by B. T. Wright
Colonel Jenkins joined Colt and put a flashlight on his shoulder. Colt looked to see who it was. He acknowledged Colonel Jenkins.
“What do you think?” Colonel Jenkins said. “Do you think you can do it? Do you think you can talk sense into Coach Logan?”
“Of course, but . . . do you think it will work? I mean, the guy seems on edge. Unhinged even.”
“We gotta try. Come morning we won’t have access to any other Beritrix. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to tempt fate. Who knows how long we’ll last before we turn?”
22
From behind the beam of light, Colt stared at the blue door as he walked toward Coach Logan’s office. He played through the scenario in his head—what he planned to say. Just be calm. Talk about Anna. Your relationship with her. How you loved her. What she means to you. But as he continued to think, he ran out of real estate and landed at the door earlier than expected. He wasn’t prepared, but still . . . he reached out and knocked.
There was no answer, but Colt didn’t hesitate. “Coach Logan, it’s Colt Maddox.”
“Go away,” he said.
Good start. But Colt didn’t dwell on his cold welcome. “Look. Cassandra told me you lost your family.”
Coach Logan sat in silence.
“I get that. I lost my wife. Her name was Anna. She turned into an infected before I could give her a shot of Beritrix.” Colt paused, but didn’t wait. He needed to continue without being interrupted. “She attacked me. Then she went after our sons. I had to stop her. I couldn’t let whatever she turned into control her mind. She obviously wasn’t herself. She was some awful thing that felt only hate and rage. Her eyes turned black, like a shark. I even thought I saw them roll back in her head, like a shark does when killing its prey. What human can do that? None. She wasn’t human anymore.”
Colt didn’t see it, but Wesley and Dylan had come within earshot as their father described the scene from their lives.
He continued. “I had to protect my sons, I had too. You get that as a father, right?” Colt might have been spewing this information to Coach Logan, but it seemed it was cathartic for him too—a therapy session.
“You killed her, didn’t you?” Coach Logan said. There was emotion behind his voice, as if he’d been crying while listening.
“Almost,” Colt said.
“Almost?” Coach Logan didn’t understand.
“I couldn’t bring myself to do it. When we left the house, I had another chance. I stopped at the end of our driveway, got out of my truck, and walked to an opening. A clearing where I could see the large propane tank that sat off the side of our kitchen wall. I could’ve fired a round to end the devil that my wife became, but instead, I lifted the rifle away. I let her live. And it’s a good thing I did, because I recently found out that the Air Force found her wandering alone. They took her to a safe place to study her. To find out more about what these things are.”
“You mean, they’re dissecting her? Like an animal.” Coach Logan sounded angry. “How could you let them do that to her?”
“No. No.” Colt held the door, moving his head to the side and touching his cheek to the wood. “It’s not like that at all. They’re not dissecting her. They’re evaluating her. And while they’re doing that, my team has been sent on a mission to Virginia to help find a cure. See, if all goes well, when we arrive in Virginia, I may be able to help find a cure for this and ultimately bring my wife back from the dead. But we can’t do that unless . . . unless, we got those shots of Beritrix. We won’t survive the next day without a shot. We lost our supply when our helicopter went down.”
Colt waited and stepped away from the door as he heard movement inside. He held his breath, hoping he hadn’t pissed Coach Logan off to the point of firing his weapon. Bald and Colonel Jenkins moved—one on each side of Colt—with their weapons at the ready. The door clicked, and the handle spun. From the light inside, the one attached to the lamp inside the office, Colt could see Coach Logan’s eyes were wired with red and filled with tears. He stood in his doorway and wept. In between sobs, he spoke, “I couldn’t let them take me. I had to. I had to.” He kept saying. “I had to do it. They were going to kill me.”
Colt leaned close to Coach Logan. He was breaking down to the point of despair.
“It’s okay,” Colt consoled. “What happened?”
“My wife. I . . . I killed her.” More tears came, and he gagged. As if the words were too much to say and the weight of the burden too much to carry. “And my kids. They . . . they . . . attacked me. I couldn’t stop myself, I couldn’t . . . I had to, please you have to believe me.” This was a confession.
There was only one thing Colt could think to do. The only humane thing to do. He reached for Coach Logan and pulled him close. “Shh.” He let him continue crying. Empathizing with his situation. Colt could relate. He’d almost done the very same thing this man was describing.
Colt held him for the better part of a minute before Coach Logan pushed out of the hug and said, “Follow me.”
Colt did. He followed Coach Logan to the refrigerator. Coach Logan reached down and grabbed the vials from inside and set them on his desk. As Coach Logan lifted the vials from the shelving, Colt noticed he had grabbed them all.
“Please take them,” Coach said. “Can you forgive my selfishness?”
Colt nodded, but then said, “We can’t take them all.”
“Please do. You need them more than I do.”
Colt tilted his head. “Come on, don’t say that—don’t give up hope. You can come with us. Come to Virginia.”
“What good would I be there? I can’t help you. There’s nothing I could provide. I’m a murderer. A child killer.” His head fell again, trying to fight back more tears.
“You’re not! You did what was necessary to survive,” Colt said the words, but didn’t believe them. Even he didn’t know if he would have had the strength to kill his own family. In fact, he’d rather have joined them in the afterlife, than spend another minute in hell on earth.
Coach Logan didn’t respond to Colt. Instead, he stared into blank space without saying anything else. “Please. Keep them cold for us. Sleep tonight. You’ll change your mind by morning, I promise you.” Colt turned and left.
After exiting the office, he searched for Dylan, but Colonel Jenkins cut off his path.
“Great work in there,” he whispered. “You got what we needed?”
“The man’s hurting. I did what any person with a soul would have done.”
“Even so, nice work. We’ll bunk here for the night and leave at first light.” Colonel Jenkins stepped away from Colt and found a spot in the corner.
Colt shook his head at Colonel Jenkins’ lack of empathy and once again searched for Dylan. He was near the row of lockers he’d guided the boys to. He was huddled next to his brother. Colt walked slowly, gathering his wits in case Dylan wanted to go another ten rounds.
When he arrived, he was surprised to see Dylan and Wesley cuddling—laughing together. A smile formed on Colt’s face. “What’s so funny?” Colt asked when he got close.
They were giggling uncontrollably. When they finally got their emotions under control, Dylan said, “You remember that time when Mom stepped on one of Wesley’s Legos?”
Colt recalled it immediately. “She cussed up a storm, then picked up the Lego and chucked it across the room and hit Wesley square in the head?”
Now Colt joined in the ceaseless laughter.
“And she looked at Wesley and said with a straight face, ‘That’s what you get?’”
Their laughter continued for over two minutes.
When it stopped, Dylan looked to his father and said, “That’s what I remember most about her. The times she made us laugh.”
Colt regained his composure. “Yeah, she could do that. Bring us all to tears over her crazy antics.”
Then Dylan’s face turned from a smile to serious. “Thank you for not killing my mom.”
&
nbsp; And before Colt could answer, Dylan threw himself into his father and wrapped him tightly in an embrace. Colt rubbed his son’s back until he let go.
Dylan scooted next to Wesley, and Colt joined both. He snuggled in, closed his eyes, and held them until all fall asleep and waited for the next sun to rise.
23
Darkness consumed the locker room. Colt glanced to his watch and the hands glowed. 5:07 a.m. The sun would be up in less than an hour. He rolled over. Sleep was best, but he couldn’t get comfortable on the rough carpet. A subtle hum rose and fell as both Dylan and Wesley squeezed close and snored in unison.
After five minutes, Colt put his hand to his forehead and pulled his hair back. His mouth turned into a wide yawn, but he knew sleep would evade him, especially now that his mind was playing Coach Logan’s story on repeat.
He imagined Dylan and Wesley turning into the infected. He found himself thinking about what he would do. He couldn’t imagine lifting a hand to hurt them. He immediately rushed to judgment. How did Coach do it? I could never hurt my sons, I’d die first. Then he swallowed that unjust sentence and sat up. In the opposite corner of the room, he heard a whisper. He tracked the faint noise until it brought him directly to Colonel Jenkins and Bald. Colt squatted and asked, “What’s the plan?”
“At first light—which should be in about fifty minutes—give or take,” Colonel Jenkins said, “we take the injection of Beritrix then hightail it to the airfield.”
“Will there be any way to radio ahead of our arrival?” Colt said.
“I assume so. Although, I don’t know which type of aircraft will still be operational. We’ll need to survey the area and see what we can find while still being quick about it. If we can find a helicopter, we still won’t make it all the way to Virginia. We’ll need to refuel. I’d prefer we find a small aircraft. Then we can put some distance between here and Virginia.”
“A plane? Really?” Colt said.
“Yes. If the plane is decent size and full of fuel, we should be able to reach Mount Weather without stopping.”
“Well, that’s positive.”
“It is, but there’s a problem,” Colonel Jenkins said.
“What problem?” Colt asked.
“Last I spoke with Mount Weather, they mentioned they have space for a helicopter to land, but they won’t have a runway for the aircraft to touchdown. We’ll have to find an airstrip nearby.”
Colt’s stomach tightened. He knew that would be risky, especially since, once again, the infected would be able to hear of the plane’s arrival.
Colonel Jenkins didn’t stop there. “But that’s if we can even get off the ground at all.”
“What do you mean?” Colt said.
“An airplane needs to gather speed down a runway. A chopper can simply kick from the ground and lift-off.”
Colt sighed. He’d had such a narrow focus on flying out in a helicopter that he hadn’t even thought of a plane.
“Nevertheless, let’s worry about that when we come to it,” Colonel Jenkins said. “For now, let’s just gather our things and wait until Coach Logan wakes up. Colt, are your boys ready to move fast?”
“As fast as we can. Dylan’s still pretty banged up from the road rash, as you know. His injuries might slow him down.”
“He’ll stick with me. Don’t worry, I got him into that mess, I’ll be damn sure to get him out,” Bald said.
“Good. Good,” Colonel Jenkins started. “What about the girl?”
“What about her, sir? Colt said.
“Do you think she’s an ally? Do you think she’ll be a help to us if we bring her along?”
Colt didn’t even need to think, “As opposed to what? Leaving her here?”
“Look, Colt. I don’t need to be the one to tell you this, but we don’t know how much room we’ll have in the plane or chopper, or whatever vehicle we find. I just don’t want to take unnecessary risks. I’m playing the soldierly game here. You know, trimming the fat.”
“With all due respect, sir, we’d likely be dead without her. We have no idea what we’ll find at the airstrip. And if nothing’s functional, what will we do? Wish for Beritrix to fall from the sky?” Colt said.
“I’m in agreement with Mr. Maddox, sir,” Bald said. “She’s shown . . . some moxie.”
“Fine. But I’m leaving her and the Coach in your hands, Colt. If they fall behind, I can’t make any promises, understand?”
Colt didn’t want to agree, he had his own family to deal with. The last thing he needed to do was babysit them. However, Hunt seemed cunning and could take care of herself. The coach on the other hand—he was another story.
“Agreed,” Colt said.
“Alright, then, let’s wake up the house and get ready to move,” Colonel Jenkins said.
Colt returned to the side of his sons and laid his hands on their shoulders and shook. “Boys, it’s time to get up. We need to get ready to go.”
In the background, Colt heard Hunt stretch and yawn. At the noise, his mouth turned in a smile. It was nice hearing a woman for a change. He’d been surrounded by mostly men, and he’d coveted the feeling of regularity again. Even if it wasn’t his wife’s voice, it didn’t matter. In that moment, he enjoyed every minute of it.
Then Colt heard the tapping on Coach Logan’s office door. “Coach Logan, it’s Colonel Jenkins. We need to move out in about fifteen minutes. Could we come in and grab the Beritrix from you?”
Colt turned his ear and waited for Coach Logan to extend the invite, but there was nothing but silence. Colonel Jenkins tapped again, but again nothing.
Colt stood and immediately thought the worst. Coach, what did you do? Tell me you didn’t hurt yourself.
But at the thought, he heard the door click open, and Coach Logan said, “Come in.”
Colt put the flashlight to the floor and led his boys across the room and into the office.
“Do you have extra needles?” Colonel Jenkins said.
“I do. I brought everything from home. I knew this would be my new home—as long as this thing lasted. I couldn’t stay in town, not after what I’d done to my family.”
“Coach Logan, if you don’t mind me asking, how do you keep that refrigerator cold?” Colt said.
“As I told Cassandra before, I have a generator outside that I brought from home. I use it sparingly. Only when necessary.”
After each person injected themselves with Beritrix, Colonel Jenkins turned and said, “Let’s go!”
But as everyone filed out, Colt stalled. Coach Logan remained seated. “What are you doing?” Colt said. “Aren’t you coming?”
“I am not,” Coach Logan said.
Colonel Jenkins and Bald reentered the room. “The hell you’re not, let’s move,” Colonel Jenkins said.
“Look, sir. I decided a three days ago, I would not leave my new home. Not after what I’d done.”
Now Hunt returned too. “What’s the deal? Let’s go.”
“Coach Logan has decided he wants to stay,” Bald said.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous? You can’t just stay here. The infected will always be here, swarming the place. You’re not safe.” Hunt’s mouth gaped.
“And there won’t be threats outside these four walls?” Coach Logan said.
“No, but . . .” Hunt stalled. “You’ll die in here, alone.”
“I’m not afraid to die. Part of me died in my house anyway.”
“Enough of the dramatics already, get your ass out of that chair and let’s move,” Colonel Jenkins said.
But Coach Logan’s butt was glued.
“Fine. He wants to stay, let him. We can’t make him do anything. It’s his funeral,” Colonel Jenkins said, then stormed out. Bald followed.
“Don’t do this,” Hunt pleaded with him. “You can come with us, have a chance at a new life, in a new city.”
“I appreciate everything you’re trying to do for me, Cassandra, I really do. But my decision is final,” Coach Logan said.
Hunt looked to Colt. She couldn’t believe it. Why wouldn’t he leave? What was his problem?
Colt needed to say more, but what could he offer the others couldn’t? Out of everyone, she had known him the longest. And if she couldn’t get him to move, no one was going to. If he couldn’t get him to come, maybe he could get him to forgive himself.
“It’s not your fault.” He let those words linger in the air—to take effect on Coach Logan’s psyche. He waited for response, but Coach Logan didn’t respond. Then Colt continued, “Don’t judge yourself too harshly. It’s up to you to determine your fate. Don’t let the evil inside you take you down a path of destruction. Banish it. Fill the darkness with light. You may not know it, but you are loved, even if you don’t love yourself.”
When Colt exited the room to rejoin the others, he heard the Coach Logan begin to weep again. He paused and wanted to return, wishing to know what had brought on the emotion. Had it been his words? Deep down, Colt hoped it had. That was exactly what Coach Logan needed to be filled with.
Hope.
24
Colt caught up to Colonel Jenkins and Bald, who waited at the exit of the locker room. His boys were there, and Hunt stood by his side.
“Still not coming, huh?” Colonel Jenkins said.
“No,” Colt said.
“Idiot,” Bald said.
Colt was about to speak, but before he could, Hunt did instead. “Although I agree with you, you heard what he’s been through. He’s sad. Frustrated. Blames himself for having to kill his family. How would you feel? What would you do?” She looked to Bald.
“Not shrivel up and die. I’d fight,” Bald said.
“That’s a typical macho response. How do you know? Do be so quick to judge,” she said.
Colt needed to add more, to show Bald, and perhaps all of them, that not everyone was wired the same. “But that’s what you were trained for. You’re part of the Air Force. Trained to move forward. To shut off your emotions for the betterment of the mission. Logan’s mission in life wasn’t to follow an order, but rather a life to live for his family. I can relate to that. I’m more like him than any of you.” Colt let his words sink in. There was truth behind them.