by WR Peden
“What are you doing,” DJ asks with tears slowly coming to a stop.
“Putting him in a place better than this brain-eating dead zone he is about to enter," I respond.
“But you're just going to shoot him, with no remorse?” says DJ.
“Yea, I am truly sorry for your loss but just look at what it is doing to him this quick. It is like looking at an animal that is injured and can’t heal. It’s better to do this than have them turn on us.
DJ looks shocked for a moment then looks at his friend who has almost fully turned now, then looks back at me.
“Can… Can…. Can I do it?” After pondering if I can trust him enough, knowing there are only 5 rounds left and that 1 shot is going to alert anything nearby. I go ahead and hand DJ the gun when I start to hear a rumbling noise ahead of us. I immediately squat down, grab DJ by the arm pulling him back as I snatch the handgun back and put it in my waistband.
“Let's go, someone is on the way.” I hastily say.
“I can’t leave him here, not like this,” responds DJ. “That's your call, I am getting in that rig and getting prepared, you can come with me or not, I don’t care,” I respond as I headed toward the semi staying as low as possible.
Just as DJ takes off running behind me a loud pop that faintly sounds like a gunshot is heard from around the car, DJ and I both stop and look towards the car, just as DJ’s friend has his skull and brains burst into the interior of the driver side of the car followed by another loud pop that buzzes just over top of our head as I feel the air move past us and connect with the radiator of the semi causing a brief moment of steam and fluid empty.
“Son of a Bitch, now I'm pissed.” I grab the pistol out, eject the mag, take a quick look and count to verify only four left in the clip with the last one in the chamber. I slam the magazine back in and use the flipped car’s trunk area as a barrier between me and whoever fired the shots. The rumble from earlier has become the very distinctive sound of a modified off-road enhanced, four wheel drive, high powered diesel sounding truck with no muffler inching closer. With my back against the trunk of the car, I tactically peak around the corner of the vehicle to see what we are up against.
DJ reaches over and grabs the crowbar from my hand and leans up against the trunk as well trying to limit any exposed body parts. I look over at DJ; put my index finger over my mouth, then lean slightly forward to peek out once again. The truck comes to a stop as a group of individuals hop out from inside the truck and all pull the guns up. Some of them with handguns, one with a shotgun and a couple with automatics. A rough looking fella in the back of the truck holding a rifle with a scope on it looks around then speaks.
“Come on out, I saw yall running… we aren’t here to hurt ya,” He chuckles, “Well as long as you ain't one of these things.” He says as he shoots a zombie walking by our area.
The rest of the group began to chuckle along with him. I look over at DJ, he just shrugs his shoulders.
I yell out “We don’t want any trouble, I was just helping this guy and I am trying to figure out what's going on myself.”
“Well, at least he ain't one of those” the man says as a loud shot is heard again as the head of a nearby approaching zombie explodes on impact of the rifle round. DJ and I both jump on the sound of the shot. I put the pistol in my waistband look at DJ.
“We are outgunned, there is nothing we can do but show ourselves,” I whisper to DJ. DJ nods in agreement, still holding the crowbar.
DJ and I raise our hands above the car and begin to stand up as I speak.
“We are coming out, don’t shoot.” As we stand up, we see the presumed leader in the back of the truck bed, with a nice sniper-like nest on the top of the truck cab, and three others standing around all staring at us. All four of these individuals all look clean cut, bathed, well groomed, healthy and well armed. The man in the back of the truck instructs his guys to all lower their weapons and hops out of the truck.
“How’s it going, my name is Constantine, the gentleman to my right is Jack, that young man over there is Wayne and fiery redhead is Tracy and we are part of The Silent Soldiers. Now, who are you, two gentlemen?”
“I...I. I’m DJ and that was my friend, Andrew, you guys took out.” stuttered DJ with an angry look. I look around at all of the soldiers trying to size them up, knowing I only have five rounds if this goes sideways, I will need to try to get one of their weapons. As a Marine you are taught to always be aware of your surroundings, always have an out, and planning your every move ahead of others if you wish to survive, and this is the toughest survival test of all. I continue to look around remembering the one motto that has stuck with me for years from the service and that is "One mind, Any Weapon".
“The name’s Cordell and we ain't trying to start no problems, in fact, I just cleared a horde of these undead bastards just a little before you showed and saved ol DJ’s life.” I snarled a reply.
“I see you aren’t from around here are you? You also don’t seem to be too afraid of much either, which means either psycho, former military or one of ZED’s boys. Now, which is it?” Constantine demands as the rest of the soldiers ready their weapons.
“Hold up haas, lower those guns man. First off, No I ain't from here, I'm originally from Texas but my grandma lives up the road in Crocker. I moved here a few years ago after I got out of the Corps. Now if it looks like I ain't afraid much, it's because I was in the war in Iraq, I saw what went on and these undead bastards ain't much different, except instead of blowing my ass up, they want to eat me. So excuse me if I ain't no white trash meth head trying to survive, hell they probably fit in now.” I respond getting very agitated at the Silent Soldiers and their demeanor.
Suddenly loud groans, moans and muffled noises are heard from a nearby distance. We all look toward the nearby truck stop that is only about one hundred feet to the north of us.
“Get in your positions.” Constantine barks.
“You have any extra nine mil rounds or other weapons I only have five rounds left, and DJ here ain't got nothing.” I inquire.
“Jack, Hook em up,” Constantine demands. Jack, reaches into the cab of the truck, grabs a semi-automatic and tosses it to me as he grabs a smaller handgun and throws it to DJ.
“Ever use one of those?” I jokingly ask. As I poke fun at DJ, the Silent Soldiers in almost a fluid single swift motion instantly turn their truck into a fortified position. Not the quietest setup with a constant slamming of steel hitting the ground, creating a bullet proof protection around the entire perimeter with limited access points; I grab DJ and start to pull him with me as I head for the front to a guarded position just created.
Just as the barrier finishes the sound of glass shattering is heard as the constant flow of the undead poor out of the store window like a punctured gas tank.
“Wait for it,” Constantine whispers as he stares down the scope of his rifle propped up on the cab of this barricaded machine. After what seemed like a half hour but probably only a minute or two. Constantine takes the first shot sending chunks of rotting flesh into the horde that follows. Suddenly the soldiers open up sending multiple rounds down field into the crowd dispersing as many of the undead bastards as remotely possible. I with the semi-auto and no knowledge of how many rounds are available put the rifle in single burst mode and patiently calculate each shot precisely. Tracy yells out that she is reloading and backs up against the backside of the secured position.
As everyone focused on the encroaching horde of decaying flesh, no one thought to ensure our six was covered.
“Ahhhh, Help me! Screamed Tracy.
“Oh, Shit.” I quickly turn around and without hesitation fire off three single shot rounds into the skull of the zombie take a chunk out of Tracy’s neck. Suddenly Constantine pulls out a pistol and fires it, sending another round through the face of his former soldier without remorse. He then puts the pistol up and immediately gets back behind his scope, thinning the a
pproaching horde. I momentarily drown out the unavoidable noise of constant gunfire to stare at Tracy, lying in a pool of her own blood, brain and skull fragments. While everyone else seems to be distracted, I crouch down and walk over to Tracy’s body and grab her shotgun that was mid reload when she was chosen as a snack. Like a scavenger with no heart, I search her body taken the additional rounds she had and even the large hunting style knife and holster she had in her waistline.
I take the shotgun, muzzle down, and sling it across my back, pick up my weapon and head back to my initial position next to DJ. As I return and look around it appears as if no one but DJ has seen anything. I put my finger over my lips and shake my head in a signaling motion to come over. DJ nervously looks around and notices everyone is occupied with the zombies coming toward us. Petrified and trembling still holding the pistol given to him earlier he makes his way closer to me. I get ready to speak and happen to glance at the handgun and notice the safety is still on.
“Really, have you never used a gun before?” I cautiously ask. DJ, afraid to speak he shakes his head no.
“Alright, well stick with me. Look over there.” I say as I point to the opening just big enough to step over to the large bank that leads down to the interstate right off the on ramp.
“Shortly, when I say to take off down that hill and try to keep up with me. That guy just shot one of his own because she was bitten, and that is after he took out your friend. I don’t trust these guys; I mean Silent Soldiers, what is that anyway.” I tell DJ.
“We are about an hour’s drive from the base, I met a group of them earlier, friendly and well-armed who said if I can make it up there I can get us in. Now, DJ…I am going to warn you when they notice that we have taken off, they are probably going to open fire so my best advice from my military experience is to run in a zigzag pattern. Make sure to not follow a pattern they can lead with that long rifle of his. Understand?” I ask.
“Why don’t we just shoot them and take the truck?” DJ inquires.
“Because we can only take one maybe two of them, especially with your inexperience. We stand a better chance taking off on our own. I took that Tracy girls shotgun after Constantine shot her. I have her extra rounds, the 5 rounds from my pistol, your handgun and I'm going to try to get a reload prior to our taking off.” I answer.
DJ acknowledges and stays by me cowering down next to me much like he was doing by the driver door.
“Is this guy serious?” I think to myself.
Has DJ really never fired a weapon or is he playing me? Is DJ secretly part of this organization? Will my plan to take off backfire and get me killed or worse, wounded and left to be eaten by brain eating corpses. So many questions to be answered soon enough!
Chapter 3
Cartridge cases continuously hitting the ground putting a brass layer around each of us. “Throw me some more ammo.” I roar. As I let out a few more rounds into this seemingly endless horde.
“Here’s a few!” Jack shouts as he tosses me six, full, thirty-round clips from the backseat of the truck. I finish emptying the rest of my initial clip,
“I’m out, reloading,” I yell to make sure the guys heard me. I speed reload, grab the empty mag and 2 of the full ones and hand them to DJ.
“Here, you hold these, I can’t carry all this. My bag is in the rig over there. But I don’t think we will get an opening big enough to make a run for it and my bag.” I tell DJ. With pockets full of shotgun rounds, a Glock in my pants and a shotgun slung over my back, I somehow manage to find room for two more of the magazines. Remembering Tracy had her hair in a ponytail gave me an idea. I set my rifle next to DJ who is still visibly shaken up and yet to fire his gun. I walk back to Tracy’s body, pick up what's left of her head and pull the ponytail holders out of her hair.
“What are you doing?” demands Wayne who has stopped laying rounds down field to see what I was up to.
“John threw me a couple of mags and I don’t have any tape, Tracy is dead so I figured I would grab her hair ties as she won't need them anymore,” I answer in a snarky voice.
“What do you need ponytail holders for? You don’t have a whole lot of hair boy.” Wayne angrily remarks.
“Look, I ain't trying to cause a fight; we got a big enough one over there. I’m just going to be using these ties to put the mags together for faster reloading. It is an old military tactic to limit the down time” I explain. Wayne glares at me, as I put the ties around my wrist and walk back to DJ.
“Get ready to take off. You will know when the time is right. Just run down the hill and head east on the interstate towards the base, even if I don’t follow.” I instruct.
“Keep your head on a swivel, there is no telling what or who is out there.” I remind DJ.
“I thought they are helping us, why would they try and shoot me?” Asks a very nervous and visibly shaking DJ. Wayne looks over and becomes suspicious as he can visually tell something is up with DJ.
“Hey, what's up with him?” Wayne asks as he walks over to us.
“Give him a break; this is his first time ever in any type of combat including firing a weapon. Not everyone is cut out for this, you should know this.” I explain to Wayne who looks angry. Wayne rolls his eyes then continues to fire at the endless horde.
Agitated, I look over to DJ and motion for him to go as I mouth “It's time, go now, I will be behind you.” DJ hesitates, and then nods in acceptance. He pats himself down to make sure he has everything secure, looks at the opening then looks around at the Silent Soldiers who are occupied by this seemingly endless horde of the undead. Without a second thought, DJ takes off running through the opening I pointed out to him earlier and heads the way he was instructed to. Wayne’s head jerks around quickly and sees DJ running and starts to yell.
“We got…” Wayne stops mid-sentence as I pull out the pistol and point it directly at his head as I back toward the opening. Just then all the noise of the gunfire stops as everyone turns and looks towards me. The only noise that could be heard was the grumbling and moaning as a horde slowly approaching fortified location. I make it to the opening and simply wave as I turn around and take off in a full sprint the same direction as DJ recently did. As I am running Wayne takes off and stops just outside the opening. Everyone is dumbfounded and confused as Wayne looks visibly pissed and fires a couple of rounds in my direction missing with every shot. Constantine yells for him to stop just as a zombie who became attracted to the gunshots surprises Wayne and takes a huge bite out of his neck. I turn my head to look back as I see Wayne fall to the ground and start to get devoured. I continued running down to the interstate. As I get to a car that has been parked with the doors open and keys in the ignition I checked it completely in, around and under to ensure that I don't suffer the same fate that Wayne did. I take a seat in the driver's seat putting my legs inside the car and shutting the door to catch my breath.
After a few moments of catching my breath I quickly look around, open the door and step out listening for gunshots to ensure they are still up there. Knowing the other guys are just up the hill I quickly head east down the interstate keeping my head on a swivel looking for DJ who took off ahead of me. I shout out for DJ, looking around the other cars for any sign of movement or sign that DJ was there.
“I hope he remembered which direction to continue.” I thought to myself.
Suddenly the sound of a bullet comes from in front of me, from what look to be a drainage ditch area. I quickly draw my semi-automatic rifle and point it in the direction of the gunshot.
“DJ, Is that you?” I yell “If it's you come on out, if not, I do have my weapon drawn on your area, so come out with your hands up.”
“I...I...I...it's...it's Me.” DJ stutters. DJ then raises his hand and comes out from the drainage pipe. As soon as I see him, I lower my weapon and rush over to him.
“You okay?” I ask. DJ nods and gives me a hug.
“Put your gun on safe and put it u
p, we are going to follow the interstate for a while,” I instruct. DJ flips the safety on his handgun, and then puts it in his waistline.
“Make sure to keep your head on a swivel and look around for anything we can make into a bag or supplies, also help me make sure we don't get attacked by any of these undead fucks,” I explain. DJ nods as we both start walking east. We continue walking towards the military base where the Soldiers of Z.E.D are located at while looking in every vehicle we pass for anything we can use or for a working vehicle.
After what seemed like an eternity and the uneasy feeling of not seeing any of the undead and what I have noticed to be approximately 3 miles according to the mile markers, we approach another onramp, this one I know of as my house is not too far away from here. That means the last place I remember my truck being at, was headed the same direction we are. I look around and notice that the sun is starting to set, knowing a gas station, hospital and my house are all right up to the road, I start walking toward the ramp.
“Where are we going?” Asks DJ.
“There is a gas station and the hospital up here and I know we can get some supplies and look the sun is going down so it will be dark before too long. Without a vehicle, our chances of survival out here are less than ideal.” I explain.
DJ shrugs his shoulder and speaks, “Okay sounds good to me.”
As we walk up the ramp, I start hearing the sound of the groaning, fleshing eating zombies we have encountered previously. I pull out the rifle that has been resting on my back and hold it, ready to pull it up and fire at any time.
“Stay close, I hear zombies nearby, most likely at the gas station,” I whisper to DJ. As we approach the top of the ramp I continue to look around. I notice a group of zombies huddled together around the dumpster area of the gas station just off to our right.
“DJ, I want you to go up over there and lay down just below the top of the hill when I give you the signal, I want you to fire the pistol at the group and take out as many as you can. Aim for the chest until they get closer. I am going to flank them and come around over here, so as they are walking towards you I will be coming up behind them shooting them. It appears to be only a half dozen or so them over there. If they start getting too close, run down the hill and up the ramp the same direction I will go.” I instruct DJ.