Look for the light chapter 4
[AN] I'm going to try and get at least one chapter out every day, so check here often. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 4:
Marcus and Tony piled their supples into the back seats of the jeep. Tony got in the drivers seat, and started up the car. Almost instantly, they heard shrieks from the infected coming closer to them. Marcus rushed into the passenger side front seat.
"Lets get the fuck out of here!"
"What do you think I'm doing?" Tony replied, as he drove away from the armory.
Marcus turned around and reached for the M16 Tony had placed in the back of the car. Out of the back, he saw at least a dozen infected running after the car.
"Tony, don't stop driving." Marcus said while putting the first magazine into the gun.
"Wasn't planning on it. We'll go to your dad's farm, then we'll go to my place."
"Sounds like a plan."
When they got to the gate, they found it wide open. The man in the control booth was hunched over, and weeping. "Damn", said Tony, looking at the infected man as he drove past.
"Nothing we can do, just keep driving." Marcus sighed. "You wouldn't happen to have a cell phone on you, would you?"
"Nope. I sure wish I did though."
They were quite for a couple minutes. Looking at their surroundings now, everything seemed normal. Street lights were on, cars were moving at normal speeds, and Boise was like a beacon of light in the distance. There wasn't a single indicator of the sorry state the rest of the world was in.
"This doesn't make any sense Tony."
"What are you talking about?"
"The outbreak inside the base. I didn't even pick up trace readings during my scan today. I even had my scanners checked after I finished my flight, and they were fine. How could we have missed this?"
Tony didn't reply for a minute, then grimaced. "I can think of one reason. In our obsession to make sure Boise was clean, none of the officers gave orders to check the base."
"That's fucking impossible Tony. They couldn't have been that stupid."
"Well, you know what they say about military intelligence."
Marcus snickered at that. He needed something to get his mind off what had happened an hour earlier.
[Around 1 Hour later]
"We're almost at your father's place Marcus."
Marcus could make out the farm in the distance. He had never been more relieved to see that house in his life.
"Marcus, we need to decide what our plan is. Do we go to the city now, or wait until the quarantine zone is set up in the city?"
"I'd say we wait for a few days. Boise is clean now, but if the infection spreads there, it would be a nightmare trying to get out. I need to talk to my wife and father about it though."
"Agreed."
As they pulled up to the house, Marcus was glad the lights were off. If they were awake at this hour, it would be because something was wrong.
Marcus got out of the car, still carrying his shotgun, in case something was wrong. He knocked on the door, and a few minutes later, his father opened it.
"What the hell do you want at this — Marcus!" Jason Barrett was stunned once he realized his son was at the door. "Holy shit! You have blood all over you! What happened!" Marcus could see the worry in his father's eyes.
"I'm fine dad, the blood isn't mine. Are Kathryn and Cory still here?"
"Where else would they be? Of course they're here, both of them are asleep. Tell me what is going on."
"Just a second dad, but wake up Kathryn first. She needs to hear this too." He waved over to the Jeep, "Come on in Tony. If nothing else, getting some caffeine would be useful. We can't afford to be tired, and you know it."
Tony was visibly nervous as he walked up to the front porch, "I wouldn't mind a coffee, but I really want to get to my wife before something happens."
"Not a problem. Have a cup of coffee, and take it with you. Take two gas masks, two Kevlar vests, and the M16. Go get your wife, and bring her back here ASAP."
"Sounds like a plan."
Several minutes after Tony left with a cup of coffee, Kathryn walked down the stairs, visibly tired and annoyed at being awake at this hour.
"Why the hell did you wake me — Marcus!" She snapped awake, and rushed down the stairs. "What happened!"
"It's not mine, don't worry Kathryn." He offered her a cup of coffee. "Drink this, it will help."
"God yes." She took the coffe out of Marcus's hands. "Thanks."
After she was fully awake from the coffee, she asked, "You still haven't told me what the fuck happened to you."
He explained what had happened to him and Tony over the past couple of hours. After letting it sink in, Kathryn asked, "So, what do we do now? Should we go into the city, or do we wait until the quarantine zone to be fully set up." She looked at Marcus, "You were saying how the quarantine zone in Boise should be set up in four days or so, right?"
Marcus responded,"Me and Tony had this conversation in the jeep. But, as you were saying, the quarantine zone should be set up in four days. Then again, there wasn't suppost to be an outbreak inside the base too. Honestly, maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I don't want to risk it. Since I'm in the military, we get first priority for any spots in the zone, if it comes to that. I can't see the harm in waiting for things to be secure in Boise. If there is an outbreak with us in the city, we might not make it out alive."
Kathryn replied," Good point. What do you think Jason? What should we do?"
"I agree with Marcus. Waiting a few days can't hurt."
"So we're in agreement?" Marcus asked, looking at both of them. Both nodded their heads affirmatively.
"Great. In that case, dad, Kathryn, get some sleep. I'll keep watch until Tony comes back with his wife." Kathryn was going to protest, but Marcus cut her of, "If we get into trouble, I need you well rested. You aren't going to be a good shot if you only get 5 hours of sleep." He had a point, and the prospect of sleep was welcoming to her.
Marcus checked that the shotgun was loaded, and sat in the living room with a cup of coffee. After an hour of waiting, he heard Cory crying, and went up the stairs to check on him.
"Hey Cory." Marcus said in a soft voice. Cory's cries died down a bit. "How are you holding up in there." He looked down at Cory, crying softly in his crib, and smiled. Then he got worried. "Kid, you're going to grow up in unusual times." he stopped for a moment.
"It's a shame you are going to have to live through this. Nobody should have to deal with this. But always remember, no matter what, me and your mama love you. We will always be there for you. In spite of everything that might happen to us, we will never leave you. Life is worth living because of children like you."
"It will be years before you can understand anything I tell you, but it will be decades before you can truly comprehend what I'm telling you. But no matter what you do, you will always be my son, and I will always love you."
Cory was fast asleep now. Marcus felt slightly embarrassed "Was I really boring enough to talked him to sleep?" He chuckled, then went back downstairs to resume waiting for Tony.
[Around 2 hours later]
Marcus was on edge and exhausted. "Well, how do you expect to feel after eleven cups of coffee at 4:00 am." He thought to himself.
He heard a jeep pull up next to the house. He went outside hoping it was Tony. Thankfully, it was.
"How are you doing" Marcus said without any remote level of enthusiasm.
"Wow you look like shit Marcus. Get to sleep now, give me that shotgun before you blow your own foot off."
"Thanks." He was about to go inside when he asked, "By the way, I don't think you have ever told me your wife's name".
"Hi, my name is Anna, and Tony is right. You do look like shit. Get to sleep now."
"Sure thing." He immediately walked over to the nearest couch, and flopped down on it. Afterwards, he swore he fell asleep before he made contact.