Dead Cold

by Roddy R. Cross, Jr.

  “Thank heavens for small mercies.” He muttered to himself looking at the weapons Blaze had managed to procure.

  It was mostly knives, axes, and a few handguns but Roland saw something he couldn’t take his eyes off of. It was a full length Katana in a dark blue sheath with a dragon’s head adorning the base of the grip. The price tag was still attached and Roland glanced at it finding the sword worth almost two thousand dollars.

  “No way.” He whispered in awe as he revealed the blade.

  Testing his thumb along the length of the shining steel Roland found it to be razor sharp and he smiled wickedly. Strapping the sword to his back Roland armed himself with what could be considered an arsenal of blades, grabbing two of the H&K USPs from the pile; His own guns still soaking wet.

  The sound of the hatch opening startled Roland causing him to back away from the opening, one of the USPs in his right hand ready for anything. The sight of Blaze’s curly brown hair relaxed Roland and he holstered the pistol.

  “Don’t you know how to knock?” He joked.

  “Well, I’m not used to having a roommate.” Blaze smiled. “So you want fruit salad or pear halves? We’re kinda limited on choice in face of the apocalypse.” Blaze held the cans forward.

  Roland laughed enjoying the feeling. “I’ll take the pears. Where do you get this stuff from anyways?”

  “Zeller’s, the Reverend’s goons haven’t cleaned that out completely yet.” Blaze opened his can before handing Roland the can opener.

  “Doesn’t take long for things to fall apart; does it?” Roland thought back over the last week as he opened his can.

  “No, it really doesn’t.”

  “So how did you end up here anyways?” Roland speared one of the pears and took a bite enjoying the taste.

  As the two ate in the otherworldly glow from the glow sticks Blaze outlined everything that had happened since the outbreak. It had started earlier than in Fort McMurray but in smaller more dispersed events until it eventually became too much for the police to handle about the same day that Fort McMurray had been overrun. When everyone else had been attempting to escape the city Blaze and his friends and family had come to the mall, his sister having a key.

  They had hid there for a few days attempting to barricade as many entrances as possible but on the third day the Reverend and his entire congregation had come through one of the of the entrances; followed closely by a massive horde of the undead. After repelling the horde the Reverend had quickly taken over the entire mall imprisoning Blaze’s entire family and killing the security guards that had been still in the mall when the world had gone to hell.

  Blaze had been away looking for supplies at the time and had hidden after watching the Reverend take his family prisoner at gunpoint. That had been four days ago and Blaze hadn’t seen his family since but he had seen Cory and the others being lead away at gunpoint into a furniture store.

  His can empty Roland drank the last of the juice before placing the can on the nearby ledge. “Well I have to find my friends, you can come if you like but I wouldn’t blame if you didn’t.”

  “He’s got my family too; I’m just as invested in this as you are.” Blaze put down his can and grabbed a pump action shotgun Roland hadn’t seen earlier.

  “Well then let’s go find them and see if we can’t perform some kind of rescue.” Roland said climbing up the ladder.

  The two men kept silent as they exited the sub, ducking along the gangway keeping an eye open for any sign of the Reverend’s men. Roland looked down the mall towards poor Eve was still locked in a closet making a silent promise to get her soon. Blaze led the way up the escalator stopping at the top as the tell-a-tale light of a flashlight flicked back and forth across the ground. Looking at Blaze Roland brought his finger up to his lips and then motioned for the other man to stay put.

  Pulling a combat knife from his right boot Roland took off at a run towards the source of the light ducking behind a potted plant as the light swung in his direction. Holding his breath while the white beam flicked back and forth in the area he had recently vacated Roland tightened his grip in the knife’s handle. The light turned back away and after listening to the footsteps recede Roland stood up and took off the guard doing his best to tiptoe. The guard stopped to examine a storefront just long enough for Roland to close the distance.

  Letting his instincts take control Roland grabbed the guard’s shoulder with his left hand and with his right drove the combat knife deep into the man’s back, piercing his lung before coming out the other side. The man’s flashlight and hunting rifle clattered to floor as Roland pulled the knife viciously from the guard’s back and stepped away letting him fall to the floor.

  As the guard hit the floor Roland looked into his face; he was in his mid-forties with a receding hairline and John Lennon glasses. Roland looked into the man’s chubby face; the realization that he had just murdered someone’s father or husband sinking in. Kneeling down beside the man Roland could hear gurgling as his victim tried to take in air and he saw the fear in his eyes as Roland centered the blood soaked knife over his heart.

  “Sorry buddy, but it’s you or me and I’m not fixin’ to die anytime soon.” The knife plunged into the guard’s chest and his eyes went dark.

  Clicking the flashlight on and off towards the escalator Roland motioned for Blaze to come over and began dragging the body over towards the store he had been looking in. Blaze came jogging over from the escalator his eyes opening wide as he saw what Roland had done.

  “Dude, you are scary.” He whispered picking up the guard’s rifle.

  “I made a promise to someone and I will be damned if some religious nut job is gonna make me break that promise.” Roland thought of Emily and hoped she could make it till he got wherever she was.

  “Remind me not to piss you off.”

  “That is usually the safest course of action.” Roland pushed the body up against the rollup door doing his best not to look at the children’s toys scattered about the store.

  Taking the rifle from Blaze and slinging it over his shoulder opposite the Katana Roland followed the taller man as they continued towards the furniture store. The area in front the store was brightly lit and Roland could make out the silhouette of two guards standing on the second floor looking down. The sounds of a sermon echoed up from the ground level and Roland felt his blood boil at the sound of the Reverend’s voice.

  “The lord hath given us an opportunity to start the world anew, but first we must prove to him that we deserve it and that we are not weak.” Roland motioned to Blaze pointing at the two guards and dragging his thumb across his neck.

  Blaze nodded and started creeping along the wall towards the farther guard while the Reverend continued. “We must prove that we will not allow filth such as this to continue unabated, we must prove that we will follow his commandments.” The Reverend was getting more worked up now.

  Blaze was in position now and Roland crept up behind the guard who was completely entranced with what the Reverend was saying. “One’s such as this must be made an example of, if we are to survive this new world.” Roland could hear amen’s and cheer’s from an unseen audience now.

  Rising up like an angel of death Roland put his hand over the guard’s mouth at the same time his blade’s serrated edge kissed his neck. The guard struggled briefly as Roland dragged him to the ground his hand firmly pressed against the dying man’s mouth as the light drained from his eyes. Looking over to see that Blaze had silenced the other guard Roland made his way towards the other man, the both of them meeting halfway and peeking over the railing to see the sermon downstairs. The Reverend was standing on a makeshift stage the Desert Eagle holstered under his left arm and a bible in his right hand.

  “These people have no place in God’s new world and as such will be purged!” He was almost screaming now gesturing to a man bound at his hand and feet and supported by two large men in flannel shirts.

  “No.” Blaze whispered and
Roland guessed the man was his father.

  “Will you accept the lord and me as his vessel?” The Reverend asked the man who looked as though he had been beaten.

  “Go screw yourself. What did you do with my son?” The man spat.

  “Your son is with god now as you soon will be, if he is gracious.” The Reverend drew his Desert Eagle and shot the man twice in the chest.

  Chapter 19: Thicker Than Water

  Before Roland could react Blaze was up screaming. “Dad!”

  Roland could swear a smile crossed the doomed man’s face as the two holding him let go and brought their weapons up. “Ahh, look my children two of the devil’s henchmen!” The Reverend pointed up at Roland and Blaze

  “Oh, shit!” Roland cursed as dozen’s of faces and just as many guns pointed up towards the two men. “Time to go, Blaze.”

  “Kill them!” Came the Reverend’s cry as a hail of bullets flew through the area where Blaze and Roland had been seconds before.

  Roland had pulled Blaze down just the congregation started firing; the taller man fighting to get up. “Let me go!” He raged as bullets whizzed past before smacking into the drywall above them.

  “You wanna die you idiot?” Roland struggled to keep Blaze below the bullets. “You’re not gonna get revenge as a corpse, now let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Blaze stopped struggling and Roland could see tears streaking down his face as both men began crawling away from the edge. Once they were out of the line of fire they both stood up and took off at a run. The Reverend’s followers were quickly coming after them, one surprising Roland as he came up the escalator just ahead of them and fired. The bullet punched a hole in the floor just ahead of Roland’s boot and he pulled a throwing knife from his pocket and threw it at the man as hard as he could.

  The knife sliced through the air between Roland and his enemy in an instant before entering the man’s neck and knocking him back down the escalator. Stealing a glance down the escalator as they passed; Roland’s adrenaline surged when he saw the dozens of armed people attempting to pass their now deceased brother. Running faster than he had ever run before Roland could hear the congregation clearing the escalator just as the sound of gunfire began anew.

  A bullet whizzed past Roland’s ear and he could hear more impacting all around. Roland and Blaze rounded another corner and Roland assumed they were home free when Roland heard a grunt from Blaze and the tall, curly haired man stumbled before collapsing to the ground, a red stain growing on the left side of his shirt.

  Turning Roland began firing the hunting rifle into the crowd as Blaze lifted himself to a sitting position his hand pressed tightly against his stomach. The rifle clicked dry and Roland threw it away drawing the USPs as the crowded scattered ducking into stores and behind flowerpots. Several bodies lay on the ground unmoving and Roland could see one reaching towards someone he couldn’t see.

  Holstering one of his pistols Roland centered the sights on the woman’s head, her left arm outstretched towards the store and a chrome revolver clutched in her right hand. The USP barked and the woman went still her arm falling limply to the ground as the others began shooting at Roland again.

  Ducking back behind the wall Roland took a look at Blaze’s wound, it had been a large caliber bullet and blood was starting to pour out onto the floor beneath Blaze. “How you feelin’ Blaze?” Roland asked all ready knowing the answer.

  “Pretty sure I’m dying, but thanks for asking.” Blaze was quickly becoming pale and his words were strained.

  “I’m sorry Blaze, I’m sorry for everything.” A bullet ricocheted of the floor inches from Roland’s limp left hand.

  Grabbing Roland’s hand with his own bloody hand Blaze pulled Roland close. “Meh, it was bound to happen sooner or later, now you listen to me. I want you to kill him. You got me? Kill all of them.”

  “You got it buddy.” Roland felt Blaze’s hand go limp as tears began to sting his eyes.

  Letting go of the dead man’s hand Roland stood up staring down at the person who even in death seemed to be much bigger than he was. Leaning down Roland slid his hand down his friend’s face closing his eyes and silently thanking him. His eyes still blurred by tears Roland was able to make out the shape of someone coming around the corner and suddenly his vision went red.

  Using the last two rounds in the USP Roland shot the man in both legs before dropping the automatic and drawing the Katana. Roland’s rage muffled the man’s pleas for mercy as the Katana made a horizontal arc and the man’s head fell from his shoulders.

  Breathing hard as his vision cleared and the headless corpse came into view Roland shook his head wondering why murder was becoming so easy for him. The boom of a twelve gauge brought Roland’s survival instinct to the forefront and as he took off running towards the safety of the submarine he knew that he was going to do everything in his power to stay alive, even if it meant ending the life of another. As he slid down the escalator Roland knew he was going to need a really big distraction if he was going to get close to the Reverend.

  Making sure he had lost the Reverend’s followers Roland made his way across the gangway and into the submarine closing the hatch as quietly as possible. Once safely inside the sub Roland stripped his duster and weaponry before collapsing into the seat next to his backpack. He needed a cigarette, badly and as he pulled the pack from his pack an idea started to form. Lighting one of the white paper tubes and inhaling deeply Roland pulled one of the two remaining grenades and rolled it back in forth in his hand a thoughtful smile pursing his lips as he savored the cigarette’s warmth.

  Crushing the cigarette under his boot Roland began packing everything he could find in the cramped sub into his backpack and pockets. The P90 and Timberwolf had dried enough to be used properly but need a cleaning in the near future. Silence outside the sub signaled to Roland that the congregation was no long looking for him in the immediate area and climbed out of the sub looking around just to be sure. Once he was certain the coast was clear Roland started towards the far end of the mall where he had left Eve and away from the Reverend’s church.

  Surprisingly Roland didn’t encounter any of the Reverend’s flock between the sub and the closet where Eve was hidden. Roland noticed it was oddly quite in the closet and he prayed nothing had happened to the dog while he was gone. Turning the knob and pulling the door open Roland was caught of guard as Eve tackled him to the floor and began licking his face.

  “Okay girl, I missed you too. Now come on, we got rescuing to do.” Roland said pushing the dog off himself.

  Roland knew what he needed and he was pretty sure Zeller’s would be the best place to find it, plus he might find some food for Eve who hadn’t eaten in quite a while. When they reached Zeller’s without meeting any guards Roland began to wonder why the Reverend wasn’t actively looking for him and what he was plotting.

  Once inside Roland went straight to the pets’ section and tore open a large bag of dog food; laying it on the floor for Eve. While the dog hungrily devoured the dark brown nuggets Roland headed to the hardware department and retrieved a roll of duct tape and a length of fishing line.

  Using the duct tape Roland taped the grenades together and then tied the fishing line through both pins. Depositing his handiwork back into his backpack Roland paused to watch the dog eat and enjoy a cigarette. His smoke lit Roland blew a puff of smoke out into the air and began to steel himself for the task at hand.

  The Reverend had to die about that there could be no doubt; he just hoped he would be able to rescue his friends as well. Eve stopped eating and sat down looking at Roland as if to say.

  “Well, I’m ready when you are.”

  Putting his cigarette out against the tile floor Roland stood up and looked back at the dog. “Well what do you say we go rescue Cory and the others?”

  With an agreeing bark the black and white husky stood up her eyes smiling up at Roland as he put on his backpack.

  Chapter 20: Religious Punishmen
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  Roland knew what he had to do as he and Eve exited the department store and headed back towards the casino where the others had first entered the mall to be captured by a mad man. He knew he couldn’t fight the Reverend and his congregation alone so Roland was going to enlist help. Along the way Roland encountered one of the Reverends guards, and as he brought the now dry P90 up to bare he recognized the man as Carl from earlier now toting a camouflage hunting rifle. Roland clicked on the laser sight.

  “Turn around, very slowly and put the rifle on the ground.”

  “Oh, shit.” Came the quivering reply as the skinny man turned around, his eyes quickly filling with fear.

  “You’ve got two choices here, Carl. Do you mind if I call you Carl? I don’t really care anyways.” Roland centered the red dot of the sight on Carl’s forehead as the man dropped his rifle. “I can either shoot you know, or you can run as fast as you can away from me and hope the ghouls get to you first.”

  Roland didn’t have to ask a second time as the man took off running a trail of fluid dripping from one of his pant legs. Clicking of the laser sight Roland smiled and continued on towards the casino. Roland didn’t encounter any other guards along the way but as he got closer he could hear the muffled sounds of the Reverend’s amplified voice. Roland couldn’t make out the words but he suspected it was more bullshit.

  As Roland approached the casino entrance he felt his blood run cold and his hackles raise, there were at least a hundred of the monsters on the other side of the glass doors. They pressed against it leaving smears of blood and other disgusting fluids; they became livelier as he approached biting at the glass in an effort to get at the treats inside. “Don’t worry assholes, you’ll get your fill soon enough.” Roland muttered pulling the grenades from his backpack.

  It was cold outside and the doors were thick, double paned, shatterproof glass but the stench of death still assaulted Roland’s nostrils as he taped the grenades to the outer doors. The moans of the undead froze Roland’s soul as he tied the fishing line to the grenade pins and moved as far from the doors as the fishing line would allow.