”

  “Actual military or people using their vehicles?”

  “Hard to tell. They’re wearing army fatigues.”

  Axel’s heart thrashed. “What are they doing?”

  “Kind of looks like they’re on a supply run.”

  Fuck. “What if they come here?”

  Archer held the gun at his side. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve had about enough encounters with strangers to last me a lifetime.”

  “No shit.”

  “They’re in the house across the street.” Archer titled his head. “That’s strange. They didn’t take anything.”

  Axel moved to the window to check it out. “If they’re on a supply run, they’re doing it wrong.”

  “Maybe they’re searching for someone,” Archer suggested.

  He had thought the same thing. “Not us, right? Unless we’re in their territory. Could explain why no one’s here. They wouldn’t be the first people to get rid of the competition so they can take everything for themselves.”

  “Think we’re about to find out.” Archer checked the gun. “They’re headed this way. And with four bullets, we’re not going to get very far if they’re hostile.”

  “I’ll grab the butcher knife from the kitchen.” Axel raced off. “Should we hide?”

  “Wouldn’t hurt.” Archer called back.

  The door handle jiggled, and both men froze.

  “Hello,” a man called from the other side of
the door as he knocked. “We know you’re in there. Open up.”

  Shit. They should have kept their fucking mouths shut.

  “We don’t have much time.” The man shouted. “Minutes, at the most.”

  That piqued Axel’s interest and Archer’s as well, he guessed, since he crossed the room to the door. Archer paused as he reached for the handle and glanced over his shoulder.

  Axel nodded.

  Archer cracked the door and peered out. “What do you want?”

  “To warn you,” the man said. “Can I come in?”

  At least he asked.

  Archer took a step back and allowed the large, bald Black man to enter.

  “My name is Demarcus. United States Military. There’s a horde of undead heading this way. You need to come with us.”

  “Military?” Archer raised an eyebrow. “Which branch?”

  “Does it matter?” Demarcus crossed his arms over his broad chest. “We’re here to get you out and take you to a safe location. What more do you need to know?”

  Axel wanted to believe him, but their track record with strangers sucked. “Safety? Where?”

  Sloan and Liyah came barreling down the stairs with the three children close on their heels.

  “We have to go with them,” Liyah shouted. “They’re coming. A shit-ton of them.”

  An explosion outside rattled the windows.

  “Time’s up.” Demarcus held open the door. If he was in a hurry, it didn’t show. “Come with us or die here. Your choice.”

  The infested cried out, piercing Axel’s ears. “Everyone out!”

  He scooped Molly into his arms, and Archer grabbed Blake. They fled the house, trailing close behind Demarcus. A second soldier waited in the driver’s seat of the truck, the back door open and ready.

  Hundreds of infested charged toward them down the street, more than Axel had ever seen.

  They climbed in the back of the truck just as the second vehicle tossed another explosive into the horde. Their truck peeled away from the house before they had a chance to close the doors.

  “What about them?” Archer asked.

  Axel hadn’t dared look back for fear of what they were up against.

  “They’re going to try and hold them off, buy us some time.”

  “Why would they do that?” Sloan held a trembling Molly in her arms. “You don’t even know us.”

  Demarcus shifted in the front seat to face them. “We strive to serve and protect those who cannot protect themselves. We take that very seriously.”

  Axel opened his mouth to thank him when an infested slammed into the side of the truck.

  Demarcus and the driver kept their cool, unlike their group in the back. The twins both screamed and tears streamed down Liyah and Sloan’s faces. With them squished in the back, the kids on the adults' laps, Axel was on the verge of panic without a weapon and little space to move.

  “Out of the neighborhood, take the first right.” Demarcus ordered. “Then down the second alley on the left.”

  “You won’t be able to lose them,” Archer said. “They’re too fast.”

  “We know.” Demarcus pulled out a pipe bomb. “But these side streets are narrow. If we can cause a partial collapse of one of the buildings, it might buy us some time.”

  The driver punched the gas as they left the neighborhood. The infested fell behind, but it wouldn’t take long for them to catch up. The driver didn’t slow near as much as Axel thought he would as they hit the corner, but he never lost control.

  “You’ve done this before.” Archer clutched the handle above his head.

  Demarcus chuckled. “Once or twice. Max, alley number two.”

  Max’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. “You sure, Sarge?”

  “Yeah. It’s our best chance.”

  Max veered between two buildings and slammed on the brakes.

  “It’s a dead end!” Axel shouted.

  “Only for the vehicle.” Demarcus threw open the door. “Everyone out, hurry!”

  The infested grew closer.

  “Come on!” Max held open the side door to the building on their left while Demarcus readied the bomb.

  “Fuck!” Archer scooped Molly off the ground. “Bomb! Hurry!”

  Axel grabbed Blake, and they rushed inside the dark building.

  “Against the wall!” Max ordered. “Cover your heads.”

  The explosion sent dirt and small pieces of debris falling from the roof.

  Molly whimpered, and Blake shook but both stayed quiet.

  The door swung open, shedding light into the room. Demarcus raced in, emergency glow sticks in hands and backpack on. “That’ll hold them for a minute or two. Follow me.”

  They rushed through the building and into a stairwell.

  “We’re going up?” Axel asked. “Is there a fire escape or something?”

  Last time he escaped up the stairs, he and Britney nearly lost their lives.

  “Something.” Demarcus took the stairs two at a time, while the rest of them struggled to keep up.

  Max kept to the back. If he grew impatient at their slow pace, it never showed. He even volunteered to carry Molly up the final flight, which Axel was thankful for.

  They made it to the roof, and Demarcus led them to the ledge where a ladder lay waiting across the gap between the two buildings.

  “It’s better to crawl across.” Demarcus told them. “One at a time.”

  Blake took a step backward, bumping into Axel. “I can’t. It’s too high.”

  “Sarge,” Max called out. “No undead on the street. Probably in the building.”

  “Let’s go.” Demarcus went first, followed by Sloan.

  “Come on, Molly.” Sloan reached out to her. “You can do it.”

  Axel sucked in a breath as Molly crawled over the makeshift bridge without hesitation.

  Vegas had changed her in more ways than Axel had realized. His little girl was no longer little.

  Liyah and Isaak went next, followed by Archer.

  “Okay, Blake, your turn.” Axel urged him closer.

  He shook his head. “I can’t. What if I fall like I did from the treehouse?”

  “Come on, Blake!” Molly shouted from the other side.

  “We have to go, sir.” Max kept his eyes on the door. “They’re close.”

  Axel crouched in front of Blake. “Do you hear that? The infested are coming. It’s either face the bridge or them. What’s it going to be?”

  “Sir!” Max yelled. “Now!”

  “Go!” Axel shoved Blake toward the edge of the roof.

  He trembled as he crawled over into the arms of Demarcus.

  The roof gate busted open just as Axel started over. “Max! Run!”

  “I got the ladder!” Demarcus shouted.

  Axel booked it across just as Max threw himself on the opposite end.

  The ladder and Max slipped off the building. Demarcus and Axel each grabbed the end and held on with everything they had. The ladder and Max, who somehow managed to hang on, bounced off the side of the building. The infested screeched and growled, some even restored to flinging themselves off the building in attempt to get to their escaped prey.

  Most fell to their death, but one managed to grab hold of the bottom of the ladder, inches from Max’s feet.

  “Climb!” Demarcus ordered.

  Max’s arm hung awkwardly by his side as he staggered up the ladder.

  “He’s not going to make it.” Archer pulled out his gun. “Shit. I can’t hit the chest.”

  “Then put a bullet in its head!” Demarcus shouted.

  Archer fired a round, and the infested plummeted to the ground.

  “Fucked my arm up real bad, Sarge,” Max said when he reached the top.

  Sloan dropped to his side. “It’s broken, in multiple places, if I have to guess. If we could find a safe place to hide, I can figure out a way to set it.”

  “Thanks, Doc.” Demarcus helped Max off the ground. �
��I know just the place.”

  The infested screamed in protest as they took off, across a half dozen more buildings until there were no other roofs to cross.

  One thing bothered Axel as they descended a stairwell of a medical center. “Demarcus, how did you know Sloan was a doctor?”

  Demarcus grinned as he opened the door of a doctor’s office. “Get inside and I’ll explain everything.”

  Chapter twenty-three

  Sloan

  Sloan gathered supplies as the rest of the group took a seat in the waiting room.

  Demarcus had known Sloan was a doctor. Now, it could have been one of them mentioned it, but she didn’t think so. There was another explanation, one Demarcus promised to offer when she returned.

  With an armful of medical supplies, Sloan returned to the waiting room where everyone sat in silence, snacking on granola bars. “Where did you get the food?”

  “This is one of our many safe houses,” Demarcus explained. “We have dozens around the city for times we’re away from home.”

  “And where is home, exactly?” Archer asked.

  “Catalina Island.

  Sloan began to treat Max.

  “Really?” Liyah sat up. “That’s like an hour ferry ride. How the hell do you get there?”

  “On a man-powered boat.” Demarcus chuckled. “Like they did in the olden days.”

  Sloan had more questions about their home, as she assumed everyone else did, but first… “How did you know I was a doctor?”

  Demarcus settled into his chair. “We’ve been watching your group for a while.”

  “That’s not at all creepy.” Axel stood and leaned against the wall next to the window. “Why?”

  “We learned very early on that though we wanted to save as many people as possible, not all people are worth saving.”

  Sloan paused on Max’s arm. “That’s a bit cruel.”

  “Funny, coming from people who escaped The Boss and his Vegas thugs,” Max snapped.

  Sloan returned to tending to Max. “True. So how do you decide who’s worthy of your sanctuary?”

  “Like we did with your group, we observe. And if we feel as if you’d be an asset to our community, we invite you to join.”

  “An asset?” Archer tapped his foot. “Like, have useful skills or something?”