In the gardens outside, neat rows of winter vegetables grew alongside transplanted fruit trees. Chickens lay eggs inside coops built for the purpose, and there were even a couple of potbellied pigs and goats wandering around.
When he first arrived, the inhabitants accepted him into their ranks without protest. After his first successful supply run, they welcomed him with open arms, and he was only too happy to help out. He was due to join another much-needed supply run that morning but wanted to say goodbye to Amy first.
His boots squeaked on the clean floor as he turned the corner, and he was surprised to find Amy up and about. “Shouldn’t you be in bed? Resting?”
Amy tossed him a look of impatience. “I’m not an invalid, Alex. It’s about time that I started moving around. Dr. Williams says it will speed up my recovery.”
“Are you sure? You’re not making this up, are you?” Alex asked with a frown. “I know you’re in a hurry to leave, but you’re still weak.”
“Weak, schmeak,” Amy scoffed, waving him off as she tied the laces on her sneakers. “You can ask Dr. Williams yourself if you don’t believe me.”
“Where is he?”
“Right behind you, Mr. Donahue,” Dr. Williams answered from behind Alex. “And your sister is correct. The sooner she starts exercising, the better.”
“But —”
“No buts, Mr. Donahue,” Dr. Williams interrupted. “Amy is young and strong. She has shown remarkable resilience thus far, and her recovery is almost complete.”
Alex wanted to say ‘but’ again until he thought better of it. Instead, he managed to bury his reservations, and said, “As long as you don’t overdo it, Sis, I guess it’s fine.”
He watched as Dr. Williams took Amy’s blood pressure and temperature, marking her numbers down on a chart. Afterward, the doctor gave an approving nod. “Everything looks good. The infection is gone, and her wounds have healed without any undue scarring.”
“When can I leave?” Amy asked, her eyes bright and eager.
“A couple of days should do it. Once I’m satisfied that you’re strong enough to walk around and defend yourself, you can join the general population.”
Dr. Williams took his leave, and she turned on Alex. “Did you hear that? A couple of days!”
“I heard,” Alex said, “but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to travel yet.”
“Why not?” Amy said with a groan of exasperation. “We need to get to Dylan. What if she goes to the safe house while we’re gone? She’ll be out of her mind with worry.”
“I can’t take the chance that something might happen to you on the road, Sis,” Alex said. “I promised to keep you safe.”
“Oh, come on,” Amy protested. “Stop coddling me. I’m not a child anymore!”
Alex threw his hands in the air. “Fine. I’ll give you two days to prove to me you’re fit enough for the road. Deal?”
“Deal,” Amy said before surveying his clothes and weapons with narrowed eyes. “Where are you off to?”
“On a supply run. I just dropped in to say goodbye,” Alex replied.
“Will you be gone long?”
“No, this is a short run. We’ll be back by noon.”
“Be careful, Bro. I’d hate it if anything happened to you,” Amy said with a tinge of worry.
“I’ll watch my back, Sis.”
They hugged, and he left the room with brisk strides. Around him, the nurses and other medical staff went about their duties with calm composure. A patient shuffled past him with an IV drip on a stand while another sat reading in a wheelchair. A pregnant woman waited in the reception for an exam, and a group of kids played in the children’s playroom.
It was all very normal, and he marveled that it was even possible in the apocalypse. A couple of changes had taken place since he’d arrived, however. After the fall of Fort Knox, Officer Brown had quizzed him at length about what had happened. Alex had been able to tell him quite a lot thanks to Saul and Tara, and Officer Brown had taken several steps to ensure the Radcliff hospital community didn’t meet the same fate.
All roads leading to the place had been blocked off, and sentries placed at strategic points. Surrounding buildings were cleared of the undead, and the entrances closed. Volunteers with bikes stood ready to lead any hordes away from them, and the hospital was fortified to the max.
It was now impossible to see into the grounds. Movement and noise were kept to a minimum, and all the windows had been blacked out. Even the animals were kept secluded and away from the road, walled off in an enclosure. Lastly, an evacuation plan had been set in place in case of an emergency.
Alex reckoned all the extra preparations gave the community a fighting chance, at least, and he hoped they’d not only survive, but thrive. There has to be something left once it’s all done — something of humanity.
He stepped outside and shaded his eyes from the bright sun. The sky was blue, and birds tweeted in the bare branches of the trees overhead. Despite the beautiful day, a chill breeze swept through the grounds, and he was grateful for the thick jacket he wore.
In the parking lot, Officer Brown and Tony milled about checking weapons and organizing the group gathered for the supply run. He counted seven people, excluding himself, which brought the tally up to eight. Two double-cab trucks with trailers stood ready to go, their tanks fully fueled, and their engines checked.
As a rule, Officer Brown was a man of few words and stubborn opinions. Alex had to hand it to him, though. The former policeman was an expert leader. He knew how to motivate people to get the best out of them, and he also knew how to deal with troublemakers.
Tony, on the other hand, was a tough nut to crack. Ever since their first meeting, he had refused to warm up toward Alex. They rarely spoke to each other, and Alex avoided the man as a rule. He didn’t want to start a fight when he wasn’t planning on staying for very long.
He strode over and joined the group. “Morning, guys.”
A couple of replies echoed around him, and Officer Brown nodded. “Glad you could make it. How’s your sister?”
“She’s doing much better, thank you.”
“Happy to hear that. Are you ready to go? You’ve checked your gun? Magazines?” Officer Brown asked.
“I have, and I’m all set.”
“Good. You can ride with me in the Toyota along with Jax and Molly,” Officer Brown said. “Four people to a vehicle.”
“Sounds good.” Alex heaved an inner sigh of relief that he wouldn’t have to ride with his nemesis, Tony, and climbed into the front seat of the Toyota with haste.
Tony favored Alex with a sour look as he walked past, his fleshy lips pressed together in his round face. His bald head shone in the sun, and despite the cold wind, sweat beaded on his forehead.
Alex was distracted when Molly, a pretty redhead, got into the cab behind him. She was young, around his age, and a good fighter. While he didn’t intend to make a move, he appreciated the way her long lashes fluttered at him in the rear-view mirror.
At least, he did until Officer Brown climbed in. With a pointed look at Alex, he adjusted the mirror away from her face. “Eyes on the road, boy. No distractions now,” the cop said with a wry smile.
A hot flush crept up Alex’s neck as he looked away, and he swore he heard Jax snicker from the backseat. Jax was also their age, a good looking jock who made no secret of his interest in Molly. Or anything that wore a skirt.
Alex tried to hide his embarrassment by checking out their surroundings as they pulled out of the parking lot. Armed guards waved them through the gates before locking up tight again, and a couple more swept aside the barricades a block further down. Buildings flashed past his window, and the streets were devoid of any signs of life. Even the packs of feral dogs that used to roam about had been eradicated. Now only the rats flourished in the abandoned structures.
Alex cleared his throat. “Where are we going?”
“We’re hitting a strip mall on the other side o
f town. It used to house that group of bad apples we spoke about before. The ones your friends wiped out.”
“Are they all dead?”
“It looks like it. We’ve had guards sitting on it for days now, and it appears to be clear,” Officer Brown said. “Even so, be careful and keep your gun handy.”
“Alright,” Alex said, hoping they’d get there soon. He was growing tired of the lovestruck looks Jax kept throwing at Molly. He’s going to start drooling all over himself any minute now.
Luckily, they arrived at the place not long after that, and Alex climbed out of the truck with his rifle held ready in both hands. Like most of Radcliff, the streets were deserted with little of interest to see. The horde of zombies that had run over Fort Knox had not returned, a ten-fold blessing for all concerned.
A brightly painted sign beckoned to them from above the mall’s entrance, and Officer Brown quickly organized their parties into teams. “Right, everyone. Gather around. Let’s do this quickly and quietly.”
“Molly, you’re with me on the center aisles, Jax you go with Rooney and take the left. Mick and Scott, you’re on the right. Grab a shopping cart each and remember your lists. If anything happens, we all run straight back here. Got that?”
“Got it,” everyone but Alex and Tony said.
“What about me?” Tony asked with a frown.
“And me?” Alex echoed.
“You two are on guard duty. Keep an eye out for zombies, and warn us if you see anything out of the ordinary.”
Tony didn’t bother to hide his dismay. “You’re not serious. I’m supposed to stay outside with this guy?”
Officer Brown nodded. “Exactly.”
“Why?”
“Because, I say so, Tony,” Officer Brown said, his expression bland. “Do you have a problem with my commands?”
Tony shook his head. “No, but I’d be more useful inside. Not wafting in the wind like a glorified fart.”
“It’s my decision, Tony,” Officer Brown said, not giving an inch.
“Fine,” Tony grumbled, turning his back on them, shoulders stiff and his spine ramrod straight.
“How about you, Alex?” Officer Brown asked.
Alex wasn’t thrilled with the decision either, but he had more sense than to argue with Officer Brown. “I heard you, Sir.”
“Good. Here you go,” Officer Brown said, handing him a two-way radio and securing the other to his belt. “Remember, if you see something, or if you run into trouble, let me know.”
“Yes, Sir,” Alex replied, fiddling with the knob on the radio.
“Move out,” Officer Brown ordered. He jogged toward the shop entrance with the rest of the group and tested the doors. They were unlocked, and after a thorough look inside to check for infected, they went ahead.
Alex resigned himself to a long morning spent guarding the trucks while the others had their fun. With his rifle slung across his chest, he patrolled the area with measured steps. Tony did the same, and they studiously avoided each other. Twice, Alex stopped at his truck for a swig of water and a bite of his protein bar. Other than that, he kept moving.
After forty minutes had passed, the first load of supplies came out of the shop. Alex watched with jealous eyes as Molly, Jax, and the others unloaded their loot, their glee evident. Cases of water, cool drinks, juices, canned goods, dried foods, batteries, candles, baby food, diapers, and even candy bars filled one of the trailers to the brim. With rope and canvas, they covered and secured the load.
“Okay, guys. Let’s go back for more,” Officer Brown said. “Is everything clear out here, folks?”
“Yes, Sir,” Alex replied.
“Tony?”
“All clear,” Tony said.
“Good. See you soon.”
The three teams ducked back into the shop, and Alex resumed his endless patrolling. After a while, he grew tired and sat down on the tailgate of the nearest truck. His legs dangled in the air, and he chewed at his bottom lip. His frustration was growing with each passing minute, and the lack of action chafed at his nerves. Today’s a total bust, damn it. I should’ve spent it with Amy rather. Instead, I’m stuck with Tony’s company.
His eyes panned across the road, following it to the end where it bent around a corner. A flicker of movement caught his attention, and he jerked upright. For a long moment, nothing happened. He was about to relax when he saw it again.
Movement.
Definite movement.
Within a split second, Alex was on full alert. Lifting his rifle to his shoulder, he looked through the scope. The lens caught the reflection of an infected moving up the street with their telltale jerky stride. Behind it was another, and another.
They kept coming until he could no longer count them, a swarm headed straight for the strip mall. They were still a fair distance away, but the moment they spotted Alex and Tony, they’d break into a sprint. Whatever he was going to do, he’d better do it fast.
Alex jumped off the tailgate and whirled around, searching for Tony. The other man was leaning against the second vehicle’s front grill with his back to Alex. He hummed beneath his breath, nodding along to the words of the song in his head.
Alex dared not shout to him. Instead, he hunched down low and ran toward Tony as fast as he could. He ducked around the side of the truck and reached Tony within seconds. Without hesitation, he grabbed the man’s arm and yanked him to the ground.
“What the —” Tony began to yell.
“Sh, zombies,” Alex whispered frantically, one finger pressed to his lips.
Tony shut his mouth, looked around, and asked, “Where?”
“Close. Too close.”
“How many?”
“Dozens, maybe more,” Alex said with a shake of his head. “We need to hide.”
“Where?”
Alex took a quick look around the corner of the truck and jerked his head back. “Too late to make a run for it. Get down.”
“Huh?” Tony asked.
“Get underneath the truck. It’s our only chance,” Alex said.
With a muttered curse, Tony dropped to his stomach and shimmied underneath the vehicle. Bit by bit, his legs disappeared. In the meantime, Alex grabbed the radio at his waist and pressed the button. “Officer Brown, come in. Officer Brown. Over.”
“Roger that. Go ahead, Alex. Over.”
“There’s a horde coming up the street. I repeat, a horde of zombies. Over.”
There was a brief moment of silence before Officer Brown answered. “Can we fight them? Over.”
“Negative. You’d better stay inside and keep the doors shut until I give the all-clear. Over,” Alex replied.
“What about you? Over.”
“We’ll hide under the trucks. There’s nowhere else. Over.”
“Roger that. Um, be careful. Over.”
“Will do. Over,” Alex replied.
“Commencing radio silence,” Officer Brown said.
Alex switched the radio off and clipped it onto his belt. He dared another quick look at the approaching infected and swallowed a curse. The first zombie had reached the vehicles and was making its way toward him. They were out of time.
Without wasting another precious moment, Alex dropped to his stomach. Tony was already in position, occupying one half of the space, and Alex crawled in next to him. He took care not to make too much noise, cushioning the rifle, so it didn’t rattle on the tar.
He was scarcely under when the first pair of feet shuffled past them, dirty and bare. A low moan emanated from the figure, and it sounded like a lost child. But he knew the infected was anything but a lost, innocent kid and prayed they weren’t discovered. If that happened, they’d be ripped to pieces within seconds.
Alex gazed at the strip mall’s front entrance and spotted a pair of frightened eyes staring at him through the grimy glass. Molly’s.
The view was interrupted by another set of legs and another. The infected kept coming, the crowd thickening as more streamed aro
und the truck. Soon, the light was blocked out completely, and they were dumped into a twilight zone — one filled with the dead and nothing but the dead.
They were trapped.
Chapter 5 - Amy
After Alex left, Amy was determined to prove her strength. The sooner she was back on her feet, the sooner they could go. It wasn’t that she disliked the Radcliff community. They’d been very kind to her and Alex. She missed Dylan, however. Crazy, violent, red-headed Dylan who hid a soft interior behind a wall of hostility.
Amy thought back to the first time they met. It was in Louisville while Alex lay passed out in the car, sick from an infected stab wound. She’d been looking for help, and her eyes landed on Dylan. The memory was still as fresh in her mind as the day it happened, and she had no trouble recalling it.
***
“Can you help me, please? It’s my brother. He’s hurt. I need to get him inside.”
Dylan hesitated, then shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I need to get out of this city. I don’t have time to waste.”
She pushed past Amy who grabbed her hand and pleaded, “Please. I need you to help me carry him inside. He’s in the car over there. It’ll only take a moment.”
Screams erupted behind them as a wave of the undead attacked the fleeing masses in the street, and Dylan pushed her into a dark alley. After checking that it was clear, she asked, “Car? You have a car?”
“You said you need to get out of the city, right?” Amy asked.
“That’s right.”
“Help me get my brother fixed up, and we’ll take you wherever you need to go. He’s a soldier, a fighter, and I can shoot too. Plus, he knows this city like the back of his hand. Together, we can make it.”
“What’s wrong with your brother?” Dylan asked.
“He was stabbed two days ago. We patched him up, but it’s infected. He needs antibiotics.”
“Where do we get that?” Dylan asked. “I haven’t seen a pharmacy anywhere near here.”
“There is a veterinary clinic three shops down.”
Rise of the Undead (Book 3): Apocalypse Z Page 4