We had been driving for what seemed like years. Warren was driving so every zombie we passed on the road she made a point to hit, but nothing made me feel better. Every Z I saw all I thought about was Hayley. I had let my guard down and it had gotten her killed. I had seen several people die since the apocalypse started but none of them where like this one. We had made it so far together and I had known we would have made it to the other side of this together. But yet here I was, without her, in the back of the truck with watching 10k shoot zombies with his sling shot.
"Amish zombies," Addy said in disbelief watching the same thing I was, "Really?" I signed deeply and decided I had had enough sadness and tried to get my mind off Hayley and walking around the truck and inject myself into the conversation at hand.
"The Amish tried to quarantine themselves from the rest of society to stop the virus from spreading," Garnett explained as I walked up.
"But that was before we knew we all had it," Mack added, "We are all carrying the virus, doesn't matter who you are or how you die." He was always so cheerful.
"I don't get it, if the Z's didn't spread the virus then how did we all get infected," Addy asked. I had heard several theories of what it really was but I had no clue.
"Best I heard," Garnett started, " It was spread by birds. A parasite piggybacking on the bird flu. Stays dormant until you die."
"Last I heard of anything it was a parasite called toxoplasma gondii," I explained. Out of all the things I had heard it was the only one that made any sense to me.
"What's that?" Mack asked still under the hood of the truck.
"It was a parasite that usually would only affect the brain of mice cause them to charge into a cats home so they would get eaten then the parasite would infect the cat," I started explaining.
"So the mouse was just the carrier," Garnett figured out.
"Yup, well we didn't know until it was too late that nearly half the human population also had this parasite. Undercooked meat, infected mouse bite and so on was how most people said it was spread," I explained leaning against the truck next to my brother.
"How do you know all this?" Murphy asked me crossing his arms looking at me.
"You could say I was 'working' at the CDC at the beginning of the outbreak," I said just as Warren came back from the field next to us. She nodded over to my brother and he took it as his turn to go use the bathroom getting toilet paper squares from Addy.
Once Murphy had gotten back and Mack managed to fix the truck we decided it was time to get a move on. Hopping into the back leaning against the tailgate with Doc, Cassandra and 10k next to me I was almost content again, mourning Hayley as long as the apocalypse would let me. It was the end of the world, everyone was going to die at some point, at least she wasn't scared anymore.
I was in lala-land daydreaming when I heard everyone saying there were people behind us. Turning around I saw a small orange Beetle that looked like it had been through, well, an apocalypse. Not long after that we came up on a zombie road block, but I could sense that something was off. This was just too much happening to not be suspicious. Strapping on my arrows and slinging my bow across my chest just incase I started getting on the defensive.
Tapping my arm and pointing to a group of trees to my right 10k grabbed his gun and ran to a group of tress on the other side of the road. Catching on to what he was talking about I jumped out of the back of the truck and made a run for it.
"Where are those two going?" I heard Doc yell as we both bolted.
Running over to the trees I pulled out an arrow aiming it to the group of Z's that were blocking the road, something still seemed wrong about this. Watching 10k and the group I saw them stop and look around, I was right. Before I knew it the group in the road pulled guns on Warren and Garnett yelling something about them wanting our truck. Eyeing 10k I could tell what he was thinking. Aiming my bow I shot the Z on the end closest to me, same time 10k shot another. The group was looking around frantically trying to find the two snipers while Garnett held up his hand telling us not to fire. It wasn't long until I saw Garnett give into the thugs and they ran over to the truck yelling and celebrating their victory. Putting away the arrow I had pulled and sling my bow over my chest I made my way over to the car the group had left. I was scanning the car trying to wonder how we all were going to squeeze in like clowns.
"I cant believe they got my weapons bag," I said walking back up next to Murphy.
"I cant believe we have to take this thing now," Murphy said pointing at the car.
"I call shotgun!" I yelled running to the car trying to make light of the situation but when Warren opened the driver side door and it fell off, all joking was put aside.
Once Garnett told everyone where they would be sitting and some standing we made our way down the road. I was elected to sit on top with 10k and Doc standing on the bumper behind me and Mack and Addy sitting in the front with Warren, Garnett, Cassandra and my brother inside. We had been driving for a while but I was enjoying the view I had. Being as short as I was I rarely got to see the world from this view, however what I saw ahead made that dream seem a little darker. Knocking on the windshield and pointing ahead Mack and Addy saw the same thing I did, our truck and the thugs.
"Hey you see that?" Addy asked Warren moving out of the way of the windshield.
"That's them all right," Garnett said as Warren started slowing down.
"Bastards," Warren said throwing the car in park as we all jumped out. We all jumped off of and out of the car and made our way to the group in front of us. The thugs had a poor family at gun point. The father had his family behind him as we walked up, the thugs looked a little panicked.
"Looks like they are trying to rob this poor family," Warren said running over to them.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Garnett added right behind her. We were all right behind them pulling out our weapons. This time I had elected for the gun that I had on my thigh instead of wasting an arrow on these guys, they were worth it.
"Would it even matter if I said don't do this?" Murphy yelled still in the car. Everyone only ignored him and continued what they were doing.
"Drop the weapons or the first shot takes your head off," Garnett warned. I made my way over to the grass to Garnett's left with 10k not far in front of me. But something wasn't right again, something felt wrong, the thugs looked too freaked out and I could have sworn there were more of them. Finally the group lowered their weapons to the ground when I looked over to the truck and realized what was wrong.
"Guys," I yelled pointing over to the ground, Garnett following where my finger was pointing.
"What's this?" he asked looking back over at the family.
"A robbery," the father said, his children pulling out guns from no where, turning to the group that was on the ground and shooting the all! I couldn't believe what was unfolding in front of my eyes, it was a plethora of gunfire. Before I knew how to react 10k was at my side his arm around my shoulders shielding me as we made our way back to the group out of the line of stray bullets. Everyone in our group seemed just as shocked as I was. We all stood staring in bewildered amazement at the family as the father aimed his gun at us now telling us to drop our weapons. Immediately we all put our weapons on the ground as the family was the newest owners of our truck, once again my weapons bag swept out from under me.
"Never get out of the boat," Doc said, disappointment dripping from every word.
"What did I tell you?" Murphy said throwing his hands up in the air.
"Come on," Warren said as we all made our way back to the run down car. I was sitting on top again except this time Doc and 10k in front with Mack and Addy behind me. The engine was running even worse now and I didn't think we would be able to make it much farther.
"Can this thing go any faster," I heard my brother say, "I'm going to die of old age before we can get to California."
"Well, big brother, you could get out and push," I said leaning over just enough for them to hear me inside the car.
"Oh no, not me sister, I'm too special," he said being as cocky as ever. He was always a bit conceited.
"Talking to you makes me wonder about this whole saving humanity thing," Warren said annoyed with my brother as always. I was too busy making fun of my brother to realize what was ahead of us until Doc yelled to stop the car. Looking ahead I saw our truck again but this time there were nothing but Z's chewing on the family like a new toy. I looked out over the scene and couldn't believe this much had happened on this small road but quickly jumped off the car running to the truck to my weapons bag grabbing my trusty ax and the attention of several Z's. I took the opportunity to kill as many as I could and get the attention so everyone else could do the same. Coming up to the side of the truck bed I wacked a Z turning around and doing it to another. 10k, still sitting on the car, pulled out his gun shooting the few that were still eating the family. As I was killing the Z's I turned around driving my ax into the skull of one of them only for it to get stuck. Letting go of the handle the zombie dropped to the ground and I jumped out grabbing the handle again and putting my foot on the Z's skull pulling as hard as I could, but it wasn't moving any time soon.
"10k," I yelled hoping to get his attention for him to shoot the Z that was coming my way. He was the only chance I had, Warren and everyone was busy killing the Z's that had made their way closer to the car, freaking my brother out.
"I'm out," he yelled back jumping up from his seat on the car and running my way. The Z was close now and I was trying with all my strength to loosen my ax, all my weapons were still in the back of the truck and he was too close for my bow. I only had a few seconds to decide what I was going to do, my ax still stuck. The Z was on top of me now and within arms reach. Reaching out for me I quickly ducked under his arms grabbing the knife out of my boot at the same time, quickly standing tall again I drove my knife through the Z's skull, dropping him to the ground. Looking down at the Z with my knife I let out the breath I had been holding. That was too close for comfort. Looking up 10k was standing in front of me worry plastered on his face as the rest of the group ran up to join.
"What happened?" Warren asked.
"Too close of a call," I said as I jumped into the back again leaving both my knife and my ax knowing that it didn't matter how hard I tried they weren't coming loose. We all piled into the truck again and I made sure to keep my weapons bag close to me after loosing it twice and two of my favorite weapons.
We made our way back into town luckily without making too much of a scene attracting too many Z's. We managed to find a little drive thru with a camera, Addy saying she could rig it to contact this Citizen Z guy they had been talking to about Murphy. I had volunteered to go a few yards away and keep an eye out for Z's. Taking my bow with me we had been there for a while but luckily I managed to keep the few zombies away quietly enough not to draw attention to me or the group behind me. I could hear the group talking so I assumed Addy had managed to rig it just like she said. Although them talking was starting to attract more and more zombies to where I couldn't hold them off any longer. Killing a couple more of them I decided it was out of my hands and needed to hightail it back.
"Puppies and kittens guys," I yelled as I made my way back to the group grabbing my brother. He was arguing about not going the right way but I knew Garnett and Warren would do what was best for the group and for what we had to do. Everyone quickly followed and jumped into the truck. Garnett told me that we needed to head to McLean Virginia, he said that Citizen Z told them of a military base there that had a helicopter so we could get off the road.
We had been driving for a while and I was sitting next to Murphy and Addy, Warren and Garnett in front with the rest of the group in the back of the truck. Driving up to the base the first thing I noticed was the amount of the dead, zombie and human both. Once we came to a stop everyone quickly jumped out.
"Not exactly what I was hoping for," Garnett said as he shut his door.
"Well maybe one day you'll learn to stop hoping for things," Murphy said getting out behind Garnett. We all piled in behind Garnett looking around wondering if anyone was even here.
"Halt, who goes there," someone yelled from in front of us. He had his gun trained on us and looked horrible.
"Sergeant Charles Garnett, National Guard," Garnett started, "And Lieutenant Roberta Warren, also National Guard." He said as he introduced himself hoping to get on this guys good side but I thought that might be harder than originally thought. Garnett tried reasoning with the guy by telling him slightly about our mission but the guy wasn't buying it, calling us a raggedy group of civilians which I personally took offense to. Finally the guy decided to walk down to us saying that if we really wanted to talk to the General we needed to pay a 'tribute.'
"Our medic has been MIA for a year, we need painkillers, antibiotics and so on," he said. Garnett quickly turned and looked at Doc, walking back to the truck to get his bag in a huff. This guy was weirding me out and I didn't like it.
"I've got aspirin, tetracycline, Cipro," Doc started naming things off, "This should knock out most any infection." Doc finished naming but the guy didn't look satisfied yet, "And…oxycontin." That was when the guy perked up. I could tell he was a druggie and that was like music to his sleazy ears. Doc gave him a pill but he demanded more.
"But this is the last of our supply," Doc defended but the guy didn't care. Doc huffed again and handed him more pills only for the guy to throw them all back himself. I stared at him in amazement not even knowing what to do, this guy was crazy, but that managed to satisfy him. He said that we could go talk to the General now. As the group walked over to the door behind the guy I stayed behind to look at all the dead. I was standing next to an ambulance that had a few people in it and I took this opportunity to raid the for their weapons. As I was doing that I heard this mysterious General guy say that only Doc couldn't go up to see him by himself. I had managed to find a nice Beretta 9mm that luckily was fully loaded. I also decided to see if I could find any medicine or anything on the ambulance since sleaze took nearly our whole supply. I was beginning to think that Doc had been in there by himself for a long time and I had a bad feeling. As I jumped out of the back of the ambulance I heard something just barely. I couldn't make out what it was but it almost sounded like Doc yelling somewhere.
"Hey, do you guys hear that?" I asked as I walked over to the group. Cassandra seemed to be the only one who caught on to what I was hearing.
"Yea, it sounds like Doc," she said as everyone else seemed to hear it as well.
"That's Doc alright but where is he?" Warren asked as she scanned the building, her calculating eyes not being able to find anything wrong.
"We are going up after him," Garnett said walking over to the door.
"Umm, no your not," the guy said side-stepping in front of Garnett.
"Let us up now," Garnett said getting angry.
"Nobody goes upstairs without the General's orders," the guy said and I had had enough of this guy. Cocking the shiny new Beretta I found marched my way up to this asshole.
"Look buddy," I started as I shoved my gun into the guys face pulling his lip up, "I have lost one friend in the last couple days and I will be damned if you make me loose another. Now, you will let them go up there or I will scramble your egg brain in its shell." Finally Garnett came up behind me laying a hand on my shoulder calming me down as he took my place in front of the guy.
"You'll be sorry," he said looking at Garnett now.
"So will you, your coming with us," Garnett said as he grabbed the guy by his shirt and slammed him into the wall so he could press the button to open the door. Looking at me and nodding his head in the direction of the truck Garnett told me to stay here with 10k to cover their flank and not let anyone or anything up after them.
"Yes sir," 10k and I said at the same time. They walked into the building leaving 10k and I alone. I turned to see he was on top of the ambulance truck. I walked over to join him standing in the bed of our truck.
"One thousand ninety-three," he said just loud enough for me to hear him. Looking through my scope on my bow I saw that that wasn't true.
"No," I said turning to him, "Ninety-four." He smirked at me and turned back to the Z in front of us. I pulled out am arrow and started shooting a couple here and there.
We were in a comfortable silence as I was watching him rack up on his zombie killing number, not missing a single shot.
"Want one?" he asked me quietly. I looked over to him to see him holding a pack of cigarettes. That was something I wasn't expecting to turn around and him be offering me.
"Sure," I said as he took one out and leaned over the side of the ambulance as I leaned over the side of the truck bed. He threw the lighter to me, lighting it, throwing it back to him.
"So tell me about yourself 10k. Your very shy," I said as he lit one himself. As he aimed and shot another Z I threw my hair up into a ponytail, keeping it from getting into my face while I was trying to shoot.
"What do you want to know?" he asked shooting another.
"What were you doing when everything went to hell?" I asked putting my bow away and pulling out a .308 rifle that was in my bag. Sitting in the bed of the truck and resting the gun on the tailgate I aimed, headshot.
"My Pa and I had gone fishing the day everything happened," he said taking a long drag then placing the cigarette inside a shell casing on his gun, "It was dark and he was dying. Told me to tie him up so he wouldn't hurt anyone. It was the first time he ever let me smoke." 10k shot at another Z only this time to miss. I knew his story was upsetting him but I wanted to know more about the sniper. He was quiet but he was a good person, doing exactly as told.
"He made me promise him that before he became one of those things that I had to show him mercy," he continued. He aimed his gun again, aiming at the Z that he had missed, killing it this time.
"He would be proud of you," I said knowing he missed his dad.
"Now I want to know something," he said turning to face me a slight smile playing on his face, "Was Murphy always this horrible?" I let out a small laugh and turned to see him smiling.
"Sadly yes, he hasn't changed much actually," I said as he aimed and shot another Z, "Him and I were never super close. He was always a mommas boy and I didn't much care for our mother." It wasn't much longer when we saw the group in one of the windows and decided we should drive the truck over to them. Once we parked I got out of the driver seat and was leaning on the passenger side of the truck bed. Watching the group walk out of the building I noticed someone was missing, then I realized it was Doc.
"What happened to Doc?" 10k asked as they walked up, Warren walking up to him and shaking her head. I knew he really liked Doc, looked up to him really. When she told him he didn't make it I saw the sadness on his face. Jumping into the back of the truck 10k sank into the corner sitting down.
"Zombies," Addy said as she got into the truck.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Mack said as he looked over at the building. Following his eyes I realized what he was looking at.
"Is that…?" I asked squinting my eyes, realizing it was Doc. I was not prepared to see another one of my friends as a damn Z, I was tired of it.
"Someone's gotta…" Garnett said.
"I'll do it," Warren said taking out her gun, "Steven 'Doc' Beck, I give you mercy." I had to look away, I couldn't handle it again. Just as I heard the gunshot I heard something I didn't expect.
"What the hell Warren, are you trying to kill me?" Doc yelled. My head shot up and a smile spread across my face, he wasn't dead after all!
"Your alive?" Warren asked in disbelief. We all looked at Doc in awe wondering how he managed to get away.
"Damn straight I'm alive," he said as he sauntered our way. We all let out a happy sigh of relief and laughed knowing that he was ok.
"We thought you were dead," I yelled to him.
"So did I, some numbskull threw a grenade in the air shaft I was stuck in," he explained. We all laughed as Warren threw him a cloth to clean up as much as he could as we all piled into the truck once more. Doc, 10k and I were in the truck bed as everyone sat up front. The radio was on and up loud enough we could all hear it. Citizen Z was broadcasting and we wanted to hear what he had to say in case it was important.
Doc was sitting across from me, 10k in-between us leaning against the tire well and I was leaning against the tailgate putting away all my weapons doing another mental inventory gladly adding the new gun I took.
"Here's a song for all the lonely people out there, which is just about everybody out there that's left. So if you've got somebody to go through the apocalypse with," Citizen Z was saying over the radio. I couldn't help but sneak a glance over at 10k. Looking at him I noticed he quickly looked away from me with a slight smile that was just barely there, his cheeks slightly red, "You better watch their backs. Cause there ain't many of us left. And oh yea, I'd like to dedicate this song to Addison Carver, wherever you are."
When he said that over the radio I looked over at Addy who was completely shocked.
"Looks like someone has a crush," I said laughing with Mack.
"Oh come on, I talked to the dude like twice," he said climbing into the truck behind Mack.
"Look kid," Doc started, "I was thinking about what you said about your dad and I want you to know that he knows. He knows that you did the right thing and did what you promised."
"Thanks," 10k said as Doc slapped a hand on his shoulders trying to comfort him. I knew Doc had a major soft spot for the kid but I knew he was right, his father did know.
It wasn't much longer until we finally hit the road again heading West, heading towards what would hopefully be the answer to everything.
