Death Days: post-apocalyptic survival story (180 Days and Counting... Series Book 10)

by B. R. Paulson

  Perry cut her off by slicing a hand through the air. He turned toward Ted. “Where’s her daughter?” He motioned toward Cady in an up and down sweeping gesture of his hand. “She never travels without the girl.” He turned to Cady. “How old is she, now? Twelve? Thirteen? We have some guys that prefer the younger flesh.” His grin came out of nowhere as he didn’t even try to hide his intentions. Some men behind him chuckled.

  Cady narrowed her eyes, ignoring the anxiety his words caused. He only knew her daughter existed. He didn’t know where she was.

  Opening her mouth to say Bailey was dead, Cady stopped as Perry ignored her and continued speaking to Ted while studying her. “Don’t worry about it. I sent Dick with a group to the Parks’ place. I think ole Dusty has had enough protection up ‘til now.” He smirked.

  Cady almost wasn’t able to hide the panic flooding through her.

  “Dusty was with this one, so that’s probably a good idea.” Ted studied Cady as well, his beady eyes greedily taking in her shape and form, leaving an itchy sting under her skin.

  “Yeah, I don’t see this taking very long. Grab Abby and have her get Cady into place and then I want dinner on soon. They’ve been later and later with the meals.” Perry turned from Cady as if she was no more than another log around the fire.

  Cady stared after him as she struggled with her desire to scream that he leave her daughter alone. That he leave the Parks couple alone.

  Even as panic ripped through her at what her daughter was going through, she couldn’t help seeing Perry as a walking dead man. Because even as she knew she was in for a hard ride, she wouldn’t lose her need to fight. And killing Perry had just become her reason to live.

  Chapter 7

  Buck

  “The only way to go is probably north, you think?” Buck braked at the fork in the road. A yellow sign warned of a construction zone straight ahead so that option was out. “There aren’t as many… people. I think.”

  How many times had he stopped there, intent on getting to Los Angeles for a shoot so he’d gone left without really thinking about it? Or how many times had he taken the middle road and gone into the cozy neighborhood across the way, where the construction was? To the right, though, they could head north, toward woods and less chances of running into any dangerous populations. He could survive in the woods. Maybe.

  Maria’s eyes widened as she studied their options. After a moment she bobbed her head. “That is fine.” Her English was solid with a slight Mexican accent that complimented the golden tones of her skin and deep browns and blacks of her hair. She had finally stopped shaking but her calm was only skin deep as panic seemed to be held at bay in the rims of her irises.

  Buck turned the steering wheel, moving them north. Maybe they could hide in the Redwood forest, or along the Oregon state line. They would have to find more gas, if they wanted to pass the hills and mountains segregating parts of California. Buck couldn’t pinpoint exactly how far they would make it on what was in the tank already, but he’d give it another hour or two.

  He kept his ruminations to himself. Instead, he cleared his throat and glanced Maria’s direction again. “Well, Maria, where’s your family? Did they get sick?” Conversation might help them feel normal, or close to normal which would help with keeping calm. Buck felt the stress of trying to survive eating away at his state of mind.

  Maria didn’t answer for a long moment, her lengthy lashes holding back a sudden wetness. She stared out the front windshield as if lost in memories. Then she turned her distraught gaze Buck’s way and he glanced from her face to the road – back and forth, back and forth – so as not to miss anything in either direction.

  “Well, my brother is dead, as you know. My mama and papa died with the virus. My uncle promised to save Emilio and I but instead joined the group we just got away from. My uncle is dead. He tried cheating the leader out of a bottle of tequila.” She laughed dryly. The humorless sound sent shivers up Buck’s arms. “He only got to abuse me before they killed him. At least he wasn’t involved in Emilio’s death.” A large tear worked its way down her cheek. She ignored its presence and fell silent.

  What did Buck say to that? He’d known about the pornography issues and pedophilia in Hollywood and he’d turned a blind eye. As long as he didn’t acknowledge its existence and didn’t participate, he figured he could move along working his way through movies and roles and not cause waves. He’d stayed out of it which didn’t get him any respect, but didn’t garner him any enemies either.

  Right now, though, this… he’d taken Maria and the gang on with full force. He’d taken one of their toys – Maria – and the group would most likely be after them – plus revenge was a strong reason to rile up a group of blood thirsty men. Wasn’t that what they were? Lawless and unfiltered. They needed something to focus on during the end of days. Wasn’t that what would be all-consuming now? Something to entertain?

  They could do what they wanted to who they wanted and there was nothing Buck or anyone else could do about it. Unless, of course, he wasn’t there to deal with them. That’s why Buck had to escape. And a huge part of him recognized that he needed to help Maria as well. All of his pent-up guilt over the years about all the people he hadn’t helped and had turned a blind eye from came crashing in on him.

  He had to help her. There was no other chance for redemption.

  They fell into a vacuum silence. What did you say after her rant about her experience? There were no words and Buck knew it.

  They sped past a few mile markers, climbing higher and higher into the mountains, passing trees that started out sparse and became thicker and thicker as they climbed. The air thinned but in a pleasant way without the weight of the slowly dissipating smog from the valley to cling to them.

  Maria’s voice cut through the quiet. “I know you’re famous.” Her tone was more accusatory than awed.

  Startled by the turn in conversation, Buck laughed and shook his head. His wrists relaxed on the lower curve of the steering wheel. “Was. Not anymore. Besides what was a young girl like yourself doing watching my movies? They weren’t PG-13.” Buck had prided himself on not being in the teeny bopper industry. There was a lot of money to be made appealing to preteen and teenage girls, but the fandom you could create was often cultish and Buck didn’t have the stomach for it.

  “My papa loved to watch them. His favorite was Pivot.” Maria half-smiled as if the memory of the movie was full of sweet things instead of the double-agent aspect for a group searching for freedom from the mafia.

  Buck huffed. “Well, that’s sweet, but I still think you shouldn’t have watched them.” What kind of a home had she grown up in, watching rated-R movies? Ridiculous.

  She shrugged. “Oh well. Your movies were like watching Saturday morning cartoons compared to what I’ve been living.” She tapped her finger on the armrest of the door and then jabbed her finger into the air toward the front of the Range Rover. “There’s a gas station. Maybe they have food?”

  Buck tightened the muscles in his neck and shoulders. He hunched closer to the steering wheel, studying the sudden appearance of the out-of-the-way convenience store and gas station sitting on the shoulder of the road with the bluffs as a backdrop. Buck had passed by the station multiple times but never really saw it for the possibilities. He had always opted to get his gas in town where you could network at the pumps and see who was where.

  Faded wafer board had been nailed up over windows and doors with two-by-fours crisscrossing to reinforce them. The building had an abandoned air about it, but that wasn’t a guarantee and Buck wouldn’t have faith in one anyway.

  “I think we need to assess where we want to go and what we want to do. Let’s see if we can get inside and take a minute to get a bead on things. We can’t keep driving forever. Plus, this place might have food, you think?” The excitement in Maria’s eyes convinced Buck to turn in, even if he hadn’t wanted to.

  “Where are we going to park?” Maria bit her lower
lip. She might have been dealing with worse situations than most adults would survive, but a light of vulnerability and innocence still shown in her eyes.

  As if an epiphany slammed through him, Buck realized there was no way he would ever let anything happen to her. She’d been through enough. Even without shoes on, he could do his best to protect her.

  He scanned as much of the area as he could see from his fast approaching position. Motioning toward the side, Buck nodded. “Let’s park in back and I’ll see if I can get us inside. You can stay in the car, until we know it’s relatively safe.” She would know he was displaying trust in her by leaving her in the car alone. “There might be food in there.” He tried not to be too hopeful, but he was starving and he was sure she was, too.

  She nodded, folding her arms across her chest and huddling in on herself.

  Buck pulled off the road and parked behind the cement blocked building. Smothering his trepidation, he offered a smile to Maria – grateful his lips didn’t quaver with nerves. He wasn’t sure what he would find, but his lack of guns or anything else had never felt more apparent. What if he checked it out and someone killed him? Tortured him? Or tried to grab Maria?

  Brown, dry weeds grew from the cracks in the blacktop surrounding the building. Gray paint covered the cement squares, enhancing the texture of concrete pitting. Even the rust on the pipes running outside the building didn’t break up the appearance of dry, just dry. Everything was dry, like it hadn’t been tended in a while. The trees past the property line were vibrant and green, but their roots ran deeper than the weeds struggling to survive in the parking lot.

  No matter how long he looked, Buck wasn’t going to find anything new. His view wasn’t changing.

  Taking a deep breath, Buck ignored his slippers as he carefully slid from the driver’s seat. He didn’t touch the keys in the ignition. It wasn’t until he’d closed his door with a soft click and rounded to the back door of the building that he realized there was nothing stopping Maria from driving away and leaving him there. It had only been a passing thought before, but the real possibility hit him as he faced the heat and an evening stuck in the elements.

  He had to take his chances. Plus, the possibility of finding food inside would probably be enough to keep Maria planted right there in the seat.

  Buck took a deep breath and reached for the door handle, not surprised when it didn’t open. Of course, it would be locked. Why wouldn’t it? People who boarded up windows wouldn’t leave doors unlocked.

  He searched around each window until the lopsided appearance of a board looked as though the original owner had forgotten or maybe run out of nails since only one end of the boards were nailed in place. The other ends rested on each other and two-by-four blocks placed between the ends.

  What would Buck find, when and if he was able to get inside?

  Whatever it was, it had to be better than what he’d left behind.

  Chapter 8

  Scott

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  Scott blinked until his eyes were fully open and turned his head to the side. Staring out the rear passenger window, he tried to process the scenery blurring past the glass. Cement railings with their intricate designs in the headlights and beyond that the sparkling waters of Pend Oreille lake highlighted by the silvery orb of the moon as it peeked from behind random clouds.

  He moaned, careful not to move too much. Everything hurt with a low throb like it was trying to keep time with his pulse.

  “Oh, good, you’re awake. How are you feeling? Are you dizzy?” Margie’s voice pulled Scott’s gaze slowly toward the front of the SUV. He met her gaze in the mirror and blinked hard, raising his eyebrows as he tried to focus on her. The movement of the Expedition swayed and a wave of nausea hit him full force.

  Scott licked his lips, lifting his limp hand and finding fur meeting his touch. He averted his eyes and found Ranger studying him. The most profound joy flooded through Scott. His friend was there. He’d made it.

  Swallowing, Scott curled his fingers into Ranger’s furry side. “Did the babies make it?” How would they know? Who would know if the babies had made it? He hadn’t even found out of it they’d actually died. Some of them… wait, hadn’t he waited and watched them die?

  His mouth formed an O and he licked his lips again. What was he talking about? Of course, the babies didn’t make it. He’d killed them. Suddenly his eyes filled with tears and he leaned his head back. “No, they didn’t make it. I killed them. I killed all of them. And her. I even killed the nurse.” He sobbed, his side and chest burning all the way to his spine. He couldn’t even cry fully with the pain ripping through his side.

  A gasp from the nephew-like boy in the front passenger seat had Scott lifting his head. He nodded, shakily. “Yes, I did. I killed so many of them. In that NICU. I had to save Jessica and the nurse… I can’t even remember her name.” Did she have a name? She had to have a name. What would her mom call her?

  Scott blinked as the lights from the dash stained his vision. “She… begged me to kill them. Begged me to do it. I… it was so dark and there were so many bodies in the hallways. No one was coming. No one.” Scott’s sobs increased, shaking his chest and arms. He hadn’t wanted to kill them. He hadn’t wanted his parents to die or his nephew…

  All he wanted was to know that some good came from his actions. That he’d done something worthwhile. He glanced at the boy in the front seat who had half-turned to stare in horror at Scott.

  Scott nodded, lifting his hand and thrusting his thumb toward his chest. “That’s right, Jason. Me. I killed so many and then I left you alone when you were sick.” He slumped back against the seat, exhausted. How many decisions he’d made had caused more harm than good? What had he left on the line? What could he have done differently?

  The tires thumped, thumped over the lines in the bridge and Scott sighed then gasped at the jagged sharp pain ripping anew in his chest. Heat in his thigh seemed to pull from the rest of him, leaving a wake of chilly forgetfulness behind.

  They were headed to save Cady. Another regret in his life. Another person he’d let down. She’d taken his niece because he couldn’t. So many people he’d let down in his attempts to do what was right.

  Cady was at the top of the list.

  “She let me down, too.” Scott startled himself with his voice in the quiet car. Margie and Ryker hadn’t said anything. They were silent as if they hadn’t heard him. He gripped the armrest and tried to lean forward, but the effort cost him his breath.

  He leaned back, gasping and then said. “I love her, you know? Cady. I loved her when she wasn’t available and then I pushed her away when she was.” He laughed at himself, the chuckle dry and resentful. That sounded just like him.

  Hot moisture collected in his eyes and burned streaks down his cheeks. He reached up and touched the tears on his skin.

  Ranger’s velvet sand-paper tongue licked at Scott’s neck and hand. Slowly, Scott nodded and leaned his head back again. Okay. He… okay.

  He closed his eyes. Everything was going to be okay. As long as he didn’t breathe, everything would be fine.

  Chapter 9

  Bailey

  A fine sweat broke out on Bailey’s skin. She couldn’t tell if it was from the sickness or from nerves as the sound of the men’s voices stopped.

  She turned to stare at the door. Where else could she look in her panicked state? She wasn’t sure what she was scared of. The house was stable and safe. She’d watched Elba secure and double check to make sure everything was locked up.

  Even the windows were small on the ground level and prevented a full bodied person from climbing through, if they did break the triple-paned glass. Dusty had been thorough as he’d created his safe place.

  A pounding on the door made Bailey gasp and she covered her mouth with her hand, staring wide-eyed at the door. A rustling behind her and then the candles were snuffed out. They should have blown them out a while ago as the darkness had encroached.


  Bailey didn’t dare move. What if something she did gave away their presence? What if she sneezed, or cried, or tripped and made a sound?

  The pounding on the door came again, harder, louder, more impatient and demanding. Ever so slowly, Bailey turned her head and met Elba’s gaze over the back of the couch. The older woman’s eyes seemed to agree with Bailey’s instinct to keep things quiet. Their very survival could depend on how quiet they could be.

  The men’s voices carried into the fireplace again, like a cacophony of angry dogs growling. Their voices began to fade as if they walked away.

  Safety was within reach. Bailey leaned her head back, closing her eyes in gratitude.

  Jessica’s sudden cry split the air, folding in on itself as she paused to drag in a breath and then to cry again.

  Bailey snapped her eyes open and jerked her head around to stare at Elba. The older woman froze, then turned to stare at the infant who had been quiet and peaceful for so long. Her face was red and her mouth was open in desperation as she cried out. Small fists flailed and triggered something inside Bailey. She rushed to Jessica’s side and picked her up, careful to not let her fear come through to agitate the baby further.

  Jessica soothed quickly, hiccupping as she blinked. She too was covered in sweat, but not from anything like Bailey was worried about. No, after that crying jag, she was lucky she wasn’t a puddle of water.

  “It’s okay. Sh. It’s okay.” Bailey stood, holding the infant and moving toward the couch. A wave of dizziness passed over her and she took a deep breath to steady herself. Back on the couch, she nestled Jessica and then Elba moved to her side, placing shaking fingers on Bailey’s shoulder. “Listen.” Her whisper was cut off by the growing sounds of the men outside, like they were laughing.

  The sound sent a shiver down Bailey’s back. What had just happened? They’d heard Jessica crying. They knew people were inside and they knew there had to be women because the baby was there.