“What? What’s so funny?” Katie asked with a confused look on her face.
“Nothing. I’m an idiot. I was just worried about you.” Ty did his best to answer the question without giving away he was truly a teenager at heart.
Katie smiled at him stepping close. She wrapped her arms around his neck looking deep into his eyes.
“I’m fine. I just found you. I’m not about to leave you now. Now can you answer my question?” Katie asked in a hushed voice.
“Oh yeah, the helicopter. I think trouble is coming.”
Katie stared at him befuddled.
Sixty
A few zombies wandered the parking lot of the Big Mart, but the storefront appeared secure. The caravan crept into the parking lot stopping near the entrance. The eight men exited the vehicles, quickly dispatching a few zombies without using firearms. Baseball bats and axes were the weapons of choice when silence mattered. Two lookouts stood in the parking lot while the others gained entry into the grocery store.
The sounds of the approaching helicopter brought the men back outside.
“Is that what I think it is?” One man asked.
“I think so.” Another answered.
Jack Elliott and Adam Derroll stood next to each other watching the approaching helicopter. It moved slowly above Cypress Avenue hovering near buildings momentarily and moving on. The helicopter stopped and hovered over the parking lot.
“This is the United States Army. How many survivors are in your group?” The PA announced.
The men on the ground looked at each other not sure how to answer the question.
“How many are in your group?” The PA announced.
Finally one man held up eight fingers.
“Are you armed?”
The men again looked around confused by the question.
“What the fuck does that matter?” Adam yelled to Jack.
Of the eight men, six held rifles or shotguns. Soon they all held up their firearms.
“Stay inside the building. We will be back in a matter of days.” The helicopter moved off into the distance checking more buildings.
“What was that about? They don’t think we’re going to stay here do they?” A man asked the group.
“No, let’s do what we came here for.” Jack stated as he walked back to the store. The two lookouts took up their positions while the remaining men entered the store.
The store was well secured since the beginning of the infection. The electricity had been out for the past few days, causing some spoilage but for the most part the pickings were easy. The men gathered essentials and began stacking supplies near the front entrance. They moved quickly in an effort to finish before nightfall. Outside, the two lookouts remained alert wondering why they hadn’t encountered any zombies. The whole city had been crawling with them yet here they were few and far between. The two lookouts were disappointed as the high of the mission was waning. The men shrugged their shoulders and continued standing watch.
Jack stood near the front of the store speaking with one of the men.
“Seems awfully quiet out there. I don’t like it.”
The man looked at Jack saying, “You’d rather have them zombies running around out there. You’re nuts. I like it this way.”
“Not what I mean. I just think it’s too calm out there. We saw zombies everywhere we went and now this area is clear except for the few we killed when we got here. It’s weird. The helicopter was here for a few minutes, it should’ve attracted a few don’t you think?” Jack asked looking out the front of store.
“Yeah, maybe. But let’s enjoy the break while it lasts.”
“I guess you’re right. Let’s grab some more canned food.” Jack and his fellow survivor walked to the back of the store.
A walker came wandering into the parking lot. The lookout nearest it walked towards the zombie slinging his rifle and removing a hammer from his belt. The zombie found the lookout in its vision field raising its arms. The mouth of the former emergency room nurse opened wide splitting its lips allowing black substance to ooze from the cracks. Its teeth were discolored and chipped. The lookout raised his hammer driving it straight down into the zombie’s head. The hammer stuck in the head and wouldn’t come loose. The lookout pulled on the handle as hard as he could as the zombie slumped to the ground.
“Give me a hand.” The lookout yelled to his partner.
The second lookout slung his shotgun. He joined the first lookout pushing him aside grabbing the handle of the hammer. He smiled to his partner and jerked the hammer free of the zombie’s crushed skull with ease. He handed the bloodied hammer to his partner chuckling. The first lookout peered down at the hammer as a chunk of blackened brain matter fell to the pavement. The splatter hit the lookouts pant leg.
“Son of a bitch.”
“Next time, use a baseball bat. Less likely to get stuck. You know, swing away!” The second lookout mocked walking backwards. “Do you hear wind?”
The first lookout gave up cleaning his pants as he looked up. His eyes grew wide as he swung his rifle around raising it. The second lookout, startled by his partner’s sudden movement, turned around raising his shotgun.
“Holy shit!” The words escaped both men.
One hundred yards out and closing, they came. Well over a hundred zombies walking in their direction. From within the horde, multiple Runners broke free running into the parking lot. The lookouts fired rapidly missing the intended marks striking the mass of decomposing bodies walking behind the Runners.
“RUN!” The second lookout screamed turning away from the mass. Both lookouts turned running for their lives. They yelled for the men in the store to get back to the trucks.
Inside the store Adam heard gunshots followed by hollering. “We have trouble.” Adam yelled to the back of the store. All six men ran for the front entrance. Adam reached the sliding doors first gasping in horror. He ran for the first truck still idling near the entrance slipping on a puddle of soda from a burst can. He tumbled to the front walk of the store feeling the weight of another man falling on top of him. His wind was knocked from him. He gasped for air.
The second lookout spied over his shoulder, checking the progress of the Runners. To his dismay a tall slender zombie, former gender unknown due too the condition of its skin, was reaching out for him. The lookout tried to juke the zombie but was caught and dragged to the ground. The zombie bit down on his neck. The lookout screamed for help briefly before his voice gave out. The first lookout ignored the muffled plea for help and continued sprinting for the vehicles.
Adam rolled over onto his back, continuing to gasp for air. He looked up seeing two of his comrades reaching for him. They grabbed his arms and began dragging him away from the vehicles. He wanted to scream. The vehicles were within twenty feet but he was being drug back into the store. He began to regain his breath and instantaneously began protesting. His hoarse voice called out, “What the hell are you doing?” The two men dragging him paid him no attention. They dropped him on the floor near a row of cash registers and ran back to the front. Adam’s chest continued pounding as he regained his wind.
The first lookout reached the newly acquired Dodge pick-up, flinging the door open. He pulled himself into the driver’s seat and panicked at the sight of the stick shift. He exited the pick up and ran for the next truck. Runners caught him between the two trucks, dragging him down. He barely screamed before his flesh was stripped and mutilated. Both lookouts were consumed rapidly as zombies bunched around the two bodies battling for pieces of warm flesh. Their grey eyes never blinked.
With the two lookouts down, Jack and his fellow men had time to secure the entrance with chains and locks found in the hardware section. Cases of food and water were moved directly in front of the doors acting as blockades.
The parking lot was full of the undead. They finished consuming the two lookouts and began wandering the parking lot bumping into one another. Several zombies gathered around the idling vehi
cles. Some even crawled inside the open cab. A nameless force drove the zombies to sit in the vehicle but memories of the past escaped their dead brains. They sat moaning for the living.
Jack stood above Adam lending him a hand. He hoisted Adam to his feet, “You OK?”
“Yeah. Got the wind knocked out of me.” Adam answered still wheezing a bit.
“Well, it looks like we’re fucked. Hopefully the Army will be back soon.” Jack explained watching the front door intently.
“What happened out there?” Adam asked still rubbing his chest.
“No clue. The whole parking lot is crawling with those things. We lost the two guys standing watch. Runner’s got’em, I think. “Jack walked to the front door peeking out a small opening between cases of food and water.
“Do you think the Army’s coming back soon?”
“I hope so.” Jack answered.
Sixty-One
0500
Kilo Company was abuzz with activity as one hundred men, split up in ten teams, prepared for the task at hand. Redding, designated a Renaissance city by the Federal Government, was the largest city to be sacked by Kilo Company and would become their new home once the siege was complete. Unfortunately for Kilo Company the majority of the population was dead and walking.
Hutto stood in the communications trailer looking over reports received from the helicopter crews the night before. Once satisfied with the reports he called for the team leaders to join him in the command trailer.
“Gentlemen…
Hutto updated the men regarding locations containing large groups of survivors, large collections of the undead and in some cases both. The men listened carefully to the information, gathered materials, and were dismissed. The team leaders exited the trailer and gathered their respective teams for a new briefing. Hutto walked back to the communications trailer where he signaled the beginning of “Operation Renaissance.”
Sixty-Two
An ominous hush fell over the night as moonlight danced over the darkened cityscape. Power to most parts of the city had failed including the Bixter Building. Ty stood atop the building looking out over the necropolis. His mind skipped back and forth between how wonderful and archaic the city appeared in the moonlight to how dead the city was. Not one light shined in the city. The air was cool sending a chill up his spine. The moaning from the street below didn’t faze him. Ty was oblivious to the sounds of the dead.
The shriek of a passing owl caught Ty’s attention. He listened as it passed over following the sound with his eyes. He walked to the south side of the roof staring into the night. In the distance he saw a soft glow. He lifted his binoculars. A gunshot echoed. Ty figured it was the military set up near the edge of town. Feelings of distrust flooded back. On his belt, the small two-way radio sounded.
“Ty you there?” Jess asked from the other end.
“Yes.”
“You were right, he left his room and went down stairs.”
“On my way. How’s Katie?”
“Sleeping.” Jess replied. “You want me to come with you?”
“No. Let me handle this. I’ll take Sugar with me.” Ty slipped the radio back onto his belt.
The interior of the Bixter Building was dark spare the few backup lights Ty left on. The lower lobby was completely black. Ty moved along the lobby with ease having worked at the building for quite some time. He reached the door for the parking garage listening for a moment. He could hear movement on the other side. It sounded as though Rick was loading something in the bed of the truck. Ty continued listening for a short while until he heard the door of the truck close and the engine turn over. The engine continued to turn over without firing. Ty pushed the door open, holding Sugar back and walked slowly into the garage. He switched on his flashlight.
Rick almost shit his pants when the flashlight shined near the front of the truck.
“You looking for this?” Ty asked loudly, holding up spark plug cables.
Rick peered out the window of the truck and slowly reached for his side arm.
“We don’t need to do this. I want out of here as much as you do.”
Rick removed his hand from the sidearm and stepped out of the truck.
“You don’t understand. I’ve lost everything. My best friend, my home, my family, all lost. Hell, the girl I like is with you. There’s no girls left.” A mix of frustration and exhaustion was evident in Rick’s voice.
“This isn’t the way. We need to work together. Safety in numbers, Hell, man, we’ve all lost something or someone in this bullshit.” Ty stood at a distance watching Rick closely. He could tell he was done, worn out.
Rick hung his head. “The military will be here soon. I want to go with those guys. You talk about safety in numbers. Well, there’s the numbers.”
“If that’s what you want, I won’t stand in your way. If anything, we are still free in this country and you can make your own decisions. I can’t let you take the truck though. I need it for my own plan. When the Army gets here feel free to go, but don’t tell them we’re in here. Tell them we left and you’re the only one left from here.”
Rick leaned back against the front fender of the big Ford sighing.
“What’re you going to do when they get here?”
“Lay low. When they pass I’m heading for Mt. Lassen.”
Ty didn’t know if he would regret letting Rick in on his plan but he felt obligated. “My ex-father-in-law owns a hunting cabin up there. It’s fully self-contained and I think the cold will keep the dead away. I’m hoping by spring they will have wasted away.”
Rick paused before speaking. “Your plan sounds solid. I’m in if you’ll have me.”
“We can use all the help we can get. You’ve already loaded the truck with some supplies. When we decide on a date and time, we’ll load up the rest of the supplies in the building and make for the hills. We’ll have to sit down and finalize the plans and work out any kinks.”
Rick stood up and held his right hand out. “No hard feelings. I’m still pissed about Katie but at least she picked someone with a head on his shoulders.”
Ty gripped the hand tightly in an attempt to show his strength and respect. Rick gripped back and they shook. In the distance the gate to the garage rattled and Ty and Rick could hear the moans of the undead.
“We should get back inside.” Ty said, letting go of Rick’s hand.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
The two men walked back to the lobby. Ty’s hand throbbed slightly.
Sixty-Three
Littleton sat on the floor praying for guidance. He had lost his way. His flock was swayed by false hope and couldn’t see the light. Yes the military would be there shortly but could they provide ultimate salvation or would they just prolong their suffering. God didn’t want these people to suffer any further. Gates must not succeed. All around him, his followers sat praying along with him. Men, women, and children gathered looking to Littleton for guidance yet he couldn’t help feel he had lost them to the fires of Hell. He knew Gates was nearby watching his every move. He could feel his presence. Littleton twitched slightly at the thought.
***
Gates sat in his office for some time after the military helicopter departed, contemplating the next few days until they returned. He would be hailed a hero, a title he longed for his entire military career. He sat at the desk cleaning his sidearm daydreaming about his triumphant day. A nagging little question kept popping into his mind. What about Littleton? The question surfaced again forcing him to leave his office for a little recon. Down the hall he went.
The gathering was large, larger than Gates had expected. The entire main floor was covered with people kneeling and praying along with Littleton. A shiver ran up his spine. He slowly walked down the main staircase. At a lower landing an armed sentry stood. He looked at Gates and shrugged his shoulders. Gates continued down the stairs. He reached the bottom step and stopped before entering the main floor. A small girl looked up at hi
m and smiled.
“Continue your prayers, Shelly.” The little girls mother said looking over to her. Shelly dipped her head and began to say a prayer under her breath. The shiver returned.
“I pray to the Lord to give me guidance and assist me in bringing these people home. I know you will be coming around soon. I fear the horsemen and what they will do. I want to lead these people to the golden ladder and bring them home. Do not let these people disappear in the potters ground. Let them hear the Angles sing. Let them walk in your Kingdom.” Littleton continued his prayer. He swayed back and forth on his knees calling out for God to lead him and his flock. Sweat dripped from his face.
Gates stood at the bottom step in shock at the sight before him. He hesitated for a long moment watching the followers trying desperately to form some sort of strategy in his mind. He looked around the main floor for his sentries. Only one, the sentry standing on the landing above him was with in sight. He waved the man down to his location.
Gates leaned close to the sentry and whispered, “Grab two more men and bring them down here.” The sentry nodded and walked back up the stairs. Gates stood watching the group finally realizing he never had control. He was fooling himself all along. A sly grin slipped across his face. Game on, my friend.
Sixty-Four
0525
Ten Humvee M998 Troop carriers exited the safe confines of Kilo Company’s current location and entered the southern end of the city. One by one, the Humvee’s split off taking up residence in different parts of the city. Each Humvee carried a driver, lead man, radioman and seven soldiers, all heavily armed and covered in lightweight body armor. By 0535, all teams had breached their first buildings. Four man teams entered the buildings. Three soldiers stood watch on the street. The radiomen kept in constant contact with the communications trailer. The first fifteen minutes were flawless.
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