“If you’re going to do something, you’d better do it soon,” Alex said. “Once he hits the bend, you’ll miss your window.”
Steve made his decision. He unstrapped his bulky Kevlar vest and brushed past Sarah. He looked back at her one last time, then opened the hatch and popped his head through. Peering through the scope on Collin’s rifle, he calculated all the factors. Robert was now 100 yards away, but still in range. Save for intermittent trees and brush, Robert was still in sight. Steve heard more of Sarah’s pleas from below, but paid no attention. He took in a deep breath, keeping Robert steadily in the crosshairs. He made his final adjustments. His finger teased the trigger.
For some reason, Steve struggled to execute his plan. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t kill Robert. He was no assassin. He might not have been the religious type, but he knew it was not his place to play God.
I can’t do it, Steve thought.
Steve screamed in rage and fired wild shots into the sky, one after another, until the fourth and final shot left the rifle’s barrel. With his free hand, he tugged at a wad of his hair. He wanted to feel something, even if it was pain. He stared out at Robert with tear-filled eyes.A life is a life,he thought. J.P. Chin had taught him that.
###
As Robert sped down the valley, he spared a quick glance back to the RV. He noticed someone come through the roof, aiming a rifle at him. “Steve!”
Robert twisted the throttle back, accelerating the ATV to its maximum speed. He looked down at the speedometer.Forty and rising,he thought.There’s no way they’ll catch up to me. All I have to do is make it around this next bend, then I’m home free.
At the sound of gun shots, Robert cast one final glance back and laughed. He knew Steve wouldn’t shoot him. He chuckled to himself and turned back to face the road. When he did, his smiled turned into a look of sheer panic.
“Move, you stupid dumb-shits!” he screamed. Twenty feet ahead, a family of deer filled the road, with no intentions of moving.
Robert took his hand off of the throttle and tried braking, but he was too close. As fast as he could, he weighed his options.Swerve left and take the long way around, or keep going and play chicken with the animals.
He chose left.
He chose self-preservation.
He chose incorrectly.
###
Fifty yards ahead of the RV, Sarah and Alex witnessed the ATV veer out of control, then crash just out of view.
“No!” Sarah screamed, grabbing her mouth after a short gasp.
Steve dropped through the roof hatch and had barely landed on his feet when Sarah scrambled back to him.
“You shot him!” she cried, hitting his chest with open palms. “You killed him! I can’t believe you!”
“What are you talking about?” Steve asked, caught off guard by her actions. “Yeah, I fired four shots, but—”
Sarah was in a grievous rage. Steve set his rifle aside and grabbed both of her arms. He brought her in close, embracing her tightly. Sarah fought hard at first, then hugged him back.
As Sweetie pulled from the last stretch of road, Alex slowed and rolled down his window to observe the wreckage. With Jenny’s help, Collin limped to the side window. They found the ATV totaled against a massive tree stump, steaming and leaking a variety of fluids.
Robert had flown over the handle bars and landed on his back fifteen feet away. His face was a bloody mess, and his body lay limp. All the sudden, Robert heaved and lifted himself to one knee. He had sustained minor cuts and bruises and few broken ribs, but was still breathing.
Alex was completely shocked. He turned back and faced Steve. “Robert’s alive? I don’t get it. We heard you unload on him.”
Sarah pulled back from Steve with red eyes. “I thought you killed him,” she whimpered, looking just as shocked as Alex at the turn of events.
“That’s what I was trying to tell you!” Steve declared. He stared deeply into her watery eyes. “You have no idea how badly I wanted to, but you were right about me. I’m not a killer.”
“Wait. What did you shoot at, then?” Alex asked. “I counted four shots.”
“I fired into the sky,” Steve explained. “I swear, I didn’t shoot him!”
“Dude, let me get this straight. You’re telling me that you pulled a Keanu Reeves inPoint Break?” Alex joked, comparing his cousin’s actions to the early 1990’s surfer-action movie.
“Wow, Alex,” Steve said, chuckling to himself. “I guess I did.”
Sarah hugged and kissed Steve, then turned to Alex. “Stop the RV!” Before Alex shifted to park, she had already hopped out the RV’s side door. The others followed closely behind.
Robert saw the passengers of RV disembark. “Help me, please!” he yelled, waving one arm and grabbing his ribcage with the other. “I can’t breathe. My ribs, please, someone!”
Sarah walked over to him, taking her time. “You brought this on yourself, Robert,” she said sternly. “You can only blame yourself—”
“Oh, shut up, bitch!” Robert yelled, suddenly pointing his handgun at Sarah.
The others, only steps behind her, shifted their weight back. No one had seen this coming. Robert looked like hell; the last thing anyone expected was this.
“Stupid fucking deer!” Robert cursed. “And not so fast, Steve! Put that gun down before I put a bullet in your girlfriend!”
Steve was caught subtly unholstering his Sig. “Okay, Robert, take it easy. I’m putting it down,” he said, slowly setting his gun on the ground.
In all the craziness, the others had left their weapons in the cars.
“Good,” Robert said. “Now, this is how it’s going to go down. I’m going to take the RV, and if anyone tries to be a hero, they get a bullet in the head. Everyone got that?”
“Fuck that,” Alex retorted, backing up toward the driver’s side door.
Robert pulled back the hammer on his 9mm pistol. “I don’t think you want to test me.”
“Alex, stop moving! I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Robert, think about what you’re doing,” Steve pleaded. “It doesn’t have to be like this. We can all walk out of here alive—”
“Says the guy without a gun,” Robert sneered. “Now everyone, slowly walk to the tree over there.”
Everyone looked to Steve.
“So this is how it’s going to be?” Steve asked.
“I don’t have all day,” Robert answered, using the gun to usher everyone to the side.
Steve turned to the others. “It’s okay, everyone follow me.”
One by one, they survivors backed away from the RV. Like a wrestler, Robert circled around, keeping a fair amount of distance. By the time he reached the RV, Collin had finished limping to the tree.
“All right, we did what you asked, so put down the gun,” Steve said calmly.
Robert obliged.
“Happy now, asshole?” Alex spat, stepping up next to Steve and Sarah.
“Almost,” Robert smiled. “Sarah this is your last chance. I’m giving you the opportunity to come with me, or you can stay here and die. I’d say you’ve got about ten minutes before they get here.”
She didn’t even think twice about her answer. “No way, Robert. I’m staying here with the others. With Steve,” she said, taking Steve’s hand and gripping it tight.
“If I can’t have you, no one can!” Robert exclaimed.
Robert raised the gun to shoot Sarah.
“No! Sarah!” Steve yelled, swinging her around, protecting her from the ensuing bullet.
Time slowed again. Steve closed his eyes and waited as he offered himself as a shield. Everyone ducked for cover as they heard a loud crack. A gunshot echoed throughout the entire valley.
But Robert’s 9mm never fired.
Robert stumbled back two steps before his legs gave out. His knees slammed the ground, and his body teetered front to back. As Robert grabbed his chest, his 9mm handgun fell from his weak fingers and thumped on the dirt road. He looke
d down at the pool of blood collecting in both hands, then gasped for two short breaths before slumping over and knocking his face against the road.
Robert Seaton was dead.
Is the adrenaline covering up the pain? Steve thought, running a hand up and down his back, searching for a wound. Finding nothing, Steve turned and faced Robert, completely shocked. “Who shot him?”
The others slowly rose to their feet, but no one answered.
“I don’t get it,” Alex said. “If we didn’t kill him, who did?”
Steve thought for a second. He thought he had heard the sound correctly, but had been preoccupied with the prospect of dying for Sarah. “That shot. The echo. There’s no way,” he said, letting go of Sarah. He walked around the large tree to the road to get a better view.
“There’s no way for what, Steve?” Alex asked, following his cousin stride for stride.
“I know my rifle when I hear it. That shot came from my rifle. I left it in the scout’s perch above the gate, and I never got a chance to get it. Alex, grab me some binoculars.”
Alex booked it to Sweetie, grabbed a pair of binoculars from the accessory bag, and made it back to Steve in less than thirty-seconds. “Here,” he said, handing him the binoculars.
“Son of a bitch!” Steve exclaimed. “Look for yourself.”
Steve handed over the binoculars, then turned heel and ran toward Sweetie’s driver’s door. Alex’s jaw dropped as he looked through the lens. Immediately, he hustled over to Steve. Well over two hundred yards away, Billy stood in the scouts perch above the castle walls. Blood clearly soaked his shirt, but Billy signaled them to get on the radio.
“Billy! Billy! You there, man? Can you hear me?” Steve called over the CB radio.
“Yeah, man, I got ya loud and clear,” Billy called back.
“Let me talk to him, Steve,” Alex said, taking the transmitter from Steve’s hand.
Steve backed away and took the binoculars. He could still hear the transmissions.
“Bill, it’s me,” Alex said. “I knew you’d make it! What happened to you?”
“Hey, bro. Ran into a little trouble, but you know me…”
Alex laughed. “Yeah, I do know you. Wait, soyou took out Robert?”
“Hell yeah. Remember what I said? Nobody fucks with my family.”
Billy paused and let go of the transmitter. Through the binoculars, Steve was the only one who saw him coughing violently.
“So, what do you think? Do I have your vote for ‘kill of the week?’” Billy asked.
“Alex,” Steve cut in, “tell him he’s got my vote for ‘kill of the decade.’ But tell him thanks for waiting so long.”
“You hear that, Bill?”
“Yeah, I did. Hey, Steve, I’m not gonna lie, I think I shoot this thing better than you,” Billy joked back.
Collin was limping back with the others, and Steve confirmed the news about Billy’s status. “Alex, tell him we owe him big time, but we have to get going,” Collin said, looking up at the incoming infected that were a few minutes away. “Tell him to get ready. We’re coming back!”
Billy had left the transmitter on, and began heaving and coughing.
“Bill, you all right? You hear Collin?” Alex asked.
“Yeah, Alex, I heard him,” he said, pausing to spit up, “but that’s a no-go. I repeat, do not come back!”
“Stop messin’, Bill, we’ll be back in—”
Steve cut off Alex’s transmission with a soft hand on his shoulder and a saddened look. He handed Alex the binoculars. “His forearm, Alex. Look.”
“What the hell is going on?” Alex asked as Steve pointed to Billy’s position.
Alex took one quick look, then lowered the binoculars. He ran back over to the CB and clutched it hard. “Billy! You’re going to be okay! We can do something! We can still save you—”
The shots from Steve’s gun washed out Alex’s plea. Steve had picked up his Sig and had run down the dirt road. He destroyed the first wave of infected, buying them a few extra minutes.
“Alex, it’s all good, man. I’m bruised up, broken, and shot. I’m bleeding all sorts of bad out of my stomach and coughing up handfuls of blood. And, I know you saw, too. I got bit.” Alex tried to interrupt, but Billy continued. “You’re riding solo, cuz. The lone bash brother from now on.”
“No fucking way!” Alex protested. Tears poured down his cheeks. “I’ll come back there and kill every last one of those fuckers myself!”
“No, you fucking very well won’t!” Billy screamed back. “This one was on me. You guys need to get going now. I can see them swarming for you! I’ll be all right. I’m planning on pulling a Mike. I’m gonna load up and go down there and show these undead fucks what Hell really is! But don’t worry, I won’t end up like them.”
By this time, Collin and Steve had walked over and joined Alex. The other survivors had piled into the RV and were waiting. Alex held the CB in one hand, and with the other, stared at his cousin through the binoculars.
Collin patted Alex on the shoulder in condolence. “I’m sorry, Alex,” he said, before grabbing the radio to speak. “Yo, Bill, it’s Cully. Thanks again for the save. You did a great thing. I love you man, through all the thick and thin shit we’ve been through. I love you.”
Steve took over next. “Bill, I’m gonna miss you, man. You saved my ass, but made it so I couldn’t get you back. Typical dick move, man,” he joked. “But in all seriousness, I love you brother, with all my heart. See you on the other side.”
Billy came through with a whimpered voice. “You, too, cuz. I love both of you. I love all of you. I’ll say what’s up to Mike for you. Put Alex back on.”
“Thanks again,” Steve called back. “Happy hunting.” Steve handed the mic back to Alex and helped Collin around the front and into the RV.
It was just Alex now. “I’m here, Bill.”
“So this is it, huh?” Billy said, making his way through another round of violent coughs. “I figured we’d always go out sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere.”
“Yeah, me too.”
A five-second pause between the two felt like an eternity.
“All right, Alex, I should get going. You guys gotta get out of here, and I don’t wanna go dying prematurely.”
“Wait, Bill, before you go… I know we’ve never said this, but I love you, man. You always looked out for me. You were always like a brother to me. I’ll always love you.” Alex quickly clicked off the transmitter so Billy couldn’t hear his sobs.
Billy bit his lip, covering his own. “Dude… don’t be gay—”
Alex wiped his face and started to go off on the mic. “I wasn’t being gay!”
“Chill, cuz, I was only kidding,” he said before giving in to more rounds of coughing. “I’m dying, and I’m still an asshole. But seriously, I love you, too. You’ve always been my little brother. I’m gonna miss all the trouble we would get into. I love you, too, brother. Now get out of here before I shoot you myself!”
The second, and much larger, wave of infected were seconds away. Alex heard the honks from Sweetie. He waved them off, acknowledging the horde. Alex said his final goodbye to Billy, then hopped inside the RV.
“Good luck, Bill, and Godspeed,” Alex whispered. “I’m going to miss your crazy ass.”
The inside of the RV was quiet. The only sounds they heard were the distant pops and bangs of Billy’s promised gunfire.
They followed the dirt road down and out of the valley, then jumped on the Pacific Coast Highway, heading north and as far away from Uster as they could. To their left, the sun sank into the ocean, painting the sky blood red.
EPILOGUE
May 27, 2009
0911 hours
In the side bunk, Steve had overslept and awoke to the sounds of seagulls and crashing waves. He looked around, but Sweet Tooth was empty, and no one answered his calls. At the sight of fresh blood on the carpet and sounds of pain from the outside, Steve burst through the s
ide door.
Collin lay on a picnic table howling in pain. From Steve’s point of view, it looked as though Sarah was feasting on Collin’s leg.
“What the hell? Sarah?” Steve yelled, rubbing his eyes.
Sarah moved her head back to reveal a pair of scissors in her hands. She snipped the last suture, then cleaned and redressed Collin’s wound. “What’s wrong, Steve?” she asked.
Steve let out the breath he was holding. “Nothing,” he said, shaking his head.
“Okay,” she replied, looking back at him, baffled.
The morning was beautiful. The onshore cloud coverage over San Justino State Beach was slowly receding. The ocean breeze felt refreshing and the waves were soothing. The other survivors sat around plastic picnic tables finishing breakfast. Steve joined the group and swallowed his pride. He explained how he had thought Sarah was infected.
“It looked like you were eating Collin’s leg! I’m sorry, it’s been a crazy few days.”
The others laughed at the notion and gave him a hard time. After taking the playful bashing, Steve excused himself and walked over to Alex, who sat alone on the sand, facing the Pacific Ocean. As Steve approached, Alex kept a five-mile stare into the horizon.
“Two brothers down…”
“Yeah, man,” Steve replied, unsure of how to address the statement.
“When Billy left us at the infirmary, he was planning on killing Robert and his friends, wasn’t he?” Alex asked, finally motioning Steve to sit.
Steve paused for a second, and decided it was best for Alex to hear the truth. “I tried to stop him, but he was too far gone. I think Mike’s death and shooting Collin took its toll. Then, hearing about their plan to kill you sent him over the edge. He loved you, man.”
“And that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Alex said, picking up a handful of sand and releasing it like an hourglass.
Normally, Steve would tease Alex for sounding like a philosopher, but not this time. This was one of the very few serious moments either ever had.
“Bill was one crazy son of a bitch,” Alex said.
The Longest Road (Book 1) Page 28