“Talk about a rock and a hard place,” he said, pulling his head back. “What’s our next move?”
James assessed the group. The man was out of breath from supporting the woman with the broken leg, who couldn’t move on her own. The only one who appeared to be able to move quickly was the short blonde woman.
“Okay,” James said, sighing, “You and I go out and distract them while they go around to the ramp. Then we’ll follow and meet at the truck. That’s all I got.”
“It’ll have to work,” the man said, looking back at the approaching horde coming into the alley behind them. “Here they come.”
“We’ll go first. Wait for us to start shooting and then run as fast as you can. Stay tight to cover and try not to attract attention. You’ll have to be quick,” James said as they switched out their magazines, replacing the partials with full ones.
James looked to his brother, took a deep breath, and then nodded.
The brothers burst around the corner, making it as far as the pumps before the zombies saw them. The horde started towards them, and they opened fire as they moved in a crouch. They made it around the horde with only a few yards between them and the closest zombies. In fifteen seconds, a dozen zombies were on the ground, and the trio began to move towards the ramp. Most of the zombies were intent on the brothers, and the group passed by the bulk of the horde without any trouble. The brothers backed up slowly towards the ramp, firing as they went.
A scream pierced the groans of the undead.
James and Connor glanced behind them in the direction of the noise and saw the man being taken down by a zombie. The woman with the broken leg screamed while trying to crawl away, and the blonde woman had picked up a small pole, using it as a weapon against the horde that was surrounding them. James didn’t need to confer with his brother to know what to do. He took off running towards the group as Connor aimed at the zombie on top of the man sixty yards away.
As James ran, he heard a shot, and the zombie on top of the man jerked its head, blood spraying over the woman trying to crawl away. Connor was firing as fast as he could, but the zombies were closing in on her. James was still too far away to help and knew that if he stopped to open fire he wouldn’t be able to make a difference in time to save her, so he ran faster.
The first zombie fell over the crawling woman, and her screams changed pitch to the most bone-chilling sound James had ever heard as three more zombies fell over her. A second later her screams were cut short as a shot rang out. Was that a coincidence, or did Connor just…
The thought was pushed from his mind as he remembered the last survivor. She was fending off a zombie that was blocking her way to the ramp. The ones behind her were temporarily preoccupied with the fresh meals and paid her no heed, but as James went around the feeding zombies, they looked up—fresh blood covering their faces—and started towards him. He arrived at the woman’s side just as she bashed a zombie in the head and it fell to the ground.
“Stay with me and cover my back,” James said as he turned around, ready to take out the small group coming towards him.
He took aim and the zombies started to drop like flies. He could see his brother in the distance as he came running towards them, zombies close on his heels. James switched targets to the zombie closest to Connor, and it fell to the ground, sporting a new hole in its head. He was already onto the next one, dropping it soon after. A few seconds later he had a good distance established between the zombies and his brother, and he went back to shooting the ones that were closing in on him and the woman. He took out the last three and cursed under his breath. The horde was almost on them. He opened fire again and was relieved a second later when Connor ran past him.
“Get her out of here. I’ll cover!” Connor shouted as he turned around and took aim at the oncoming horde. James grabbed the woman by the arm and they ran towards the ramp.
Connor squeezed the trigger, and a zombie fell, dead. He squeezed again. Click. It was empty! He hadn’t been counting his shots like he should’ve been. He dropped his AR, which swung to his side on the sling, and quickly drew his handgun, taking aim at the zombies now only a couple of yards away and closing in.
James arrived at the ramp and saw it was clear of any zombies. He quickly turned around and noticed that his brother was almost overrun.
“Come on, Connor!” James shouted, stopping just long enough to kill the two closest zombies and then continuing on his way, following the woman to the top.
Connor shot once more, and the slide stayed open on his handgun, indicating it was empty. He turned around and sprinted towards his brother as he quickly ejected the spent magazine and slapped in a new one.
James arrived at the top of the overpass and saw his truck sitting there. It was the best sight he had ever seen.
“Jump in the backseat!” he told the woman as he hopped in.
By the time he had the truck started and in gear, Connor was jumping in.
“Let’s roll!” Connor said as he grabbed the shotgun from the passenger seat and stuck the barrel out the window.
James stomped on the gas and the truck took off, the force pushing them into the backs of their seats. They flew past as the horde made it onto the overpass.
Connor pulled the shotgun back in and rolled up his window. “Well, that was close.”
4
Revelations
Saturday, day of the outbreak
“Can we stop soon?” Alexis asked. Her legs ached from sitting in the truck for so long. They’d had to take several detours to avoid infected cities but they were finally in Oklahoma.
Jane still hadn’t spoken since the incident with George the night before.
“I need to find somewhere to fuel up. Then we can stop,” Emmett said.
They continued driving until he saw a sign for Hersham, Oklahoma. He’d been there before, and it would be a perfect place to fuel up.
They rolled to a stop in the middle of the highway, looking at the town. Emmett pulled a pair of 8x32 Leupold binoculars from the glove box and peered through them, knowing right away the town had been infected. There were abandoned cars, bodies strewn about, smoke rising into the sky, and the infected milling around.
“Alexis, Jane, stay in the truck no matter what. I’ll clear the station and then you can come out,” he said as they pulled into the fuel station on the outskirts of town.
He counted three infected around the station, and he drew his Beretta, pulling a suppressor out of his duster lying on the passenger seat. Screwing the suppressor on, he opened the door and stepped out. The infected, attracted to the noise of the truck pulling up, shambled toward him.
The nearest infected was ten yards out as Emmett took aim. It fell to the ground. The other two took no notice and continued at him, but they soon joined the first one on the ground, each sporting a 9mm-sized hole in their heads. Looking around for more threats and finding none, he grabbed the fuel nozzle, inserted it into his tank, and squeezed the lever, but nothing came out. He shook his head as he read the sign: Prepay or Credit Card Only.
Alexis rolled down the window. “Are they… dead?”
“They are now,” he replied.
“Good. I really need to use the restroom.”
“You can come in with me. I have to go in anyway. But first, I have a surprise for you.” He walked to the back of the truck and retrieved a box from inside. “This is for you.”
Alexis took the box and opened it, withdrawing a beautiful handgun. It was a Walther P99, painted in a purple and black camouflage. She looked at the gun in awe. It was the same kind she always shot at the range, and it fit her perfectly.
“Thank you so much!” she said, giving her dad a hug. She stepped back, looking up into her father’s eyes and seeing a strength she knew would never fail.
“You’re very welcome, honey. This goes with it,” he said, handing her a tactical belt with a holster for her gun, a suppressor, three extra magazines, a multi-tool, and a knife. She put the
belt on.
“I love it, Dad.”
“I knew you would. Now, keep it with you at all times.”
“I will,” she said, sliding her handgun into the holster.
He then handed her a Benelli M4 12-gauge pump-action shotgun with a collapsible buttstock, pistol grip, and flashlight on the front.
“There, now you’re properly outfitted. The main thing you need to remember is to shoot them in the head. That’s the only way to put them down for good. You can do this, honey. I know you can.”
He walked to the passenger seat where his suppressed M4 carbine awaited him.
Alexis looked down at the shotgun in her hands. Her dad believed in her, but she wasn’t sure she believed in herself.
“Let’s go. Stay behind me and stay alert. Jane, we’ll be back,” Emmett said as he moved toward the door of the fuel station, M4 at his shoulder.
Alexis followed behind him with the shotgun ready. As they walked forward, she kept close to her dad and looked around for any movement, remembering the training he’d given her.
Emmett reached the door and looked through the window. He saw a body on the floor, but there was enough blood for two or three. Half of the shelves had fallen over, and all of the merchandise was scattered around the floor. To the left was a counter with the registers where he would need to turn the pumps on. He turned to Alexis, who was also looking through the big glass window.
“Remember what I told you—aim for the head, and don’t get bitten,” Emmett said.
“I’m ready,” she said, even though she didn’t feel it.
She turned back to look through the window one last time at the horror inside. A bloody hand smacked against the other side of the glass. She jumped back, brought her shotgun up and pulled the trigger, but the shotgun didn’t fire. She’d forgotten to chamber a round!
Her dad pushed through the door, already aiming down and to the left. Taking one look at the eyes, he fired. The infected collapsed to the floor.
Alexis stood there, looking at the bloody handprint on the glass. This is more than I can handle . . . No, you can’t think like that. You can do this, she thought. She pumped the shotgun, chambering a round, and followed her dad through the door.
Emmett walked over to the body and put another round in its head for good measure. Then he went around to the counter, keeping his eyes peeled for movement. Glancing over the counter, he saw a body lying face down. It began to move, and he shot it twice in the head. He hadn’t needed to check the eyes, knowing by the look and smell that it was an infected. He hopped over the counter and hit the button on the register, authorizing all the pumps.
“I’m good to go,” he said to his daughter, who was standing on the other side of the counter, keeping watch. “I’ll clear the rest of the station and then you can use the restroom. Get behind the counter and make sure nothing gets past me.”
She nodded.
He moved down the aisle, reaching a body lying on the floor. He put a round in its head and went to the back door. He eased the door open and moved into the hallway. There were three doors. He swung the M4 onto his back and drew his Beretta. Checking the first door, he found it was locked, so he moved on to the next one. It was the women’s restroom. He entered, Beretta up to his chest as he swept into the room. Ironically, the restroom was cleaner than the rest of the station, considering there was neither blood nor bodies. He cleared both stalls and went back out to the hallway, then entered the men’s restroom. This one did have blood on the floor and a half-eaten body rested in the corner. He walked up to it. Half its head was missing, so he didn’t waste a round. He cleared the stall and left the restroom.
“The restrooms are clear. Use the women’s. It’s clean,” he told Alexis as he moved past her to the front door. As he walked out, he checked the surrounding area, finding it clear. He took the nozzle off and pressed the lever, it worked this time. He began to fuel up the truck.
Alexis was alone in the station now, and she certainly felt alone. Her dad was just outside and wouldn’t have left if he hadn’t thought it was absolutely safe, but that did little to alleviate her fear and she had to use all of her determination just to move from behind the counter. She walked to the back door and eased it open with the tip of her shotgun. There was nothing there, so she moved to the women’s restroom. Even though she knew it was safe, her hands still shook as she opened the door. She walked inside, quickly looking around and keeping the shotgun pointed ahead. She didn’t relax until she had checked both stalls.
Meanwhile, Emmett heard the lever click, indicating the tank was full, so he topped it off and hung up the nozzle. He knew it would be hard for his daughter, leaving her alone in there, but she needed to get used to it. He wouldn’t always be around to protect her, and if she wanted to survive, she would need to toughen up. Alexis exited the station, walking confidently towards the truck, and he smiled to himself. She’ll do just fine.
“Jane, do you need to use the restroom?” he asked through the open window. She answered him with a hateful look, the grief plain in her eyes.
Alexis walked up and opened the back door. “I’ll take you, Mom. The restroom is actually very clean.” She helped her mom out of the truck and they walked inside.
Emmett stood by the pump, wondering if they needed any supplies from the station. Walking back inside, he grabbed some cold drinks and snacks for the girls. He had plenty of survival food, but he thought they’d like this better.
He was leaning against the truck, reloading a thirty-round magazine, when the girls came out. It had taken them over twenty minutes, and five new corpses accompanied the original three. It looked like Jane and Alexis had been crying, and he guessed they’d had a “girl talk” while in there. Girls loved to use the bathroom for that sort of thing.
“Are you two ready? I have some snacks inside,” he said as he finished reloading his magazine, slamming it into the M4.
“Yes,” Jane replied, venom dripping from her voice.
At least this was an improvement, considering she wouldn’t talk to him before. They loaded into the truck and left the gas station behind.
~~~
Driving through the day, they’d stopped several times for gas. They were south of Kansas City on I-49. Emmett had to drive more cautiously now as abandoned and crashed vehicles littered the interstate. They’d been seeing quite a bit of traffic going both ways with people driving erratically. More than once they’d watched as a vehicle swerved and crashed into the ditch or another vehicle. They didn’t stop to see what had happened; he had a pretty good idea.
“Can we stop for the night?” Jane asked.
He knew from experience that she didn’t sleep well in a moving vehicle.
“Yeah, we just need to find a good spot,” he replied.
“Dad, why are we going north?” Alexis asked, suppressing a yawn.
“I have a… fortified building up there, and it has everything we need. You’ll even have your own room,” he replied.
“You think of everything. But why north?”
“The infection doesn’t do so well in the colder weather and neither do the infected.”
“So…where are we going?” Alexis asked.
Looking in the rearview mirror, he could tell Jane wanted these questions answered too.
“Alaska. The farther north we get, the better.”
“Wait. You show up, throw us in the truck, shoot my husband, and expect us to go all the way to Alaska with you?” Jane asked, furious.
“Would you rather I’d left you there in the capable hands of your ignorant husband?”
“You never liked him. You always wanted him dead!”
“No, I never did like him, but I wouldn’t have wasted a good bullet on him if he hadn’t been infected. But he was, so I did to him what I’ll do to every infected I see. Get used to it, dear, because it’s only going to get worse.”
“Enough! Must you two always fight?” Alexis asked. She hated seeing her parents thi
s way. She loved them both dearly, but they had some serious unresolved issues they needed to work through. “So why are we going all that way? I thought we were just leaving Texas, maybe to Montana at the farthest. Is it that serious?”
Emmett wanted to chuckle at that but stopped himself. They didn’t know what he did, and he didn’t expect them to understand.
“Yes, honey, it’s very serious. Last we knew, it was just Texas, but the infection will spread. Within a couple days, the places infected will outnumber the ones not. In a couple weeks, we can expect the whole U.S. to be infected, if not all of North America. After that, who knows what’ll happen.”
It was silent for a few minutes.
“How do you know all this?” Jane asked, fuming.
He had been wondering when the questions would come to this one.
“You won’t like the answer. But I’ll tell you anyway as it’ll be all over the news soon enough. Your father’s company is involved. I discovered something while working security there—something that alarmed me and made me do some digging.”
“You’re a liar! He would never be involved in something like this! I can see now what happened between you two,” Jane said, realizing that it had been more than just the divorce.
Albert, her father, and Emmett had always been close, but something had happened around the time of the divorce, and Emmett quitting had put them at odds.
“Believe what you want. You’ll realize there’s more to LifeWork than you think, a lot more,” he said. “There’s a rest area up ahead. We’ll stop there for the night.”
As he pulled off the exit he noticed a vehicle pulling back onto the interstate. Driving up to the rest stop, he had his choice of parking spots, so he pulled into the space right in front of the restrooms. Here, the street lights illuminated a good twenty yards in all directions.
“Now, honey, concerning your handgun, you need to be careful. Best to conceal it while in public, but make sure to keep it close. You never know who’s infected.”
The Brother's Creed (Book 1): Outbreak Page 4