A World Apart (Part 1): 8,000 Miles

by Sean P. Thomas

  “Chris, go and find Roy and Patty.” A third man said.

  He heard the door open and close again as the man named Chris left to find the others that the third guy named.

  “Someone has been living down here.” The voice that ordered Chris away said. “There is bedding there. Look around, see if there are any other clues that might help us identify our guest.”

  He heard the men spread out. He didn’t dare look around the side of the furnace, he didn’t want to be found, not yet. He waited, ready to strike, if need be.

  ***

  Jerry figured whoever had been squatting in the boiler room was the same figure that Angie had spotted a couple of days ago in the hallway near their room, the same guy that scared Sam, and by all appearances, the thief that had been taking food from the kitchen. The room wasn’t large, but it was full of pipes and equipment. There were a lot of dark nooks to hide in. He had that unsettling feeling that they weren’t alone in there. Jerry felt unprepared to face the unknown squatter, he didn’t have any sort of weapon, none of them did. Jerry moved to the left side of the room, while Kyle went right. Alex hung back in the middle of the boiler room, watching Jerry’s and his brother’s back.

  Kyle started moving around some large ducts and out of Alex’s line of sight.

  “Hold on Kyle.” Alex called.

  It was too late.

  Kyle screamed in fear. Jerry and Alex heard a scuffle from behind the furnace in the back-right corner of the room. Kyle’s scream was suddenly muffled as if his mouth was covered. Alex started to move towards his brother, but stopped as Kyle appeared, being guided by an unfamiliar man. The stranger had one hand over Kyle’s mouth and the other was holding a large knife to Kyle’s throat.

  “Don’t fucking move.” The man ordered Jerry and Alex. “I’ll slit his fucking throat.”

  “Please.” Alex begged. “Let my brother go.”

  “You can just leave.” Jerry added. “No one has to get hurt.”

  “Leave?” The man scoffed. “I’m not leaving. This is my home. If anyone is leaving, it is you, all of you. I’m taking this school.”

  “We can work something out.” Jerry tried to calm the man. “Just let our friend go, please.”

  Just then, Roy, Patty, and Chris burst through the door. Roy came in first and had his pistol at the ready. He spotted the man holding Kyle hostage and pointed his gun in his direction. His expression changed almost immediately from one of surprise, to confusion, then to recognition.

  “Victor?” Roy asked.

  “You know this guy?” Jerry asked Roy.

  “You all fucked up!” The man yelled at Roy. “You should have just done things my way. You should have never put me out. That was your first mistake. Your second mistake was not killing me when you had the chance.”

  “Victor,” Patty pleaded with the man, “you don’t have to do this, we can come to an amicable solution. Let that man go and let’s talk about this like civilized people.”

  “Have you been outside this school since it all began?” Victor screamed at her. “There is no fucking civilization, and the time for talking is over.”

  The knuckles on his knife hand whitened as he tightened his grip on the haft. He pulled back hard and slid the blade across Kyle’s neck. Kyle let out a gurgle as blood spewed outward from his neck. Alex was bathed in his own brother’s blood. He reached out towards him, tears welling in his eyes. “No.” Alex wailed in anguish. Kyle stared into Alex’s eyes until his last gurgled breath escaped through the gash in his neck, and then he died.

  Victor flung Kyle’s limp body towards Roy, causing him to stumble and temporarily lose sight of his target. Alex rushed towards Victor in a rage fueled charge, but Victor was the quicker. He slashed the knife across Alex’s face, drawing a straight line of blood down his left cheek. He side-stepped Alex and pulled his body, using Alex’s momentum to toss him, face first, into the furnace behind. Jerry was moving towards Victor then, but couldn’t close the distance before Victor rushed to Patty. He spun around her and pulled her body in front of him, similar to the way he held Kyle before. He put the long knife blade to her neck. She felt the wetness of Kyle’s blood, still lingering on the blade, as it made contact with her skin.

  “You can’t win.” Victor told the others smugly. “It’s survival of the fittest now, and I am the Alpha here. Let’s go Roy, hand over the gun, or I gut your fearless leader here and show you what she is made of.”

  Roy had regained his balance after Kyle’s body was hurled at him, but not in time to get a shot off before Victor reached Patty. He was pointing the gun in Victor’s direction once again, considering if he should hand his weapon over. Alex was on his hands and knees, the impact with the furnace had him dazed and blood dripped freely from the cut on his face. Jerry was standing still with his hands up, trying not to appear like a threat to Victor. He was surprised when Patty looked up, and right into his eyes.

  “Jerry,” she began in a trembling voice, “I’m sorry I ever doubted you or your people. Please know that I have realized my folly. Take care of my people.”

  Jerry saw take in a deep breath and realized she was about to do something.

  “No Patty!” He screamed, trying to stop her.

  Patty brought her right elbow back, hard into Victor’s stomach. He lurched forward, but did not relinquish his hold on her.

  “You bitch!” He shouted at her. The anger was clearly stamped on his face as he wrapped his left arm around her neck and brought his right arm from up high, over her right shoulder, and plunged the knife into her heart. She died instantly. Her body went limp, spilling from his arms. Roy’s shot hit its mark before Patty hit the floor. The bullet struck Victor right between the eyes. The threat was over.

  Victor’s body collapsed on top of Patty. Roy lowered his gun and just stood there, frozen in place by the realization that he had just killed a man. Alex had regained his senses and clawed his way over to Kyle’s body. He pulled his brother’s lifeless form into his arms and buried his face in Kyle’s chest. He rocked back and forth, devastated by the loss of his brother. Jerry moved over to Victor’s corpse and kicked it off of Patty’s body. He cradled her head in his left arm.

  “I’m sorry Patty.” He said as he looked into her dead eyes, then he used his right hand to close her eyelids.

  CHAPTER 35

  Brandon met John’s group at the gate the next morning. All their weapons and their vehicles were returned to them. The group was gathered around the MaxxPro, saying their goodbyes to Brandon.

  “I wish you all the best of luck,” Brandon told John, “and again, I apologize for the misunderstanding when you arrived at our gates. I wish you would reconsider and stay, but I understand your conviction.”

  “Thanks Brandon.” John said as he shook the CIA agent’s hand. “We won’t forget you, if we find a way out of this, we’ll make sure that people know you are here.”

  Brandon nodded. John turned to the others. “Is everyone ready to hit the road?” He asked.

  “I’m staying here.” Susan told him and the others.

  “Susan, you should come with us.” John told her. “We started this journey together, we should stay together.”

  “I don’t have anyone back in the states.” She said to John. “Besides, I have been nothing but a burden to you all. You will fare better without me. I am truly sorry for all the trouble I caused, and for the way I treated you.”

  “No one holds that against you Susan.” John tried to ease her guilt. “People have their own way of reacting to stress. It is what it is.”

  “Thank you.” Susan said to John. “But I am staying here all the same. I really hope you all make it.”

  Seeing that he wasn’t going to change her mind, John accepted her decision. They all gave Susan a hug, even Shelly, then said goodbye. John told George to take Susan’s seat in the supply truck with Ed. They all loaded up and John led the way back around Shindand Airbase, then east to the highway, and turn
ed north towards Herat.

  ***

  The convoy travelled north for about two hours before Herat came into view. They had studied the map of Herat back at the airbase and located one viable bypass. There was a road that would take them northwest, just south of the city proper. That road merged with another that headed north, which would bring them to the westbound highway that led straight to the Iran border. This route would hopefully keep them on the outskirts of Herat, but edged dangerously close to the city. John stopped his truck right before the road and checked the map one more time to be sure it was the right one. He didn’t want to chance getting lost with Herat looming before them. Brandon had told them that Herat was completely overrun. It was the third largest city in Afghanistan with almost a half million people living there. There were already numerous dwellings around them, where they were currently stopped. They could see dozens of zombies already, all around them, some already attracted by the moving vehicles and heading towards them.

  “Your bypass route will not work.” Samir told John.

  “Why not?” John asked.

  “I know Herat better than your maps.” Samir insisted. “The route you planned is surrounded by the outer districts of the city. They are heavily populated. You are risking as much going that way as if we went right through downtown Herat.”

  “Why didn’t you speak up when we planned the route?” John asked him.

  “You didn’t ask for my opinion.” Samir told him. “If we continue north, we will travel through a very populated area of the city, but only for a short while. Once we get through, the road wraps around the north side of the city and that highway will lead you to Iran. The north side of that highway is free of any dwellings, so we will only have threats from the south. It is a much safer route. Also, my home is on the way if we go that route.”

  “Samir, are you choosing this route solely because of your family, or is it truly the safest route?” John asked him.

  “I swear it is the safest route.” Samir assured him. “You and your people have already risked so much to rescue me from my base. You owe me nothing and I owe you my life, but I must beg you to consider putting yourself in danger once again, for the sake of my family.”

  John considered what Samir was asking. He was already starting to get nervous. There were several zombies clawing at the sides of the vehicles.

  “WHAT ARE WE DOING JOHN?” Ed asked over the radio. “WE ARE DRAWING A CROWD HERE.”

  “STANDBY.” John called back. “Samir, I understand what you are asking, and why, but we have come so far and we have everything to lose.”

  “John, you must understand.” Samir pleaded. “I have everything to gain. You people are risking an impossible journey just for the chance that you will see your loved ones again. I only ask for the same chance.”

  “You are right, of course.” John admitted. “We will try Samir.”

  “Thank you, John.” Samir said as he placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head.

  “CHANGE OF PLANS GUYS.” John called over the radio. “SAMIR HAS A BETTER ROUTE AND WE ARE GOING TO CHECK IN ON HIS FAMILY AS WELL.”

  “YOU SURE ABOUT THIS JOHN?” Ed called back.

  “YES. WE HAVE TO TRY.” John insisted. “WE’LL MAKE OUR WAY AND SEE HOW BAD IT IS. IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO STOP AND CHECK ON HIS FAMILY, THEN WE WILL. SAMIR SAYS IT IS ON THE WAY.”

  “ROGER.” Ed replied.

  “FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD.” Damien reported from the fuel truck.

  “EVERYONE STICK CLOSE AND DON’T STOP UNLESS YOU HAVE TO.” John instructed the other vehicles.

  John pulled forward, knocking over the monsters that had crowded near the front of the MaxxPro. Other zombies bounced off the sides of the truck. He checked his mirror and saw the trailing vehicles moving forward as well. John felt a pang of anxiety as he drove past the road they had originally planned to use as a bypass around the city, but he trusted Samir’s assessment about the route. There were abandoned cars and trucks all along the route now, but the road wasn’t completely grid locked, they were able to weave around the obstacles. The farther north they travelled, the more dwellings they saw. There was a greater concentration of zombies as well. Every time a group of the monsters took note of their approach, they took up the chase. So far, it wasn’t problematic, the zombies were no match for the large vehicles, even at the slower pace. Despite that, John didn’t want to linger anywhere, he knew that if too many of the zombies were to bunch up around the vehicles, they might make it difficult to move.

  The going was more of the same for about two miles, but then the dwellings around them thinned out as they moved into an area that appeared to be a park of sorts. It consisted of open grassy areas and large bunches of trees. The road continued straight through the park, past a large soccer field and it looked like it ended ahead at some large buildings that looked somewhat palatial.

  “Those are the government buildings of Herat.” Samir told John. “The governor of Herat lived and worked in that first building. The other government offices lie in the larger buildings behind it.”

  John nodded in response. The information was useless in their current situation, but John was glad for the break from the populated areas they had just travelled through. There were hardly any zombies in this area and they had outdistanced the throng from behind. The road ended at the palace ahead, but branched off to the left and right.

  “Take a right up ahead.” Samir told John.

  John turned right and proceeded forward. He could see that they would be going through more populated areas of the city ahead. There was a traffic circle before them.

  “Which way?” John asked.

  “Left.” Samir told him.

  The traffic circle moved around a monument in its center, but since there was no traffic, John chose to turn directly left instead of going all the way around the circle. This part of the city looked much the same as the area they left before entering the park that led to the governor’s palace. They had to navigate around more abandoned vehicles, there were more zombies here as well.

  “It’s pretty bad here Samir.” John told him. “I’m not suggesting that we don’t check for your family, but I think you need to prepare yourself for the worst.”

  “I understand.” Samir said, worry was clearly stamped on his face.

  They continued north, past more populated areas and even more packs of zombies. John didn’t slow except to weave around the vehicles on the street. They were making good progress.

  “The road ahead curves to the west and becomes clear of all these neighborhoods.” Samir told John. “It will be pretty clear all the way to the Iran border from there. My neighborhood is off the right side of the road up ahead.”

  They traveled north for a few more minutes until Samir directed John to turn right into a neighborhood. The dwellings here were surrounded by walls with large metal gates, separating an inner courtyard from the street. Each family unit was two or more stories high. There were cars in the street and it was tight moving the large vehicles down the lane. There were a few zombies walking around the streets as well, but not as many as they saw before. John assumed that the walls of the dwellings kept a lot of the monsters from pouring onto the streets. They moved forward at a slow pace and crossed over an intersection.

  “My home is ahead and on the left.” Samir said. “The one with the green gate.” He pointed ahead.

  John spotted the gate. He picked up the radio and called the others on the radio.

  “SAMIR’S HOUSE IS UP AHEAD.” He told them. “I’LL BACK MY TRUCK INTO THE OUTER WALL ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE GATE. ED, DO THE SAME WITH YOUR TRUCK ON THIS SIDE OF THE GATE. SHELLY, PULL YOUR TRUCK RIGHT IN FRONT OF OURS TO CLOSE OFF A SQUARE AREA IN FRONT OF THE GATE. EVERYONE UNDERSTAND?”

  “GOT IT.” Ed called back.

  “WE UNDERSTAND.” Damien reported as well.

  John pulled right next to the wall then turned his truck to the right as soon as he got to the gate of the dwelli
ng. Once his truck was perpendicular to the wall, he backed up until the rear of the truck bumped into the wall. Ed did the same on the opposite side and Shelly closed the square, just as John had instructed. Samir exited the MaxxPro and John climbed through and exited the truck on the same side. All the other group members got out and they all met in the middle.

  “Ed, can you stay out here and cover us from the tops of the trucks?” John asked him.

  “Sure thing.” Ed acknowledged, then he climbed to the top of the supply truck with his rifle slung over his shoulder.

  “Ed, don’t shoot unless you have to.” John told him. “We don’t want to draw any extra zombies to us.

  “There is a few of the buggers coming our way, but I think I can leave them be for the time being.” Ed reported.

  John nodded.

  “We will enter the courtyard in a tactical stack.” John told the others. “Samir will take point and Damien in the rear.”

  Samir and the others nodded. They lined up against the wall and Samir moved to the gate. He pulled it open slightly and peered inside. There was no sign of any zombies. Samir motioned for the others to follow, then the group disappeared inside the gate.

  CHAPTER 36

  Jerry and Alex gently lifted Kyle’s body from the floor of the boiler room. Roy and Chris did the same with Patty’s body. They carried them through the hallway of the basement, then up and outside. Once outside, they moved the bodies to the football field and gingerly laid them on the ground. Word had spread through the school of the events that had taken place in the basement. Derek and Angie came out to the field carrying shovels. Many other residents of the high school had come out as well. Everyone pitched in as they started digging two graves. Greg came out momentarily to treat the cut on Alex’s face. He stitched it up right there in the bleachers while the others were working on the graves. He finished up his work then headed back inside to check on Hector.

  ***

  Shortly after Greg had left the clinic to see to Alex’s wound, Hector woke up in a coughing fit. He was sweating profusely and was fighting for every breath. His fever had worsened over the night and Greg was worried that he wouldn’t make it. He administered more antibiotics and hoped it would help him, but he feared the worst. He was right. Hector labored for his last breath and died.