“Oh, sweet Jesus, fuck! Let’s get the hell out of here!” Donna whispered and Julie nodded, taking the lead.
The brush was thick and Julie took her time staying away from what few houses there were along the way. She definitely wanted to stay away from Standifer Place. If this virus was causing this behavior, then she wasn’t going anywhere near the place. Dementia was nothing to toy with, this virus, or whatever it was, was going to send the patients there over the edge. Besides, the thought of ninety-year olds trying to gum her to death made her shiver. Then there was the jail, Silverdale Detention Facilities. Being one of two jails in Hamilton County, Silverdale differed from the main county jail in that it was privately owned and operated. Julie knew that Silverdale housed criminals that were serving sentences of less than a year, but she also knew that it held violent criminals who were awaiting trial. Anyone who had a sentence over a year was sent to the Tennessee Department of Corrections to serve their time in a state-run prison. She wasn’t sure on the degree of security a privately ran jail had, but hopefully the prisoners would have been locked up once this started, but she’d worked at Standifer Place for a year and a half when she’d first became a CNA and she knew that sometimes the less violent prisoners were used for laundry detail in Standifer Place. That had always made her nervous.
The sounds from the mall had diminished and it grew very quiet, except for the crickets and frogs. It was unnerving, to say the least. As they neared Standifer Place, the sounds were replaced with the occasional sounds of breaking windows and screams. These were less pronounced than what she’d heard earlier, even in Hank’s car. Maybe because the elderly were weaker, she neither knew nor wanted to. She led Donna to the far side of the road from the turnoff and closer to the woods, just in case they needed to hide quickly. Her mouth was getting dry, so she chanced a sip from her Camelbak before continuing.
When they approached the outer perimeter of Silverdale, Julie led them as far into the vacant field as she could. Through her night vision goggles, she could see that several inmates were strolling around the inner confines of the facility. She took a knee and was joined by Donna.
“This place scares the shit out of me.” Donna whispered.
“Me too. I just want to make sure there are no gaps in the fences. We damned sure don’t want these people getting loose.” Julie whispered. After waiting for a couple of minutes and noticing that the prisoners stayed in the inner perimeter she stood up and hugged the shadows, continuously glancing over her left shoulder and behind them to make sure they weren’t being followed. When they made it to the dog-leg in the road Julie led them through a vacant field and into some sparsely planted woods, aiming for Jenkins Road. They stopped just before reaching the road and took a knee while watching the road.
“I figure we’ll hurry our asses across Jenkins here, right here, skate the fence to the south of US Xpress and into the woods on the other side. We’ll rest here for a minute and watch to make sure we’re in the clear first.” Julie said and took a drink from her Camelbak while Donna did the same.
“Why don’t we just walk down to Lee Highway and then take it until it ends?” Donna asked, looking the map. Julie studied the map closer.
“You might be on to something. But then all we have to do is pick up the railroad tracks on the other side of Jenkins here and follow it all the way in to South Cleveland. It’ll be flatter and faster than humping over White Oak Mountain and still keep us in the woods. Looks like you have a great idea.” Julie gave her friend a smile.
When Donna stumbled for the third-time and kicked up gravel, Julie called a halt. They were both drained, physically and emotionally. The distant screams had quieted somewhat and they were in a wooded area.
“Let’s just call it a night, try and get a little sleep. We’re both exhausted. It’s like midnight and I’ve been up since four this morning.” Julie said, leading them off the railroad tracks and into the woods. They quickly found a clearing and stripped off their packs.
“This is perfect. Not too far from the tracks in case we need to get moving again.” Donna said and Julie nodded. She pulled a water bottle from a side compartment in her pack and took a long pull from it.
“You mind taking the first watch while I get a little sleep?” Julie asked.
“Sure, I’m wide awake anyhow. My legs were getting so tired from all the walking.” Donna smiled.
Julie dug her poncho liner out of her pack and used it for a blanket and her pack for a pillow and was lulled to sleep by the chirps from crickets in seconds.
Brad
Ocoee, TN
Brad watched in awe as the guy across the street beat his girlfriend in the head with an axe handle. Despite the blood running down her face, she laughed hysterically. That was until he picked up a big rock from the flower bed and hit her with that. Brad heard a wet thud as the rock pulverized her head. The guy looked at her for a moment, looked around and ran up the street. Brad had wanted to shoot the guy, but drawing attention to himself was not something he cared to do. He watched from his perch in the cupola as the few neighbors that were home started walking the street and acting erratically. That, he and Julie hadn’t discussed this aspect in any scenario, probably because he thought a zombie apocalypse, as cool as it sounded, was improbable, and it worried him. If this virus was making people act crazy, then she needed to stay as far away from people as possible. All he could do was hope she stayed off the streets and took to the woods as much as she could.
He wished he’d set up Dillon with a ham, but being an apartment, it just wasn’t feasible. He did know that Dillon preferred the woods anyway and if he saw what was happening, he’d probably wait until night and stay off the streets, so he wasn’t too worried about Jessie, who was just as much at home in the woods. That meant he’d be having a late night while he waited for them. He also hoped that Dillon remembered the hand-helds Brad had given them, that way they could let him know when they were close. Hearing the neighbor’s dog barking he quickly returned to the cupola but couldn’t spot what had set it off. This, he thought was going to be a long day.
He went downstairs and made something to eat. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he realized that he had been so busy that he’d forgotten to eat. It was slightly cooler downstairs than in the attic, so he made a quick sandwich, grabbed a PowerAde from the fridge and sat on the couch. Unless Jessie or Dillon had contracted the virus, it was a safe bet they were safe as well, although he would have to think about how long to give them to show up if they had to dodge crazies the entire way. He knew Zack wouldn’t play around, his job was to get his family to the farm and, being the closest to it, get everything set up and running. The big question mark was Julie. She had to extract herself and Donna from the hospital, walk through the deadliest part of the city on a normal day and make her way home through a town full of virus crazed people. That’s if she was lucky and hadn’t been infected either, because hospitals, by nature, filled up with the sick and injured very quickly.
They had planned on three days to get her home and he hoped it wouldn’t take any longer than that. Going to look for her was impossible because he couldn’t be sure which route she would take, if she hadn’t set off already. Night is your friend, he’d always stressed. It’s harder for people to see you in the dark, easier to hide, and because of their night vision, they had the advantage. Brad, always a little paranoid anyway, had wrapped the night vision goggles for both women in foil coated Mylar and had built small Faraday cages out of some metal boxes. That had been Bobby Akart’s suggestion and it had worked for everything at the house, so he had no doubt that it worked for the night vision and the hand-held radios as well. Time would tell.
The dog was going apeshit again, so he sat his half-eaten sandwich down, grabbed his rifle and went to look through the shooting ports on the now covered windows. He wished he’d been able to talk Julie into some cheap security cameras, but she’d drawn the line with that one and he wasn’t stupid enough to cross it. He
checked the back of the house first and saw nothing there and got the same results from the sides. When he looked out front, he caught movement across the street. He waited for a minute and saw Dean edge around the back of his house and into the yard where the dead girl was lying. Fortunately, they lived on a dead end and a pasture sat on the other side of Dean’s house, so he was probably not going to get seen from that side. Brad wanted to scream at him and tell him to go back inside and lock his damned door, but the old guy up the road that always walked his dogs had locked eyes on Dean.
“Shit.” He muttered and quickly ran back upstairs and into the attic. He’d just gotten into the cupola when the old guy made a run for Dean. Brad looked around and seeing no one else about, slid the rifle barrel and aimed at the man’s head. Just as the old guy bowled Dean over, Brad squeezed the trigger and watched as a mist erupted from the other side of old guy’s head, before he collapsed in a heap. Dean looked up, trying to figure out where the shot came from, not seeing anything, he bent over and checked the dead neighbor girl for a pulse. Brad was positive that there would be none. He was right. Dean Straightened up, glancing around to make sure there were no more people around, and made a run for Brad’s house. Brad sighed loudly and shook his head. This was not what he wanted.
“Around back!” he yelled at Dean and went back downstairs again. He got to the back door just as Dean arrived. The chubby man was gasping for air as he made his way up the back stairs that led to the carport. Brad unsecured the door and hurried the man in, re-bracing it immediately. Dean collapsed on the couch and Brad had to wait until he caught his breath. He finally looked at Brad.
“She’s dead.” Dean huffed.
“I know. I saw her boyfriend stave in her head with what looked like an axe handle. When that didn’t work, he grabbed a big rock.” Brad said.
“Did you shoot old Mr. Watson?” Dean asked and Brad nodded.
“Had to. I don’t know what’s making people act crazy, probably the virus, but you were next.” Brad told him.
“Well, thank you for that, but why didn’t you shoot Blake when he was attacking Hailey?”
“Because she was laughing the entire time he was braining her. She was infected, too.” Brad told him and Dean nodded.
“Do you have any guns?” Brad asked and Dean shook his head.
“Wife won’t allow them. I was never any good at hunting anyway.” Dean explained and Brad nodded. He could believe it.
“Listen, why don’t you just hang out here for a while? It’s safer than your place. At least until we can get some answers as to what the hell is going on.” Brad said. Dean appeared to think about it for a minute.
“If you’re sure it’s okay.” He said and Brad nodded.
“It’s fine. Did you fill up some containers with water?” Brad asked.
“I did. I even filled up the tubs. Plus, there’s a creek on the other side of the pasture.” Dean answered.
“Huh. I didn’t know that, but then I never felt the need to go nosing around over there. If you have to use that, you’re going to want to boil it. I’m not sure where it comes from, but we do know he keeps horses and cattle, so it’s probably been shit in a time or two. Also, two drops of bleach per gallon of water just to make sure. If this is the Armageddon you’ve been spouting off about, there won’t be much in the way of help if you get sick. Drinking contaminated water will do just that and it most likely will kill you.” Brad said.
“I didn’t think of that.” Dean said.
“There’s a lot to learn if you want to stay alive. Do you know if Diane next door is at home?” Brad asked. Divorced and with her kids all grown she lived alone.
“Her car is there.” Dean said. That didn’t mean much, Diane sometimes spent time helping her elderly uncle on his farm and it was likely her brother took her over. Still, he thought, he should check. On other occasions, she would go off with the guy she was dating, who’s name Brad didn’t know and referred to as “Red Jeep”.
“You wait here. I’m going to jump the fence and knock on her back door. I’m not locking the door, just in case I have to make a quick entrance.” Brad said.
“Okay.” Dean said and Brad took down the bars to the door. Sticking his head out, he looked to make sure there was no one visible. He pulled the door quietly closed and walked to the corner of his house. He quickly poked his head around the corner, making sure there were no surprises waiting for him and seeing none, bolted across the driveway, hoping over the chain link fence and cursing his old knees in the process. He slipped up the stairs to her enclosed porch and tried the door. Finding it unlocked, he eased himself in. He quietly made his way to the back door and listened for any sound. Hearing nothing, he tapped on the door lightly. He heard movement inside and then thought about what the hell he would do if she were infected. He gripped the rifle and flicked the safety off. Diane pulled the curtain back before swinging the door open.
“Did anyone see you?!” she asked, whisking him in.
“Not a soul. I just came by to see if you’re okay.” Brad explained.
“I’m fine.” She said and showed him the .38 Special she had behind her back.
“That’s not enough. How are you set for food and such?” Brad asked.
“None of your damned business!” she said and he chuckled.
“Relax. I’m not here to loot you, I’m set pretty good myself. And my security is a damned sight better than yours.” Brad said.
“That may be, sir, but I am a lady and you are a married man.” She said and he smirked.
“Yes, I am. And I’m worried about my neighbor. So, if you don’t want to come over, I’ll just go back home and lock back up. But, I suggest you keep everything here locked down and if you have to abandon your house, run to mine, hop the fence like I did, It’s quicker.” Brad said.
“So, you’d just leave a lady alone?” Diane asked.
“In a heartbeat. So, are you coming or what?” Brad asked.
“Lead on.” She said and followed him out the door. Brad peaked around the side of her house and motioned for her to go. Diane, pistol in front of her, ran to the fence and hopped over. Brad was impressed with her agility. He took one last look and ran for the fence, He was halfway there when one of the teenagers that lived a few houses up came running through his other neighbor’s yard straight at him. He slid to a stop and raised the rifle, quickly acquiring a shot and snapping it off, catching the punk on the bridge of the nose. The kid’s forward momentum carried him forward about three steps before he crashed head first into the garbage can. Brad hopped the fence and ran to the now open back door, closing it quickly behind him. He replaced the bracing and grabbed his knees, trying to catch his breath.
“Who did you shoot this time?” Dean asked. Brad looked up at him and stood.
“That asshat teenager down the street. The one that drives the four-wheeler up and down the road as loud as he can. I do have to say that one was almost satisfying.” Brad smiled.
“You just killed someone! How can you be so callous?!” Diane said, visibly shaking.
“Not the first person I’ve killed. Not even the first person I’ve killed today. I was with the Marines, remember? Do you have any idea what the hell’s going on out there?” Brad asked.
“No! Just that people were getting sick and acting weird.” Diane sat on the couch, still shaking.
“The guy across the street bashed his girlfriend’s head in with a rock and she laughed while he did it. Asshat there was attacking me, so I didn’t have much choice. Would you like something to drink?” Brad asked.
“Hell yes! Whiskey, if you have any! I’m a nervous wreck!” Diane said and Brad poured her some in a glass and handed it to her, which she knocked back like a pro and motioned for more.
“Dean?” Brad asked. Dean shook his head.
“No, I’ve never drank before and am not about to start just because of Armageddon.” He said firmly.
“Well, if this is Armageddon, we’ve be
en left behind, so I’m about to get drunk off my ass!” Diane said, polishing off her second glass.
“You ever drank before? I’m talking hard liquor, not Boone’s Farm.” Brad asked her and she nodded.
“Yep. I wasn’t always a prude like old Dean here. Besides, Boone’s Farm got the job done well enough in high school.” She smiled and Brad shook his head in amazement. He’d thought she’d always been a prude.
“We need to talk quietly. I don’t want to take a chance of them mobbing the house, despite to fortifications I made. You guys just relax here, I’m going to take a quick look and see what’s happening.” Brad said.
“You’re going outside?” Dean asked.
“Nope, up in the attic. I turned that cupola into a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree lookout. I can see them, but they can’t see me.” Brad said, collected his rifle and climbed the stairs. He wasn’t thrilled about his neighbors staying but he couldn’t in good conscious turn them out. Besides, he had no intention of taking them to the farm.
Katie
Cleveland, TN
Katie was pissed. The rifle sling pinched her and the rifle dug into her back constantly. She wanted to complain but Zack hadn’t complained yet and he had to tow the added weight of the trailer, the baby and their bug-out bags. She looked at Kenna, who was watching the passing scenery and smiling. She was grateful for that, but very aware of the need to protect their child. As they passed stalled cars people would try and stop them for info. Zack, sometimes told them that it was a nuke and they should start walking, without stopping himself. They both knew that to stop was to risk losing their transportation. So far everyone was orderly, but she wondered how long that would last. She wanted to be out of town before someone tried to take their bikes. She knew her husband wouldn’t let that happen, just the same a shootout was not her idea of a fun day. As they passed the Baptist church she noticed that people were gathering in the parking lot and even though she wondered why, she didn’t dare stop. They had to get away from people. With the nukes on top of the virus, people were something to be held at a distance. Her father had drilled into their brains that the normally timid office worker would become desperate and extremely dangerous if it came down to it. After all, they had families they wanted to get home to as well.
Three Days From Home Page 5