by Lee, W. Tavi
Sebastian didn't speak. His memories were not fond ones. As were everyone else's. He couldn't remember all the good times he shared with his family. No matter how hard he tried, only those of their deaths remained. And by his hand no less. He reminds himself that he didn't shoot his children, they were already gone by the time he pulled the trigger.
6
It had been a week since they left town. The paper map said they were halfway there. With no signs of infected and no more encounters with gangs, they were in as high spirits as one could be in the apocalypse. Even when food was running low. The snickers were long gone and few corner stores that still hadn't burned to the ground were picked clean.
Water thankfully wasn't a great concern as long as they treated it with those iodine tablets everyone had laying around. Though the risk of contamination was still all around them and where to drink was carefully selected.
7
Sebastian was getting a little more sleep now that they were far away from town. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Getting comfortable made your reactions slow.
A sharp wind cut through them head on. Autumn was definitely approaching and summer warmth had been waning. Each with jackets, keeping heads down, away from the wind as they walked. Stopping for a break under a train bridge, Sebastian was glad to be temporarily sheltered.
A bag of nuts and some murky, but treated water was on the menu. He was quickly running out of food. They all were. Not nearly enough to sustain the amount of miles they're putting in.All looked noticeably more gaunt. Holly was on a volleyball scholarship in college and didn't have a lot of fat to lose.
Sebastian once had a bit of a beer belly, but that had already been consumed. Soon there wouldn’t be much fat for his body to harvest. Bennett looked like he should be in a hospital bed.
They needed to find food by tomorrow.
As if reading his mind Bennett said, "We need food. Anyone got any ideas?" "We could try the next group of houses we come up on..." Holly trailed off.
They’d passed many houses, but there was a high risk to check them out. From infected or those protecting themselves.
"Holly's right. We all know it's dangerous, but what choice do we have?"
Sebastian questioned. Going into houses is just asking for trouble. "We won’t know who or what is inside. We'll have to be smart. Watch for awhile and see if there is activity."
Taking a sip from his own funky water, Bennett agreed. "That's all I could think of. There's nothing around here and the ones closer to the highways would be picked clean by now, guaranteed. I wish there was a better way. "
With their break finished, they scrambled up the bank back onto the road and there looked to be some structures on the horizon. They'd have to be careful the closer they got.
They were within a couple hundred yards of the first building, an old barn with faded red planks hanging on to themselves by sheer willpower alone. It had seen it's own deathbed and decided to wait. The wind its current attacker, beating on it constantly, trying to tear it down.
A scream sounded from the barn. Not a pleasant sounding one. The three looked at each other and threw caution to the cold wind. Running with guns at the ready, they reached the barn door on the other side, kicking it open and opening fire a split second later.
There were two of them. Pinning the woman down, having their way with her. Worse than the infected Sebastian thought. Who would do such a thing? But all three had fired a shot. Two went into the guy standing and one from Sebastian went into the skull of the guy on top of her. Both dead, two less scumbags to ruin what's left of this world and no remorse from any of them.
The woman was unconscious, passed out from the ordeal, bleeding from a wound on her side, looked like a knife puncture Sebastian guessed.
"Hey, you're ok. It's going to be OK," Holly whispered moving to the woman's side. She stirred, giving out a groan. The cut was still bleeding.
"Holly, try and put some pressure on it," Bennett suggested.
"OK. I need a cloth or something."
Bennett searched around the barn. Some shelves still hadn't collapsed from age yet, filled with rusted old cans of oil and hand tools. He spotted a rag in the corner and grabbed it. Dirty, but will make due, he thought.
Holly had got the woman to come to, frightened by new faces, but she didn't scream out again. Because they weren't one of the them or didn't have enough energy to, they didn’t know.
"We’re trying to stop the blood, you've been cut pretty bad." Holly said caressing the woman’s forehead, who looked to be in her fifties or sixties. "Is there anyone else here? Someone we can get to help?"
The woman shook her head. "Just me" she said hoarsely. "My husband went out to find some medicine for me. Mine was running out. That was a week ago and I fear the worst. He ain’t coming back" sobbing now.
The bleeding hadn't stopped. No amount of pressure could fix her.
"Do you have a first aid kit?" Sebastian asked knowing it wouldn’t be enough. Internal bleeding from a punctured organ was out of his league, but he had to try.
"In the house, kitchen counter," she breathed.
Running outside to a house he hadn't really noticed during their rush to her aid, he got to the front door. Locked. Stepping back, delivered his best cop kick to bust the door open. It budged a little. Again. Again. Finally the frame broke and the door violently obliged. On the counter was the kit. Sebastian grabbed it and started running back to the barn.
When he got there, Bennett was saying a little prayer and Holly was closing the woman's eyes. He couldn't have been gone long. She was still conscious when he’d left.
"Too much blood," was all Holly could say after Bennett had finished his prayer.
"We didn't get her name," Holly stood up to get the pins and needles out of her legs. Walking in a circle, she moved over to an ax hanging on the wall. Rusted head with a shiny blade and well worn handle. Looked to have had years of good service. One last time Holly thought. Sebastian moved in front of her, "Do you want me to do it?"
"No, I was holding her hand when she passed. I've got to do this," Lifting the ax above her head she brought it down as hard as she could. Her aim was true, the blade connecting with the woman's neck. Crack, thump. "Sorry".
They left nothing to chance and she did the same to the woman's attackers, making sure they couldn't come back. Leaving the ax where it stuck, Holly walked out. The men followed. Bennett continued towards the house.
"Where are you going?" Holly questioned.
"To see if what we can use. They must have had supplies"
Inside Bennett went straight to the kitchen, popping open every cabinet he passed. Once they were all open revealing their secrets, he peered into each, one by one. Empty. Cups and plates. Empty. Empty. Every one so far was not useful to them or bare.
The second to last cabinet had a little treasure inside. Holly and Sebastian had entered and were searching the rest of the house.
"We got food," Bennett called out. "A couple cans of beans and vegetables and a box of crackers. Another day's worth each I’d say"
"That's good" Sebastian called out as he was rummaging through a closet down the hall.
Sebastian came up empty handed only finding junk. He kept thinking about the two guys they'd just killed and the woman they just decapitated. Those guys might have been scouts for a larger group. They had rode in on motorcycles which were parked in front.
"We should probably hurry up" he called out. "There might be more in the area and I'd like to not run into them, especially here."
Holly walked out from a room, empty handed as well. "Agreed," she replied in defeat.
"Here's your share of the food," Bennett said, handing each of them a small pile. "I want to check the well. That hand pump looked like it was in use."
They walked to the side, able to see the tip of the pump. Tall rushes of grass had grown up around it, as if to protect it from prying eyes.
After a good mi
nute of pumping from Sebastian, cold, fresh water began to spill out. They cameled up with cold water and filled their bottles. With full bellies and crystal clear water for the rest of the day, they got back to the road. Back to the reason they were out here, walking with a purpose, to confront the people who started them down this nightmarish path on the way to hell.
8
After Sebastian laid out his sleeping bag he sat down, exhausted. They had gone 20 miles that day. The most they’d done so far. When the ground is flat, anyone can cover some good distance. They were getting stronger and faster with every day.
Only having to stop a couple times for food breaks or find a bush. He took out his knife and stabbed a can of beans, repeating the motion until he could peel back the lid. Cold black beans and half package of ritz crackers. He'd had worse.
If all went well, they'd be in the city in 5 or 6 days. But the danger might increase exponentially. They still hadn't encountered infected and were all grateful for that, but there could be hoards of them still roaming, mad and hungry for flesh. And gangs, wanting to control the bountiful treasures the city held. Or at least did once. Checking his rifle ammo, counted up the rounds he had left. 23 rounds plus the 6 from the revolver. 29 bullets. That wasn't much.
"How many rounds do you guys have?"
"Hmmm, two, three..." Bennett was muttering. "I have about 35. Holly?"
"27"
"It might be wise to be on the lookout for other viable weapons," Sebastian stated.
"Sebastian, do you think we'll run into trouble?" Holly asked.
"Yes. With each step closer to the city, we run the risk of meeting people we’d rather stay clear of. I’d like to be proven wrong though.”
9
Morning came quick to Sebastian who’d taken the last watch of the night. The chill in the air made him shiver. As the sun was inching its way towards the horizon.
These morning hours always looked beautiful. So calm and peaceful. Birds were waking up with a cheerful chirp, animals stirring, ready to forage for whatever delicacies they can find.
Another day has started. Holly was already up and packing. Bennett was just getting out of his sleeping bag. Sebastian was a little concerned for him as he'd turned his ankle while trying to go take a piss in the night. Bennett said he'd be fine, but his grimace this morning was not reassuring.
"I think we're about 80 miles away. We'll have to be even more cautious from here on out. We don't know what the conditions are like," Sebastian reiterated. They were about a mile down the road when they came upon another corner store.
This one worse than any they'd seen previous. Plundered and burned more than usual. Only the front brick wall was standing, barely at that. Still they stopped to take a look. Just burned out wood beams, melted shelving and ashes of whatever was inside at the time. Bennett was limping towards a door that looked intact. A full brick room. Maybe the contents survived. Reaching for the doorknob he turned and pulled, but it didn't budge much. Looking down he saw that a beam had been blocking it, making the door unable to swing open. Moving it off to the side he tried again. Just as he turned the knob he heard a shout.
"Wait!" Sebastian came up to him, pistol drawn. "We need to be careful, there could have been a reason the beam was put there.”
Bennett hadn't even given a second thought to something being inside. His heartbeat quickened and looked to Sebastian for the signal that he's ready. Sebastian nodded, drawing the gun to the door. Bennett swung the door open, giving a clear shot to Sebastian.
"Ewh," Holly revolted while covering her nose. Maggots were crawling on the bodies inside the room which was no bigger than a closet. They'd been there awhile.
"It's hard to tell if they were infected or just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Sebastian leaned his head in to get a better look. "Two people, probably the owners. Shoved into the closet to die a slow painful death."
Bennett couldn't take the smell and heaved in the corner. Wiping his mouth with his dirty stain covered sleeve.
"I think we'd best be leaving now," he said in a hoarse voice and walked out towards the road.
One last look by Sebastian proved that they'd get nothing of use from here. This was only mile one he thought, the day wasn’t starting off well.
Holly had joined Bennett, who was standing still, wide eyed, looking to the other side of the road.
“What’s up?” she asked him. He didn’t say anything. “Hello?” she said, turning to see what he was looking at.
“Shh, I heard something over there,” unslinging his rifle.
Sebastian was coming out empty handed, seeing Bennett holding up his gun. His heartbeat quickened as he scanned the thicket of trees they were facing. He drew his gun as well. A snarl broke the silence. Something moved behind a tree.
Grunting was coming from the left now.
“They know we’re here,” Sebastian whispered. The noises came closer together now. One darted from the trees. Two more from the other side. They were being flanked. “Holly, watch our backs,” he called out, putting a bead on a tall infected woman shuffling towards them.
Crack. His first shot missed, tearing a hole through the bark next to the advancing infected. As he kicked out the spent casing, reloading another, Bennett hit the lone infected man that had been running at them. He connected to its shoulder, slowing it down. Sebastian was mad he missed the first shot, cursing himself at the wasted bullet.
He lined up his second shot, taking more time. She was coming right at him, a few feet away when he fired the second shot. Its head snapped back, sending matter behind her. It dropped to the ground. As he reloaded, Bennett was connecting another round to his target. They could see the last one, missing a leg, hopping from object to object, holding itself up. Sebastian aimed, but a shot rang from Holly’s gun, snapping its neck around, toppling over.
“Nice shot,” Bennett congratulated her.
“Thanks.”
They assessed the situation. Still on heightened alert, listening for any more that might be heading their way. All three infected were down. The headshots finishing them off.
“I think we better start moving. All that noise is going to draw unwanted attention,” Sebastian suggested, shouldering his rifle. They nodded in agreement and started walking. Holly in front, Bennett limping in the middle and Sebastian taking the rear.
Sebastian took a hard look at his companions. They’d volunteered to join. An old man, now injured and a woman just out of college, a girl really. He was beyond grateful, even if he didn’t express it.
The more they walked, the more damage they saw. It was nothing like when they were near town. Much worse. Burned out cars, one even still smoldering. Bodies just lying in the road. Like they just gave up and laid down to die. Some with their heads decapitated or bashed in. They'd been looted and by the looks of some, not that long ago.
They’d been walking for hours after their encounter with infected. Up ahead Sebastian saw what looked to be a road block. Broken cars spanned the road in a nice neat line.
"Woah, we need to be careful," Sebastian cautioned. "If there's anybody there, they probably already know we're here." They spread out, walking with slow careful steps, their eyes scanning the cars for signs of movement.
They got 75 feet from the road block and heard "That's far enough!" coming from the woods to the left.
Sebastian and the others stopped, eyes moving to where the voice called out from.
"Please take your weapons and put them away. We're coming out but if one of you tries anything, I've got guys with a bead on ya."
"We're not looking for trouble," Bennett replied slinging his rifle. Seconds ticked by. A man, of similar age to Bennett stepped out from behind a tree. A boy 12 or 13, Sebastian guessed was right behind him, both armed, aiming right at his chest.
"What's your business in these parts?" the old man said with authority.
"We are heading to the city," Sebastian replied.
"There's nobod
y and nothin' left. Destroyed, killed or eaten. But you must have known that. If you were trying to locate a loved one, I guarantee they're dead or infected. There's nobody still roaming around except gangs."
"We know. We are going to the city to locate the underground bunker where the corporation that did this to us all is cowering."
"You mean the bunker that doesn't exist," the boy piped up.
"My grandson is right. There isn't a bunker. Heard reports of men trying to look for it and finding no evidence to the contrary."
"There is a bunker," Sebastian reiterated. "I know there is. It's not based on hope. It's based on knowledge. My knowledge."
"Go on," the old man piqued with interest.
"I know there is a bunker on I and 27th. Two entrances, one inside the nondescript building located there and the second, one block away in an alley."
"And how might you know these specific details?" the old man asked lowering his gun slightly.
"I know this because I built it. I design bunkers, including this one. Fallout shelters, wine caves, safe houses. Anything that's underground where people could stay, live in and survive. This specific bunker was built in 1997 for the Humanetics Pharmaceutical Corporation. It can hold two or three dozen people. Have enough food, water and air to last them a year at capacity, maybe two if they ration. If it’s not maxed out, probably almost a decade."
Everyone was silent. Holly looked at Sebastian with confusion. Bennett with understanding.
"I am the designer and primary builder of that bunker. I have been inside. I know every detail about it because I created it. I know there are people down there hiding. Some of them responsible for this hell. If I get there and nobody is inside, then they are most likely dead or fled the country and I can not have my revenge."