“Yes, Sir,” Chas whispered, her shoulders drooping to the floor.
“Now, get behind the lines before the next attack comes,” he added. “Vivienne will kill me if I let you get eaten.”
Chas, Vanessa, and Dean duly obeyed him while the snipers picked off the zombies from a distance, thinning the crowd. The stupid things were still thronging around the smoking dumpster, but the ones on the edges were catching on fast.
One by one, their heads turned, and their sinister gazes fixed on the soldiers before their bodies follow suit. Like something from a horror movie, Chas watched as they advanced, and suddenly, she missed the supply truck and its cloak of anonymity. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.
Chapter 11
With the horde of zombies once more on the attack, Alvarez paced up and down like a caged lion. The soldiers were managing to keep the horde at bay for the moment since they’d had a chance to regroup and reload.
“Smith, where are they? We need to go now!”
Smith who still on the radio, cried out. “I’ve got them on the air, Sir. They’re coming out.”
“Finally. Tell them to hurry up, we haven’t got all day,” Alvarez shouted.
A minute later, the front doors of the office building burst open, and a group of people spilled onto the steps. Front and center were Julia and another soldier half-carrying, half-dragging a man in a white lab coat.
Chas’ heart leaped at the sight of Julia, glad to see her friend was safe, but the man she was carrying didn’t look so good. Blood stained his coat and his head hung down like it was too much of an effort to lift it. “Who are they?”
Alvarez glanced at her. “None of your business, little one.”
Chas bristled. “I’m not a child. Not anymore anyway, and besides, you owe us one.”
“Owe you?” Alvarez asked with a raised eyebrow.
“If it wasn’t for our help, you’d be dead by now. Or pretty close, anyway,” Chas said, folding her arms and lifting her chin.
Alvarez sighed. “Fine. That’s Dr. Nathan Jones, leader of the CDC group sent here to investigate the virus. The man carrying him is Sergeant William Holt, in charge of the Army Unit sent to accompany the doctor, and that’s Julia Paige, I think. A private.”
“I don’t think the doctor will be doing much investigating anymore,” Vanessa said.
Alvarez shook his head and pointed at the approaching infected. “This is a disaster. We need him, people like him…or you and me, all of us, this will be our new reality.”
Chas shuddered. What would it be like to live like this forever? Hiding, scrounging for scraps, always afraid you’re next on the menu, or stuck in a boring safe zone. She couldn’t imagine a world without airplanes, cars, television, or movies.
Alvarez pointed to a nearby truck. “Get in, kids. We’re leaving now.” Chas opened her mouth, but he shot her down. “Get in. Now. I will talk to you later.”
With no other option left, Chas and her friends climbed into the back and watched as the rest of the party retreated into their vehicles. Dr. Nathan Jones was loaded into the back of one truck on a stretcher, accompanied by Sergeant William Holt, but Julia jumped in with Chas.
“Hey, Chas. Nice to see you again, but what on earth are you doing here?” Julia asked, a smear of blood, probably the Dr’s, marring her cheek.
Alvarez climbed into the passenger side, and the driver started the engine. With a roar and shaky start, they were off, leading the convoy away from what was now a dead zone.
Chas ducked her head. “I, erm, we snuck into the supply truck when no one was looking.”
“What?” Julia said. For a moment, she seemed stunned, then she began to laugh. “I knew you had moxie, but wow. You and your friends must have a real thirst for adventure.”
Chas grinned, but her happiness was soon squashed by Alvarez.
“Adventure, my ass. More like trouble.” He shot Chas a dark look. “You know you can never pull such a stunt again, right?” When Chas didn’t answer, he frowned. “At least not on my watch. I’ve got enough on my plate without babysitting a bunch of kids.”
“We’re not kids,” Chas burst out. “Why can’t you see that? Not only did we save you back there with the gasoline bombs, but we did just fine the night of the outbreak, surviving on our own, killing zombies. We even got away from a zombie gorilla.”
“Bombs? Zombie gorilla?” Julia cried. “That I’ve got to hear about.”
“Enough,” Alvarez said. “I appreciate that you’re tough and brave and that you can take care of yourselves, but your still children. Barely even teenagers.”
“Hey, I’m sixteen already,” Dean protested.
“Then you, especially, should know better,” Alvarez answered.
“Are you really going to tell Major Brown?” Chas asked, suddenly deflating as all her courage left her. “You know what he’ll do to me. To us.”
Alvarez sighed. “I don’t see how I can avoid it, Chas. I’m sorry. It’ll be my job if I don’t.”
Chas sagged into her seat. “I guess so.”
Julia looked at Chas. “What does Major Brown do? Is he ugly to you?”
“Ugly is an understatement. He hates us, and he goes out of his way to make our lives miserable,” Chas said.
“Is that true?” Julia asked Alvarez.
“Sadly, yes. The man seems to have a vendetta against little Chas here,” Alvarez said.
“He even made us clean up dead bodies at the fence the other day,” Vanessa said.
Julia gasped. “That’s not right. I’ll have to speak to Sergeant William. He supersedes the National Guard.”
“Do you think he’ll listen?” Chas asked as a kernel of hope blossomed within her chest.
“I wouldn’t bank on it,” Alvarez said. “Holt might supersede him, but right now, they have more problems than they can deal with, and Chas here ranks pretty low on the totem pole.”
“I can try,” Julia said, her mouth set.
“That you can,” Alvarez said, “or…”
“Or what?”
“You can work behind the scenes to prepare them for the outside. Teach them how to fight, how to think, how to handle themselves out here. None of us know what might happen in the future, and the best we can do is teach them what we know.”
Julia was silent after that until they were within sight of the safe zone’s gates, before saying, “All right, Alvarez. I’ll teach these kids what I know, but only if you’ll help me. I’ll need space, equipment, and look-outs. No one can know.”
“Done, done, and done,” Alvarez said. He twisted around in his seat and offered her his hand. “It’s a deal.”
“Deal,” Julia said, looking at Chas. “I’ll arrange with you guys for a time and place as soon as I can. That’s a promise.”
“Thank you,” Chas said, exchanging excited looks with Vanessa and Dean. While it wouldn’t lessen the trouble they were in, it gave them something to look forward to.
“Look lively,” Alvarez said, as they drove through the gates to park. “I do believe you have a welcoming party waiting for you.”
Chas’ heart sank into her boots when she saw the crowd of people gathered together, and she climbed out of the truck with supreme reluctance. Vanessa and Dean followed her, both looking as nervous as hell.
Lala, Vivienne, and Major Brown stood at the front with Richard, Amelia, and Emily close behind. Sarah was there too, looking pale and sickly in a wheelchair, while young Sergeant Brown hovered in the background with a big smile on his face, his double-chin quivering with excitement.
Around them, the rest of the convoy parked, unloaded, and dispersed with the injured carried away on stretchers. Within minutes, it was just them and the usual activity of the base.
“Lala, Mom, I can explain,” Chas began, but much like with Alvarez, she was cut short.
“Keep quiet, Chas. You can explain yourself later. For now, I just want to know if you’re all in one piece,” Vivienne said, he
r sharp eyes running over the trio of friends.
“We’re fine, Mom.”
“You’re limping.”
“It’s just a bruise, nothing serious, I promise,” Chas said, her palms growing sweaty under the scrutiny of so many people.
Major Brown looked at Alvarez. “Did you know anything about this? Did anyone under your command know or assist these children?”
“No, Sir. They stowed away in the supply truck. We only found out about them during an attack by a horde of zombies.”
Sarah gasped, and she began to cry weakly into a tissue. Vanessa reached out a hand. “I’m sorry, Mom, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Sarah shook her head and sobbed harder.
Major Brown looked at Alvarez. “The mission was a success?”
“We rescued the party, Sir, but there have been losses, and Dr. Nathan Jones is severely injured, perhaps infected and dying.”
“In that case, you are dismissed. I will debrief you later in length, and we will notify the CDC and Army base in Washington,” Major Brown said with a curt nod. “Please ensure that any injured persons including the doctor are properly quarantined. We cannot afford an outbreak.”
“Yes, Sir,” Alvarez said, but as he prepared to leave, he hesitated. “Permission to speak, Sir.”
“Go ahead,” Major Brown said with a wave of his hand.
“These children did wrong today, Sir, no question about it. But they also saved my life and the lives of my men.” Alvarez continued to give a brief description of the fight and what Chas, Vanessa, and Dean had done.
Major Brown looked like he’d swallowed a lemon. “I don’t have time for stories, especially fantastical ones. You are dismissed, Sergeant.”
“Yes, Sir,” Alvarez said, and this time he walked away, his back stiff.
“With all due respect, Major, what Sergeant Alvarez told you is the truth. The absolute truth. You can ask any soldier who was there, and they will tell you,” Julia intervened.
Major Brown’s face turned purple. “If I wanted your input, I would ask for it, Private Paige. This matter doesn’t concern you, or the army.”
“Actually, it does, since these children’s actions saved my life, as well as the lives of my group,” Julia said, unfazed by the Major’s scathing attack.
“You’re absolutely certain of your facts?” Vivienne asked, ignoring the stuttering Major Brown.
“Yes, ma’am,” Julia said. “I’m not one to lie.”
“Thank you. It’s good to know of these extenuating circumstances,” Vivienne said. “It might lighten their punishment…somewhat.”
“Just glad I could help, ma’am,” Julia said with a sweet smile before departing.
Major Brown ground on his teeth, clearly not happy with the direction things were going. “Shall we convene in the school room to discuss the situation?”
“Yes, let’s do that,” Vivienne replied.
Chas, Vanessa, and Dean hung back as far as they could, their feet dragging. They knew that it didn’t matter what they’d done for Alvarez and his men. Major Brown would find a way to make them pay, and pay, and pay. It was good to know they had allies, though, true friends like Alvarez and Julia.
Chapter 12
Once they arrived at the school, Chas and her friends were made to stand in front of the blackboard like naughty children while the adults took their seats. The only upside was the fact that Sergeant Brown didn’t join them. The Major had sent him off on an errand the moment they arrived, and Chas was happy to see him go.
Now, she shifted from side to side while trying to avoid her mother’s angry stare. Despite their earlier heroics, Vivienne had not forgiven them for their antics, and Chas was certain a severe punishment awaited them.
“So, tell us exactly what you did,” Vivienne commanded.
In a faltering voice, Chas told everyone what had happened during their trip, leaving nothing out and including the bomb story. Vanessa and Dean added a few details here and there, ending with their return to base.
Major Brown didn’t bother to hide his derision. Throughout the story, he snorted, rolled his eyes, and even laughed a few times. “You’re not taking this stuff seriously, are you? They’re lying. They’re just trying to get out of being punished.”
“We’re not lying,” Chas said, her fingers itching to punch the smirk off his face.
“How would I know? You don’t exactly have the best track record,” he said.
Chas gritted her teeth together as anger flooded her veins. She was pretty close to physically attacking him if he didn’t back off, but her mother’s gaze warned her to keep her mouth shut.
“That’s enough, Major,” Vivienne said, her fingers drumming on the tabletop. “Both Sergeant Alvarez and Private Paige testified to the truth of their story, and neither of them would have any reason to lie. It would be too easy to catch them out by asking the other soldiers who were also there.”
“Maybe,” Major Brown grumbled. “It still doesn’t change the fact that they snuck out of the base in one of my supply trucks, placing their lives in danger and worrying all of you. They must be punished.”
“I agree. As proud as I am of you three for saving the day, what you did was still wrong,” Vivienne said. After a moment of consideration, she added, “I’m putting you three on clean-up duty at the infirmary for a month. Every day after school, you’ll report to me for duty. Once you’re done, you’ll report to Lala, do your homework, eat supper, and go to bed. No more sneaking around. Understood?”
Chas gaped at her mom, unable to believe she could be so cruel. Clean-up duty at the infirmary was the worst. It included emptying bedpans, washing sheets covered in blood and other stuff, cleaning up vomit…the list went on. “Mom! A whole month?”
“You heard me,” Vivienne said, her tone brooking no argument.
“Lala, please,” Chas begged.
“I’m sorry, hun, but this is what it’s come to,” Chas’ grandmother replied, shaking her head sadly.
Richard and Amelia nodded sagely, Emily looked stunned, while Sarah sniffed into her tissue. At least, she’s no longer sobbing like a baby.
Major Brown laughed and stood up, preparing to leave. “It’s a fitting punishment, I suppose, and maybe it will teach Chas a lesson about honesty.”
“How many times are you still going to throw that in my face?” Chas asked. “I did what I thought was right.”
“Yeah, and a lot of good men and women died that night because of you,” Major Brown replied. “So don’t play the innocent with me.”
Tears formed in Chas’ eyes, his callous remark bringing back the pain she’d fought so hard to forget. At the same time, she wanted to fight back. Thanks to Julia, she no longer allowed the guilt ruled her. “That’s not fair. You know I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt.”
“But they did, and it’s too late to take it back now,” he said. “Did you even think about those poor soldiers while you were concocting your lies?”
“All right, that’s it,” Vivienne said, rising from her chair. “I’ve had just about enough of you, Major Brown.”
“Excuse me?” he asked, his mouth hanging open. “Are you talking to me?”
“You heard me,” Vivienne said, her eyebrows forming a harsh scowl. “I’ve watched you bully my daughter for weeks now over a minor infraction, unable to complain because of our dependence on you. Don’t think for a second I don’t know about the ‘special chores’ you’ve had these kids perform, namely clearing away infected corpses.”
Major Brown’s face grew pale. “I didn’t.”
“Oh, yes, you did.”
“You had my Emily clear away infected corpses?” Amelia interrupted before grabbing her daughter by the shoulder. “Is that true, hun?”
Emily nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
Emily stared at Major Brown. “Because he threatened to kick us all out of the safe zone.”
R
ichard Barnett’s face puffed up like a bullfrog’s. “He did what? I’ll kill him! Nobody threatens my family.”
Vivienne raised a hand. “That won’t be necessary, Richard. Because from now on, things will be different, won’t they, Major Brown?”
“You can’t blackmail me,” he blustered.
“Oh, I can. I have contacts, both here and in Washington, and I’ll make certain they hear about your poor treatment of both the civilians under your care and the supplies you hoard for yourself.”
“You wouldn’t!” Major Brown said.
“Look at me,” Vivienne said with a grim smile. “You know I would.”
Major Brown swallowed hard. “What do you want?”
“First of all, I want you to leave Chas and her friends alone. They are not your concern any longer. Secondly, you are not to harass either Alvarez or Julia Paige simply because they came up for the kids earlier”
Major Brown gave a reluctant nod, his face pulled into a sour expression. “Fine.”
“Thirdly, if Chas hadn’t lied, both I and a lot of other people would be dead today. Is that what you’d prefer?”
“I…er…no, of course not,” Major Brown stuttered. The atmosphere in the room had dropped, and his eyes flitted from one frowning face to the other.
“Then let me make myself clear. If you mention Chas’ infraction one more time, I’ll drag you over my knee and spank you in front of all your men. Got that?”
Major Brown stared at her without saying a word, but his hatred shone through as clear as the midday sun.
“Do you understand?” she repeated.
“Yes, I do.”
“Then we have an accord.” Vivienne stuck her hand out, and they shook on it after which the Major left in a hurry.
Lala walked over, pushing Sarah in her wheelchair. “You’ve made an enemy there. We all have.”
“He was an enemy all along. I was just waiting for the right moment to do something about it,” Vivienne said.
“How did you know, Mother?” Chas asked, amazed at the way things had turned out. While their punishment still sucked, it was almost worth the look on the Major’s face.
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