“What are you doing?” She asked.
“Finishing this!” He said, fueled by his hatred of Malcolm. “Now, go! Tell Luke I’m taking control.”
“Ok.” She nodded, now understanding what Alan was about to do.
Alan removed one of the syringes he’d prepared at the lab, and stuck the needle into his arm. A look of surprise came over Malcolm’s face, and slowly he began to put all the pieces together. “No. No no no. You aren’t thinking of…”
“Yes. I am.” Alan cut him off. “I’m going to do exactly what you’re thinking.” He continued, injecting the chemical from the syringe into his bloodstream.
Alan aimed his gifted revolver at Malcolm’s knees. He put a bullet in each kneecap, and Malcolm screamed in agony. He began to bleed, but that was no longer any concern to Alan. With his kneecaps blown out, he couldn’t walk. There would be no escape for Malcolm Graves. As Alan had promised, his fate was sealed.
Alan cut the bonds that held Malcolm to the chair he’d been positioned in since his capture. Alan then gripped Malcolm’s arm and dragged him from the chair and pulling his weight across the floor. He had pure vengeance in his eyes, and was ready to finish the fight once and for all. His grip tightened on Malcolm’s arm as he drug him down the stairs. Malcolm’s body bounced and jerked with each step he hit. Try as he might, he couldn’t move his legs in any useful way. He struggled to no avail. Alan’s grip was like a vice, only getting tighter with each step.
By the time Alan had dragged him to the lower floors, Malcolm had resorted to begging, saying anything that might save his life. “I’ll make a cure for the Dead Ones, I’ll do anything, if you just let me live!” He pleaded desperately.
“You’re insane. You’re a sick man, Malcolm. You don’t deserve to live.” Alan responded to his pleas. “I have no mercy for men like you.”
Alan reached the bottom of the tower, and dragged Malcolm out into the open air. The sun hurt Malcolm’s good eye, and he recoiled as Alan threw him to the ground. The Dead Ones were still marching forward, and those citizens that were armed still fired into the horde, trying to hold them off for as long as they could. As Malcolm struggled on the ground, Alan gave out a command.
“CEASE FIRE!” He shouted at the top of his lungs.
At once the guns of Refuge fell silent, and Alan turned his focus to the Dead Ones. “Everyone, get inside, now!” He commanded as he began to feel the controlling powers he’d felt the first time he was injected.
Alan’s mind reached out into the remaining brain functions of the mindless zombies. They were essentially automatons, nothing more than putty in his hands. He mentally connected with a few closer zombies, and then began to spread his influence through the entire crowd of the living dead. His concentration was solely on his control over the Dead Ones. In his own mind, he repeated a single thought, thinking it louder and louder each second, and sent that thought to the entire zombie horde. ‘MALCOLM.’
His command was transmitted through the horde, and they obeyed. The Dead Ones converged on Malcolm, who still hadn’t moved from his spot on the pavement. Malcolm spouted incoherent pleas as the zombies closed in around him. The crowd of bodies restricted Alan’s view, but he was certain that he knew what was happening.
The Dead Ones ripped into Malcolm’s flesh, and he screamed in terror and pain as the living dead began to devour him alive. The X7 entered his bloodstream, but it would never have a chance to transform him. Alan pushed the horde to keep attacking, keep eating, until nothing more remained of Malcolm graves.
The citizens of Refuge watched from a distance as Malcolm was consumed by the horde of Dead Ones. Some recoiled in horror, and some cheered with vigor at the death of the madman who caused the outbreak. After the Dead Ones had feasted upon their creator, Alan’s thoughts shifted. His new command was a simple one, and he shouted it in his mind as if it were the only word he knew. ‘BEGONE!’
It took time and immense concentration for his command to assert itself, but sure enough, the horde began to disperse. There was no destination specified to them to go to, but simply to leave Refuge and go far away. As they dispersed, Alan looked upon the remains of Malcolm Graves. He no longer looked like anything remotely human. His flesh was all but gone and many of his bones were broken. He had been completely devoured by the very monsters he had created.
Alan slumped to the ground after the Dead Ones had wandered off. The sheer mental strain of controlling the Dead Ones was more strenuous than he ever imagined. The first time he’d been injected, he only felt the presence of their blank minds. This time, he felt like he had no energy left after controlling them. He felt like he’d not slept in a couple days.
Kendra rushed to his side, trying to help him to his feet. “You did it.” She spoke softly to him. “You really did it.”
Alan tried to respond, but only uttered incoherent mumbles.
“You need rest.” She whispered to him. “Luke!” She beckoned into the crowd.
Luke stepped forward. “You rang?”
“Can you get things back in order here? I need to get him upstairs to rest.” She said.
“For you? Anything.” Luke replied. “I’ll take care of things here. You take care of your man.”
“Thanks Luke.” She showed her gratitude.
Walking away from the grisly scene outside, Kendra carried Alan back inside Refuge, upstairs to the room that was their temporary home. She gently laid him on the bed, and gave him a gentle kiss. She refused to leave his side; she was too worried about Alan’s condition.
“Rest, my love.” She whispered. “Please, please be ok.”
23
It was almost a full 24 hours before Alan came around. He felt groggy, and it too him a few minutes to identify the dim room he was in as his room in Refuge. Kendra was quick to greet him, overjoyed that he had finally woken up.
“You’re awake!” She said with complete and utter happiness.
He smiled weakly. “Did it work? Are we safe?”
Kendra nodded. “Malcolm is dead, and the horde is dispersed. You saved us all, baby.”
Kendra immediately kissed him before he could respond. “I was so afraid you’d never wake up.” She confessed.
“It’s ok now. I’m awake. I’ll always come back to you.” He reassured her.
“What happens now?” She asked.
“Honestly, I have no idea.” He confessed. “We took down Malcolm, but the Dead Ones are still out there. They can still spread the virus. The country may never recover.”
“I guess we’ll just have to figure it out on our own.” She replied, trying to ease his mind.
Suddenly, a knock at the door drew their attention. “Anyone awake in there?”
Luke opened the unlocked door and stepped inside. “Hey, look who’s up.” He said jovially.
Alan smiled at the sentiment, and Kendra spoke up. “Thanks for handling everything in Refuge.”
“No thanks necessary, Kendra.” Luke told her. “I’ve pretty much been put in charge of running Refuge. A replacement was needed for Robert Vaughan, and the people seem to think I would do a good job.”
“They aren’t wrong.” Alan finally spoke up. “You’d make one hell of a leader.”
“Let’s hope so.” He replied. “So what about you guys? What will you do?”
“We aren’t sure.” Kendra said, distraught. “We don’t have a clue what to do.”
“Well you are always welcome here, my friends.” Luke assured them. “You will always have a home in Refuge.”
“That is very generous of you.” Kendra noted.
“We’re all just people trying to survive. Gotta help each other somehow.” Luke mused.
“I suppose we will figure out something to do.” Kendra said.
Luke nodded. “Then I will leave you two alone. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you… for everything.” Alan said as Luke exited the room.
The door had shut, and
Alan and Kendra were alone again. They wrapped their arms around each other, feeling each other’s warmth and finally experiencing the rest that neither of them truly had since their battle against Malcolm began.
“Do you think we should stay here?” Kendra broke the silence.
“I don’t know. The country is still dying. The Dead Ones still exist. We won’t contribute much by staying here.” Alan thought aloud.
“That’s true.” She began. “But what can 2 people do against a country full of zombies?
“How about we sleep on it?” He suggested.
“Sounds good to me.”
They slept all-night and late into the next morning. They awoke to each other’s smiles and took comfort in the fact that today, unlike the past week; they didn’t have to worry about Malcolm. Compared to what they’d been though with him, killing zombies the way they used to seemed like a walk in the park.
“Any new ideas on what we should do?” Kendra said, still half asleep.
“Nothing solid.” Alan admitted. “I do have something, but it’s a long shot.”
“What is it?”
“We’re the only country who was hit by the bio-weapon. The other countries are still out there, functioning normally.” He explained.
“Ok, so where exactly are you going with this?” Kendra asked, not sure of Alan’s train of thought.
“If we can get word some of America’s allies, maybe England, then we could get refugees out of the country and into temporary dwellings in Europe.” Alan elaborated.
“What about America?” Kendra asked, concerned. “Do we leave it to the Dead Ones?”
“No, of course not!” Alan exclaimed. “We could form something of an army to exterminate the Dead Ones. Send them in once the refugees are out and let them clean up the country.”
“That’s… kinda brilliant!” Kendra applauded him.
“We should talk to Luke. Maybe he can help us.”
Alan and Kendra went upstairs to the 15th floor to visit Luke. He was settling into his new position as the leader of Refuge, and seemed to be enjoying it. He looked like a natural leader. Alan pondered how glad he was to have met him.
“Luke! Ya got a second?” Alan asked, entering the room.
“For you, Alan, always.” His deep voice sounded out. “What can I do for you?”
“I had an idea, and I was wondering if you could help me with it.” Alan told him.
“I’ll definitely try to help.” Luke promised him. “What are you thinking?”
Alan explained his plan to Luke, and together, they hammered out a plan in the matter of a few hours. They were confident that they had a shot. Everything would ultimately be in the hands of America’s allies. If they refused to send aid, then the dead would forever plague America as long as the Earth existed.
“Alan, you should be running this place!” Luke exclaimed, impressed by Alan’s ideas.
“No, I’m no leader. I’m just a man who wants to get back to the days before the dead started to walk.” Alan replied, shying away from leadership.
“I’ll see to it that we get a message out. I think if we can get England and France to help, others would surely follow.” Luke said.
“Let’s hope you’re right.”
EPILOGUE
Luke was right, as it turned out. Once he got the message out, the United Nations held a special session with the sole purpose of dealing with the zombie situation in America. England and France agreed to accept refugees, as did Germany, and the Nordic countries. The extermination force that was proposed had been agreed upon. The U.K., France, Germany, and even China and Japan agreed to send volunteer combatants to wipe out the Dead Ones. The plan worked better than they imagined.
Word spread through the country, telling all pockets of survivors to head to a major city to be evacuated. Survivors made their way to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle, and even Louisville. England and the others sent transports to evacuate the survivors and escort them safely to Europe. Some groups reported more casualties due to the Dead Ones, but most made it out without harm. Evacuation took weeks, and it would be at least a month before the extermination force would be sent in to destroy the Dead Ones forever.
Alan and Kendra stood on the roof of the tower called Refuge on the day of their evacuation. They were one of the last to be picked up, due to their currently functioning society. They waited for the helicopter that would take them to the transports, hand in hand, relieved that they had survived.
“Are you ready?” Kendra asked Alan as they looked over the empty city below.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He replied. “It’s hard to leave, but we certainly can’t stay.
“I dunno.” Kendra began. “A fair amount of people have volunteered to accompany the extermination force when it arrives.”
“Typical America.” Alan scoffed.
“I take it you don’t want to do that?” Kendra guessed.
“We killed their leader, we have done our part.” Alan affirmed.
“My thoughts exactly.” Kendra replied with a smile. “Now we can spend our lives together, without the threat of the undead.”
“Sounds wonderful.” Alan said, kissing her lovingly.
When the kiss broke, Kendra came to a realization. “You know what?”
“What?”
“We never did share our last names.” Kendra remembered.
A look of intrigue came over Alan’s face. “We didn’t, did we?”
“No time like the present I suppose.” She responded.
“Well… I have a better idea.” Alan said
“Wanna share it?”
“Well, I know you haven’t had the best life, and I have no real sentiment for reminders of my old life. We should just start over. Lets come up with a last name of our own; one that we can share.” Alan elaborated.
Kendra smiled. “Alan, are you proposing that we get married when we make a new last name?”
“One day, love.” Alan smiled. “Until then, it can be our secret. A secret last name that only we know.”
“Very cute.” Kendra remarked. “Let’s do it!”
“So what should it be?” He asked.
“I dunno… how about ‘Taylor’?”
“Alan and Kendra Taylor… I like the sound of that.” He replayed the name in his mind. “Let’s do that. Alan Taylor and Kendra Taylor.”
“And it’s our secret for now.” Kendra said with a giant smile.
They embraced, rocking back and forth as they waited for their transport. “Any idea where we’re headed?” Kendra asked.
“Somewhere in the U.K. probably.” Alan replied. “Looks like we’re about to find out.”
The chopper descended carefully onto the roof of the tower known as Refuge, and they climbed aboard, along with a few other citizens of their community. The chopper would take them to a plane, and the plane would take them to Europe. The plane would take them to a new hope. For the first time in a long time, they felt peace; they felt relief. They felt free.
THE END
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The Dead in River City Page 13