Dark Rhodes: Book 1 of the Ashleigh Rhodes Chronicles

by Michael Canon

  I asked her, “So, what do you remember?”

  Taking a deep breath, she explained, “My family didn’t live where you found us. We lived just outside of Springfield. Mom and Daddy are… were both State Police officers. Mom retired early to help take care of us kids. Daddy called Mom from work on the 5th. He told her to pack everything important into our Tahoe. He got home late that night and said we were heading for Uncle Mike’s in the morning. I heard them arguing about abandoning posts and stuff. On the morning of the 6th, they put us in the car, and we left.”

  “We drove west but ran into a giant roadblock where the Turnpike and Interstate 7 meet. He went around it to take the 41 north instead. We were making good time, but we hit something in the road and blew a tire. I was asleep as we flipped over and over. I must have passed out because I woke up to something biting my arm. I got away from it but got really sick. I don’t remember much until I woke up, covered in blood and, and…”

  I held up a hand and nodded, “I know, it’s okay, you can skip it.”

  Relieved, she sipped some water and continued, “I found our clothes. I cleaned up as best I could and changed. I cried so hard when I saw my Mom and Dad. I didn’t want to believe I did it until I found daddy’s gun. I knew how to use it! I could remember training with it.”

  She started crying again. “I remember thinking what a monster I must be to have done that to my parents. I was about to shoot myself in the head when I heard Jace start to cry. Jace saved me. I couldn’t do it. No matter how much I despised myself for what I did, I couldn’t kill myself and leave him alone in this terrible world. Maybe that will change if Uncle Mike and Auntie Carol can take care of…”

  I got right in her face and stopped her from continuing. “You stop that crap right now! You are a good kid who got slammed with a situation no one should ever have to deal with. That little boy needs you to protect him, help him grow into a man that can help us put this country back together.”

  I softened my tone and touched her cheek “You have been given a gift. It doesn’t seem like one, but it is. I think we’re here to help balance the odds, to help repair the damage done by this terrible virus. What you did was not your fault, it belongs to whoever created this bullshit virus in the first place.”

  As I comforted Melody, I could hear Swede’s voice so clear it was like she was standing next to me.

  Melody shook her head, unconvinced, “If I couldn’t control myself why didn’t I… why is Jace still alive?”

  I took her hands in mine, “I don’t know why, maybe your parents were injured, and the smell of the blood took control while you were compromised. Maybe deep down you knew your folks would gladly sacrifice themselves to keep you and Jace safe. From what I’ve seen of how you protect and care for Jace, I think this is the most likely scenario. What I do know is you can’t keep beating yourself up over it. Jace needs you more now than he ever has.”

  I sighed, yawned, and hugged her tight, “Okay, that’s enough for now, we’ll talk more tomorrow. Get some rest, then we’ll go find your uncle and aunt.”

  We awoke the next morning to a downpour of winter rain. Sitting up slowly, I looked around, relaxing visibly when I saw we were still alone. Hooray for small, obscure towns. After a quick cold breakfast and a morning pit-stop for all, we hit the road. Approaching Pittsfield, the fall of society became more prevalent. Abandoned vehicles, pockets of death and destruction, as well as the number of undead increased exponentially.

  I had no interest in going through the city and hoped we could use one of the numerous back roads to skirt it as we continued north. Melody slid her small frame over the center console and plopped down in the front seat. She spoke for the first time since our talk.

  “I can get us around the city, I… my dad grew up near here.”

  I took her hand as tears ran down her cheeks again.

  It all made sense. It is plain as day now that I could look back at everything that had happened. Melody gave me clue after clue and they all just bounced off my thick forehead. The strength of her hug when we met, to her resolute acceptance and maturity when I gave her my gun, to her boredom in class. She was an 11 year old with the collective knowledge of two adults running around her head.

  It was hard enough dealing with this at 27, never mind 11! I’m not sure which would have been harder to deal with, having my parents, or three strangers running around in my head.

  Melody broke up my reflection, “How do you deal with it, having memories that aren’t yours? Sometimes I feel like I’m going insane when I want to do kid-stuff, but then I know I’ve paid bills, been to college, and had... sex. Ewww!”

  I laughed loudly, making Jace perk up, “What’s so funny, did Melody tell you a joke? I don’t get most of her jokes, so she just tickles me until I laugh!”

  I looked at her with elevator eyes, silently saying, “I told you so.”

  She smiled, rolling hers and changed the conversation, “Turn left here, stay on this road until it ends, then turn right. There will be a few more turns, but if the roads are clear, it should dump us out on the 7 north of the city. The 7 goes right by the road to Uncle Mike’s place.”

  Turning the big truck left, I said, “I can’t imagine how hard it is for you Mel; it’s tough for me to deal with as an adult. I just take it day by day. There are some days that suck as much as any day ever has. But there are others that aren’t so bad. I think we both got really lucky, or someone is watching over us. The extra knowledge kicking around in both our heads is awful useful after a zombie apocalypse. When we find your uncle and aunt, my suggestion would be to tell them we’ve been bitten, and our need to feed on Hunters.”

  She looked scared and apprehensive, I continued quickly, “But keep the part about your parents and the need to feed on people to yourself. I think it will be too much for most to handle.”

  Our conversations changed to much lighter fare as we drove the back roads of Western Massachusetts.

  I said, “I’m going to miss Dr. Pepper. I know there’s plenty of it around right now, but it won’t last forever.

  Melody nodded and replied, “I’m going to miss seafood. I love calamari. Oh! We’re getting close, Uncle Mike’s driveway is on the left. There!”

  We turned left and drove uphill on a long dirt road. As we crested the hill, I saw a large, single floor log cabin. A sturdy ornamental steel door covered the front entrance with similar protection over the windows. A medium-sized barn sat across the drive from the cabin, with various sheds, chicken coops and other outbuildings scattered throughout the edge of the tree line.

  The kids wanted out of the truck, but I held them back as I surveyed the area. Seeing nothing outwardly hostile, I stepped out of the cab, quickly followed by a three-year-old who would not be deterred. Jace raced to the door, pounding on it with his little fists.

  “Uncle Mike-Mike? Auntie Cawol? You here? It’s me, Jace!”

  When no one answered the door, I looked sadly at Melody.

  She smiled, her eyes filling with tears.

  “Don’t worry, he’s here. I can smell his pipe tobacco.”

  I heard a noise by the barn. I turned to see a stocky man with a full head and beard of black hair approaching us with a rifle in his arms. The moment he saw the kids, he dropped the rifle and sprinted for them.

  “Mel! Jace! Oh my God! Carol! Carol! Come here, it’s the kids! Oh, Sweet Jesus, it’s the kids!”

  Mike met the charging kids, skidding across the brown grass on his knees as he hugged them to his thick chest. The three of them were quickly joined by a plain, but pretty blonde woman, who was sobbing for joy.

  After a few minutes, Mike extricated himself from the kids and Carol and walked over to me, while wiping his eyes dry.

  “Mike Jordan, that’s my wife Carol; thank you so much for bringing the kids here.” as he shook my hand.

  “Hello Mike, I’m Ashleigh Rhodes; I’m glad to do it, we need some happy endings right about now.”

&
nbsp; Carol introduced herself with a huge hug, and after Melody collected Crowley, we went into the cabin.

  51

  Later, after a big celebratory dinner, we all sat in the oversized furniture by the cabin’s big fireplace. Jace was already asleep in Carol’s arms. With Melody tucked up under her uncle’s arm he apologized.

  “Sorry for the odd greeting, we knew someone was coming up the drive, can’t be too careful with the way things are now.”

  I agreed with him, “It’s okay, I understand. You didn’t know who we were.”

  Kissing Melody’s head, he asked, “We don’t have too many undead here, but there are a few. We’ve had more problems with the lawless now. So how did you all get here?”

  I looked at Melody, and said, “Carol, why don’t you put Jace to bed, this is going to take a little while.”

  Melody and I took turns explaining what had happened to us, including being bitten. To both of our surprise, they took it in stride.

  “So what you’re telling me is you, and my beautiful niece here are stronger, faster, and you heal like superheroes now? Under present conditions, I’d say that is a big plus,” said Mike with a smile.

  I nodded, “Yes, but it comes with a rather serious caveat. One that might be upsetting to you.”

  Carol and Mike gave us serious, but open looks.

  With a big sigh, I continued, “I’m not sure of the how or why, but the virus, or whatever it is that runs through our blood gets used up and needs to be replaced. This happens even faster if we exert ourselves, or get injured. We need to feed on the blood of the fast, dangerous zombies I call Hunters, to survive.”

  The shocked looks and extended silence from her aunt and uncle was more than Melody could take.

  Jumping up, she said, “I’ll leave, please take care of Jace,” as she headed for the door.

  Mike sprang to his feet, quickly following her. Grabbing her shoulder and dropping to his knees he said, “You’ll do no such thing young lady, good or bad we stick together. We’re all that’s left of our family. What happened to you isn’t your fault, but what you need to do is shocking, to say the least. We need time to process it.”

  The next morning Carol was polite, but much less friendly towards me. She took Jace with her to feed the chickens and collect eggs. Mike and I went outside to get more firewood.

  “Carol isn’t taking this well. She’s afraid you or Mel is going to change into one of them. I told her if that hasn’t happened by now, it probably won’t. Don’t worry, she’ll come around.”

  Returning to the cabin, I found Melody sitting at the table, a long cold breakfast in front of her.

  I hugged her from behind, and said, “You okay kiddo?”

  Sinking lower in her chair was her only response.

  “Give your aunt some time to realize you’re still her niece.”

  Looking up at me, she said, “If things don’t work out here, can I come with you?”

  Hugging her again, I replied, “Let’s see what happens,” as I scooped up Crowley to give him the attention he loved so much.

  We both jumped as we heard someone scream from the front yard. Dumping the cat on the couch, I grabbed my mace and burst out the door. With Melody right on my heels, we were looking around for the source of the scream when we heard another. Heading down the driveway, we saw them as we broke out of the tree line.

  Mike and Carol were back to back by the drainage culvert that ran under the driveway. They were surrounded by eight small to medium-sized Hunters. Carol was using a pole and Mike his ax to keep them at bay. I was worried because I didn’t see Jace anywhere.

  As we raced over to help, the tattered remnants of the Boy Scout uniforms helped explain who these new, 2/3-sized Hunters were.

  Charging forward with Thunker, I nailed one in the back of the head, using the momentum of my swing to cave in the face of a second one. Melody tackled one, the two of them rolled across the ground, screaming and growling as they tried to kill each other. Melody grabbed the monster’s head and broke its neck, then crushed its skull with her bare hands. The feral animal I saw when she attacked Mondo was back. She moved on all fours as she launched herself onto the back of her next target, quickly adding it to the permanently dead list.

  Hissing as a group, the remaining killer zombies focused their attention on Melody and me. Melody was a blur of unbridled fury as she surged forward to meet the attack of another Zombie Scout. The two fought like the super predators they were. Circling, feinting, and faking, each looking for an opportunity to kill.

  The crack of gunfire shocked us all, as a Hunter fell to the ground, a .357 caliber hole in its head. The last of the circling Hunters turned to escape but quickly fell to Mike’s aim. Leaving her Hunter in a broken heap, Melody stood to join us, black blood dripping off her bottom lip.

  Turning to Mike and Carol, I demanded, “Where’s Jace!”

  Both of them called for their nephew, “JACE! JACE! Where are you, buddy? It’s safe now!

  We watched a cold, dirty, and wet little boy crawl out of the metal drainage culvert. He shivered as he looked at us, but said nothing, his tears leaving clean lines on his muddy face. I held Mike back as I approached Jace.

  “Hey buddy, how are you doing?”

  He looked at me without recognition. I was terrified he’d been turned until he started crying. We all rushed forward to hug him.

  After we had got Jace cleaned up and checked out, I had Mel join me as we used my truck to police up the Zombie Scouts. We headed back the way we had come, dumping the bodies about a mile from Mike’s place.

  Yesterday’s cheerful, happy night was much more sedate. Jace barely ate anything and wouldn’t leave Melody’s side, and she mine. Mike and Carol held each other on the big couch. I saw his face wet with tears multiple times. They both made frequent efforts to hug and hold Melody and Jace that night. We all spent the night near each other in the living room.

  52

  I spent the next few days training Melody on blunt weapon combat techniques. We focused on fast takedowns with a follow-on strike to the head. Carol watched us as much as she did for trespassers, alive or dead.

  On the second day of training, Mike walked out of the barn with an odd-looking hammer. The polished, all steel hammer had a squared head that tapered down to a curved, flat point at the other end and sported a bright blue synthetic rubber hand grip.

  Handing it to Melody, he explained, “It’s a masonry hammer. I bought a storage unit at auction a few months ago. It was in there with all the tools. Looks like it would be pretty effective on the undead.”

  She swung the hammer a few times, “Thanks, Uncle Mike, this will do just fine,” her eyes smoldering with the need for retribution.

  Mike left early the next morning to do some hunting. He said he was going to raid a local warehouse store for supplies too. I continued training Melody. Her speed easily matched mine, with her strength close behind. I was surprised at her ability to grasp and retain the fighting skills I was teaching her. I took some time to teach Jace how to get away from the undead. His training was little more than a modified hide and seek, with an emphasis on climbing high as he could.

  Carol came out with hot chocolate for us all and said, “I’m sorry for how I reacted to what you told me. I was scared that you brought this plague into our home.”

  She reached for Mel, “I’m so sorry honey, please forgive me,” as she hugged her niece tight.

  About an hour later we heard quite a few gunshots in the near distance.

  Melody was worried, “That’s the way Uncle Mike went. What if he’s in trouble?”

  Other than packing everyone into the truck, and searching blindly, there wasn’t much we could do.

  Carol replied, “We wait and pray.” as she hugged her close.

  Mike returned about an hour and a half later, with a deer and supplies in the truck bed and a bandage around his left calf.

  After a happy assault of hugs and kisses from Carol
and the kids, he explained, “I made a couple trips in and out of the store with no problems.”

  Shaking his head, he sat down heavily on the picnic table we were having lunch at.

  “I had just finished loading some diapers for Jace when Mark Alders and his two boys showed up. I’ve known Mark since before he met his wife, Mary, in high school. He was standing there talking to me, but acting weird. I didn’t figure it out until I heard a loud click behind me and realized his oldest just tried to shoot me in the back. He forgot to release the safety. I dove behind a car but caught a graze to the leg. They just stood there, shooting the hell out of the car. I shot back from underneath it - got all three in the legs or feet. Mark begged me to help them as they laid there bleeding. A bunch of Moaners heard all the shooting and got curious, so I jumped in my truck and left! You reap what you sow.”

  We all awoke the next morning to a loud crashing sound in the front yard. Waving the others back, I moved silently to a front window. Looking out, I saw a lot of zombies, Georges to be exact.

  Sliding back to the others, I said, “Okay Mel, get dressed, time for you to do some real-world training. Meet me at the back door with your hammer. ”

  Carol inhaled loudly, and Mike grabbed my arm looking apprehensively at me.

  “Don’t worry, she’s a lot tougher than she looks. This will be good for her confidence, and to help her heal from what has happened to her. I’ll keep her safe, I promise. You might want to let Jace watch, too. He needs to understand the danger, and that his big sister will protect him. Just a thought.”

  We exited out the back door, heading to the right around the cabin. Looking around the corner, I counted 14 Georges loitering in the yard and driveway.

  I whispered, “The noise of the last few days is probably why they are here in the first place. Okay, no guns. Be as quiet as you can be. I want you to approach every situation like you’re facing a group of Hunters. Don’t let them box you in, don’t get complacent, don’t get lazy, and don’t let your ego get the best of you. Keep moving, use your strength to drop them and your speed to keep away. You’ve got the lead here, take them out.”