“Got us some provisions—I call dibs on the good stuff,” Teddy said.
Ein laughed. “Fair enough.”
Teddy took the wine and pulled the wax cork off with his teeth. He spat the cork out and took a swig. The wine was bitter, but it would do the job. He held the bottle out towards Ein and waved it side-to-side. “Thirsty?”
“Nah… More sleepy than anything.” Ein yawned, stretched out leisurely on his back, and closed his eyes. “Damn, this feels nice… We should stay here.”
“That mini-fridge won’t last us forever,” Teddy said.
Ein opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling with a flat expression. He finally asked the question that had been haunting Teddy for days: “Where are we going exactly?”
Teddy was caught off-guard. Despite asking himself that very same question multiple times, he still didn’t have an answer. Somewhere safe, he figured, but he didn’t know anywhere that could be considered safe. Hell, even a small town like Dickson, wasn’t without risk. “I don’t know,” was all he could manage to say.
Ein certainly didn’t seem satisfied by the response, but he didn’t argue—he closed his eyes again with a scowl.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
Suddenly, the nearly palpable unspoken friction that had seemed to fade away between the two men made an insidious return.
“I’ll take the first watch,” Teddy said, sighing. He grabbed the rifle off the bed and took another swig of wine as he walked towards the balcony. He pushed aside the coffee table and spun one of the plush chairs to face the door.
Teddy sat down and put the rifle across his lap.
It felt nice to be able to sit down finally.
Teddy stretched his legs out and propped his feet up on the coffee table. He looked over his shoulder, out of the window and watched for several minutes as the heavy rain pelted against the glass. From his suite, he could see Nashville’s darkened skyline and the river that snaked through it.
In the middle of the Cumberland River, near the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, a steam-powered riverboat lay on its side, half-submerged in the cold water. Deck furniture and bloated corpses bobbed up and down around the boat like buoys.
To Teddy, it didn’t matter where they went—everything seemed fucked.
“Where do you want to go?” Teddy asked.
Ein didn’t respond.
Teddy looked over at the bed and saw that Ein’s mouth was hanging open, and a thin line of drool ran down his cheek—the kid was fast asleep.
Teddy chuckled to himself and went back to staring out of the window. He kept one hand resting comfortably on the rifle and the other wrapped around the bottle of wine.
Minutes turned to hours, and the room became pitch-black as bands of rain clouds drifted across the moonless sky.
Just after midnight, he dropped the empty bottle, and his chin fell against his chest—physical exhaustion won in the end.
CHAPTER 4
DECEMBER 27th
12:45 AM
Bright halogen flood lamps illuminated the main highway that ran through Dickson, Tennessee. Helicopters hovered in circles overhead and scanned the rooftops and alleyways with their searchlights while FEMA soldiers wearing MOPP gear searched the buildings. Decontamination tents, chemical foggers, and temporary holding areas covered the sidewalks. A white command trailer had been flown in and positioned in the middle of the street.
In the course of a few hours, the town had been transformed into a temporary forward operating base.
General Fox marched out of the command trailer with his hands clasped behind his back. The victory was close—he could feel it in his bones. Despite the dark coldness in the air and the restrictive mask that made breathing difficult, Fox felt hopeful for once. Soon he’d be able to return to Cheyenne as a hero—the man who had captured the one individual who might hold the key to a vaccine.
Fox passed the prisoner holding pins, all crammed with angry, unkempt men and women.
People inside the chain-link cages struck their fists against it and shouted profanities at him.
The soldiers in protective suits who stood guard around the holding pins struck the butt of their rifles against the hands that were grasping the chain-link. Fingers snapped, and people howled out in pain.
Fox understood their frustration, but he couldn’t allow them to go free after being exposed to an asymptomatic carrier like Ein Becker. The scientists would be here soon enough, take some samples, and then he would have his men mercifully put them out of their misery before any possible symptoms could manifest.
A lieutenant wearing a bulky rubber suit and a hooded respirator approached him and snapped a salute. “Sir, we’ve finished our interrogations.”
“Good. Let me see the prisoners.”
The lieutenant led Fox past one of the decontamination tents, towards a line of six badly beaten men.
The men sat hunched upon their knees in the highway with their hands on top of their heads. Soldiers stood behind the men—their weapons pointed at the back of their heads.
Fox studied the men’s faces, his expression blank. “What did you find out?”
“They confirmed the identities of our two subjects, and their timelines are consistent with one another.” The lieutenant pointed at the western store. “The subjects changed clothes and proceeded east on foot. We suspect that they went into the city to look for supplies.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?”
“We retrieved their knapsack inside the gun store… They left their food and water behind.”
“They cannot have gotten far, especially with the roads in the condition that they’re in.” Fox looked in the direction of Nashville. “I know that we’re not supposed to operate this far east, but send a team in to locate them. They have to be close.”
“Nashville is very hostile territory, sir,” the lieutenant cautioned. “Two different militias are operating in the area and have overtaken Arnold Air Force Base in Tullahoma.”
“I didn’t ask you for a situation report—I gave you an order,” Fox replied tersely. “Do you understand, or do I have to find a lieutenant who is capable of following a simple direct order issued by a commanding officer?”
The lieutenant grew flustered and shook his head hastily. “Sir, I didn’t mean any disrespect. I’ll send aerial units out east immediately.” He nervously cleared his throat. “Since this is outside of our original search radius, do I need to contact Cheyenne Command for—” He was cut off by the general.
“Lieutenant, as far as you’re concerned, I am Cheyenne Command!” Fox yelled suddenly, losing his patience. “Let me know when you’ve located the two subjects!”
“Yes, sir, of course,” the lieutenant nervously replied with a shaky salute.
Fox started to walk back towards the trailer.
“Sir, uh, one more thing…”
Fox spun around impatiently. “Yes?” he growled.
“What should I do with them?” The lieutenant pointed at the six men. “Should I place them in the holding area with the others and wait for medical?”
Fox’s expression softened as he stared at the men trembling on their knees with their hands on their heads. “No, the scientists will have enough subjects when they arrive.” His gaze became cold and hard once again. “They’re infectious—kill them.”
The lieutenant signaled at the soldiers behind the men.
Fox turned back around and headed towards his trailer. As he walked, he heard the crack of gunfire and the meaty smack of dead bodies falling facedown against the asphalt.
CHAPTER 5
Teddy awoke with a start at the sound of helicopters passing outside. The early morning sunlight was blinding. He dusted the crumbs of peanut off of his chest, grabbed the rifle, and leaned forward to look through the window.
Two black military helicopters were flying low and slow over the interstate. They eventually disappeared off in the horizon as they navigated between the
downtown skyscrapers.
Teddy sighed with relief—they didn’t seem to pay the hotel any mind. He got up and rubbed his aching shoulders. The pain that radiated down his arms and up his neck made him wish that he had taken the time to utilize the pull-out sofa instead of passing out in it, sitting up.
Ein was still fast asleep.
Teddy walked over and kicked the bed. “Wake up. We have to go.”
Ein gave a tired groan and slowly sat up. “I don’t even remember falling asleep…” He reached up and rubbed his forehead, yawning. “I’m sorry that I didn’t help keep watch.”
“I wasn’t much of a watchman myself. I passed out not too long after you did.” Teddy put the rifle on the bed and pulled a pillowcase off of one of the pillows. He went to the mini-fridge and started stuffing the pillowcase with the leftover candy, nuts, and drinks. “Hurry and get up.”
“Why the rush?” Ein asked with concern.
“I woke up and saw a couple of helicopters pass by,” Teddy said. “We need to move before they circle back and decide to sweep the buildings.”
A series of gunshots rang out from the street below.
Teddy dropped the pillowcase, and cans of soda went rolling out into the floor. He snatched the rifle and pointed it at the door. “Fuck! Are they here already?!”
Ein jumped off the bed and ran to the window. He pressed his palms against it and peered down at the street below.
A woman wearing a grey parka was running in-between the vehicles towards the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge. She had a backpack strapped over her shoulder and held a pistol in one hand.
Three men wearing hunting gear and hooded sweatshirts chased after her. They slid over the back of vehicles and shimmied between concrete highway dividers and old police barricades.
She looked fearfully over her shoulder—her long black hair whipping her in the face as she ran—and fired in their direction.
The men ducked as the bullets flew past them and bounced off the sides of vehicles.
After firing several more shots, she seemed to run out of bullets. She hurled the gun at them, turned, and ran. She climbed over the concrete barriers placed to cordon off the bridge and breathlessly ran down the middle lane.
The men sprinted after her. They leaped over the barriers, snatched her by the backpack, and pulled her down to the ground.
“Someone’s in trouble down on the bridge!” Ein backed away from the window and turned towards him.
Teddy hurried to the window and watched as the men pulled the woman towards the side of the bridge, kicking and screaming. The Hispanic woman was young, pretty, and didn’t look too much older than Ein. He frowned and looked away. “Fucking animals…” He propped the rifle against the side of the bed and went back to stuffing the cans of soda back into the pillowcase.
“What are you doing?!” Ein asked with disbelief.
“Packing.” Teddy griped. “It’d go a lot faster if you grabbed another pillowcase and helped.”
“We need to do something!” Ein shouted.
“There’s nothing to do.” Teddy kept his back turned towards him and continued his raid on the mini-fridge. “If we get involved in everyone’s business, we’ll get caught.”
“They’re going to kill her!”
“We can’t take the risk.”
Ein glanced out of the window and watched as the men attempted to subdue the young woman as she fought to run away. “Some risks are worth taking.” He grabbed the rifle, slipped past Teddy, and ran out the door.
“Hey!” Teddy called out. He bolted up and sent the bottles and cans rolling everywhere once again. “Don’t get involved!”
Ein was already gone.
“Goddammit!” Teddy ran out into the hall after him. He went blindly down the dark stairwell, skipping over entire steps. He gripped onto the iron handrail with both hands to keep from cartwheeling down to his death.
Somewhere down below, he heard Ein as he made a hasty descent.
“Kid! Wait!” Teddy shouted. “You’re going to get yourself killed!”
The first-floor door swung open, and Ein disappeared into the lobby.
By the time Teddy reached the lobby, he had spotted Ein as he darted outside. Panting, he wiped the sweat off of his brow and chased after him.
Ein snaked between the cars on the feeder road and scaled the embankment up to the bridge’s entrance. He crouched behind one of the police cruisers that cordoned off the bridge and gasped for breath.
A few yards in front of him, the three men held onto the young woman and dangled her precariously over the guardrail, hooting and howling with delight.
A middle-aged man with a scar down the side of his olive-colored cheek leered at her. “Not so tough now, are you, bitch?”
“Better hope you can swim,” a man who wore an old army surplus uniform added in a gravelly voice.
The woman stared with wide-eyes at the Cumberland River’s choppy waters.
Just as Ein started to rise, Teddy snatched him by his collar and pulled him back down.
“Do you have rocks in your head?” Teddy growled. “You’re outnumbered! That superhero shit won’t get you too far! A stranger isn’t worth dying for.”
“I’m a stranger.” Ein narrowed his eyes and glared at him. “Why did you bother saving me back at the camp?”
“That—” Teddy tried to think of a rational explanation. “That was different!” he finally said, somewhat weakly.
Ein shoved Teddy’s hand off of him, stood up, and walked around the back of the cruiser. “Let her go!” He pointed his rifle towards the group of men.
The men fell silent and turned towards Ein.
“Let her go, and I’ll let you live,” Ein said in a tense voice as his grip on the rifle tightened.
The man with the scar let go of the woman and stepped towards Ein. “Kick rocks. See the patch?” He pointed at a piece of red cloth sown onto his right breast pocket. The patch was red and black and had a phoenix stitched across it.
Ein noticed that the other two men had identical patches. He aimed his weapon at the man with the scar. “Let her go…”
“Bitch stole from us,” the one wearing the old army uniform said. “She has to pay.”
Teddy walked up next to Ein and stared at the men, frowning. He leaned close to Ein’s ear and whispered. “Kid, they’re militia… Let them be.”
“I know what they are,” Ein thundered. “And I don’t care. What they’re doing isn’t right.”
“Are you this retard’s dad?” the man with the scar asked Teddy. “You better tell him to get that fucking gun out of my face.”
“Goddammit, kid,” Teddy muttered. He stepped forward and stared at the man. “We don’t want any unnecessary drama. Just do what he said and let the girl go.”
“Or what?” The man brought out a silver switchblade, flicked it open, and gave a devilish grin as the sunlight glistened off of it. “Even if he had the guts to pull the trigger, I doubt it matters much—I bet that old rifle doesn’t even have any bullets in it.”
Ein aimed his weapon at the man’s feet and fired.
A round ricocheted off of the asphalt, and the man leaped backward. The other two men looked at Ein with shocked expressions.
“The next one goes through your heart,” Ein said as he pointed the rifle back up at the man with the scar. “Let her go, and then the lot of you can get the hell out of here.”
“You're going to regret this,” the man warned. He motioned towards the others. “Come on—let’s go.”
The men let the woman go and retreated across the bridge, glancing over their shoulders as they ran.
Ein kept his weapon pointed in their direction until they disappeared into the stalled traffic on the other side of the river.
“You should’ve killed them,” Teddy said as he watched them disappear. “They’ll be looking for us now.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they’re petty men. I’ve met a lot of p
etty people in my time, and I know their type very well.”
Ein considered it and then shook his head. “I can’t kill someone in cold blood like that.” He slung his rifle over his shoulder and approached the woman. “Are you okay?”
She dusted herself off, quickly snatched the backpack off of the ground, and smiled at Ein. “I’m fine.” She fastened the zippers and put it on her back. “Thank you.”
Ein smiled back. “You’re welcome.”
Teddy walked up behind Ein and stared at the woman with a flat expression. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her.
She gave Teddy an uneasy smile and turned her attention back towards Ein. “My name’s Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Lizzy.”
“I’m Ein.” He thumbed over his shoulder. “The big, broody guy behind me is Teddy.”
“Nice to meet you, Ein.”
“Were you traveling with them?” Ein asked.
“No,” Lizzy said. “I’m from a settlement not too far from here.” She reached up and put her hair back behind her ears and raised her parka’s hood. “I was just walking through when those people spotted me and started chasing me…”
“Jeez,” Ein said. “I’m sorry that you had to go—” He stopped speaking when he noticed that Teddy was shaking his head and chuckling. “What’s funny?”
“My tolerance for bullshit is pretty low, that’s all.” Teddy pointed at her backpack. “They weren’t chasing her just for the hell of it. She stole from them, right? I mean, that’s what one of them claimed.”
“I’m no thief!” she snapped.
“Oh? What’s in the bag then?” Teddy walked towards her and looked pointedly at the overstuffed pack. “You brought lots of supplies just to go on a walk…”
Lizzy stepped back immediately. Her fingers clutched the straps tightly. “What I have is none of your business!”
“Come on, Teddy, leave her alone,” Ein said.
“She’s lying, and I trust a thief about as much as I trust a cop. You may buy her puppy-eyed bullshit, but I wasn’t born yesterday. She’s conning you, kid.” Teddy grabbed her backpack and pulled. “Come on, what did you manage to lift from those three suckers?”
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