by Phil Maxey
“So yes, you will be given tasks to accomplish as per your contract.” Adrian walked forward and placed three pieces of paper in front of each of the prisoners, with a pen resting nearby. “Once you sign, you will be given the details of your first mission.”
The big guy leaned forward and scribbled a big ‘FU’ where it asked for a signature.
“Old fashioned, I know, but there is something about placing pen to paper which I feel is more of a commitment,” said Adrian.
The others finished signing and shunted their paper forward.
“What the hell is this band on my wrist for?” said the girl.
“It’s how they keep tabs on us,” said Amos before Adrian spoke.
“It’s a simple GPS module to allow us to know where you are. It’s for your benefit as well, in case you get into trouble.”
Amos snorted.
“Ms. Wells needs her module attached to her because of her special abilities,” said Adrian.
The girl frowned while sitting back in her chair. “Fine. When do I get to see my new digs? And when’s the blood going to flow? I’m hungry.”
One of the mercs stood. “My name is Ed Hawkins, and I’m going to be in charge of our little group.”
“Group?” said the girl.
“Yeah. You three, myself, Fields, and Shaw are now officially a squad for the Copeland Corporation.” Hawkins looked to the tall being to his left. “These squads were an idea from our boss. And a damn good one.”
There was no reaction from Copeland.
“Before I tell you what our first mission is. Speak your names.”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Kizzy.” She looked at the young man to her right. “But I guess you already knew that.”
“Nope, people don’t usually think their own names in their heads… Amos.”
“Dalton,” said the big guy.
Kizzy tugged at her shackles. “So, now we’re all work colleagues and shit, when are these coming off?”
Copeland walked forward and stood next to her. Instead of trying to stretch her head up to see the creature towering over her, she looked down at her hands.
She reminded Amos of a student in school waiting to be reprimanded.
“If any of you break the terms of your contract. The penalties are severe, do you all understand?” said Copeland.
“Yeah, we get it,” said Kizzy.
The other two nodded.
Copeland then turned and left the room. Amos could hear the relief in the minds of those that were left.
Hawkins looked at the closest merc who got to her feet and unlocked the shackles from each of the others.
They all flexed their wrists.
Amos looked at Dalton to his right.
Don’t do it…
Dalton caught his gaze then sat back.
Amos then looked to his left at Kizzy. Her mind was full of cartons of pink milkshakes. Milkshakes that contained blood. He shook his head then looked at Hawkins. “So, what’s this mysterious mission we are all going on?”
CHAPTER THREE
Shannon watched a faded roadside sign move away from the back of the truck. “We’re in Nebraska,” she said to the others behind her.
“My first wife was from the Cornhusker State,” said Max.
Rachel gave him a brief smile before returning to a book she had found on a shelf in the hotel.
Marina sat next to Jess and Jasper. Most around her were reading or sleeping, not that she wanted to talk to any of them anyway. They couldn’t be trusted. Despite being fooled by him, at least she got her abilities to keep her kid alive from Joel. As long as she got blood then she was confident she could carve out a life for herself and Jess.
From what she could learn from Hickman the camp in Westlands, just over the border in Canada, was like a much larger version of Haven. They even had electricity due to being within range of a nearby dam. That enabled them to electrify most of the fence which ringed the twenty square miles of town, and it was that protection that, it seemed, had kept them alive. The population was just over three thousand, but was growing daily due to the survivors that kept coming. They would have to find somewhere to sleep for the night, but sometime tomorrow they would be at the camp, and that gave Marina something to hold on to.
She looked at Jess. The young girl had barely spoken five words since she overheard what Joel finally admitted, and Marina decided not to push things. They were both going to need time to process what they had just learned.
Evan leaned to his side and showed Bill something that was on his laptop’s screen. Bill raised his eyebrows then Evan took the display away.
“What was that?” said Josh.
“Nothing of your concern,” said Bill.
Josh sighed, and folded his arms.
Rachel shook her head and lowered her book. “This is stupid. We should be working together!”
“I thought things were ‘classified?’” said Bill with a smirk.
“Maybe we need to start thinking outside the box, not just in the actual science, but with how we work…” she looked at Josh. He gently nodded. She looked back at Max to her left.
“Well, you know me, I never thought science should be classified!” said the old man.
She finally looked at Hickman.
“Sure, go ahead,” said the sergeant.
“Okay, well—”
“Stop!” shouted Shannon, looking out of the back of the truck.
Max grabbed his chest. “Hell, young lady, you scared me half to death.”
Shannon, seeing the truck wasn’t slowing, walked between feet and knees and banged on the small glass window to the driver’s cabin.
The truck stopped.
The young girl then ran to the back, and climbed down the outside.
“Shannon, what is it?” said Marina.
“Fruit!” shouted Shannon over her shoulder, running towards a field smothered in small trees, each one full of bright red apples.
The others leaned forward to see the orchard.
“Oh yes, there’s quite a crop,” said Max.
Hickman got to his feet. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“I’ll go too. Flint could do with a runabout, and Jess and Jasper could do with stretching their legs,” said Marina.
Anna appeared outside. “What’s going on?” she said, wondering why some were running into the local field.
“Apples!” shouted Max, pointing to the trees.
For a moment, Anna couldn’t understand what the fuss was about, then quickly realized that was because she no longer had to rely upon human food. She smiled. “Yeah, we should collect some, good idea.”
Marina climbed down then helped Flint, Jess, and Jasper to do the same, and walked across the deserted road and into the field.
Twenty feet away, Shannon briefly looked back to the road. She walked slowly through the long wet grass, looking up at rain droplets making the apples sparkle in the sun.
The trees reminded her of a single fruit tree they had in the back garden in Boothe. Every summer, she would go out with her father and collect the plums, and a day later their freezer would be full of plum pies made by her mother.
She let her fingers linger on the bark then reached up to grab a particularly ripe apple from a low branch.
A boom rang out and apples rained down on her. A few managed to hit her skull before she dived out of the way onto the sodden ground.
“I’ll kill all you vamps!” shouted a man in the distance.
Shannon fought to get to her knees but her sneakers kept slipping on the damp green strips.
A blur sped past her, with an accompanying blast of air.
“Joel? Evan?” she said, looking about her.
She turned around to see a young man, a shotgun in one hand, and the other held out towards her. His dark hair hung over his right eye.
“Sorry about grandpa, he thinks everyone is a vamp.”
She looked up at the individual that, despite his beard, had a youth
ful tinge to his face.
She pushed her hand out and he helped her to her feet.
Is he a hybrid?
The old man grumbled something under his breath, waved his hand dismissively, then walked away.
Another breeze on her back meant more were now with her.
“What happened?” said Anna.
Evan was standing behind the doctor, eyeing the guy who was of similar age suspiciously.
“Everyone, stop fussing, I’m fine,” said Shannon.
“Who’s this?” said Evan.
The young man subtly sniffed the air. “You’re both vamps?” He looked confused.
“Yeah,” said Ethan.
“Hmm…” Pulling himself out of his own thoughts, he walked forward and offered Ethan his hand. “I’m Donnie.”
Evan shook it briefly.
Flint bounded through the long grass and started licking Donnie’s hand.
“Hey, boy. He’s a friendly one.”
“This your family’s farm?” said Anna.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You planning on doing anything with all these apples?” said Shannon.
“Take as many as you want. We got a few acres which are just going to rot. There’s no market to trade them at anymore, so least some good will come from them.”
Shannon picked up a few from the ground. “Cool, thanks.”
“Won’t your grandfather object?” said Anna.
“He, umm, doesn’t know who I am half the time, he won’t even know they’re missing. If he notices, I’ll just tell him that some folks traded us for them.”
“Well, maybe there is something we can trade you for them? We haven’t really got much, but maybe there’s something you need that we could get?”
Donnie briefly looked down. “There is something…”
Anna waited for the request.
“You can take me with you.”
*****
A middle-aged woman handed out the slices of apple pie amongst the gaggle that filled the living room of the farmhouse.
Hardin had already devoured most of his piece. “This is some great pie, Mrs Bradley”
Max took a bite. “Hmm, delicious, madam. Do I taste a hint of oregano?”
April Bradley smiled. “You might. It’s my grandma’s recipe. I was eating the same pie when I was a child. It’s been something of a constant, no matter how bad things get…” Her smile faltered.
Outside Joel and Hickman stood with Kirk Bradley, April’s husband.
“We’ve been trying to harvest what we could by hand as there’s no fuel left for the machinery, but we’ve got over a thousand acres and we can’t get to everything.”
“What have you mostly got?” said Joel.
“Got a small herd of cattle. Had more but some vamps got to them. Mostly though its corn, wheat, and beans. And I’m not the only one, there’re a few ranches around here that are still struggling. But even if we do harvest; who we going to sell to?”
An idea started to form in Joel’s mind. “You got any generators?”
“We got a few… but no fuel.”
“If we helped you harvest your crops, could we take some with us to the camp? I’m sure it would be welcome up there.”
Kirk slid his fingers across his beard. “Sure, but if you could find me some fuel? Then that would be really helpful.”
Joel held out his hand. “I’ll get you some fuel.”
Kirk shook Joel’s hand with a smile.
The kitchen door of the two-story farmhouse opened, and Joel, Hickman, and Kirk walked inside.
Marina was sitting in the large kitchen. She could tell they weren’t going to be making it back on the road today. Ethan and Bill were seated opposite her.
Joel looked at those seated. “Kirk, myself, and Lloyd are going into the town to try to find fuel. Ethan, would be good if you could join us.”
Ethan got to his feet.
April appeared in the kitchen doorway, with concern painted across her face.
Kirk walked up to her, holding her by the shoulders. “This is our chance to get the fuel. These are army guys, I’ll be safe, you don’t have to worry.”
Donnie appeared behind them. “I’m coming too.”
Kirk’s expression changed. “You ain’t going anywhere, boy. You’re staying here to look after your ma and grandpa.”
Donnie shook his head in quiet frustration.
Joel made his way to the living room. Max was on his third piece of pie. “Max, I need to have a word with you…”
Soon Joel was driving the army truck along the route they were on originally. Kirk was sitting alongside him, with Hickman and Ethan in the back.
Flat beige-green fields flowed by on both sides as well as a railway line on their right.
“When did you last see a train go by your property?” said Joel.
“Over a month ago. It was a military transport, carrying troops, tanks, and stuff I’ve never seen before.”
“Heading north?”
“Yeah.”
There was another moment of silence before Joel continued. “You did well to survive the scourge…”
The man next to him sighed. “Some of us didn’t make it.”
Joel briefly looked at the stout individual, with his flannel shirt and dark green over jacket.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“My err… daughter. Harper, she got infected, turned—” Kirk sucked in a breath. “—Did what I had to.”
“I had a wife… son…” The words came from Joel’s mouth before he realized he had said them.
Kirk returned the glance then looked back to the road. “Sometimes it’s hard to carry on.”
“I’m not letting the scourge beat me.”
Kirk nodded. “Nope.”
Joel needed to change subject. “This town, you searched it already?”
“Tried a number of times, but I needed to conserve ammo, so when I saw the vamps I needed to get the hell out of there.”
It occurred to Joel he might have to do something which would make it obvious he wasn’t totally human, and Kirk had killed his own daughter because she was a vamp…
Going to have to do the best human impression I can. What about Ethan? What if Hickman says something?
The chances of Kirk finding out regardless was too high. He needed to say something.
“There’s something you should know about some of my group…”
“Yeah? What’s that.”
Gas stations and slim flat brick built buildings started to pass by.
“Some of those that get infected. Not many. It’s a tiny percentage. Well, they… turn, but remain mostly human—” He continued before Kirk could speak. “—They have vamp-like speed and abilities, but like I say, they’re still human…”
He could feel Kirk looking at him. He was also pretty sure the farmer’s hand was now resting on the butt of his shotgun.
“I ain’t heard of that before.”
“Yeah. Like I say, it’s rare… and you should know some of my group… and myself are like that…”
Kirks head whipped back around to the road. “You still need blood?”
“Yeah, but we can get that from animals…”
Joel would have been able to hear Kirks heart beating even without his enhanced senses.
“Who are the others?”
“Ethan, Marina, Anna, and Jasper.”
Kirk flicked around again to face Joel. “The kid?”
Joel sighed. “Yeah.”
Kirk looked back to the road.
Joel stopped at a junction and turned to face his passenger. “I know your hand’s been on that shotgun for the past few minutes. And I don’t blame you. What I just said… that would confuse anyone. But being ‘different’ is what has allowed me to get through all this so far… and keep the others alive that are with me. The same is true for the others like me. If you want me to turn around and drive you back, and then we’ll leave. I can do that. Or I c
an help you find you the fuel you need.”
Kirk’s eyes darted left and right as his mind tried to resolve conflicting thoughts. Finally, he sighed and let go of his gun. He pointed to the restaurant on the far corner. Roadside signs announced that it had some of the best stakes in Nebraska.
“Cooper’s Grill.” He smiled, briefly turning to Joel. “Used to take April, Donnie, and Harper there once a month when we got the cheque from the wholesalers.” He nodded. “Good times.” He let out a breath. “Part of the reason I don't come into town too often, is the memories…” He pointed along the road. “The main part of the town is up ahead.”
Joel pushed down on the gas and weaved around an overturned stone-colored sedan. He noticed a mangled radio mast laying across the roof of a single-story building, and onto the lawn to its side.
“Our local station. No idea what brought the mast down, but it was up last time I was here.”
Joel pushed his senses out into the shadows which resided behind storefronts and homes, but there was no sign of anything out there.
He stopped at another junction. A bent pole protruding from the top of a store, with the stars and stripes attached to it, fluttered amongst the wind.
“Any suggestions of where to get the fuel and fencing?”
“All the vehicles around us are empty, I’ve checked them already. We need to head deeper in.”
“Where you see the vamps?”
Kirk’s eyes shifted towards Joel then away again. “Some around here, some further on.”
A car showroom with rows of scratched and scraped vehicles passed by. Joel could see all the gas caps were open.
More substantial buildings appeared on both sides of the road. One of which contained a number of pillars.
“That’s the agriculture museum. Used to take Harper in there.” Kirk smiled. “She used to be bored out of her head, of course.” He gulped. “April used to tell me that she just came along to keep me happy… she was a good kid.”
Joel could see a number of parked vehicles further down the street. He drove the truck forward, parking behind a strip of sedans and pickups.
“Let’s get what we can from these then check out the superstore.”
It wasn’t long before they had a few canisters of fuel and were pulling into the football-size parking lot which surrounded the monolithic superstore building. Kirk had already told Joel and the others that vamps seemed to like the place so he had kept his distance.