He looked around and realized he held their full attention. He imagined what it must be like for them, learning the full horror of it for the first time, and he wondered how much they already knew from the news. No one spoke, so he continued.
“You’ll have to learn these rules quickly or you’ll die. Be prepared at all times. I don’t care how safe you think you are. You never know what can happen. Stay quiet and make yourself as inconspicuous as possible at all times. Aim for the head and conserve ammo. Ammunition is in limited supply. You don’t want to waste a bunch of shots if you can’t drop your target. Close-range weapons are your friends. They allow you to take out zombies without wasting ammo or drawing more with loud gunshots. This works great with small groups of them or individuals in open spaces where you can see them coming. And finally, don’t trust strangers. Even though zombies are bad, they’re not nearly the worst. The worst part is the people. They’re far more dangerous.”
Before he could continue, someone spoke up in the crowd. “What do you mean ‘the people’?”
“I mean everyone else out there. That’s why we did what we did when we first met you. There are people out there that are . . .” he paused, struggling for the word, “. . . evil. They have no regard for human life and some even enjoy killing. I lost both my parents to a gang that used human blood to paint Xs on their clothing. The people are the worst. I’ll say it again: don’t trust anyone.”
Everyone was silent after that.
“Okay, now that we know what to expect . . .” Peter’s voice trailed off as Emmett and the group returned, carrying axes, scythes, shovels, pitch forks and other tools. Emmett dropped them on the ground in front of the crowd. Connor did the same.
“Arm yourselves,” Emmett said. “And if you’re caught without a weapon, find something to use or you’ll die.” He walked over to his truck and pulled it in front of the buses next to the road. This would allow him to escape quickly if zombies or people attacked during the night.
“Has anyone been bitten? What about the kids?” James asked, looking around the crowd. As a whole they looked relatively clean and uninjured.
Most people shook their heads and Peter spoke up. “I think we’re good.”
“We should check, just to be sure,” James said, “This isn’t something you want to take a chance with.”
“You ain’t checkin’ us fer nuthin’!” Randy yelled from the crowd.
“Do you even understand what could happen here?” James asked. “If even one of you is bitten, it could spread to all of you!”
They didn’t listen. Randy had stirred up the crowd and most of them decided it would be going too far.
“Fine, figure out who’s getting the houses and who’s staying in the buses,” James said. “Then I’ll come back and escort you.”
Walking to his truck, he saw that Connor was putting Squeezer in the cage. He placed the lid on top and turned around to look at James.
“Nice having a pet, isn’t it?” James asked, walking around to the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, although it’s still weird,” Connor said, climbing into the passenger seat.
“But we’ve always been weird, brother.”
“That is true.”
James pulled his truck around next to Emmett’s and walked back to the crowd with Connor at his side.
“You figure it out?” James asked Peter.
“Yeah. Those groups are going to the long building,” Peter said, indicating a group of about fifty kids and twenty-five adults.
Man, they’re really going to shove ‘em in there.
“Follow me,” Connor said, leading the people away to the post office apartment building.
“These two groups will take the other two houses,” Peter said, indicating a cluster of thirty adults and children.
“What about them?” James asked, nodding toward the last group of people. While the rest of the crowd was filtering back to the buses, the group of three adults and fifteen kids stayed behind.
“They . . . want to sleep in the house over there,” Peter said, pointing to the closest house with the broken glass door.
“That would be a horrible idea,” James said. “Both of the bigger houses have dead in them.”
“But you said you cleared them out,” one of the women said.
“Yes, but that one has a sliding glass door that’s broken, meaning anything could get in—rather easily, in fact. And the other has over two dozen bodies in the basement.”
The other woman and man blanched, and the kids looked like they might start crying or run away—the ones that weren’t currently asleep on their feet.
“So the house with the ones in the basement is more secure?” the lead woman asked.
“Did you not hear anything I just—”
“I know, I know,” she said in a scolding teacher’s voice. “It’s not safe. But it’s better than sleeping in a school bus.”
Not if you’re dead, he wanted to say but held himself back. He could tell that this elderly woman with her dark hair, stern features, and expensive clothing would not be persuaded.
“Then by all means, but leave the kids,” James said.
“These are my students and, as such, are my responsibility,” she said. “They go with me.”
“But Sandy—” the other woman began. This woman was middle aged, with short brunette hair, homely features, and a round frame.
“They go with me. End of discussion, Margaret,” Sandy said.
James wanted to punch her in the face and tell her how irresponsible she was being, but he held himself in check again. Though he knew this was an ignorant move, he also knew he was not in command of these people. They had to make their own choices and live with them. The house had technically been cleared, and it would probably be safe.
“Fine, but we’re leaving, now,” James said, irritated. In the end, nowhere was truly safe—not even the buses.
Connor approached him. “They’re all settled in, locked and barricaded. I told them not to open the door unless they know it’s one of us,” he said.
“Good, take that group of ten to the house on the east side,” James said. “I’m taking the other group to the small house and her group to the big house.”
Connor looked at Sandy. James could tell he thought she was being just as foolish as he did. “Okay. Let’s go kids.”
The small group of two adults and eight kids left with his brother. James took the group of twenty to the small house and had them lock and barricade the doors. Then he took Sandy, the man, and fifteen kids to the big house. Margaret had wisely chosen to stay in a bus. He led them through the front door and took them to the bedrooms.
“These rooms are clear,” James said. “Lock the doors and don’t open them till we come to get you.”
“Yeah, okay,” Sandy said, taking the kids into the master bedroom.
Checking the back door to make sure it was locked, he moved toward the front of the house, realizing as he went that he couldn’t force everyone to do what he wanted. He walked down and checked the basement, avoiding looking at the far corner, and made sure nothing was moving. Satisfied that everything was dead, he shut, locked, and barricaded the door. He left the house, locking the front door on his way out. He noticed Peter still standing there as he walked back to the buses.
“Everyone situated?” Peter asked as he walked up.
“Yeah. How many are we anyway?” James asked.
“A hundred and fifteen, well fourteen,” Peter said.
“Why were there so many kids at the school?” James asked. “The outbreak happened on a Saturday in June.”
“Vacation Bible School,” Peter said.
“Ah, that makes sense. What about all the parents?”
“A lot of them use that weekend each year to do things without the kids at home. I know quite a few went into Cheyenne. They never came back. A few of the parents are here, the ones who stayed in Burns, but still, some never came after we got the announ
cement to stay indoors.”
“You were there all weekend and half the week?”
“We were told help would come and not to leave for any reason. Earlier tonight was the first time we left to get some supplies from the high school.”
“Wow, no wonder you have no idea what’s going on.”
Peter nodded and yawned.
“Tomorrow, we’ll tell the kids enough to keep them safe,” Peter said. “And, James, I don’t think we can thank your group enough. You all saved a lot of lives today.”
Peter stuck out his hand and James shook it. “Don’t thank us yet. We aren’t even close to safe.”
“But we survived another day, and I’m beginning to realize how precious one more day can be.”
“That’s very true. Night, Peter.”
“Goodnight, James.”
James walked past the buses and Olive came out to meet him. “Can I sleep in your truck?” she asked sweetly.
“Of course, but did you check with Mila?” James asked.
“She said to ask you. Please?” She gave him her puppy-dog eyes. His heart melted.
“Sure, let’s go.”
“Yay!”
James looked in the bus window and saw Mila smiling at him and Olive. He nodded at her. She gave him a flirtatious wave, her smile growing. Suddenly aware of the suggestive twinkle in her eyes, he hurried off with Olive in tow. His brother was waiting for him at his truck.
“Well, that was quite a day,” James said as he climbed into the driver’s seat after moving the snake cage so Olive could lie down.
“Yeah,” Connor said, leaning his seat back.
“What’s in here?” Olive asked, looking at the cage.
“A ball python,” Connor said.
“His name’s Squeezer,” James said.
“I love snakes!” she said, squealing with glee. “Can I hold him?”
“Not tonight,” James said. “But you can tomorrow.”
“Okay!”
“Goodnight, Olive,” James said.
“Goodnight, James. Goodnight . . . what’s your name?”
“Connor.”
“Goodnight, Connor.”
“Night.”
James settled in, wondering where Tank was. He should’ve made it to the Montana border where they would be stopped for the night. Would he be angry that they were showing up late because they helped these people? Probably, but James knew that if it came right down to it, Tank would’ve done the same. While he may put on an angry, gruff façade, he was really a genuinely caring person underneath all the sarcasm. James smiled, thinking of his best friend. It would be great to meet up with him tomorrow morning and have the Pack back together. Then they would be able to continue their way north and finally get to Alaska.
He glanced back, watching as Olive slept, using a couple of their coats for a pillow. Just looking at her made his heart feel full. He didn’t know what would happen to them in the coming days or how many would actually survive, but he was glad they’d crossed paths with these people—especially little Olive.
“We saved a lot of lives today,” James whispered to his brother, leaning back and closing his eyes.
“We’ll see how long they last,” Connor responded.
With that cheery thought, James drifted off to sleep.
6
Regime Change
Post-outbreak day six
The morning brought with it screams of the dying.
James bolted upright, not sure if what he’d heard was a dream or reality. He looked out the window at the dawn light of an early summer morning. Fog blanketed the ground to the south of town where the small creek lay. The sun had just begun to peek over the barren hills in front of him. It was still chilly in the truck as the night released its hold, but it’d warm up quickly once the day began. He was about to rest his head back when he noticed his brother’s eyes were open.
“Did you hear that?” James asked.
“I’m not—”
There it was again—a bone-piercing scream coming from the northeast.
“The big house!” James said, already grabbing his AR next to him. He quickly glanced back to see Olive still sleeping as he jumped out of the truck.
Running with all his speed, his brother right behind him, they arrived at the house to see the front door open. Emmett stood inside, M4 in his hands, looking down the hallway. Standing in the middle of the hall was the woman, Sandy, but she was no longer human. Fresh blood dripped from its fingers and covered its face. A small body lay on the floor at its feet. The brothers pulled up next to Emmett as the zombie started toward them. James raised his AR, but Emmett beat him to it as the creature’s head jerked back with the sound of a suppressed gunshot. It fell to the ground, blood pooling from the hole in its head.
“What happened?” James asked.
“Not sure. Got here only a few seconds before you,” Emmett said.
“Well, let’s check it out,” James said.
Emmett took the lead and the brothers followed. They arrived at the master bedroom. The door looked like it had been broken down. Fragments of it lay in the hall. Inside, blood covered everything—the floor, the beds and walls. Bodies—small bodies—were half-eaten and littered around the room. James couldn’t help it this time. Bending down, he retched up the content of his stomach, which was only bile.
“That damn woman,” James growled, spitting and wiping his mouth.
A sound down the hall made all three turn in a split second. Lumbering toward them was the man who’d come with Sandy, or at least what had once been a man. Now, he was just another zombie. James took aim and shot it. He noticed movement in the bottom of his scope and aimed lower. Out of the far room shambled the smallest zombie he’d ever seen.
No! Not one of the—I can’t think like that. It’s a zombie, plain and simple.
His brother made the choice for him by taking down the zombie. Another small zombie staggered around the corner and James sighted on it. Mercifully, he put a bullet in its head, ending the creature’s miserable existence. Two more followed. They soon joined the others on the floor. James lowered his AR, a tear slipping down his cheek.
“I shouldn’t have let them stay here,” he whispered.
“There was nothing you could’ve done,” Emmett said. “Just because we helped them doesn’t mean we’re responsible for them.”
“Yes, but if I’d only—”
“Done what?” Emmett asked. “Forced them to stay in the buses?”
James started to speak but stopped. Emmett was right, but he still wished he’d done more.
When he didn’t speak, Emmett continued, growing more intense. “I’m tired of watching you two stumble around with your emotions. I know it can be hard, but you need to get it together. You’re going to get someone killed and I can’t have you endangering my daughter. I will do what’s necessary to protect her, no matter what you did for us. I will end every threat to her life without hesitation. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” they said.
“You have to learn to deal with the emotions on your own time. Because when you step onto the battlefield, all distractions must be tucked away. You have to focus on the mission and protecting your team. Our mission is to survive. We don’t have the luxury of failing, because when we do it will cost someone their life. Remember that.” He paused. The brothers nodded. “Good, now we need to check the rooms for survivors.”
“Yes, sir,” they both said again.
Emmett led the way into the master bedroom. “Anyone in here?” he called out.
No one answered, so they began to search. James and Connor checked each body to make sure they weren’t going to come back, but most had been eaten to the point where they couldn’t. A few of them looked like they’d been dragged from under the bed and slaughtered. With each body they checked, the sorrow and anger grew within James. The room was empty of any survivors, as was the bathroom. Moving out into the hallway, they went to the far bed
room. There was only blood inside. The people who had occupied the room were now corpses resting in the hall. Emmett and Connor went into the bedroom while James walked over to check the back door. It was the same as he’d left it the night before—shut tight and locked.
Emmett and Connor came out. They all moved to the last bedroom. The door was still shut and the room was empty.
They must have just used the other two rooms.
They went back into the front roo. James walked over to the basement door. It was also still locked, just as he’d left it.
“That’s weird,” James said. “Was the front door still shut when you first got here?”
“Yes,” Emmett said. “It was locked and I had to break in.”
“The back and basement doors are just how I left them too. Were any of the windows broken in the bedrooms?” James asked.
After a brief pause, Connor answered. “No, they were all intact and closed.”
“Someone must’ve been bitten,” Emmett said.
“Probably Sandy,” James said. “She was the one staying in the master bedroom. But it took so long for her to turn.”
“Not necessarily,” Emmett said. “Most of those bodies look like they’d been there for a couple hours.”
“Why weren’t there screams earlier?” James asked.
“The kids must’ve been so scared they didn’t scream. Or they didn’t wake up. Or we didn’t hear them. The other zombies were fresh so she must’ve broken out of her room and bitten them recently. Those were the screams we heard,” Emmett said.
“So those kids were locked in the room with her all night as she fed on them one by one?” James asked, horrified.
Emmett nodded.
James shook his head. I should’ve insisted on checking everyone. All those kids, dead, because of one foolish woman’s decision. The sorrow within him waned as the anger grew. He wouldn’t let this happen again.
“You couldn’t have done anything,” Connor said, looking at him.
“Yeah, I know,” James said, clenching his teeth.
“Good,” Connor said.
His brother was right. There was nothing he could’ve done, but that didn’t change his rising anger. “Let’s go tell the others,” he said. And change the rules.
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