Antonio let out an irritated grunt. “What the fuck Miles!”
“If we show you, will you give us more food? Can we get more food now?” Miles ignored his brother and continued speaking to Julia.
“Yes,” the woman responded.
“Julia…” Baker was standing with his arms folded. “Should we be negotiating something like this?”
“Yes. We should. Only if you two can be honest with us.” Julia looked between the brothers. “Is there anyone else with you two?”
“No,” the brothers said in unison.
“No old man waiting for a chance to strike. No group out in the woods.”
“No. We don’t have a group. It’s just us.” Miles said.
“It’s just us.” Antonio added, feeling like they were losing in this negotiation. He slouched in his seat.
Baker shook his head.
“Captain.” Julia looked at Baker then Ben, Lesly and Manson, tilting her head to signal for them to follow her to a corner of the room to speak privately, away from the boys. “Look, what other choice do we have but to take their word for it. We can see these boys have no reason to hide anything from us,” she whispered as the small committee stood in the corner.
“I don’t know, Jules. They didn’t exactly tell us outright about their old man.” Baker’s words were low and his eyes were cautious.
Lesly was nodding her head so much she looked like a shaking Barbie doll. “They could be still lying and like Carver said, someone could be waiting for us to let our guard down out there.”
“I don’t think they have people to take down the store.” Baker crossed his arms. “I’m just saying they’re holding back information.”
“Wouldn’t you?” Julia jumped in. “What was there to say? Their father figure died. How would that come up in our interrogations? And why would they tell us that? Should we tell them about everyone we lost in the store?” Julia saw Lesly dropped her head and Baker avoided her eyes and sighed. Then the psychologist continued, “Look, we already know a lot about them. We know they can take care of themselves and they’d rather be by themselves. Do they seem like the type to hang with a gang or something?”
Baker sighed again. “They came back after dealing with the hive too. If they really did have a group, why come back and why alone.”
“Exactly! They’re still just kids and they grew up in hell and were raised to survive in it. Why wouldn’t they be apprehensive dealing with anyone new? And if I had to guess from my experience, both of them may be some level of autistic. At least Miles, for sure. Besides his survival skills he’s still just a little boy. Both of them are. We can’t begin to try and figure those two out after all they’ve been through. Hell, we’re screwed up ourselves and we survived in a fucking Costco superstore!” Julia eyed Ben, who was being oddly quiet. “Ben, you can back me up on this any time now.”
Ben stammered and his eyes went everywhere as he heard his name. “Huh? What? Oh I… I don’t know if I should have any more say in this kinda stuff. This is the second time my judgment call led to someone’s death.”
Julia shook her head and looked to Manson to see if he had any input. But the scientist may as well have been an extra in a play from his quiet and uninterested demeanor.
“Is this almost over.” Manson asked with an empty expression. “I’d like to get back to my lab if we’re done.”
“Ay dios mio!” Julia slapped a hand to her face.
“Hey… I thought you said everything on the table,” Antonio said, leaning from his chair towards the group of adults a few feet away. “What you talkin’ about now?”
Julia looked at him and shook her head. “Did you two see a family out there too? A boy and his mother?”
Antonio and Miles exchanged glances but both of them shook their head.
Julia made her way back over to the table and took a deep breath with her eyes closed before starting to speak. “The group we sent out was looking for a little boy and his mother, Karen. A few months ago, Karen and her husband Joshua came to the compound with their son, looking for refuge. Then Ben let them in without consulting the committee that we had.”
“It seemed like the right idea at the time.” Ben lowered his head and turned slightly away from everyone.
“But when they got in, the boy started acting strange and we found out he had a bite mark on his leg. We thought he might’ve been infected and was starting to turn, so it was decided to kick them out,” Julia continued. “Karen and Joshua both argued that their boy wasn’t gonna turn and the bite was weeks old. He hadn’t turned yet. They begged us to let them stay. But things escalated and people tried to force them out… and Joshua was killed at the end of it.”
A hush came over the room and everyone hung their heads, especially those who still remembered the incident. Lesly took in a breath and closed her eyes tight trying to shake the sad thoughts away. Manson seemed unaffected by the memories; he continued to look around, waiting to leave. Miles and Antonio were just waiting to hear more of the story.
Julia went on. “After that, Karen left the compound. But it didn’t feel right just sending them back out there. It was like sending them out to die. So, we decided to try and find them and bring them back in. I think Carver just didn’t like letting them go and them knowing the store was here.”
Ben was shaking his head and muttering to himself, “It was my fault for letting them in.”
Baker stepped out from behind Julia, “You must’ve run into the group we sent out there looking for Karen and her son.” He said to the boys. “And you said all of them died?”
Antonio and Miles just nodded. Then Miles provided more to the story. “We live near where they died. We were going home when we saw them and heard them arguin’ and fightin’.”
“Miles!” Antonio nearly knocked his brother out of his chair when he shoved him. Julia stepped between them and stopped any further fighting.
“Ow! Stop Antonio!” Miles cried out.
“You gon tell ‘em where we stay! You know you can’t do that! What’s wrong with you?” Antonio was furious with his brother.
“Calm down, both of you.” Julia pushed the two apart but had trouble with keeping Antonio at bay. Ben stepped in to help but he struggled to hold the teenager and Baker went to lend a hand. Julia did her negotiating with Miles, the one most likely to bargain. “You don’t have to tell us where you guys stay. But can you take us to where our people died… and we’ll give you more food and supplies. We’ll give you what we owe you for taking care of the hive outside and we’ll give you more on top of that. How bout it?”
Miles looked at his brother, then looked at Julia. He looked to his brother again and against Antonio’s silent urging as he shook his head, Miles nodded and said yes to Julia. “Yeah. Food and supplies. Lots of food and supplies. And we’ll show you where your people died.”
“What the fuck Miles!” Antonio was fighting the men restraining him, trying to get to his brother to do God knows what to him. But finally, the men just escorted him to the office and locked him in there.
“You don’t have to take us where you live. I won’t try to make you do that.” Julia continued convincing Miles to accept the deal, but the boy was already onboard.
Major Carver reentered the room, wiping spittle from his chin. Chakrabarti was behind him, trying to remind him to stay calm but the major wasn’t listening. “Throw both of them in the office and we’ll decide what to do with them.” Carver said.
Julia sighed and turned to the major. “Actually, we already decided what we’re going to do. The boys are going to show us where our people died, and they can prove that they didn’t kill them. In exchange, we’ll give them food and supplies and let them leave.”
Carver’s expression was nothing short of bewilderment. “What?”
“We have to find our people. We’ve got too many people here in the compound wondering what happened to our search party and--”
“What the fuck are you
telling me right now?” Carver interrupted and stomped toward Julia in his heavy boots. “We’re going to take one of these cold-blooded killers, out into the woods so they can get us lost and then they’ll kill more of us? And you promised to pay them for that? Why don’t they just come back and kill us all when they’re done? What the fuck happened in the five minutes I left the room?” Carver spun around to look at everyone in the room, “Whatever drugs you guys got stashed away, please share some with me.” He coughed and spat on the floor, not bothering to stamp the spot with his boot.
“Major Carver, this isn’t a cut and dry situation.” Lesly said, but quickly regretted it when the major’s cold eyes found her.
“They just saved this compound from a fuck load of infected.” Julia’s eyes were low as she regarded all the facts. “They acted based on what they were taught about the infection and killed a man who was infected. And they have information on people we sent out days ago and haven’t come back and we haven’t heard from them. I know you got a stick up your ass about control and how you believe things should be run here, but with everything that’s happened up to this point, we have to adjust our intentions.”
“Baker. You sat back and listened to all this trash and went along with it?” Carver looked past the psychologist at his captain.
Baker sighed and closed his eyes. “Julia has a point. I saw how those kids operate out there and can tell they aren’t lying about having people waiting or about what they want. They’re soldiers just following orders some old man taught them. Maybe we can use them to help us in some way.”
The major scoffed. Before he could resume his ongoing rant, voices came shouting from the doorway to the store and Lance came barging into the security room with Castle trying to keep him out.
“No! I want some goddamn answers!” Lance was livid and snatched his arm from Castle’s hand. He locked eyes with Major Carver as soon as he entered the room. “I want answers! I want to know what’s going on and I won’t accept the same bullshit that you fed everyone else in the store! Where the hell is my wife and the other people from the search party?”
The grieving mother, Kayla, came into the security room next and old man Clint was right behind her, rubbing at his eyepatch under the brim of his hat. They were both there backing Lance and his sentiment.
Carver took a deep breath and ran a hand over his face. He was exhausted with the insanity that seemed to be plaguing everyone and spreading worse than the infection outside. He was losing the once-easy control he had had over the committee and the compound. Six months ago, no one in this room would have questioned any of his decisions and would have went along with whatever he said.
But now there was betrayal and second guessing everywhere Carver looked. He saw the small boy Miles cowering behind Julia but didn’t see fear in his eyes. Instead he saw a nervousness like he hoped things would work out. The kid only wanted to make a deal and he would just keep looking for ways to bargain.
“Major Carver, who is this kid? Where are our people? Does this kid know anything?” Clint was stammering as he blurted out his questions one after the other. Kayla was too much of a wreck, holding on to the old man for balance and believing the worst about her husband, who had led the search party.
Carver was already working out his plans to turn this situation. “Well, you all have perfect timing actually. This child does know about our people and from what he’s told us… they’re all dead.”
Lance, Clint and Kayla took the news exactly like the major thought they would. Different levels of devastation. Julia saw this and knew he was using a manipulation tactic. There was no reason to drop something like this on them unless he wanted them to turn on Antonio and Miles. It was a clever tactic. Get the grieving widows on your side and you could spin the story however you wanted. Everyone would believe whatever the major told them and would want to see Antonio and Miles punished for whatever crimes Carver blamed them for.
Julia immediately went into clean up mode. “The circumstances are more complicated than they seem, but please, if you’ll give us some time and let us go out to find out what happened--”
“Jesus. They’re all dead? All of ‘em?” Clint pulled his trucker hat from his head and looked at Miles; tears were forming in his one eye. Kayla had dropped to the floor next to him. He couldn’t bring himself to pick her back up.
Miles watched the woman sob and cry into her hands, and he felt his chest tighten with grief. “I’m sorry. Sorry,” he whispered.
“What happened to them? Did you kill ‘em?” Clint took two steps, but before Baker could move to stop him, the old man stumbled and grabbed the table to keep from toppling over.
“We were discussing that we should send Captain Baker and a few men to find out if this is really true,” Carver started again, his tone almost sounding genuine. “I personally think it’s too risky, but I also know that you all need closure…” The major trailed off, believing the damage had been done.
“I want to go,” Lance announced, and the attention in the room turned to him. “I want to go out there and find my wife. If she’s dead… I want to give her a proper burial.”
Carver was shocked to hear Lance take such an affirming stance. “Are you sure about that, Lance?” The major was hoping to deter him.
“I should’ve gone with her in the first place. I shouldn’t have let her go out there. It should’ve been me. I can’t let her stay out there.”
“I’m goin’ too.” Clint was regaining his breath and put his hat back on. “I want to do the same for Danny and my grandson. And for Franklin.” Clint turned to Kayla and she was looking back at him through watery eyes.
Carver was so furious he could scream, but he didn’t let his emotion show on his face. “Are you sure about this? Their bodies might not even be there. We don’t even know if these boys are telling the truth.”
“I can take you to them. I can take you,” Miles responded, looking at Lance and Clint.
Lance looked back at the boy and gave him a slight nod. By now, Castle was helping Kayla to her feet and offering her support so she could stand. Ben’s daughter Alana entered the room, creeping in from behind the soldier and found a wall to lean against in the hopes that no one would notice her. Miles saw her, however, and was staring at her, unable to look away. When she spotted him he averted his eyes and looked down at the floor.
“Ok then… we’ll get a team together.” Julia crossed her arms, amused that the major’s strategy didn’t go his way. “I want to go… if you think that’s alright Major Carver. I’m starting to get claustrophobic in here.”
Carver growled but smiled big. “I think that’s a great idea, Julia. Someone from the committee should go along, to show the compound how serious all this is.”
“I’d like to go as well,” Manson piped up from his corner of the room and startled those who had forgotten he was still there. “It would be a great opportunity to see the infected outside and the changes they’ve gone through. It can help further my research.”
Carver just shook his head, laughing. “Is there anyone else who wants to go?” He spun around, looking for volunteers. “Then you can get ready to move out in the morning. Until then, keep those boys locked in the office.”
Julia rolled her eyes and motioned for Miles to head to the room. He went with no fight. When they opened the door though, Antonio was standing ready to attack with the sharpened pens he had earlier. He had even managed to cut the ties around his wrists. Baker just about rushed the teen, but Miles moved between the two of them and kept Antonio from attacking.
“Oh, this will all work out so well in the morning,” Carver mused, eyeing the pens turned weapons in Antonio’s hands. “We don’t have anything to worry about with these two boys.”
Julia closed her eyes for a few beats and put her hands on her waist. She had had enough of the major’s cynicism for the day. “That’s about as much excitement as I can deal with in one day. We’ll get a group together in the mornin
g and have the boys take us to find our people.”
“One of them will stay here,” Carver said with a curt expression and everyone’s eyes went to him.
“Come again?” Julia responded.
“One of the boys will stay here for insurance.”
“Or as a hostage.”
“Call it whatever you want, Julia. I’m trying to take your survival into consideration. You can leave, find the bodies of our people and come back with them. And when we see everything went over with no issues and everyone comes back ok, we’ll let both of them leave with a small ration of supplies. And they’ll never come back here.” The major narrowed his eyes at the boys, his last threatening words hanging in the air.
“Yeah… we’ll never come back.” Antonio met Carver’s glare and wasn’t fazed by his dark words.
Julia shook her head, sensing that if the vibe in the room didn’t change, the teen and the older man would be at each other’s throats in no time. “Fine. We’ll take Miles with us and Antonio can stay here.” Antonio would be too much of a loose cannon out in the woods and wasn’t even trying to negotiate. So the psychologist knew her best bet for a guide would have to be the younger brother
Carver scoffed and turned to the woman. “Fine.”
Miles tightened up and looked back at Julia. “No! We can’t split up! We can’t split up!” His eyes started to well up from the fear of being separated from his older brother.
“Miles!” Antonio tried calming his brother down.
“We can’t split up!” Miles turned to Antonio. “Stay together. The old man said to stay together.”
Antonio grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him to the side. “Miles, calm down.”
“The old man said stay together. No matter what, stay together. We have to stay together.”
“We will. We always stay together. No matter what. We’ll only be apart for a little while.” Antonio began whispering. “We’ll get back together. As soon as I get the chance here, I’m gonna break out and meet you at the treehouse. And while you out there, you sneak away when you can and go to the treehouse and wait for me.”
Two Alive Page 21