“Nathan, take everyone over to the window over the lockers. See about getting it open,” said Gus. “I’ll join you all in a minute.”
I was at the back of the group as we moved away. I stopped in my tracks but didn’t turn around when I heard the snapping of Karl’s neck. Gus’ conversation with me weeks ago about killing other humans ran through my mind. Gus and I had that in common. I knew that already. I suspected Nathan may also belong in our private group of guilt and confusion. I took a deep breath, wrapped my arms around myself, and walked forward when I heard Gus dragging the young man’s body across the floor.
CHAPTER 15
We were crouched alongside a concrete wall on the outside of the shower room. The beginnings of dawn were streaking the horizon, a crescent moon and the stars still partly claiming the night sky. The air felt stagnant as we breathed. A mist formed as the warm air leaving our lungs met the cold winter morning. Gus was naturally in the lead and kept Nathan close by his side. Using hand signals, they guided us in two groups toward a large building they believed was a garage.
We walked briskly, taking care to tread softly in hopes of not making excess noise. I kept Jane’s hand in my own, gripping it tightly. Fear ran deep within me. Fear of dying, but more than that fear of losing any one of these people I had grown to love. I tried to focus on my own mind, searching for signals of the living dead nearby. There were none. At least none that I could sense. I wasn't exactly trusting my ability these days.
Boggs signaled me to the back of the building, where Nathan had already taken Kelsey and Abbey. Gus was standing at the corner keeping watch. I had lost track of Emilie and Susan and hoped I would see them when Jane and I rounded the corner. I could feel my heart racing and looked down at Jane. Her eyes were wide with fear. I held a finger up to my lips. She clutched her stuffed bear tightly and nodded.
Now on the backside of the building, I was able to look around and size up our surroundings. We had seen a few of the outside guards on our way from the main building, but none seemed to notice us. They seemed more focused on watching the surrounding fields for the walking dead. There was a single door several yards down from the corner where we were huddled. I could see Nathan trying the knob, and eventually opening it just far enough to peer inside. He took his time surveying the interior before signaling us all forward.
“There’s lights on, but it’s dim. I don’t see or hear anyone. I suggest we all go inside and load into the Suburban before I hotwire it. Once the engine is running, I want to hightail it out of here.”
“So the Suburban is in there?” I asked quietly.
“Yup, to the right and up front. Can’t miss it. It’s the only vehicle in there. Gus, Boggs, I won’t know the gas level until the rig is up and running. If you two can look around for gas cans and siphoning gear, that’d help. I’ll get the ladies all loaded up.”
“Sounds like a plan, brother,” said Gus.
“Ok, count of three, everyone inside. Girls, head straight to the SUV,” said Nathan with a tone that was similar to Gus’ ‘in charge’ voice.
I nodded.
“Ready, Jane?” I asked quietly.
The little girl looked at me and nodded. She clutched her teddy bear to her chest.
We walked into the large building. It felt as if we were being watched. I suppose under the circumstances that was to be expected. The vehicle we were to escape in was only a handful of yards away and we reached it relatively quickly. Susan and Emilie climbed in first and moved their way to the third row seat. Abbey was next and joined them. It was going to be crowded with nine of us and eight seats. Kelsey climbed in next and helped Jane up. I was next. Nathan was already in the front, lying awkwardly on the bench seat. He was removing pieces of the steering column preparing to hotwire it.
“Nate,” said Kelsey.
When he didn’t answer, she said his name a little louder. “Nate!”
“What’s up Kels?”
“Uh, the key, Nate. It’s in the ignition.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” His head came up and he sighed when he saw the single key in the ignition. “Well fuck my cat.”
Jane had covered her ears. Now wasn't the time to mention bad language let alone scold a grown man for it so I kept quiet.
I turned in alarm when the back barn doors of the Suburban were suddenly opened. My heart skipped a beat and only started again when I saw that it was Boggs.
“Gus found a couple of gas cans. Full to boot. He’ll be right over with them. Looks like this is where they process their scavenging hauls, too, so we’re lucky.”
Boggs held a medium sized cardboard box.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Some basic food items, bleach, some rags. A small tarp. Twine.”
Gus was beside Boggs now, two red plastic gas cans in hand. The two men loaded the back with a total of three more boxes. I wondered for a brief moment if taking supplies from these people was wrong. That led to wondering if we could save anyone else. I put those thoughts out of my mind in a hurry, knowing full well we’d be lucky to just save ourselves.
“Nate, I need you to come with me for a couple minutes,” said Gus. “Boggs will stay with the girls.”
Nate got out of the vehicle and walked to Gus, who handed him a pistol. Boggs was sitting beside me now.
“Boggs?” I asked. “Where’d the guns come from?”
“There’s a back office. They have a stash there. One of the boxes in the back of the car is full of them.”
I was pleasantly surprised.
“Abbey, Jane,” said Boggs in the kindest voice he could muster. “We’ll be leaving in a minute. I want you to both close your eyes once the car starts, and don’t open them until one of us says so. Can you do that?”
Jane looked first to me, then to Boggs, and nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Abbey?” asked Boggs.
“Ok.”
I looked back. Nate and Gus had gone back outside. Boggs climbed over into the front seat and turned the ignition over. The SUV roared to blessed life. In the next moments, we heard three gunshots. The large rolling garage door opened, allowing daylight to enter. Gus and Nate both came running in through the large exit. Boggs was already driving the SUV toward them. He slowed only long enough for them to both climb inside. Nate ended up in the front seat with Boggs, and Gus beside me in the middle row.
“Go!” yelled Gus.
The Suburban lurched forward and before I realized what was happening we were at the large chain link gate that led to the world beyond the compound. Terry, the man who had driven the Suburban here, was looming before us. He stood with a handgun aimed upward at our vehicle. Boggs brought the SUV to a stop.
“Keep your eyes closed, girls,” Nate instructed the youngest of our group.
As Terry began walking around to the driver’s door, Gus raised his own pistol and aimed expertly through his open window. The shot rang out, deafeningly loud, and I watched as Terry was thrown backward. Gus hit his mark, mid chest, and the man lay bleeding out on the asphalt. I could see blood sputtering from his mouth as he struggled to breathe. His handgun lay several feet away, of no use. Nathan had already exited the SUV and was running toward the gate. He raised his gun and shot at the lock, setting the gate free of its chain. He threw the gate outward, opening it enough for us to move through. By now others were running toward us from the building, and quickly approaching. I knew they would soon be within firing range. Nathan stopped short of getting back into the SUV, aimed his gun at the dying man, and shot him in the head. Jane, clinging to me tightly and clenching her eyes shut, flinched at the sound. Nathan ran back to the vehicle as we moved forward, and climbed in on-the-move.
The Suburban moved effortlessly through the exit, nicking the metal gate with its right headlight. It was a heavy rig and the impact didn’t even faze the large metal body. None of us spoke. I looked out the back window to see if anyone was following us by vehicle. The garage we had just left was growing smaller i
n the distance as we drove away. People were scurrying about in a mass of disorder. Someone was kneeling beside the now dead Terry, shaking him in their grief. Jane was clinging to me. I held her close to me, and took comfort in Gus’ arm wrapped around me.
“Zoe, we had to do it. To save ourselves,” whispered Gus.
His breath against my neck was soothing. I closed my eyes and breathed him in, not in a wanting way, just in needing-a-human-near-me-way.
“I know,” I answered quietly. My voice was just below a whisper as I rested my face near his ear. I wished I could melt into him, and hide there for a long time.
The ride was rough as the SUV traveled along a dirt road away from the compound. The building, the explosion, and the scattering people were now well out of sight. It’s hard to say how long we drove before I felt able to lift my head from where it rested against Gus. Everyone else had been quiet as we drove. Something felt surreal. I realized that Jane’s body was limp against me as she slept and the heat from her small body was making me uncomfortable. I looked over and saw that her thumb was perched precariously in her mouth, threatening to fall out at any moment.
“Gus?” I whispered.
“Hmm?”
“What will we do with her?” I asked as I looked back at the little girl. She suddenly looked so frail. Her skin was pale and dark circles surrounded her eyes.
“Just the best we can, Zoe.” He shifted in his seat.
“Gus,” said Boggs, raising his voice enough to be heard from the front seat.
“Ya brother?”
“Have you figured out where we are yet?”
“Looks to me like we’re on Highway 20.”
“We’re near Concrete,” said Nathan. “I recognize it. Won’t be long ‘til we’re to Interstate 5. We should think about stopping for more supplies soon. Maybe one of the houses off the highway.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Boggs.
“So we’re west of the pass?” asked Kelsey from the back seat.
“Looks that way,” said Gus. “On the way to the compound I suspected as much by my ears popping.”
“That’s lucky,” Susan said. Her voice sounded defeated.
We drove on in silence for the next several miles. My stomach felt like it was full of butterflies, fearful of what we’d encounter next. Before long my hip began one of its familiar aching episodes and my brain came alive with the buzzing of the dead.
“They’re near,” I said.
Jane stirred in her sleep at my side.
“I think they’re the slow ones, the Roamers, and I can’t see anything,” I elaborated.
“Right,” said Gus simply. He seemed in a mood of sorts, and I made a point to mark down in the back of my mind to talk to him privately when I had a chance. I knew he had just killed at least two people, possibly more.
Soon, a large concrete structure came to view. It had large red letters painted on the side that faced the highway that read ‘Welcome to Concrete.’ I had no idea what the structure was for. It was oddly shaped, tall and narrow.
“Boggs, there’s a turn off maybe a mile up on your right. There’s a restaurant not far down the road and farther back are a couple of houses. I think we should stop there,” said Nathan.
“Zoe? What do you think?” asked Gus.
“If I have to guess, the Roamers are behind us now. I feel another one, but it’s weaker if that makes any sense. I think we should just be careful.”
“Ok,” answered Gus. “Zoe, I want you coming in with us. Me, you, Nathan. Boggs, I want you to stay here in the Suburban with the rest of the girls. Any issues, I know you and Emilie are good shots.”
“Roger that,” said Boggs. “Just promise me you’ll take care of Zoe.”
“You know it.”
I knew that Gus wanted me to go inside to act as a zombie alarm. I was truthfully looking forward to getting out of the cramped vehicle for awhile.
Boggs turned off where Nathan had said to. There was an old restaurant, just like Nathan had described. The sign out front and half of the building front was burnt. The cedar shake roof sagged dramatically, part of it devoured by a fire. There were no cars in the gravel parking lot, but an old patio table was tipped on its side with three folding chairs scattered about. I looked away, tired of being witness to such destruction.
“If I recall correctly, the road off to the left leads to a small house. The one to the right leads to a barn and a trailer,” said Nathan.
“You know the area well,” said Gus.
“Yup.” Nathan didn’t offer more information than that.
Jane stirred beside me, and then stretched sleepily.
“Where are we?” she asked in her small, timid voice.
“We’re just stopping for some supplies, sweetie,” I said. “You’re going to wait in the car with Emilie and Boggs, ok?”
Jane looked scared, and her eyes were filled with panic.
“It’s ok, honey, I’ll be all right and we won’t be gone long. Ok?”
Jane nodded, put her thumb back in her mouth, and began sucking. Gus turned the SUV to the left and the asphalt road gave way to one of dirt and erosion. After a bend in the road, a modest brick home came into view. It was newer, and I wondered why anyone would want to build a house out here in the middle of nowhere. My brain filled with the buzzing of a single Runner. I knew that it too was aware of us. It was hungry. So very hungry. It was trapped and wanted desperately to get out and eat. It was weak and confused.
The SUV came to a slow stop just in front of the home. The windows on the front of the house were dark and there were no signs of life. There was no yard to speak of, just dirt and shrubs and trees that were left behind from when the woods were cleared to make way for the house. Before Boggs shut the engine off, I reached forward and rested a hand on his shoulder. I felt his warm hand cover mine.
“Gus. There’s one inside,” I said quietly.
“Thanks, darlin’,” he said. “Nathan and I can go in and clear the house first.”
“No,” I said. “It’s weak. It’s been trapped in there for so long. It’s dying, Gus. It’s so hungry.”
“Zoe, please,” begged Boggs. “Just let them take care of it before you head inside.”
“I need to try something. Back when we left the basement of that house, the Runner stopped right in front of me and didn’t hurt me. I can’t explain how, but it knew I was…” I paused “…like them somehow.”
“Zoe, what is it you want to try, darlin’?” asked Gus.
“I want to get close to it. See what it does.”
“Absolutely not,” said Boggs sternly.
“Boggs. Think about it. It’s the perfect opportunity. This one is so weak. I need to try. If I’m right, it might mean I can help the group more. Be a gatherer without being harmed.”
“Boggs, brother, I hate to say it but she’s right,” said Gus. “You know I won’t let her get hurt. Nate and I can hold it down or something. Let us get a feel for it. Any hint of danger and you know we’ll shoot the fucker in the head.”
“Only way I’ll agree is if I go in with you,” said Boggs. His jaw was clenched, a sure sign he was angry.
Nathan spoke up. “It’s fine with me, man. I can stay with the car.”
Boggs breathed deeply. Gus grunted like he does when he’s got some internal issue going on.
“Let’s get this done. Nathan, sit behind the wheel?” suggested Gus.
“Jane, honey, stay with Emilie ok?” I said.
The little girl looked at me. If she nodded, it was too slight to be perceptible. She continued to suck on her thumb and looked scared.
Boggs climbed out of the SUV, shutting the driver’s door a bit too hard. Nathan scooted over to be at the ready behind the wheel. Gus opened his door and slid out, and Boggs was there to help me down. He still looked angry, and I knew he was mad at me in particular.
The creature inside was stirring, hearing the commotion of us outside. A shiver ran up my spine.
I didn’t want to do what I was about to do, but knew in my heart I needed to. If I could walk amongst these evil creatures, I could do so much to help the entire group. The creature was desperate. I could feel it trying to escape from a room. It had been trying for so long. Boggs held tightly to one of my hands as we approached the front door.
“Zo, can you tell where it is?” asked my lover. “And are you sure there’s only one?”
I nodded. “Just one. It’s locked in a room, but I’m not sure where. It hears us and wants us so badly.”
Gus clicked his tongue to get our attention. “Let me go in first. Boggs, you follow. Zoe, stay behind us.”
I was having trouble focusing. The buzz in my head was almost unbearable. It was as if the weak zombie was gaining strength from our merely being there. I could tell it was ravenous, and had a new sense of urgency and energy about it. I chose to not mention this, which was selfish. I had a plan of my own, stupid as it might have been.
Boggs and Gus both stepped up onto the concrete stoop, leaving me one step below. Gus reached out and tried the knob, to find it locked.
“Stand back, Boggs,” he said.
Boggs stepped down and joined me. Gus took the butt of his shot gun and used it to knock out the pane of glass that ran vertically to the right of the door. The glass shattered loudly. The creature inside was being driven wild. Boggs had to nudge me to break my concentration. I looked over at him, and took a large handgun that he was holding out for me. I knew it would be useless since it was larger than what I was used to and I had never taken a practice shot with it.
The front door swung inward, and Gus crossed the threshold. Boggs followed him, and as soon as they were both fully inside the structure I trailed behind. I took one glance back toward my friends in the SUV. The stench inside the home was unbearable. I opened my mouth to spare my nose the full effects of the assault. The home was sparsely decorated, in shades of beige and white. There were few, if any, personal effects. No family photos on the walls. No shoes strewn about. No toys. It felt wrong, like it was unlived in. I suppose now that was particularly true since the only occupant was, in fact, dead.
The Grace Series (Book 2): Tainted Grace Page 16