Caldera 5_United We Fall

by Heath Stallcup

  Vicky gave him a stoic stare. “Daniel, we live in a world where virus-infected, cannibalistic zombies have killed and eaten three quarters of the population. Right now, if he told me that it was aliens that did it, I’d be looking up.” She shook her head at him. “Making the comparison to vampires isn’t that far of a stretch.”

  Roger grinned at him triumphantly. “I win.”

  Hatcher threw his hands in the air. “Fine. If you two want to test tanning lights on Zulus, you go right ahead. I won’t stop you.” He stopped and spun, his finger pointing at Roger. “Don’t mention vampires to the rest of the folks. Rumors get started far too easily around here.”

  “Spoil sport.” Roger muttered as Hatcher walked away.

  “You don’t know the half of it.” Vicky replied.

  Vivian shook her head as she stared at the carnage. “I’m assuming they all went nuts and this guy is the only survivor?”

  Carol gave a slow shrug. “The video cameras weren’t on. I have no idea.” She leaned forward and peered through the two way mirror. “But that’s probably a safe assumption.”

  Vivian stifled a yawn and stepped away. “I guess that’s it. We don’t have a wide enough array of test subjects to properly test any new formulations.”

  “I wouldn’t suggest trying to accumulate more.” Carol quietly replied. “Not until we can be more certain of…” she trailed off.

  “Of what? Their safety?” Vivian snorted and threw her hands in the air. “They’re worse than beta fish. You can’t keep them in the same tank and we don’t have enough spare room to give them all their own quarters.” She fell into the chair and rested her head in her hands. “As if things couldn’t get any worse.”

  Carol swallowed hard. “Speaking of things getting worse…” She watched Vivian’s head slowly rise, anger in her eyes.

  “What else?”

  Carol’s voice was nearly a whisper. “I checked on Dr. Carpenter last night before I came down here.”

  “And?” Vivian was on her feet now, her face etched with worry.

  “And his skin is reminiscent of that one’s.” She pointed to the man still crouched in the corner of the enclose. “The same gray pallor, the same bluish lines. The same…” She shook her head, trying to dispel her fears.

  Vivian turned and reached for the door. “How long ago?”

  Carol was in step with her, following her to the lab. “Just a few hours ago. After I saw him I came to see if any of the untreated subjects shared the same physical traits and—”

  “What about the treated subject?” Vivian froze in the hallway. She turned and trotted toward the isolation room.

  Carol called to her at the same time that Vivian threw open the curtain. “I checked on him. He appeared—” The scene inside the room interrupted her thoughts. The bed had been overturned, the desk shattered and the television was in pieces and scattered across the floor. “No. This isn’t right. He was fine just before I came and got you.”

  “Where is he?” Vivian craned her neck to look around in the small room.

  Carol shook her head. “He was in the restroom last night when I first checked on him. Perhaps—” A short scream escaped her lips when the ‘cured’ subject threw himself against the two way mirror. Smears of brown streaked down the glass where his hands had slapped the thick acrylic.

  “This is fine?” Vivian scowled at her. “He appears totally reverted to the…” Her eyes widened. “Charles!”

  The pair bolted down the hallway and burst into the lab. Carol made it to the isolation ward first and cupped her hands to peer inside the thin reinforced glass.

  Vivian pushed her away and jerked the door open. “Charles?”

  A blood covered body pounced on her and she screamed as she was sent back into the stainless steel counter.

  Daylight broke with licks of orange and red and the wind seemed to grow colder as the sun pushed over the horizon.

  Sinner stood shivering in the doorway of the house, his rifle slung over his shoulder. His eyelids drooped heavily as he continued to stand watch over the grounds. The house they were squatting in was nearly to the end of the dead end street and he could see the trails left by the Crazies when they searched the different buildings.

  Brown colored smears covered the front door and there was a smell in the garage that none dared try to identify.

  Stinky stretched on the couch and tried to pull his jacket tighter around him. “Shut the door, will ya? It’s cold enough already.”

  “I’m just making sure.” Sinner stepped out onto the small concrete pad and peered around the corner of the house. “I don’t think they like being out during the day.”

  Stinky sat up and yawned, his arms extending as he stretched. “They don’t care if it’s day or night. They’ll eat anybody at any time.”

  Sinner shook his head. “They look different, man.” He stepped inside and pushed the door shut. “They don’t look like they used to.”

  “You mean, they don’t look crazy no more?” Stinky pushed himself up from the couch and rubbed at his arms as he worked his way toward the door to the garage. “I’m gonna grab something to eat. You want something?”

  Sinner shook his head. He had already seen the mess in the garage and he wasn’t sure he wanted any part of the foodstuffs left in the truck.

  Stinky stepped back into the house, his eyes wide. “Have you seen that?”

  Sinner nodded slowly.

  “What?” Shooter stood from the love seat, his pistol tucked into his waistband.

  “It’s like a monkey shit fight took place out there.” Stinky shuddered. “The smell is…atrocious.”

  “All shit stinks.” Shooter marched past him and stepped out into the garage. He came back in a moment later, his eyes wide. “That ain’t right.”

  “It’s like someone dipped a dead buzzard in shit and smeared it on the walls.” Stinky shuddered again. “I don’t think that kind of stink will wash off.”

  Simon pushed the door open from the bedroom and staggered into the hallway. “What are you bitching about now?”

  He pushed past the two men and stepped into the garage. Stinky stiffened waiting for the string of epithets that he knew was coming. Shooter cringed and took a step back, deeper into the shadows of the living room.

  Simon appeared a moment later with a bottle of whisky and a box of cereal tucked under his arm. He sat down at the table and pulled the bottle of whiskey close. He unscrewed the cap and took a long pull.

  “Ahh,, the breakfast of champions.” He shot the three men an evil grin then tore the top off of the cereal box. He stuck a hand inside and pulled out a fistful of brown squares. The three men watched in horrid fascination as he shoved the crunchy squares into his mouth then washed them down with more liquor.

  “Did you see what they did out there?” Stinky asked.

  Simon turned and stared at him, his jaw still chewing. “Yeah. So?” He grabbed another handful of cereal and shoved it into his mouth. He grabbed the box and held it out to the others, shaking it. “Want some?” His words were muffled with the cereal.

  All three shook their heads. Stinky stepped cautiously forward, his eyes searching Simon. “You can eat after smelling that?”

  Simon shrugged and took another pull from the whisky bottle. “One of em took a dump in the garage. Big deal.”

  “Big deal?” Stinky stepped closer and peered around the corner to the smears and stains in the garage. “It’s like they marked it. With…poo.”

  Simon hiked a brow and stared at him. “Poo?” He broke into a cackle and pointed at the others. “Did he really just say ‘poo’?” Simon slapped his leg and took another drink from the bottle. “Next he’ll really be cursing. Maybe even a ‘gosh darn’.” He nearly choked on his cereal as he guffawed.

  Sinner stiffened, the smell from the garage beginning to overpower his olfactory senses. “Shut the door Stink. That smell is…” He fought the urge to retch.

  Simon sat back in his
chair and eyed the three men. “You boys are all pussies.” He turned in his chair and kicked the door closed. “What’s a little shit?”

  “That don’t smell like normal shit, boss.” Shooter said as he eyed the man closer. He almost gagged when he saw a smear of brown on the side of the cereal box.

  Simon took a deep breath through his nose, inhaling the odor. “Shit is shit. Get over it.” He shoved his hand back into the box and grabbed another handful.

  Stinky and Shooter both looked away as he shoved it into his mouth. The crunching making them both gag.

  Sinner finally stepped forward, praying for a subject change. “What are we doing today?” He laid his rifle on the table and sat opposite Simon. He tried really hard not to notice the brown stains on the box that Simon ate from.

  “What we do every day, Sinner. We build our army.” He shoved more of the dry cereal into his mouth and smiled at the ex-con. “How else are we going to take over the locals?”

  Sinner nodded slowly. “You and I both know there ain’t enough people left to do that.”

  Shooter practically jumped up. “I got an idea. How about one of us goes there? Maybe we can recruit our people back?” He smiled big, excitement growing from his new idea. “If we had our people on the inside and we attack from the outside, the confusion alone is worth double the manpower.”

  Simon chewed slowly, watching the man. He reached for the bottle and washed down the mouthful. “And who would we send?”

  Shooter shrugged. “Any of us could do it. We know most of the old gang members.”

  “We told them we wanted out, remember?” Sinner’s gaze narrowed on him. “You don’t think they’d smell a rat if we just walked up and knocked, do you?”

  Shooter opened his mouth but the words refused to form. It had seemed like a good plan when it first came to him. He slowly shook his head. “No, you’re right. They’d know it was a set up.”

  Stinky nodded slowly. “So, we don’t go up and knock.” He pulled a chair out and eyed Simon. “We sneak up close. When we see one of our people, we spread the word.”

  Sinner shook his head. “And if they don’t want to participate? What’s to stop them from running and telling their new cager friends what we’re planning?”

  Stinky gave him an evil smile. “They know Simon.” He turned and nodded to his boss. “They know he’s a cut throat son of a bitch. They know that if they rat him out, he’ll kill ‘em good and slow.” He turned and nodded to Sinner again. “Real painful like.”

  Sinner mulled the idea for a moment then looked to Simon. “It might work.”

  “Do any of you shit stains actually know where they are? Didn’t you say they covered your heads when you left?”

  Shooter raised a hand slowly. “I paid attention when we went there. I probably couldn’t find it using the same path they took. Too many turns. But if I get into the district, I could find it.” He looked to Sinner and then to Stinky. “I bet we all would recognize the outside if we saw it again.”

  Sinner shrugged. “Give him a chance.” He turned a hateful glare to the newest member. “If he tried to run, we make sure he regrets it.”

  Simon nodded slowly. “How many do you think we could get back?”

  Shooter shrugged. “We don’t need a lot. One or two. Three would be good.” He leaned forward on the table. “Imagine the damage that three good men could do inside that place while we’re fire bombing the outside and shooting anything that moves.”

  Simon nodded slowly. He took another pull from the whisky then screwed the cap back on. “Imagine the damage that three bad men could do on the inside…”

  22

  “I’m telling ya, I can help.” Sailor pleaded with Hatcher. “I can weld, I’m a decent mechanic, I can put shit together without instructions…well, most of the time. Just don’t ask me to put together any IKEA. I’d rather take a bullet than screw with that stuff again.” Dave Cooper shook his head as he remembered his girlfriend pleading with him over that stupid furniture.

  Hatcher looked to Candy and she shrugged. “If he can really help, I say we use him.”

  “Have you ever installed solar panels before?” Hatcher asked.

  “No, but that don’t mean I can’t figure it out.” He broke into a toothy smile. “You point it to the sun and bolt it down. How hard can it be?”

  Hatcher groaned and dragged a hand over his face. “Okay, fine.” He pointed to the flatbed truck. “Grab a handful of guys and pull that thing to the loading dock next door. The panels are stacked just inside the cabinet shop. There are a bunch of inverters already on a dolly. Get all of it and load it securely on the truck.”

  “Where we taking it?” Sailor asked.

  “Once Will gets back and lets us know that the place will work, you can follow him back out there. It’s maybe twenty minutes from here.”

  Candy clapped the old biker on the shoulder. “Don’t screw this up, Dave. People here wouldn’t take it very well if we had to tell them that there was no hot water because you dropped one of these things.”

  Dave stiffened and glanced at her. “I’ll be extra careful. Hell hath no fury, right?”

  She smiled at him. “Pretty darn close.”

  He snatched the keys from Hatcher and climbed into the truck. The other three men hopped onto the back of the flatbed and Hatcher waved them through the staging area.

  “To be honest, I think he’s more excited about being outside working.” Candy shrugged. “He reminds me of my dad.”

  Hatcher raised a brow at her. “Was he a biker type?”

  She shook her head. “No, but he had that same enthusiasm any time we had a project that needed worked on.” She gave him a knowing smile. “It’s a guy thing.”

  Hatcher watched them cross the parking lot and back up to the loading dock. “I’ll see if Hank or Wally wants to tag along. Just so I’ll have somebody that I trust with them.”

  Candy sighed and stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You have to learn to trust people, Daniel.” She nodded toward the group across the way. “They chose to be here.”

  Hatcher growled low in his throat. “Trust is earned, Candy.”

  She watched him pull out his clipboard and go back to directing people. Although she knew this move was a good thing, she worried about the stress it would put on everybody, the newcomers included. They had just gone from a nomadic life to living here in a ‘land of plenty’ as many had referred to it. The shock of moving to a place with luxuries like electricity, hot and cold running water, privacy and visible security may be too much for some of them.

  She sighed as she went in search of Roger. She found him loading dry goods into cardboard boxes, joking with the older women he liked to call ‘the lunch ladies’. Candy leaned against the doorway and watched him. “Don’t tell me you’re flirting with these fine young ladies.”

  Roger looked up and appeared to almost blush. He put his hands up in surrender. “You caught me.” He pushed away from the table and sauntered up to her. “I was just about to put my finishing moves on Ida.” He bent low and whispered, “I hear she makes a damned fine cornbread.”

  Candy pulled him to her and kissed him. “Don’t get any wise ideas, mister.”

  “Who me? Never.” Roger kissed her back then pulled her into an embrace. “Can you feel it? People are excited about this move. They’re coming together and…” he glanced around the main body of the warehouse. “And they’re actually smiling.”

  Candy smiled back at him. “Yeah, I can feel it.” She slid her hands down and grabbed his butt. “It feels pretty good to me.”

  Roger stiffened and glanced over his shoulder at Ida who was turning red in the cheeks. “You better stop or I’ll lose my ‘in’ with the lunch ladies. I don’t think I’m ready to give up cornbread.”

  Candy pulled him closer and whispered in his ear, “Wait until you taste my spaghetti.”

  “Ooh, I can’t wait.” He wagged his eyebrows at her. “I bet it’s the bomb.
”

  “The best you can make in a microwave.” She grinned back at him.

  Roger stiffened and pulled away. “I realize Ida is only twenty years my senior, but I think I’d rather go with the cornbread.”

  Candy pulled him down and put him in a headlock. She raised her voice so that Ida could hear, “Don’t listen to him. He just doesn’t know what’s good for him yet.”

  Ida waved her off as she dragged him from the supply room.

  “Security!” Carol screamed as the two bodies rolled in the isolation ward. She fought to pull the door shut but a leg thrust out and blocked her from closing it.

  The two orderlies pushed past her and in the low light she could barely see the men as they pulled Charles’ bloody body from Vivian. She saw a dark blur be thrown back into the room and crash into the far wall before the two orderlies dragged Vivian from the ward.

  Carol pulled the door shut and had just turned the lock when Charles threw himself against it, threatening to rip the steel barrier from the hinges. He pressed his face to the narrow reinforced glass and his teeth gnashed at her. She stepped back, shock and horror as she took in what he had become.

  The screaming and the yelling in the lab hit her like a brick as the shock faded. She saw Vivian scrambling across the floor, the two orderlies trying to subdue her. The blood was soaked through her lab coat and the orderlies were trying to determine if she were bitten or scratched.

  “Get off of me!” She kicked at the closest of the two men. “Keep back or so help me—”

  The largest man tackled her, sending them both sliding across the floor. She struggled to push him off of her, slapping and beating at his huge body as she tried to slip from his grip. “We have to check you, doc!”

  “Get off of…me…” Her voice trailed as the wind was pushed from her by his size. The smaller orderly grabbed her by the wrists and between the two of them, they got her bound and turned over to her stomach. When she finally got enough air in her lungs, she thrashed about and cursed as she struggled with the plastic restraints.