BLOODBORNE: THE CHANGED BOOK 1

by S. M. LITTLE

  Walker’s heart melted at that point.

  “Where’s your dad?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, never met him,” she said.

  “Any brothers or sisters? Any family at all?” he asked.

  “Only one half-sister, but she never knew about me,’ Jill said.

  “Oh shit,” Walker let out.

  “What?” Jill asked.

  “Nothing,” he replied. John Walker had just pieced together why she looked familiar. She was April’s half-sister. He remembered hearing rumors about April’s dad not being completely faithful, and doing the quick math in his head, the age seemed about right. He had to take care of her, because Dylan would lose his mind if anything happened to her.

  “Sweetheart, you stay with me, ok?” Walker said.

  “Sure. You got any food?” Jill asked.

  “Sure thing,” he said and led her to the chow line.

  They got in line and Walker turned to look at the progress. Tents of all sizes had popped up everywhere. Medical was making an intake area near the entrance and setting up a trauma center near the middle. Water stations had been built and would filter the water from Lake Superior, providing safe drinking water for everyone in the safe zone. Food supplies were being collected from around the city and stored under the largest tents they could find. Anything that needed to be kept cold was put in freezer bags, then put into bigger bags which were tied to the platform and submerged in the water. It was the best they could do.

  “What do you want to do with those ships?” a deputy asked him.

  “Anchor them next to us on each side and use them for more space. Use them for storage, I don’t care. Think of it as more usable area for us,” Walker replied.

  His internal gas tank was running on empty and there was still so much to do. They needed to start collecting people to bring them here, they had more food to find, more medical supplies to stockpile, more housing needs, and the biggest one of all…, he still needed to find a way to keep the Changed out of the safe zone. All this would be one big buffet if one of them got in, or someone changed after getting in.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

  “They look pissed,” Bob said from the back seat. He was watching the gang in front of them. There were a large number of them, around a three-to-one ratio, Bob estimated. They all had scowls on their faces.

  “Yep. Pissed as all hell,” Miller replied. “Dawson, start backing away from them. Get us turned around and headed back to the freeway.”

  Dawson put the vehicle in reverse and backed away. The gang saw what they were doing and opened fire.

  “Floor it!” Miller screamed. They were relatively safe in the MRAP, but there were just enough bad guys that Miller did not want to play with them. The Marines had several hundred yards of open space between them and the gang, so it gave Dawson enough time to back into a side street and get turned around.

  He put the vehicle in drive and laid on the gas pedal. Pebbles shot out from under the tires as the Marines headed back to the interstate.

  Bullets bounced off the vehicle as Jensen turned the turret to the rear and hit the trigger. Short, controlled bursts took out the lead car after several rounds went through the windshield and killed the driver. The car veered off to the left and hit a bus stop, stopping the car cold. The passengers in the car were catapulted through the windshield and into the air, tumbling to the ground.

  “One down, two to go,” Jensen yelled.

  Dawson was on somewhat familiar ground, as they had just spent time going through this section of town. He hit the curb with force, bouncing into the grass. Bob was launched into the air in the back seat, coming down hard on his left shoulder.

  “Keep shooting,” Miller said as he turned to check on Bob. The dead Changed had also been sent airborne and had landed on Bob. He was frantically trying get away from them. His mouth was closed tight and his eyes were squeezed shut. He wanted nothing to do with any fluids that might be leaking out of the dead bodies.

  Miller pulled the bodies off of Bob as best he could, but they were heavy as hell. Another huge bump as Dawson entered the freeway sent the bodies flying again. Bob managed to roll out of the way while the dead were being tossed around.

  “You ok? Any fluids get in you?” Miller barked out.

  Bob couldn’t answer because there was ‘dead’ blood right by his mouth. Miller grabbed a wipe and cleaned Bob up, then grabbed the bottle of bleach they had brought with them just for this kind of incident. He wiped down every area on Bob that had come into contact with dead blood.

  “You’re going to have to be restrained,” Miller told him.

  “I know. Can’t take any chances,” Bob said. Miller tied him up and got back in the fight. While Miller was busy with Bob, Jensen had totaled another gang car, but two trucks had entered the fight now. There were still three vehicles after them.

  “Gonna need a new barrel here really soon,” Jensen yelled. Luckily for them, they had an extra one. The barrel that Jensen was currently using was starting to glow.

  “Dawson, lead us to the group of Changed that we just left. Maybe they can slow these guys down,” Miller shouted as he handed the new barrel and some heat resistant gloves to Jensen.

  Jensen expertly removed the hot barrel and threaded the new one on. Miller handed him another ammo box and he inserted the belt of bullets. He slammed the top down, pulled the charging handle and once again started sending controlled bursts towards their attackers.

  Jensen nailed the engine of one of the trucks just as they entered the group of Changed that had followed them earlier. The gang members in the truck, including the ones riding in the back, were eaten alive.

  The second truck pulled up short of the Changed group, threw the truck in reverse and sped away. The only gang vehicle left was the car that had followed them. The men in that vehicle were either brave or really stupid. They tried to follow the MRAP into the group of Changed.

  The MRAP cleared a path through the Changed, leaving a trail of broken bodies behind it. The gang car had hydraulic shocks that raised the car. It was able to clear the mess of bodies that the MRAP left behind.

  “Trouble ahead,” Dawson shouted. Miller looked forward to see that traffic had come to a stop on the freeway creating a roadblock. The Marines had been so focused on the gang and the Changed, that they had almost forgotten about the people who were fleeing the city.

  Miller looked over to the other lanes and saw they were clear. “Get to the other side,” he shouted. Immediately, Dawson veered to the left and entered the other side of the freeway, going the wrong way. The car followed them and sped up. There were very few Changed on this side of the freeway, so it was now a true running gun battle.

  Jensen continued to lob volleys of .50 caliber rounds at the car, but the driver was very good at swerving from side to side in order to avoid the bullets. Jensen saw an opportunity to outwit the driver. He faked like he was going to shoot left and fired to the right. He anticipated the car’s driver to jink to that side and timed it perfectly for the rounds to be there right when the car was. The engine block was hit by a barrage of bullets, sending hot steam and fluids all over the road.

  Jensen yelled out that was the last vehicle and Dawson started back towards the institute. They had dead bodies that needed to be looked at, one team member about to turn, and a civilian that might be infected. Time was not on their side.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

  “Say again, Fire Team One,” a voice said over the radio. Miller had been trying to radio the institute to tell them they were coming in hot. The running gun battle had attracted every Changed in the city. It was like they were crawling out of the woodwork.

  “Fire Team One is five mikes out. Coming in hot,” Miller repeated.

  “Roger. Five mikes and smoking. Science home is ready,” the voice said.

  “Science home?” Bob asked.

  “Yeah, sorr
y. Best we could come up with on short notice,” Miller said.

  They were five minutes away from the institute and all Bob could think of was getting back to Tina. He had no idea if he was going to change or not and he wanted to see her one last time. Memories of their life together flooded his mind. How they met, how she looked at their wedding, on their honeymoon. It all came back to him in a flood so intense, he started to cry. He had visions in his head about how she would survive if he did change. Could she make it without him? Of course, she could, but how hard would that be?

  He was startled out of his daze when gunfire erupted from the turret. Jensen was mowing down a large crowd of Changed, trying to get them a clear path to the parking garage. Miller was using the radio to coordinate fire from the institute.

  Bob looked out a window to see the carnage. It was an absolute mess. Bodies were starting to stack up, with no end in sight. The Changed just kept coming.

  “When I say hit it, floor it into the garage,” Miller told Dawson. Bob had become accustomed to Dawson’s driving, so it was no big deal when he felt the MRAP lurch forward as Dawson throttled up.

  The engine roared as they sped into the garage. Dawson slammed on the brakes and stopped just in front of the elevator. More gunfire sounded as the rest of the Marines turned their attention to the attack happening outside the garage. In the enclosed space of the garage, the gunfire was deafening.

  The back door was flung open and Tina started to climb in. She was dressed in a hazmat suit, complete with breathing apparatus and duct tape around her wrists and ankles.

  “I wouldn’t do that, ma’am,” Jensen told her. “Faulk was bit, and he’s not doing so good.”

  “I don’t care, where is my husband?” she screamed.

  “Right here, babe,” Bob said. Tina turned ghost white when she saw he was restrained. “It’s just a precaution. I got some blood on me.”

  “Did you inhale it? Swallow any? In your eyes?” she rattled off. She was frantic as Bob was removed from the vehicle.

  “No, none got inside me, but we thought it best to be careful,” Bob answered. Tina desperately wanted to hug and kiss him, but she knew that they were right. Any contact with him might get her infected. As badly as she wanted to just be a wife right now, she had to be a scientist first.

  “Get them all to decontamination right away,” Tina barked. “Take Bob to Holding Room Two after the decon.”

  “Take Faulk to Holding Room One. Restrain him with chains,” Tina continued. Faulk looked at her like she was crazy.

  “I know you're scared, and it sounds like overkill, but we are going to do the best we can for you. Restraints are a precaution,” Tina assured him.

  “It’s ok, Doc. I know what’s going to happen. Think of me as your man-sized lab rat,” he told her.

  She smiled at him as they took him away and went over to Bob. Any physical contact was ruled out, so she walked next to him as they transferred him to decon. She took over from there, ordering everyone out so Bob could have a little privacy.

  “Ok mister, strip,” she ordered him.

  “Sounds like a date to me,” Bob joked. He looked at Tina and saw no smile. She was in full doctor mode now, so he did what any husband would do when his wife gives orders, he obeyed.

  Standing there, fully naked, Bob shuddered as water started pouring over him.

  “Damn, that’s cold,” Bob yelled.

  “Not as cold as I’m gonna be after you are cleared from infection,” Tina yelled back. She was caught between being worried and being pissed and right now, being pissed was winning.

  “I told you not to go with them,” she continued. “But no, big man has to go out with the Marines and show how tough he is.” With that, the water stopped, and a bleach solution started spraying on him.

  “Big man, with his big balls, is in big trouble. How tough are you now?” she ranted. Bob knew this was coming and stood there like a man and took it. He knew she was scared for him, and she was releasing her fear.

  The bleach solution stopped and the water started again.

  “Did you ever think about what would happen to me if something happened to you?” she yelled at him. Tears were starting to flow from her eyes and Bob knew she was about to break. This was what he had been waiting for. All their years of marriage had taught him to shut up until the right moment.

  “Don’t you have anything to say, big man? Huh? No words of encouragement? No, ‘You’ll find someone else?” she raged at him. The barrier finally broke when the water stopped. Her eyes opened wider and the tears flew freely. Bob was now free to run to her, hold her, and try to calm her down.

  He went to her and said the only three words that were important. “I love you,” came out of his mouth and she flung herself into him. He held her tightly as she sobbed into his chest. Bob let her get it all out, not moving or saying anything until she was done.

  She finally stopped crying and looked into his eyes.

  “Are you ok now?” Bob asked.

  “No, but I will get by. I swear, if you're infected, I’ll kill you,” she said with a slight grin.

  After Bob was dressed in fresh clothing, they walked out of the decon area together and entered the lab. Tina quickly got to work. Both Faulk and Bob were going to undergo a battery of tests. Faulk was definitely going to change, and he showed no fear about it. He was at peace with what was going to happen to him.

  The good thing, at least to Bob and Tina, was that they could compare Faulk’s tests to Bob’s. If they were similar, then Bob was in trouble.

  Tina ordered blood tests, urine tests and collected fecal matter samples. A lumbar puncture was performed on both, x-rays were taken, CT scans, even an MRI. Every test she could think of, because they had almost zero knowledge of this infection or disease.

  As the tests were being run, things outside the institute were getting dicey. The building was now surrounded by Changed. They were at least a block deep all around the institute. The Marines sat observing in horror as they tried to piece together what the various colors might represent. Nothing made sense, other than the vibe they felt coming from the Changed. Rage. Each and every one of them was full of rage. The Marines on the roof could see it in their eyes. Every last one of them wanted to kill, except the green ones. They just milled about like they were looking for something.

  One Marine witnessed a dog try to run past the crowd, but it was caught by a green one. The Greener bit into the dog with such force that they could hear the dog yelp over the din of the crowd. As soon as the green one bit the dog, he dropped it and walked away. Several other Changed ran over to the dog, sniffed, and let it go. The dog fell to the ground on its side, convulsed a few times and then lay still.

  Some of the Marines started shooting at the crowd, but that only brought more in. The shooting was ordered to stop and an ‘all quiet’ was issued, much like on a submarine. The only noise that was allowed was the routine machine noise made by the building and the sounds of the frantically operating lab. Fortunately, the lab was deep inside the building and none of the noise reached the street.

  They would eventually need to find a way to escape the building, but even more importantly, they needed to provide as much time as possible to the scientists doing the work.

  The Marines placed a call to Naval Base Kitsap, to ready an extraction team, should the need arise.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA

  The Globemaster went wheels down at Robins Air Force Base just south of Macon, Georgia. The base was in chaos, which was abnormal for an Air Force base. Usually, everything was in order, but not today.

  The Changed had changed everything, literally. Every branch of the military was gearing up for battle. Even though the President had issued orders to ‘leave them alone’, he wasn’t about to be caught unprepared. This particular base was taking incoming flights from nearby bases that were being overrun, or just needing to consolidate equipment. The overrun bases w
ere leaving a lot of equipment behind, so there was a need to stockpile as much as they could from the other locations.

  Mike and Pete exited the plane with the intention of getting lost in the chaos and getting to the armory. They had a plan to get loaded up with weapons and gear and then head to Pete’s sister. They were sure the rate of desertion would skyrocket, as servicemen and women started putting family before duty.

  It didn’t take long for them to get away, as several planes were unloading personnel at the same time. No one expected anything like this, so keeping track of individual personnel was nearly impossible. The biggest thing that they would need would be a reason to get armed at the armory. In a situation like this, they knew the armory would not be left unguarded.

  “I have an idea,” Mike whispered. He then took off with Pete right behind him. Mike was running towards the armory. He tore the name tag off his uniform and instructed Pete to do the same. He took his dog tags off and put them in his pocket. Pete followed suit.

  “Let’s just fill out the forms, get armed and get out of here. Follow my lead,” Mike said. The form he was referring to was the AF form 629 that needed to be filled out prior to obtaining a weapon from the armory. To protect themselves from being charged for going AWOL, Mike planned on using a fictitious name and using the chaos of the Changed attacks to say he lost his dog tags and ID.

  Their planned subterfuge proved unnecessary, as a long line had formed outside the armory, and they were handing out weapons like it was Christmas.

  The two men waited their turn and eventually made it to the front of the line. They were each issued an M4 carbine and a 9mm Beretta. They also got several magazines for each weapon, as well as some body armor. All they had to do was sign the clipboard. Just to be safe they used names of fellow airmen that hadn’t made it out of Charleston.

  They thought about getting some chow and other supplies, but they saw a convoy getting ready to depart, so they headed for the motor pool to see about appropriating some wheels.