Chapter 7
A truth revealed
The night drifted to day and the fire that lit Matthew's path to a place far away and surely far better than where the rest of the group, had burned for three days. Now all that remained was no more than a pile of smoking ash. Jessie had gathered the remnants of her last relative into a beautiful porcelain jar from the ware house. Almost two weeks had passed since that day. One of the three semi trucks in the yard was currently being modified into the group's escape vehicle. Its trailer was modified with gun ports and was stocked with half the portable food stuff in the store. Erin was taking a long cold shower, and Andrew was on the roof staring at the gun in his hand. Jake and Vanessa were grabbing something to eat from the shelves. They were silent for a while, and then Vanessa spoke up, "What are we going to do?"
"We are going to survive," stated Jake, "Like we did yesterday and tomorrow,"
The words seemed to relieve Vanessa a little as the finished "shopping" and made their way to the living area. Which had been renovated for comfort, some air beds were placed on top of tables that were grouped together, some bean bags and cushions were heaped for a comfortable viewing seat in front of a big screen Television and a DVD player. Some smaller screens had game systems hooked up to them, while a computer was placed in a corner. Surprisingly the internet was still running but all the chat rooms were for the most part quiet. Survivors were out there but they were thinning out.
Vanessa and Jake plopped down in front of the Television and put in a comedy DVD.
They were only a few minutes into the film when Vanessa spoke up again, "Are Erin and Andrew a couple? I mean she calmed him down so easily when he was obviously going to beat Mike to death,"
Jake's face was mask of sadness, "She has always had a thing for him, and I'm pretty sure he feels for her the same way. After his last experience it's like he just stopped letting his feelings matter. The other day was the first time I saw Andrew any other way besides serious, I mean yeah he jokes around sometimes but that seems to be the range he's comfortable with."
"You seem sad to talk about those two," noted Vanessa "is there something you're keeping inside?
"I love Erin to," answered Jake, "but she does not seem to notice,"
"Have you told her that?" asked Vanessa.
"I never seem to find the words," replied Jake, "It's just that,"
A single gun shot came from the roof. Vanessa and Jake sprang up from their seat and sprinted to the roof. Erin fell in beside him Vanessa noticed Jake flash a quick glance at her then continued running. When they reached the roof Andrew had Matthew's hunting rifle in hand and was squeezing of shots at a yet unseen target. When the three friends came up beside him what they saw chilled them to the bone. In the parking lot was a school bus. Apparently it was the final escape for some poor lost souls. One of them was infected because all that came out of the bus were zombies. Andrew was there just blowing them to pieces as they stumbled out of the bus. After five minutes the final zombie crawled out of the bus. Andrew's face changed from grim purpose to pity. It was a young girl probably eleven or twelve from the looks of things she had suffered from horrible condition for a long time. She was practically whole the sight of infection not visible. Her frame was skeletal the skin stretched tight over her features. Her head was bald and her eyes sunken into her skull to the point it looked like she had none. Even though she was dead the other sickness still thrived as the creature dragged her body down the steps trailed by tumour riddled legs. Andrew lowered the rifle said a small prayer made the sign of the cross aimed at the zombie and put it out of both miseries. After peering through the windows of the bus and not seeing any more movement he stood up.
"This world is really messed up when even the dead suffer," remarked Andrew resting the rifle on his shoulder and heading inside.
Jessie was heading up the steps just as Andrew was heading down. He froze in his tracks as she came close. Her eyes were puffy from all the crying, her hair was a mess and her hands were still covered in a light film of ash.
"Jessie," started Andrew rubbing the back of his head with the back of his free hand, "I just wanted to say I am so sorry for what happened to Matthew. I just thought the guy was dead, I mean..."
Jessie held up her left hand to stop Andrew from saying further, "It was not your fault Andrew. I was angry before but that was irrational, I thought the guy was dead to," she looked at the jar tucked under her right arm, "he was the last family I had,"
"I know it's not the same but," Andrew said as he noticed the rest of the group coming down the stairs, "you have a family with us,"
"Thanks," replied Jessie with a lopsided smile
Andrew walked past the office/ prison of Mike. He was well taken care of given the situation. He always had food, had escorted bathroom breaks and even had his own air bed. Andrew shot him a glare that would make ice shiver before he continued on. Mike flinched and backed as far away from the door.
"You have not forgiven him," stated Jessie looking at Mike then at Andrew, "Have you?"
"I don't tolerate betrayal," answered Andrew who had started down stairs.
"But it was not his idea," continued Jessie.
"Yeah but he did not object either," replied Andrew turning to face her.
"Yeah but if anyone should be mad it should be me," retorted Jessie.
"Yeah I guess, but I still don't trust the bastard," said Andrew leaning the rifle against a table.
From the computer came the familiar sound of a new e-mail being received. Jake was the closest so he checked it. His eyes went wide while he was reading, "Guys y'all should read this," he said printing the letter. He handed it to Vanessa who read it quickly after doing so she practically threw it at Jessie. When she was finished she gave it to Andrew, her hand was shaking. As he read it his face once again became the mask of anger. The letter resembled a paper ball as he handed it to Erin, as she read it terror sank deep into her heart. The letter was from one of the few survivor camps that were holed up in a library across town. It came from a girl named Amber who was the appointed "communication director" it read: -
This is probably going to be my last letter. About 2 hours ago our defences were overwhelmed by renegade soldiers. They swept in killed all that stood in their way and took whatever they could then just left allowing the zombies that were attracted by all the noise. I think I'm the only one left. Anyone who gets this e-mail don't try to come save me it's too dangerous. By the time you read this I would have already killed myself. I refuse to become one of those things.
I wish all of you still out there the best of luck and prepare yourself. I saw the soldiers heading east so increase your defences. Good bye I hope I'll see you on the other side.
Yours truly
Amber Jackson.
Erin dropped the letter on the ground. Andrew was running outside, followed by everyone of else.
"Andrew what are you doing?" asked Jake catching up.
When they reached outside Andrew looked around at his surroundings. He turned to his friends. "Okay look we are going to have to lock this place down. Vanessa place two of the semi trucks in front of the gates. Jake and Jessie go and place as many heavy objects in front of the main doors as you can. Erin you are top side take a sniper rifles, a pair of binoculars and head top side keep an eye on the all the streets that lead here."
"What are you going to do?" inquired Jake.
Looking at the manhole cover below him he replied, "I'm going underground,"
Vanessa had completed her task just as Andrew came back outside his shot gun strapped to his back and a duffle bag on the other shoulder.
"Wait I'm coming with you," she said grabbing the colt .44 off the seat next to her.
"Okay, but put this on," replied Andrew tossing a bandana to her.
Taking the hint she tied it around her face covering her nose and mouth. Andrew pulled the man hole open. He shone a flash light into the hole, nothing stirred so he climbed down followed by Vanessa. When they reached the bottom she asked in her best western accent, "What's the plan tex?"
"Well mame , we goin' to be holding up a wagon train I reckon," replied Andrew.
They made their way down the sewers. In a straight line from where they started. They followed a make shift map Andrew made from the roof that pointed out each man hole every time they came to one Andrew climbed and placed remote control bomb beneath it. Half an hour later and four dead zombies later they had finished. They were walking back when Vanessa dropped a bomb on Andrew, "Do you have feelings for me?"
The sudden question literally shook Andrew he coughed and then replied, "Of course you patched me up, and you're a great shot and an even better driver. If it was not for you we would all probably be dead."
Vanessa moved in front of him barring his path, "I don't mean that and you know it,"
The static from the walkie talkie saved Andrew. Jake's panic stricken voice came through, "We have a visual and they have a F…" his finger must have slipped of the button because only static could be heard then his voice came back, "…ING TANK!"
Andrew ran towards the nearest sewer and pushed it up enough to see the oncoming army. Leading the charge was one of the tanks on wheels. It was heading right for Andrew he went back down the ladder. "Jake tell them to stop moving and stall for a few minutes," said Andrew into the walkie talkie.
A few moments later Jake's distorted voice could be heard, "Hold it right there, friend or foe!" Just as Andrew planned the tank stopped right above him. He removed the bomb from the man-hole cover and took the last one from his bag. He moved the heavy steel lid as quietly as he could, when it was out of the way he looked around there were two soldiers on either side of the tank. He set the two bombs on the underneath of the tank. When they were ready he closed the man hole again. Once at the foot of the ladder he and Vanessa ran as quickly as they could back to base. As they were in they closed the man-hole and rolled a trash container over it. The two then joined the others on the roof where Jessie tossed each of them a scoped semi automatic rifle.
"They aren't responding," said Jake handing Andrew the bull horn.
"Did you guys notice any other movement? Any separate vehicles moving around any suspicious people moving around outside?" after Erin replied negative he ordered Vanessa and Jessie to take a quick sweep of the premises. When they left Andrew lifted the horn to his mouth and said in the most authoritative voice he could muster, "Friend or foe? If you don't reply we will regard that as a sign of hostility."
A bullet flew past Andrew's head grazing his neck, a voice boomed from the tank, "Well then I guess we're foes, listen you little puke we came to take what we want and if you are a good little boy we will let you live. Until the zombies come of course, look we are coming in whether you like it or not right about now two of my men should be holding guns to your neck."
A shot was fired then two shots rang out a few moments later Vanessa and Jessie emerged, "They shot Mike before we got them, he's dead,"
Andrew wanted to smile but he was sick of people under his watch dieing, He raised the horn to his mouth and spoke again. By now the rest of the army had filed into the parking lot. "Sorry pal looks like your friends are a going to be detained… permanently,"
"You're gonna die for that!" screamed the villain.
"I don't think so," muttered Andrew and pressed the button to detonate the bombs. It felt like an earthquake the tank was the first to go. Exploding in a mushroom cloud, then the bombs made their way down the lot. Bodies and vehicles made graceful arcs in the sky before they came crashing down. As the bombs went off the friends started picking off anyone who was lucky enough to escape the blasts. The battle was over as quickly as it began bodies and what used to be bodies littered the parking lot. Andrew smiled it worked they were safe for a while longer. Or so he thought, a sound seemed to arise from the very earth itself.
"What's that?" asked Erin rising to her feet.
"Oh god," said Jessie looking through her rifle's scope.
Everyone followed suit, the sight before them brought back all fears that were suppressed for the past few days. Zombies of every size shape and form shambled from the city. The explosions had attracted every zombie within a three mile radius. They were about a mile away, from this distance they looked more like a shapeless mass slowly moving forward.
"What are we going to do?" asked Jake.
"We will wait them out. It's been almost two weeks how long can dead bodies last right a few more weeks and they should be nothing more than puddles of goo," answered Andrew.
"That won't work," replied Vanessa her voice was a mix of fear and regret, "The virus keeps the body in the same condition it was when it "reawakened". Any damage after cannot be repaired, but the body will not decay."
"How do you know that Vanessa?" asked Erin.
"Because I was the one who created the virus," answered Vanessa.