by Lybeck, Kyle
“And a good afternoon to you,” a woman said, the .357 magnum pointing directly at Abby’s face.
Chapter 24
Expect the Unexpected
“Now hold on a seco-”
“Put your gun down, on the counter, and step away.”
“I think there’s been a misunders-”
“Put the fucking gun down, now!” the woman said, pulling back the hammer on the revolver.
Abby took a hard swallow, her mouth having gone desert dry. Slowly, she laid her pistol on the countertop and slid sideways to Caroline.
“Thank you, I didn’t want to have to yell at you, but you can’t tell nowadays what people are likely to do. You might be the nicest people in the world, or stone cold killers.”
Abby put her arm around her daughter as the woman was slowly lowering the gun to waist height, uncocking the single-action revolver.
“Now what are you two doing in the last refuge of ice cream my small town has left?”
“We’re sorry, we didn’t mean any harm by it. It looked deserted and we were hoping for a little treat, possibly supplies to carry with us if any were left.” Abby said, still trying to gauge the woman as friend or foe.
“Where are you from?”
“Wyoming. Casper to be exact.”
“That’s a far cry from where you stand now.”
“Tell us about it,” Caroline finally spoke up.
“What the hell is up with those getups?”
“Oh the painters suits? It’s to keep any blood getting on us from those things. If you get any on you, you can turn into them. We’ve seen it first-hand.”
“No shit? See, I didn’t know that, I just thought you guys had run out of clothes. I haven’t been close enough to any of them to worry about blood, I’ve been killing them from a far enough distance with my pistol, or the rifle I have back home.”
“They are really nasty creatures, that’s for sure.”
“So then, what brings you all the way out here? And how in the world did you two make it this far, you don’t look like the survivalist types.”
“We’re trying to get out to the coast, or maybe the islands up in the northwest. Somewhere to put our backs against, make it easier to fight those ragers.”
“Ragers, huh? That’s what y’all are calling them?”
“That’s what the TV and radio had been calling them back in our area. I just assumed it was a nationwide thing.”
“I hadn’t watched much news surrounding this when it all went down. I don’t even own a television, I’m more of an outdoors person. I’ve just been calling them ‘runners’, because that’s all they seem to do, is run and kill things to eat.”
“Makes sense. To answer your other question, we haven’t been that lucky. We already lost my husband and son. My daughter is very skilled with her swords,” Abby said, pointing at the swords on her back, “and I’m fairly handy with a pistol. Other than that, things have somehow been working in our favor.”
“Goddamn, that’s rough. I’m really sorry to hear about that.”
“Thank you. Can I ask a favor though? Would you mind at least facing the revolver away from us, it’s making me a little nervous.”
“Sorry, it’s a force of habit when meeting anyone these days who is actually still alive,” the woman said, placing the pistol back in its holster. “You two seem okay, not too many mother and daughter murderers running around right now. Everyone’s just trying to survive at this point, I get it, but you still have to be cautious.”
“Thank you. My name is Abby, this is Caroline,” she said, reaching out her hand.
“Trish,” the woman said, hesitantly giving a shake.
“Nice to meet you, Trish. So this is your hometown?”
“Sure is, born and raised. Helped run the local family farm as a youngster, and took it over in my early thirties when my parents got too old to bother with it any longer. Those runners took out most of my cattle, but I was able to get as many as I could before the rest moved on. I’ve found they go in a pack mentality, seemingly communicating with each other too. It’s actually quite fascinating to watch. The house makes for a good bunker and watchtower of sorts.”
“We’ve been noticing that at times as well. I have no clue how in the world something dead could be communicating, but it seems like they have found a way.”
“Scary, yet very interesting.”
“Sounds like you’ve been doing pretty good on your own out here then.”
“I was raised to survive off the land, just in case something like this were to happen. Well, maybe not exactly like this. Who would have thunk a disease could turn the masses into killing machines, but something like this, yes. I have enough to sustain myself for a long time to come.”
“That’s great, I wish we had had that back home. Traveling has been rough, but I’m sure glad to see another face that isn’t a rager.”
“I could take it or leave it. No offense to you folks, but I certainly don’t mind being on my own. Easier to not have to worry about others.”
“Oh no worries, I get it. We should probably get going anyways, we plan on getting to Bend before settling in for the night. Would you mind if we took some ice cream for the road?”
“I suppose that’s fine, there’s probably more than enough back there for me still.”
“It looks like the chest freezer is out, you might want to take it with you if you have a freezer back on the farm,” Caroline said.
“Damn, okay. I do, but not a whole lot of space. I’ll have to start being more sparing with it,” Trish said, walking into the back room to obtain cartons to take back with her. Minutes later, she came back with two armfuls.
“You know what, how’s it sound if you two came back with me to the farm. You sure seem okay. I suppose I could whip us up some sandwiches or something before you head out. What do you say?”
Abby gave Caroline a questioning look, who gave her mom a shrug and a smile back.
“We’re in, thank you Trish, that’s mighty kind of you to open your home to us, even for a short time.”
“Go ahead and grab all your things and the ice cream, and I’ll have you follow me back. My car is out front by what I’m assuming is your Honda.”
“Yeah, that’s ours,” the two said in unison, as Abby was picking up her pistol and Caroline was carrying the ice cream through the front door to the parking lot. After placing the cartons in the cooler, they went back inside to get ice to fill it. They then got back in their car and began following Trish two miles down the road to her farm.
Before they had gotten to her property, they saw black smoke rising in the distance.
“Oh no, that can’t be good,” Abby said, as they watched the truck in front of them ferociously accelerate.
As they were reaching the farm at the end of the road, a white house was engulfed in orange and red flames. Not far from it stood a large red barn, typical of any farm.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Trish was yelling as they were exiting their car. “There’s no way I can stop this, the whole place is going to burn to the ground!” she said, dropping to her knees near the front steps.
Around the corner came a man, torch in one hand, a gasoline canister in another.
“Now neither of us will have anything,” the man said, an awkward toothed grin beaming at them.
“Bobby! You cock sucking, mother fucking, horse shit eating, stupid son of a whore!”
Trish was already jumping to her feet, removing the revolver from its holster as she was storming across her front yard. The man, seeing the gun, took a few steps backwards.
“Now Trish, don’t even think about it. This was fair and equal payb-”
The echo of the gunshot reverberating in all directions, the man fell backwards in a plume of his own blood and skull fragments to the soft grass.
Trish was stomping back and forth in front of the man, holding her hands to her head, screaming profanities to the heavens. Aiming the revolver bac
k at him, she plugged two more rounds into his chest, blood spouting up like small fountains.
Abby and Caroline took cautious steps back to their car, taking shelter on the other side, out of harm’s way in case Trish were to start shooting in all directions out of anger.
Minutes later, Trish started walking back to the front of the house, again collapsing near the steps as her family home was continuing to burn. Tears on her cheeks were reflecting the colors of the fire as she kept kneeling.
After a short while, she began to compose herself and stood. Looking around her, the realization that others were still on her property came back to her.
“You guys still here?” she called out.
“We are, but are you okay?” Abby called back, not raising herself from hiding.
“I’m really sorry about that. I just… I didn’t know what else to do, he burned down my home.”
The two stood from behind the car, watching as Trish put down her revolver to the ground, hands out to her sides in surrender.
“I promise, I won’t do anything to you guys, it’s over and done. He got what he deserved, and that’s the end of that.”
“Who was he?”
“A neighbor, former neighbor, from down the road.”
“What did he mean that it was payback?”
“That’s neither here nor there, it’s over and done with. He did what he thought was right, and he got what was coming to him for his actions.”
“You killed him in cold blood,” Abby said, shuddering at the recurring vision.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, but like I said, it was deserved.”
Abby and Caroline stood, watching Trish, not knowing what else to say considering the situation at hand.
“Well, looks like I can’t make you guys those sandwiches after all. It also looks like I’m out of a home for the first time in my life.”
“I’m really sorry, Trish,” Abby quietly spoke.
“Thank you. I guess I’d better pack up my things left in the barn, I have no reason to be here any longer. Dammit!” Trish was now punching the hood of her truck in anger.
“You know, if you want, you could always travel along with us. I know you said you like being alone, but we could probably make a fairly good team. You have a good sense of survival, we have a good sense of scavenging and finding things. What do you say?”
“Do I have to wear one of those stupid crinkly suits?”
Abby laughed. “Only if you want to. I’ll say though, they have come in handy a few times already. You might want to reconsider.”
“I’ll take my chances, thanks.”
“So is that a yes?”
“I say let’s make this a trial run. I’ll travel with you for a little while, see how it goes. If I don’t feel like it’s a good fit, I’ll move on my own again.”
“That’s fair, and we accept your company!”
“Is there anything we can help you pack up?” Caroline asked.
“I could probably use your help in the barn. I’ve been storing a lot of things in there for safe keeping, just in case anyone were to break into the house while I was gone.”
Walking over to the barn, the flames burning behind them, Abby couldn’t help but wonder what had become of their house. Was it even standing? Had it been overrun and destroyed by ragers or other people? She guessed it really didn’t matter any longer, seeing as they would probably never return once they were to reach their final destination.
After packing up Trish’s truck, stuffing the bed all the way to the top of the yellow canopy that was attached to the back, they stood for one final look at her family home as it was continuing to still burn, yet smaller flames than before.
“It was a good house, was in the family for generations. It’s hard to just let it go like this.”
“In these times, it’s hard to let go of a lot of things, but it starts to get easier the longer you’re on the road,” Abby said, taking a step towards the Honda.
Caroline began following her mom. Sensing it was finally time to let go, Trish was slowly opening the door to her truck, gripping the handle on the inside and pulling herself up into the driver’s seat.
Picking up one of the walkie-talkies in the back seat, Abby made her way back over to Trish.
“Here, this way we can still communicate on the drive over to Bend.”
Trish took the Motorola walkie with a nod and a smile, pulling her door closed as Abby was walking back and seating herself.
The Honda’s engine started, pulling away from the property, with the old Chevy following behind. In the rearview, Trish couldn’t help but watch as a couple runners became attracted to the property by the flames, but only found one thing left for sustenance.
Chapter 25
Pack Mentality
The two car brigade made their way back to US-20 and before long were cruising at the speed limit in the warm midday sun.
“Do you think she’ll actually hang around with us for very long, mom?”
“It’s too early to tell, honey. I want to say yes, but then again she’s been on her own for a while it sounds like, and she prefers it that way. Even before all of this happened, she’d been on the farm all by herself.”
“I really hope she does. I think we could make a good team, she seems to be very resourceful and knows her way around surviving off the land. Our skills could complement each other.”
“Time will tell,” Abby said softly, moving her full attention back to the road ahead. Intermittently a stray animal would cross, being chased by a rager. More often than not, what they were encountering seemingly had begun to be die on the sides of the roads.
“They really must be running out of food. You’d think with all the farms around they would at least be able to find some animals.”
“You sound like you’re rooting for them or something,” Abby said, a light laugh passing her lips.
“Really, mom?”
“Sorry,” she said, realizing the joke was in bad taste after what had happened to their family.
“I just mean, that with everything around, and how fast they move, finding a food source to keep themselves alive, or dead-alive, wouldn’t be hard to do. Then again, some of these areas are kind of far out here.”
“I’m relieved we’re seeing more and more of them on the side of the road, instead of running on the road itself. Makes for a much easier drive.”
“I wonder if the larger cities are the same way, or because of more people they are able to survive longer,” Caroline contemplated, watching a one-legged rager pull itself along the highway as they were passing, its teeth chomping fruitlessly at the car.
“I don’t even want to think about how bad the major cities are still. Or who knows, maybe they took over too quickly, killing everyone off and then dispersed back out into the surrounding areas, dooming themselves without a food source.”
Caroline sat, thinking this one over. It could definitely be a possibility, but one would never know unless they were ballsy enough to venture into a major city. They were lucky with Boise, but who knows how bad cities like Portland or Seattle could be if they made their way through them.
“Maybe Trish has heard more about the larger cities.”
Picking up the walkie, Caroline was depressing the button to talk.
“Hey Trish, you there?”
A few moments went by, Trish most likely fumbling for the radio.
“Yeah, I’m here. What’s going on?”
“I was just wondering, I know you said you didn’t watch TV and hadn’t heard much about what was going on, but did you maybe hear anything in town about how the bigger cities were doing?”
“The only things I had heard were the Midwest and East Coast got hit really hard. Other than that, not much. Why?”
“Curious was all, since we’d be heading closer to cities like Portland and maybe Seattle if we head up north. We could go around them, but sometimes it’s more of a direct route to go through them.”
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“It makes more sense to stay away from them, just in case, but I guess it all depends on back roads too, those might be even worse because those trying to leave the cities thought it might have been quicker.”
Caroline and Abby both thought this over, realizing it was more than likely true.
“Fair points both ways, I guess we’ll just have to see when we get near them. Or we could just go straight for the Oregon Coast too, hell, it might be an easier choice.”
The radio staying silent in Caroline’s hand, their conversation having come to a mildly abrupt end.
“She must have gone back to concentrating on her driving,” Abby said, continuing to watch the road carefully herself.
Signs meandering by with names like Riley, Brothers, and Millican greeting the vehicles, inching closer and closer to Bend. The closer they came to the city, the more of what they were used to was starting to rear its ugly head.
More cars were abandoned on the sides of the road, more ragers were seen in fields and along the roads as well.
Abby took the radio from Caroline and pressed the button, as she slowed the car to begin dodging the obstructions on the road.
“Trish, you got me on here?”
“Yeah, Abby. Quite a bit of those things around here.”
“Agreed. We’re still about twenty miles from Bend, you okay with going up there? We were hoping it wouldn’t be too bad, and we could find a hotel for the night.”
“So long as it doesn’t get any worse than this, I don’t see why not. These are about the same amounts of runners I was seeing around my town for a while there, and I was able to take care of them.”
“She’s pretty much a badass,” Caroline said, as her mom was about to respond. Smiling and nodding at her daughter, Abby was pressing the button back in.
“Okay, I say we go for it. I’ll try my best not to slow down too much.”
“Sounds good, I’ll just be following.” Trish then put the walkie in her cup holder. How she wished she didn’t have to be out here, away from home. All she wanted was to keep the farm for herself and not deal with anyone else.