“We have a breach! Those things have somehow gotten in here, we need support quickly!” She shouted.
Morris took the mic. “Calm down and tell us where you are. I can’t send help if I don’t know where you are.”
“The science hall, we are in the science hall,” she said, firing a few more times to keep the undead off of her.
“How many are you dealing with?” He asked.
“A shitload of them… they’re everywhere! Send us some damn help, now!” She shouted.
“We are coming, just stay where you are,” Morris advised and headed toward the roof access door. “Come on guys, we have a breach and need to clear it out and get those doors barricaded again!”
All of the Guards left the rooftops.
Johnny flew the helicopter back toward the military base. He was devastated to be heading back without his friend. He caught himself looking over at Kember a few times, who was oblivious to what had just happen. Each time she would point at something she saw passing below and smile. A few other times she uttered the word “Daddy” and it was almost too much for Johnny to take.
What would they do now? How would he care for a toddler in the midst of all this?
He chewed on the idea of going back and fighting them. Being outnumbered and outgunned it would only be a matter of time before they overrun him and killed him as well. But what would become of Kember? Certainly they were not that vile to hurt a child and with the Professor dead, then children should be safe there. Another thought raced through his mind and it spoke of revenge that was more than suitable for what those assholes had done. He climbed to a higher altitude and began thinking further into his great plan. It helped to sooth the pain he felt for the loss of his friend and if he could get things off the ground the way he wanted, then it would more than make up for what had just happened.
The darkened sky wasn’t defined by the lights below anymore. Even though the power was still active and most of the power plants were up and running, there were none shinning below, no visible signs of reference to point him in the right way. He was forced to use the onboard navigation system to find his way home.
“Daddy,” Kember said.
Johnny looked at her and had nothing to say. A trembling arose in his hand and he thought for a moment that the chopper had been damaged somehow and was just now letting him now, but after a quick scan of the instrument panel he realized it was the fear and anger mixed together that was causing him to tremble.
It would be a long flight home, not to mention the hell he would have to endure upon arrival. Andrews would not be amused by their little mission, nor understand in anyway. He’d be lucky not to be locked up or lined up against a wall and shot. Still, he didn’t have to return to the military base. There were countless other places he could land and crash for the night. The only problem was fuel for the bird. Almost all of it had been used and even though there were a few other places he could look, there was no guarantee that it wouldn’t get stolen or that he a Kember wouldn’t get robbed and killed.
Airports and small airfields would be perfect locations, but there would also be others lurking around such sights waiting for someone to show up in a plane or helicopter. He wasn’t packing much in the way of firepower either, so that limited his ability to defend them in that event.
“No,” he said aloud. “The base is the only choice I have at this moment… like it or not.”
“Dad,” Gage asked me from the passenger seat. I looked at him and watched as he played with a small toy.
“What’s up, buddy?”
“Why do you have to take me home? Why can’t I live with you?” He asked me, no longer focusing on the toy in his hands. He was staring directly at me waiting for me to answer him. The innocence was more than evident in his eyes and I could see that he wanted the truth and would see right through any lie or half-truth I gave him.
“It’s kind of complicated,” I told him.
“I don’t see it that way,” he responded. “I live with mom, but I’d rather live with you instead.”
For so long I thought that children were oblivious to the real world around them. That just because they were involved in a situation and were young, they didn’t understand or know what was going on. That was as far from the truth as could be, as they were very much aware of what was going on and how the outcome could be detrimental to everyone involved.
“A judge has determined that it’s best for you, that you live with your mom,” I told him.
“Does this judge know you?”
“No, buddy, he doesn’t.”
“Then how does he know it’s better that I live with mom instead of you?”
I looked at him as I slowed for a stop sigh. “That’s a good question. Unfortunately though, I don’t know the answer to that.”
Gage thought about my answer for a moment, you could see it in his body language. “Well, that’s just stupid, daddy.”
“I agree with you, buddy.”
“So it’s not because you don’t love me, right?” He asked.
I stopped from entering traffic and looked at him. “Don’t you ever think that. I love you more than anything on the face of this earth and I’d fight through hell and back to keep you safe. You are the single most important person in my life, so never think that way again. I’d die to keep you safe!” I leaned over and hugged him. When I felt his arms fling around my neck, my heart melted even more.
“Daddy… you have to get up,” he told me.
I leaned back to find that we were no longer in the car. All I could see was surrounding darkness and no matter how hard I tried to see through the blackened abyss, I couldn’t.
“Get up, daddy… you have to get up and save us,” Gages voice called out to me.
“Where are you?” I asked him.
“Get up!” He shouted. “Get up and fight!”
My eyes popped open and I suddenly felt the pain slithering through my body. I could see the dark sky above – lingering clouds passed by the moon, covering its ghostly haze for a few seconds – the roof followed and I began to understand where I was and what had happened, I just couldn’t relate to how I was still alive after such a fall. Upon moving it was clear to me though, and after a few failed attempts I got to my feet and saw the five bodies lying exactly where I had collided with them, and then the earth. The undead had been crushed beneath me, dying to keep me alive. How ironic I thought.
Five unlucky undead had broken my fall from three stories. What I didn’t understand next, was why hadn’t the rest of them swarmed and ripped me limb from limb? I was an easy target, therefore I should have been an even easier meal, but here I stood unbitten and alive. Instantly I shot my eyes back to the roof and shoved myself against the wall in case the Guards were still looking for me, as my second thought pulled my eyes and ears skyward. Where was the chopper? Better yet, how long had I been out… a few minutes or hours?
I shoved a hand into my right pocket, fished around for a few moments, and pulled a painkiller into view. My throat was dry upon returning from the land of the dead, but anyway, I tossed it into my mouth and began chewing it up. The taste was worth than death itself, yet when push comes to shove and you need something bad, you adapt to the situation and keep moving forward.
With that taken care of, my next order of business was to figure out a way to get the chopper to return and where I could wait for it, or find a place to hold up until morning came. I grabbed at the radio to find it not where I had left it. Where was it? I turned around a couple of times thinking maybe it had rolled away from me when I hit the ground? No such luck. Without a way to call Johnny, the only thing I had left to do now was find my way back to the base, preferably in a vehicle rather than on foot.
Before I could do either, a large group of the undead rounded the corner just a few feet away and were headed my direction. The only route I had available to me was to run along the side of the complex to the far end, which took me past a dozen or so large win
dows – all of which could easily give me away if anyone was within any of those rooms. I wasn’t fully myself after that long fall and the last thing I needed to do was get into another gunfight. Hiding was the only option that I had. Period!
Bounding down the side of the complex hunched down, I made it past many of the windows and abruptly slid to a stop when I encountered a set of twin metal doors. I looked back to see the undead gaining on me, and then stuck my head around the corner slightly to see if anyone was in the hallway. There were four Guards standing at the door looking out into the night.
“Great,” I said softly. “It’s either a gunfight with the undead, which will lead up to one with the living or a gunfight with the living where I become one of the undead.”
Now before I go any further, let me explain a little tid bit of information as to why I said aloud the above statement. Many people – thanks once again to Hollywood – have been told and shown so many times that a silencer or suppressor is the ultimate tool for any weapon to keep you concealed and alive. That couldn’t be anymore closer to the truth than saying that there actually is a man in the moon. A normal gunshot rates near the 160 Db (decibel) range, which is why it’s always a good idea to use ear protection when shooting. Those decibel levels drop from 160 to an average of 133.55 Db, which is an 80 to 90 percent decrease in sound. Now that may not seem like a whole lot, but it is. On the other hand though, a silencer DOES NOT keep the weapon from making any noise, so you can shoot someone with another person only a few feet away and expect them not to hear a thing. That is FACT!
In all actuality, a silencer reduces the sound of a weapon down to a more tolerable level that could be used in an enclosed environment to keep your position and your team-mates concealed long enough for you to get in, complete your mission, and get out virtually undetected. But if there is someone close enough, other than your target, they will hear the round just as well as you will. Therefore, if I started shooting the undead that were chasing me, the Guards just inside the twin doors would more than likely hear my weapon discharge and the fight would be on.
I had more than enough ammo to keep up with these bastards, but I had no real cover and I was being chased, which put me into what Andrews had explained once before about being in a kill zone. This is not where anyone would want to be.
I had to get away from the dead without being seen or try my luck at another fight. And given a three story fall and my current condition, I was in no shape to be picking a fight with anyone. Running and hiding was my only choice. Looking around though, I wondered where I could hide easily and close by. There was nowhere to go.
I watched the Guards talking amongst themselves, hoping that they would carry their conversation elsewhere, as the undead where shuffling toward me at a constant speed while I was stationary.
Suddenly they turned their backs toward the door and I made a hasty departure to the opposite side and continued along the complex wall. The undead would not be as stealthy as I was crossing the twin doors and the Guards could easily see them, although I think they would more than likely just let them pass, instead of opening the doors just to shoot them.
At the next corner I was confronted with another choice. I could continue along the complex and just circle the entire damn place all night, or I could break off and cross an enormous amount of open space and hide in a large ditch near the main road, or the woods to the rear of the place. Back to my left, behind the school was the bus parking area and with the vehicles so close together, the undead could easily corner me if I screwed up just the slightest. It wasn’t what I wanted or needed, so I dropped it from my thoughts and was content with circling or hiding in a ditch. The thought of crossing so much open ground was the one thing I hated the most.
There had been more Guards than I first thought and they could easily have larger weapons to deal with any threats, like a hunting rifle with a scope. I would be an easy target for someone with a little experience behind the scope, and getting shot in the ass running away was not the perfect end to the perfect day.
Gunshots echoed through the complex and I shoved myself against the wall, not sure if they had seen and were shooting at me, or if something else was going on. I’d wait a few minutes where I was before venturing out to see.
To my left, as suspected, a larger group of undead mingled out from behind the school and cut up alongside the complex heading straight for my position. That was a sign to me, screaming that I needed to just run for the ditch and get it over with. The chaos inside was more than enough to mask my movement, so I began inching out away from the wall, making sure to keep my eyes on the rooftops. All it took was one person seeing me, and then the others would be all over me. I ventured out several feet with the short rifle at the ready, in case anyone poked their head out and saw me, I’d blow it off.
I took in several deep breaths of air, knowing that I hadn’t been much of a runner in my life and now I was about to attempt a two hundred plus yard dash in the open with all of my gear and weapons.
“This sucks,” I said, getting a firm grip on my SBR and focused on a single location. “This really fucking sucks!” I checked to make sure my pistol was securely fastened. “Here goes nothing.” I lunged forward and broke into a full sprint, already regretting my decision before getting even ten feet.
More gunshots from behind, inside the school. I didn’t look back at first, as I was so sure that when I did I would see a Guard taking aim before being shot dead. If I was going to get hit I’d rather it be a surprise and let my motivation of getting to the ditch keep me going no matter what.
Without warning, it started to rain.
“Are you kidding me?” The harder I ran toward safety, the more I felt I was going to die. My lungs were pounding in and out doing their best to supply the rest of my body with much needed oxygen, yet I felt as though I could get no air. And then there were my legs, which felt as though I’d had metal rods put in some time back and were now doing their best to puncture my skin from the inside out. I was completely out of shape. I was a complete train wreck waiting to happen. And I hadn’t even covered fifty feet by this time. I would never make it without having to stop, I was in too bad of shape to push that hard and long with so much weight. Dumping the gear crossed my mind, but I couldn’t do that. Everything I carried, I needed.
Headlights crossed me and without even having to think about it, I simply let my body carry me to the wet ground. I hit hard and slid a few feet, but remained motionless for fear of being spotted. Only my head was active, eyes searching the darkness for the origin of the lights.
The sound of a fast approaching vehicle pulled my eyes further toward the main road and I could see a pickup truck barreling down the road to the school. I was completely exposed where I was, and if the driver just happened to look my way, I don’t think he could miss this large mass of discolored clothing in and amongst the emerald green grass that filled the expanse from the complex to the road.
I pulled the short rifle closer to my head, in case I had to shoot, but was careful in my movements as I watched the vehicle approach and begin to pass. Suddenly the driver stopped the truck and I brought the buttstock into my shoulder, putting the little red dot in my optic on him. He was closer than the Guards on the rooftop had been and I was far enough away from the school that if I had to shoot him, no one would hear it.
He walked in front of the truck where I could get a better view of him and he was conversing with someone on a walkie talkie. His head swiveled from left to right, as if looking for something… or maybe someone. I slid my finger on the trigger and slowed my breathing as best I could, which wasn’t easy at all considering the amount of running and stress I had just put my body through.
“Get back in the truck and don’t see me,” I whispered. “Go away while you still can.”
His head turned my direction and I thought for sure he had seen me, yet at the very last second he looked away, returned to the truck, and began to drive away, although, tha
t was short lived as he exited for a second time and began searching the large expanse around the school complex. It was only a matter of time now before he spotted me and when that happened he’d report my location and they’d all come running.
“I don’t see any body out here anywhere, just some discolored grass that needs to be resprayed,” he said. “Are you sure you popped him out this far?” He spun a few times, and then looked toward the large building. “Oh, well I thought you meant he was out here in the grass out front,” he added. “Okay, you guys cover me from those things and I’ll get what I can of his gear.”
The little hamster in my head began running his little ass off. “What body?” I asked and the realization quickly hit me. He was going to go where I had fallen, presumably to my death, and retrieve my gear for those bastards inside and when he got there and found I wasn’t, well, you know the rest.
Up until this point, I had not killed a single person that I didn’t have to or that had forced me too. Now I would have to gun an innocent man down in order to save my ass. I would never be able to get away before he arrived and started searching. He was in a truck, I was on foot… you do the math. “I don’t have a choice,” I told myself, but I didn’t believe a single word of it.
So what if I wasn’t there when he went looking for me, it’s not like I was planning to re-enter the complex and kill every single one of them. Maybe I should though, just for good measures. Who would miss them?
He put his back to me and I was up and moving with the falling rain.
“You better be damn sure this asshole is dead, because if I run up on him and he’s not, then I’m dead,” he told the person on the other end.
“Stop being a whiney little girl and do what I told you. He’s dead, I saw him with my own eyes and he was being attacked by a group of those things,” the voice on the other end replied.
“If you say so,” he responded and went to get in the truck.
“What’s up,” I asked him. He spun to see who had spoken to him and the butt of the rifle introduced itself to his face. Luckily he was a small guy and it was easy for me to get him into the truck onto the passenger side and climb in behind him. Before moving an inch, I checked to see if he had any weapons – a gunfight inside a moving vehicle would not be in any way a good thing – after that I used the zip ties I had found and cuffed his hands behind his back. My pistol to his head would keep him quiet and now that I had a walkie talkie, I could hear what my new friends inside were saying.
Day One (Book 2): Choices Page 17