Alive (Sundown Series Book 3)

by Courtney Konstantin

  “I saw you run in here. I don’t know why you didn’t keep running. You can come out.”

  Weighing his options, Rafe pulled the 9mm from the holster on his hip. He released his hold on Storm but hissed a stay command to keep the dog from attacking. Carefully Rafe stood and leveled his gun at the shadow standing in the front of the store. He immediately saw the rifle the man was holding, putting Rafe on edge even more. He moved to put himself between the man and the spot where Charlie hid with Aiden.

  “Why were you watching us?” Rafe hissed back, lifting his voice only high enough to be heard within the store walls.

  “I wasn’t. I tried to help. I’m the one that was killing those things,” the man said, lifting the rifle a little higher. The movement only caused Rafe to raise his gun as well.

  “Calm down, man, I’m not gonna hurt you or your family,” the man said, immediately lowering the rifle and then slinging it over his back with the strap.

  Rafe stood solidly for a moment, Storm at his feet baring his teeth silently. The man was still completely in the shadows, the light from outside making it difficult to see his features in the dark store. From his voice, Rafe was guessing he was middle-aged, maybe a little older. He was a fantastic shot, someone that probably hunted or had been in the military at some point. That thought struck Rafe with a cold icy shiver down his back. He wondered if the mercenaries would send in a spy to grab Charlie. Paranoia ran through Rafe’s mind, but he lowered the gun, not seeing a weapon the man could use on him now.

  “Why did you help us?” Rafe asked.

  “Why wouldn’t I? The little boy was running toward them, you were surrounded. I couldn’t just leave you to die, could I?”

  “You could have. You are a good shot,” Rafe said, hedging to get information.

  “I’ve hunted this area all my life. I should know how to shoot at this point.”

  “Well, we thank you then. We aren’t staying. We will move on as soon as the infected get further away,” Rafe said. He signaled to Storm to go back to Charlie and the dog did so begrudgingly.

  “Do you have somewhere safe to go?” The man started to walk into the store and Rafe stood his ground between the stranger and Charlie.

  “Yes,” was all Rafe was going to give up.

  “Good. You should go there. That horde just grows by the day. You were lucky I was on my roof. I have a business just over that way, and I’ve been going to the roof to watch what’s happening. That horde has been by a few times and it’s almost doubled in size the last few days. I’m Issac, by the way.”

  The man was now close enough that he was in the darkness with Rafe. His features became clearer and Rafe realized he was off on the man’s age. The man was completely gray on his head and his beard was almost white. If he had been a large man, Rafe would have believed that was what Santa Claus looked like. As he was, the man was rail thin and tall. Rafe had to wonder how his body handled the recoil from such a powerful rifle.

  “Rafe,” he finally answered.

  “You’re that Duncan guy, right? Rafe Duncan?”

  Rafe’s fingers tightened on his gun as he tried to decide if he should raise it again. He hadn’t made friends in town. The only people he spoke with were those he worked with. But this man acted as if he knew him. Issac reached behind him and Rafe didn’t hesitate to raise his gun again, leveling it at the man’s chest.

  “Whoa there, son. I have something in my pocket you should see. It’s not a weapon.”

  “Slowly,” Rafe said.

  Abiding by Rafe’s demand, Issac slowly pulled something from his pocket and brought it to the front of him. He then reached toward Rafe with a folded piece of paper in his hand. Rafe stepped forward, only lowering his gun a few inches, to grab the paper. He stepped back immediately as he unfolded the paper with one hand. He read the sheet quickly and cursed under his breath.

  “Charlie,” Rafe said, just loud enough for her to hear.

  He didn’t have to turn to know she was coming up behind him. He could hear Aiden’s sniffles getting close. When Charlie stopped next to him, he handed her the paper without looking at her.

  “Do you know why those showed up around town?” Issac asked.

  “Rafe...” Charlie’s voice was barely a breath.

  She stared at the paper that Issac had produced. In large color photos, Rafe and Charlie’s faces were printed. Rafe immediately recognized his as the security photo he had to take at the facility for his security badge and assumed Charlie’s was the same. Below the photos, the paper looked like a wanted poster out of an old western movie. They were listed as felons on the run from the government and if they were found they were to be captured and not killed. There were then instructions on a location that would be checked by members of the department looking for them. The location was the facility address.

  “We don’t know anything,” Rafe finally said to Issac.

  The one thing the paper seemed to be missing was the one thing people needed, the motivation to catch them. There was no reward. No promise of help. Just the accusation of them being on the run from the government. That part wasn’t exactly wrong, Rafe had to admit to himself. However, there were no laws broken. They were being hunted like animals for the knowledge Charlie held. Rafe was seeing very clearly that the government was pulling out all stops to cover their involvement in what had caused the outbreak.

  “What do we do?” Charlie asked, pulling Rafe’s gaze to her.

  “Nothing. We didn’t do anything wrong. And we aren’t doing anything about these,” Rafe said. He took the paper from her and crumpled it before throwing it over a shelf.

  “So, you did nothing, and the government just spent the time on those papers for no reason? At a time where the dead are walking and killing people? Seems extreme,” Issac commented. The older man now had his thumbs hooked in his belt loops while he watched the two of them.

  “We didn’t do anything. It’s what I know,” Charlie blurted out.

  “Charlie. We don’t know this guy,” Rafe said sternly.

  “He saved us, didn’t he?”

  Charlie turned and handed Aiden to Rafe, who had to holster his gun quickly before the boy fell into his arms. Immediately the little boy’s arms circled Rafe’s neck and he laid his head on his shoulder. The day had taken a huge toll on the boy and Rafe realized he was young enough to still nap. Awkwardly Rafe patted his back and shifted from foot to foot. He watched Charlie as she stepped closer to Issac to put her hand out.

  “I’m Charlie. I have a story to tell you,” she said.

  An hour later, Charlie was finishing the story of how she learned what was happening at the facility and how she was caught taking out data. She told him about Tammy and the mouse and then Aiko turning after she was bitten. Issac sat quietly, his face never showing surprise or disbelief. Charlie was animated when she spoke, anger and fear mixed into her words. She led him all the way to the moment he found them with the horde. When she was done, Issac just looked at her. He seemed to mull things over in his mind before he spoke.

  “That is one story young lady.”

  “It’s the truth,” Rafe said.

  He sat on the floor next to Charlie facing Issac. Aiden was cradled in his arms as he napped. They had moved into the back of the store for Charlie to tell the man everything they knew. She spoke the entire time, with little interjected from Rafe. The infected wandered by sometimes but sitting in the back of the store they weren’t seen. Rafe would look up every time a vehicle passed them, his gut still not completely settled to believe this Issac was just a concerned citizen. Suspicion had Rafe wondering if Issac had a tracker on him and was leading the government right to them.

  “I believe you,” Issac finally said.

  “You do?” Charlie said, clearly surprised.

  “Yes. The terms you use, are clearly medical and professional. I saw how this man fought out there, so he’s obviously in some sort of security or military. He’s protecting you and this litt
le boy. All that seems to check out. So why wouldn’t the rest of the story?”

  “Now you know why they are looking for us. Are you going to try and turn us in?” Rafe asked.

  “Now, son, I wasn’t planning on doing that even before I knew your story. I have no love for the government personally, especially after I saw how they were dealing with things now. If they were looking for you, I figured they were just wasting more time. Instead of saving people.”

  “What are they doing here?” Charlie asked.

  “There were some emergency messages. Sending sick people to clinics and other locations. I stayed at my place. But when I went to the roof, I could see one of the places. They were killing those people. Before they even died or turned or whatever. They killed them straight away!” Issac exclaimed.

  “They weren’t trying to help them? Do tests? Take blood or other vitals? Nothing?” Charlie asked.

  “No. They were separated from their families immediately. Taken through a tent. I could see where they brought them out and shot them through the head. The only way to end them. I don’t know what happened to the family members. I didn’t see them again.”

  Charlie sat back and Rafe could tell her wheels were spinning. He watched her as her lips moved soundlessly. As a doctor, he imagined this information was against all of the humane commitments she had made over the years.

  “What are you thinking?” Rafe finally asked.

  “This pathogen, it mutated from the mouse. Tammy would be the main point of information if they could find her. They have to know that. There must be teams of people looking for her or at least working on a cure. Without knowing how the pathogen mutated, I can’t predict how curing it would work. I want to believe that someone can be cured before they die and reanimate. In addition to that, if the illness mutated from the mouse to Tammy, I can’t be sure it won’t change again. Or it could possibly affect some people differently.”

  “That’s a lot to swallow. So instead of looking for a cure, they are just killing the infected. What does that tell you?” Issac asked.

  “It tells me, they have no clue what they are facing. And instead of fixing it, they are just trying to clean it up,” Charlie said.

  “They are thinking if they kill all of the infected before they turn, they will stop the spread. But it’s not working,” Rafe said.

  It was then that Aiden woke up in Rafe’s arms. He looked around at the group of adults that he barely knew before his face started to screw up in sadness again. Charlie instantly reached out for the boy and he easily went to her. He whispered to her and Charlie nodded. She pulled out a box of granola bars they had found in the store and Aiden happily sat munching on one.

  “We are going to need to move if we don’t want to sleep in this store,” Rafe said.

  “It’s getting late. You are welcome to bunk at my place for the night, so you can walk during the day,” Issac said and after seeing Rafe’s look of distrust he added, “You’ll be safe.”

  Charlie looked at Rafe for his decision. The options rolled around in his mind. He didn’t want to hike at night with Aiden. The little boy would need to sleep. And they hadn’t found his father yet. Though Rafe was pretty sure he was gone or infected. Hiking at night was dangerous enough in the woods, more so when you’re hiding from the infected and the government. Staying in town one night would give them more time to scavenge what they could, pack additional bags to carry and sleep. He still wasn’t sure they could trust the older man, but for now, it was a better option than sleeping in the open store.

  They were careful leaving the store, checking for the horde. Issac told them it seemed to move as a flock, to whichever area drew their attention. Then they would change direction when something new seemed like food. Rafe and Charlie followed him through the alley behind the store to cross the street. Issac led them to the back of another store, which he opened with a key. When they all were inside, the locks were all turned again, and a board was placed under the door handle to prevent it from turning. Rafe had to approve of the precautions.

  Turning into the store, the room was dark, the front windows covered with sheets. It was then Rafe realized they were in a dry cleaner shop. Rows of clean clothes hung all around them and the smell of chemicals reached his nose. Issac drew them deeper into the room, explaining that the business was basically one big room. So, he blacked out the front windows to keep anyone from looking in or from drawing the infected attention on accident.

  “No one wants to break into a dry cleaner’s anyway,” he commented.

  “You never know,” Rafe replied.

  “True. Which is why I bunk down behind the front counter. That way I’m near the front if anyone gets any crazy ideas. And I still have a direct shot to the back door if necessary. We’ll set you guys up over against the wall. I happen to have sleeping bags and comforters you can use. When people don’t have big enough washers, they bring that stuff to me. It’s come in handy.”

  “Did you have the gun here already?” Rafe asked.

  “No. I was home when this all happened. When I came to town to see the destruction for myself, I came here to hide and watch. I brought my gun and food with me at that time. Since then I’ve just scavenged all I needed from nearby.”

  “Wouldn’t being at home be safer?” Charlie asked.

  “I didn’t think so. I live in a downstairs apartment. There seemed to be too many people around,” Issac said.

  Rafe had to agree with him. Staying away from any large population was probably the best decision. He remembered his father saying the same thing and saying that the reason there was so much land around the compound was that he had purchased a lot of it over the years. He did this to keep people away from his home, for when society failed. It made it unlikely for people to show up on their doorstep unless they already knew they were there.

  Charlie created one big bed with sleeping bags, sheets, and comforters. Rafe watched as she worked, keeping her eye on Aiden as well who played with some of the toys Charlie had brought for him. The little boy seemed to be over his little sadness from earlier, but his yawn indicated to Rafe that they would be facing the difficulty of bedtime.

  “Where is he going to sleep?” Rafe asked her.

  “Between us, I think. That way he can’t get up and wander.”

  The trio sat together to prepare something for dinner. Aiden wasn’t crazy about any of the options. However, Rafe was determined. Using a propane stove that Issac had in the back of the cleaners, he warmed water and added it to the small portable macaroni and cheese container. He let the orange powder dissolve, thinking about how he would prefer Aiden to eat vegetables and fruit. This was better than nothing. Bringing the macaroni to the boy, Aiden’s eyes lit up and he ate the entire container without complaint. Charlie smiled at Rafe over her can of beans, happy that they could handle the boy together. Storm was quite happy to have a small child nearby who would accidentally drop food. The dog sat panting right next to Aiden during the whole meal with high hopes.

  Darkness settled over the town and the group sat around a low lantern talking more about their stories. Aiden was happy to play in a corner with pens and receipts Issac gave him. Charlie told more of the story of how they found Aiden and Issac looked at the boy sadly.

  “When I saw him running for the infected, I just couldn’t figure out why he was doing it. Makes sense now,” the older man said sadly.

  “You don’t have family nearby, Issac?” Charlie asked.

  “No, my wife died about ten years ago of cancer.”

  “Kids?” Rafe asked.

  “Nah, we never had kids. We were like kids ourselves. Always traveling and enjoying life. We didn’t want to make children suffer because our attention was all over the place.”

  “You never regretted that decision?” Charlie asked, as she glanced over at Aiden. Her eyes seemed to hold something else, but Rafe didn’t have time to figure it out just then.

  “No. I asked my wife the same thin
g when she got sick. She said no, because with kids we never would have had all the adventures we did. We had neighborhood kids who were always around, so we spoiled them when we wanted to have kids around.”

  “That sounds like a nice life,” Rafe commented.

  Issac smiled then and Rafe could only imagine his wife brought a look like that to his face. It seemed like he suddenly looked younger and was looking backward into the past. Rafe wondered what it was to have that in your life. Especially at a time when survival was so difficult. Protecting yourself was one thing, being responsible for others was another set of problems. He looked at Charlie and then to Aiden at that point. Charlie had needed him, and he didn’t regret offering his help to her. Poor Aiden, if they didn’t bring him with them, there was no telling what would have happened to him.

  Shortly after their story time, everyone decided it was time for sleep. Rafe felt adrenaline draining from his body and exhaustion replacing it. His side was aching constantly, though he knew it was better now than a day or so before. Charlie checked the dressings again before they slept, changing the gauze and adding ointment to keep out an infection. They laid Aiden in the middle of their makeshift bed, but he immediately rolled toward Charlie, wanting to be cuddled. She easily abided, realizing the poor boy was looking for affection and comfort.

  Storm whined as Rafe was thinking of falling asleep and realized the dog needed to go out. Taking his weapons with him, he quietly went to the back door with the dog. He peeked out first and didn’t see movement. Allowing Storm to lead, the dog sniffed the air for a moment and then went about his business silently. That was all Rafe needed to know it was safe. He stopped out into the darkness with him, letting the cooler air brush across his skin. The stars were sparkling clearly above and Rafe found himself torn between feeling on edge and feeling calmed by the quiet night.