by Angel Lawson
“Shit,” I mutter, buttoning my pants with one hand and reaching for my knife with another. I press my back against the wall and wait. The bushes shift and branches bob up and down. The movements seem jerky and lumbering but not the frantic rush of a larger group. The last thing I want to do is deal with another stray Eater right now.
I wait patiently for the monster to come out, but it doesn’t seem in a rush. I’ve about given up when limbs snap and I hear a sudden burst of footsteps on the ground along with a strangled noise. I lean out to get a better look and come face to snout.
“Savannah?” I say, calling to my horse. She nickers in reply. I rub her neck and press my face against hers, feeling genuine relief for the first time in days. “I thought you were gone.”
I step further in the yard and see a second horse. It’s Jude’s horse, Murray. I walk over and grip his mane, pulling them toward the house. I kick the back step, too excited to be quiet and shout, “Green! Jude! Come on out!”
The door swings open and I see gun barrels before faces, but Green slowly emerges. Jude follows, stepping over the bloody, stained imprint of his face on the porch floorboards. His mouth lifts up in a wide grin. “Murray!” he shouts, holding his arms out at his horse.
“Our trip back to Catlettsburg just got a little easier, don’t you think?” I say, patting Savannah on the back.
At first sight, the walls aren’t that impressive. It’s just metal sheeting separating the Death Fields from Catlettsburg. But as we get closer I realize just behind it are camouflaged brick and stone blending in with the surroundings.
“Clever,” I say to Green who’s riding the horse next to me. The three of us take shifts on the two horses and move slow. None of our abused bodies can handle a lot of impact or jostling on the back of a horse.
We dismount and I hand Green the binoculars. We’re about six blocks from the center of town and haven’t run into anyone, human, Hybrid, or Eater in our day of travel. I’m eager to find out what’s on the other side of those walls.
Green frowns. “They’ve actually done some of this since we left. The exterior was one of my primary concerns, particularly after being at The Fort.” Avi apparently had created a fortress-like environment long before the Crisis was a reality. From what I’m told, Avi was the ultimate prepper—the brains behind the sustainability of PharmaCorp. He’d come up here with the same idea, although without Jane and her deadly bio-weapons. “It’s possible they were waiting for spring.”
It’s a solid theory but we also know it could be that Chloe beat us here and put her Hybrids to work fortifying the existing fence. Whatever happened, there’s an eerie quiet as we move closer to the town.
Green leads us to the entrance, down long-abandoned and cleared side roads. Small towns have always had a touch of emptiness as you leave the rural areas and approach their historic business centers, but after nearly a full year things have taken a drastic toll. As the rambling hills and farmland fades into pavement and cinderblock, things take on an eerie quiet. The winter weather sped things along, revealing the rusted cracks on deserted vehicles and storefront awnings. Weeds and vines spill over curbs and driveways. A fair-sized doe and her baby nibble on sprouting green leaves creeping into the drive-through window of a dry cleaner. They glance up and dart quickly down the road when they hear us coming.
Broken glass litters parking lots from looted shops and businesses and there’s no one around to clean up the litter that accumulates along the side of the roads and in fence corners. We’ve officially entered the gloomy stage of the apocalypse usually seen in movies or on sleek book covers.
“Damn this place is depressing,” Jude says, echoing my thoughts. We’ve tied the horses in the burned-out bay of a garage two blocks back and are trying to get a better idea of what’s waiting for us. “You promise the inside is better?”
“It was when I left,” Green says. He points up and I crane my neck until I see the two men with rifles keeping watch.
“I don’t think they’re wearing black,” Jude says, peering through the binoculars.
I shake my head. “No, me either.”
“I don’t recognize the guy up there but let me make first contact, “Green says. “Hopefully they’re expecting us. You guys back me up.”
We get into position, Jude and I taking opposite sides of the road. I press my back against the peeling paint on the side of a flower shop. Jude crouches behind a busted fast food sign. Green walks casually down the road toward the makeshift gates to the town.
I can’t hear when he finally speaks but I know that I need everything to be okay. I need a bed to sleep in and weapons at my disposal. I need warm food and a map of the area. I will find Chloe and if God’s willing, rescue Alexandra. Then I will end this fucking war
I hold back a sigh of relief when Green turns and waves us down. The gates open with a slow creak, wide enough for a person to get inside. I haven’t holstered my gun, I’m not that dumb, and when I get close enough to Green I see his eyes shift to the side.
“Something’s off,” I mutter, just loud enough for Jude to hear. He’s already spun so that his back is to mine and in a blink we’re surrounded by men and women carrying weapons. Their faces are covered with handkerchiefs and bandannas, heads with black or gray stocking caps. I observe their jeans and T-shirts and ragged hoodies, but each carries the demeanor and stance of a solider. They appear calm and controlled. I’m not getting a Hybrid vibe but something else entirely.
“Look,” I say, “We’re not here to hurt anyone. We were sent by Dr. Yeun. He needs your help.”
There’s silence in the group yet no one flinches or drops their weapon even an inch. It’s a familiar reaction. None of the people surrounding us are in charge. They’re waiting for their commander to give an order or make a decision. I wait another beat and try again. “We’ve got important information for your leaders. We’re happy to check our weapons. But really, it’s important that we talk to someone in charge.”
I do the unthinkable and place my gun on the ground. I nod at Jude and Green and they do the same, although Green is red–faced and reluctant. Obviously he doesn’t recognize these people either. Catlettsburg has been over taken and not by the Hybrids. Adding another player to the mix is nerve–wracking but we’ve expected it all along.
There’s another stretch of quiet but then it’s broken by movement deep in the group of people. Bodies shift until they part like the sea. I can’t see source of the movement and my aching, sore muscles tense. I count the seconds it will take to get my second gun out of my waistband.
Three
Two
One
My fingers twitch and a tall, broad figure emerges. He’s got a black bandanna over his mouth with the white painted outline of skeletal teeth spreads wide and menacing from ear to ear. Too dark eyes peer over the top and a chill runs down my spine.
“Holy shit,” the masked man says, just as my fingers graze my pistol. He jerks down the smiling mask and the fake grin is replaced by a genuine one as he looks between me and Jude. “I didn’t think we’d ever see you two bastards again.”
The adrenaline spikes and I feel my own grin. Jude is already in the Asian man’s arms, embracing him in a full bear hug. Paul stares at me like he’s seeing a ghost and I’m sure my expression mirrors his.
“Will you tell these people to lower their guns,” I say, walking over and giving him my own hug.
“Right,” he says, and tells his soldiers all is well. They move as a well-oiled unit and again, something seems amiss.
“Chloe is alive. Her army is nearby.” I glance over at the nearest soldiers, my radar still pinging. I notice the worry in Jude’s eyes as well. “How did you even survive her attack? I don’t get it.”
“We’ve got a lot to tell you, but first come in, get clean and eat. After that I’ll explain how we’re going to bring down the Hybrid army for good.
9
Paul brings leads us down the quaint streets
of Catlettsburg toward the center of town. Historic houses line the road and Green points to one with wide green awnings and says, “That’s where the Ramsey sisters lived.”
I glance at the white clapboard house and think about Alex staying there for all those months. She was able to sleep peacefully in a bed. Eat meals at a table. She had part of her family back. I assume it was during this time Green developed a crush on her. That’s easier to do when things aren’t life and death. A person can think about the future when he’s not running from monsters.
Although the place feels plucked out of a TV movie, things aren’t exactly as Green described. Erwin’s soldiers are visible, many I knew and recruited myself. Many walk up and shake my hand. Some even stop to embrace Jude—his personality always kind and infectious. But I notice a change in them. Something slight but I keep my concerns to myself. This world changes people. Maybe they see something different about me, too.
The deeper we get into the town, it’s not just the soldiers that don’t match up, and Green looks wary and confused as well. He’d clearly said the community had few basic survival skills. That Avi didn’t believe in violence and wanted a peaceful existence. This, of course, was before he learned of the Hybrids and the convergence of opposing armies. We pass more than one group of civilians in the midst of training exercises.
“Did you force them to join,” Green asks Paul. It’s not accusatory, just curiosity.
“They were eager. We didn’t even have to fight for the town. We walked right in and they gave it over. They’ve been looking for a real leader.”
“I think we’re learning scientists may not be the most reliable leadership,” I agree. I grab Paul by the arm. “Dr. Ramsey? Did he make it?”
“He did and he’s here with us. Erwin made his safety a priority.” He gives me a questioning look. I know he wants to know about Alex but I told him to wait until I could tell them all at once. Just like I haven’t voiced my suspicions or asked him about the lack of uniform and the crazy face masks, yet. I will before the day is over.
I do relent and say, “She’s alive—or she was until three weeks ago.”
“Three weeks.” He curses under his breath. “Damn, it’s like we’re ships passing in the night.”
They were that close to getting to us before Chloe.
We reach the steps of the courthouse and enter the brick and marble building. The interior is bright due to the massive windows arched at the ceiling. Our boots echo off the floors and we follow Paul up the stairs to a hallway with offices. Double doors stand at the end of the hall and the plaque by the door says “Mayor.” Paul marches toward it and without a hint of hesitation swings them open.
General Erwin sits behind a massive desk centered in the room. A huge window fills the back wall, overlooking the town and the rolling river nearby. The General looks up as though he’s expecting us. A pair of soldiers flank him, their dark eyes unmoving.
“Boys,” he says, standing. “It’s good to have you back. Although all of you look a little worse for the wear.”
“Winter was brutal,” Jude replies and a quip about the General aging himself lingers on the tip of my tongue but that’s just it. He doesn’t look a day older or haggard in any way. If anything, his cheeks are flushed with health and his shoulders broad and fit. Only his balding dome remains the same.
I’ve already stepped into the office and the door shuts with a click behind me when I realize what’s been bothering me this whole time. The soldiers outside the fence, the ones on the streets of town, even Erwin standing before me.
The hair on my neck stands on end and I reach for the gun in the small of my back. I kick Paul behind the knee, managing to catch him by surprise and secure his neck in the crook of my arm—my gun held to his temple. The room explodes into action. Erwin’s men jump on Green and Jude, pinning my shocked and confused friends to the ground before they have a chance to react. Jude’s knife slides across the ground and under the desk. Paul doesn’t resist, but I sense communication passing between him and the General.
“Hold your fire!” Erwin shouts to the soldiers and the room grows still.
“What the hell?” Green asks, looking up at me from the floor.
I narrow my eyes at Erwin, who’s staring at me from behind his desk, amusement lifting one corner of his mouth. He knows that I know.
“Yeah, Erwin, what the hell?” I say, tightening my grip on Paul. “Since when did you become a filthy Hybrid?”
10
The tension in the room ratchets up. Jude and Green look at the soldiers in the room and realization dawns.
“Everyone stand down,” Erwin says, his voice everything a General’s should be. His men react immediately, giving the definite impression he’s their commander. I release Paul and shove him toward the desk. I don’t remove my finger from the trigger. He notices and nods to the extra soldiers in the room. “Clear out.”
“I need an explanation. Now,” I say, once they leave the room. My heart beats like a thousand drums.
“I’m happy to give you one, son. No one is going to hurt you.” He glances at Green and Jude. “Any of you. We’re still on the same side of this shitty battle. The good news for you is that my army has been given an upgrade.”
Suddenly, the trip, my recovery, and the lack of food and drink hits me like a ton of bricks. I grab the back of the closest chair and yank it closer to the door. I can’t help but grimace from the lingering pain as I sit. Green and Jude sit while Paul moves behind the desk to stand next to Erwin, who also has relaxed into the leather seat. He’s caught on to my injuries and probably those of the others. The smartest thing for me to do is listen.
“From the beginning,” I say.
Erwin rubs his shiny, bald head. When I first met him he was full of vitriol and panic. Looking for the cure and determined to get it anyway possible. He nearly had me killed in a one-on-one battle with an Eater. We’ve come a long way since then.
“The Hybrid army caught up to us soon after you left Savannah. We were ready for them and were able to get some early units out to slow them down. All in all we put up a pretty good fight, but we weren’t just fighting humans. She had us outmanned and out-powered with Hybrid strength. I thought for sure she was going to swarm us and take us down in a fiery blaze but it quickly became clear that Chloe wasn’t interested in killing our soldiers.”
“She captured them and sequestered them in an enormous warehouse,” Paul says looking directly at me. “She planned on injecting them with the EVI-2 inoculation with the idea of changing them to Hybrids.”
“They were dead one way or the other. Slaughtered by Hybrid or left defenseless for the Eaters. Yeun decided I should surrender,” Erwin says, with a twinkle in his eye that says the exact opposite.
“After you and I discussed Cole and his transition into a Mutt, I felt confident that Chloe hadn’t realized the consequences of mixing vaccines. If our people were injected with the Hybrid vaccine after getting the EVI-1…”
“Then you’d have an army of Mutts,” I say.
“Yep,” Paul says with a satisfied smile and glances at the General. “He put up a hell of a fight. Like down to the very end when Chloe herself cornered him in the armory. She looked like the cat that had caught the canary. Too bad she didn’t realize it was a set up.”
Jude, who has been silent this whole time, speaks up. “Wait…so you let her do this to you?”
“Well to him,” Paul says. “I didn’t let her get me. She couldn’t know about me and God knows what another dose of that crap would do to my system.”
I don’t blame him for that. Paul was barely alive when we found him in the testing center from all the chemicals they’d been pumping into him for months.
“How many were injected?” I ask.
“Five hundred and twenty three,” Erwin replies. “We took down half her army by the time they realized their mistake.”
“Boy, I wish I could have seen her face when she figured it out,�
�� Jude says, breaking into a grin.
“Although we had the element of surprise, she had access to weapons and artillery. We fought for three bloody days. On the third a horde of Eaters found us, probably alerted by the continuous battle. One of the largest I’ve ever seen. Probably came up from Florida, which means all the cleared areas in Georgia and South Carolina are filled with the infected again.” Erwin sighs. “We both used the opportunity to gather our survivors and run. We moved northeast and she just went north. We knew from Cole she planned on going after Alexandra and the northern survivors next. She just didn’t have the massive army behind her like she thought she would.”
“So everyone is a Mutt?” I ask. “The whole army?”
“Everyone that survived. We’re down to about three hundred now.”
“What about the members of the town?” Green asks. “Did you give them the EVI-2 as well?”
“No,” Paul answers. “That’s up to them. Right now we’re training them in the basics. They’ll get the option soon.”
“You’re aware Chloe is in the area? She has Alexandra and Jane. She left us for dead.”
Erwin laughs. “When will they learn it’s a mistake not to see the bullet in your head?”
That’s a question I’ve mulled over and over for days now. How did she let that happen?
I shrug. “Their stupidity is just another chance for me to end this.”
“When do we go after them?” Green asks, sounding eager to get back in the fight even though his body isn’t any readier than mine is.
“Patience is important right now. We’re strong but not big enough. We have scouts recruiting new members as we speak.” Erwin’s face turns serious. “The next battle will be the final one. We can’t go on like this—not if we want to survive as a species. The modifications and genetic alterations are damaging the thread of humankind.”