“Step back!” he yelled.
Irma did.
He was there in three steps, power tool extended and when close enough for a safe shot, he plunged a brad into Ashley’s skull.
Ashley fell and Sara’s leg’s buckled.
Jack caught her before she hit the ground.
“Oh my God, Oh my God, my baby. My baby,” Irma cried out, backing up. “Help her.”
“I got her, I got her.” Jack said, holding his hand against the gash. “See if there’s anything on the desk for the bleeding.”
Irma turned. When she did, up from behind the desk stood the guard. With a growl he reached out, grabbing for Jerry.
With a gut wrenching scream, Irma pulled back, reached for the phone on the desk and, holding it tight, hit the guard. “Get . . . off!” She hit again. “My bubby!” on her final, emotional filled hit, she slammed the phone into his head and down he went.
“Irma!” Saul cried out, running to her.
“Saul. Saul.” Irma shook, her heart raced. “What’s happening? What’s going on?” Her words were tear-filled, frightened. She held on to Jerry for dear life.
Saul laid his hand on her face. “I can’t explain it all.” His eyes shifted to Sara. "Jack?”
Jack looked up. “She needs help.”
“Saul, we have to get her to a hospital.” Irma cried.
“Listen to me.” Saul said. “Are you hurt? Bit?”
Irma shook her head.
“Jerry? Is he bit or scratched?”
“No, we’re fine, but Sara . . .”
“I’ll take care of Sara. Take the baby and go. Jack.” He shot a look to Jack. “I’ll get my daughter. Take my wife and grandson to the car. Get them out of here. Please.”
Jack nodded, as he stood, he lifted Sara into his arms and carried her to Saul.
Sara’s eyes fluttered. “Daddy?”
“I got you, baby.” Saul slipped his arms under Sara and took her from Jack. Sara’s head fell into his chest. “I got you.”
“Saul.” Irma whimpered out, stepping to him.
“Irma go. Go now. Just get as far north as you can. Got it. Please. I’ll call.”
Sniffing, Irma nodded fast and leaned into Sarah. She kissed her daughter, running her hand over her face. “I love you.”
“ I love you, mommy. Protect my baby.”
“With my life.” Irma kissed her again, and with Jack’s strong hand pulling backed up.
Sara tried to reach, but her arm weakly fell.
Irma stooped just before walking out the door; she glanced back watching Saul carry Sara to the back.
“He’ll help her," Jack said assuredly. “But you need to go.”
He led her to the van which sat out front and he opened the door.
“What’s happening?” Irma asked. “Why did they attack?”
“It’s the virus,” Jack answered. “It’s bad. It’s already out of control at the hospital and soon it will spread. You need to go. Don’t stop unless you have to for gas, but go. Ok?”
Irma nodded and opened the driver’s door.
Jack reached for the baby. “I’ll put him in the seat.”
“No!” Irma shook her head. “Law or no law. He will not be out of my reach. Ever again.”
With a look and a nod that said he understood, Jack fastened them both in. “Be careful. Good luck.”
“Get him out of there as soon as you can, please.”
“I will… I promise, Ma’am.” Jack shut the van door.
Irma looked at him once more, then she started the van. Jerry’s chest was to her chest, his legs to her sides as he grabbed on to her and cried. As best as she could and safely as she could, Irma drive off.
Because Jack knew if it were him, he’d want to know, he stood there watching as Irma drove from his sight. Hopefully not much longer she’d be on the highway.
Going back inside, he saw the blood slicked floor. Hating to admit it, even to himself, Jack was scared. Not so much for his own safety but the helpless, like that baby and, even though she wasn’t all that helpless. Jack was scared for Lil.
As soon as he checked on Saul and his daughter, Jack was going to try again, to get in touch with Lil.
Saul placed the last bit of adhesive on the bandage, and then checked the intravenous flowing into Sara. He had sutured her as best as he could and was pumping her with high doses of antibiotics. But he knew, even without a blood test, it was futile. Her fever was already raging and she groaned even through her sedation.
He kept the phone gripped in his hand, he had just given a progress call to Irma, but he was worried. She said the temperature gauge was reading above normal. The van always ran hot, and usually Saul didn’t think twice about it. But this time, he did. He told Irma since she was already out of the state, to put some more coolant in when she stopped for gas.
It was just a matter of waiting to hear back.
He took a deep breath and lifted his eyes to the sound of the door opening.
It was Jack.
“Sergeant, thank you so much for sticking around. Especially when everyone else booked.”
“It’s no problem. Building is secure, and I um, promised your wife I’d get you out of here.”
“I can’t go yet. You know that.”
“I do.” Jack nodded.
“You can leave, I’d understand.”
“No, I’ll stay. Plus, like I said, I promised your wife I’d get you out of here safe.”
“Where is safe?”
“I know of a place. Maybe we can get your wife there.”
Saul gripped his daughters hand and rubbed his eyes. “Speaking of which. Have you called yours?”
“Gonna try again. It rings once and goes to voice mail.” Jack pulled out the phone and dialed. “Here goes nothing.” After a second his eyes widened. “Lil?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
South Carolina
Lil wanted to scream. Her hand trembled and the phone nearly toppled. In fact, she swerved so as not to lose the phone and the call. “Jack. Oh God, you’re Ok.”
“I’m fine, Lil. Are you ok?”
“Yes. It was so horrible at Bragg, Jack. It’s out of control there.”
“And a lot of places.”
“I thought, you know, the worst, when I didn’t hear from you for hours.”
“Me, too, sweetheart,” Jack said. “Me, too. I have to stay here for a little bit then I’ll find you, ok?”
“Jack . . .”
“Lil, just tell me you’re safe and with Garrick.”
Lil bit her lip.
“Lil?”
“I’m safe, Jack. But I’m not with Garrick.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m about three hours from you.”
Lil could envision his face, she heard his growl.
“Jack, please. I needed to be with you. Find you.”
“Listen to me now. Stop the car. Turn around. Atlanta is not safe. Ok.”
“But that’s where you are.
“I don’t care; I won’t be here for long. Promise me Lil you’ll turn around. Promise me.”
“I promise. I’ll turn around and go to Garrick’s.”
“Thank you.”
“Jack,” Lil spoke softly. “Promise me you’ll get there.”
“I will. Call when you’re at Garrick’s. And Lil . . . . I do love you.”
Lil’s lips puckered and she fought to control her emotions. After conveying her love in return, Lil pulled over the first exit, would gas up and turn around.
Irma didn’t know if it were a bad thing or a good thing that the car blasted white smoke from the hood a half of mile from a service station. She prayed with every inch the car would make it in there.
It was a quiet road, far from Atlanta, out of Georgia completely. A part of her felt safe. Maybe even safe enough to put little Jerry in a car seat. But with moving her car seat up front.
She spotted a lot of cars on the highway, a lot of
traffic leaving the city. She could only imagine what people thought about this older woman driving with a baby on her lap. Then again, if they were leaving for the same reasons she was, they probably thought she was smart.
Two state cops passed her, looked and kept driving.
Not once was she pulled over for driving with the baby on her lap.
Truth be known, Irma was an emotional mess. She worried for her daughter and her husband, but she had to stay strong and focused for Jerry.
There was one car at the pump as she sputtered her way to a stop at the gas pump.
She didn’t see the driver of the car, but did see a woman and man on the side of the building.
Jerry still in her arms, she found her credit card, turned off the ignition and left the van.
The garage door was open and she wondered if the service man would be able to help her. She spotted him moving about the garage.
She would ask after she filled her tank.
Opening the side door of the van, Irma set the baby in the seat while she pumped gas. Give her arms a rest, she thought;
After swiping her card, she grabbed the gas hose, eyes always on Jerry and opened the gas cap.
No sooner did she put the nozzle in the car, the dog barking caught her attention.
It wasn’t normal.
The dog sounded mad.
“Bad doggy, Yaya?” Jerry pointed.
Slowly, Irma turned her head.
The sound of the dog was frightening enough, but not nearly as the sight of his half missing body.
The nozzle fumbled from her hand and dropped to the ground.
The dog charged for her.
Into the side door, Irma dove, slamming it shut and locking it.
Her keys were still in her hand and she squeezed to the front. Quickly she locked all doors; put the key in the ignition . . . nothing.
“Come on.” She tried again.
Still nothing.
A hard ‘slam’ against the side door, made her jolt and Jerry screamed.
The gas service man hit his bloodied hand against the wide window trying to get at Jerry.
He held the same ‘death’ look as Ashley and the security guard.
Lifting from the driver’s seat, Irma squeezed to the back. She heard more slams against the van. A man and woman hit and hit against the van.
Stay calm, stay calm, she told herself, and think.
Hands lifting Jerry, the first of the windows broke; it was the driver’s window. Arms reached in.
A big woman, Irma knew it was hard to maneuver. But she squeezed to the back of the minivan, tucked Jerry tight to her chest, lay on the floor, and pulled all the luggage over her and the baby.
There, trying not to cry, holding the baby tight, she prayed. She prayed harder than she ever had in her life.
She promised God that He saw fit to get them through this, that she would be the strong woman He intended her to be, and no longer weak.
Another window broke.
Then another.
It was a matter of time.
At least the last moments of her life would be spent with someone she loved more than life itself. She worried about Jerry. She feared for him, and begged God that should something happen, let him not feel a thing.
Then she saw it.
Her revolver.
The case protruded from the bag.
Hand extending, she reached for it. Barely did she touch it when she heard the sound of a gunshot. Then another. There were three more, and finally silence.
No banging against the van No glass breaking. No moans.
Silence.
Irma didn’t know what to do. Stay down, stay put? Or lift her head.
Jerry cried.
“I hear the baby,” the female voice called out. “Is anyone else in there?”
Irma closed her eyes, she wanted to answer, but a sob was all that came from her.
“It’s safe. I’m not gonna hurt you,” she called.
Irma wiped her eyes and took a breath. She moved, but not much. “We’re fine. But I’m wedged back here.”
A few seconds later the side door opened.
“Hold on, I’ll get you. You got stuff on top of you,” she said.
Irma began to feel the weight lift and she was able to shift her body. “I’m a big woman; don’t ask me how I managed to get back here.”
“Grace of God, perhaps?” she said.
“Yes, grace of God.” Irma lifted up, holding Jerry. The moment she saw the petite woman shouldering an M-4, her head dropped and she started to sob again.
“Hey, no.” she reached inside extended her hand. “It’ll be alright. Let me have the baby while you get out.”
Moving toward the door on her bottom, Irma handed over Jerry. “Thank you.” She scooted out. “Thank you.” When her feet touched the ground, and she saw the bodies, Irma just collapsed on the floor of the van and cried.
An arm embraced and comforted Irma. “Let’s get your stuff and get you out. Before anything else happens, ok?”
Irma nodded.
“Come on.”
Irma stood, “Thank you again.”
“You’re very welcome. My name’s Lil.”
“Thank you Lil.” Irma sniffed and regained her composure. “We won’t forget this.”
Lil gave Irma a gentle, reassuring smile. And Irma knew, at least for that moment, things were fine.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Washington, DC
The Oval Office was the last stop for Colonel Manning in every sense of the word. He had been sick for hours. A strong man, he held on as long as possible, vomiting what he truly believed were every ounce of his insides. He also was a smart man and knew it wasn’t air sickness or food poisoning.
Despite the fact that he was sick, he continued with the briefing. Many occurrences happened while with the president, the reality of Berlin and the chaos around the country. It was moving toward a Marshall Law situation.
He just wanted to finish the briefing, excuse himself and go. Manning had every intention, knowing full well he was infected, to take a revolver and put a bullet through his own brain. He didn’t want to come back as one of them.
What Manning didn’t count on was dying in the Oval Office. Keeling over the second he stood up.
Dead.
Not for long.
The president was the first to rush to his side and call for help. Feeling for a pulse, and staying by Manning’s side, the president should have known better. Against what Manning wanted, he did become one of them. And in doing so, took his first victim in the rising.
The President of the United States.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Atlanta, GA
For as much as Jack wanted to give Saul privacy and alone time with his daughter in those final moments, he couldn’t take a chance that Saul would lose sight of what needed to be done. It was conceivable, in his grief, he’d only see his daughter and not the ‘thing’ she would become.
So Jack stayed on hand . . . just in case.
He stood in the corner of the room, Weapon in his hand, staying close, yet far enough away from Saul as he stared at his daughter and held her hand.
Saul made a phone call.
Jack really didn’t listen. It wasn’t the time or place to eavesdrop. He knew Saul called his wife to let her know the painful truth about Sara.
Saul was keeping it together as best as he could.
But as a father it had to be the hardest thing, Jack couldn’t even conceive the pain Saul was facing, watching his child die.
Saul placed the phone on the bed next to Sara’s leg. “You, uh, aren’t gonna believe this Sergeant.”
Jack cleared his throat. It had been so long since he had spoken, he felt the phlegm in his throat. “What’s that?”
“My wife broke down as she pulled into a gas station. There were three of those. .. things there. They attacked the van. It wouldn’t start. She uh, couldn’t get away.”
; Jack closed his eyes. He really didn’t want to hear anymore. He didn’t want to hear about something happening to the baby.
Saul continued. “Someone came to the rescue. Shot them, saved my wife, my grandson.”
“That’s good. Where are they now? With this man?”
“Man. No, woman. Ironically, her name is Lil Edwards.”
Jack’s heart skipped a beat.
“Would that be the same Lil Edwards as your wife?”
“I would assume so. I hope so.”
“Do you know where she’s taking them?” Saul asked.
“I do.”
“Will you take me there?”
“I will.”
Saul nodded, with sadness. “Thank you.”
Silence engulfed the room again, and the Sara gasped. Saul could feel it physically in his body. The pain of watching his daughter lying there, helpless, and there was nothing Saul could do.
Sara’s eyes opened and she whimpered. “Daddy.”
“I’m here, baby, I’m here.”
“Daddy, I’m scared.”
Saul clutched her hand tighter. “I’m right here. I am right here.”
Sara blinked once, gasped again and her eyes stared out.
Saul’s head lowered some, his shoulders bounced with emotion. He raised his eyes to his daughter and ran his hand over her head. It was pain he never in his life thought he’d face. It crushed him. Literally crushed him.
But he watched her.
It seemed like seconds, when in actuality it was closer to eight minutes. Still clutching her hand, Sara widened her eyes and opened her mouth with a snarling gasp.
Barely did Jack whisper out a warning, ‘Saul’, Saul lifted the nailer, placed it to her temple, and pulled the trigger.
Sara’s head fell to the side, and Saul crumbled. The gun toppled from his hand, his head dropped to her arm, his body racked with deep sobs.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
North Carolina
How did it happen? Again, Lil called it the Grace of God. Still angry that Jack told her to turn around, she veered off the exit with all intentions of turning around and getting back on, but then she spotted it in the distance.
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