The Outbreak Series Boxed Set

by Thomas Baker

  The Sheriff unlocked the first one, motioned JT inside. He did the same for the one right next to it for Tyrone. He had them both place their hands through a small gap in the cell door and he unlocked both their handcuffs.

  "As you can see you have a bed, a sink full of clean water, and a toilet." He waved the lantern around. "It will be pitch black back here and for that I am sorry. Should make for a good night sleep though. Gentleman, you have a nice night."

  "What? No bedtime stories, Sheriff?" JT taunted.

  "Careful JT, we don't want the big bad cop enacting some police brutality on us."

  The Sheriff shot Tyrone a menacing stare. "You know there used to be hundreds of people like you kid, hell probably thousands and guess who they all ran to for help when the shit hit the fan? It wasn't the gang bangers and race rioters, it was me young man. Sheriff Randall and his evil deputies. Think about that tonight."

  Sounding satisfied he had the final word, Randall left and locked the door behind him, plunging the cells into darkness.

  After the men had taken JT and Tyrone away, the Reverend turned back to Hannah. He stepped in close enough to take her limp hands into his.

  "I am sorry to have to do this," he started gently. "I am sure it is upsetting, but you must understand. I have to protect my people. My flock as I think of them. My instincts tell me I can trust you, you were trying to protect your people. But a foundation of lies is not a good way to start a relationship."

  Hannah's mind was reeling. Ever since coming across the church, things had been coming at her fast, one after another. The shock of seeing JT and Tyrone taken away in handcuffs was the latest.

  She didn't understand the open hostility JT was displaying toward the Reverend. I mean, here was a man of faith. Seemingly trying to make a peaceful place, a house of worship, out of the horrible world they lived in now. She was already convinced he was the total opposite of Harold. JT didn't even attempt to listen to what he had to say. Why did he not give the Reverend a chance? Was it because of the bodies in the trees? That was disturbing yes, but maybe that was the way things worked now. She could see the sense in what Albright had told them. She would have thought JT would have seen that too.

  Also, Albright was right. They had lied to him. She was just following JT's lead. She was sure JT thought it was the best thing to do, to protect Gus and Tyrone. Where had that gotten them though? Did it all boil down to jealousy, his feeling towards her? As these thoughts raced through her head, the Reverend continued standing there, holding her hands in his.

  "Your other friend, the hurt one. Gus is his name right? We will help him however we can. Even the sinners, especially the sinners, need the salvation of the church. Unless God decides it time for Gus to go home."

  "Really? You'll be able to help Gus?" Hannah's eyes widened. A warm feeling blossomed in her chest. She didn't want to admit it but she had given up on the thought of being able to save Gus. Now her prayers had been answered. It a small miracle.

  "Yes," Albright said, smiling even wider. "We have a wonderful nurse here. Linda is her name. We will get Gus set up and I'll ask her to look at him. With her help and our prayers, Gus will be fine I'm sure."

  Hannah felt as if he had taken a huge weight off her. If these people were still willing to help, she thought maybe things would turn out all right after all. That brought her back to what had happened to JT and Tyrone though. She pulled her hands out of the Reverend's grasp and stuck them in the pocket of her jeans.

  "So what are you going to do with us?" she asked, taking a step back.

  "Before I answer, let me ask you something Hannah," Albright said, looking serious again. "How is the wellness of your soul? What shape is your faith in? Your relationship with God?"

  "Well," she said, nibbling at her lip. She didn't know what that had to do with anything but if it would help Gus get fixed up, and JT and Tyrone freed, she would answer. "It's all right. Fair. Could be better. My going to church and reading the Bible lapsed when I got into college two years ago. I know it's not an excuse, but I got reallybusy. Before that though my church helped me get through a hard time in my life."

  "At least there is a foundation on which to build with Hannah," Reverend Albright said, flashing his smile. It seemed to always be there, right under the surface. "That gives me hope we can come to a resolution all of us will be happy with. Why don't you follow me into the chapel? We can pray together. Build that relationship with God back."

  He went to the door, opened it, and gestured for her to walk through. She stood there frozen for what felt like an hour, knowing this was a big decision. What if this man was Harold 2.0? She didn't see how that could be though. She was still convinced he was the opposite of Harold in every way. Albright was a man of God. Her thoughts felt woozy. Albright stood there, smiling invitingly, looking as if he had all the patience in the world.

  Ultimately, it was her faith in God that decided it for her. All that had happened would not turn her from Him. Look at the sign He has placed before me. Gus is going to be okay.

  Hannah shook her head as if to clear it. She stepped through the doorway and out into the hall. Albright stepped in front of her and led her back to the chapel.

  "Let's go down in front. Get nice and personal," Albright said.

  He knelt down on the floor, right in front of the giant cross. He looked up expectantly at Hannah.

  She knelt beside him. Bowed her head. Brought her hands together. Closed her eyes.

  "Lord," Albright began. "Here is another of your children. One who had lost their way, but now wants back into your loving embrace. We welcome her, extending our love and protection to her. I ask that you do the same Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen."

  And let Gus live. Let JT see the good thing in front of us. Let Tyrone see it too. Hannah added to herself.She opened her eyes and looked up at the pained figure of Jesus. She felt a peace come over her mind she had been missing for a long, long while.

  Gus blinked open his eyes and couldn't believe how much better he felt. His first thought was he had to be still dreaming. He was laying down on something lots more comfortable than he had been on a long time. The hard ground or the cold metal of the pickup truck wasn't digging into his back.

  Since there wasn't any naked woman in view, Gus decided he must be awake. He swiveled his head around slowly. Even taking it easy he felt a wave of dizziness. He froze and soon it passed. All he could see around him was a white sheet. He looked down at himself. In the dim light he could see he had something on his hand. It looked like a clear tube. He followed the tube up with his eyes to a clear bag hanging on what looked like a coat rack.

  Guessin that's an IV. Where the hell am I?

  Last thing he remembered, he was lying on the couch in the farmhouse. At least he thought he was or it could have been a fever dream. He thought he had heard some kinda commotion. He was half in, half out of sleep. Then he could swear he felt as if someone had picked him up. He didn't know if it was real or a nightmare. There was a lot of pain he remembered. Maybe he'd passed out. Here he was, wherever here might be, with an IV stuck in his hand.

  "Are you awake?" he heard a woman's voice call out. It sounded professional but compassionate at the same time.

  Gus's mouth was bone dry. He had to swish his tongue around a few times before he felt he could speak.

  "I feel worse than that time I spent a weekend in Tijuana on the donkey show circuit. Don't drink the water wasn't the only advice I ignored on that trip, let me tell ya."

  She spoke again, but Gus still couldn't see her.

  "Now stay still, try not to move around too much. You lost a lot of blood by the time you got here. Let me tell you. You're lucky you had no internal injuries or bleeding. None I can detect with the equipment I have. You have an infection in your stomach wound. Nasty thing. We must take your recovery process nice and slow. It's a blessing you found us in time."

  "If this is blessed, I hope I never feel damned. You said when I got here? Wh
ere is here exactly darlin'? Who are you?"

  The white drape was pulled back, and a woman stepped into Gus's view. "You're in a church. The Holy Covenant of Saints. My name's Linda." She looked to be in her late thirties, attractive in a plain way. She was dressed in a simple white scrubs. Her hair was a light brown, like a tree trunk, and short, except for some strands hanging across her forehead. She pushed these over to one side as she bent over to grab one of Gus's wrists and took his pulse. "I was a nurse before the Outbreak. Well, I guess technically I still am. Got quite the pay cut though. And don't get me started on the fringe benefits I've lost."

  Gus chuckled then stopped. It hurt his guts like the dickens. Still, he liked her already. Satisfied, Linda stood up. She left his view for a moment and came back with a small Dixie cup of water. She held it up to his lips. Gus took a sip, relishing its wetness before swallowing it.

  "With my help, Albright and his people converted part of the basement into a little clinic. With supplies and equipment salvaged from Saint Joseph Regional. You have the honor of being the worst patient I have had to treat since coming here. Before you, the most severe thing I have had to treat was the occasional stomach flu or scrapes and boo boos."

  "So give it to mestraight Nurse Linda. How bad is it? Am I going to need several sponge baths? Just so you know, I'm not opposed to them."

  She laughed. Gus smiled at the sound. It was so genuine. "Sorry to disappoint. So you know, you had some prettynasty stab wounds. Whoever stitched you up did the best they could, but I had to redo them. It was fishing line!" She sounded incredulous. Linda continued with a shake of her head. "You were about to burst out of them. I would've had to take the stitches out, anyway. Your wounds are infected, which I think I already mentioned. You were pretty out of it the first two nights you were here. I've administering a series of antibiotics, some pain medication, and an IV drip for dehydration. I've stitched you back up the right way and the best I could. You'll have visible scars, but other than that you should be back and close to normal in a week or two."

  "Oh hell, what's a few more scars after the ones my ex-wife has given me. At least when I tell the ladies I got these scars saving someone's life, it will actuallybe true."

  Linda chuckled. "You must tell me all about that later Gus. It sounds like quite the tale of bravery." She patted Gus on the hand. "Right now you need to rest. Let your body heal from the trauma."

  "Okay Doc," said Gus. All the joking aside, hewas relieved he would be okayafter all that happened. Jumping in front of Harold's knife was the scariest thing he had ever done in his life.

  Linda checked his IV bag. When she was done, she put her hands on her hips. "Hey don't insult me. I'm a nurse."

  Gus chuckled lightly, holding his stomach. It felt good to stillbe able to. He knew it was touch and go there the last few days, no matter how much Hannah had put on a brave face. He felt bad for Hannah too. He knew she would have blamed herself if something had happened to him, even though she shouldn't have. She wasn't the knife wielding weirdo that cut him.JT and Tyrone of coursehad been worried too, but Gus didn't think they would have taken it as hard as Hannah. Not after she had just lost Ashley. God, what an ugly business that mess at Harold's cabin was. The world's still as crazy as ever.

  Gus called out as Linda turned to leave. "A church, huh? Who would have thought that's where I'd be fixed up? You have lots of people here? How long have you been here? Since the Outbreak?"

  "Those are all things we'll have plenty of time to discuss later." Linda gave a gentle pat to Gus's arm. "For now, rest."

  "You're right, Doc, er I mean Nurse." Gus winked at her. "The most important questions I want answered is, how are my friends? Hannah, JT, and Tyrone. They being treated as well as I am?"

  "I don't know," Linda said, shifting away from Gus. "I'll check for you. You sleep."

  "If there is one thing I am good at, it's taking old man naps."

  Gus stared intensely as Nurse Linda racked the curtains back, the metal clips screeching on the metal bar. He could make out a staircase and some boxes stacked up in the quick seconds he could see in the gloom. There was nothing in what he saw that said this was a church. He guessed he would have to take Linda's word for now but already something was tingling in the back of his brain.

  Whatever it was, Gus decided there wasn't much he could do about it now. Linda herself seemed like the real deal. Maybe just nerves, after Happy Harold. Gus settled back, enjoying that his body wasn't racked with pain in what seemed like years and drifted off.

  JT and Tyrone woke to the sound of the Sheriff dragging his baton across the cell bars. The clanging was worse than any alarm clock JT had ever heard. He wondered what time it was as he squinted at the sunlight coming through the open door that lead out to the other part of the police station. It was blinding after the total darkness.

  "Breakfast time inmates," the Sheriff said. He was gruff, sounding like a hoarse old man from one of those old western movies. JT used to hate it when his dad would make him watch any of them when he was a kid. His Dad said some John Wayne was good for him. He always thought his Dad enjoyed torturing him. Then again, that time together was cut short, so JT never knew the true answer. The Sheriff also sounded like he was enjoying himself as he clanged the bars again.

  He carried two paper bowls on a plastic tray in his other hand, along with two bottles of water. He slid the bowl and bottle in through the opening on the cell door. He repeated the same thing at Tyrone's cell.JT got up, stretching his stiff neck and shoulders. His stomach rumbled, and he rushed over to the bars. It was a bowl of dry Fruit Loops. First, he popped open the water and downed it. He was thirsty. Starving too. Fruit Loops never looked so good.

  "You fellas will do yourself well to savor that and not overindulge." The Sheriff let out a short laugh like a bark. JT didn't find it very funny. "We have some rations but your care will be limited until I hear your charges."

  "Charges? What charges? We didn't do anything wrong," JT looked up from his cereal. He could feel his blood swirling as he tried to control himself. He looked back down, concentrating hard on his paper bowl. "If anyone should press charges it's us. Look what that church did to Tyrone. Look at his face. Not to mention my girlfriend is still out there and who knows what could happen to her. I swear that when we got here, I saw bodies of people hanging from a tree. Is that how the law works now?"

  "Girlfriend you say? Well, I don't recall any mention of a female acquaintance. By you or by Albright. Even Charlie didn't say nothing to melast night."

  JT shifted his eyes, taking glances at Randall and then Tyrone. Tyrone sat in silence eating the cereal with his fingers as he watched the Sheriff rub his mustache and stare at JT.

  "This female friend of yours. If you're telling me the truth, why wouldn't she be here with the two of you?"

  "Look man that's what I'm telling you! Those crazy cult fucks are up to something. They kept her behind to brainwash her or something," JT couldn't help it, his voice rose. "Dude, I feel like I'm talking to a wall here."

  "Let's get a couple of things squared away here. My name is Sheriff Randall and I expect you to address me with nothing less. Not man, dude, or Randall. As for Albright and the church? He brought together all those people and has kept them safe. He has given them something worth living for, after suffering terrible losses.Most of those people I have lived with all my life as friends and neighbors, and he has kept them alive. Even more important, he has kept their hope alive."

  Sheriff Randall took on that authoritative, I know everything so listen up tone JT hated so much. He had to will himself not to tune out. Everyone's lives could be on the line here.

  "Now, I'm not going to join up with them. Grew up a Baptist myself. Even though with everything that has gone on, I'm not sure what I believe anymore. If I'm going to be an honest man, I wonder what happened to God Reverend Albright says what's happened is the Rapture. What do I know about that? Not shit. What I doknow is that I will do what I can
to make sure the townspeople stay safe. Until you two can convince me otherwise, I consider you threats to everyone here."

  "Rapture? What? Like in the Bible?" Tyrone chimed in for the first time. He seemed a bitconfused and put off by the remark.

  "That's what Albright and his followers call it. You boys have a better explanation? Let me give you some advice. Before you come into a man's town and start throwing around accusations, you would do best to get to know the people and let your opinions form themselves. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to in my office."

  The Sheriff seemed liked he was both upset but also confounded by their conversation as he stomped down the hall, his cowboy boots thudding along the concrete floor. He left the door open, so they would have enough light to eat by.

  Who is this guy? JT thought to himself. I wonder if he is even really a Sheriff? Is Albright even a real Reverend? How am I going to get us outof this shit?

  JT looked over at Tyrone. Tyrone had his head down, fully concentrated on eating. Tyrone hadn't spoken more than two words since being locked up in here. JT was stewing in his anger too much to pay much attention to it yesterday. He let the stale, dusty air fill his lungs and puffed it out.

  "You okay, kid?" JT maintained a neutral tone.

  "Yeah, I'm good," Tyrone replied, crunching his cereal. JT thought he sounded sarcastic. "But where's Hannah? Why didn't she help us? She just sat there. And what about Gus? How come he didn't get brought here too? Are they going to let us go free?"

  "I don't know man. Maybe she was too scared to react?" JT said. Hannah had dealt with a lot lately. He was still willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. "As for Gus maybe they didn't see him as a threat. Beings he's so banged up. There are lots of questions about what is going on here. The one thing I know? I have a bad feeling about all of this. We will have to find a way out of here. I'll figure out how."