Hounded | Book 3 | Hounded 3

by Douglas, Ellie

  Joanna gave up the fight. She didn’t want to die that way. She grabbed a nearby thick sharp stick and jammed it into the side of her throat. She felt her heart race. Her lungs tried to pull in air and her ears popped. She continued to push the stick in deeply as pure adrenaline kept her from passing out from the horrendous pain. Blood gushed out as she hit her jugular vein. It showered the dog, making it feverishly ravage the rest of her body.

  She was dead within seconds, freeing herself from any more pain.

  In a panic, Caden and Rubern backed up toward the bear. Rubern accidently tripped on a fallen branch. One of the Chinook dogs leapt on his fallen body, engulfing him in a barrage of horrific bites. Sinking its teeth savagely into Rubern’s back, it peeled his tee-shirt off in seconds, tossing it aside before burrowing its head into Rubern’s spine.

  With frenzied, brutal velocity, the dog tore out parts of his vertebrae and spat them to the other dog while gaining access to his spinal cord. Carving and schlepping with the force of a wild hippo, the dog was able to pull most of his spine out. Rubern’s neck bones shattered through his skin, splitting it wide open as the cord was dragged out. With it came veins and arteries exploding like water balloons, massive squirts of crimson fluid shooting into the air and splashing the dog and forest floor.

  Parts of Rubern’s brain stem and brain matter, mixed with his dissected skin, were attached to the end of the spine. Shards of bone stuck out the top of his spinal cord, along with soft nervous tissue that both dogs fought over. Pulling in opposite directions, they caused it to snap.

  Caden watched in horror as the zombie dogs feasted on the cord. Then both of them simultaneously buried their heads inside the gaping hole in Rubern’s back. The rest of his spine was ripped right out. Again, the dogs fought over it, rupturing it into pieces and sending the remaining vertebrae flying in the air. As they landed, the dogs snatched at the pieces like vacuum cleaners, sucking out the juicy warm marrow and crunching down on the vertebrae like candied dog treats. Rubern’s remains looked like he’d been through a tree-mulching machine.

  It wasn’t long before hungry birds swooped in for the remains. A stubble of Rubern’s hair prickled up from the drenched forest floor like a toadstool covered in moss. Caden backed up. With the threat of the bear, the dogs, and nowhere to run, he backed himself right into a tree. His eyes grew as large and wide as stones, every part of his body shaking. All he could do was scream out, hoping someone would hear and save him.

  Without warning, Caden’s body was slammed to the ground. At first, he thought it was more zombie dogs, until he felt the massive weight and his eyes caught the dark black fur. Then the giant claws sank right into his chest, tearing it open like a boiled chicken. Unable to move or scream, because he was going into shock, his body thrashed the earth beneath him as though he was caught in the auger of a boring machine.

  The bear bit down and removed his nose, lips and one eye all in one hurried insane move before moving down Caden’s body. It ripped his arm off while pinning him to the ground with its powerful paws. Blood spouted in the air in a theatrical arch, splattering the bear, Caden, and the ground. It wasn’t long before the zombie dogs began gnawing on the bear’s back legs, tearing away fur and flesh and ripping into them in rabid frenzy.

  The bear turned speedily and swiped the dogs away with such force that they landed a good five feet from the bear. Unstoppable, though, the zombie dogs returned, pouncing on the bear and sinking their decaying jaws into the side of her. The bear retaliated by picking one of the dogs up, shaking it side-to-side like a rag doll, and then crunching down on it so hard that its ribs snapped, popped outward, and protruded through its decaying skin. Its body was almost cut in half, yet still it bit and charged at the bear, trying to gain purchase on it. The other dog grabbed a sizeable chunk of furry flesh from the wounded side of the bear. She grunted harshly before swiping her humongous claws at the dog. She sent it reeling backward, but still it didn’t stop.

  Only a couple of minutes passed, and it was back up biting again. The bear had Caden’s head in her mouth. As the dog bit down on its hind leg, the bear snapped her muzzle closed so fast over Caden’s head that it crushed it like a tin can. Caden’s remaining eye socket exploded outward. His cheeks puffed, then split wide open, his teeth fell out, and his mouth filled with his own brain matter.

  The bear dropped Caden’s head swiftly. She swung around to meet the dogs face-to-face. Like the release of pressure in a boiler, she growled ferociously, grabbing one of the dogs in the face and tearing and splitting it into three pieces. Its dead brain spewed out the sides, like draining spaghetti in a colander.

  The other dog leapt onto her back, biting between the shoulder blades. The bear rose up, standing on her hind legs and bellowed and thrashed from side to side in a feeble attempt to rid herself of the putrid, decaying zombie dog. The bear took off with the dog on her back, running into the forest and slamming her body into trees, trying to shake the dog off.

  The zombie dog kept biting down, tearing her furry flesh into what looked like shredded buckwheat. Blood oozed out the back of the bear, turning the dog into a crazed, ravenous, demonic undead thing. The bear suddenly stopped moving. She purposefully fell backward, crushing the dog so unexpectedly that it couldn’t move and couldn’t bite her.

  A few moments passed and the bear thought she was safe. Getting up with a loud snorting sound, she inhaled and exhaled in a number of rapid successions. The dog shook his head as if to rid itself of a dizzy spell. Without warning, it charged at the bear again. This time the bear caught it with a powerful swipe, sending the dog into a tree. Taking her chance, the bear ran off, leaving the dog stunned momentarily before it gave chase.

  CHAPTER 22

  SPRINGFIELD

  Parts of the town had almost completely burned to the ground. Smoldering embers littered the streets, as did graffiti, body parts, and dead animals. Zombies milled around like livestock amongst the dead.

  “Not much different from when we traveled through before,” Calloway told Bellamy as he sat next to him on the bus.

  “Really, it was this bad back then?”

  “Yeah, except now it has human zombies!”

  People were stirring, eager to stretch. Bellamy looked around for a good spot to park the bus and let everyone off. As he drove through the town, the debris and bodies and blood flowing like little rivers astounded him. The smell was so deathly, it attached to their clothing and skin.

  He parked outside a diner with good sight lines on both sides. Front and behind, he’d see them coming before they saw him. Everyone got off and waited for Bellamy and others to search the diner.

  He came back out to give them the go-ahead. Everyone piled inside. After grabbing a booth, some jokingly called over invisible waiters, demanding to order off the menu.

  Millie fed Hope and put her into a new bassinet that Nakos had found for her. He also found some new clothing and diapers. They’d begun a good collection of items. The bus compartments were loaded with supplies.

  “Nakos, where’s Ankti?” Lily asked him while she ate a can of beans.

  “She wasn’t feeling well enough to get off the bus, Lily, and I have to say I’m worried about her.”

  “What did Leo say?”

  “He said it might be the flu or something bacterial, but he wasn’t sure and said to wait it out.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Millie said as she dug into a can of corn.

  “Do you want me to check on her while you eat?” Lily asked.

  “If you don’t mind, yes, that would be lovely of you. Thank you, Lily.”

  Lily got Bellamy and together they walked out of the diner. The sun was starting to set, giving off a pink=orange glow so radiant it reminded Lily of pictures she had seen of African savannas.

  Bellamy waited on the pavement as lookout while Lily went on board the bus. A few moments later, she stood on the middle step watching the sun disappear behind the forest trees, setting them aglow wit
h magnificent hues. Mesmerized by it, she didn’t notice Bellamy watching her.

  He was immersed in her as much as she was with the sunset. Taking her hand, he led her toward the diner. Before opening the door, he whirled her around and kissed her firmly. Her whole body felt alive, hot, and electric. She allowed him to sweep her off her feet.

  Kissing him back, her tongue danced with his. Their bodies pressed up against the door. A swoon of voices could be heard cheering. When they looked up, they saw they were giving the community a show. With flushed faces, they entered the diner and took their seat in a booth.

  They both wished to be anywhere but there. Sitting opposite one another, they played footsies under the table. While holding hands across the table, all they could do was stare at one another.

  “So, is Ankti okay?” Nakos interrupted them, breaking their love spell for a few seconds. A dreamy look filled Lily’s face as she looked up at Nakos and nodded. “She’s fine, Nakos. She was sleeping, so I didn’t wake her.”

  Nakos took his seat with Millie and Hope. He was eager to get back on the road, but he was also happy to wait for everyone to finish their meals.

  “I wish I was like Lily,” Millie whispered into Nakos’s ear.

  “Why?”

  “She’s lost so much, yet she’s strong enough to move forward. I don’t know how she does it. That’s what I want to do, and yet I’m struggling with all this. I’m so worried for our baby daughter, and I wonder, what kind of a future is this?” She let a tear roll down her cheek, Nakos leaned in, wiped it away, and cradled her, talking softly in her ear.

  Half an hour had passed and people were starting to finish up. The bathroom had been utilized, and people were beginning to be ready for the road again.

  Nakos was putting Hope back into the bassinet when he and the others heard a scream. Millie took the bassinet and Nakos rushed to the bus, followed closely by Harry, Calloway, Bellamy, and Oliver.

  Two zombie dogs were pacing up the bus’ center aisle. Ankti was screaming bloody murder and trying to escape from the dogs, and they acted as if she wasn’t there. With the amount of noise she made, it shocked them that she wasn’t already being chewed and eaten.

  Nakos purposefully made a noise at the front of the bus, causing the zombie dogs to turn, their no-eyes glaring at him. With purpose, they went toward the noise. All the while, Ankti still screamed so loudly that she could have been heard across town.

  Once the dogs were close enough, Nakos stabbed one through the neck into the base of its skull, spilling thick black blood, while Harry took out the other one.

  With the dog’s bodies removed and dumped on the road, Nakos ran to Ankti. He needed to get her calm so she wouldn’t attract more dogs. He wrapped his arm around her and rocked her back and forth, telling her she’d be okay. The rest of the community got back into their seats. They were all terrified.

  Bellamy carried on driving, following Oliver’s car. When they’d cleared out of town and were back on the road heading toward Hartford, he started questioning, first Lily and Calloway, and then some of the others.

  “How was it possible that Ankti wasn’t being attacked?”

  “Maybe they don’t go after the sick,” Calloway gave as a suggestion, looking just as stumped as the others.

  “Perhaps. It’d be damn nice if we knew exactly what we’re dealing with,” Bellamy said as he focused on the road ahead, avoiding abandoned cars and others that had crashed. So much carnage! He was sure he’d never get over what his eyes continued to see.

  No one had a clue as to why the dogs had left Ankti alone. The confusion it caused sent shivers down Lily’s spine, and her thoughts filled with different scenarios. She was no scientist, but she had a terrible gut feeling that it was a sign of something wrong. As a result of her mind spinning endless loops of ideas, she’d keep a close eye on Ankti.

  Before they got to Hartford, they made a stop for gas in Windsor Locks, another city that was just as riddled with the dead as the previous one. Since the outbreak, a little over five and a half months ago, things had gotten progressively worse.

  Oliver and Bellamy filled up the tanks. Ethan stood on lookout, unable to concentrate on any task. He couldn’t stop thinking about Abe and Stanley. He knew the blonde-haired maniac would have gunned them down, and it distressed him.

  Ethan was worried for those who’d taken off on foot, especially Milo. With his autism, his inability to be quiet would certainly draw attention to them, if the group members hadn’t already left Milo and his mother behind.

  So much loss struck Ethan hard. With all the power out, and little more than a half-moon offering some light, he caught a glimpse of one bright star. It shimmered and sparkled as if speaking to him. Thoughts of his wife washed over him. As the tears welled up, he looked to his left and then felt the warmth of a hand caressing his arm.

  “Thought you could do with some company. Besides, dude, I needed a fix,” Shadow said as she lit up.

  “I don’t mind. Truth is, I’m glad you’re here.”

  Shadow didn’t know how to deal with much of anything, relying heavily on her weed to drown out her worries. She offered him a drag, but he declined with a smile.

  “Suit yourself. This stuff is genuine gold, it peels away those dark places,” she said between long drags. Ethan watched as she finished the joint, and then his eyes traveled back to the sky in search of that lone twinkling star.

  Ethan looked down when he heard Bellamy whistle, and walked over toward him with Shadow following.

  “Feel up to driving some?” Bellamy asked.

  “Sure thing, it’s just what the doc ordered,” Ethan said with a grim smile. Shadow slapped him across the shoulders.

  “Dude, stop stressing. It is what it is. It’s not like we can change shit, so pull that sour face off, man, and bring back a smile, or I’ll just keep on hitting you. Now where does one find some munchies?”

  Shadow slapped Ethan across the shoulders a second time and chuffed her way inside the bus. She lingered by the driver’s seat until Ethan got it adjusted to his frame and they’d started back on the road again. Then she plonked herself heavily into the passenger seat next to him, making idle chatter. He was grateful for the mindless chitchat. It worked at taking his mind off things.

  With Oliver navigating out in front, the way was fairly clear of roadblocks. They were making good time, thought Ethan. Just after four a.m. they arrived at a town called Windsor. He decided he’d park the bus and get out to stretch his legs, so he drove slower looking for an open area. He found one between the US Post Office and a pharmacy. Julie and Timothy, the only two awake, were wondering why they’d stopped.

  “Wake the doc up, Julie,” Ethan said as he scoped the surroundings outside.

  Leo woke and joined Ethan at the front of the bus.

  “There ya go, Doc,” Ethan said so matter-of-factly that Leo took a moment to register what it was Ethan was offering him.

  “Have you cleared it out?”

  “Nope, thought we could do it together.” Ethan winked as he spoke with the doc.

  “No thanks. My expertise as a doctor is needed. If I’m dead or injured, I can’t help anyone else. Best you get someone else to assist you, and then come get me.” Leo brushed past him and got back into the bus. Watching from the window, he slapped his forehead when he saw Ethan go in on his own. “Damn fool,” he mumbled before waking Harry.

  “Hey, sunshine, you’d best go on in there. Ethan is on a suicide mission.” Leo pointed to the CVS pharmacy. Harry looked up dazed and confused.

  “What’d you say?” Harry asked groggily, while rubbing sleep from the corner of one eye.

  “Ethan has gone into that store to clear it of possible zombies.” Leo pointed out the window. Just as they both looked toward the store, a zombie dog came crashing through the window, getting back up and jumping through the very window it had come careening out of.

  Harry, wasting no time, leapt out of his seat and took off i
nto the store. Flashes of lights could be seen from where Leo watched. He held his breath and waited. By now, Bellamy and most of the others were awake. Leo had been calling out, unaware that he was.

  “What’s the matter, Leo?” Nakos asked over the others.

  “Ethan went in that store. I woke Harry to help him, but I think I was too late.” He gasped as he spoke, with a shaking finger, pointing to the store window that was now in pieces on the pavement.

  Bellamy, Calloway, and Nakos raced inside. Another glow of light flashed as their guns went off. Moments later, another zombie dog hit the pavement, coming through the shattered window.

  “How is it that there are dogs in there?” Julie asked. Shocked and confused, she held onto Timothy’s hand so tightly it turned red.

  “Don’t know, Mom. Maybe someone trapped them in there and ran out?”

  “You could be right, son,” she said, pressing her face harder against the glass. She watched and waited like the others, their faces all filled with horror and fear. Some began to cry. Some begged God for it to all stop, and some just remained silent.

  Liam sat with Hazel, his hand resting on her seven-and-a-half-month pregnant belly. They both had been super quiet since Keith had stayed back to help Abe and Stanley.

  Keith’s girlfriend, Joanna, had grown so impatient that she’d left on foot with the others. They knew she was only doing it to leave the group and make her way back to Sunset Valley to rescue Keith.

  All this created a domino effect on Liam. His only concern now was seeing that Hazel made it through alive, that their baby made it, and that they found a home somewhere safe. Therefore, he stuck like glue to her side, never leaving.

  Hope started to cry and Millie swiftly scooped her up, swaddling her. She wasn’t due to be fed for another hour. Millie wasn’t sure why she was fussing so much. Knowing her husband was inside a store filled with zombie dogs caused her to become panicked.

  She had to rein it in as others turned to her with sharp eyes and a silent command to keep the baby quiet written on their faces. She began feeding her, which seemed to work at keeping her quiet, and the group’s eyes diverted once more to the store.