by J. R. Rain
“I am,” Manning told her. “I’ve decided I will not feed on the good guys. You included. There are plenty of deadbeats in this city. I can be a good cop, and bring down the number of losers.”
Carla shook her head. “What in the hell?! That’s not what I meant—“
“It’s just the way things are now, Carla. You think we can stop this? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
“You don’t understand,” Carla tried to reason with him, reaching for the doorknob. “You think this way now. But it will overcome you. You will become one of them.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” He didn’t seem to care, but noticed her hand turning the knob. “Yes, I’m hungry. But you’d better leave now. Because I do intend to feed.”
Immediately, Carla understood why Manning was keeping the three men in that cell. “No,” she told him, “whatever they’re in for, those prisoners don’t deserve death.”
Manning took a step toward her, anger in his expression. “Who made you judge and jury?”
“And who made you executioner?” she dared.
“That’s enough insubordination. Carla, I’m telling you to leave. There’s a new sheriff in town now. Different rules.”
He advanced closer, and she opened the door and backed into the hallway. “Okay, okay.” She placated him. “I’m leaving. Do what you have to do.”
But Manning’s eyes flashed a deep red now. “I don’t believe you,” he sneered. “You never should have come back!”
Carla turned and ran down the hall. His new chemical makeup made him faster than her now, she knew. She turned a corner and quickly ducked into a corridor with her gun drawn.
She could hear him slow to a walk. “I know you’re here,” he called out. “Really, Carla, it’s so much better on this side. You say you want to help me? Hell, I could help you. We could be true partners.”
Carla heard the radio play “You Can’t Hurry Love” as she listened to him drawing nearer. She backed up as far as she could, ashamed that she was shaking.
Manning sniffed the air and snickered. He was somewhere near the edge of the corridor. Perhaps to throw her off, he called out her name, and an instant later he jumped in front of her, lips pulled back with the obvious intent to take a very big bite.
She screamed and prepared to fire her gun, but Manning sent it flying before she pulled the trigger.
“Too late, my dear. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to make you a partner. I’ll take care of—”
A shot fired and Manning’s head blew apart, burying her in a crimson shower. Her boss fell to the floor.
* * *
Jack came to her, wrapping his arms around her. She sobbed into his chest. Jack understood the camaraderie Carla shared with her fellow officers. He had his own buddies in his field, which wasn’t so different from hers. This was much more than taking out just any Zombie. It was a colleague. Her sergeant.
Jack stroked her hair, fingers lingering on her jaw and neck. She quieted after a while. “Shh,” he whispered. “It’s okay.”
“God, I’m glad you’re stubborn and followed me,” she said as she wiped her nose on her sleeve.
“Me, too. Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said.
Carla nodded and grabbed her gun from the floor.
Jack slipped his arm around her and they stepped over what was left of Sergeant Manning.
As they drew close to the holding cell, the younger guy yelled out, “Please let us out. Please. We’re sitting ducks in here!”
“I’ve got to let them out,” Carla whispered. “It’s the humane thing to do.”
“Yeah,” Jack replied. “I don’t think they’re going to get due process of law any time soon.”
She took her keys from her belt. “Listen,” she told them, “you guys better remember that I’m doing you a favor. Get safe and stay out of trouble. Whatever any of you are in here for... take this as your last chance to redeem yourselves.” She waited to turn the key in the lock, looked each of them in the eye. “Understood?”
The three nodded enthusiastically and stumbled over each other running for the door like the hunted prey they still were.
Jack caught her arm when she turned to leave. Drawing her close, he pulled her body against his. “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this,” he whispered into her ear, caressing it with his lips. He drew her mouth to his and kissed her long and hard.
She kissed him back, maybe even harder.
Chapter Seven
Over the next few days, back at the observatory, there was much to do.
As everyone got to know each other better, they drew on each others’ knowledge and skills. Jack knew how to set traps. Although he didn’t care to kill animals, he understood the need for protein. Carla was extremely resourceful; she gathered furniture and other goods. Before long, their ‘living section’ at the end of the hall was fairly comfortable. She organized the stock and kept track of what was still needed.
Mike and Joe set about increasing security and taking out wandering zombies nearby. They also brought the SUV down to the lower level at the back of the building, parking it at a loading dock used to haul large equipment and machinery. The likelihood of someone taking it from the front of the premises was slim, but they didn’t want to take any chances. Julie’s squad car finally ran out of gas and they left it in Jack’s garage at home. That left his truck and the SUV. Both had about a half tank.
Although they had cleared the building of bodies, a stench began to rise from outside. Carla boiled water and orange peels to help sweeten the air.
Anna’s sickness crept into her mind slowly. Everyone could see it. She cared less and less about anything. By the second day, she was already weak. Later that afternoon, Jack found Jared reading to her from a book he’d found in one of the rooms.
“How you feeling, angel?” asked Jack, sitting down next to her.
“I’ve been better,” she answered. Her voice was weak, monotone. She’s starting to not care, he thought as he brushed her hair back from her face. He wanted to remember the old Anna.
Not yet, please not yet...
“How about we take a little walk outside?” Jack suggested. “It’s safe right now.”
Anna smiled a little but didn’t move.
“That’s a good idea,” Jared said. “Come on.” He took her hand, helped her to stand up. They left the office and headed toward the front door. Joe was there with the keys and a rifle. Jack took comfort that his brother would cover the grounds while his niece took a walk. Maybe it would make her happy for a little while at least. Jack mused to himself that they all could use some fresh air, truth be told.
* * *
With Jared and Jack on either side, Anna wandered the grounds barefoot, although they mostly kept her close to the building. Anna seemed to be enjoying the cool, soft grass against her feet.
She headed east, to a slope down the hill, flanked by her protectors. Suddenly, she stopped and cocked her head, listening.
“Come on—” Jared started.
“Don’t you hear it?” she said, cutting him off. “It’s beautiful!”
Jack shushed them both. Yes, he thought he heard something, too. Down the embankment. He motioned for Jared and Anna to stay back while he took a few steps toward the sound, then paused and listened again.
All was quiet, but something moved in the bushes nearby. Jack focused his eyes on the bushes and what he had seen. But there was nothing else; not even a bird chirped. He paused, staring at the bush and unable to shake the feeling he was being watched. Jack had to admit, he felt like he was being watched.
Probably a rabbit or a fox, he told himself. Or a raccoon, maybe.
He turned, took Anna’s hand and led her back. All the while, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
* * *
The agent in black named Cole crouched a little way away in the bushes. He felt exhilarated by what he had just learned. The girl named Anna was inde
ed infected. She heard the sound he was transmitting, the sound that would bring her first—and then everyone else. Not yet... but soon.
He moved back to the camouflaged tent, merrily whistling a soft tune.
* * *
That evening, Anna had trouble staying focused.
Jared did not leave her side for more than a few moments at a time. He talked with her, read to her, and finally let her sleep. When she could no longer eat or drink, he held her hand in the dark office. He knew what was coming. He knew he couldn’t stay with her for much longer. It was only when her eyes lost focus and she seemed to look through him rather than at him that he finally broke down. He held her tight for a moment. Then, in a fit of rage, she shoved him back against the office wall and growled. Jared dashed out, and closed the door.
* * *
Jack waited nearby, taking in Jared’s pale face and shaking hands, and hugged the boy for the first time. “It’s gonna be all right, son.”
Jared nodded bravely. “I know. It’s just hard... we haven’t even talked about how we are going to contain her. The door opens inward so we can’t put stuff against it to block her exit.”
He allowed Jack to lead him to the eating area, a picnic table and some folded chairs Carla had dug out from storage.
“Don’t worry about it, Jared,” said Jack. “We’ve taken care of that.” Jack guided the kid to one of the chairs, where Carla set a bowl of vegetable beef soup in front of him.
“Thank you,” said Jared, sounding distracted.
“Tomorrow, I’m going down to the Zoo and run a sweep,” said Jack. “I’d like for you to come with me, Jared.”
“The zoo? But I want to stay—”
“I know you do. But there’s nothing more you can do right now. You need to get your mind and your butt out of here. You can help me get things ready. For Anna.”
Jared nodded. Still, a worried look crossed his face. He looked away to avoid Jack’s gaze. “I’m worried about my parents, too,” he said. “I haven’t heard from them in almost two weeks.”
Carla and I locked eyes in surprise. She sat down next to the boy and took his hands.
“Why didn’t you tell us about them earlier, Jared?”
“There’s been so much going on,” he answered, his voice cracking. “And when Anna got bitten, suddenly the focus was on her and our security sweeps, and then our supplies and... two weeks got away from me. And I don’t know where they are. Or even, if they’re alive and okay. I feel so frigging guilty because I am... I am letting go of them. Moving on. Making all of you my family.”
“But, they’re your parents.”
“Only in name,” said Jared, sounding bitter. “I was a source of constant disappointment for my dad. Mom and I never really connected. She always worked. She always took his side. There was no....”
“No what?” asked Carla, gently.
“No love, I guess. Nothing like what I see in this family.”
His words touched Jack, and appeared to affect Carla even more deeply. Jack drew in a deep breath. “I always try to put a positive and honest spin on all things, kid. And, you’re right... there is love here. But I think you should prepare yourself for some rough times ahead.”
Jared nodded glumly. “I know. I can feel it. As for my parents, I know in my heart I won’t find them. Or, if I do find them, I’ll wish I hadn’t. They’ll be like... like the others.” Jared pushed his untouched soup aside.
“All the more reason for you to come with me tomorrow,” said Jack. “I’ll be with you the whole time. We’ll see what there is to see. You never know, maybe they left in the face of danger.” As he spoke the words, he couldn’t imagine the boy’s parents leaving without at least trying to get a hold of him. “And you can help me with some of the zoo animals. I have no clue who else is there anymore. I haven’t heard from Brice lately, but maybe he’s still around.”
* * *
The next morning, the guys decided that Jack and Jared would check the animal traps while Mike and Joe would set the new door in place to hold Anna during this, the worst phase of her infection. Neither Jack nor Jared spoke as they exited the building.
Carla was up next. First, she emptied Anna’s temporary room, an office, of all its supplies: staplers, papers, the one chair, the calendar on the wall. Anna was left with nothing. She wouldn’t need anything. But they all had witnessed the damage that could be done with something as small as even a paperclip. Or a nail on a beam.
Mike and Joe carried out the desk, leaving the room completely bare. Anna had become less and less coherent, and increasingly susceptible to sounds. She took a swing at her uncle as he tried to give her one last hug. Carla pulled him away.
Then they closed the door and secured it with a huge wooden beam.
Anna was left to express her rage in total darkness.
Chapter Eight
During the drive from the observatory to the zoo, Jack attempted to kill the quiet with bits of conversation with Jared. “Would you like to know the best thing to use in getting rid of that stench?” Indeed, the smell of rotten meat seemed to permeate the air everywhere.
“Oh, yeah?” Jared stared out the window; he wasn’t really listening.
“Yeah. Perhaps you already know, since we use it all the time. But most folks don’t know about lava rocks.”
“I guess not.”
“Not quite sure how it works, but you put a few of those rocks outside and they’ll get rid of any scent. Pretty cool. Doesn’t hurt the animals either.”
“Right,” Jared answered. “We’re gonna need a lot of those.”
Jack chuckled, finding himself growing to really like this kid. They soon reached the zoo’s employee entrance, left open, and parked in Jack’s usual spot. He cut the motor, but neither one exited the vehicle yet. Instead, they listened... all was still and quiet.
“Look, Jared, Anna’s going to be all right,” said Jack, finally. “She’s strong. She’s got you, and me, and the rest. We won’t let her down.”
Jared sat motionless, but Jack could tell he was listening. “And your parents, you know... they might be all right. Maybe it’s a communication issue.”
“Maybe,” was all he offered in response.
“Seriously. Cell phones are down, everyone is scattered around. They have no idea where you are. I’m sure if they did...”
“They didn’t care, Jack. Not before all this and certainly not now. Truth is, I haven’t talked to them in about a month.”
Jack studied him, struggling to comprehend such a thing, even though he realized the world was full of neglected kids. Jared’s life had been fairly invisible. As long as he passed his home-school tests, that was all that mattered, apparently. The notion that Jared loved a different part of Anna than most dad’s fear—and that he might actually love Anna’s family, too—dawned on Jack clearly for the first time.
He put a hand on Jared’s shoulder, and the young man let it stay there. “We’ll try to find out, son. If we don’t find them, you’ve got family right here.”
Jared nodded and wiped away a tear. Jack patted his shoulder again, then reached behind the seat for their rifles. Jack also produced two pistols with silencers attached. “We’ll use these when we can,” he advised. “We don’t want to make any more sound than we have to.”
Jack was surprised when the kid knew how to load the ammo clip and checked the scope to make sure it was ready. How many brains had the kid already blown apart? he wondered. Too many for someone that young...or old.
“Come on, son, let’s see what we can get done today.”
Chapter Nine
Cole took Julie’s hand just as she was about to come out of their hiding place. He pulled her close to him.
“Don’t disappoint me,” he said, his voice cold.
Julie couldn’t see his eyes behind the dark shades. But she wondered again how she could have been so easily fooled. He’d been nice enough at first. She didn’t forget—he’d reminded her more
than once—that he’d saved her life back there at the base.
He’d clothed her, fed her, and even told her stories. But within the two days they’d been together, Julie began to see him as something more. A sinister man, a dark force. And she realized, gradually, that he was no one to fool around with.
Julie was just a housewife, and had been for thirty years. Once this whole thing started, and especially since her husband disappeared, she felt lost. At first, she thought she’d found a savior in Cole, but she now understood differently. The thought slowly dawned on her that the agent would keep her around for as long as he needed her. And then, she knew with certainty, he would dispose of her.
So when Julie couldn’t see his eyes, her gaze fell to his lips. Don’t disappoint me, they had just whispered. His mouth spread into a thin, icy smile.
Julie forced her hands steady. She took the gun from him and answered, “I won’t.”
Cole shoved her out into the open. They were behind a public restroom within sight of the observatory. He remained behind, waiting.
Julie knew exactly what to do, whether she liked it or not. Bring back at least two of them. Tell them someone needs help, that she needed help, whatever she could do to get two of them back to the restroom.
Cole hadn’t told her why, and by this time, she didn’t question him. She knew he had a lock on his person, to use for reasons unknown to her. Julie did notice the restroom he had brought her to had no windows, and no other exit. She knew he would lock whomever she brought back inside this place. She prayed silently she wouldn’t be locked in with them.
You won’t be, she told herself as she made her way across the long grassy field to the giant building. You already know too much. He wouldn’t want you to talk.
He told her they would most likely be watching as she approached. She held her hands in the air as she moved toward the steps. She didn’t want to be mistaken for a zombie. All the while, Julie felt certain he had a rifle trained on her back. He’d given her ten minutes to convince some strangers to leave their refuge and come with her. He didn’t have to say anymore. She’d seen his weapons. Even a sheltered housewife could tell he had enough ammunition to blow the entire hillside and observatory buildings sky-high.