Brent Acuff - Undead Nation 03

by Revenge

  “Do you two realize just how serious this is? A food fight? In my cafeteria? What do you have to say for yourselves?”

  The two teenage corpses stared blankly forward, only giving the slightest groan in response. Yellow pus oozed from sores on the taller zombies face.

  “When I ask you a question, I expect an answer.” The two continued staring. “There are brains all over the cafeteria; all over the walls! There are entrails hanging from the lights. And that’s not even the worst of it. The vomit is everywhere. I’ve put up with you two in this school for long enough. You’ve finally crossed the line and you’re done. Done! You two are suspended until your expulsion hearings. And I’ve got a stack of documentation that will ensure this is the last time you set foot on this campus. The video surveillance aline will be enough to seal the deal.”

  Alex stood up from behind his desk and motioned for the two corpses to do the same. “The two of you will be spending some time in In School Suspension until your parents can be contacted to come and get you. Now, get out of this office, and I had better not have to deal with you again today. Do I make myself clear?” The two corpses still remained silent, save for a very slight moan that escaped their lips. “Get out!”

  The two teenage corpses shambled out of Alex’s office and stood waiting for the School Resource Officer to escort them to the ISS room. Alex put both hands on the wall and lowered his head, willing his blood pressure down. A breathy moan brought Alex’s attention back to the present. Secretary Lee stood next to Alex holding out a message for him. Her bottom jaw hung only by a single tendon, swaying slightly from her motion.

  “Thank you Ms. Lee,” Alex said with a sigh. He read the message, threw back his head and rolled his eyes. “Seriously? Seriously?!” He looked at the corpse that used to be Rebba Lee, the sole person capable of keeping this school running. She shrugged her shoulders. The secretary’s left shoulder dislocated, dropping her left arm to dangle by the few thin strands of flesh and muscle that still remained. She appeared not to notice and turned to shamble back to her desk.

  “Why do I have to deal with cheerleaders?” Alex said to himself. “When did she say she was coming in?”

  Just then the door to the office opened and a great moan issued throughout the front office. The corpse of Shannon Hemenway struggled through. Mrs. Hemenway was a corpse only in the sense that there was enough flesh and muscle left to move what bones remained.

  “Mrs. Hemenway, what can I do for you?” The corpses moans rose to a fevered pitch, making the living in the office cover their ears. Since Alex was the only living soul in the building, only Alex pressed his hands to his ears.

  “Mrs. Hemenway…Mrs. Hemenway! I’m sorry, but we’ve already investigated the incident. Nothing happened, just hurt feeling between girl friends. Mrs. Hemenway, please come into the office so we can talk in private.”

  Alex didn’t believe that the angry corpse could get any louder. He was wrong. The creature’s moans bore through Alex to the point that Alex believed his head might actually split in two.

  “Mrs. Hemenway…Mrs. Hemenway…Mrs. Hemenway!” Alex patience snapped. He knew he was about to get fired and he didn’t care. He closed his eyes and screamed. “Mrs. Hemenway, it was your brat of a daughter who spread rumors about three of the other cheerleaders! It was YOUR daughter that placed the cameras in the girls bathroom! Don’t you dare stand there and try and defend your daughter when we already have all the evidence we need to prove it!”

  Alex finished his rant at the parent and took a few deep breaths. It was then that he realized the ear splitting moans had stopped.

  Alex slowly removed his hands from his ears and opened his eyes…

  Shannon Hemenway stood directly in front of Alex, jaws open wide, broken teeth coming close. Alex felt the zombie rip into his flesh.

  –

  Alex jumped awake. He shook his head and cursed, “Goddamned morphine.” Carefully raising himself from the bed, he looked around the room.

  Light streamed in from a half open tent flap. The sides and roof were clean and white and the floor was covered completely in straw maps to help lessen the amount of dust in the air. There were mostly empty cots arranged throughout the tent, only a few of which were occupied by sleeping men and women. Looking closer, Alex realized that those men and women were the remainder of his team, the ones who survived the attack. Counting himself, there were only five.

  Alex struggled to find anything that would tell him what day it was, but the inside of the tent was bare, devoid of any decorations save for the sleeping inhabitants. A stainless steel tree accompanied each of the patients, each laden with IV bags of clear fluid with their transparent tendrils snaking down to their charges below. Alex began rearranging the IV feeds trailing from his arm in an attempt to stand.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The voice seemed to come out of nowhere and Alex stopped immediately, feeling that he had been caught doing something wrong. “You aren’t quite ready to do that yet.” The man’s drawl sounded familiar to Alex and he turned his head to look behind him. Sitting in a plain rocking chair, book opened in his lap, Alex was greeted by the smiling face of Lieutenant Hubbard.

  “You boys have had quite a row,” Hubbard said, closing the book and leaning forward in the chair. “Weren’t quite sure if some of you would make it.”

  “How long,” Alex rasped. He massaged his sore throat and cringed. “How long have we been here?”

  Lieutenant Hubbard looked up at the ceiling as if he were trying to figure something in his head. “Four days is about right.”

  Alex’s face screwed up in confusion at the revelation. “Four days? How many made it out?” Hubbard’s face went serious.

  “It’s amazing that any you survived. That was some serious shit that went down. Professional stuff.”

  “How many?” Alex demanded. He waited for Hubbard to give in.

  “Five,” he said, then corrected himself. “Five and a half, really.”

  Alex looked confused. “What does that mean?”

  Lieutenant Hubbard did not have time to explain as a shadow fell across the opening of the tent. Commander Travis swept in through the door.

  “Mr. Kemp,” Travis said by way of greeting. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. Do you think you can walk? We don’t have much time.”

  Alex shook his he. “I’m sorry. I…I…”

  “Mr. Kemp,” Travis said crossing the floor towards Alex. “Can you walk? I’ll explain on the way.” Travis looked at Hubbard and Alex saw the look that passed between them. Something was very wrong.

  “I can and will, sir.” Alex swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. The world spun around him and he sat back on the bed, clutching his head. Travis reached forward to steady Alex and Hubbard prepared to remove the IVs.

  “Don’t move quite so fast,” Travis ordered. “I’d rather move slow and steady than have to pick you up off the floor.”

  Hubbard braced Alex’s arm and grabbed the IVs. “Don’t look,” he said and slid both of the needles out at the same time. Considering the pain that Alex was already in, he barely even noticed.

  “Come on,” Travis said lifting Alex from the bed and supporting him. “Dr. Cahn needs to see you and he doesn’t have much time.”

  –—

  Alex limped slowly up to the makeshift containment cell. Dr. Cahn sat on the dirt floor, knees pulled up against his chest. His skin was pale grey, he was sweating profusely and his breathing was labored. Alex couldn’t take his eyes off of the large ragged wound that crisscrossed his shoulder.

  Hearing footsteps, Dr. Cahn looked up. He was in obvious pain, but smiled when he recognized Alex.

  “You made it,” Cahn wheezed. “Thank god. I was afraid that I hadn’t stopped the bleeding.” Alex limped the last few feet to the front of the cell. He leaned his head against the bars and stared at the ground at his feet.

  “What happened, Doc?” Alex asked. The sudden understandin
g of what had happened to the doctor, and what was to come weighed on his shoulders.

  Cahn coughed, wet and raspy. “They turned zombies loose on us, Alex. Damned zombies.” Cahn coughed again, the act shaking his entire body. He wiped bloody spittle from his lips, finally gaining control of his body again. “There were six or seven of them. Throats ripped out so we wouldn’t hear their moans as they came. If it hadn’t been for Commander Travis and Lieutenant Hubbard…” Another fit of coughing consumed the doctor.

  “Hey, doc. They said it’s been four days. You can’t be infected. No one has ever fought off the virus for more than three.”

  Cahn looked up at Alex. The doctor was beginning to shake uncontrollably now. The infection was near completion. “I had to ask you something, Alex. A favor, please?” Alex nodded, at this point in time willing to give anything to his friend.

  “Anything.”

  Cahn smiled. “Take care of my sons. They are good boys, but they need some guidance. Find your daughter and live, and teach my boys about discipline and honor. They are going to want blood, Alex. Don’t let them, please?” Alex nodded.

  “Anything you want, Doc. Anything.”

  “Good,” Cahn said looking visibly relieved. “Then just one more favor?”

  “Anything,” Alex said absently. The vision of a pistol entered his vision. Alex looked up to see Commander Travis standing next to him, gun held out for him to take.

  “I don’t want this virus to take me, Alex. But I’m also a coward. I’m a coward because I didn’t want to die alone. I…” and Cahn choked. “I needed a friend to help me. Please? I don’t want to become one of them.” Tears streamed down J.J. Cahn’s face as he pleaded with Alex.

  Alex took the gun from Travis. The commander stepped away.

  Alex looked his friend in the eyes.

  “Thank…”

  The pistol rang out before the doctor could finish. His head snapped back, blood covering the wall behind him.

  Alex let the gun slip from his hand as he limped away from the lifeless body of his friend.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Taking the Fight to Gen. Hill

  “You boys can’t stay here,” Lieutenant Hubbard urged. “Commander Travis has been able to keep you hidden for four days now, but he won’t be able to keep that up. None of us will.”

  The remaining members of the New Hope colony — Alex, Liam, Hayden, Luke and Theresa — sat together in silence, mourning the loss of Dr. Cahn and the others. One by one each of the others had begun to wake up soon after Alex left the tent with Commander Travis on their errand to see the doctor. Alex shared with them the events that had taken place since.

  “I’m serious,” Hubbard stressed. “We need to come up with a plan to get you guys…”

  “We appreciate everything that you, Commander Travis and your men have done for us,” Liam interrupted. “But if you wouldn’t mind just shutting up right now. We’ve lost some close friends.”

  Hubbard took the hint, throwing his arms up in defeat and walking to the other side of the tent. Only the sounds of Camp Tulsa filtering in on the afternoon air broke the silence.

  “Hubbard’s right,” Luke said after a long time silent. “We can’t stay here much longer. Someone is going to notice that we aren’t dead, and word is going to get back to Hill. He won’t miss us a second time.”

  No one responded to Luke, despite the fact that everyone in the room agreed.

  The sound of hurried feet drew the group out of their thoughts. They turned to see Commander Travis rushing into the tent. “Alex,” he said and nodded to the others. “I’m afraid that I have more bad news. General Hill isn’t buying the line that you all are dead. I,” he shook his head and sighed. “A close friend of mine is with General Hill’s company. He says…he says things are not good. Hill is calling for your heads, and he is willing to take out anyone one who tries to stop him.”

  The group continued to sit silently, taking in everything that Commander Travis had just said. “Alex, I’m sorry. But I can’t let you or your men stay here. There is…”

  “There are too many innocents here,” Alex interrupted. He looked up from the spot on the ground that had been holding his attention for so long. “We wouldn’t ask you or your men to put yourselves in danger for us.” Alex turned to look each of his friends in the eye. “We’ll leave. We just need some supplies.”

  Commander Travis nodded his head. “You will have anything and everything that you need, Alex.” He crossed the open space between them to stand in front of Alex. Commander Travis held out his hand. “I’m sorry for my involvement in any of this. Please believe me when I say that I had no idea that it would come to this. I had no idea Hill would do what he has done.”

  Alex took the commander’s hand and shook it. “If you and your men hadn’t come to our aid, none of would be alive.” The sentiment seemed to ease the conscience of Travis who smiled and shook Alex’s hand once more.

  “Let’s go,” Alex commanded. “Gather supplies and check your weapons. We are going into hiding.”

  –—

  Bullets clicked into magazines, weapons were checked, and bags were loaded to capacity with supplies, food and ammunition. The grieving Stryker team had pushed aside their emotions once more to prepare for a battle they knew was coming. Each of the five remaining citizens of New Hope readied themselves and their equipment to face any number of threats awaiting them.

  “Fifteen minutes,” Alex called out, double checking his own gear in the process. Commander Travis had seen to it that Alex and his team were given anything and everything that they requested. The supply chief had been suspicious, but stern orders from the commander had put an end to any further questions.

  “Equipment check. Each man sound off.” Each member of the Stryker team called out in turn the contents of their personal bags, including ammo, weapons, food, and supplies. Donovan, after completing his personal equipment check, sounded out the contents of the humvee.

  “Everyone load up. We’re heading out.” The team finished the last minute details of their packing while Alex crossed to shake hands with Lieutenant Hubbard.

  “We can’t thank you enough for coming to get us the other night. And for all of the care that you showed to me and my team.”

  Hubbard shook his head, dismissing the thanks. “What any good soldier would do for his comrades. Nothing more.”

  Alex shook the man’s hand and slapped him on the shoulder. “Comrades? After everything you’ve done for us, you’re a bit more than that. If we make it through this, look us up sometime. You’ll always be welcome.”

  “Will do,” Hubbard said smiling.

  “Incoming!” Both Alex and Hubbard heard the call. Donovan frantically jabbed his finger in the direction behind the two men, his rifle already raised and sighted on the incoming danger. Hayden scrambled behind Donovan into the humvee, his head popping out of the gun port of the roof. He swung the M249 SAW in Alex’s direction.

  Turning, Alex saw fifteen black clad soldiers quickly closing the distance between them and the Stryker team. Seeing the M249 swing their direction, the attackers split their ranks and took cover. All hell broke loose.

  Alex and Lieutenant Hubbard dove for the ground as bullets passed just inches above their heads. Hayden unleashed with the SAW, spraying the attackers with an unrelenting amount of fire. The black clad attackers dove for cover, one of them moving too slow and his chest exploded as the high velocity rounds tore through him. The amount of cover fire was enough to allow Alex and Hubbard to scramble for cover behind the humvee.

  “You’ve got to get out of here!” Hubbard yelled to Alex. “Get out of here!”

  Alex shook his head. “No good! We’re pinned down and out numbered! Plus, somebody’s got to save your ass.” Alex looked over the hood of the humvee and squeezed the trigger of his rifle, sending a spray of bullets at the attackers. Easing off the trigger and looking down range, Alex noticed as some of the attackers began moving to
the left and right of Alex’s position. He ducked back behind the humvee.

  “They are going to have us surrounded any time now. They do that, and they’ll cut us to ribbons!”

  A wicked grinned spread across Hubbard’s face. “Let me make a phone call.”

  Alex looked at the man, confused as Hubbard pulled out a radio. Covering the mouthpiece with his free hand, Hubbard began screaming into the radio. A second later, his grinning face looked back at Alex. “You think you can hold them off for two minutes?” The man seemed to be having a bit of fun with everything.

  “Why? What happens in two minutes?” Alex asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer he was about to get.

  “Fireworks!”

  Bullets ricocheted everywhere around the humvee. One bullet found its place in the front tire, throwing the entire vehicle off balance. The lurch of the truck threw Hayden off balance and the SAW swung down peppering the ground far in front of the attackers positions. The momentary lapse in covering fire gave the attackers the needed break to reposition themselves.

  “They’re coming around! Throw everything you’ve got at them!” Alex popped up over the hood of the humvee again, sighting in an attacker almost immediately. His rifle barked a three round burst and he watched the attacker fall.

  All around him, the Stryker team unleashed as much firepower as they could, desperately trying to keep the heads of the attackers low and their feet from moving. The team was outnumbered three to one, and the bullets coming at them far out paced their own.

  “I’m hit,” Luke called out as he fell to the ground. Blood poured from a wound above his ankle, and the man struggled to get back to his feet. His gun never wavered or stopped. “There’s too many! We’ve got to get out of here!”

  A large explosion lit the sky, the concussive boom a exclamation point to Luke’s call. A second and a third explosion flared, each one churning up the earth between the Stryker team and attackers. Hubbard whooped and hollered into his radio.