Chris stopped talking. His lips weren’t shivering, but lonely, heartfelt tears dripped like rain drops.
Ally could envision Marilyn protecting her son at all costs. She could practically see the horrific scenario play out. The infected breached the office and made their way to the back door. There probably wasn't enough time for Marilyn to get herself out too, so she chose to save her son and block the path of the infected.
"I found a sweatshirt and some PE sweatpants in the lost and fou-" Meghan interrupted, but stopped at the sounds of the little boy's sobs.
Chris pulled away from Ally's chest and wiped his lips. "I waited in one of the rooms on the second floor. It had a view of the outside. I just stayed in the bathroom though. I didn't want one of those things to get me. I waited until they were gone. When I saw Mr. Charlie and the others, I knew I had to come over here.”
“You are one brave kid,” said a very weak, masculine voice.
Sometime during the story, Dylan had awoken. He moaned as he turned and lifted his chin. His abdominal muscles tightened and sent severe pain into his system, so he put his head back down. He reached a hand out and his fingers grazed Chris’ shoulder. "That takes a ton of courage to do what you did, eh."
“Dyl!” Ally shrieked. “You’re awake! I was so scared!”
She went to hug him, but quickly reeled back as the action caused him great pain.
“Do you remember what happened? How are you feeling? What can I get you?”
“What’s going on? Where am I?” Dylan asked, either ignoring or not hearing the questions.
“You’re in a school. We are on our way to the bunker to get you help,” answered Ally. She removed her sweatshirt, rolled it up, and then placed it delicately behind her brother’s head. “Dyl, I don’t know how much you remember, but you got shot twice.”
“Ya...I remember...that.”
“Charlie patched you up, but he says you still need a doctor. We are on our way to the government bunker to get you help, but ran into a problem. Some people robbed us. Charlie and the others are getting our stuff back.”
“Whaa? I- I should be with ‘em...”
Dylan tried to lift his body, but the pain was overwhelming. He grabbed at his abdomen near the compresses. Fresh blood saturated the already red area.
“I-I need to...help…” he blinked, blinked again, then his eyes rolled back.
“Dyl! Dyl!” Ally said, gently shaking her brother, but it was no use. Dylan had overexerted himself and his body forced itself to unconsciousness.
“It’s Meghan, right?” Ally said, inspecting Dylan’s injuries.
She held back a series of coughs and replied, “Yes.”
“Meghan, I need you to find me some clean bandages. Dylan tore open his wounds, and we need to clean them up and make sure the bleeding stopped.”
“Ya, okay.”
Chris tugged on Ally’s shirt and asked, “My mom isn't going to be okay, is she?”
Ally was not prepared to answer the question. "I'm not sure about your mom. She might be okay? Just…you have to think positive.”
“But Ally, what happens if you get bitten by one of those things? Do you turn into one of them?"
“In most cases, if you get bitten the infection gets transmitted to you...No, no, don't cry, Chris. It's going to be okay. After the guys get back, we will go look for your mom."
But Chris’ tears weren’t only for his mother. He was crying about something else. Something he was too choked up to say; something he did not disclose to Ally. He thought about the bite on his calf, the one he got when fleeing the motel.
***
“Hold up,” Charlie whispered.
Matty went to step over a large, murky puddle, but turned looked back, causing his foot to fall short. “Damnit! Now I can feel the mud in my shoe-”
Charlie quickly wrapped his hand around Matty’s mouth. “It’s just a bit of mud, eh,” he whispered, “I need you to be quiet, alright?”
Matty nodded and shook off his pant leg without further verbal complaint.
“What is it?” Kim asked from a crouched position.
Charlie pointed to an area just beyond the eastern fence line where the hill began to slope upward rather steeply.
“Where’d that guy come from?” asked Alissa.
“I don’t know. I didn’t see him walk around from the front, though.”
“Look a little closer,” Kim said almost immediately after Charlie. “There’s a metal hatch built in to the hillside. I bet it leads right into the mine.”
Together, they watched a man move surreptitiously from the concealed hatch and cautiously step down the hillside.
“Why is he acting all shady?” Matty thought out loud.
Alissa shrugged. “Maybe he isn’t supposed to be there?”
At the bottom, the man found shelter under the leaves of a tree that hung over the fence. He removed a pack of cigarettes from his inner jacket pocket and lit one up.
“Whatever the reason, that’s our in,” Kim said, stripping away the defensive gear. “Follow my lead. Stay low.”
The constant rain deadened some of the ambient sound, but at one point, Kim dropped to his stomach as Smoker turned. Half his face squished into a puddle of muddy water, Kim was barely able to breathe.
The lone bandit suspiciously scanned the bushy forest, exhaling a line of smoke. Then, Smoker turned his back yet again, this time leaning against the chain links.
Kim crawled the remaining distance to the tree, and once there his slender build hid perfectly behind the thin trunk. Slowly, he ascended, shimmying his way to the thicker branches that hung over the fence.
By the time Kim got in position, Smoker had finished his cigarette and tossed it aside. He took one step toward the hill before it happened.
***
Smoker heard the fence rattle as Kim jumped off the branch. He turned his head but the impact knocked him down into the clay-like mud. He staggered to his feet and held up fists, but Kim was quicker.
The Korean Secret Service Agent followed with a horizontal elbow strike.
An explosion of blood shot from Smoker’s mouth. He slipped and fell to his back, dazed.
Kim pounced on top of the bandit, disarming the man before he could reach his pistol. Then he turned him on his stomach and pinned him to the mud using an arm hold.
The others hopped over the fence, and once reunited, Matty maintained lookout while Charlie and Alissa helped drag Smoker up the hillside to the hidden entrance.
Smoker was brave but scared and Kim played right into that. He put the barrel against the man's temple and said, “If you try to scream or make any attempt to signal your friends, I’ll have no problem ending you.”
"You guys?" said Smoker inquisitively. He spat up more blood and with it a chip of one of his molars. "It’s you guys from the highway, right? The ones who were going to the government bunker? I didn't think you'd make it with those sprinters out there."
Kim put it together. He remembered the scent of menthol cigarettes, and the man's particularly raspy voice. "And I remember you. You tried to help us out, didn’t you?"
“Drew Spencer. And ya, I wanted to leave you with something-”
"You did leave us something,” Matty interrupted. “You left us out there to die!”
"My wife and I too!” added Alissa.
At this point, Drew cared not about the gun next to his head. "You guys think I like robbing people? You gotta believe me, I didn't want to! I never have! I hate myself for it. Every time. The things we’ve done...I barely sleep at night.”
“Then why keep doing it?”
“I don’t have a choice. Vincent is...he’s crazy, seriously! Like certifiably insane!"
"Everyone has a choice and you made yours. And if that one costs the life of my friend...you and I are gonna have a chat, eh."
Drew held up his hands gesturing surrender. "You're right. I did have a choice. I chose my family. I did it for my wife and gir
ls. I would do anything to protect them. Doesn't mean I get any enjoyment holding good folks like you at gun point and taking your stuff..."
Kim and Alissa seemed to respect the answer, but Charlie and Matty found little sympathy.
"What I find ridiculous is that we have enough food and supplies, but Vincent always wants more-”
“Vincent,” Kim interrupted, “the guy with the lazy eye?”
“Ya that’s him. He’s mentally unstable at best. He is never satisfied. He makes us stay out there most every day picking off unsuspecting people when they pass through.”
“What else can you tell us about him?”
“Well, let’s see. Born and raised in these parts. He was one of those doomsday preppers, ya know? He bought these mines after the corporations drained ‘em. He was a loner, big time. We'd see him in town every once in a while picking up supplies. No one took him seriously, matter of fact everyone used to make fun of him. My wife and I never took part in that though, and good thing because after all this shit, he allowed us to come along and live here.”
"What about the rest?" Matty asked intrigued by the story.
"Let's say the ones who talked ill about him weren't allowed in, and the ones who tried to force their way in, well, they didn't get but a few steps before he shot them dead."
“Sorry guys, but we don’t have time for stories. We gotta get to the bunker.”
“Charlie’s right. Drew, we have some questions for you and don’t lie to us.”
“What kind of questions?”
“We need to know how many of you there are? Where you put our bags? What type of guns you have? Are there guard posts inside? Stuff like that.”
“And we need details on layout, personnel, and any shift changes you guys have,” Kim added.
“There’re twelve of us total. We brought your stuff to the main room, we call it the Sanctuary. As far as weapons, Vincent has everything from handguns to long guns and even some illegal stuff too. But inside, it’s mostly stored-”
“You answered that pretty quickly,” Charlie noted.
“You asked, I told you the truth. I’m not in the mood to get my head shot off for lying,” Drew replied confidently. “You wanted to know about guards inside? The answer is no. There’re no guards or anything like that. It’s just…well, everyone reports to Vincent. He has everyone on specific duties. I'll give him credit though, as crazy as he is, that man knows how to survive."
"We don't care about him or anyone else,” Charlie cut in, tone full of hate. “We just want to get our stuff and get the hell out of this place."
"I understand...but wait, were you guys being serious? Is there really a bunker y’all are heading to?"
"Yes, that’s what we were trying to tell you guys. I do work for the Secret Service. We were with the President when he was murdered, and we need to get the bunker to help our friends out."
"Is there really a cure?"
"As far as we know, yes.”
Charlie grit his teeth. The old soldier in him was coming out. “Enough with the questions! We don't have time. You need to take us to our stuff now!"
“If I help you get down there and get your stuff,” he began, pausing to look each person in the eye. “Then you have to promise that you won't hurt anyone. I could yell out right now and you'd be dead, but I'm trusting that you guys won't hurt anyone, because my wife and kids are down in those mines. Some of the others are a bit rough but they ain't exactly bad people. These are tough times, we've all changed. I don't want anything to happen to them if it can be avoided. Promise me that, and I’ll get you down and out.”
“Unless they start shooting at us first. You have my word.”
"And one other thing. You let my family and I come with you.”
“Ya right! No fuckin’ way!”
“I’m with Alissa,” Charlie followed. “They held us up at gun point and nearly got us killed. They don’t deserve our help.”
“Charlie, Alissa, it’s a woman and her kids. I can’t turn my back on that.”
Matty looked at Charlie and shrugged. “Dude, I’m normally with you, but I’m not cool leaving behind children, not with that psycho or the asshole who shot at me.”
Charlie pulled Kim to the side. “David, I understand you might feel like you have to, but we don’t owe them any favors.”
Despite the distance, Drew could hear most of the exchange and read the body language. He got on his knees and pointed a finger to his head. “If you’re not willing to bring us, then shoot me right now. After you guys get your stuff, Vincent will kill me for helping you and probably send my wife and kids out for being my wife and kids…”
None wanted the deaths of women and children on their conscience, and their expressions showed as much.
“Look, I can take you down this tunnel to where we keep our weapons. You can get the jump on everyone and get your stuff without a hitch, but if you can't promise to take us with you, then like I said, just shoot me right now because you ain't gettin’ my help. If you decide to try this on your own I can promise you'll either get lost in those tunnels or get yourself killed.”
Kim looked at Charlie. “It’s the same thing as killing the man’s wife and kids.”
Charlie sighed and finally nodded in approval.
“Deal,” Agent Kim said, shaking Drew’s muddy hand.
***
From the surface, the metal ladder dropped twenty feet into a small cavern, providing barely enough space for the five. Parts of the rock walls were dry while others were slick with calcium build up from dripping water. The air inside was stale and damp; a gust of cold wind through the hatch above caused flames to flicker on the candles set throughout.
“This way,” Drew said, picking up a candle. “Everyone grab one.”
The group quickly realized that Drew was telling the truth. The route was windy and indiscernible even with proper lighting. There were multiple false paths, crevices and dangers that could leave the group lost or seriously injured.
Matty was in the middle of the pack, head swiveling as he admired the scenery. “I remember driving up the 5 north after a skate competition in Frisco,” he began to reminisce. “My buddies and I had some time so we hit up Lake Shasta to do some wakeboarding. Ended up seeing the caverns too. They were legit. This kinda reminds me of them, but smaller and without those stalagmites or ‘tites or whatever the ones are that hang from the ceiling.”
Alissa was behind Matty. “So nothing like them? Not to bust your balls, I just feel those are the defining characteristics of caverns, ya know?”
Kim glanced back. “Shh, keep it down. Matter of fact, don’t talk at all. We don’t know who’s nearby.”
“Doesn’t matter if they talk,” Drew said matter-of-factly. “No one is around or even allowed in this area. Vincent wanted to keep the zone clear in case of emergencies. It’s an escape path...and so you know, if they are hanging on the ceiling they are stalactites. Think ‘hold tight’. Stalagmites come from the ground.”
“Oh ya,” Matty said, nodding. “That's what our tour guide told us. I remember now."
Drew went on about the mine, giving the history of it, and at one point smiling proud of his town, but Charlie grabbed him by the shoulder and spun his body around.
“We don't need a damn history lesson. We need you to help us get our stuff. You said there wouldn't be anyone in this part to hear us, but you were here so you can't be sure no one else is. I want silence, no surprises, is that understood?” Charlie looked specifically at Matty and finished. “Keep your thoughts to yourself. Focus on what we are about to do.”
Five minutes later, the group arrived at another two-way split, but this time both routes appeared identical. There were echoes of distant voices, but their origin was unclear.
“Which way?” asked Charlie.
This was the first time Drew seemed uncertain. “I always forget...is it ‘left out or right in?’ Wait here. I’ll be right back-”
“No wa
y,” Kim hissed, grabbing Drew by the arm. “We aren’t letting you go without us. You could signal them.”
Drew shook off Kim’s hand. In the glow of the candle his face showed defiance. “Look, we made a deal. I’m not about to go back on it. There might be others sleeping in the next room. If there are it’d be better not to surprise them.”
“Fine,but I’m trusting you here.”
After a long minute of fidgeting nervously with their weapons, the group was relieved when Drew returned.
“And?” Kim asked impatiently.
“No one’s there. Everyone must be down in the Sanctuary for supper. Follow me,” he said, continuing down the right path. One hundred feet later the tunnel came to another split. Again, Drew veered right.
“Where does left go?” Charlie asked.
“Down into the Sanctuary.”
“Why aren’t we going there?” Kim whispered.
“You’ll see.”
Seconds later, the mouth of the stone tunnel opened wide. The group crawled to the edge and looked out.
The Sanctuary was flooded with an orangish artificial light; everything from candles to flashlights and lanterns. Sounds from cookware clanking and voices of more than a dozen people chatting resonated throughout the main room.
Kim leaned his head closer to Charlie’s. “Look over there.”
Across the way, rested the bandits' supply of guns and ammunition. To the right, was an elevator shaft that looked decades old; surrounding that, were the most recently stolen items. Continuing left was the mine entrance, and next to that were crates marked "TNT."
Fifteen feet down and another fifteen feet into the center of the room was a large metal table with mostly men sitting at it. Mixed in were three women, two looked just as haggard, jaded and tough as the men, while one was out of place.
She was nervous, quiet and timid. On either side of her were two young girls who scooted closer to their mom when Vincent knocked a metal ladle out of the hands of an incompetent chef.
The Longest Road (Book 3): The Other Side Page 47