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The End

Page 20

by Herman Grobler


  As he passes a tent, he can hear clothes and flesh being torn from someone’s body, slowly approaching the tent, he only stares through a small gap between the zippers. Debra is dead and the thing that killed her is a large dog that must be the howling they heard.

  Martin backs up slowly and only a few meters away he hears growling, it’s an entire pack, as he starts running towards the truck, he is starting to believe he needs to die this way, due to his encounter with dogs at the hospital as well.

  He reaches the truck and takes of fast, the barking, growling and howling continues, they get softer the further Martin gets from them, they followed a good distance its almost hard to believe they manage to run that far, this didn’t encourage Martin to slow down, the roads were filled with these things, and getting tightly packed the further he goes.

  Martin has a plan, though he hates it deeply, he could always find a boat, though lately after his shark encounter on the ocean, this entire plan of him gives him the creeps, if he had to stop for any reason there will be no way to get the truck back up to speed, there is simply to many of these things, the truck slows down with each one he hits until he decided, that he just have to take a boat.

  There was only enough time for him to grab the two guns, the RPG and one bag of food, he knows there were explosives loaded on to that truck to, there is no way to get them now, that truck is over run. Martin is tempted to try out the RPG but it only has one shot and he figured that it will simply be a stupid move to waste something so powerful.

  Conway is worried its late afternoon, it’s not supposed to take this long, they were supposed to do it as fast as possible, no wasting time, grab a car drive, load and escape it was that simple.

  Conway decided it would be best to start looking for them even if he has to do it on his own, arriving at Key West, Martin was already there waiting.

  “Damn, that really is big guns,” Conway said.

  “It sure is, look about Debra,” Martin said.

  “What she didn’t make it?” Conway asked.

  “No she didn’t,” Martin said.

  “It wasn’t going to be surprise to me, I told you this,” Conway said.

  “She did great, somehow at the very end she was tackled by a bunch of dogs, I hardly made it myself,” Martin said.

  “Were they infected?” Conway asked.

  “Yes they were,” Martin said.

  “Dangerous animals like this, is going to be a very big problem for all of us,” Martin said.

  “What were they like; did they show the same behavior as humans that were infected?” Conway asked.

  “Not at all, they could see, hear and most likely smell as they caught Debra without her even making a peep,” Martin said.

  “I didn’t know she was dead until I found her in a tent being eaten,” Martin said.

  “We better get home; oh did you find explosives for the bridge?” Conway asked.

  “Yes I did, sadly it was lost in my desperate escape,” Martin said.

  “Let’s get going, don’t worry about it we can make another plan,” Conway said

  “I found an RPG, you can use that to blow the bridge,” Martin said.

  “Though it only has one shot,” Martin said.

  “Then we save it, until they do manage to pass through,” Conway said.

  The defenses is looking better than ever, they are almost there, Conway can almost feel it, see it and believe it, the only thing they need now is livestock or simply food any food will do, though believe it or not, anyone here would kill for a piece of steak, or roasted chicken, a decently prepared meal not only with fresh meat but with fresh vegetables, rice or potatoes anything fresh will be great for all of us here.

  There isn’t much left to do, soon everything will fall into place and once it does everyone can start living normally again, doing their work, go home spend time doing whatever they wanted. It’s a good thing William set up the sun panels the electricity really helps a lot. This is another thing we should start doing, just in case they had to break. There is days where the power is slow due to bad weather maybe we can add another method to cover these areas, we have the generator but it’s loud and annoying and to power everything, we will be out of fuel in a matter of days.

  Chapter 16: Happy endings

  It’s been some time now, no real attacks, no deaths, no disease or people falling ill, we have successfully set up a third camp located on Cormorant Rookeries by using a lot of painted signals at Pelican Bay Harbor Marina, it wasn’t neat or tidy though it was the perfect set up. We got it barricaded with much needed warnings, including things they need to watch out for, and most importantly never go in the water even by boat because it is dangerous.

  Sharks in these waters are savages, they go after anything bleeding, even tested it with sound alone and even that seems to be a deadly attraction, at least, the ocean is being kept clean as this is a predator they will still go after the injured whether they are healthy, infected or busy dying its all the same to them.

  Other predators have the same reactions, even if they are infected, we have found dogs, cats including a small alligator, and they will still continue hunting as they normally would, it’s no easy task, they are much more aggressive and the slightest bite can transfer the virus.

  Even with this new challenge it isn’t as bad, the most dangerous encounters we have encountered is healthy human beings, including Luke, Bobby, Roy and Bradley. People are by far the worse, not as dangerous as those things out there but combine them with hate, vengeance and a thinking brain then they sure as hell are the worse things we have ever faced.

  Beside from that we also have areas with rat problems, this forced us to put on heavy gear and thick clothing, it’s the only way we can insure our safety. Having an entire horde of flesh eating rats or any other rodent, now that is a real problem, individuals will rarely attack but once they team up, they have the courage to take on even the biggest of animals.

  Other small animals are exactly the same, though we can only be happy that we haven’t encountered any birds that have been infected, so far I believe they can’t be infected, though I won’t speak to soon of this, otherwise we might just find a few. If birds ever had to make a change and get infected then there will be no way of surviving this outbreak.

  This doesn’t mean it’s over, we have come across many animals not infected, some even skinny that’s deeply into starvation, this is sad yet it is good news, they managed to survive this long, it must mean that they aren’t infected at all.

  We wouldn’t have been able to set up the third camp if it wasn’t for James, after doing minor repairs he decided to stay, providing a few of us training and serving us as our very pilot. Extremely handy when it comes to traveling to the third camp once every two weeks to fetch any survivors, survivors return dirty, some sick and skinny some starving, though they are all treated before entering Fort Zachary, for safety this is the best we can do ever since we lost Emma.

  This was to be expected, there isn’t much they can do but stay there until we do come, we only have a few tents set up, with minimum food, once the food is completed or tents are reserved, the remaining can take blankets and just wait patiently for pick up. On the pickup days, James will restock the food and bring any dirty bedding with for cleaning, which is sent back for the next time he goes to check.

  Even the sick that arrives, heals pretty well and quickly, no deaths among any of them yet, Martin is in charge there, with the entire plan being we fill up Fort Zachary, let people stay there, then slowly start filling up the homes in Key West and once there is no more room, we will set out to claim another Key, closest being the Boca Chica Key.

  If we populate close to the bridge, by the time we reach main land’s, we should have enough to fight back and survive this viral outbreak, with minimal casualties, when that time comes we surely will have a doctor or two or maybe even more, we defiantly will have some men that can fight, just like Jason and Martin.

&nb
sp; The ones that have the virus we sadly take them to a different drop of point, these people will show signs like coughing blood, skin falling off, open wounds, some dry some wet, bleeds intensely, the ones showing, blood dots around their pupils with a tone of yellow. Some will even shake uncontrollably; these are the people we don’t take to Key West, these people we take to Great White Heron.

  Once a beautiful National Wild life reserve, many tourists have went there, after we send out scouts to this area with James, we realized that for some unknown reason, the sharks strive here and thus we decided we will take everyone here that shows any signs, it’s not something everyone entirely agreed upon but it’s for everyone’s best interests.

  The ones that get dropped of here are lied to, we have no other options, we tried to be honest the first time and they simply hated the idea to be stranded there.

  We try to keep things as humane as possible, James will treat the people the best way he can since we have loads of bandages and medicine some of the medicine, we don’t even know what they do. We give them a set of painkillers before dropping them of, lying that this is the place where we have space and where it’s safe even when it’s not.

  We don’t just leave them there, before we started bringing the infected here, we set up two small camps each one consisting of 6 tents with a food stash, we also surrounded the entire camp with fence and secured it firmly with steel, if they happened to be clean, they will still find a way into this camp, where as the infected wont.

  We also didn’t leave them like this, once every two weeks James will still pass by and drop food in the camps, not many of the ones that we pick to be infected turns out to be clean, so far we have 8 people that are fine out of the 62 dropped there.

  The plan was good and they seemed happy in these camps, until one of them decided to open the barricades unaware of them being there, from the looks of it they got over run and eaten by wild life or the infected humans we have no idea, however we will continue dropping cans of food at the second camp that is still secure and safe, we will also drop some food at random areas if there is anyone out there trying to survive.

  It’s a tragedy for some, how things had to turn out to be, it might be good or it might be evil, Conway couldn’t care less, his first priority will always be to keep the people safe, it’s crucial for the human race, crucial to their survival.

  Each person lost or infected is one person less to help find a way to put these things to an end, by brute force or simply finding a vaccine. Conway knows there will be no way to help the ones already infected or too far into the transformation, yet he still believes and he has hope that somewhere out there, there is someone trying to create a vaccine, at least, to prevent anyone from getting this virus.

  Bobby will be released later today, many people voted that he had enough, Conway can agree with them, his behavior was good and its seems like he learned his lesson, he didn’t serve the entire 4 months, everyone agreed that 1 month won’t make a difference at least he will be out to have Christmas with his brother.

  It’s risky, for all Conway knew he was seeking revenge due to the harsh sentence, concerned to much as Jason is around most of the times, he carries out messages, he didn’t want to fight anymore, he didn’t want to kill anything, he even refused to leave Fort Jefferson to find anything he might have wanted. He said that he only wanted back what he lost, something he will never find out there.

  People feels sorry for the man, still his up every day and somewhere I am sure, he has realized and learned from the mistakes he made in the past I believe everyone has. There is no question about it, all the people I lead, knows exactly, they know giving up won’t help anyone; it will simply make it harder for everyone else.

  At times some of the new people we take in have attitudes, yet after making a few things clear a few days and they automatically start falling in line, doing whatever they can do, some bringing useful skills to the table, like construction, technicians and much more, sadly no doctors yet, we found one a few days ago, he was suffering already from the virus and we had to send him away, simply to live as long as possible, surviving until he changes or when he gets eaten by the sharks by trying to escape.

  It doesn’t help to think about this, everything is looking perfect I can’t be held back from my dreams, the time has come, I have to marry her, before something else has to happen, it’s the least I can do for now to make her happy at the same time myself.

  Ashley and I might not have kids just yet, not until we are sure of their future and safety. If we get married we can, at least, say time didn’t stand still for us, the problems we have, didn’t get us down not even the infected or the other dangers.

  I better get to it, I want this to be over fast since we still have a few days left to work and then we can feast and celebrate all we ever wanted on Christmas, Ashley has a lot planned for that day, we are going to have a party.

  We are going to set up music with lots of food for everyone to enjoy, including Bobby, we are even going to send food to Key West for all of them to enjoy as well, we are going to dance and just have a damn good time for all the suffering and hard work we had to go through during this year, it’s going to be a blast and no one can wait.

  In front of everyone, Conway goes to his knees, people know what’s about to happen and starts cheering slightly, very softly but you can still hear one or two, by any bet it would be Jason and Samuel cheering, though he hadn’t even asked her yet.

  “I know, things have been rough, I know things will never be the same,” Conway said, holding her hand.

  “Before all this things weren’t exactly easy either but together we managed, we passed all our problems and I am sure that if we stand together you and I, we can do great things and resolve this problem too,” Conway said.

  “I known you for a very long time, we have been friends since child hood, we stood by each other for so long and I can’t imagine spending a day without you,” Conway said, looking deep into her blue eyes.

  “From everyone I ever knew, you knew me best, this might not be the best time and it might not be as romantic as I think you wanted it to be, but would you please marry me?” Conway asked.

  “Yes of course,” Ashley said, smiling, blushing at the same time as everyone cheers, except Bobby.

  While they celebrate their decision, Bobby sneaked into Martins tent and went through all the bags he left behind, where he found a small radio. With high hopes he can find him, hopefully the idiot managed to find something to make contact with.

  The last time Bobby was with them they had a few that they were struggling to repair, only one were capable or had enough knowledge to repair some electronics. Bobby is filled with hate knowing Martin had to shoot his best friend Luke, knowing he won’t be able to do much from where he is now unless he gets in contact with his father Bradley or even Roy.

  Struggling several hours with the radio trying his last channel he manages to reach Bradley, sharing the bad news with each other, explaining what really happened, leaves Bobby with the perfect plan since he knows the entire place inside out.

  Bradley didn’t want Jason, he only wanted Ashley and Conway, this was fine with Bobby, his plan will work either way, though to swim all the way Key West would simply be impossible, there is no way he would make it with the claimed shark frenzy.

  Bobby needs to put his plan together this time, there is no point for him to rush into all of this, just to end up in that cell like the previous time, a decent plan is needed, one that will lure Conway out of this Fort and to Key West.

  Bobby can only ask Taylor and Samantha to help with a task like this, yet again he knows Samantha and Martin are deeply in love with each other even if they don’t show it.

  Martin left him there, wondering why, why he never even came to visit, there was visiting times though he only came twice and then he simply stopped, and he always bossed me around leaving me with no options to do what I wanted to do.

  Everything I wan
ted to do was bad or indecent to him, still he was the one to shoot one of my best friends, though I hated Roy, Luke in the other hand was different and helped me with anything I ever asked of him like a true friend would.

  Bobby thought to himself that this plan would be genius, it will have everything, distraction, pray, revenge, everything will be done perfectly and in the end everyone will either be happy or dead.

  Chapter 17: Evil planning’s

  The plan is easy so far, it’s not perfect but it will have to do, there isn’t much time to do this, in just two days and it will be Christmas, the day everyone will be happy, I need this to be done before then it will ruin everyone here, just like they ruined me.

  Bradley must be at Key West already, hopefully he is waiting like I asked, since Martin knows what he looks like, if he had to see him the plan will surely fail. There are no rooms for mistakes if they had to catch me again, I could only fear death. Conway has grown up ever since he was voted leader, he won’t think twice to put a bullet in anyone’s head that risks the group.

  My plan will be set in motion after 1 pm that will give me enough time to get a weapon, and then go get that little bitch Conway calls a wife, once I have her I only need to get to the boat; Taylor knows the plan and will hold off Jason if he was ever alerted.

  Taylor knows that this Jason guy won’t be any fun or games and I requested him to kill Jason, the moment he has the opportunity that is if he was to interfere with the plan.

  Once I have the girl, I will head straight to Key West where Bradley should have some of those things there to invade, enough to pass their so called good defense, I haven’t been there since I was locked up, after arriving I will go straight after my brother, it might not be right, but it simply feels like I have to do this.

 

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