The Human Race (Book 3): The Main Event

by Fritz, Tahnee

  He applies pressure to the wound then reaches for my hand. He grunts from the pain and I grab the gun from the grass before we get back to our feet. He puts his arm over my shoulder and I carry some of his weight as we walk.

  “Let’s get moving.” I order and Neil leads the way once again.

  * * *

  The safe place we found is an old barn about a mile outside of Trevor’s community. The roof has a few holes in it, but the building itself is strong enough to hold up. The little girl was waiting with two women when we arrived and she ran to her father’s arms. I learned his name was Phil and something about that struck me as familiar. I can’t quite pinpoint exactly where I would have heard that before. He tried explaining to me, but stopped before he said too much. He didn’t want to upset me like he had before. Something else I am glad I don’t remember.

  Neil managed to get both of Jason’s gunshot wounds cleaned and stitched up. He has a backpack with him and a first aid kit inside filled with everything he will need to doctor wounds like that. He even had gauze to cover the stitches and keep it from getting infected.

  For now we are safe. We are hidden from anyone who tries following us out here and we have eyes covering every direction beyond the barn. No one followed us here and I don’t smell any threat waiting for us on the road ahead. The others want to rest for a little while and eat before we head out again. Neil would like to wait for the rain to stop and the others eagerly agree. I guess I am impatient and would like to put as much distance between myself and that town as I possibly can.

  I run my fingers through my dripping hair and spot Jason. He sits on a wooden barrel, his bloody hand pressed against his side as he leans against the wall of the barn. He looks fatigued with tired eyes as he stares at the hay covered ground under his feet. I kick some of it up as I slowly make my way over to him. My sunglasses are still covered with droplets of rain and I take them off to wipe the lenses with the bottom part of my shirt.

  Jason smiles at me and pats his hand on the barrel beside him for me to sit, but I refuse. Seeing that he is alive and well has brought back my thoughts about what happened at the school and no longer do I feel the need to shove my feelings inside.

  “Are you going to be okay?” I ask, genuinely concerned.

  He nods, “I think so. Neil fixed me up as best as could with what he has.”

  “Good, because I have something to say to you and you need to be alive long enough to feel the regret for doing this.”

  He scrunches his eyebrows in confusion and says, “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You should have let me kill him.” I say loudly and every soul in the barn turns their eyes to me.

  Jason seems taken aback and says, “What?”

  “You should have let me kill Trevor when I had the chance.” I repeat with more anger to my voice.

  He shakes his head and says, “We didn’t have time for that. His guards were already on the way and both of us would be dead right now if we stayed.”

  “It would have been worth it.” I shout.

  He lowers his eyes and holds his stomach, “Forgive me for being selfish and wanting you and the cure to survive. Next time I’ll know better.”

  “Well because of you keeping me from doing what I needed to do, he will never stop hunting us. He knows that we will be heading for the damn city and he’ll find a way to beat us to it. All of us here will be killed then and it is all because of you.” I argue.

  “The city has an army of its own, Bridget,” Neil’s voice interrupts us and I feel him approaching, “if Trevor does get there before we do, they will see that he is a threat and will take him out before he has the chance to do the same to them.”

  I spin around and glare at him, “You’re wrong. I have seen what will happen if he gets to the city and get inside those walls. He will destroy it and kill everyone who stands in his way.”

  Phil steps forward, leaving his daughter to play with her stuffed dog, then asks, “How have you seen it?”

  “I am more than just a cure or a freak or the monster that you people like to see. I can do things you humans could only dream of doing and you question it constantly. You people need to believe me when I say that I have seen what he will do and that will bring an end to the life you are trying to save.” I snap in response, then turn back to Jason, “You should have let me destroy him.”

  I turn away from these people and slide the shades back on my face to cover the hate in my eyes. The rain is letting up outside and being in the cold air, away from these people will be much better for me. They don’t understand anything I do or why it needs to be done. Trevor has to die. That is the only way to insure the safety of their race, with or without the cure in my blood.

  “Where are you going?” Neil calls after me.

  “Away from all of you.” I reply. “There is no sense in sticking around with a bunch of idiotic humans who will be dead in a matter of hours.”

  I move quickly toward the old, wooden door and reach for the handle. I can feel the slight breeze creeping in through the cracks in the wood and it feels good blowing through my damp hair and against my skin. The metal of the gun tucked into the waistband of my jeans behind my back is even cold.

  “You were human too, ya know.” Jason calls from behind me and I stop just before reaching the handle. “Just a few weeks ago, you were a human exactly like the rest of us.”

  I slowly turn around and see Jason forcing himself to stand from the barrel and take a few pain-filled steps toward me. The group stands at his side with Phil close by in case the pain from his wounds is too much for him to handle.

  It’s funny how just the other day I found the attraction I had toward him unbearable, yet now, I can’t stand the idea of being in the same room with him.

  “I know that you say that you have no memories of your human life, but I know they’re in there somewhere. And if there is any part of the old you that is left, she will fight against you until you let her come back. She wouldn’t stand for this or abandon the people that just helped her escape.”

  I smile and say, “Then why isn’t she here right now? Why did she let me take over? That thing you used to know is dead. She wanted to forget everything and get rid of the pitiful existence she called a life. I am the only one now who is moving on with the future I want and that does not need to involve humans like you.”

  I turn around once more and succeed in getting the door to slide open this time. Before I take a step into the misty world outside, a tiny voice holds me back and I stand frozen.

  “You were right about what you said when I first met you.” The little girl’s voice is so innocent as it pierces my ears. “The new cure is just as bad as the old one. Maybe even worse because you aren’t a nice person anymore.”

  I let her words resonate in my mind, not recalling the conversation she claims we had when we met. That was a different Bridget she spoke to then and I have said time and time again that the old me is dead.

  I hold on to the side of the door and without looking back at the rest of them I say, “I wasn’t created to be nice.”

  I step over the threshold and walk away from the barn. The ground is mushy and wet under my boots, but the rain has finally come to an end. The clouds are the only thing that remains of the passing storm and soon the sun will shine brightly overhead. The walls of the city lie to the east of here and it would be a straight shot once I get to the road.

  I don’t think that is part of my plan anymore. Those people in the city will never appreciate the gift I can give them. They will take it and use it for their own purposes then toss me into a cage and leave me to rot.

  That is far from the future I want or deserve. I think I will just spend time living in the wild where I feel more welcome. The zombies and vampires will make a nice meal whenever I need one and I don’t need the company of humans to make life better. Out there, I could wait while Trevor hunts me down, then get the opportune moment to kill him in the most
gruesome way possible.

  I head for the road and run my fingers through my damp hair. I don’t hear footsteps of anybody following me and I don’t care to look back to check. Instead, I close my eyes, put my hands in the pockets of my leather jacket, and take in the amazing scents the world has to offer.

  I can smell the rain and the dying leaves on the ground. The wet concrete under my feet and the grime caked on the few wrecked cars on the side of the highway. I can even smell the scent of a different set of humans approaching and I quickly open my eyes and reach for the gun behind my back.

  * * *

  I fire a warning shot at the oncoming group without thinking. The bullet doesn’t hit any of them, but they duck out of my range and hide behind a few abandon vehicles in the road. I hear them moving, which they are probably getting guns out and checking to make sure they are fully loaded. A few of them curse under their breath, confused about the crazy woman standing in the middle of the street all alone.

  The sound of the gunshot brought the people from the barn rushing to the highway. They catch sight of the strangers hiding not far in front of me, but none of them act as though they are concerned. I am the only one wielding a weapon and aiming for the people standing in my way.

  Phil and Jason cautiously approach and stand a few feet behind me. Phil keeps his gun lowered as he eyes the few weapons scattered amongst the strangers. He moves to stand beside me and raises an eyebrow in my direction.

  “Is that Trevor?” he asks.

  I shake my head and sniff the air, then say, “Doesn’t smell like anyone from his town. These people are different.”

  “Then why did you shoot at them?” Phil asks with a hint of anger to his voice.

  “They are in my way.” I reply simply.

  “Please don’t shoot at us!” a man’s deep voice comes from behind a grey truck. “We are just trying to find shelter!”

  He speaks as though his words will get me to lower my aim. It is going to take a lot more than that for me to lose focus and trust these people.

  “Where are you headed?” Phil shouts as he moves to my side. “There are no safe places around here!”

  “We are looking for shelter and food.” The man shouts back and I can tell he is lying.

  I take a step closer to them and aim for the grey truck. I sniff the air and let their odors drift up my nose. They say that they are looking for shelter, but the nervous tension and fear drifting from them tells me something different.

  “They aren’t looking for shelter. They are looking for something else.” I say quietly.

  “You don’t know that. They could be friendly and we should help them.” Phil retorts, then yells back to the group, “You should turn around and head for the city. That’s the only safe place around here.”

  “We know where the city is, but we aren’t going there!” the man argues. “Just tell her to lower the gun and let us pass through!”

  Phil inches closer to me and says, “Bridget, just put the gun down. We don’t need to hurt these people. They are travelers like us. We should let them pass.”

  I shake my head and keep my eyes glued to the back end of the grey truck. I can see the man’s feet sticking out from under it and I wait for any slight movement that might prove to me that he is a threat. All I need is one reason to pull this trigger again and I can end the annoyance right now and get on my way again.

  “Bridget?” another, younger male voice speaks up and I look away from the truck. “Is that you?”

  He pokes his head out from behind another vehicle and I turn my aim to him. I can see his eyes looking at me, his mouth hanging open as he recognizes me. He slowly moves away from the damaged car and I keep my aim, but I cannot pull the trigger. Even as he starts running down the middle of the street, I remain frozen.

  “Dammit kid.” The man with the deep voice steps out from behind the truck and starts following him down the street.

  He catches my attention and I aim for his feet and squeeze my finger around the trigger. The bullet bounces off the concrete by his toes and he stammers backward. He quickly throws his hands in the air and stops moving. Then I turn my aim back to the young man who stares at me and slowly inches his way closer.

  “Bridget?” he questions. “What’s wrong?”

  Footsteps quickly move to my side and I see Jason glaring at me out of the corner of my eye, “Put the gun down.” He demands.

  I stare at the boy tiptoeing his way toward me. He realizes that my aim is going nowhere and he slowly raises his hands in the air. He is no more than fifteen feet in front of me and I can see him perfectly. His clothes are dirty and wet from the rain. His brown boots are worn out and he has a hole in the left knee of his jeans. His blue, hooded jacket is tight on him and I see his red shirt sticking out from the bottom.

  “Put the damn gun down!” Jason orders and limps closer. “Trust me, you don’t want to kill him.”

  The boy moves forward, slowly closing the distance between us. The wind blows through his shaggy, brown hair and a familiar scent drifts up my nose. I don’t know how I recognize it or why my hand is beginning to shake as I hold the gun. I move my eyes to his as soon as he is close enough and those hazel orbs stare back at me, begging me to recognize him.

  “Please,” he begs, “why don’t you recognize me?”

  I ignore his words and tighten my grip on the gun.

  “Bridget, you really don’t want to kill him. Deep inside I know you have to realize who he is. Just put the gun down.” Jason pleads in my ear and places a gentle hand on my arm. “You don’t want to shoot Ryder.”

  My hand shakes even more at the mention of his name. I don’t understand it. If this is the person Jason told me about, then he is supposed to be dead. Jason told me that Trevor had killed him. He was the reason the old me wanted to forget everything and the very reason I feel so much revenge coursing through me.

  How do I know that?

  The one he called Ryder is even closer to me now and he opens his mouth to speak, “It’s me. I’m not dead. You have to recognize me.”

  I shake my head and say, “I don’t have to do anything.” Even my voice is shaking right along with my hands.

  Jason keeps his hand on my right arm and slowly reaches for the gun in my grasp. I can feel his fingertips sliding over the leather sleeve of my jacket and he quietly begs me to give him the gun. I grit my teeth and shake my head from side to side.

  My left hand stops shaking and I slowly turn my eyes to Jason. He is paying more attention to the gun than anything else and I take advantage of it. I quickly reach for the collar of his jacket and latch my fingers around the fabric. Before he can get away from me, I shove him backwards until he tumbles to the concrete of the street and hits his back against the curb. He grunts from the pain in his side while Neil quickly runs to his aide.

  I turn back just in time to see Phil reaching his hand for the gun in mine and he succeeds. His grip is tight on my wrist and he manages to pry the gun from my fingers. I go for his face as he tries to restrain my other wrist. I’m too fast for him and I leave a nasty scratch across his cheek. The pain doesn’t faze him and he is actually stronger than I anticipated. With my right wrist still in his grasp, he twists it around my back and kicks the back of my shin, forcing me to drop to my knees.

  It doesn’t take much to get out of his grip, but before I can get to my feet I stare down the barrel of not only the gun in Phil’s hand but a few others that have quickly crowded around me. The people from the barn scowl, as well as this new group we have encountered.

  I stay on the ground and consider my options. I value my life quite a bit to take the unnecessary risk of fighting through this mob and wind up getting shot.

  “No!” Ryder’s voice shouts and he quickly pushes his way through the gun-wielding men. “Don’t hurt her.”

  He drops to his knees until he is face to face with me. There are those hazel eyes that I saw in my head so many times. They are up close and real rig
ht now. He looks at me with a sad expression and shakes his head with what he sees.

  “What’s happened to you? Why don’t you recognize me?” he whispers.

  “Don’t take it personal. I don’t remember anything about the girl you think I am.” I reply.

  He reaches his hand out to touch my face and I snap my head out of his reach, “Why?” he says, quietly. “Why would you choose to forget everything? Why would you want to forget me?” he sounds angry now.

  I lean closer to him and say, “I did not choose to forget anything. The girl you know wanted to erase you from her mind. She wasn’t strong enough to deal with the death she thought you faced.”

  He shakes his head, “I don’t believe you. My Bridget would never do that.”

  “Deal with it,” I retort, “because she did.”

  Ryder grits his teeth and shakes his head. I watch as he stands and turns away from me. He walks back to the man with the deep voice from behind the grey truck and I can hear their conversation.

  “This is the one you were talking about? Your girlfriend with the cure?” his deep voice asks.

  Ryder nods and says, “Yeah, that’s her. Something isn’t right though, she isn’t the same.”

  The big guy turns his eyes to mine and says, “We’ll take her to the city like you planned. But it’s on you if she goes crazy and attacks one of us.” He steps away from Ryder and shouts to those from my small group, “All of you are welcome to come with us to Des Moines. The girl is coming regardless, but you’d be safer there.”

  I knew he was lying about being a simple group of travelers looking for safety. They were looking for me and now they have me. I am just another prisoner like I was when Trevor caught the old me. Only this time I am not locked in a cage.

  * * *

  We have been walking down this same stretch of highway for miles. The sun chose to stay hidden behind the clouds that were constantly threatening us with rain, but it never fell. There is a chill to the air and the people surrounding me group closer together to keep warm. Their clothes are too thin for the approaching winter.