The Collapse Omnibus

by V. A. Brandon

  “We are finally close to the farm.” With a sigh, Daniel leaned back against the seat, patting Walter’s head. “Good,” he whispered, almost to himself.

  Justin veered the station wagon to the left and drove up a narrow path, kicking up clouds of yellow dust behind them.

  Nervous energy began to fill the stifling air inside. They were almost there. Would Garrett’s friend accept them? Or would he refuse to take in three survivors and a dog? They were extra mouths to feed, after all. And equally important, would the farm remain a safe haven, at least until the government initiated plans for a citywide evacuation?

  It felt strange to have concerns and thoughts about the future. Their lives had been so singularly consumed by the need to reach the farm that there hadn’t been room for much else. But things were finally progressing.

  Amy cheered at the thought. As far as she was concerned, progress was always good.

  She startled when the car crawled to a stop. “What is it? Did we run out of gas?”

  “Look over there.” Justin jerked his chin to the left.

  About twenty yards away, a bloodied Runner was crouched on the dirt ground, ravaging a clearly dead body. Disgusted, Amy turned away, but something about its victim drew her back. She leaned forward reluctantly, peering through the windshield. The scene before her made no sense. The Runner was emaciated – loose, leathery skin hung over bones like an ill-fitting suit. But the victim was burly and almost three times the size of his attacker. Had the Runner surprised him from behind?

  Before sense could dictate otherwise, she opened the door and stepped out.

  “Amy, get back in!” Justin called out, but she ignored him and ventured closer to the left, where the victim was lying. She heard a low curse as the two men quickly joined her.

  “Don’t you see the Runner right there?” Justin muttered, gripping his bat. “What if he decides he wants to eat you instead? And you don’t even have a weapon.”

  “I wanted a closer look,” she replied, reaching out to snatch the bat out of his hand. He didn’t resist her, but only raised his brows and watched as Amy snuck up behind the Runner and smashed the bat down on its head. The Runner crumpled over the dead man, spilling blood onto the dirt ground. Making a distasteful sound, Amy pushed the deadweight away with her foot.

  The three of them stood in silence, staring at the dead man’s eviscerated torso. Daniel seemed morbidly fascinated by the sight – his dark eyes gleamed as he caressed Walter’s furry back. Then he cleared his throat and spoke.

  “I recognize him,” he said softly. “He stole Justin’s jeep, did he not?”

  As soon as he said it, Amy slapped a hand to her forehead. He was absolutely right. The dead man was the leader of the group that had accosted them in the woods. Unlike a leader, however, he had driven off with Justin’s jeep, leaving his companions behind.

  She crouched and studied his face. Weeks ago, his goatee had been trim and neat, like a man who cared about his appearance. Now, said goatee had grown into a tangled beard, with wiry gray hairs streaking through it.

  Justin nudged her on the side. “You see that?” he asked, pointing at the man’s chest.

  Curious, she leaned in closer. “Was he shot?”

  “Straight through the heart, it seems. He probably died on the spot.” Justin tossed a harried look at the dead Runner. “I bet this one was an opportunist; he saw an unresisting meal and began feasting on it.”

  “Someone killed the man with an actual gun,” Daniel noted, glancing around the open fields. “It is unsafe for us to be out here.”

  The shooter could still be nearby. Nodding in agreement, Amy stood up and dusted the dirt off her knees.

  “You’re right. We better get going.” She straightened, but paused as her gaze dropped to the dead man once more. “Do we just leave him like this?”

  Daniel strode toward the car with Walter. “There is no time to bury him. We must go now.”

  The morning heat rose sharply, indicating another hot, dry day. As Amy settled into the front seat, she wondered if the worsening stench would attract passing Runners from the highway.

  “Let’s hope the farm has some sturdy fences,” Justin muttered under his breath, and Amy knew he had the same concerns. Shooting him a grim smile, she slammed the door shut and deliberately ignored the dead man as they drove past.

  I will not feel sorry for you.

  She kept repeating this mantra in her head, as if to convince herself that she didn’t care. He had stolen their food and jeep and left them to die in the woods. His death was his comeuppance.

  And yet, a dull, persistent ache throbbed in her heart as they drove up the dusty road.

  ***

  A couple of times, they had seen small groups of Runners wandering across the open fields, and one or two had given chase. This worried Amy. Did groups of Runners often pass the farm? Had they ever tried to attack it, knowing there were people inside?

  An even worse thought intruded on these questions. What if there was no farm left? What if Garrett and Benson – in fact, everyone – were dead?

  There was nowhere else for them to go, no other place of refuge. Growing nervous, Amy began scanning the horizon for mesh fences and barns. She couldn’t see anything.

  Five minutes later, she felt her stomach drop when they reached a wooded area. “What’s that?”

  The road ahead was blocked, with large signs in red letters warning them to stay where they were.

  “No Trespassing, Do Not Enter, Trespassers Will Be Shot,” Justin read, letting out an incredulous laugh. “Garrett’s friend isn’t exactly the welcoming type, is he?”

  “What do we do?” Amy certainly hadn’t been expecting this.

  “We don’t have a choice,” he replied, staring hard at the chain-link security fence. “From here on, we go on foot.”

  “But what about the food boxes and the station wagon? We can’t just leave them out in the open.”

  Furrowing his brows, Justin studied their surroundings. “Maybe we can hide the car behind the trees. And we should stuff as much food as we can into our backpacks. When we settle into the farm, we’ll come back for the rest later.”

  That sounded like a plan. Feeling a bit more optimistic, Amy hurried out the door and ran straight to the back of the car. After tearing open several boxes, she began pulling out bottled water, several first aid kits, and cans of spaghetti and meatballs. She had no idea how long it would take to reach the damn farm on foot; for all she knew, they could very well be spending the night in the woods. Grumbling under her breath, she grabbed handfuls of matchboxes, along with several packs of batteries and flashlights, and dropped them into three backpacks. Despite being so close, the farm was starting to feel like a figment of her imagination. As she reached for Walter and stuffed the indignant pooch into her bag, a small part of her wondered if the place even existed at all.

  Justin hefted his backpack over his shoulders and began climbing up the fence. Amy quickly did the same. When she reached the top, the weight of the bag nearly caused her to topple over. Luckily, Justin grabbed her thighs from below, keeping her balanced as she struggled her way down.

  She pushed her face against the fence once she reached the bottom. “Daniel, what are you waiting for? We haven’t got all day.”

  The Korean man stood a few paces away, his backpack lying at his feet. His face was expressionless as he carefully approached them from the other side of the fence.

  “I am not going with you.”

  “Amy’s right. We don’t have time for this,” Justin said, dropping his backpack on the dirt ground. He was about to climb up the fence again when Daniel held up a hand.

  “Please, you are wasting your energy. You cannot make me go with you.”

  “Stop saying that!” Amy said angrily. “If you don’t go, then we aren’t going, either!”

  “Last night, I made love to my wife.”

  He slipped it in so matter-of-factly that it took a moment
for Amy to process what he’d actually said.

  I made love to my wife.

  So what? It wasn’t like Marie had bitten him. They’d only exchanged bodily fluids. Big deal, right?

  Reluctantly, Amy lifted her eyes and saw Daniel peering at her carefully, as if he were reading her mind. He nodded slowly, his penetrating gaze on her face.

  “Yes, Amy. I am infected.”

  “You don’t know that,” she shot back, her voice quavering.

  “But I do.”

  Amy and Justin stood there, clutching at the fence as heavy silence fell upon them. What could they possibly say to make him change his mind? How could they convince him that he wasn’t infected?

  Daniel leaned in. “Do you remember how Marie acted around Walter? From the moment she was infected, she did not want him anywhere near her. Do you know why?” A grim smile twisted his features. “At first, I did not understand myself. But now, I do.”

  He edged even closer to Amy. “When I look at you, do you know what I think about? I think about gouging your eyes out and chewing on them. I think about ravaging your pretty stomach and pulling out all your organs. I am repulsed by this, but equally enthralled by the violent images. But do you know what the worst part is? This hunger is getting stronger. I can feel it.” He closed his eyes briefly, inhaling a shaky breath. “Soon, I will not be able to differentiate between fantasy and reality. It is unsafe for you to be near me, Amy.”

  “Why did you make love to your wife?” Justin demanded. “Why would you infect yourself on purpose?”

  Daniel let out a humorless chuckle. “How could I not? I wanted to love her one last time. She refused, of course, but I insisted.” His countenance darkened. “Do not judge me, Justin. It was my choice. Without my wife, I have no reason to continue on.”

  “Where will you go?” Amy whispered, wiping at her tears. “You can’t just stay out here by yourself. It’s too dangerous.”

  His fingers reached through the fence and clutched her hand. “I will return to Green Hill Clinic. I cannot leave my wife there. It is too lonesome.” He looked uneasy, then added softly, “I will need the station wagon.”

  Justin pulled the car keys from his pocket and handed them over. “Take it,” he said. “It’s yours. And you might as well take the rest of the food boxes, too.”

  Tense silence fell upon them again as they stared at each other through the crisscrossing chain link. When Daniel turned to leave, Amy tightened her hold on him.

  “Why did you come with us if you weren’t even planning to go to the farm?” she whispered, trying to delay the inevitable. “Why didn’t you just stay at the clinic?”

  He gave her a sad smile. “It was my desire to see you both reach the farm. Unfortunately, my journey ends here.” A muscle jumped in his jaw as he glanced away. “Please make sure Walter gets to Benson safely. It is what Marie wanted.”

  “I’ll do that,” Amy whispered, unable to control her streaming tears. She couldn’t let him go. Not yet.

  Daniel gave a gentle tug. “My wife is waiting for me. I have to go now.”

  Her strength sapped, she finally released him from her death grip.

  “Good luck, my friends. And stay safe.”

  Justin nodded slowly. “Goodbye, Daniel. If you change your mind, or if you find out that you’re not infected . . .”

  The Korean man grimaced, shaking his head. As far as he was concerned, that was not going to happen.

  Amy stared as he settled into the driver’s seat and drove down the dusty path. She stood there even when she could no longer see the car. She stayed and listened to the fading sounds of the engine, until only the low buzzing sounds of insects remained in her vicinity. Even then, she pressed herself against the fence, hoping, praying, that he might somehow change his mind and return.

  Please, Daniel. Come back to us.

  Agonizing minutes passed. He didn’t return.

  And deep down, she knew: he was never coming back.

  Chapter 9

  Justin gave Amy a small nudge. “We need to get moving. It’s not safe to be out in the open like this.”

  “Okay.” She pulled away from the fence, mentally and physically exhausted. There was no point in hanging around the area like some abandoned pet waiting for its owner to return. As she tightened her backpack’s strap around her waist, Walter barked from inside the bag.

  “Can he breathe in there?” Justin asked, tightening his own waist strap.

  She nodded. “I left the zipper slightly open. He’d better not try to push himself out, though.”

  They stood side by side, staring at the trees before them. Amy grabbed Justin’s hand and squeezed tightly. He seemed a little surprised, but he gently ran his thumb along the ridges of her knuckles.

  “It’s just the two of us now,” he said, emotion in his voice. “I don’t know what’s waiting for us beyond those trees, but I’m not losing another friend again. Especially not you.”

  “Agreed.” Then, on impulse, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his.

  Immediately, Justin wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her close, deepening the kiss. There was something almost desperate about the way they were clinging to each other, as if they were afraid that they might not get a chance to say goodbye should things take a turn for the worse.

  Justin was the one to finally break the kiss. “Are you ready to go?” he asked breathlessly, his hand cupping her left cheek.

  She nodded, flushing. “Let’s get this over and done with.”

  They walked hand in hand, searching their surroundings for possible signs of Runners. The floor was littered with dried leaves and broken branches. If there were Runners, they would surely hear them rustling around, enough to give them fair warning.

  A moment later, Justin picked up a long, sturdy-looking branch and handed it to Amy.

  “What’s this for?”

  He raised his brows. “You don’t have a weapon, so I’m giving you one.”

  “It’s too heavy.”

  “It’s better than nothing.”

  She stared pointedly at Justin’s baseball bat. “How about you give me that bat, and I give you this sorry excuse for a weapon?”

  He shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “Fine. If it’ll make you feel better.”

  As soon as they exchanged weapons, Justin tested his branch by swinging it hard into the ground. He paused, considering, then did it again.

  “What are you doing?”

  He took another swing at the ground. Thwack. “Just want to make sure it feels strong but light enough in my hands.” Pausing briefly, he ran his fingers along the bark. “It’s not bad, actually. A bit long, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers.”

  Amy leaned in, frowning. “I think I see a crack forming.”

  “You sure? I don’t see anything.” Justin studied the branch closely, then prepared to swing it over his head again. “Let me test it again, see if it breaks –”

  A strange sound pierced the otherwise tranquil atmosphere of the woods. There had been a bit of squeaking, grating and unpleasant.

  Like something snapping shut.

  A couple of nearby birds flapped frantically out of the trees, startled by the noise.

  “I don’t believe it,” Justin grunted, pulling at his branch. It was stuck in the ground, its tip buried among dried leaves. “Amy, get me a long branch. Any one will do.”

  She picked up a small stick lying at her feet and handed it to him, taking a step forward.

  “Stay where you are,” he warned, his voice strained. “Just . . . just stand still, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said, bewildered by his reaction. She watched as he used the stick to sweep the leaves away, revealing a rusty-looking device clamped tightly on his branch. Her disbelieving eyes zeroed in on the jagged teeth biting into the bark.

  It was a steel-jaw leghold trap.

  In the woods.

  Just several steps away from where she was
standing.

  ***

  “The guy’s a nutjob,” Amy said angrily, referring to Garrett’s friend. “He could get someone killed!”

  Justin soon gave up on his branch. “I think that’s the point. A Runner, a human trespasser . . .” He trailed off, staring ahead. “The man’s probably not picky about who dies out here.”

  “Want to bet these woods are just littered with traps?”

  He grimaced. “No need to bet. It’s a given.”

  After spending a few minutes looking for long branches within their immediate vicinity, the two began to tentatively make their way forward, sweeping their branches in a back-and-forth motion. It was seriously hindering their pace, but it was better than losing a leg and bleeding to death.

  “You think Garrett and Benson made it through the woods?” she asked, swiping a hand across her sweaty forehead.

  “We’ll find out soon enough.”

  They walked along in silence, dutifully checking to make sure their path was safe. They hadn’t stumbled across another leghold trap since the last one. Maybe luck was on their side, after all.

  Justin suddenly grabbed her arm, stopping her. “Do you see that thing over there?”

  She craned her neck forward. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”

  But her ears heard it before she saw it. A low hiss grew into an angry snarl, and Amy detected frenzied movement beneath a birch tree.

  A Runner was caught in a leghold trap.

  “Okay, time to go,” she said, tugging on Justin’s sleeve. Time to go was right, because the Runner was pulling itself from the trap, ripping its flesh into ribbons. All the while, its eyes were trained on the two intruders.

  Justin pushed ahead in the other direction, giving the Runner a wide berth. “Let’s get out of his way. He’ll stop struggling to free himself if he can’t see us.”

  To Amy’s dismay, Walter began barking, causing her ears to ring. She glanced over her shoulder and saw his furry head poking out, his pebbly lips drawn back in a snarl. With a groan, she reached over and pushed him back in, zipping up the bag as much as she could without suffocating him.