Dead Cold

by Roddy R. Cross, Jr.

  Chapter 25: Hunger

  The only sound in the truck came from the windshield wipers moving back and forth the keep the heavy snow from obstructing Roland’s view too much. Roland found he missed the radio and music as he listened to the rhythmic beating of the wipers, his reverie ended by the weight of Destiny’s head on his shoulder. He had missed her, a lot, his move north had been one of the hardest things he had ever done.

  The falling snow made it almost impossible to make out any of the surrounding buildings and Roland was having a difficult time trying to guess where the road was. Slowing the truck down Roland began looking for a turn off that he hoped led to a Wal-Mart parking lot. Spotting what looked like a turn off Roland pulled the truck into the parking lot and slowed to a crawl, he could barely see past the hood of the truck.

  Bumping into more than a few curbs that had been buried under the deep snow was forced to continually back up and attempt different routes. Bright spotlights suddenly blanketed the truck blinding the occupants and forcing Roland to come to a sudden stop. Roland heard the dull bang of a distant gunshot an instant before a hole materialized in the windshield bringing forth a chorus of screams from his companions. “That was a warning shot, leave the parking lot now or we will kill you all.”

  “Shit.” Roland cursed under his breath as he slammed the truck into reverse and floored it out of the parking lot.

  “They shot her, the sons of bitches shot her!” Cory was shouting his hand pressed over a growing red patch on Valerie’s shirt.

  “Desire get up here and help her.” Roland did his best to keep his voice calm.

  “I need a first aid kit, I don’t have anything but I’ll do my best.” The tall blonde girl was already climbing into the front as Roland opened his door.

  “Where are you going?” Destiny followed Roland as he left the truck and headed around to the tailgate.

  “I’m going to get a first aid kit.” Roland’s voice was hard and cold as the ice under his boots.

  “I’m going with you.” Destiny pulled back the slide on her MP5 as Roland pulled out his backpack and the Timberwolf sniper rifle.

  “No you’re not, you need to stay and help them. I won’t be long I promise.” Roland checked the rifle’s magazine making sure it was full and closed the tail gate.

  “You’re going to kill them aren’t you.” The worry in Destiny’s voice was almost tangible forcing Roland to turn away before she changed his mind.

  “I’ll do what has to be done.” Roland walked off into the snow before she could say anything, he thought he heard her voice but it was lost to the wind.

  Alone again Roland trudged through the snow towards the store one hand shielding his eyes from the heavy snow. He knew what he had to do and it wasn’t going to be pretty. He was surprised how quickly society had dissolved in madness, the Reverend and his people now the lunatics guarding a Wal-Mart like it was the last bastion of humanity. Avoiding the spot where the truck had stopped Roland skirted to the left until he found a spot just outside the area the spotlights covered.

  Unhooking the long sniper rifle from his backpack Roland got down onto his stomach ignoring the cold, wet feeling as his body heat melted the snow. Snow had already started layering itself on top of his prone form as Roland brought the scope up to his right eye. He could make out three men on the roof, two working the spotlights and one crouched with a rifle while two more stood guarding the front doors. There was a lot of wind but it wasn’t enough to muffle the rifle’s boom and Roland wouldn’t stay hidden for long so he would have to be extra careful.

  His decision made Roland shut his left eye, exhaled slowly and squeezed the rifles trigger. The gun roared and bucked against his shoulder as one of the lights suddenly pointed skyward. Roland clutched the rifle to his chest and began rolling as bullets began ricocheting off the ground he had just vacated. Coming to a stop a good distance away Roland brought the rifle up again and working the bolt action to eject the spent round, drew a bead on the nearest guard.

  As the guard’s lifeless body fell Roland was moving again, this time taking cover behind a waist high concrete barrier. The spent casing ejected Roland sighted the chest of the man on the roof and squeezed the trigger. The recoil from the rifle was starting to hurt his shoulder as he loaded in a fresh round and centered the crosshairs and the remaining spotlight operator. The light was moving frantically as its handler searched madly for the ghost that killed his cohorts.

  Grimacing as he saw the young man’s face Roland teased the trigger his right eye closing as the large caliber round tore through the chest of a man he was certain had to be younger than himself. Steeling himself Roland ejected the spent round and loaded in a fresh cartridge. Both spotlights were pointing skyward and as Roland scanned around for the last guard he found the man cowering behind a pop machine his rifle on the ground in front of him.

  Holstering the rifle Roland drew his Desert Eagle and walked up to the cowering man. Kicking away the .22 caliber rifle Roland knelt down in front of the man the Eagle leveled with his stomach. A glint caught Roland’s eye and he pulled his face back; the hunting knife putting a shallow slice into his cheek. Pulling the Eagle’s trigger as the knife reached his cheek Roland stumbled back his hand instinctively going to his cheek.

  “Well that was a stupid thing to do.” He growled.

  “This is our place, we got here first.” The pain in his voice was incredibly apparent as the man did his best to hold a hand over his wound.

  The wind died down a little and Roland looked out into the parking lot finally able to see most of it. Several different vehicles sat scattered around the parking most with the windshield shot out, several with the doors open and lumps in the snow next to them. Roland suddenly found himself even more angry and disgusted at the wounded man in front of him.

  “You miserable, piece of shit, you killed all those people didn’t you?”

  “They wanted this place, wanted to take it from us.” Tears were streaming down his face now.

  “They probably just wanted somewhere to hide from the ghouls running around everywhere; did you ever think of that?” Roland’s voice got continually harder as he advanced on the man.

  “No, it’s ours and we’re not sharing.” Fear filled the man’s eyes as Roland advanced.

  “You’re pathetic and I guess when I shot you in the belly I aimed a little too high.” Roland brought the hand cannon to bear on the man’s groin and fired.

  “Ahhhhh!” The man screamed as his genitalia disintegrated.

  “Now let’s talk. How many others are there here?” Roland aimed the Eagle between the man’s eyes, now filled with tears.

  “Three more inside.” Was all he could say before he passed out from the pain.

  Deciding it wouldn’t be worth it to waste another bullet on the bastard Roland stood up and looked inside the big store. Emergency generators kept the lights on and made it easy to see inside where the store was mostly clean. The survivalists had gotten here before the looters keeping the store in relatively good shape. A makeshift barricade stood between the two sets of doors, enough to keep the creatures out but not enough to stop Roland.

  Prying the automatic doors open Roland squeezed through and quickly climbed over the barricade. The interior set of doors opened as he landed in front of them, making a loud squeal as they went. Knowing the sound must have alerted someone Roland dashed through the door and into the nearby McDonalds, taking cover behind the counter.

  A few seconds later a man in hunting camouflage came out from the back of the store and began looking around. He checked behind the tills and down the nearby aisles, a pump action shotgun always leading the way. When he looked out the doors his face pressed against the glass Roland heard his shocked exclamation.

  “Holy shit, they’re dead!”

  The man turned to run towards the back of the store and came face to barrel with Roland’s golden Eagle. Camo man froze instantly and his shotgun fell to the floor with a cla
tter. Gesturing with the gun’s barrel Roland directed the man towards the McDonalds, keeping the .44 hand cannon leveled with the back of his head as they went. Once they were inside the restaurant Roland put a hand on the man’s shoulder and forced him to his knees.

  “Now how about me and you have a chat?”

  “What do you want to chat about?” The man’s voice stayed flat and calm.

  “Why you sons of bitches…” Roland never got a chance to finish as he felt something metal and gun shaped press against the back of his head.

  Chapter 26: Captured

  Roland raised his hands letting the Eagle hang from his finger but not dropping it. Camo man stood up and turned around a wicked grin on his face as he took Roland’s weapon.

  “Keep them hands up and turn around boy.” Came a deep angry voice from behind him.

  Turning around Roland looked up at the man wielding a sawed-off double barrel shotgun. He stood at least six inches taller than Roland and outweighed him by a hundred pounds with a big bald head and arms as thick as Roland’s leg. Any thoughts of taking the man in a fight dissolved as Roland felt the man’s fist slam into his stomach; his vest taking some of the impact but not enough to stop him from doubling over.

  “Stand up boy; we’re going to the back.”

  Roland was stripped of his backpack and his knives, the survivalists taking extra care to make sure he didn’t have any concealed weapons. His hands held high Roland was led to the back of the store a wary gun constantly leveled with his back. Passing through the swinging doors into the warehouse area Roland was led past the merchandise lockups; which he saw were presently filled with scared looking men, women and children. The big man shoved Roland unceremoniously into the empty lock up at the end.

  “You’ll stay here ‘till we find some monsters to feed you to boy.” He laughed as he walked away.

  Roland was pissed and he immediately started kicking the doors to the cramped lockout with no success. The doors were made of steel mesh with a heavy duty padlock through a thick steel latch; Roland wasn’t going to get out that way.

  “Struggle all you want.” The remaining survivalist laughed. “You’ll just be tired when the dead show up to eat you.”

  Defeated Roland sat down in the cramped space, he had failed everyone. Valerie would die, if she hadn’t already, the others would be killed or captured if they came to look for him. Outside he’d had the advantage thanks to the weather and the element of surprise, in the store he’d been careless and now he was locked up.

  “Frelling stupe.” He muttered to himself.

  Roland couldn’t see in to the other lockups but he could hear shouts and cries from them as the guard made rounds back and forth. The guard was smaller than Roland and dressed in winter camouflage, he carried a small gauge shotgun that he occasionally pointed at Roland’s cage as he went past. Tired and out of ideas Roland leaned back against the wall and looked up.

  A smile crossing his face Roland sat straight up; the roof of his cage was just the four planks that made up the shelf above. There was a nut and bolt in either end of each plank and Roland discovered that they had not been tightened as he unscrewed each bolt with his fingertips. It took five minutes until Roland finally had all four unscrewed and was ready for the guard to walk past.

  The guard strolled past Roland’s cage, his shotgun held loosely in one hand as he went. Once the guard’s back was turned and he headed back down the hallway Roland silently slid the boards out of the way and pulled himself out the cage, his legs enjoying the room. Sliding off the cage and onto the floor with barely a whisper of rubber on concrete Roland launched himself at the guard.

  The guard turned to look just as Roland’s right shoulder slammed into his ribs forcing air from his lungs and causing the shotgun to fire into the air. Momentum from Roland’s charge carried both men to the ground and left Roland straddling the guard as he gasped for air. The sight of a two year old boy’s face peering through one of the nearby lockups caused Roland’s blood to boil as he pulled back his fist and began smashing his fists against the guards face. His anger increasing his strength as his punches landed; Roland could feel the bones in the other man’s face crack and shatter.

  It took only twenty seconds of constant blows from Roland’s fists before the guard was a bloody, unrecognizable mess. The sound of heavy boots coming towards the back reminded Roland that there were still two more survivalist in the store. Looking around for a weapon a smile crossed his face as his eyes spotted a bright red Louisville Slugger resting on a nearby shelf. Grabbing the bat Roland savored the heavy weight in his hand as he ran towards the sound of the approaching boots.

  The big muscular man was first through the door and his shocked expression made Roland’s smile larger as he swung the heavy bat. In a moment of overestimating how tough he was the muscular survivalist raised his arm in an attempt stop the bat like so many movie tough guys. The sound of his forearm breaking was quickly replaced by screams of anguish as he realized what had happened.

  Taking the opportunity for a little revenge Roland swung his boot upwards, his shin connecting hard with the big man’s genitals. Howling again the big man doubled over as excruciating pain shot through his body, the pain short lived as Roland’s rising knee connected with the other man’s face knocking him unconscious.

  “Earl, what’s happening?” The last survivalist’s voice came from the other side of the swinging doors.

  Looking down Roland saw his Golden Eagle sticking from the big guy’s waistband and reached down to retrieve it. “Come on, you dumb son of a bitch.” He growled the Eagle somehow making his arm complete.

  “Earl did you get him?” The man’s expression turned from curiosity to absolute horror as he pushed the doors open and saw the blood stained Roland standing over the big guy’s body.

  “No, he didn’t.” Roland’s voice was emotionless as he fired around into each of the man’s arms, shattering bone and tearing muscle as the hot slugs tore easily through.

  Pocketing his hand cannon Roland strolled over to the dying survivalist and pressed a boot heel into one of his wounds. The man screeched like a wounded animal but could do nothing to defend himself. Tired of the screaming Roland grabbed a pair of oversized panties off a nearby rack and shoved them into the wounded man’s mouth.

  “You made a bunch of mistakes today, you know that? You hurt innocent people, you put people in cages, and your biggest mistake do you know what that was?”

  The man’s eyes were wide as he shook his head back forth, each motion causing tears to splash to the floor. Leaning down until his mouth was next to the men’s ear Roland lowered his voice to a deadly whisper.

  “You fucked with me, that’s what and nobody fucks with me. Now, you’re gonna die because of it.”

  Standing up Roland left the man to die of his injuries and returned to the warehouse area of the store. The big man was beginning to stir as Roland walked past so he pulled the Eagle out of his pocket and fired into the back of muscle man’s head, he stirred no more.

  Searching the shelves in back it didn’t take Roland long to find a set of heavy duty bolt cutters and satisfied they would work he went back to the cages. Cutting each lock Roland set free everyone the survivalists had been holding, the scared men and women thanking him as they averted their children’s eyes from the man Roland had beat to death.

  Roland reached the last cage before his; this one contained the two-year old boy he had spotted earlier and three women; one in her forties and two that appeared to be in their twenties. This lock was stronger than the rest; forcing Roland to brace one arm of the cutters against his chest while he pulled on the other. With a loud crack the cutters closed and the lock fell to the floor with a dull thud.

  The cage swung open and the four stepped out into the hallway, joints cracking and muscles stretching. All three of the women stood about five feet tall, the two younger ones having brown hair while the older one had blonde highlights throughout. All four
had incredibly dark brown eyes and dark, tanned skin.

  “Well it’s about time someone dealt with them.” The oldest one kicked the nearby corpse as she spoke.

  “Mom was that necessary?” The daughter holding the toddler asked.

  “Made me feel better; just wish it had been me that had done it.” She took the child and turned to look at Roland. “Now, who are you?”

  “Name’s Roland Castle and you might be?” Roland couldn’t help feeling that he knew them.

  “I’m Alma Jesso, these are my daughters Megan and Natasha, and this is my grandson Seth.”

  “Well then ladies, it’s been a pleasure to meet you but I have to go help someone.” Roland was already starting down the hallway back out into the store.

  “Do you mind if we come with? They totaled my SUV when we pulled up.” Her voice was hard, someone trying to be tough when all they wanted to do was break down.

  “I don’t have room in my truck but maybe I can help you figure something out, I just need to find a first aid kit.” Roland slowed and let the family catch up.

  “I saw a bunch in an aisle near the entrance; I can show you where they are.” Natasha stepped past Roland with a determined stride.

  Roland fell in line behind the dark haired girl as the other two followed closely behind him, Alma still carrying Seth. Roland found his backpack on a till near the aisle that Natasha showed him where he grabbed two of the first aid kits and stuffed them in the backpack.

  “Now I just hope we make it in time.” Roland let the way out of the store and back into the storm.

  Chapter 27: Slowing Down

  Outside, they avoided the corpses near the door; Roland noticed the one he had questioned no longer breathed. All around the recently freed captives scattered and attempted to start vehicles or just started walking. Roland led the family at a rapid pace, first aid kit held close to his chest. Worry filled his heart as he got closer to the truck and the sound of someone crying reached his ears.