by Damon Hunter
While vampire rotter Mr. Rutherford was still hanging on with one hand, Tanner picked up the wrench. Vampire rotter Doug Rutherford gave up on freeing the shears, apparently deciding taking a sharp garden tool out of his throat was not as important as infecting his son, and turned to face Tanner. Blood poured from his mouth as he got ready to stick his head in the car and turn his only kid into one of the infected. Tanner brought the wrench down on his dad’s elongated fingers as hard as he could. Tanner heard the bones break and slammed on the brakes. His dad lost his grip and tumbled into the road.
Tanner watched as his dad rolled to a stop. The last thing he expected was for him to get back up. Tanner hit the gas pedal with the same intensity he had used on the brakes. Part of him was glad when the vampire rotter jumped out of the way. Only hours ago this was his dad. They may have not seen eye to eye on everything, or even most things, but it was still his dad. Father or not, it was very determined to put some of its new sharp teeth into Tanner’s flesh and the fact he was its son did not deter it in the least. In fact, to Tanner it seemed more determined to get him than the other infected. Tanner did not want to be infected or killed by any of them, including the one who used to be his dad.
He saw the eyeball on the seat and felt a little more sympathy for Glen ‘The Glenster’ Larsen. He wondered if he wasn’t running for his life and acting on his strong instinct for self-preservation if he could have mustered the will to do what he had to do to fight the infected version of his father off. If he had thought about what he was doing for even a second, the thing his father had become would have gotten him.
It was a horrible thing to think, but Tanner hoped he never saw his father again, otherwise he would have to kill him.
Tanner drove aimlessly for a while, winding through the neighborhood streets until he saw no amblers or vampire rotters. He stopped the car and threw his dad’s eyeball out the window. It was sticky and the goo did not come off his fingers easily as he wiped his hand on the upholstery of Glen ‘the Glenster’ Larsen’s SUV.
Tanner did not know what to do. He figured the best thing would be to go east and get himself out of quarantine. The sooner he was away from the victims of the rot the better. The original plan had been to go home, but in a morning when pulling a dead baby out of a car did not rank as the worst thing he had to do, all Tanner wanted to do was get out of Oceanside. He sat in the car and thought about the best way to get to the freeway. Tanner realized that even though he grew up in this town, he did not know his way around as much as he thought he did. He could get to school and to the beach, find his way to his favorite taco shop, but other than that he was kind of clueless. After coming up empty, he plugged East 78 into his phone’s GPS and discovered the road out of the quarantine was just a few blocks away.
As he turned the car around so he would be heading out of town, he thought about Grampy Gary. It was a shame the old guy in the old iron lung would find his end in the very near future. Before he took a turn for the worse, he and Tanner used to talk quite a bit. Tanner figured when it came to actual conversation, he spent more time with Grampy Gary than anybody. The guy was a wreck and stuck in a metal tube, but he was smart and could even be pretty funny.
Tanner liked him better than his stepmother, who he found, to be brutally honest, a judgmental bitch. Of course, when he was being honest with himself, and as a kid who just stabbed his father in the face twice with a big pair of scissors designed for cutting hedges, he was in a truthful mood, Tanner could see how he was a big part of the problem.
He talked back, fucked up in school, smoked pot, drank beer, and snuck out after curfew as often as he felt he could get away with it, actually more often than he could get away with it. They caught him doing all these things more than once. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed he might be just the entire problem. Could she be nicer? Perhaps, but he was not very nice himself. She loved his dad, and he loved her. She just had trouble accepting that an angry teen with an urge to do the wrong thing was part of the deal.
Tanner turned off the GPS, turned on the next road and started towards his house. The reasons for going back had not changed just because Tanner had to go through some crazy shit. Any delusions that Caroline could somehow ride out the quarantine at the house like they had before they left yesterday were gone for Tanner. He and Caroline did not get along and with her beloved Doug gone Tanner figured they never would, but that was no reason to leave her in the hell Oceanside had become. He wouldn’t wish that on his worst enemy and after all the shit he had put her through it seemed the least he could do.
He figured he was about a mile away when the SUV sputtered and the engine stalled. He turned the key and it would not turn over. For the first time since he climbed inside, Tanner looked at the gas gauge.
It was on empty. Tanner should have figured this was possible, considering he had no idea how long the Glenster and his family had been sitting dead in the garage. For all he knew, he offed himself and his infected family sometime last night. Thinking about the possibilities, Tanner felt lucky to have made it this far.
He grabbed the torch and lighter and put them both in one pocket while he put the wrench in another. He grabbed the bat and left the car. The area seemed clear. He hoped it would stay that way until he made it back to his house.
Chapter 6
Caroline Rutherford’s House - Oceanside, CA
“You get any new information on the computer?” Donna asked Vance as they gathered in Caroline’s living room to make a plan for retrieving the transponder.
“Nothing. Which is not necessarily bad. It means the rescue in Oregon is still on,” Vance told her.
“If you don’t mind, I need to feed Grampy Gary,” Caroline told them as she got up from her chair and headed toward the kitchen.
Vance nodded, saying, “Of course.”
“Wait,” Clay said before she made it into the kitchen. “Can I ask you about the dirt bikes first?”
“I don’t know anything about them,” she said. “They belong to my husband Doug and his no-good son. I’ve never even ridden one and frankly never plan to. They are too loud and I don’t care to get that dirty.”
“I was going to ask if we could borrow them,” Clay said.
“I don’t see why not,” Caroline answered before going into the kitchen.
“How about the truck?”
“I don’t know about that,” Caroline said. “Doug and his son took the car. It is my only vehicle.”
“I understand,” Clay said. He looked at Ana. “I think the Suburban has a trailer hitch. Am I wrong on that?”
“Nope. The S.W.A.R.C. Urban Assault Wagon is equipped with a trailer hitch.”
“Awesome,” Clay said.
“S.W.A.R.C.?” Caroline asked.
“South Western Apocalypse Response Crew.” Ana replied. Seeing Caroline’s confusion, Ana added, “It’s a long story. Maybe I will tell you after we get our plan together.”
“Well I have to feed Grampy Gary anyway,” Caroline said. She looked at Clay. “Are you borrowing the trailer as well?”
“If it is okay with you.”
“Of course,” Caroline replied before heading into the kitchen. Once she was inside they heard the drone of Cam Carson spitting out conspiracy theories over the radio. Thankfully, Caroline shut the door so they did not have to talk over the conspiracy-loving talk show host.
Donna looked at Clay. “What do we want with their dirt bikes?”
“I was thinking about getting to the transponder. If the horde is still around the area, the problem is covering the distance between the road and our downed transport. Nothing against the Suburban, but we can’t really go off road in it. It may look like a four wheel drive but they are built more for taking the family to the mall than going off road. The hundred yards or so of open field we have to cover is going to be the most dangerous part.”
“He’s right on that,” Vance said. He pointed at the bloody wrap around his leg and add
ed, “I’m not running at top speed anyway.”
“With your leg, maybe you should be skipping the mission,” Donna said.
Vance shook his head and said, “Anyone else here ever remove a transponder from a TMRT vehicle?”
Everyone looked at Clay.
“Sorry, I’m not sure where it is. I’m just a grunt and they don’t tell us stuff like that,” Clay said, and then looked at Donna. “Sorry ma’am, but bad leg or not, we need him.”
“Even on one leg he is as good as any of us in a fight anyway,” Ana added.
“I figure with the dirt bikes we can cut our exposed time in the open way down on both the way in and the way back,” Clay told them. “Even if the area is clear of infected, the faster we can get this done the better.”
“Does anyone know how to ride?” Donna asked.
“I do,” Clay said.
“I do too,” Katelin added.
“No, you do not,” Donna said.
“What do you think we did when Kyra took me camping in out in the desert?”
“You never said anything about motorcycles.”
“See the face you’re making at me right now? That’s why I kept that detail to myself.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Vance said to his daughter. “You’re not going anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Too dangerous.”
“Really? You choosing now to act like the protective father?”
“Yep.”
“Who’s going to go then? You might be the only one who can get this transponder thing, but have you ever ridden a dirt bike, Dad?”
“Not since I was a kid.”
“Which was a long time ago,” Katelin told him. “Could you even drive with that leg?”
Vance did not answer. It seemed his daughter had a point. He still did not want her going along.
“I ride,” Bo said. “I can drive a bike, even did a few competitions when I was a kid, which was not as long ago as it was for your dad. Having me drive a bike makes sense anyway. I’m not a soldier, when it comes to fighting the infected I’m the worst one here, but I can ride a fucking dirt bike like nobody’s business.”
“All right,” Clay said. “Bo and I ride the bikes and take Vance to the transport. I figure we need a driver for the Suburban and then we are set.”
“I’m good to drive the Urban Assault Wagon,” Ana said.
“So, I just get left behind?” Katelin asked.
“Not exactly,” Bar said, “There is still things we need to do.”
“Like what? Babysit?”
“I’m no baby,” Gavin said.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Katelin told him.
“No,” Bar said. “We are going to need supplies, drinking water at the very least. We are not going to be able to all get on a speed boat like your dad did coming down. This trip is going to take a few days. Someone is going to need to do a supply run. I’m pretty sure there is a Ralph’s nearby. If Caroline doesn’t mind Gavin hanging around, we should make a grocery run.”
Bar had timed his statement well. Caroline was moving through towards Grampy Gary’s room, a bowl of some kind of grey mush in one hand and a spoon in the other. She looked at Gavin and smiled. “Of course he can stay.”
Gavin looked at Bo. “I’d rather go with you.”
“Sorry, kid,” Bo said. “This is a trip for the adults.”
Caroline said, “Don’t worry, I’ll find something for you to do. My stepson has a huge collection of all the worst video games, which to a kid your age makes them the best video games. I probably have some cookies around here somewhere too.”
Gavin thought about that for second before he nodded and said, “Okay.”
Katelin looked at Vance. “You going to say no to me going on the supply run too?”
“You don’t like video games and cookies?” Vance asked her.
Kate pointed to the guns on her side and the sword on her back. “My life has become a video game. Are you saying I have to stay?”
“I’m tempted to. It’s dangerous out there. Going to a supermarket sounds especially hazardous.”
Katelin held up her bandaged arm. “No shit.”
“Language,” Donna said.
“Probably be better and easier to raid the neighbors and scavenge anything they left behind,” Clay said. “They either made it out or are infected at this point. Either way, they aren’t going to miss some bottled water and dry goods.”
Bar nodded. “He has a good point. Given the way the area seems, we might be able to do the whole thing without encountering any infected that way.”
Vance shook his head. “I’d prefer you stay where I know it is safe.”
“You kind of gave up having a say when you left us,” Katelin said.
“This is less about being a parent and more being someone with military experience…”
“Bullshit. It’s dangerous out there for everybody. When Ana volunteered to go with you back to Corrigan’s, which is a hell of lot riskier than raiding the neighbors for groceries, you didn’t tell her it was too dangerous.”
Vance was silent a beat. He hated the fact that she had a point. Eventually, he said, “Fair enough. Ask your mother. If it is okay with her I guess I’m fine with it.”
“If I leave her here, I’ll worry the whole time I’m gone. Just because it is safe at this house right now doesn’t mean it will stay that way.” Donna said.
“On that note, I would say it is probably better to get this done sooner rather than later, then,” Clay said. “The longer we wait, the more chance some vampire rotter or a horde will get us.”
“Let’s gear up then and get this done.” Clay said, rising to his feet. Everyone else did the same.
Chapter 7
Jennifer Rubin’s House - Oceanside, CA
Tanner felt vulnerable on the sidewalk. He looked back over his shoulder often. He saw figures moving in the distance and ran off the sidewalk and hid around the corner of the nearest house. He had been so busy watching his back he had not noticed he was hiding behind Jennifer Rubin’s house at first, but as he looked around he realized he had chosen to seek safety behind the home of who he believed was the hottest girl in Oceanside.
Tanner glanced back to see the amblers moving steadily down the street. They were still a long way off. He was sure if he just kept walking at his normal pace, let alone the jogging he was actually doing most of the time, they would never catch him. It was not just them that had him spooked to the point of hiding. It had been far off and with the way the hills around his house were he only caught a glimpse, but he was sure he saw something moving on all fours at the top of the hill. If his eyes were not deceiving him, it was moving his way.
He wondered if it was his dad. He pictured the former Doug Rutherford following him and continuing his single-minded quest to make son like father. He wondered if his dad remembered where his house was in his current state. He wondered if he remembered there were loved ones left behind he could victimize. Tanner did not think so. The rot thoroughly destroyed a person’s mind as far as he had heard and nothing he saw disputed that.
Tanner thought about Jennifer Rubin, who might be on the other side of the wall he was leaning against, though more likely she either evacuated or was caught in the mess downtown. Normally she would not give him the time of day. He doubted she even knew his name. Which was too bad for Tanner because he thought she was unbelievably hot. He had thought this since the first time he saw her in middle school. If they were both among the survivors she might think of him a bit differently, she might even go to the trouble of learning his name.
He told himself he was checking on a classmate out of concern for her safety as opposed to trying to make time with an attractive female as he went and checked the front door to see if it was unlocked.
He was surprised to find it open. He stepped inside and realized if she was actually there he had no idea what to say to her. Even in these odd circumstances he figured s
he, and more importantly, her linebacker-sized father, would not be pleased he just let himself in.
He considered leaving before anyone figured out he was there but heard noises upstairs. He paused and listened. Leaving was a great idea if Jennifer and family had contracted the rot. After spending the day battling his infected father, the idea of fighting off the girl he had a crush on for the last four years did not appeal to him.
It was faint but he was sure he heard a young female voice saying “Please, please, no.”
She sounded in trouble. Coming in to rescue someone in trouble seemed like a good excuse to come inside uninvited. He gripped the bat with two hands and took a few practice swings before heading up the stairs.
He reached the top and listened. All he could hear at this point was running water. It sounded like it was coming from the bathroom at the end of the hall.
He moved carefully through the hallway. The first door to his right was open. He looked inside and the infected twelve-year-old Tanner knew used to be Jennifer’s younger brother charged him. Tanner raised the bat but something stopped the infected boy before he could reach him.
The boy reached for Tanner as he strained against the rope tied around his waist. Someone had tied him to the bedpost. Tanner was tempted to go inside and finish him off, but he resisted. The kid was no threat as long as no one went into his room. Tanner gave him a last look and noticed his mouth was covered with blood. He must have gotten to someone before they tied him up.
“You have to do it,” Tanner heard a male voice, coming from down the hall, say. He figured it had to be Jennifer’s father.