by Tyler Lahey
Bennett spotted several officers in blue striding among the crowd, strutting confidently with that air one puts on when he knows he is being watched. They were armed, to a man, with simple pistols at the hip. Bennett’s wandering eyes locked with a pair plainly content to stare back at him. Layla’s eyes still looked vapid, even from this distance. He had been spent every night with her since Agis forced their introduction. It made things easier. He didn’t have to think about Adira, and what he had done. No matter- he had given her the opportunity to be with him. And a price had been paid. Layla was exceedingly devoted to taking care of his every need, which she did with skill and hunger. That was about where her talents ended.
“Order!” One of the officers screeched. Will “Hernandez”. The nametag didn’t fit the man. He was odd.
Lieutenant Agis mounted the wooden bleachers, looking exceedingly crisp in a tight-fitted police sweater. Bennett had never seen him out of uniform.
“My friends,” he began, “I have asked much of you over the past few days….and I honestly could not be more proud of your effort.” There was a smattering of clapping that echoed in the musty gymnasium’s high ceilings.
“You have exceeded my expectations. We are on our way. A few announcements. From this point on, canned food rations will be cut in half. The hunting parties will be doubled. I aim to save as much of the canned as we can, to be stockpiled in case of true emergency.” He grinned. “For those of you who haven’t met him, I’d like to introduce our resident hillbilly, Billy.” The crowd laughed. They felt comfortable sharing in his humor.
The bearded man Bennett had seen that night on the tennis courts mounted the bleachers, shaking them with every step. He was stout, with a brow that was constantly furrowed. Here was a meat and cheese man, one who believed in simple solutions, hard work, and an anthology of Praise Jesus stickers for the back of his pickup. His frown only got deeper, and he stared out at the crowd for a long silence. “Lieutenant’s got a lot of big ideas… he generally wrong bout most things, but he is right on one, one particular accord. If I ain’t the only white trash here I sure am the proudest.” Billy continued to peer out at the silent crowd from under thick brawny eyebrows. Someone started laughing, and then everyone was. He was making a joke. They liked him already. Billy grinned wildly in response.
“Took y’all long enough. Anyways! I been huntin’ most of my life, deer, boar, duck, quail, you name it. So it’s going to be my responsibility to provide for y’all, considerin its damn cold out now ya hear me. I’ve already got five of yous, and we been out there what eight times now, got a few good catches. Now I’ma ask for five more. That way, we can get maybe five teams goin’ at once, increase our chances like. Ima need five volunteers from y’all. Let’s go now don’t be shy. Hands up. I’m no misogynist. Women too. I prefer women, in fact. Hands up.”
The crowd breathed easily, feeling comfortable with the man on stage. Ten volunteer’s hands shot up, and Billy summoned them all.
Agis re-took the stage, a smile on his face. He beckoned to Will, who’s pasty skin revolted Bennett’s sensibilities. His neck hunched forward slightly, and he stared. “This here is my deputy, Will. I want the hunting teams to focus on one thing only. And that is food. So Will here is going to organize two more groups that will sweep the areas before the hunting teams. Any infected they come across will be killed. I only want the best for this mission, and not all will be accepted. I do not intend to be careless with your lives, or your trust.”
Will stepped forward, and straightened his hunchback. Instantly he became threatening, where before he was simply creepy. Bennett guessed he was a few inches over six foot, at least. “Whoever we choose, I will take out each day, for most of each afternoon. They will be outfitted with our own equipment, rifles and body armor from our stores. Volunteers, please,” he bleated.
Twenty hands shot up raucously, and Agis was pleased.
The crowd broke into different groups, and Bennett saw Agis speaking to Harley at the edge of the crowd. He began to approach when he saw a pair of individuals striding towards him from the double-doors at the back. Adira leaned into Jaxton slightly as they walked. He felt his cheeks and gut boiling with envy, annoyed at how attached they had become to each other. She looked meaner, and whatever sultry warmth she had that had so beckoned men had been replaced by an effortless callousness. Her lips were tight.
“I didn’t expect to see you two here. Adira, my god, how are you? Are you feeling…uh, better? You look…. better.”
Adira looked at him evenly. “I think I look like shit.”
“We wanted to see what Agis had to say for himself, but it looks like we’re late. Oh well.” Jaxton eyed the crowd. Several people looked back, and nodded or raised hands in greeting.
“Hunting. Kill the infected. You know the drill.”
Jaxton grunted. Bennett felt a pair of snaking hands sneak across his waist. Layla leaned her head in, and her shirt was fiendishly low. Adira stared shamelessly.
“Who’s this? Your friends? Don’t be rude. Introduce me. I’m Layla.”
There was a flicker of a smile at Jaxton’s lips as he spoke. “Looks like you’ve been fishing out of your league Bennett. I’m Jaxton. Good to meet you. We should be going.”
As the pair stalked away, Bennett saw Adira pat her lover on the ass in affection.
Layla stood, staring vacantly. Her mind was struggling to process the words that had been spoken to her. It strained with all its considerable might, against all odds, for several complete seconds. “He thinks I’m pretty.” She laughed, short and triumphant.
Bennett jogged after his old friends. “Guys. Guys. Look I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to really visit. Things have been…well I’m sorry. Adira. I…I’m sorry about it all, you know, I mean, what happened. I’m…sorry.”
Adira regarded him with some of her old frost. “I’m doing better now. Thank you.”
Jaxton held up his hands, and looked around them. “Friend. You got what you wanted. Good for you.” Bennett couldn’t tell if he was being played for a fool. For some reason, he suspected his friend was being genuine.
Bennett smiled shyly, awkwardly, and turned around. Agis was staring at the trio intently.
As Jaxton helped Adira towards the horses’ artificial paddock, she spoke quietly. “I should tell you something about him.”
“What’s that, love.”
She reached out to nuzzle an auburn beauty with a long blond mane. “He’s still in love with me.”
Jaxton smiled without looking at her, and spoke calmly. “I know.”
…
The sound of his own boots scraping on the asphalt was getting on his nerves. And the sky was grey, and cold. And Elvis was tired. He tugged a graying jacket around his shoulders, and slung his rifle over his back. It was empty anyways.
The lonely ranger passed sagging picket fences and tiny fields, old barns and little mansions. The school was ominous against a pale sky. He sighed-there would be some explaining to do.
“HALT!” a high voice rolled across the pavement.
Elvis stopped, and saw the figures on the roof, bundled and armed. “Elvis!? Is that you?!”
Harley. He shrugged. “Surprise.”
Two minutes later the front doors were opened, and a group burst out. Harley and Liam crowded close, but did not touch him.
Elvis reached out his hand, and after a moment, Liam clasped it.
“Didn’t expect to see you again, friend.” Liam spoke gruffly.
“I was wrong. Now I’m here.”
“Elvis, I’m so glad you changed your mind.” Harley’s face lit up with joy, and its beauty was a hard thing for a normal man to deny. But Elvis was no normal man. Instead, he nodded a greeting to Wilder, and to Duke, who emerged from the doors behind.
Wilder strode straight to him, and embraced him like a brother. “I never got a chance to thank you.”
“No need, Wilder. Please. No need.”
“T
here is need.” Duke nodded, and Elvis saw he had shed all his baby fat. There was a weak chin under all that, it seemed, but his friendly charm was un-diminished. “Man’s a god-damn hero. I’m fucking serious!” They all laughed. Elvis thought it was funny, but he wouldn’t have laughed had he not forced himself to.
They clapped him on the back. “Where the hell have you been man?”
Elvis felt his stony exterior giving way beneath the joy of company. “Found the swankiest house I could. Made it my own for…god I don’t even know how long.”
Harley was still staring at him. “Two weeks. It’s been two weeks.”
“Two weeks, then. What’s going on? Where did all these trucks come from?” He gestured towards the row of pickups that sat silently in the driveway.
“Well, there’s a new crew in town. I-I’ll let them introduce themselves.” Liam nodded towards someone unseen.
Elvis turned. Eight men and two women strolled up the road in a line. They carried black police-issue M4 carbine assault rifles and were masked and goggled. Elvis eyed their armored vests and kneepads, wondering at what changes had been wrought in his absence. The crew swaggered past the group at the entrance, bumping into some after refusing to adjust their path.
Two stopped, and removed their headgear. One was Bennett. Bennett grinned, and clapped Elvis on the shoulder. “My god, it’s good to see you brother. Thought we had lost you too.”
Elvis nodded and opened his mouth to speak, when he was interrupted.
“Why aren’t you at your post?” The pasty man was tall, with terrible yellow teeth. They gnashed like fangs.
“I was. This, this is our friend. This is Elvis. He’s been in the wild for weeks, and he’s just now come back to us,” Harley said quickly.
The pasty man with lanky limbs looked down at Elvis, who stared back, ambivalent towards his arrogance. “We can’t have the lookouts down here. What if we had been under attack and in retreat?”
Harley stammered. “Get back up there,” he snapped.
She turned and left. “Check your tone, pal.” Liam croaked.
Elvis looked at the pasty one for a response, and saw his name bar. He didn’t look like a Hernandez. Hernandez opened his seething mouth, “I’d reconsider your tone, when addressing an officer of the law.”
Bennett physically inserted himself between the two taller men. “Got six out there today. Just beneath that waterfall, you know, the one where we set up the ropes to jump off from that one summer?” He continued excitedly, “Raked em. This thing’s a beauty man, I’m telling you.” His hands ran over the rifle with appreciation.
Hernandez turned to face Elvis. ”Have you been in contact with the infected?”
Elvis looked at him dead in the eyes. “No.”
Hernandez narrowed his eyes. “We’ll still have to send you to Doc first. Come with me. You can meet Agis later.” His lanky form strode inside, leaving the frosty desolation behind.
Elvis sighed. “I don’t like his tone,” he said evenly, before stepping inside himself.
…
He saw dozens of new faces as they moved through the school. There had to be over a hundred people here now, he thought. They were fresh, clean, and all busy. Almost none inside were armed, save for the ones with actual police uniforms. Where was Jaxton? Was he not in command? The tall police officer brought him upstairs, to the nurse’s office.
A woman with reading glasses was sitting at the desk in a white coat. “Yes.” She spoke without looking up.
“Annabelle, I’ve got a new arrival for you. He’s been outside for weeks.”
“Weeks?” She looked up, and examined Elvis as she would a suitcase she might purchase for a last-minute trip.
“Ok. Get out.”
Hernandez guffawed and left, leaving the pair alone.
“Name. Age. How long have you been alone? What did you eat? Did you come into contact with them?”
“Any order you want me to answer those in?”
Annabelle pursed her lips. She was older, but how old Elvis couldn’t tell. Her brown hair fell in rich volume to her shoulders, streaked with slivers of grey.
Elvis suppressed a grin. “Elvis MacAvoy. Twenty-three. Alone for fourteen days and thirteen nights. I ate animals, mam, and I did not come into contact with the infected.”
She rose, setting down a notebook. “Very well. How are you feeling?”
“Just splendid,” he answered, rolling his eyes.
“I don’t have time for your sarcasm or your perceived wit, which I find tiring and unoriginal. There are one hundred and seven of us, excluding myself, and I am the only doctor among us. Now get out.” She finished sternly.
Elvis left, and hesitated for a second, contemplating an apology. He decided against it, and went to find a familiar face.
When he walked past a classroom, he saw Liam inside seated on the old, thin carpet with his back to the wall.
Elvis stopped, his interest piqued. He heard a voice inside. It was confident, inquisitive, and sincere. Elvis peeked his head around the corner, and Liam caught his eye. He rose immediately. “Elvis! Get in here. No, no. I’m not asking, I’m telling. Let’s go.”
Elvis entered the room reluctantly, and to his surprise saw five people all sitting on the carpet in various states of relaxation. A little man that looked to be balding was sitting at the head. He was definitely young though, with kind eyes.
Liam acted as the broker. “Joseph, this is Elvis. He’s been out there, for two weeks. And he’s just now come back to us.”
The room greeted him as a chorus, but the one Liam called Joseph made sure to stand and shake his hand with a warm smile. “Welcome back, Elvis. Have a seat.”
Elvis sat next to Liam, who was clutching, of all things, a Bible and a Koran.
“As I was saying, I am a man of God. I was a Jew before this. And now I am something else.” Joseph paused, clearly collecting his thoughts. When he spoke, it was melodically, with poise and humility. Elvis was drawn in. “Some of you, and many people I have spoken to, have abandoned religion because of the infection. They see society has crumbled, and it has thrown their faith into doubt….naturally. This time, is no time to be narrow-minded. It is no time to be, of a singular faith. What I propose is simple. We examine the merits and detriments of each faith, of each creed and piece of scripture. And we be honest with ourselves and examine which tenets are necessary, in a world like this one. We go into this knowing full well that the scripture of the Koran, of the Old and New Testaments, are full of hypocrisy. Are full are fallacy. Are full of antiquated ideas. We are here to merge reason, with faith. In order to be truly spiritually…successful I would have to argue you need both.” He looked at each person in turn, and at Elvis last. “What you think Elvis? Anything to add?”
Elvis shook his head, content to listen for now. But he felt good. He felt good about coming back.
…
When Jaxton awoke that following morning, something was different. It took him a while to figure it out- Adira’s breathing was smoother, more fluid. He shuddered in relief on their shared futon. Perhaps the worst was over. Annabelle had been helpful in assuaging his obsessive fears for her well-being.
He attempted to slide off the futon quietly.
A husky voice sounded out. “You’re never as nimble as you think.”
Jaxton smiled. “I expect gratitude when I return with your breakfast.”
Adira grunted in response and turned back over.
As usual, he had no idea what time it was. His body clock had been reset since the outbreak, but what hour of the day was generally still a guess based on the sun. He heard some of them had working analog clocks, but he didn’t bother to inquire. They would all run out eventually.
Jaxton emerged into the hallway, and sub-consciously placed his hand on the pistol strapped to his hip. He had a grand total of 6 bullets, which was about half a normal clip. Jaxton hadn’t personally shot an infected human in over a month.
He nodded in greeting to several men and women as he passed them. They showed him a kind of subservient and eager respect that he had never quite gotten used to. It had only grown more intense when Adira was hurt. In the beginning, people were constantly thanking him for creating this safe haven. In reality, he was just the first one here, but they didn’t care about that. They still remembered him. He passed even more people he had never met. These too smiled, for the most part. Their eyes were bright and their faces, full of hope. It made the ordeal with Adira a little easier to bear. As he did every morning, he made his way to the cafeteria.
There were two armed officers in the kitchens, and a collection of helpers and “chefs”. The latter prepared the meat, berries, and nuts that were brought in by the hunters, and the former ensured proper rationing protocol was followed.
“One. Male.” The officer chirped.
Jaxton sighed. “Todd, we do this every morning. I’m getting a meal for two. A, meal, for, two.”
Jaxton saw the girl slicing squirrels up with a huge sawing knife snicker in the back.
“Why doesn’t she come down here and get it herself? How do I know you aren’t just eating two meals, huh? You’re looking pretty fit for a guy eating less than 2,000 calories a day.”
“She’s hurt, Todd. I know them. He needs two. ” Harley sauntered in from the double-doors, drawing gazes from everyone inside.
She hugged him Jaxton immediately. “How is she?”
Jaxton extricated himself. “Thanks. She’s doing better. Truly.”
“Tell her I asked about her, would you?”