Ch. 19
'Static Part two'
[Evening, near Static, KY]The rain pattered across the southern landscape, dark clouds loomed overhead, lightning streaked across the sky with thunder crashing soon after.
The gurgling groans of the dead filled the ears of anything near as they searched for a meal.
A pair of eyes snapped open with an auditory gasp, the rain stung and blurred her field of view, blinking away the water, Amanda immediately tried to get up, instantly shooting pain through her spine, a sharp cry emitting from the injured teen as she fell back down the few inches she had lifted herself.
Observing her surroundings, she couldn't see anyone nearby except walkers, turning to her left she could see a small town in the distance.
"They... Left me." Amanda uttered, her voice nearly inaudible.
Before she could think about it anymore one of the walkers was nearing her, patting herself down she found her throwing knife was still in her possession, Amanda pulled it out and slowly and played dead waiting for it to come close enough to strike, hoping she could generate enough force to kill it.
Falling to its knees next to her the walker started tearing at her T-shirt with its hands, Amanda shoved the knife into the bottom of the undead's mandible killing it.
Pushing the dead away from her, Amanda breathed heavily due to exerting her aching body.
"I'm not safe here..." Amanda murmured, looking again to her left, she saw shipping containers mad to be pulled by a semi-truck, parked in a row.
Turning herself over, grunting through agonized breathing, Amanda made it over on to her stomach, laying with her face down in the gravel parking lot, Amanda caught her breath momentarily before looking up again and assessing her situation, she counted over a dozen walkers shambling around, they were spaced out across the parking lot which was approximately fifty yards long and about as wide.
Amanda knew she couldn't keep killing the walkers in her injured state, though she may be able to hide if she pulled an old trick out.
Turning her attention to the walker she had just defeated, Amanda stabbed her knife just under where the belly button had been and sliced upward, leaving her knife stuck in the sternum she pulled at the rotting flesh with her right hand while keeping herself propped up with her left elbow.
She dug her hand into its guts and ripped out intestines and slathered it over her forehead and hair, going around her cheeks and under her chin before tossing it under her body and grabbing more out of it and rubbing it on her chest, and across her arms.
The rain started pouring down at a more consistent rate, Amanda knew this wouldn't work if it washed off.
The teenager looked at the containers twenty yards away, then to the walker before letting out an exhausted sigh.
"Ok... C'mon Mandy..." Amanda whispered to herself, pulling her knife out and sheathing it.
Amanda took a couple of deep breaths before she reached her left arm out as far as possible, pulling herself forward, the friction shot pain through her spinal column causing her breath to hitch.
"Stay... Quiet..." Amanda whispered, between labored breaths, gathering herself she grabbed the walker by its ribcage and pulled it with her.
Every inch was excruciatingly painful, but every inch brought her closer to at least a little shelter, her body protested with every move she made, but Amanda knew she wouldn't make it out there in the open.
After what felt like an hour Amanda had pulled herself and the corpse under the closest container, the teenager ended her journey by flipping herself over, before she resumed covering herself in the walker's guts.
[Inside Static]
"How could you leave her..." Summer asked, sitting at the bar with a look of disgust across her face.
Genevieve hid under Summer's arm, fearful someone might attack them, watching with tear-filled eyes as Ian and her fight over Amanda's survival.
Melissa sat on the other side of Ian, weeping silently at her friend's potential passing.
"They were gonna shoot me... And her. When I left she had a pulse, if they shot her there'd be nothing left of her!" Ian explained honestly, falling on deaf ears.
"It's better than being eaten alive!" Melissa pointed out, sniffling as she wiped tears away.
"We can go get her! They just said I had to ask the boss of this place!" Ian exclaimed, with his hands laid on the bar.
"Well, where is he!?" A.J. piped up, with a drink in his hand.
"How the fuck should I know?!" Ian asked, exacerbated.
"Ask around!" A.J. yelled, slamming his bottle down and getting up from his seat.
"Don't start anything!" Ian warned, looking at the patrons who had looked up from their activities.
"Shut up!" A.J. said as he looked at the patrons. "Where's your boss!?" A.J. bellowed, with his hands balled into fists.
"I am..." The man from earlier said, picking up his wide-brimmed hat and standing up from his place at the end of the bar. "And the name's Rainey, Mort Rainey." The man introduced himself, with a tip of the hat.
"You have to let us get our last person back." A.J. demanded, closing the distance, being blocked by patrons before he could get too close.
"Why would we do that?" Rainey asked, straightening his black jacket.
"'Cause I asked you to!" A.J. roared, pushing against the men now holding him at bay.
"She was unresponsive when they got there, I ain't having dead weight around here!" Rainey stated, sipping his drink.
"No dead weight, huh?" A.J. said thoughtfully, bending down he pulled a knife from his boot, the patrons taken aback by this action.
"Don't try anything." Rainey warned, setting his drink on the bar.
A.J. didn't wait for a second to pass after Rainey had said that to stab the closest man to him and pull the knife across the man's stomach, spilling his intestines out on the floor.
Genevieve's stomach lurched at the horrific sight and hid her face in Summer's body, hugging her arms around the woman.
"Holy shit, A.J.!" Ian exclaimed.
A.J. looked up at Rainey with anger in his eyes, before patrons rushed him and got the knife out of his hand.
"What do you want to be done with 'em?" One of the men asked, anger laden in his voice.
"Take 'em outside and teach him what happens when you cause trouble." Rainey said calmly, as three men dragged A.J. out of the bar.
The men threw A.J. into a wooden fence, A.J. had been in this type of scenario before but from the other side, the lone fighter put his hands up ready to take on his assailants.
The first one came in, shoulder charging A.J. pinning him against the fence, the loner retaliated by pounding his fists on the man's back, the second man lead with a left hook, smashing into A.J.'s face knocking the back of his head against the wood, A.J. blocked his second swing and countered with an uppercut, knocking the man back, the third man came in and punched A.J. in the face stunning him, the second man recovered and continued his assault, within a few seconds A.J. was curled up on the ground taking kicks from every direction.
After what seemed like forever A.J. heard familiar a voice protesting, trying to break up the fight, and after a few more kicks, it subsided.
"I hope you learned your lesson." Rainey said patronizingly.
A.J. laid on the pavement, beaten and bloody, twitching as he gasped shallowly for breath.
"We're just gonna leave!" Summer said, trying to talk everyone down.
"No, you can't leave, you're in need, how could I ever leave y'all out in the elements? No, you'll stay here where it's safe." Rainey said, putting his hands on his hips. "That and if you try to leave we'll make sure you don't." Rainey added matter of factly.
"You won't keep me from getting my sister back..." Summer said, with her determination on display.
Rainey pursed his lips as if in thought. "Tell you what... If I'm gonna allow that girl, who's probably already up reanimated by now, to come into my camp, you need to either give me people with valuable knowledge or the supplies to take care of someone in her condition." Mort offered, looking at Summer expectantly.
"I can get supplies, and Melissa was a nurse!" Summer blurted quickly, relief flooding into the woman.
Rainey's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?! She's an R.N.? Well, that is a step in the right direction." Rainey exclaimed, putting his hands together.
"You'll let me get her?!" Summer asked, not knowing how to feel about what she was hearing.
"Well, not until I see what she can do, I'll take her down to where we keep our sick and injured if she can get them feeling better, I'll let you get your sister." Rainey explained.
"But... She'll die before that! I have to get her!" Summer pleaded, searching the man's eyes for any indication that he would let her go.
"No." Rainey answered, simply.
"Please?" A small voice from behind Rainey pleaded.
Rainey turned around to see Genevieve with tears in her eyes, and some that had already fallen down her cheeks.
"Now, don't worry I'm gonna make sure everything's alright." Mort said, bending to her level, before straightening and turning to one of the men who hurt A.J. earlier. "Benson, grab the keys to that far south house, Summer here will be staying there with her friends... except the little girl." Rainey ordered.
"What?" Genevieve exclaimed, shrinking back.
"No, she has to stay with me!" Summer shouted, being held back by two men.
"You just want everything, don't you!" Rainey said, with an irritated sigh.
"She needs me!" Summer begged, struggling against her captors.
Rainey turned to the little girl. "Do you need her?" The middle-aged man asked.
"Mm-hmm." Genevieve nodded, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Fine." Rainey breathed, letting Genevieve run past him and into Summer's arms.
The men around them started to disperse, allowing Summer and Genevieve to see A.J. who still laid on the pavement, soaking wet from the rain.
Summer pulled say from Genevieve to help A.J. up.
"No, no, I have a special place for him tonight." Rainey said, motioning for his men to drag him away.
Two men grabbed the injured man, by one his wrists, the other by his legs, hoisting him up they pulled him around to the front where some of the bystanders cheered at the sight as they carried him away.
"I'll show y'all to your new home, gather up your gang, tomorrow y'all work." Rainey declared, turning on his heel to open the door for the girls.
Summer and Genevieve slipped through the door quickly and noticed significantly fewer people were in the bar than before, Melissa and Ian sat where they had been, no doubt waiting for them to return.
"C'mon guys... Mr. Rainey's gonna show us to the house we'll be... Staying in." Summer announced, walking past them slowly.
The group was led back out the front doors, and into the rain once more, a group of people could be seen walking up the main street.
"Make sure they're inside by curfew." Rainey ordered, pulling a bystander aside.
"Yes sir, I will." The woman said, before running down the street, catching up with the crowd.
Rainey led Summer and what was left of her group, into a large one-story house with a porch with old wood columns holding the roof up, two rocking chairs sat parallel to each other on either side of the path into the house, beautiful handrailing lining the entirety of the porch.
"We took the locks off the door here, you won't have a problem with someone coming in if you do tell me, and I'll make sure they don't do it again." Rainey rambled, as he showed the three bedrooms off, then the bathroom, and back out into the kitchen area, compact but not cramped, the dining room was connected to the living room, all the rooms had modest furnishings, nothing fancy, but nice to have.
After the tour, Rainey made his way to the door. "If you need anything, just let me know, oh! And Welcome to Static." Rainey said as he opened the door and closed it behind him, replacing his hat on his head and walking down the street.
After the man left Genevieve breathed a sigh of relief. "What room do I sleep in?" Genevieve asked, shrugging out of her rucksack and holding it in her hands, heavy from the rainwater.
"Pick whatever..." The adults said in unison.
Genevieve nodded, turning on her heel, the little girl made her way to the smallest room, setting her pack down, Genevieve opened the flap and pulled out her phone, unzipping the Ziploc bag she had it in, and pressed the button turning the phone on, opening the phone, Genevieve swiped right, scrolling through the gallery, the little girl only now realized she was soaked, Genevieve set the phone down on the bare mattress before she drew the curtains closed, and grabbed a wooden chair and propped it against the door, Genevieve turned to peel her clothes off when she heard someone walking past her door.
"Hello?" The little girl called out, returning to her door.
"Uh... Yes?" Came Summer's voice from the other side of the wooden door.
"My clothes are wet, do you have my other clothes?" Genevieve inquired, removing the chair.
"They're probably wet, but I'll check, they're in my backpack." Summer said, turning back to the living room.
Summer unzipped her backpack and pulled out the damp clothes, shaking her head, Summer set the clothes out to dry.
Melissa had gone into her room to bed down for the evening, Ian laid on the couch.
The night was windy and rainy, the sound of the wind howling filled everyone's ears throughout the sleepless night.
Summer jumped out of bed when someone banged on the door, Summer emerged from her room and hastily walked to the door and flung it open.
"Time to work. Get everyone up." A man with a rifle in hand ordered, before turning around to walk down the stairs. "If you aren't outta the house in ten minutes, I'll come back and get you out." The man threatened, over his shoulder.
Summer sighed, her hands braced against the door frame. "Get everyone up." The woman said to Ian, shutting the front door.
"Ya... Ok." Ian concurred, disappearing into the hallway.
Melissa emerged moments later, buttoning her flannel shirt and tucking the front into her pants.
"It's up to you... To save Amanda..." Summer said, drained of her energy.
"I'll do my best." Melissa replied honestly, stepping out the door into town.
Within minutes the group was dispersed, Genevieve was taken to a house where they schooled the children, Ian was taken to the bus to fix it up, Melissa was sent to the makeshift infirmary, Summer was tasked with patrol duty.
At the end of the day, the group converged on each other at the house, Rainey stopped by to check in on the new arrivals.
"Evening folks, how was y'all's day?" Rainey asked while he lingered in the doorway.
Everyone sat on the couch or stood near it, refusing to answer.
Rainey pursed his lips unamused. "Genevieve how was school?" The man asked, putting his hands on his hips.
"It's easy." Genevieve stated, with a factual tone, as her shoulder slumped.
"Uh... Right." Rainey said dismissively, before looking to Ian.
"The tires are rotted, and the battery's dead." Ian reported, crossing his arms.
"Good, good, fix it." Rainey said, turning his gaze to Summer.
Summer let out a sigh. "No detectable threats at the southern entrance..." Summer reported begrudgingly, as she leaned forward her elbows on her knees.
"Good job." Rainey said, sounding pleased before turning to Melissa.
"Six patients admitted this morning with sicknesses ranging from common colds to flu-like symptoms, medicine stocks are in low demand as of now." Melissa said, giving the man a rundown of today's events.
"Well done, keep it up and you may be able to retrieve that girl," Rainey said, turning to leave.
"Tonight, right?" Summer piped up, standing from the couch.
Rainey stopped in his tracks and turned around, giving a dismissive look. "No." The man answered quickly. "Don't ask again." He added before shutting the door and leaving to the town roads.
The wind blew, whipping the southern meadows blowing dust for miles, the forsaken teenager shivered under the container, Amanda laid with a corpse draped over her, rotten teeth scattered along the gravel.
Amanda's breath was shaky, and her mouth was dry and her body weak from dehydration, her time was limited.
Morning came and the work had begun, everyone had resumed yesterday's work.
Summer sat up in a tree facing south, she wore a makeshift ghillie coat to keep her warm and hidden, a scoped bolt action rifle laid in her lap, the woman scanned the horizon, her gaze falling constantly on the warehouse where Amanda was left, every part of her wanted to get out of the tree and run to her sister's aid, or at least lay her to rest.
But if she did they would either shoot her or hurt the others, Amanda would want them safe, even at her expense, Summer saw a group coming in at a rapid pace, Summer radioed out and one of the scavenging crews answered that an incident occurred and was back early, a gravely injured member was hurried to the infirmary, into Melissa's care.
Things had been slow in the infirmary, a sore throat and a sprained wrist were the highlights of Melissa's day until the scavenger crew dragged a man inside.
"What the problem?" Melissa asked, washing her hands.
"Benson got bit!" A tall man replied promptly, making sure his comrade didn't leave.
"Sit him over there, away from the others I'll be right there!" Melissa exclaimed pointing to an empty chair in the corner with a curtain for privacy.
Melissa finished washing up and quickly made her way to Benson, and found him holding his left bicep, now covered in blood.
"Ok, I need a tourniquet!" Melissa announced, trying to roll the man's sleeve up.
"Got it!" One of the men said, running off to find what was needed.
Benson sat in the chair, begrudgingly, allowing Melissa to remove his sleeve. "Let me leave doc... I can't let my kid see me go out like this!" Benson said, his breath hitching as Melissa got the sleeve over the wound.
"When were you bit?" Melissa asked, putting on a pair of the few latex gloves that were left.
"I don't know... Maybe thirty minutes ago..." Benson answered, flinching when Melissa wrapped a belt around the man's arm.
"We're going to have to take your arm." Melissa informed, in a firm tone.
"What? That doesn't work! I heard a guy in Georgia tried and still ended up dying!" Benson exclaimed, trying to pull away, immediately held down by his peers.
"If you want to see your child again, you will at least have to try this." Melissa explained, placing a tender hand on Benson's forearm.
The two shared a moment of silence before Benson nodded slowly, Melissa grabbed the strap on the tourniquet and pulled with all her might.
"I think you're making the right choice." Melissa said, standing up and pulling a man aside.
"Do we have any anesthesia?" Melissa asked.
"Uh... Like what?" The man said, with no idea of what she needed.
"Ketamine?" Melissa elaborated.
"Oh, why that specifically?" The man asked.
"It works fast..." Melissa explained, putting her face in her palm.
"No, we don't have it." The man declared.
"Ok... Well, do we have any large shears?" Melissa asked, miming a cutting motion.
"Uh, ya, I'll go get them." The man said, running out of the building to find the desired tool.
When Melissa returned to Benson's side, the woman found him with beads of sweat forming on his brow.
"Ok, so we have options..." Melissa started, giving Benson a chance to ask.
"Options? What options?!" Benson exclaimed, barely holding back his panic.
"You can drink yourself to unconsciousness or be blindfolded." Melissa said, promptly.
"Uh... Which one is better?" Benson asked the woman, gulping hard.
Melissa pursed her lips thinking for a short moment before locking eyes with the fearful man. "Blindfolded, it'd take too long to get drunk, I'd want my arm taken quickly so there was a lesser chance of being infected." Melissa explained, truthfully.
Benson looked at her, weighing the options set before him. "O-ok..." The man said, void of fear.
"Blindfold?" Melissa asked.
Benson nodded wordlessly, as he readjusted in his chair, the man Melissa had sent away, returned with the shears, rushing them to her hands, the man stepped aside to give Melissa room.
Benson breathed rapidly at this point knowing the pain to come, a Crew member tied a scarf over the injured man's eyes in preparation for what was about to happen, Melissa slid the arm in between the blades, after a moment of preparation, the woman pulled down on the shears, a scream echoing through the building.
An hour passed, Rainey walked into the medical building having heard of a "walker bite" occurring during a scavenger run, the middle-aged man saw Melissa mopping blood up, off the floor.
Melissa turned at the soft creak of the front door, before returning to her work.
"Benson's in the backroom." Melissa said, over her shoulder.
Rainey didn't answer, just moved towards the backroom, opening the door, Rainey saw Benson dozing with bandages covering his shoulder, where his arm had existed, Rainey shook his softly, pursing his lips, the man turned back out to Melissa.
"You saved him then?" Rainey inquired, swiping his coat back and putting his hands on his hips.
Melissa set the mop down as she turned to face him. "He is stable." Melissa confirmed in a quiet voice, letting Benson sleep.
Rainey nodded slowly, deep in thought. "You've done a lot around here..." Rainey acknowledged, locking eyes with Melissa for a moment. "Keep it up." The man said as he turned to leave.
"Hey... Wait." Melissa said hesitantly, getting Rainey's attention.
"Yes?" Rainey said, turning his head to face her.
"Please... Let us get Amanda." Melissa pleaded, praying her heart's desire would be granted.
Rainey scoffed until he saw her face, then he considered her request before letting out a sigh. "Fine..." Rainey replied, leaving the building without another word.
A wave of relief rushed through Melissa, who immediately darted out of the infirmary, The woman looked for someone who would know where Summer was, Melissa's eyes fell on a familiar little girl struggling with a bucket of metal.
"Genevieve!" Melissa shouted across the street.
The little girl flinched at her name, dropping the heavy bucket and spilling its contents. "Yes?!" Genevieve replied, falling to her knees and cleaning up the mess.
"Have you seen Summer?" Melissa asked as she hurried across the street to assist the young girl.
"I think she's in the tree on the south boundary..." Genevieve said, tossing the last of the metal back in the bucket and hoisting it up again.
Melissa grabbed the bucket to help the girl to her destination, once there Melissa said her goodbyes to Genevieve and ran for the south boundary.
Summer was looking for Amanda among the walkers through the scope of her rifle when she heard her name being called, looking down she saw Melissa.
"What's wrong?!" Summer asked, setting her rifle back in her lap.
"We get Amanda!" Melissa cried, her excitement barely contained.
Summer's heart jumped at the news. "Go get Ian, we're getting her now!" Summer shouted, disbelief in her voice.
Melissa nodded quickly and ran back towards the enclosure where the bus was kept.
the young woman allowed a smile to form as she looked to the warehouse.
"Finally."
Will Amanda be alive when they get there? what has happened to A.J. after his fight? can the group escape the clutches of Mort? find out next time on Alive Inside!