The crack of a rifle sounded. It was distant, causing Tom to turn. Before getting all the way around there was a loud grunt and he saw Bear’s huge frame crash to the floor. Tom couldn’t see where he was hit, but blood was spreading out from under his body, forming an ever growing crimson pool.
Everything was happening fast. April began screaming when Bear fell to the floor in front of the couch. Axel dove to the floor just as the closest window exploded inward. Gunfire ripped into the floor and wall, sending chips of tile flying. Hank was lying prone next to the pool table, continuing to fire down the hallway.
Tom shouted, “We gotta move!” He looked to Bear. “I need cover.”
Hannah shouted, “Covering!” She spun sideways, still down on one knee, and began firing out the recently shattered window.
“I got the hall.” Hank said between shots.
Tom ducked low and crouch-ran over to Bear’s motionless body. Gunfire erupted from somewhere straight ahead. The bullets kicked up chunks of cement and tile, stinging his exposed flesh.
“Axel, help us out. I need cover fire out the front.” Tom shouted. He didn’t know how far out the shooters were, but Axel’s shotgun might at least get them to duck down. Tom hunched down next to Bear. He pulled one of his MAC9s and began firing blindly out the front window.
Axel finally pulled himself together. The loud boom of his shotgun joined the cacophony of noises. Hoping this would be enough, Tom holstered his gun and checked on Bear. At a glance he knew Bear was gone. He lay on his back, lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling, a ragged hole punched through his throat. Tom took his Kabar to Bear’s skull, making sure he wouldn’t be coming back.
“Loading.” Hank shouted from the floor.
Hannah twisted her head to check the hall. Seeing only a couple of walkers slowly plodding along, she continued to provide cover fire for the others.
Tom stripped the AR15 off of Bear and pulled a pair of mags from the front of his tactical vest. “Moving.” He shouted while scooting across the floor toward the double doors. Searing pain shot along his arm as a round caught him above the wrist. Ignoring the pain, he continued along the floor until reaching the cover of a large bookshelf.
Hannah dropped back to the edge of the hallway and fired several rapid shots. “Hall’s clear.” She shouted.
Tom looked down and was panicked to see his hand covered in blood. The red stream flowed freely from a ragged wound just above the wrist. Blood began dripping to the floor. Knowing it wasn’t mortal…yet, he raised his rifle and shouted, “Everyone move! Get to the hall. Covering!” He twisted away from the bookshelf and began firing rapidly out the windows.
“Covering.” Hannah shouted. She began firing out the windows as well. “Hank, grab April.”
Axel turned and sprinted across the short space, running for the hall.
Hank army crawled over to the couch and got up to his knees. He started talking into April’s ear, but nobody else could hear what was said. She seemed oblivious to his presence, her head still tucked into her arms and knees. When several shots hit right next to Hank’s exposed legs he threw his rifle over his shoulder and lifted April’s small body off the couch. Holding her like a medicine ball he sprinted across the room toward the hallway. Debris kicked into the air all around him as bullets continued to rain down from outside.
Hannah was slamming a fresh magazine into her rifle as Hank rushed past. “Go, go, get to the stairs.” She shouted. After charging her AR she looked over at Tom. “Move your butt, I got this.”
Needing no further encouragement, Tom turned and rushed past Hannah, slapping a hand on her shoulder as he rushed past. She started pounding away with her rifle as he made for the stairs. Axel was just turning the corner for the stairs, Hank trailing about halfway down the hall, struggling with the weight of April in his arms.
Once Tom reached midway he turned and yelled to Hannah, “Move…get to the stairs!” He stayed in place and made sure she stopped her cover fire and turned to race after them. Even as she ran he continued to watch the rec room, making sure nobody rushed in behind her.
Chapter 10 - Tables Turn
Kelly went in to check on Sam again. He had a terrible night, coughing and wheezing almost constantly. The little guy had been sick before, but never quite like this. The labored breathing was really worrying her. Rapid short breaths; his lungs were likely filling with fluid, the onset of pneumonia. In the days of hospitals and immediate medical care this would have been easily taken care of, but now it could be a death sentence and she knew it.
Sam laid propped up on a set of pillows in the tiny bedroom. His face was pale and lips were beginning to blue from lack of oxygen in his blood. When he saw his mom enter he started coughing. His cough had gotten much worse just in the last half day. The greenish mucus he hacked up had no end. With his symptoms getting worse and worse she knew he needed antibiotics and breathing treatments with a nebulizer. His violent coughing continued as his lungs tried desperately to clear themselves.
“We’re going to get you some help honey.” Kelly said while rubbing her hand through his hair.
She headed back into the kitchen area and started digging through the cupboards. On the table sat her bug-out bag, full of everything she would need to survive a couple days. Next to it sat her hunting rifle and a box of ammo.
After adding several final items to the backpack she stood thinking of how to get the equipment and Sam down the mountain. The map Hannah drew showed the compound was a good thirty miles away, too far to walk with a sick kid. Under a tarp out back was an old snowmobile that Tom had parked in the fall. The engine ran before parking it, but that was months ago.
Cold wind smacked her in the face as she made her way out the front door. It blew in the hopeful smell of spring, yet its bite remained harsh and painful. She made her way past a long stack of split wood. The snow on top still towered over her head. Spring isn’t coming soon enough, she thought to herself.
Just beyond the firewood stood a massive mound of snow, hiding the buried snowmobile. With a shovel and a mom’s determination she began chipping away at the mountain. The snow was a layered mix of powder and rock solid ice. After an hour of digging she had her coat and stocking cap off, sweat dripping from her face, nearly there.
Enough of the tarp was revealed that she set her shovel to the side and began pulling on the corners to shift the remaining snow off to the sides. With a final heave she got the tarp up and over the handlebars. In front of her sat a 1970s yellow snowmobile with a torn and cracked vinyl seat. If it had ever seen better days, they were a long time ago.
It took nearly an hour of pulling, praying, and kicking, but finally she gave the pull handle a swift tug and the engine rumbled to life. A thick white and black cloud of exhaust poured out, the engine sputtered several times, and then caught, issuing a steady purr. The gas tank was full, so she left it running and headed back inside to get final preparations in order.
******
Tom climbed over the mass of bodies that lay at the bottom of the stairwell. He could just see Hannah ahead of him, making the turn half way up the stairs. Everything had turned eerily quiet. The attackers noticed their targets’ retreat, and stopped shooting.
Tom hesitated at the stairs’ entrance. He glanced back to the rec room and stood listening. White sheetrock dust floated in the air, obscuring the view out the front. The sounds of voices and boots could be heard from above. He focused, tuning out the noises of his own group. Voices…he was almost sure he could hear voices; more than one, but difficult to tell anything more than that.
When he could hear nothing more, Tom turned and made his way up the stairs. At the top, the others huddled in a small group partway down the hall.
“They’re using the infected.” Hannah said.
“No way, that’s crazy.” Axel responded.
“Crazy…it’s not crazy. You saw what happened. And I guarantee the ones after you last night were released as well.”
> Tom stepped up to the group. “Hannah’s right. We know there are no breaches in the fence other than the small one we made. We watched the base for a long time before coming in and there were no infected meandering around.” He looked back to the stairs and then back to the group. “These were contained and released.”
The group stood in silence, letting the words sink in. It was unimaginable that someone would ever want to keep these things contained, let alone try to use them as a weapon. They all had the same question in their minds – why would anyone keep them alive…in the middle of nowhere?
“We will find the answers, but for now we need a plan. Right now they have the advantage and we need to change things…turn the tables on them.” Tom said.
“What do you propose?” Hannah asked.
“I was hoping you or Hank would have some thoughts.” Tom said while looking over at Hank. When both Hank and Hannah shrugged their shoulders and said nothing, he added, “So far they have set the stage, initiated things, let’s change that. They know the buildings, the layout, but if we can keep them from knowing our location, we can use that.”
Hannah nodded in agreement. “This building is big… make ‘em work to find us.”
“That’s right, and hopefully gather some intel…go after them.” Tom said.
“Where do we start boss?” Hank asked.
“First off, we need to split into groups.” Tom answered.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? We are stronger as a group.” Hannah said.
Tom nodded his head. “We are, but by dividing, if one group engages the ghosts, then the others can maneuver and attack unseen…at an advantage.”
Hank nodded his head. “There aren’t many of ‘em.”
“And how would you know that Sherlock?” Axel said.
“Other than a couple tours in Vietnam and a sensitive gut?” Hank said. When Axel said nothing he went on, “If there were a bunch they would have pressed things early on and why bother with the dangers of using infected. If they had a numbers advantage we would already be dead.”
Hannah nodded her head in agreement. “How do we split up?”
“We make three groups.” Tom said. He looked at Axel. “You and April find a location up here…maybe the empty office. Hunker down, keep your senses high, and defend the room if anyone tries to enter. If there are shots the rest of us will come help…just buy time.” Tom then looked over at Hank. “Any issue going it alone?”
Hank shook his head. “No sir, I can be a bucket kickin’ fly on the wall.”
“That leaves me and you.” Tom said while pointing to Hannah. “We can work together, keep moving, and stay out of sight.”
She nodded her head in agreement.
“Okay then, let’s do this. Everyone remember, if you make contact, help will be on the way. Defend, retreat, whatever it takes. Buy time.”
“How do I know you aren’t going to just ditch us?” Axel said.
“You don’t.” He said with a shrug. “We’re in this together. That’s the only assurance I’ve got for you.”
“Fair enough.”
Hank lifted his rifle. “I’m movin’ out. Gonna see if I can get higher.”
Tom liked the idea of having Hank at the top of the building, looking down on the base like an angel of death. “Sounds good.” Tom stood watching him make his way down the hall. The old timer was surprisingly light on his feet. He was constantly surprised by his uncanny ability to adapt and evolve with every situation. Hank slowly faded into the grey darkness as he moved further down the long hall.
“Okay, where do you want to hole up?” Tom asked while looking at Axel.
He looked around nervously. “I guess the room there, without the dead guy.” Axel grumbled while nodding to the half open door near the stairs.
Hannah had her backpack off and began digging through the contents. After a few moments she had a couple full mags in her hands that she slipped into a pair of pouches on her vest. She popped the magazine out of her AR15, hefted it a couple times, and then shoved it back into the mag well with a stiff slap. “Where we headed?” She asked looking at Tom.
“Let’s move back down. Work our way further back in. The infected came from somewhere back there…somebody let them loose.”
“You sure know how to treat a lady.” Hannah said with a grin.
“You’re crazy.”
“I know.” She said while throwing her backpack on her shoulders.
Tom led the way down the stairs, creeping as slowly and quietly as possible. At the bottom, he carefully leaned his head out into the hall, peeking in both directions. Everything was still. Bodies remained piled in clusters along the hall. He could see part of Bear’s hand just in view by the rec room couch. Most of the dust in the air had settled, but the better visibility revealed nothing more than empty white snow and the edge of an outbuilding. In the other direction stood the dark, gaping entrance between the propped open double doors.
After hesitating for several minutes, listening and watching, Tom slowly moved out into the hall, staying tight to the wall. He eyed the infected bodies with trepidation as he carefully stepped between arms and legs to keep moving. All of them lay face down. Some of their lifeless eyes were turned in his direction, their cold black orbs peering at his feet. His mind pictured them suddenly moving, locking on him, and then reaching for his legs. He shook the thoughts away, knowing it was paranoia. Hannah began nudging him from behind, pulling him from his macabre thoughts.
“Out of the hall.” She whispered from behind.
Tom couldn’t’ argue with that, he very badly wanted out of this hall. It was as he neared the double doors that he realized all of the infected wore civilian clothing. Whether they were at the base after the infection hit or the military picked them up somewhere he didn’t’ know. There were quite a few, so it seemed more likely they were gathered. The thought made him shudder.
As they moved beyond the double doors the floor was clear of bodies. The large room was dark, lit only by soft light spilling in from shuttered windows along the walls. Tables and benches dotted the lunch room. Likely once in nice, neat rows, they were now scattered in haphazard heaps.
Tom led them over to one of the tipped over tables, and they both hunched down next to it. He used the break to both listen for anything unusual and give his eyes some time to adjust to the darkness.
“Hear that?” Hannah whispered.
Tom sat still, trying to focus and pick up on anything. He thought he could hear a faint hum, but maybe it was just ringing in his head. “Not sure.” He whispered.
She didn’t answer for a bit. “Gone now. Motor or fan or something.”
Tom wasn’t sure there was anything. Dark creepy buildings created a lot of noises. Not wanting to take things to fast, he remained in place and carefully scanned the large cafeteria. At the far end of the room stood another set of double doors. Along one of the side walls stretched a long lunch counter with a kitchen tucked in the gloom.
“Let’s move to the kitchen…check it out.” Tom whispered.
“You move, I’ll cover, then you cover.”
Tom nodded his head and turned for the kitchen. He stayed low and covered the space slowly and quietly. Bits of food dotted the floor. Small bugs scattered as Tom’s boots hit close to the mini-buffets. As he neared the kitchen entrance he dropped to a knee under the serving counter and scanned the room. Nothing. He signaled to Hannah and began watching the doors.
She moved in a low crouch across the short span and hunched down next to Tom. “All clear.”
“Let’s sweep the kitchen and then hunch down back here.” Tom said while pointing a thumb over his shoulder. “See if we can wait ‘em out.”
Hannah stood with her rifle raised. Tom kept an eye on the doors while she spun around the counter and entered the kitchen area. After a few seconds he followed through the narrow opening. Despite the dimly lit kitchen, he was still able to see Hannah’s shadowed form working its way
between an open cooking grill and a giant stainless refrigerator with its door cracked open. She moved right, circling what appeared to be a giant central island of storage and food preparation equipment.
Tom decided to continue straight and meet her on the other side. Sinks, drying racks, and dishes lined the sides of a small space lit by a windowed door on the far side. As he approached the door, Hannah stepped into view at the other end. She had her rifle tight to her shoulder and scanned over until she caught sight of Tom.
“Clear.” She whispered.
Tom nodded and moved toward the door. When Hannah started toward it as well he whispered, “Hold up.” She hesitated several feet back from the door. “If anyone’s out there they’ll spot movement inside. Help me over here.” He said pointing to a large prep table.
The two of them used one corner of the heavy table to block the edge of the door, keeping it from being able to swing inward.
“I like it.” She whispered.
“Yeah, me too. Let’s move out front and hunker down.”
The two of them worked back to the serving area of the kitchen. Tom dropped down into a cubby next to the entrance where he had a good sight line of the cafeteria main doors. Hannah used a large ice maker as cover and positioned herself to have an open view of the hall entrance they had come through. Come get some, Tom thought to himself.
******
After splitting off from the others, Hank moved silently down the long hall, ignoring the doors on the sides. To go through each room would take much too long and he figured if anyone capable was inside, they would have come out during the shooting. He passed several sets of doors before arriving at an intersection where the hall continued forward and split off to the right. Light spilled in at the far end, drawing Hank down the side hall.
The Demented Z (Book 3): Contagion Page 7