by Brett, Cal
“Go ahead, Major.” Windsor said. “You too, Mr. Clark. The lads and I will wrap things up out here.”
Clark gave Colors a questioning look.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Clark,” he said. “We will take care of him.”
“Very well, Color Sergeant,” the Major said finally. “Be careful and watch yourselves. We don’t want any more casualties tonight.”
“Right then,” Colors called and began organizing the work, “One Section, Two Section, gather round…”
Robbie emerged from the greenhouse and found everyone in the building’s office. Beatrice, Kelly, the Major, and Mr. Clark stood around a wooden chair where Sunshine sat holding a napkin to her forehead. The napkin was red, and a streak of blood ran down her cheek.
“What happened!?” Robbie asked. “Is everyone ok?”
“Just some splinters from the window frame man,” Sunshine said.
Mr. Clark stood beside her, dabbing the wound with a sponge dipped in alcohol. “Fortunately, it’s only a small cut. Nothing to worry about.”
“I’ve got a really hard head,” Sunshine smiled.
“I think the bleeding has stopped, now let’s get that bandaged up, eh?” Clark took the napkin and replaced it with a wide bandage. “There you are. It will be right as rain in a few days, ma’am.”
“Robbie,” Kelly turned to him, “it was the group with the red truck. I saw it as they were leaving.”
“From what the Baldwins are able to tell us, it sounds as if this group is making deeper and deeper forays into the city,” the Major said.
“But why?” Robbie asked. “Why would anyone be roaming around down here? It’s overrun with undead and most of the supplies expired ages ago.”
“You don’t know how desperate they may be,” the Major replied, “and at any rate they have discovered this place now, which is as good as a gold mine for a group of scavengers.” Turning to the Baldwins, he went on. “Ladies, I’m afraid they will be back, and most likely more prepared. You aren’t safe here and really should find alternate accommodations.”
“Fuck that man,” Sunshine spat, “I’m staying right here. They ain’t taking my farm. You can go if you want Bea, but I’m staying.”
“I’ll be staying as well,” Beatrice squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “We’re too old to go running around out there. If they come back, they can have some more of our buckshot. They won’t run us out.”
“Besides,” Sunshine said, “we gave ‘em what for tonight. They’re gonna’ think twice before they come back here.”
“Indeed,” the Major said it as a question, his face showed he wasn’t convinced. Before he could argue further the Color Sergeant walked in.
“Good evening, ladies,” Colors said to the women. “Sorry to interrupt.
“Oh, you can interrupt any time,” Sunshine smiled, “I just love those cute accents.”
“Thank you, Ma’am,” the Color Sergeant said uncertainly, before turning to the Major. “Sir, we found a few carbines and some ammunition on the raiders. What would you like to do with them?”
“Anything we can use?” the Major asked.
“Not really Sir,” Colors replied. “It’s all the wrong caliber and the rifles won’t do us any better than what we have.”
“Perhaps our hosts can use them?” the Major asked looking at Robbie and Kelly.
“I think the Baldwins will need them more than we will,” Kelly said.
“Very good,” the Major said. “Would you ladies like some rifles and ammunition? I’m afraid we can’t vouch for the quality of any of it.”
“I suppose it can’t hurt,” Bea said. You can just put them in the hallway.”
Put them in the main hall if you please, Color Sergeant,” Garrett said.
“Aye, Sir.” Colors agreed.
“You ladies look like you know your way around firearms.” The Major said with a nod to the pile of guns and ammunition the Baldwins had strewn out while defending the warehouse. “Do you need any assistance with these rifles?”
“I like my boom-stick, man,” Sunshine answered holding up a pump action shotgun. Blows the shit out of everything!”
“Thank you Major,” Beatrice said. “We were both raised on farms. I’ve been shooting coyotes and wild hogs since I could hold a gun. Sunshine there, might look like a hippie, peace freak but she can hit a deer in the eye at 200 yards. I think we can figure the rifles out.”
“Is that so?” Garrett said, impressed.
“Damn right, man!” Sunshine responded.
“Very well then.” The Major went on. “Colors, what is the situation outside?”
“I think the human threat are likely gone for the time being, but all the shooting is drawing the dead back into the area.” The Sergeant answered. “If we are going to pick up our supplies and return to the flats tonight, we need to exfil quickly.”
“That’s our cue,” the Major said turning to the Baldwins. “Ladies, I’m afraid we must be off. I do urge you to move to a different location as soon as possible.”
“We appreciate your concern, Major,” Bea said. “But we will be fine. Don’t you worry about us.”
“Color Sergeant, have you policed the area for any stragglers?” The Major asked.
“Yes Sir,” Bradley replied. “No contacts, and we were able to get the gate mostly closed. We chained it up and pushed one of the trucks in front of it. It won’t stop anyone who is really determined, but it should provide an adequate barrier to the undead wandering by. If nothing inside catches their attention.”
“Quite,” the Major nodded his appreciation. He turned back to the Baldwins. “Ladies, I suppose this is goodnight then.”
“Thanks for rescuing us damsels in distress,” Sunshine said with a wave and a hand on her bandaged forehead.
“Goodnight, gentlemen,” Bea said and shook their hands as they went. “Thanks, again.”
One by one, they stepped through the warehouse door and back onto the gravel driveway. Kelly was the last out and hugged the older ladies before she left.
“We will see you all again very soon,” she promised.
She helped the Baldwins close the big door and listened as they relocked themselves inside. Once it sounded like all the latches and bolts had been thrown, she joined the others.
“Very resilient, those two.” Clark said.
“They’ve made it this long,” Kelly agreed with admiration for the ladies.
“Leftenant Windsor,” the Major summoned the young officer who stood talking with Sergeant Simmons near the pock marked pick-up trucks.
“Major?” the Leftenant walked over to the group.
“This is your operation. Have you given any thought as to how we will get out of here?”
“Um…” Windsor paused.
The Color Sergeant leaned in and whispered. “I suggest we exit through the side gate where Two Section entered, Sir.”
“Yes, Major.” The Leftenant repeated. “We should depart through the hole in the side gate.”
“Capital idea,” Garrett approved, with a nod to the Sergeant. “We will follow your lead, Leftenant.”
“Right, then,” the Leftenant said, moving so he would be in front to lead the way. “Let’s get the men moving, if you please, Colors.”
“Right!” The Color Sergeant called to the men. “You bastards form up and get frosty! Take your squad positions! Let’s move out!”
Kelly and Rob fell into step with the group as everyone spread out into their sections and began moving along the back of the warehouses. Each of them was soon swallowed up in the night, until they were just shadows moving through the morning fog. The chill of the evening still hung in the air as the light of the sun began to glow on the horizon in the east.
THE END
This is the end of book 1 – Worse than Dead. If you enjoyed this book please leave a review and stay tuned as the series continues, in book 2 – Less than Dead.
What people are saying about ‘Wors
e than Dead’
“Worse than Dead” is a taut thriller that proves the undead aren’t the only things to fear in the apocalypse. A fast-paced zombie story that explores the dark side of humanity’s survival. Brett takes you inside the darkest areas of a zombie plague, where the undead aren’t the only things to fear.”
Ryan Thomas, author of Hissers, The Summer I Died, Hobbomock, and many others.
“Worse than Dead is an intense ride from start to finish. You can’t help but enjoy each character as they show strength and weaknesses throughout an engaging story about surviving after the apocalypse.”
Tyler Barrett, author of the What Remains series.
About the Author
Cal Brett is an author of horror and suspense fiction. While this is his first novel, he has previously published short stories (most recently in the 2020 Nano Nightmares compilation) and an independent film, called “Stiffs”, is in production based on his story of the same name. He also has extensive experience in the very frightening realm of writing contracts, policy, analysis and training for government and military purposes. He is a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer who enjoys mountain biking, woodworking and bee keeping. He lives in the southeastern United States with his wife, two kids, a bunch of dogs and a fish.
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