by Maira Dawn
Skye shoved the car in gear. She sped to the little children. When she reached them, Skye slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the Jeep and threw them into the back seat.
The little ones wailed as Skye drove back out of town despite her assurances. Before she got far, Jesse pointed out more stranded people. A mother holding a baby frantically flagged them down.
Skye raced to the mother, and waved her in. Noticing the absence of vehicles anywhere in the area, Skye asked her, "Where are all the cars?"
The young woman patted one of the crying children as she jostled her baby. "When this started, the cars were moved to the other side of town for a blockade. No one guessed the Infected would get this far. Now they're coming, and we're all stuck here." She pointed out an elderly couple tottering down their driveway clearly hoping for a rescue.
Skye started toward the older couple. "Put the little ones in the cargo so we can fit them in." Once she picked the couple up, she shouted to another family that she would come back for them.
Skye raced up the mountain to the overlook’s parking lot and let everyone out before heading back down. She and Jesse made trip after trip. Skye focused on driving while Jesse searched for stranded people.
Once the word got out someone was rescuing them, more and more people appeared. After a while, the stream of people slowed. Skye and Jesse sat in the Jeep, making sure there was no one else.
Skye tapped her finger on the steering wheel. "Where's Tricia? Why wasn't she with them?"
"Maybe she's with Tom," Jesse said.
"Maybe." Tricia knew how to shoot well enough Tom may have thought she could help, especially since Colton's side was short on numbers. Still, Skye worried. She moved the car closer to Tricia's house, watching for any movement.
When the fight moved closer to her friend’s house, Skye saw gunfire coming from the second story window. "She's in there, Jesse! We have to get her out!"
Skye studied the area around Tricia's house. The Infected fought Colton men on the left. Skye's problem would be the Sick scattered around the neighboring yards.
"Jesse, hang on! I'm going for it!" Skye floored the Jeep, screeched around the corner and up Tricia's drive. She blared the horn and winced. It might be a mistake, but she needed Tricia down here as soon as possible.
The enemy was already coming for them.
Tricia raced out the front door, a rifle in her hands and her long red hair flying behind her. Skye held her breath as one of the Sick turned to follow her cousin-in-law.
"Mom, look!" Jesse screeched. Skye turned to see a boy, about Jesse's size, running toward the car. A Sick right on his trail. Jesse put his hand to his door handle.
Skye reached for him. "Jesse, no! You stay here. I'll go."
"I'm closer." With that, he was gone. Skye scrambled at her door, seeming to pull at everything but the door handle, fighting her way out just as Tricia slid into the seat behind her.
"Jesse!" Skye shouted.
"Where?" Tricia asked.
"There." Already surrounded by the Sick, Jesse dragged the terrified boy back to the car. "I don't have -- I don't have a weapon other than a knife."
"I have my gun," Tricia yelled as the women jumped out of the car and raced toward Jesse. "If they get close, shove them." At Skye's disbelieving glance, Tricia said, "I know it sounds crazy, but it works. The Sick ones, once they're down, they take a while to get back up."
Skye nodded. When Skye reached the horde, she shoved her way through them. Tricia used her rifle like a bat usually taking down more than one with each swing.
Skye pushed through tangled limbs and misshapen bodies, using her knife against those attacking her.
The Sick fought going down. But Tricia was right, once they were, they struggled to regain footing. This opened a way out for Jesse.
Jesse broke out of the ever-growing horde still holding onto the boy. One of the Sick reached out and grabbed at Jesse with its claw-like hand. The boys struggled to hold onto each other, but unbalanced, both fell.
Skye's heart was in her throat when she saw Jesse drop. The Sick rushed them. One of the Sick dragged the other boy, kicking and screaming, across the grass.
Everything slowed for Skye. What seemed like minutes was really only seconds,. Strangely though, sounds remained the same. Skye willed her feet to move, but she couldn't go fast enough.
"Skye!" Dylan's called to her. Skye searched and found him rushing toward her. Through the smoky, crowded battle Dylan appeared, disregarding his own danger, his eyes fixed on her.
He tore through the fight, taking a shot when necessary, stabbing with his knife occasionally, but not slowing for anyone or anything.
Dylan reached her, grabbing her arm as Skye grasped him. Each needing some sort of touchstone in the middle of all the chaos.
"Jesse!" Skye's ragged sob told Dylan what he already knew. There was only one reason she would be here fighting this hard.
Jesse cried out. Skye and Dylan sped to him, Tricia at their side. Skye pushed at the Sick and used her knife when she necessary.
The three of them made a hole through the crowd of Sick and found Jesse. Dylan pulled him from the pile. His hands gripped the boy as he wildly whispered it would be okay in Jesse's ear. Tricia reached the other child and rushed him back to the car ahead of the rest of them.
The Sick were on Skye and Dylan's heels. Dylan pushed Jesse to Skye. The boy's hands dug into her arm as she hurried him along.
Dylan's rifle roared more than once. Then the crack of the rifle butt bashing skulls sounded behind them.
Tricia shoved the boy she rescued in the car, leaped in and held the door open for the others. Dylan shoved Skye and Jesse into the waiting seat, then headed to the driver's side. The Sick trailed him. He slammed the door shut as their ungainly bodies hit the side of the vehicle. Their bloody spit smearing the windows.
Skye wrapped both arms around Jesse. He shook almost uncontrollably. "I'm not sorry," he mumbled, "I needed to save him."
"I know, baby, I know," Skye crooned, staring over the boy's head at Dylan. He took a second to glance from the tangle of Sick he drove through to her. Skye's wide, tear-filled eyes shared the thought swirling through her head.
We don’t know if Jesse is immune.
Twenty-Seven
One Piece
Another dull thump against the front of the Jeep brought Dylan's attention back to his driving. He honestly didn't care if he was shoving the Sick out of the way or running them over, but still, he made almost no headway.
The Sick surrounded the car at least three deep. Some Infected ran from the battle toward them, weapons drawn.
The Sick worked themselves up into a frenzy, their angry fists pounding the windows. Skye hovered over Jesse.
"Oh, Dylan." Skye's tone held a quiet desperation.
Dylan shot her a glance and a quick shake of his head. Skye thought she would lose everyone she loved today. That wasn't going to happen. "It's okay. We'll think of --"
"I have something!" Tricia fumbled with her jacket pockets. "I grabbed it as I flew down the stairs." She thrust her hand up between the two front seats. In Tricia's hand was a flash-bang.
Dylan let out a relieved chuckle. "If I didn't already have me a woman, I'd take you on, Tricia."
"Oh, you sweet talker, you say that now,"
Dylan rolled down his window as much as he dared. Even so, hands grasped and pulled at him. He yanked his arm away and threw the explosive as far to the front of the Jeep as possible.
It sailed over the Sick's heads. The noise and light startled the horde, and they quickly moved away from the source of it. It created a pathway for Dylan.
He took advantage of it and gunned the Jeep. Tires spun, and smoke drifted over the car before it took hold and jolted forward.
Jesse's eyes widened as they raced through the Sick. "I never seen them so close. They're disgusting." He wrinkled his nose at their foamy mouths and noses, bloodstained clothing and dirt-covered bodies.<
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"Look at that one over there," said the boy Jesse rescued. Jesse climbed into the back seat, and the boys pointed out the grossest examples to each other.
Skye whispered to Dylan, "Maybe we should keep them separated."
Dylan's heart sank. "Skye, whatever's gonna happen now, is gonna happen. They both -- they both got exposed, nothing we do now is gonna stop anything."
Skye's lip quivered. She caught it between her teeth as she turned her head to look out the side window. Dylan took her hand in his hoping he gave her some sort of comfort.
Tricia watched the two of them and smiled. "So, you got yourself a woman now, do ya, D?"
"Yep, you're fresh outta luck, Trish," Dylan laughed.
Trisha returned his laughter. "D, we've been runnin around together since babyhood. You always felt more like a brother to me. I'm real happy for the two of you!"
"Thanks, Tricia, that means a lot." Skye tightened her hold on Dylan's hand and smiled. But Skye was still shaken, and when a tear landed on Dylan's hand, he wasn't surprised.
"Hey, it's all over," he reassured her, "We're all safe now. You did good, real good."
"It's not over, and you know it," Skye said as they pulled into the parking lot where the rescued group watched the battle below. A battle still in full swing. "You're going to order me to stay here while you go back down there."
When they left the car and saw the chaos below, he reached for Skye, but he didn't answer. There was nothing for him to say. She was right.
Skye pulled her hands away and tightly wrapped her arms around herself. "I almost lost everything down there, and you want to go back. How can I watch you do that?"
Dylan took a step toward her and gently ran his hands up and down her arms as he stared into her eyes. "They need me. It'll be okay. I'll be back. I promise."
"You can't make that promise."
"I'll do everything I can to make it back here in one piece. That I can promise." Dylan gave her a little tug so she would let go of herself and wrap her arms around him.
Skye allowed it, snuggling against him for a moment. Then she stepped away. "Go. Leave now before I don't let you go."
Dylan yearned for her, to draw her back, and feel her warmth against him again. But if he did, he wouldn't want to go either. Dylan gave her a slow nod and walked toward the car. When he looked back over his shoulder, Dylan saw her staring back at him. Skye's lip was caught between her teeth. She was trying to be strong for him.
Dylan never had anyone care about him this much before. His chest ached as he moved away. Would this always be the way of it? Him walking away, leaving her crying.
One thing that comforted Dylan was that she had the knowledge to take care of herself now if need be. He’d given her that. A month or two ago, he would have been sure his death would mean hers, but she had proven herself. If the worst happened to Wade and him, Skye and Jesse had the cabin and knew how to care for all of Wade's off-the-grid equipment. They could trap, and fish as well as scavenge. They would go on.
A few of the adults volunteered to go back down for the fight. The trip back down was solemn. These people were not warriors, and they were frightened. They would have walked away from homes, but there were still people trapped in the town. Some of them were friends, some family, but all needed out. They were determined to help them.
When Dylan reached the battle, to his surprise, it had swung to the town's favor. Many of the Infected were zip-tied and lying face down in the grass beside a box truck. A few deputies still chased stragglers trying to run off.
Seeing Dylan, Tom asked, "Tricia?"
"Up at the overlook. Skye got a bunch of people up there out of the way. I left the kids with some adults up there for safekeeping. Can't say I mind just turnin around to head back up and get them. What happened here?"
"When you caused all that ruckus getting out of here, it divided the Infected. We got a jump on them."
When all was accounted for Colton had lost half its inhabitants, which had been meager to begin with. Some had been murdered by the Infected, two had died in the fires, and many had been bitten by the Sick.
All of those bitten had survived the airborne AgFlu, but no one was sure what happened to those who survived that infection but were bitten. Tom was willing to wait it out and see, but the townspeople clamored in fright. They decided to take those bitten to the containment center along with the Infected and Sick. More than likely, they were now doomed to a long, painful illness before the relief of death. But if they somehow survived, they would be welcomed back.
Dylan and Skye offered to stay to help clean up, but Tom refused them. "You go on ahead to the store. That's important too. The weather is bound to turn soon. Mind if I send a couple of people up with you? Might as well get some things we've been needin too."
Dylan readily agreed. "The more people have with us, the better."
Tom nodded and put a hand to his hip. "And Skye, I'm gonna talk to the town, but I'm thinking it's past time for us to move up to Cole's Mountain.
Twenty-Eight
Close
Tom sent two townsmen, Aaron and Curt Williams, with Dylan's group. African-American, brothers, and part-time deputies, the men had grown up in that vague region that was neither mountain nor town. They and their family had always liked by both communities.
Since Aaron and Curt's cars were stuck in the town's blockade, they took Dylan's old truck. The two would look for another vehicle on the way. Jesse and Wade drove Skye's Jeep so Jesse could practice, and Dylan and Skye went in his new truck.
Dylan glanced at Skye's worried face. Jesse's close call was still on her mind. "Surely, the boy's been exposed to this before, at school or in town."
"Or even my office. Yes, I know, that's what I keep telling myself. Jesse had to be. But if somehow, he wasn't --. Once we brought him to your mountain, he was separated from anyone who could infect him. If he somehow hasn't been exposed -- oh Dylan, he's at risk."
Dylan gripped the steering wheel tighter. "No use overthinking this. It'll just get you upset. We'll just keep an eye on him, is all. We'll know soon enough."
"How are we going to know? It can take a year to get full symptoms."
"Tom told me those who are infected know they are."
"That's what Anna Lynn said too. She said they will get one or two mild symptoms that don't go away before it becomes a full-blown condition."
"Well, like I said, no sense over thinkin it."
Skye bit her lip and stared out the window.
"Hey." When Skye glanced at him, he looked down at the hand he held out to her. Skye laid her small arm on top of his larger one and clasped his hand. "Odds are he'll be just fine. No worryin til ya know what you've got to worry about. Besides, you'll freak the kid out. You know how well he reads you."
"I know you’re right. I'll work on it."
The drive to the store seemed uneventful after the fight at Colton. They saw a few wandering Sick but none that threatened them even when the group stopped at a few trucks and filled up gas cans.
When the group got closer, Wade signaled them to stop at a hill overlooking the store. They studied the surroundings before driving down to the store's parking lot. It seemed Tom was right, the place looked deserted. There was only a few empty cars scattered the lot along with several items that had been dragged from the store and left in the sun.
"Well," Wade said to Aaron and Curt, "looks like you have your pick of vehicles."
"Sure does." Aaron squinted his eyes to get a better look, then pointed. "What is that thing down there?"
Calvin, Tony, Pete, and Frankie stood on the hill watching Skye and the others as they investigated the store below.
Calvin couldn't believe their luck. On their way to Colton, they saw the very Jeep and truck they were looking for pass by on the crossroads in front of them. Fortunately for him, the road was overgrown and hid them from Skye and her people. One more minute and they would have met right at the intersection.<
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It was perfect timing. After meeting up with Frankie, they had hit the bar he'd mentioned along with a few others, spending days in drink and relaxation. Now he and his men were all ramped up and ready for some action. Who comes waltzing by but the very people who would have the pleasure of their restlessness -- perfect timing indeed. It was time to show that woman and boy their place in this new world.
Calvin exchanged delighted looks with Pete and Frankie, but Tony eyes fixed on the boy. When Tony was like this, he reminded Calvin of a pit bull-shepherd mix he'd once owned, named Rocky. That dog was always pulling at the leash, ready to mix it up with any other animal out there.
But Rocky had a particular hatred for a yellow lab two doors down. When that lab walked anywhere within Rocky's sight or smell, Rocky tensed and stilled, eyes zeroed in on that dog and that dog alone. Fur stood all along the ridge of his back, and a low, barely perceptible growl came from his throat. If Rocky hadn't listened to Calvin so well, there would've been yellow lab dog guts all over the yard.
Calvin eyed Tony. He wasn't sure the man would listen as well as the dog. Tony had tracked the boy since they settled in this spot.
Calvin wasn't the only one who noticed. Frankie frowned and said, "No hurtin my boy!" wisely reneging on his invitation for Tony to give the boy a couple of licks. In Tony's current mood, a couple would be all it would take to do in the slight boy. Tony didn't respond.
Calvin approved. Good for Frankie, sticking up for his kid. A man should always take care of his family, no matter what. I hope the kid makes it.
Calvin glanced at Jesse before giving Frankie the once over. Taking in the father's hungover, haggard appearance, he doubted the guy had what it took to bring Tony down. Calvin would have looked forward to the match if there was more sport in it, but he could already see Frankie's crushing defeat.
Poor kid. What's coming for him isn’t going to be easy.