Chapter 5– Phoenix
Billy looks at the sun. It was higher in the sun. He looks at his watch and sees that it was about an hour from noon. He hears the door open. He looks at Alicia who walks outside. Billy held the gun barrel in his hand. He had sharpened it overnight, and it was going to be a good weapon. Alicia looks at him.
"Where did you get that?" Alicia asks as she sits down beside him.
"I was on the mounted machine gun in there," Billy says. "I sharpened it overnight, and it will be a good weapon,"
"Why do you need another weapon?" Alicia asks.
"I don't," Billy says. He holds the barrel out to her. "You do you want something better than that machete?" Alicia grabs the barrel and smiles at him.
"That's I'll make a strap for it," Alicia says. Billy nods. "Did you not sleep?"
"I haven't slept much since I've come to L.A. I would fall asleep on days when my body made me, but that was about it," Billy tells her. He stands up.
"Does it have to do with the person you killed?" Alicia asks.
"Yes," Billy tells her as he goes inside. Alicia follows him inside. He walks to the group and sees duffle bags on the ground with supplies in them. "Did you guys gather the supplies?"
"Yes we did, we got plenty of food and water. We also found some medical supplies," Travis answers.
"We also found ammo, lots of it," Nick says.
"It's for that gun, Westley had," Strand says. He takes off his sunglasses, "These get annoying sometimes."
"You are wearing them inside," Alicia says.
"We'll lot the supplies evenly inside the two Humvees. Daniel, Ofelia, Madison, Nick, Alicia, and I will take the first one. Westley will take the second one with Kyra, Travis, Chris, and Strand," Billy says.
Westley walks inside and Kyra walks in after him.
"We are going with you," Travis says.
"Who is we?" Kyra asks.
"Me, my son Chris and Strand."
Westley looks at the others, "Okay, am I following you?" he asks.
"Yeah," Billy says as he grabs the bags with the others and takes them outside.
"I call shotgun!" Kyra shouts as she scurries to the passenger side.
"Speaking of shotgun you left yours in the other Humvee," Westley says.
Kyra looks at the other Humvee, "It will be fine," she opens the door and gets in. The others get in the back seats. Billy walks towards the driver side.
"Give me the keys. You will sleep while I drive," Daniel says.
"Daniel," Billy says.
"Keys," Daniel says. Billy sighs as he gives Daniel the keys and climbs into the passenger seat. He moves the seat down a little and closes his eyes as the others load the supplies and get in the cars. Daniel starts the car and drives off. Westley is following him.
Four hours and thirty minutes later. Westley is still following Billy, they are on a dirt road. Westley glances at Kyra who is recording with the camera.
"So, do you think there will ever be a cure for this virus… plague whatever the hell it is?" Westerly asks.
Kyra looks at him but continues pointing the camera at the road, "I don't know, I hope so. But if there is nobody left to make a cure then…"
"I have faith. There will be a cure eventually," Travis says.
Strand starts laughing. "You really think so? Look around us Travis, the army is killing everyone. There will be no cure," he says with a deeper voice.
Westley glances at Travis and Strand. He lets out a sigh and looks at Kyra who is turning off the camera. Westley puts his hand on her shoulder while keeping his other on the steering wheel. Kyra looks at him and Westley gives her a friendly smile; trying to make her feel less worried.
Billy walks down an alley and looks around. He stops when he sees his Mom standing in front of him. "Mom?" He says as another man appeared beside her. "I killed you," The man pulls open his gun and shoots his Mom in the head. Billy backs up in shot as the man aims at him and fires. The bullet goes past him. Billy turns around and sees his dad on the ground. "No!" He yells as the man aims his gun at him.
"You killed me, and now I'll take everything you have left," The man says before he shoots Billy.
Billy shoots up in his seat with a gasp. He looks around as Daniel looks at him. "Are you okay?" Alicia asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Billy says as he wipes the sweat off his forehead. "How long have we been driving?"
"Four and a half hours," Madison says from where she sat. Nick was sleeping in the back.
"That's enough sleep for me," Billy says as he puts his seat up.
"Nightmare?" Daniel asks.
"Yes," Billy says as he pulls his swords off the floor and puts them beside him.
"Talking about it might help?" Madison says.
"Yeah, it will but my Dad needs to be the first to hear it," Billy tells her.
"Is it always the same?" Ofelia asks.
"Usually the same few nightmares," Billy tells them as he looks out the window. "I've had them since I've left Georgia,"
"Is that why you left?" Alicia asks.
"Besides for police training, yes," Billy tells them. "But like I said I don't like to talk about it,"
"Leave him alone. We all have our secrets," Daniel says as they go down the road.
Thirty minutes later the group arrives in Phoenix, Arizona. A large tank and fifteen soldiers guard the entrance to the city. It was early in the evening, Westley stopped behind Billy. There were large barricades that spread around a large part of the city; forming a wall. There were turrets behind small sandbags near some soldiers. Billy looks at Ofelia. "Get up there," Billy tells her Ofelia nods as he gets up on the guns. Billy rolls the window down. "I've already killed about 7 to 10 solders in the last day guys. Let's not add you on that count," Billy says as he pulls his Colt out of the holster. "Why don't you put your weapons on the ground,"
The large gun on the tank turns and locks onto the first Humvee. "Get out of the vehicles now! You are a threat to the safety of these people inside the city and to us!" a soldier shouts.
"Let us through. We are trying to get to Georgia. We are not leaving these cars," Billy says.
"You will have to go around the city. We cannot allow you through, besides the dead occupy most of the city," a soldier shouts.
"We are not trusting soldiers. Not after what they have done. We are not getting out of these cars and we are not giving up our weapons. This goes one of two ways. You let us through peacefully and we never see each other again or a gunfight starts and people die," Billy says.
A large muscular older man takes a few steps forward. He has an eye patch. He has short white hair and a long bushy beard. "I'm Officer Teles. I am in control of this safe zone. I'm aware of the bombings, and we do not agree. We are barely holding onto what space we have left," Officer Teles scratches his beard. "We have over a hundred survivors, we have food and medicine. More and more of those undead bastards show up. Our barricades won't hold up much longer," he continues. "Picking a fight with us will mean in your deaths," Officer Teles looks at the large tank, "We have a tank."
"The population of this city is over a million. You shoot that thing you'll attract the dead from miles away. They'll kill every person here you included. We have a gun fight. The gunfire will draw them too. We'll be dead but every person in there will be torn apart by them and you know that," Billy says.
"Then it's best that you turn around and go around the city. We don't want no trouble," Officer Teles says.
"Your office just told us the rest of the city was overrun. We'll die and I would rather die taking you bastards with me," Billy says. "I told you before. There are two ways this goes down that hasn't changed. The choice is your officer. Are you really different. Are you willing to risk all their lives for pride?" Billy asks.
"Your momma dropped you on your head hasn't she. Or maybe you're just deaf. You are a threat to the people within the city. Otherwise, you would peacefully comply. But instead you'd rather make dumb threats," the officer says.
Westley gets out of the car. "What are you doing?" Kyra hisses.
Westley ignores her and steps forward. "I am unarmed. Do not listen to Billy he is… that's besides the point. We need to go through the city. We won't give up our weapons, but we won't show any aggression. We are a little untrusting when it comes to the military. But it seems we have no other choice," Westley says in a calm voice.
Officer Teles looks at Westley, "Finally someone who has a bit of intelligence," he says with a grin.
"Why did I pick you up," Billy says as he looks at Westley. "Tell your friend out there we aren't giving up our cars, supplies, or weapons," Billy says. "They make one move Ofelia mow them down and attract the dead for all over the city,"
Westley flips off Billy. He looks at Officer Teles, "We just want through the city. We won't bother anyone we will just drive straight through. We will deal with the dead," he says.
Officer Teles looks at Westley, "Alright. If any of you make a move-"
"We won't," Westley interrupts.
Officer Teles nods he motions for the soldiers to move allowing the vehicles to go through. Westley runs to his Humvee and gets back in it.
Kyra looks at him. "Aren't you just mister diplomat," she says with a grin.
Westley starts up the Humvee, "Yeah miss Camerawoman," he says. Billy nods to Daniel who starts to drive forward. He pulls the hammer back on his Colt and pushes the duffle bag to the back.
"Load up," Billy says as Alicia opens the bag and pulls out the rifle. She hands one to her mom and brother.
"You avoided violence, that's good," Travis says. Westley drives forward behind Billy. Kyra starts to film again. She points the camera at the homes and the people who watch the vehicles drive past them.
Westley looks at the people, some of them are small children and older people. "This is crazy," Strand mumbles as he looks out the window.
The group reaches the exit of the small safe zone. There was a large gate. Ten soldiers guarded each side of the gate. The soldiers open the large metal gate and allow the two Humvees to leave the safezone into the larger part of the city. Daniel stops the Humvee and they look in front of them. "Ofelia get down," Billy says. Ofelia climbs down. Billy grabs the binoculars out of the bag and climbs up. He puts them up to his eyes. He sees a big herd of the dead heading for the area. "Shit," He says as he gets down. He puts his revolver away and climbs out of the car. Billy turns around and walks towards the gate. "Get your commanding officer now," Billy tells them.
A couple of moments later Officer Teles approaches the gate. He looks at the horde of the dead, "Holy mother of God," he says.
"I don't like you. But innocent people shouldn't have to die because of that. If you stay here you will die. We're going to Georgia we'll take whoever wants to come," Billy says to him. "You included,"
Officer Teles nods.
"We do not have a lot of time! A large group of dead are approaching. Are barricades won't stand a chance, not will any of us. Those of you who want to leave with this group you better step forward!" Officer Teles shouts.
Nobody steps forward. A couple of minutes go by and a large, muscular soldier approaches Officer Teles. "I would like to go with the group," the soldier says.
"Private Wayne, I understand," Officer Teles says.
Forty soldiers gather together. "Officer Teles, we will stay and fight the undead. We will do our duty and protect the civilians to our last breaths," one of the soldiers said.
"I will stay and fight along with you. We will all see our lord together!" Officer Teles says.
"We should hurry, anyone else want to come?" Westley asks.
A slender woman approaches, "I would like to go with you," she says. The woman has blue hair, and blue eyes. She has fair skin and wore short jean shorts that went past her knees. She wore a black tank top that revealed her belly.
"Okay, we should hurry," Westley says. He looks at Kyra who was filming. Billy looks at a child not older than ten who was by herself
"Get loaded up. I'll join you," Billy says as he walks over to the kid. He bends down by the child who backs up a little. "Where are your parents?"
"They are dead," The child says.
"Come with us. I'll take care of you and keep you safe. I'm Billy,"
"I'm Kara," Kara says. She had blond hair and blue eyes.
"Come on," Billy says as he holds his hand out to her. Kara grabs his hand and Billy picks her up and walks back over to the officer. "Good luck," Billy says to them.
"Thank you, but luck isn't going to stop the dead. I don't know what the hell made this hellish plague. But I pray to God you survive and help others survive," Officer Teles says.
Westley and Kyra walk to the second Humvee. Kyra gets into the passenger side. The woman walks over to Westley, "May I ride with you?" she asks.
Westley nods and then the woman gets in. Private Wayne walks over to Westley. Private Wayne has short black hair and black eyes. He has dark skin, he wears camouflage pants and a camouflage shirt. He is wearing a helmet with a light attached to it.
"Get in," Westley says.
"Thank you," Wayne says before getting into the Humvee. Billy puts Kara in the front seat and looks back at officer Teles before he climbs inside the car. He holds Kara as Daniel starts the Humvee and drives. He turns down the street leading away from the herd.
Westley follows behind, Kyra looks out the window at the people. Her eyes become watery. "All those people are going to die… The children," she says softly.
"Hey, hey. I think if things get bad they would flee the city," Westley says, putting his hand on her shoulder.
Kyra looks at Westley and nods. Westley looks forward and continues driving down the street and onto a road.