Back at the tent, I found Kyle still sleeping and no sign of Jordan. “Kyle, wake up,” I said, patting him on the back.
“What is it?” he said, sitting up.
The helicopters are back, and I can’t find Jordan.
“What?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“Jordan and I went to take a shower, and now he’s gone.”
“I’m sure he’s around here somewhere,” Kyle said yawning. “The helicopters are back?”
“Yes,” I said. “We need to go find Jordan and meet the people getting off the helicopters. I hope Harley and Mrs. Hoffstedder are with them.”
Lazily, Kyle got to his feet and followed me as I led him to the front of the compound. The helicopters landed just outside the main gates, and armed soldiers were waiting for them. One by one, people started emerging from the helicopters. They bent low in the swirling dust as they moved away from the helicopters. I could see that they were already restrained. I hated that our friends had to go through this. Decontamination was humiliating. I saw two soldiers carrying someone on a stretcher. I ran to the fence to get a closer look. A long lock of wavy magenta hair was visible at one end of the stretcher. It was Harley! A moment later, I saw Mrs. Hoffstedder’s unmistakable white uniform flapping in the wind. She was still limping. As the evacuees were herded into the holding area, screams pierced the air. A group of zombies seemed to come from nowhere and rushed toward the helicopters. The sound of automatic rifles filled the air. The sharpshooters stationed atop the towers at the gate were firing on them. The zombies charged forward, ignoring the hail of bullets. One by one, they started dropping. In seconds they were all down on the ground. I watched as a truck appeared. It seemed to have driven out from behind the compound. It stopped near the bodies of the fallen monstrosities. Several workers in biohazard suits got out of the truck. One opened up the back, lowered a ramp, and walked up it. He disappeared into the truck and then emerged pushing a large bin on wheels. The figure rolled the cart toward the other suits, and they began lifting the bodies and tossing them into the bin. Occasionally, a suit stooped and picked up a dismembered arm, leg, or head and dropped it inside the cart. I watched the process with the same morbid interest one might find at the scene of an accident.
“Garbage detail, I guess,” Kyle smirked. “I hope I don’t get assigned to that job.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “I wonder what they do with them.”
“I’d say they incinerate them to keep the virus from spreading,” Kyle answered.
As we stood waiting, I kept looking around, hoping to see Jordan. I saw Bell walking toward the debriefing tent and called out to him. He stopped and looked in my direction. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Kyle and jogged over to the private. “Private Bell, have you seen Jordan this morning? He’s disappeared. I know you wanted him to meet with the research team.”
“He has reported to the restricted area for the study,” Bell said.
“I don’t think so. He told me this morning he’s decided against that,” I said.
“No, I believe he has agreed to participate,” the private disagreed. He flipped through some pages on his clipboard. “Yes, he signed the consent form.” He tilted the board and showed me a carbon copied form with Jordan’s signature scrawled across the bottom.
“No!” I shouted. “That can’t be right. He literally just said he wasn’t going to do it!”
“What’s wrong?” Kyle asked, walking up to us.
“Private Bell said that Jordan agreed to do the study,” I answered.
“I thought he probably would,” Kyle said.
“If I may,” Bell continued, “perhaps he just didn’t want to tell you. Now, I’ve got to go get ready to debrief the new evacuees. I’m sorry you didn’t know.” With that, he left us standing there.
“It will be okay,” Kyle tried to reassure me.
“No Kyle! It won’t be okay. Jordan told me this morning that he decided not to do the study, and now he’s disappeared!”
“Maybe it’s like Bell just said. Jordan might have just told you what he thought you wanted to hear. He must have sneaked away when he had the chance. Maybe he couldn’t tell you to your face.”
“No. Jordan would never do that to me. He has always told me what he was thinking whether he thought I would like it or not.”
Kyle appeared to ponder this. “Are you suggesting he was taken by force?” he whispered, leaning close.
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m suggesting,” I whispered back.
“Kyle Carter?” A soldier was walking toward us.
“Yes? I’m Kyle Carter.”
“Come with me. You’ve been assigned to sentry duty to guard the perimeter of the compound,” the soldier said.
Kyle looked at me with concern etched deep into his brow. “It will be okay, Casey,” he said. “I’ll talk to you later. I have to go report for duty.” He pulled me into a hug, and I thought I felt his lips brush my forehead. “Stay strong,” he whispered. Then he turned and followed the soldier walking toward the enlisted personnel tents.
My eyes burned, but no tears came. There was no time for them. Perhaps he had given me the slip at the showers, but in my heart, I believed he would never do that. I needed to hear it from directly from him before I would believe it. I had to find a way to get to Jordan. For that, I would need help. I went to stand by the exit ramps of the decontamination trailers to wait for my friends. They would understand, and they would help. After several long minutes, Mrs. Hoffstedder, now in the scrubs, limped her way down one of the ramps. She looked exhausted. I ran to her and threw my arms around her.
“I knew you would somehow get help to us. They came just in time Casey,” she said. Her voice cracked with emotion, and tears welled in her eyes. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”
I swallowed hard. I wasn’t certain now that I’d done them any favors by having them brought here. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something sinister was going on, and we were trapped here. “How is Harley doing?” I asked. Nurse Hoffstedder’s expression grew serious.
“What is it? Is something wrong?” She didn’t answer me, and I saw that she was staring over my shoulder. I turned to see what she was looking at and saw movement inside one of the sealed tubes coming out of the back of a decontamination trailer. There were two people in biohazard suits carrying Harley on the stretcher. They opened the back door of the truck sitting at the bottom of the tube and carried her inside. The door slid shut, and the truck pulled away. “What’s wrong with Harley?” I cried.
“Calm down, Casey,” Nurse Hoffstedder said as she placed her hands squarely on my shoulders. “Harley was bitten during the evacuation.”
I felt as if I’d been punched in the stomach. I couldn’t breathe. I stumbled forward, and Mrs. Hoffstedder caught me. She pulled me close to her, and I buried my face against her shoulder. My body shook, and it was a long moment before I could speak. “Matt’s dead,” I told her, straightening up. My eyes burned, and I struggled to keep control. “And now, this. Harley…” My voice failed me, and I couldn’t bring myself to speak my fears about her aloud.
The group of evacuees from the high school had finished decontamination and were gathering around me and Mrs. Hoffstedder. Private Bell approached us. “Follow me to debriefing everyone,” he said to the group and led them away.
“Private Bell,” I called out, running to catch up with him. “My friend Harley was bitten by a zombie, and they took her away from decontamination in a truck. Where are they going? What will happen to her?”
Bell kept walking as he spoke. “She’ll be taken to the restricted area where the vaccine is being developed. The research team will do what they can to try to save her.”
“What do you mean? What can they do to help?”
“The research is classified, and since I’m not a doctor, I don’t know exactly what they can do. They are, however, in the trial stages of vaccine development. If she can be saved, they are the only
ones who can help her now.”
“So, what will happen if she’s infected and they can’t save her?”
Bell’s expression was somber. “She will be humanely terminated before she completes her transition.”
I felt sick. Something had to be done to help Harley and to get Jordan out of the restricted area. Not knowing what to do next, I followed the group to the debriefing tent and sat down beside nurse Hoffstedder. Private Bell noticed I was there, but thankfully he didn’t make me leave. Sergeant Spears started addressing the group while Bell began passing out the computer tablets to the evacuees. When he handed one to Mrs. Hoffstedder, I grabbed his arm. “Private Bell, is there any way that nurse Hoffstedder can be assigned to G14 with me? The two cots next to mine are open now that Jordan and Kyle are gone.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he answered. “Several of the evacuees will be going to
G14 anyway.”
“Where are Jordan and Kyle?” Mrs. Hoffstedder asked?
“Kyle has been assigned to sentry duty guarding the perimeter of the compound, and Jordan is in the restricted area participating in research.” “Research?” Mrs. Hoffstedder questioned.
“Yeah. I’ll explain later,” I said, not wanting to discuss it where Bell and Spears might overhear.
Sergeant Spears finished explaining the rules and procedures of the compound. Bell collected the computer tablets. “Hoffstedder?” Spears called out.
“Yes?” Mrs. Hoffstedder answered.
“I understand you are a nurse,” he said.
“That’s right,” she confirmed.
“We can use your help in the infirmary,” he informed her. “If you’re willing to serve, we can assign you there for a few hours a day.”
Nurse Hoffstedder looked pleased. “I would be glad to assist, Sergeant,” she said. “Someone from the infirmary will send for you later and discuss your assignment with you,” he said.
With the debriefing complete, Bell led the group around the compound for the tour. I followed the throng, staying close to Mrs. Hoffstedder. After the private showed everyone the location of the common areas, we walked around to various tents where he announced the names of the people assigned to them. When we arrived at H12, he called out Walker’s name. I turned and saw Walker for the first time since the day he wouldn’t let us back into the high school. For an instant, our eyes locked. Rage rose from deep inside my core. I gave him a hard look as I noticed his face was swollen and bruised. His arm was in a sling. “What happened to Walker?” I asked, nudging Hoffstedder.
“When the men found out what he did to you, Matt, Jordan, and Kyle, several of them jumped him and beat him up. He was in really bad shape,” she said.
“Served him right,” I said. “If the bastard had let us in, Matt would still be alive.”
“It was better than he deserved,” said a woman who came and stood beside me. Her face was worn, and dark circles crested her cheeks. She seemed familiar, but I wasn’t quite sure who she was.
“I’m sorry,” I admitted, “I don’t remember your name.”
“It’s Maxine,” she said, taking my hand. “We all appreciate everything that you and the others did for us back at Carver. Because of you, we’re going to make it.”
I felt my face flush, embarrassed by her praise, and at the same time, the naggings sense that we might be in danger persisted. If that were true, I didn’t deserve her Maxine or anyone’s appreciation. We made it to G14, and Bell kept his word. He’d assigned Hoffstedder to the tent with me. Maxine was placed there as well.
“Why don’t you both come and take the cots beside mine?” I suggested to them. They agreed and followed me to the center of the tent. Surprisingly, clean linens sat waiting for them on the beds. Clearly, the staff here wasted no time getting people moved in and out. I helped Maxine and Hoffstedder with their linens. Both of them sat down on their cots. “You two look like you could use some rest,” I advised. “You’ve got some time to sleep before lunch if you’d like.”
“Sounds good,” Hoffstedder said, lying down on the bed.
“That it does,” Maxine agreed.
“While you two rest up, I’m going to see if I can find Kyle,” I told them. “I’ll be back to get you for lunch.”
I left the tent to locate Kyle. I wasn’t sure which end he might be in, so I went to the north end of the compound first. All the tents looked alike, and I wasn’t sure where to go. I saw a soldier leaving one of the tents and stopped him. “How can I find a soldier?” I asked him. He flashed a smile. “You’ve found one,” he said jokingly.
I smiled back. “I mean a specific soldier. I’m looking for my friend Kyle Carter.”
“That’s too bad,” he said. “You should check over there.” He pointed to a tent labeled I9. “That’s headquarters.”
I turned and jogged in that direction “Thanks,” I called over my shoulder.
“Any time,” he yelled after me.
Inside I9, I found the tent filled with chairs, a projection screen, and an office area where several officers were crowded around a desk looking at maps. “Excuse me,” I said, walking up to them. “Civilians are not supposed to be in here,” one of them said.
“I know, and I’m sorry,” I said. “But I’m looking for Kyle Carter. He was just assigned to sentry duty. Can you tell me where to find him?”
“I’m sorry,” the officer said. “But fraternization is prohibited.”
“What? Fraternization? No! Kyle is my…” My hope sank, but I had to convince him to tell me where to find Kyle. “My cousin,” I lied.
“Yeah, and I’m your great uncle,” he sneered. “I’m not buying it.”
Another officer nudged him. “C’mon. What can it hurt? Even if she’s lying, it’s not like they’re going to get away with anything here.”
I wasn’t sure whether to be offended or appreciative. The first officer looked reluctant but then grinned. “Okay,” he said, withdrawing a clipboard from a rack beside the desk. He flipped through the pages. “Carter, Kyle is assigned to A4 on the south end.”
“Thank you,” I said, and rushed outside.
“You’re not allowed in his tent,” he called after me.
“Don’t worry; I won’t go in,” I called back over my shoulder. “Jerks,” I said to myself. Why did people always assume a guy and a girl can’t just be friends? I didn’t need to be in a relationship. In fact, I didn’t need anyone really. It was a good thing too because the people I cared about had a way of leaving and dying. Kyle was great, and in another place and time, maybe things would be different, but not here, and not now.
I ran all the way to A4 and approached the entrance. Carefully peering inside, I saw that a few soldiers were asleep. Some sat on their cots reading and talking. In the far corner, Kyle sat talking with two other soldiers. He had changed out of his scrubs and was now wearing military gear. Bolstering my courage, I walked in. After all, the worst they could do would be to tell me to leave, I reasoned. Behaving as if I belonged there, I tread past several soldiers who only looked at me and then went back to what they’d been doing before. Apparently, I wasn’t the first civilian to come into their tent. I went straight to Kyle. He smiled at me and then turned serious as he looked at the two soldiers standing with him.
“You’re not supposed to be in here Casey,” he said.
The two soldiers glanced at me. They looked back at Kyle and then exchanged snickers like adolescent boys. “You two want to be alone?” one of them asked.
“Not that anybody can really be alone here,” the other one said, poking Kyle in the side.
“Relax, Carter,” he said to Kyle. “Women sneak in here all the time.”
Relief washed over me as the two soldiers walked away, leaving me and Kyle somewhat alone. Kyle also looked relieved and even glad to see me. His gaze held mine for a long moment. “I was worried about you, Casey,” he said.
“I’m worried about all of us,” I confided in him, keeping my voice
low. “Tell me about your assignment. What have they told you to do?”
He cast his eyes about the tent and then spoke in a quiet voice. “They’ve got me on nighttime guard duty,” he said. I’ll be patrolling the perimeter. My job is to check the fence and report any zombie sightings. I have orders to shoot any of them I see and then radio a crew from the restricted area to come and pick them up.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“No, there’s more. I’m not shooting to kill. They’ve given me a tranquilizer gun. All of the guards have them, even the ones stationed on the towers out front.”
“Tranquilizer guns?” I asked.
“Shh, keep your voice down!” Kyle whispered.
I shuddered as I realized I’d raised my voice. “Anybody looking at us?” I asked.
Kyle shook his head.
“So, you mean they’re taking them alive? Well, as alive as they can be?”
“Yes,” he confirmed, “They’re studying them in the restricted area.”
“Do you mean they’ve got living, virus-carrying zombies back there?”
“That’s what I’m saying, yeah,” Kyle emphasized his words. “I think that’s why we didn’t see any when we were walking in here from the interstate. They’ve captured most of them in the area.”
Viral Series (Book 1): Viral Dawn [Extended Edition] Page 25