The Uncivil War Series Box Set

by B. T. Wright

“Well, no, sir, I just mean . . .” Hunt began.

  “Mean, what exactly?” Colonel Jenkins said.

  She huffed, then gathered herself. “That’s how I got into this mess. The president gave a superior officer my name. The president gave the order to find me and my Beritrix. The colonel wouldn’t tell me what my name meant on a document. Only that it had something to do with this apocalypse. Not more than a few minutes later, people were attacking people. My friends. They . . . they tried to kill me.”

  “The paper said Beritrix was the cure, didn’t it?” Colt said.

  “It had my name on it. With the words find her. I didn’t know what that all meant until . . . all hell broke loose.”

  Still the colonel held his tongue. But Colt couldn’t, not for her sake. He wasn’t military and therefore wasn’t breaking the chain of command. “My brother’s in Virginia.”

  “Damnit, Maddox!”

  “What? She deserves to know,” Colt continued. “He’s with some scientists and the president. They are trying to figure what this is and why this happened.”

  “Are you planning on finding a plane in the airfield?” Hunt said. Colonel Jenkins nodded. “Then you’ll need a mechanic. That’s me, that’s what I do. I’m studying to work on planes. I can help you.”

  Colonel Jenkins let out loud roaring huff. “That’s enough chitchat for now. Take us to the stadium. To the Beritrix. First things first. Nothing matters anyway if we can’t get those injections.”

  Colt carried Dylan toward the car, but just as he bent down to lean into the sedan, Hunt yelled out, “Why don’t you set him in here? I imagine he’ll be more comfortable.”

  Colt stared at the SUV. He knew Dylan would be more comfortable in the higher vehicle, and it would mean less struggle to get him in and out. Colt stared over the roof of the sedan, directly at Colonel Jenkins. He nodded in agreement. “It’s true. He will be better off.”

  Colt’s eye went to Wesley as he sat in the back seat. “C’mon, bud, we’re switching vehicles.”

  Wesley followed his father out of the car. “You follow us,” Colt said over his shoulder.

  “Don’t worry about us, we’ll be on your six,” Colonel Jenkins said.

  As Colt approached the SUV, Hunt met him on his side of the vehicle. She grabbed the passenger door and pulled it open. Colt dropped Dylan inside while Wesley jumped into the back, leaving the door open for his father. Just before Colt stepped inside, he took one last glance toward the setting sun.

  It was orange, mixed with reds and yellows. The wispy clouds danced along the mountainside and took his breath away. He blinked slow, then stared at both of his sons inside the cabin of the SUV. After the fleeting glance, he looked again to the sky, hoping he would get to see many more nights like this one.

  20

  “So, you’re a mechanic, huh?” Colt asked.

  “That’s right! Does that surprise you? Tell me you’re not one of those misogynists who thinks women can’t be mechanics.”

  Colt put his hands up to deflect. “Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that at all, I didn’t mean to imply.”

  She burst out laughing. “Relax, geez, I’m just playing around.”

  Colt nervously laughed to himself, then sat back against his seat and looked to Wesley. He smiled, not knowing how to continue the conversation with her. He couldn’t get a read off this young woman.

  “So, what happened to you?” Hunt looked at Dylan.

  “Fell out of a golf cart.”

  Again, she burst out laughing.

  What’s so funny? Colt was about to defend his son, but before he did, she came back. “I’m sorry, I laugh when I’m nervous. I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear.”

  “Why are you nervous?” Wesley asked.

  Colt put his arm on Wesley’s to make him stop, but perhaps it was a good question.

  “It’s just . . . you guys are only the second people I’ve seen alive since all of this started. I was beginning to think I was alone. You know, like Will Smith in that . . . that zombie movie, what’s it called?”

  “I Am Legend.” Dylan turned and grinned to his dad. They’d enjoyed a host of movies together.

  “That’s the one.” She reached out and playfully hit Dylan on the shoulder without thinking.

  “Ow.” Dylan grabbed his shoulder, and his head dropped as his face screwed up in pain.

  “Hey, watch it!” Colt added from the back seat.

  “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to . . .” Hunt said tried to console.

  Then Dylan rose in his chair and started laughing on his own. “I’m just playin’.”

  More laughter erupted. The first in a while. Everyone in the SUV shared in the experience. And in that moment of sweetness, Colt stared out the window and felt normalcy return, if only for the moment.

  “What are all your names?” Hunt asked.

  “I’m Colt.”

  Dylan raised his hand. “Dylan.”

  Wesley remained quiet in the back next to his father, so Colt answered for him.

  “Nice to meet all of you. Where did you come from?”

  “We had a house in the mountains. In South Park.”

  “Oh, cool, just you three then?” Her question was innocent. But inside that harmless inquisition was pain. And the calm Colt felt as he stared outside turned dark as the heaviness of reality hit him between the eyes like a sledgehammer.

  Colt remained silent. He couldn’t answer.

  Dylan did instead. “No, my mom, she . . . she turned.”

  “I’m so sorry. She wasn’t on Beritrix?”

  “No. By the time we found out what this was, it was too late,” Dylan said.

  Colt listened to Dylan’s side of the story for the first time, but as he spoke, it was like Colt was hearing from another person’s body. Like he was listening without being present. In his mind, he escaped the present reality and transported himself inside the operation room with Anna by his side at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.

  He questioned his decision to leave her again. If we were there, we’d be alive and well. Not in this mess. I did this, I put them in danger. Look at Dylan. He’s got road rash from head to toe. And Wesley. He’s scared. Why shouldn’t he be? He’s seven. Lost his mom. She’s turned into an infected. We can defeat them all. We’ll eventually end up like them. Like the vice president said, it’s inevitable. See, even he’s dead now. Colt continued his self-criticism and neither heard nor saw his son waving at him from the front seat as his eyes stared forward in a daze.

  It wasn’t until the cabin lights sparked to life that Colt shook from his reverie and heard his son. “Dad! We’re here. Inside the stadium. We need to get out quick. Hunt said there could be infected around any corner.”

  Colt saw Colonel Jenkins and Bald filing out of the sedan and getting to their feet. He reached for the lever and exited.

  “Where are we?” Dylan asked, now joining his father and Hunt on their side.

  “The concourse. Like, I said in the SUV, tread carefully and don’t make too much noise. I was chased throughout this stadium by infected from my own unit.”

  Bald and Colonel Jenkins walked up from the sedan and overheard the end of the brief conversation. “Stay frosty,” Colonel Jenkins said. “And stay together. We’re running low on ammo. Shoot smart and aim true or who knows what will happen.”

  “Well, that’s comforting,” Hunt said, eyeing Dylan, then gave him a nudge.

  Once Colonel Jenkins shot her a death stare, she straightened up and lost the snark. He said, “Hunt, lead the way. But go slow. The kid’s still hurting.”

  She started walking, and Bald followed close behind. Then Dylan, Wesley, and Colt. Finally, Colonel Jenkins. They were close enough that Hunt could hear Colt when he whispered, “Where are we going? Is it far?”

  “No. Not far.” She spoke out of the side of her mouth. “We’re heading to the locker rooms. Coach Logan will still be held up there. Apparently, he’s hardly come out for three da
ys.”

  “You’re shitting me. What’s he doing, actually living inside the locker room?” Bald said.

  “By the looks of it, yeah! Wait until you see the locker room. It is quite comfortable. Aside from the rotting food smell,” Hunt said.

  “Uh, gross,” Dylan said.

  “Yeah, I’m not sure why he still has it inside to be honest. Maybe he thinks it will throw off his human scent. If they can smell our scent, that is. Speaking of that, can they?”

  “Not that we’ve seen, but honestly nothing would surprise me at this point,” Colonel Jenkins said.

  “I guess. I’m not surprised he hasn’t come out much. If I were in his position, God knows I wouldn’t,” Hunt said.

  “I can’t believe we’re here. We’re actually walking through Falcon Stadium.” Dylan looked around in awe.

  “What . . . this?” Colt said. He hadn’t been aware his son had any interest in football.

  “Yeah. I mean, I’ve only watched one or two games, but still, this is . . . awesome,” Dylan said. “Like a cathedral.”

  “A cathedral, huh?” Colonel Jenkins said. “Obviously you’ve never heard of a little team from South Bend, Indiana called Notre Dame, huh.”

  “Pssh.” Bald forced out breath through his teeth. “Please.”

  “I mean no disrespect to our boys, here, Bald, but get real. You can’t compare the Air Force Academy’s football team to Notre Dame. I mean, c’mon.”

  “You’re right, sir, I can’t. We’re far superior,” Bald said.

  His comment brought out a half-hearted chuckle from Colonel Jenkins. But in the moment of laughter, there was a popping noise from their right.

  Colt reached for both his son’s and Bald and Colonel Jenkins stepped in front with the rifles aimed at the ready. With their eyes trained ahead, they wouldn’t falter, or shoot until there was a target.

  More popping came, but still no visual contact. After three consistent pops, there was a scattering noise across the floor. It was then that the ‘threat’ made itself known. The distinct shape and coloring gave it away: a racoon.

  Colt let go of his boys and allowed them to remain in line, directly behind Hunt. Colonel Jenkins and Bald sighed, then lifted their rifles up and rejoined the ranks. “Carry on, Hunt,” Colonel Jenkins said.

  There wasn’t much ground to make up. Once they were at the doors of the locker room, Hunt reached out and tapped on the door. Two quick knocks followed by a harder third.

  She turned to look at the group. “A code the coach and I came up with,” she said.

  “Cute.” Bald smiled slyly.

  In an instant, the door opened, and a frail looking man stood on the other side. He stepped aside and allowed all to enter. Once inside the hallway, everyone stopped. Colt couldn’t help but stare at the blue walls.

  Coach Logan didn’t say anything, didn’t even offer a welcome greeting, he simply pushed beyond them and walked inside.

  Colt whispered over his shoulder to Colonel Jenkins. “Looks a little worse for the wear, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I assume you would as well if you were held up in this place all by yourself. Nevertheless, keep an eye out,” Colonel Jenkins said.

  “What? You think he’s a threat?” Colt said.

  “After what we’ve been through, Mr. Maddox, I think everyone is a threat.”

  Colt walked in line, taking note of everything inside. Hunt was right. This place is a palace, Colt thought. And safe enough, at least for the night.

  21

  After parading everyone through the locker room, Coach Logan paused by the door that led to his office. The exact place Hunt had said the vials of Beritrix were being held.

  “What is it?” Hunt spoke, wondering the reason for the wait.

  “We can’t go inside,” Coach Logan said.

  “What the hell do you mean we can’t go inside?” Colonel Jenkins wouldn’t allow anyone else to ask the first question.

  Coach Logan dropped his eyes to the floor and said, “I know why you’ve come. I tried to get Cassandra to stay with me. I begged her not to go after you, but she didn’t listen, she wouldn’t listen to my reasoning.” Coach Logan was visibly shaking now.

  Hunt searched for Colonel Jenkins’ eye to find contentment, but there was only scorn and disbelief in his gaze.

  Colt stepped in front of Coach Logan and stood eye to eye. “Look, guy, I don’t know who think you are or what you’re so afraid of, but Cassandra told us we could find Beritrix here. We came here knowing we would be able to take the shots in the morning.”

  “I’m sorry, but . . .” he trailed off.

  “Not as sorry as you’re about to be.” Bald cocked his rifle, ejecting a round for effect.

  Colt held out his hand. Begging Bald to stand down. Lucky for Colt, he did.

  “I know it’s hard being here. Holed up in this stadium all by yourself. You’re a survivor,” Colt started.

  “Damn right,” Coach interjected.

  “But look, we need your help. My boys”—he grabbed for both of them—“they need the injection. We’ve all been on Beritrix since birth. WD17, same as you. If we don’t get it in the morning, all of us . . .” Colt spun around the room and gestured at the entire group. “We’ll be zombies by midday.”

  Coach Logan stared at each man—and the boys. Lastly, he turned to Hunt and spoke only to her. “I told you not to go. But you didn’t listen. This is on you.” Instantly, Coach Logan spun the handle of the unlocked door and jumped inside his office. Everyone outside stalled, wondering what he would do next. They received their answer when he spun the lock on the handle.

  Colt grabbed the knob but found it wouldn’t turn. “Damnit.” He pounded the door with his fist.

  “Step aside, I’m breaking it down.” Bald centered himself to the door and lifted his rifle.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Coach Logan’s voice was strong from behind the door.

  “And why not?” Bald didn’t want to play his games, but he obliged.

  “Because I’ve got a .44 Magnum pointed right at it. And if anyone tries to break the door down, they’re gonna end up with a hole inside of ‘em.”

  Bald stood firm, then looked to Colonel Jenkins and said. “.44 Magnum? Who’s this guy think he is, Dirty Harry?”

  “Stand down, Bald,” Colonel Jenkins said.

  “Sir?” Bald questioned.

  “We need to formulate a plan,” Colonel Jenkins said, then fell into the center of the room.

  Every person followed the colonel. When they came close, Colonel Jenkins looked to Hunt and said, “Is the Beritrix inside?”

  She nodded. “The fridge is on the floor. Behind his desk.”

  “You’re certain?” Colonel Jenkins said.

  “It was when I left to find you.”

  Colonel Jenkins brought his hand to his chin and rubbed the stubble.

  “What are you thinking, sir?” Bald said.

  “Is there any other way to get into the office?” Colonel Jenkins looked to Hunt.

  “No. None.”

  “What about his family? Any alive? Did you talk to him about it?” Colonel Jenkins said.

  “I did. He was vague about them. A wife and two kids, I think.”

  “Jackpot,” Colonel Jenkins said.

  “What?” Colt cut in. “He’s not going to give in on account of losing his family. I tried to pull on his heart strings with my boys, he didn’t even flinch.”

  “What about your wife?” Colonel Jenkins stared at Colt.

  Colt gulped a lump of spit that formed in his throat. “What about her?”

  “Use her. Tell him she’s still alive,” Colonel Jenkins said.

  Those words sank him. Colt hadn’t told his sons about his wife—about their mother. Her survival was still a secret, because deep down, he didn’t want them to feel her loss again. What if Colt couldn’t bring her back? What if she never turned into Anna again? But now, Colt had no choice.

  �
��Uh, Dad, what the hell is he talking about?” Dylan said.

  Colt stalled, and his mouth gaped. He didn’t have the words. But he didn’t need to say anything. Not in that moment. Dylan recognized the look on his face—the humility and desperation.

  “Dad! What is he talking about?” Dylan pried.

  Before Colt could answer, Colonel Jenkins stepped in close so only Colt could hear. “Tell them the truth. They deserve to know.”

  Colt ushered Dylan and Wesley away from the group and guided them to a row of lockers. He sat each of them down and knelt to their level. He forced a nervous smile on his face. He didn’t know how to begin—where to begin? But then the dreaded words fell out. “Mom’s alive.”

  “What? How? Where? We saw her . . . she was one of those things. She tried to kill us,” Dylan said.

  “She’s different now. They’re keeping her alive. On a monitor. I spoke to her. She recognized my voice.” The faintest sign of hope moved over Colt’s face.

  “Who’s they?” Dylan had to know.

  “At Cheyenne Mountain Complex.”

  “What the hell? Are you shitting me? Why didn’t you tell us, we could’ve seen her—talked to her before we left,” Dylan said. “And what do you mean they’re keeping her on a monitor?”

  “I mean . . .” Words stuck in his mouth. He couldn’t go into every detail. The web of lies would spin in Dylan’s imagination like a top. Make it seem worse than it was. And he still needed Dylan to respect Colonel Jenkins and Bald. “She’s safe, that’s all.”

  “Safe?! How the hell is she safe?! She’s a damn infected.”

  “But, Jake—”

  “—Uncle Jake what? It’s always about Uncle Jake and getting back to him. Now that Mom’s alive, screw Uncle Jake, I want to go back to her.” With that, Dylan stood up and hobbled away from his father in search of solace.

  “Dyl—” Colt rose from the ground to go after him but couldn’t when he saw the look on Wesley’s face. He was the one who needed more comfort in that time. Dylan just needed to cool off. Colt reached down and hugged his son and felt the emotional twinge in his gut when Wesley said, “I want to see Mommy.”