by Thomas Baker
It's parking lot was crammed full of cars facing in every which way, like a puzzled of a madman. Dusty circled around the mall, JT followed, and it was like that all the way around. Almost like a moat around a castle.
JT followed Dusty around two more laps of the mall. What is the guy doing?
Why are so many cars ringing the building? Why aren't there more zombies around? He just had a deep feeling that something was not right. Dusty stopped suddenly and JT nearly collided with him, he had been paying more attention to the mall.
Dusty had stepped out of the SUV. "Hey, a little more warning next time!" JT yelled out of the Honda's open window.
Dusty didn't bother replying. Instead he got out his rifle. He leaned on the hood and looked through the scope. JT got out to stand beside him. JT looked back at a sound. Hannah had gotten out as well, shading her eyes to look at the mall.
JT turned back around, wanting to lay into Dusty about his bad feeling and that they should get the hell out of here. Before he could the area around them transformed into a killing field.
The chatter of gunfire, some of it rapid, seemed to surround them. JT dropped to the ground behind the SUV, joining Dusty who had somehow already hit the concrete.
JT half crawled, half scuttled, to the back of the SUV. Doors were opening behind him as Gus, Alan, and Tyrone bailed out.
JT peeked out as far as he could dare, looking for Hannah and Ashley. They wouldn't have much protection in the Honda.
He couldn't see them from his vantage point. He dared to come out a little bit farther, then darted back as the ground around him puffed specks of grey dust. Some flew into and stung his eyes.
That was too close.
As he wiped at his eyes, JT had a vision of both girls bleeding out on the mall parking lot. He turned back around, shoving his way past Gus and the rest, who were sitting down, arms over their heads. The gunfire was still coming sporadically. Dusty squatted at the front of the SUV. To JT he looked to be in a daze.
"Dusty, goddamn it. You led us into this ambush!" JT yelled over the gunfire. "How're you going to get us out of here!"
He gave Dusty a push, knocking him on his butt.
Dusty looked up at him, glaring with a white hot fury. JT glared back, daring him with his eyes to try something.
Dusty's chest puffed up, then deflated. He put down his rifle and waved his hands over the hood of the car enough to be visible. The firing stopped.
"Get out of here, this place is ours," a voice called out, echoing through the concrete. "We have people circling around behind you. Leave or you will be shot."
Dusty stood up, hands above his head.
"Alright, alright!" he yelled back to their unseen assailants. "Let us get back into our vehicles, and we will be off."
JT crouched there, listening to the subdue rumbling of the SUV's engine, feeling its heat. It seemed like their attacker's reply was taking forever. He looked over at Gus. Gus looked back, shaking his head slowly. We stepped into the horse shit he mouthed.
The mall people answered. "You have two minutes. Try anything cute and you're dead."
Dusty waved his hands back and forth over his head again, then lowered them.
"Everyone back in now!"
JT sprinted over to the Honda. He looked inside and found Hannah laying on the front floorboard and Ashley laying on the back. They looked up at him in terror. JT jumped in, trying not to explode.
"You gals okay?" JT asked, throwing the car into drive. If Dusty didn't go in five seconds, JT was driving around him.
The SUV started rolling. Hannah sat up and rubbed at her arm. JT glanced over and could see an angry red welt up by the shoulder, right below the sleeve of her shirt.
"It burns," she said, when she caught JT looking. "I think a bullet grazed me."
JT turned his attention to following Dusty, his grip feeling like it could break the steering wheel in half. Which is what he wanted to do to Dusty's face right about now. They head back up the road to the Interstate. The zombie pack he saw earlier at Burger King was walking in the direction of the mall now. All the noise probably attracted them.
"Wow, I can see light through the holes in the door back here," Ashley said, her voice higher and squeakier than normal.
JT looked straight ahead, feeling as if red hot lava was building in his gut. His hands began to feel numb from the pressure he was putting on the wheel.
I'm surprised the cars even work after that. How didn't they hit the engines?
Like his though was a cue, JT saw a plume of smoke erupt from the SUV in front of him. Dusty pulled it over on the side of the highway.
JT sat there watching, still holding tight to the wheel, as Dusty and the rest got out. Dusty was lost in the white smoke as he went around to the front of the vehicle.
JT slammed the shifter into park, slammed the door shut behind him, and walked with purpose towards Dusty.
Dusty emerged from the smoke, which was now turning a dull grey.
"They must have hit..."
JT didn't give him a chance to finish that sentence. He decked Dusty, hard, sending him sprawling into the pebbled concrete of the shoulder. JT wasn't aware of anyone or anything else, except Dusty and his rage.
"You could have got us killed asshole!" JT shouted, his tirade just beginning. "Hannah almost got a bullet in her. For what. For what! Supplies we didn't really need right now? With the SUV broken down, now we can't even carry the supplies we have. Look around you."
He was about to start kicking when hands grabbed him on either side, pulling him back. He shrugged them off easily. Dusty looked up at him, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. JT turned to see the disappointed faces of Hannah and Gus. He felt the anger deflate from him like air from a balloon. He looked back at Dusty.
"You're not even worth it," he said, dismissing Dusty with a wave of his hand.
JT stomped off back to the Honda. It’d stopping running. The hood had at least twelve bullet holes in it. Every attempt to get it started again failed. JT didn't know how much more he could take. He got out and wished he had a baseball bat to go to down on the car. Instead, he sat down, back to the front door, the hot pavement baking him.
He didn't know how much later it was when Gus stepped up beside him.
"Feel better son?"
"I'd feel better in some air conditioning, with a cold beer in my hand."
"You and me both fella," Gus held out a hand. JT took it, getting up into a standing position. "That was a hella punch. Knocking a military man down so easy."
"I've had some practice," JT said noncommittal, ready to move on. "You ready to go Gus?"
"Go?" Gus was puzzled. "We've spend the time you were cooling off walking around. Except for Dusty. He seems to be nursing his wounded ego. Haven't found another working car yet."
"How about you and Tyrone join with us, and we can go."
Gus eyeballed him for a moment. "You really going to leave Dusty behind? Everyone makes mistakes. What about Alan? He ain't did nothing."
"What Gus? What do you want from me? To give up our most of our perfectly good supplies to start walking with Captain calamity here? That city shit was his idea!"
"Sticking together is our best chance of staying alive. You're not a dumb fella, you gotta know that."
JT didn't want to admit it, but Gus was right. The more people, the better the odds. Dusty did know how to fight tactically, better than any of them. He had the training.
"What now then?" JT said, not coming right out and saying he was agreeing with Gus. "We pack what we can carry on our backs and go?"
"Looks to be our only choice for now. Could be we go up a couple of miles, find a van or something, then come back and pick up our stuff."
"That your idea, or dust piles?" JT asked. He knew he was being an ass now, but didn't care.
"Mostly mine. You really embarrassed Dusty, he ain't said two words since you clocked him."
"That's fine with me. That guy a
nd his bright ideas."
JT took a deep breath and walked to the back of the SUV. "Gus, gather everyone else up. Let's take the most important stuff. Come back for the rest."
Soon they all had a back on their back or a duffel bag slung over their shoulder. They walked in a line along the interstate, JT in the front and Dusty in the rear. The midday beat down on them as the marched along. JT never saw the SUV or Honda again.
Many hours after the sun set, the group sputtered to a stop. They had marched all day to the middle of nowhere. Alan didn't mind, his sore muscles and the act of willing himself on kept him distracted. Earlier Dusty tried to convince everyone to stop and find shelter inside for the night. As night fell, that didn't happen. Alan didn't mind. He always liked the outdoors. He didn't mind that they might have to camp out for the night.
"Look. I know you're all tired, scared or worried but we have to pull ourselves together," Dusty said as everyone just stood in a loose circle. "I say we make camp here tonight. No more stumbling around in the dark. Let's get off the road and make the best we can of the situation."
"I actually agree with you this time man," JT chimed in.
"Well how about that, the two Silver Backs have called a temporary truce," Gus said.
JT smirked at Gus giving him a sarcastic thumbs up.
"I hope this doesn't become a pattern," Ashley whined, moving slowly up to her feet.
"Ashley, camping isn't so bad. Your parents never took you camping when you were little?" Alan asked.
"Uh no. The outdoors is gross," Ashley said.
Everyone laughed a little, relieving some of the tension.
"I'll get you set up. I have a little experience at camping. Maybe I can make it a little less gross," Alan chuckled.
They traveled off the road and into a densely forested area. Alan took one last look at the road. I need to stop looking back so much. There is nothing behind me now.
Settling his pack, he marched along in line. It wasn't long before they came across a decent sized clearing. All the plants and trees were in full bloom. Filtered sunlight shined through the towering branches overhead.
"Hey Dusty," Alan hollered, "This would make a good place to make camp. Just pick up some of these fallen branches and it's about perfect."
"Glad to hear that Al. I'm too old to be carrying this much shit," Gus said, tossing the tents off his back. He looked at Hannah and Ashley and they both looked at a complete loss as to what they were supposed to do.
As Alan watched them his memory began to drift..."Dad! Chloe is messing up our tent! She won't help me lay it out like we're supposed to!" Lauren yelled, frustrated.
"Well we have to teach her like I taught you sweetie." Alan tried to sooth his daughter.
"She's too little to come camping anyway," Lauren pouted.
Alan smiled at her as he remembered the first time he set up a camp in their backyard for her birthday sleepover. She was seven. Hard to believe how that happened so fast.
He had always loved the outdoors and wanted to share that passion with his kids. He was a Scout leader before Lauren was born but between working and trying to be a more connected father, he had given it up. He so wished his baby boy, Alan Jr., would want to do Scouts. They would do it together, father and son.
Daddy. Daddy. Daddy...Where are you?
"...Alan......Hey Alan are you OK? " Hannah looked worried. She snapped him out of his daze.
"Huh? Um yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry did you ask me something Honey?...Sorry Hannah." Alan tried smiling. It was happening again. He didn't want to freak these people out. He was just thinking he wanted to be with people after all. It could help. He didn't want to be rejected now.
Hannah looked at the others. Alan could tell they were all silently passing judgment on his odd behavior. He felt the back of his neck getting warm.
"Al, you OK partner?" Gus asked patting him on the back.
"Yeah, um yeah, sorry. Lost in thought. Memories, day dreaming. Anyway, I'll get to setting this stuff up. I promised Ashley."
Alan smiled again, a little more genuine this time.
"Now, now," Gus said, "we can all help. Besides, the more we teach these young folks now the better things can be for all of us. Until you started talking about it, I didn't take you for the camping type there Alan. Owned a surplus store myself. I have experience with all sorts of outdoor gear. Fishing, hunting, camping. I've done it all. I'm good at pitching a tent, you believe me."
"I used to be a Scout Master," Alan started hesitantly. " I'll take the outdoors over being inside any day. I was thinking about my daughters when... well never mind it doesn't matter. Let's get this stuff set up."
He had thought about opening up, but he knew he wasn't ready to talk about his family. Not yet. Gus was a nice enough guy, but he was still a stranger. They all were. He stuffed all his thoughts of the past down again and got to work clearing out the branches. He used some to make a campfire. Packs were unloaded, food passed around. Everyone sat and ate in dejected silence.
Gus, Alan and Dusty took the lead as they set up their tents. Alan ignored the whines of Ashley as he took the inexperienced ones step-by-step through how to set up camp.
Exhausted, Alan was grateful to slip inside his sleeping bag. He hoped tonight, like every night, the dream wouldn't come again. It was always a futile wish
The night passed uneventful. There was an unspoken group consensus that they would stay and rest for the day.
The humidity started to build, making things uncomfortable as the afternoon wore on. Some sprinkles even made it through the trees, bouncing off of the newly erected tents. Ashley and Tyrone even joked and acted like they were taking a shower in the few drops that were falling.
Alan was inside his tent, trying to take a nap. He couldn't remember the last time he had a restful sleep. Excited chatter from outside caught his attention. Sighing, he emerged from his tent and walked up beside JT, who was looking to the sky then to the makeshift camp.
"That doesn't look to hot," JT stated.
Through the trees, Alan saw the grey and black clouds rolling closer to them. The clouds had been building, the sky darkening most of the afternoon. The sprinkles were beginning to intensify into a light rain.
"Yep, could be a rough evening boy and girls." Gus said.
Dusty shot Gus a look for his comment. Alan guessed that since everyone was just getting calmed down, Dusty didn't want them getting all riled up again.
"Some of these people won't know how to weather a storm if it gets bad. We need to prepare to ride this out. You got any ideas, Alan?" Dusty asked.
Alan looked at Dusty for a moment. Without a word he went back into his little one man tent. He came back out with a used roll of slim white rope and a few bungee cords. He simply went to work tying the three tents to nearby trees and attaching the cords from tent poles to the stakes, holding them in the ground.
"Alan you need some help?" JT asked.
"This needs to be done right, I'll handle it," Alan plainly answered. "It would be a good idea if the four of you grabbed that roll of trash bags we took from the gas station and tried to keep things dry."
"Come on you three," JT scowled, grabbing the trash bags and did what he was asked.
Alan continued to work away as the rain began to pick up. The others stuffed anything they didn't want soaked into the trash bags.
"You guys should also put them under your bedrolls, unless you want to sleep on the wet ground," Alan shot at them.
The rain began to intensify. The sky grew a threatening greenish color. The fire began to sizzle and smoke.
"Well, which one of us unlucky bastards gets first watch toni-" Gus started.
"I do," Alan answered, not letting Gus finish his question.
"You sure? I ain't afraid of getting wet," Dusty offered.
Gus let out a bellowing laugh. "That's what she said!"
Dusty and Alan just looked at him and shook their heads. The first rumble of thunder rattl
ed off in the distance and the wind began to pick up.
"I've got a real bad feeling about this," Dusty said, making his way towards the tent he and Gus shared.
"You and your bad feelings," Gus fired back, falling in behind Dusty. "If you don't think we're being watched, then you think were about to be gobbled up by the dead folks. If it's not the zombie, it's something else."
Dusty didn't respond, he went in the tent with the trash bags in his hands.
Alan finished up securing the tents as the storm really got underway. Stoically, he reached into his tent and pulled out a cheap little clear rain poncho.
"Alan, if this gets too haywire you jump in your tent, we'll be alright," Gus said, patting him on the back.
Alan paid him little attention as he sat down on a overturned five gallon bucket.
"Alright then. I tried," Gus muttered going inside himself.
A loud clap of thunder made Alan jump. Christ how long have I been out here? Alan thought to himself as he drifted in and out of the past and the present. Every crack of thunder would make Hannah or Ashley squeal. In his mind the lines between the sounds coming from the tent would blur between his little girls in the past and the current young women of the crew.
The sky lit up, forks streaming across the sky. Again it reminded him of his little girls. How they would bashfully come into their parents bedroom and say the storm was too scary to stay in their own rooms. Alan found himself smiling at the warm memory of his girls crawling into bed between he and his wife. Back in the days when his life was normal. Back before his life was taken away, before the outbreak, before all of this.
Alan closed his eyes as the rain poured down around him. He could feel himself wanting to relive that last morning again. The last he saw of his family.
His eyes shot back open at the loud crackle of a nearby lightning strike. It was followed by a booming clap of thunder. He felt like his eardrums were going to blow out. The shower of sparks just a couple hundred feet away drew his attention.