by White, A. L.
Charlie could just make out what looked like buildings in the distance. Rubbing his eyes and blinking several times he tried to verify what he was seeing was real. If Boo only knew the things, he thought he had seen in the last few hours. Sliding the vehicle a little to the left side of the highway, he focused more on the buildings.
“Ok, I will take the bait and bet my life that you are there.” Charlie said to himself. Slowing to a complete stop, Charlie glanced back in the mirror noting the position of the RV and Boo’s truck. He then took a quick survey of the emptiness around them. There were no trees for as far as he could see on either side of the road. Ahead lay the small town of Clarksville. Judging by their current rate of travel it was possibly another hour unless somehow they could pick up speed. The Suburban wasn’t having any issues navigating through the four to six inches of snow, he thought it could easily handle picking up the pace. He had no doubt that Jermaine and Boo would do their best to keep up. The risk was that one of those two would lose traction on the ice and slide off into the steep ditch lining the highway.
A tap on the passenger window brought Charlie back to the moment. Lowering the window Charlie asked, “Want to take a break Boo?”
“I picked these up before we left the RV center yesterday, thought they might come in handy.” Boo said handing binoculars into Charlie.
Smiling back at boo, Charley took them and climbed out of the truck, meeting him in front.
Focusing on Clarksville, Charlie quickly observed that it was smaller than Rivers Crossing. Maybe half the size, he thought, and that was being generous.
“Not much to it.” Charlie said
Boo took the binoculars and focused in on what he thought was the main street. “What do you think is going on with them?” Boo asked.
“The cars in the middle of the street? Probably abandoned like all of the others we have seen.” Charlie replied.
“Left them in a perfect line like that? I think they were traveling together just like we are. May want to move ahead with caution, Charlie. Something just doesn’t seem right if you want my opinion, or even if you don’t.” Boo said.
“Would you feel better if we went down and looked? Leave the others back here to keep an eye out?” Charlie asked.
Boo nodded his head and then said, “I would feel a whole lot better if we went down and took a look with Virginia and those dogs.”
Charlie smiled. “If you would be so kind as to get Virginia and fill the others in, we can get this out of the way then. Getting darker by the minute and I would like to find a safe place for us to sleep.”
Boo went back to the RV and returned a few minutes later with Virginia and the lads.
Zeus led the way with Perseus, as usual, walking right behind Virginia. She struggled to make her way through the snow on the single crutch Doc had given her. Charlie wasn’t sure bringing Virginia was the best idea, but it was the only way to get the dogs to come along. They would have come with Lori, Charlie knew that. There was also the part of him that was beginning to have more than friendly feelings for Lori. He didn’t want her to get hurt. Deep down, another part worried what would happen if zombies were present. Would Lori still be Lori or would something happen? He was in no rush to have an answer.
“Did Boo fill you in on what we’re doing, Virginia?” Charlie asked.
“You would like the Lads to check things out so that you and Boo don’t become dinner.” Virginia replied.
“I think that about sums it up. I want you to stay inside of the Suburban just in case we need to get away quick.” Charlie said.
Virginia glanced down at Zeus a little worried. No one else seemed to have noticed that Zeus was slowing down a lot in the last few weeks. His brain made promises that Virginia wasn’t so sure his body could fulfill anymore. After Lori, Zeus and Perseus were like family. She couldn’t bear to lose either one.
Boo helped Virginia into the back seat next to the dogs and they headed forward. The drive into Clarksville took less than twenty minutes without the RV. It was a small town, smaller than Rivers Crossing, which brought a smile to Charlie’s face. It was kind of hard for him to believe that any place could be smaller. Two cars were stopped in the middle of the highway.
The tracks from the cars turned onto the highway from a street named “West Rd,” just inside of Clarksville. Charlie followed until the snow went from white to a dull red color.
“Slow up a minute, Charlie. That’s a lot of blood.” Boo said.
“I don’t see anyone around…or any bodies.” Charlie said while bringing the truck to a halt.
“Virginia, it’s time for the dogs to earn their pay.” Boo said as he climbed out of the truck.
Opening her door and trying to make herself smaller than she was, Virginia instructed the lads. “Go check things out, boys.”
Jumping over top of Virginia, Zeus and Perseus ran toward the red snow. Zeus, in his ever-cautious way, was taking in all the sights and smells around him. Perseus charged ahead with little thought to anything other than beating Zeus there.
Zeus growled and nipped Perseus in the rear as he passed, causing him to slow up a little to keep pace with the older dog.
In the front of the cars Zeus found the people that had driven them and sat down waiting for Boo and Charlie to catch up. Perseus began checking out the fronts of the buildings on either side of the street. Virginia could tell that there were no signs of zombies just by how the dogs were acting.
Charlie’s stomach was churning, working the acid up into his throat, as he passed through the bloody snow to the front of the cars. The bodies were laying in a messy line as if they had been lined up and fell to the ground. It took all that Charlie could muster to not vomit right there in front of Boo.
“Maybe they were surrounded and decided to end it all.” Charlie said.
Boo continued looking around at the snow not paying much attention to the bodies.
“I think you’re right about being surrounded, Charlie.” Boo said moving off to the right towards an intersecting street. “I don’t believe that it was zombies though. Most of the ones we have seen don’t walk with a gait, they kind of shuffle along, dragging a leg or foot with them. More of a jerky type walk.”
Charlie focused on the footprints in the snow and felt his stomach settle a little. “The smart ones, the two-point-zeros, walk fairly well.”
“They don’t drive vehicles, Charlie. These tracks were made by someone, or something, that can drive vehicles.” Boo pointed at the street just ahead of them. “Came up from both directions and blocked the street right about there. Another set came out of that parking lot back there.”
Charlie shook his head in disbelief at what he was hearing. “So on top of everything else we have a bunch of people preying on other people?”
Boo knelt on one knee and pointed out the tracks around them. “That looks like they were made by the group in front of us. Right here are yours and mine, those belong to the dogs.” Boo stood back up and looked at Charlie. “The rest of them look like they are all wearing the same type of boots.”
“What do we do now?” Charlie asked.
“Hope like hell that they have moved on and we don’t run into them.” Boo replied.
Boo’s thoughts were on everything around them as they drove back to join with the others. Every nook and cranny that something could be hiding in was looked over as he passed. Any places that they themselves could seek shelter in were noted and cataloged in his brain. Most would have thought that once out of town there was no place to hide for safety or for danger to be present. Boo could see spots in the vast, empty, white blanket of snow where a person or a group could have them within their sights; watching every move and waiting for the ideal moment to squeeze the trigger adding more lifeless bodies to the pile back in Clarksville.
***
Finally convincing herself that she was imaging the movement down the street, Megan made her way behind the Food Mart to the large metal dumpster. She
opened the metal lid and tossed her backpack in among the blankets that lined the bottom like a pile of dirty laundry waiting to be thrown in the washing machine.
It was far from the best accommodations in the world, but it was the safest that she could find in the short amount of time that she spent searching the town. Megan had been leaving the lid open during the day so the heat didn’t build up. That practice had to come to an abrupt stop yesterday when she climbed in and settled, trying to get as comfortable as one could in a dumpster, for the night. Lying there in the darkness she felt a tingle run across her left leg. Then it moved across the right leg and stayed there for a moment. It no longer felt like a tingle but more like little feet and something long and thin. Digging into her pocket and finding the throw away lighter, she tried feverishly to light it. On the fourth try the flame lit up the pale grey walls and the glowing eyes of whatever was on her leg. Moving her other hand as slow as molasses towards the makeshift spear propped up in the corner, a ball of sweat built up on the tip of her nose threatening to fall at any moment, causing the momentary detente to come to an end. Locked in a stare with the rat she prayed that he would not move before he could be speared. Letting the lighter go out, Megan had been surprised by how aware she was of the creature. Even in the dark confines of the dumpster she could now see him and watch his every move. Something else came to mind too, an overpowering urge to eat it. It was no longer a rat that had invaded her private safe place, it was warm and glowing in an aura that she could somehow taste as well as see. All of Megan’s senses became acute, so aware that she could hear the tiny creature breathe, feel the patter of its heart on her shin, and feel her saliva building up at the thought of tasting fresh meat.
Tonight the thought of what she had done the night before was repulsive to her. Still something deep down had hoped that another creature would make the same mistake tonight. If you truly believe that, then why did you shut the lid this morning? Now I must lay in this hot metal box all night! Megan thought to herself and laughed out loud until the sound of banging on the dumpster caused her to cringe.
“I know you’re in there so come on out. No one is going to hurt you, girl.” A deep male voice called from outside of the dumpster. Megan instinctively grabbed one of her spears and held it in front of her, pointing up at the lid.
“I have been watching you all day. If I wanted to harm you, I would have done so while you were out in the open. I sure would not wait until you have that old piece of pipe with the sharp end on it nearby.”
“Who are you and what do you want?” Megan asked while her mind raced for an idea to get out of the dumpster and find a safe place to run. The whole idea of the dumpster was to keep zombies away from her and it had worked well. They couldn’t open a lid and usually lost interest if she stayed still without making any sounds.
“Are you coming out or should I open the lid so we can talk like civilized people? I am not accustomed to standing in a dark parking lot talking to dumpsters.” The voice stated without showing any sign of growing impatient with Megan.
Chapter 3
With darkness setting in there wasn’t a lot of planning on what the next move would be. If followed, the map would take them through Clarksville then off to the east, to a farm just outside of town. Little was said about the bodies found on the main street as Boo felt it better discussed once they had settled in for the night. The sentiment was shared by the others after a brief explanation of the discovery. Dealing with creatures hell bent on eating them was one thing, wrapping their minds around survivors killing fellow survivors was another. It was a thought best left for later when they all had rested and were able to think with a clear mind.
Boo led the convoy in his old pickup, always staying at least fifty yards ahead of Charlie and Lori. If they spring a trap on me the others will have time to take a defensive position or get out of here as best they can. Boo thought to himself as he turned onto the road leading to the farm. Expecting to see headlights or armed men at any moment the entire way, he felt relieved when they turned into the long narrow snow-covered road of the farm. Just short of the main house he pulled up and went back to the RV. Opening the door he jumped aside as the lads forced their way out of the door.
“The lads want to have a look around the place.” Virginia said smiling at startled Boo.
“I was thinking the same thing walking back here.” Boo said, smiling back.
Once Charlie came up from behind and they were all sitting in the RV, Lori unfolded the map and laid it across the table for them. Then, flipping it over, she pointed to the notes written all over the map.
“Bob left notes about most of the stops on the back of the map.” Lori said. “I think he did this for Virginia and I because he would have known where everything was.”
“It says right there that we need to go into the barn and look at the floor in stall three.” Jermaine said.
“Maybe we can pull the RV and trucks into the barn if there is room like we did back at the first farmhouse?” Virginia asked.
“That would be a good idea if we could.” Boo replied.
Lori started to fold the map back up. “I guess we should see if Zeus and Perseus have found anything and check out the barn.”
The snow had stopped a day or so ago, but they couldn’t tell from what they saw. The wind was blowing across miles of open fields, picking up snow and creating a blizzard effect with each gust. The Lads quickly went to Virginia when she climbed out of the RV. They patiently stayed in a defensive position near her as she labored towards the barn as fast and as she could move while remaining stable.
“The door is locked!” Jermaine said.
Lori looked around the entrance. Seeing an old barrel by the corner, she went over and pushed against it to see if it was full. Judging it to be about a quarter full, Lori tipped the barrel on its side. Underneath was an old wooden toolbox. Inside were a few old tools and a bronze box that said Bob on the lid. Opening it, she found a keyring with three keys on it. She tossed it over to Jermaine, catching him off guard as it bounced off his chest down into the snow. Jermaine smiled and wagged his finger at Lori before kneeling to retrieve the key ring from the snow drift.
After the first two failed it was the third key that caused the locks to spring on the door. Jermaine pulled it open about twelve inches and looked back at Virginia questioningly.
“Zeus, Perseus, go!” Virginia said and the lads charged into the barn.
Jermaine opened the door wide enough for him to squeeze through followed by Charlie, Boo, and Lori.
The inside of the barn was cleaner than Lori was expecting. It looked more like a large auto repair shop than the last barn she had been in. The floor was concrete and clear of any debris, light blue in color with white lines painted along either side about a foot and a half from the ground. The lines led from the entrance way to what Lori was sure were stalls. Zeus and Perseus were sitting by one of the stalls. On closer inspection Lori laughed to herself and thought, of course you have been here before, haven’t you, boys? Motioning to Charlie and pointing at the stall, Lori stepped back as Charlie slid the stall door open to reveal a wood floor with a handle sunk deep enough into the middle of the floor that it wouldn’t cause anyone to trip over it when walking in. Charlie knelt down, pulling the door open and shining his flashlight down the hole. Concrete steps descended a level into a large open room. On the wall to Charlie’s left he saw what looked like a control center. Lori walked passed Charlie and turned a key then pushed a green button. Light flooded into the room exposing what Lori thought had to be the main living area of the bunker. It appeared to be set up nearly the same as the first bunker only on a larger scale.
“You have to wonder just how many of these places Bob set up along the way.” Virginia muttered.
“Not sure, there wasn’t one in Rivers Crossing.” Lori replied.
“Man! Will you look at this place here!” Jermaine said as he came into the room.
“Old Bob rea
lly put a lot of thought into these places. I guess he wasn’t sure how long he would have to stay put.” Lori replied still trying to take it all in. There was always the thought creeping into her brain about staying put. If there were enough supplies, they could take a break from the journey, allowing Virginia to heal a little more. She had to admit she could use the time on the mend herself.
“I don’t know what you did down there, but the barn is lit up by low level red lights up here.” Boo said leaning over so that they could all hear him.
Charlie went back up to the barn with Boo after explaining to the group that he would go help get the trucks into the barn and lock up for the night. The others had a peek at what was in the middle of the street. He on the other hand, had a bird’s eye view and it still wasn’t sitting well. Whatever or whoever did that could still be in the area and they were not too picky about what they killed.
“I am going to go ahead and pull the trucks in now.” Charlie said to Boo when he reached the top of the stairs.
“Ok, I will give you a hand. Let’s back the RV in first and then back the trucks in up front closer to the doors. That way if we have to make a fast exit, we can use the trucks to plow a way for the RV to get passed.” Boo replied.
Chapter 4
Rolling to his side, Charlie threw his arm over expecting to embrace Annie. The sudden memory of Annie’s end brought him to an alert state. He looked around the room trying to recognize where he was. Seeing the others, it all dawned on him, and he missed Annie more than he had allowed himself to in a long time. He had taken all those feelings and locked them away in a room someplace in the far reaches of his mind. Feelings were popping up for Lori that, in truth, Charlie wasn’t so sure he wanted to have. Those feelings brought Annie back to the front where she needed to be dealt with so that he could move on with whatever was left of his life.