by Blake Brown
Catori and Sarah finished off the rest of the infected on the ranch just as Grunt and Byark’s attacker managed to get to its feet. Its body twitched violently as blood poured down its side from the indented and cracked portion of its skull. It stood there in a confused and brain dead like state, swaying back and forth. Everyone raised their weapons and approached the injured creature to end its evil existence, but before any of them could make the killing blow, Grunt launched himself at the infected man and hit him to the ground. He instinctively dug his teeth into the creature’s throat and started ripping away at the exposed neck. Blood squirted out of the things exposed inner workings and drenched the dog’s black muzzle in thick, arterial blood. Grunt continued to tear away at the creature until its body went limp with the throws of death and Bryce sternly called him off the infected man.
Matt and Sarah kept watch as Catori examined Byark’s arm and Bryce started treating what remained of Grunt’s decimated ear. Bryce unslung his pack and pulled out a small, medical bag before disinfecting and bandaging the wounded animal’s ear. “Good boy Grunt, you did good buddy.” He stroked the short, black fur on Grunt’s neck and the dog let out low and painful whines, the adrenaline having worn off and the full rush of pain having hit the dog all at once. He finished inspecting Grunt for more wounds after washing out his mouth with water and unsuccessfully trying to wipe the blood from his stained snout. He then walked over to Byark and Catori with the intense dread of knowing that his friend might be infected.
“It’s okay, the bite didn’t pierce his skin.” Catori said with a relieved smile on her face.
“What? How?”
“Chainmail and thick, wool sleeves my brother. Probably hurt the bastard’s teeth more than my arm.” Byark let out a laugh as he showed Bryce his already bruised arm. He then rolled the woolen sleeve and the slightly chipped chainmail back down his forearm.
“Thank god.” Sarah called out in relief.
“Thank Odin.” Byark replied, winking at Bryce with a devilish grin.
“What are they up to?” Matt asked more to himself than anyone else, pointing to the outskirts of the ranch where the few remaining infected were either sprinting headlong into the woods while shrieking and crying out, or slowly stalking around the tree line and looking in their direction.
“Looks like they’re either waiting for us to leave so that they can finish their meal or calling out and waiting for more reinforcements to take us on.” Bryce said, now staring at the horrifyingly intelligent creatures.
“Or both.” Catori added.
“Let’s get the supplies and get out of here before we have to find out, shall we?” Byark said.
“You two bring the cars around.” Bryce said to Matt and Sarah as he handed Matt the keys to the GMC and waited expectantly as Byark caught on and tossed Sarah the keys to the Navigator. The young couple perked up and started walking away to get the vehicles. Bryce watched as Sarah playfully fell into Matt, shoulder checking him before wrapping her arms around his left arm and kissing his cheek. “Weapons ready!” Bryce yelled out after them, turning back to the other, two adults with a playful smile.
“Yes Boss!” Matt yelled back, holding up a middle finger with his right hand. Sarah released his arm and unslung her rifle. Byark started retrieving his arrows from across the pasture and cleaning them before putting them back away in his quiver, while Bryce and Catori kept an eye out for any more approaching infected and to make sure the ones within the tree line didn’t advance towards them. Two infected rushed out of the dilapidated barn at them while they waited for the teenagers to return and Bryce easily dispatched them with three, clean shots. The two vehicles pulled to the front of the large, ranch house just as the others finished walking to it, and the younger members of the group exited the vehicles.
Matt preemptively popped open the back of the Navigator and Bryce addressed the group. “I don’t like the look of the infected grouped around the tree line, they’re making me nervous. I didn’t see any guns near the bodies of the people in the fields or near the pens, so I think we should stay away from the rotting and possibly diseased corpses. Let’s just get everything we can out of the house and get the hell out of here. I’m assuming that the barn and stalls won’t really have anything of use anyway.” He looked at Catori questioningly as he voiced the last sentence.
She shook her head casually, taking a few seconds to remember what could possibly be around the ranch. “I doubt it. Most of the tools we already have back at the cabin, or they wouldn’t really be of use anyway, except as melee weaponry.”
“I think we already have that front covered.” Byark said, hefting his axe onto his shoulder.
“You two stay out here and keep watch while we clear the house, we’ll start bringing out bags of stuff for one of you to load while the other watches their back.” Bryce said to Matt and Sarah as he grabbed a handful of empty duffels and backpacks from the back of the Navigator. The two, younger members nodded and took opposite positions in front of the ranch house with their weapons drawn. The other three entered the house and made sure to sweep and clear it of any threats, even though they were sure all the infected would have been outside feasting and that there was no way any humans were still alive on the property. They packed bags of canned goods, other non-spoiled food, cases of water, and bottles of liquor from the kitchen, avoiding opening the fridge as they could smell the rotten stink coming from it. As the bags became full, they threw them outside for the other two to pack into the vehicles.
They also scavenged a few batteries from tv remotes in the living room as well as a few full and half empty packs that they had found in a cupboard next to some flashlights, medical ointments, and bottles of pills that they also took. On the floor of the living room were multiple bodies of infected and what appeared to be the Jameson family. Next to the bodies and in the hands of the dead; they found two revolvers, a bolt action rifle, and a camouflaged, pump action, 12-gauge shotgun that they also threw outside to be loaded up. They packed toiletries and other such supplies from the bathrooms before searching the bedrooms, finding some clothing items that they decided to take.
After searching the bedrooms, they found a small room that seemed to have been repurposed as an office with an open safe standing in the corner. From the safe they managed to grab a few dozen boxes of different ammunitions as well as a double barrel 20-gauge shotgun, another revolver, and another bolt action rifle. In the safe, sitting next to the other guns, were two large, plastic cases with padlocks on them. After searching through the office for a while, Bryce was able to find a locked desk drawer and after forcing it open with his hatchet, he found the keys to the cases. He opened the first to find a very illegal sawn-off, pump action, 12-guage shotgun that would definitely come in handy. The second case contained a .22 rifle with a very expensive scope attached to the gun that could switch between a long-range optic and a close range, red dot sight. The gun was also equipped with a very illegal (at least in California) 30 round magazine and suppressor. Bryce, of course, took the gun, deciding as he did so that he would replace his low capacity rifle with the .22, sacrificing firepower for capacity, silence, and range.
After the main floor of the house was searched, they made their way down to the basement to find a few shelves containing jarred fruits and vegetables that took them a few trips to bring out to the vehicles. They also found a few jars of pickled items that they took, and some smoked meats that they were unsure about, given the weird, lingering odor that surrounded them. They decided to leave the meat behind. With the house as thoroughly searched as they were willing to risk, given their dangerous situation, they headed back outside and finished loading up the vehicles, starting them up and departing the ranch.
As they pulled away from the Jameson family’s ruined and carcass riddled property, it seemed as if everyone’s priorities and thoughts were focused on something different. Matt and Sarah focused on drivin
g their respective vehicles, nervous to lose the others trust in letting them drive. Catori looked out at the devastation and the dead animals, particularly focusing on the few horses that were scattered across the property and torn apart, as their loss saddened her more than any of the others. Byark watched the groups of infected that were slowly creeping their way back out of the surrounding woods to continue their meals of rotten and diseased flesh, studying his enemy and trying to realize their motivations and weaknesses. Bryce rubbed a tuft of Grunt’s short fur, feeling bad for his injured companion. The Biologist in him wondered what could have caused this infection in the first place and why it was incommunicable across species. He started thinking that something of this scale and power wasn’t a natural occurrence. Maybe this plague, this apocalypse, was man made.
CHAPTER 13
When they returned to the cabin, Lauren was waiting to greet them with an expected nervousness about her. She pulled open the gate and shut and locked it behind them. As they piled out of their respective vehicles, Lauren ran her eyes over each one of them, locking eyes with Bryce last. “We’re all fine. Well, for the most part.” Bryce said as he motioned to a freshly injured Grunt, the dog making his way out of the truck last.
Byark gave Lauren a huge hug as he got out of the Navigator, and Bryce turned his gaze away from them and towards the stench of alcohol and tobacco wafting through the air behind him. “What happened to your mutt?” A drunken Randy slurred out through a mouth filled with chewing tobacco. He stumbled towards the group with an equally intoxicated Nathan in tow behind him, lighting up a cigarette.
“He got bit by one of those things.” A naïve Matt called out from behind Bryce while unloading the vehicles, earning an unnoticed look of anger from Bryce.
“What?! And you brought the fucker back here?” Randy blurted out in anger and disgust, backing away from the injured dog.
“Relax, he’s not infected.” Bryce said, gripping his rifle tight as he felt the situation turning dangerous.
“How’s he been bit and not gotten infected?” Nathan called out, sounding extremely unintelligent from the alcohol.
“Have you ever seen an infected animal? Because I haven’t, in fact, I saw an animal today that I personally watched get bitten weeks ago and it was still alive and uninfected.” Bryce responded, trying to hide the disdain and violence building inside of him. He couldn’t stand these two idiots questioning him.
“So what? That don’t mean shit. How do you know that it doesn’t take longer to affect animals? Or if it only infects certain ones and not others. What are you a fucking scientist? I’m not taking the risk of some fucking zombie hellhound eating my ass in my sleep.” Randy said, drawing his 9mm but not yet pointing it at the dog.
Grunt let out a low growl at the man, lowering his head as the hair on his back started to rise. He clearly sensed the danger coming from Randy just as Bryce had. Byark slowly pulled out his axe and started walking around the two men to gain an angle on them. “Actually, I am a scientist and you’re right, there is no way to know for sure if he’s infected or not. And even though I’m confident he’s not infected, we can quarantine him for a while if that makes you feel more at ease.” Bryce said, trying to reason with Randy and defuse the situation.
“Sorry buddy, but I ain’t taking the risk.” Randy said, raising his handgun and leveling it at the dog.
“Pull that trigger and you’re fucking dead!” Bryce screamed with primal rage, raising his rifle and training the gun’s sights on the drunken man’s chest. Randy faltered a bit, lowering the gun slightly.
Byark moved closer to Randy, getting in position to detain him. Nathan spotted the big man closing in and pulled out his pistol, aiming it at Byark. “Back up Motherfucker or I’ll shoot.” Nathan barked out. “Drop that fucking axe and step back.” Byark begrudgingly did as the younger man instructed.
“You gonna shoot me over a fucking dog?” Randy said with a psychotic smile on his face, as if he were enjoying every second of this.
“I fucking saved your life and brought you here. I gave you a home you useless, drunk piece of shit. This is my land and that’s my dog. My best friend and the only fucking tether I have to my past life and my family. This is my land and I say who lives and dies on it, so yeah, I will kill you over a fucking dog.” Bryce responded.
Randy, either not believing Bryce’s words or just not caring in his inebriated state, brought the pistol back up and pointed it at the animal, closing one eye to aim. Bryce squeezed the trigger of his rifle. The large magnum round punched through Randy’s chest and erupted out of his back, a grotesque stream of blood and bits of organ and bone spraying from the exit wound as chewing tobacco flew from his mouth. Randy pulled the trigger of his 9mm just before crumpling to the ground, causing Grunt to yelp in startled pain. Bryce could see in his peripheral vision that the dog was still alive, and he knew that he didn’t have time to check on him in that split second.
Bryce turned and fixed his rifle on Nathan just as the darker man was turning his aim away from Byark and towards Bryce as well. Just before Nathan could take aim at him, Bryce fired the remaining two shots in his magazine. The first hit Nathan square in his sternum and as Bryce let the recoil of the powerful weapon raise his aim higher, he fired again, sending the second round at the already dead, yet still standing man’s head. The second round exploded Nathan’s right cheek in a mess of bloody, human spew, and the dark man’s body slammed awkwardly and lifelessly to the ground.
Bryce dropped his now empty rifle and drew his .45 from its holster, turning and aiming the weapon at the downed figure of Randy. Grunt leapt onto the downed man and bit into his right arm, the 9mm still in his hand. The dog seemed to know what had caused his pain, and he thrashed violently until Randy released the handgun and let it scatter to the ground. “Grunt, off.” Bryce said sternly as the adrenaline from the short battle rattled his hands. Grunt unlatched his jaw from the now bloody and ripped open forearm and backed away. The bullet from Randy’s gun had hit Grunt in his left shoulder and exited a couple inches further down his leg. Bryce walked over to the writhing body of Randy and stepped over him, kicking the Beretta on the ground away and leveling his own gun at the downed man’s head. Randy held the hand on his uninjured arm to the gaping hole in his chest, desperately trying to breathe through a mouth and wind pipe that were filled with the blood being pumped out of his pierced and destroyed lung.
Randy used all his remaining strength to up-chuck some of the blood out of his mouth, the crimson liquid splattering out onto his chin and neck, causing him to look even more mangled and close to death. “Really going to kill me over a fucking dog?” Randy coughed out through his bloody and at times gritted teeth, wheezing after finishing the sentence.
“Yep.” Bryce said coldly as he squeezed the trigger of his handgun, sending a round into the other man’s head and ending his well-deserved misery. Bryce looked out at the others, seeing the looks of fear and disgust that most of them wore. Byark walked up to him and grasped his shoulder firmly, nodding to show that he agreed with what Bryce had done. Alejandro walked up to Randy’s body and chuckled lightly, spitting on the dead man. Matt and Sarah led a crying Tara away from the gruesome scene and towards one of the RV’s. Lauren and Catori just stared at Bryce with that same look. Bryce walked over to Grunt and examined his wound. “I’m sorry buddy, you just can’t catch a fucking break.” He said as he looked at the fresh bullet wound and the bandaged stump of an ear. “Can you fix him up? Please.” He looked up at the shocked Catori. She stayed frozen for a few seconds before nodding in response.
Bryce picked up the injured dog and started towards the entrance to the cabin. “What should we do about the bodies? Should we bury them?” Byark asked from behind him.
“Not here, get them the fuck off my property. You can bury them if you want, just not here.” Bryce said without turning around, continuing into the cabin without waiting for a response.
“I’ll help you dump the fuckers, I ain’t burying them though.” Alejandro said with a demented smile, slapping Byark on the back.
***
Over the course of the next few days, almost everyone kept their distance from Bryce, which was fine with him. Grunt followed him everywhere with a limp, despite Bryce’s protests and attempts to get the dog to rest so that his injured leg could actually heal. Eddie was finally not comatose all day and had been moved out of Bryce’s room and into one of the beds in Randy and Nathan’s now vacant RV. He had been taking visitors and trying to get to know the group.
Bryce would occasionally stop by the gardens that were about to start producing a little bit of food for the group so that he could talk to an exercising or meditating Byark. Unlike most of the group, Byark openly stated that he respected what Bryce had done and even trusted in his abilities and leadership more now than ever before. Bryce appreciated his trusted friend having his back.