Chapter 61: Revelry
'We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.'
-Joseph Campbell
Joel and the group ran as fast as their tired feet would allow them. He was breathing raggedly, his old down trodden body already feeling exhausted from the tunnel excursion. He ran faster than he ever could. He didn't let his feet give up. Even though his chest was aching and his heart pounded in his chest.
Tears ran down his face. If he didn't get there fast enough. He could lose her forever. Those cloaked figures in black on their black stallions rode fiercely. He saw the rifles in their gloves hands. They meant business. They come to take her and his child.
Becca saw the cloaked figures on their horses coming down the trail at a distance. She stared in them in brevity or fear before her survival instincts clicked into motion. She grabbed the rifle on the ground and dropped the pail, letting the milk spill onto the ground.
She ran as fast as her pregnant feet would allow her, but she was six months pregnant. She wasn't as agile as she used to be. Her body was sore. Stiffer.
Maria was already halfway towards as she ran up to her, rifle in her hand. She took her hand and guided her along,'Come on! We gotta get you inside!'
Becca looked back as the cloaked figures approached them,'Who the fuck are they?'
'I don't know, but they think they're something outta Scream.' She ignored Becca staring at her blankly, wondering how she could joke at a time like this.
Luckily, they managed to get inside the house. Maria barricaded the door, placing the wood over the door. Joel and the rest of the men boarded over the windows and doors the night before, making sure they were locked in tight.
Becca placed her back against the wall as she struggled to regain her breath. She rubbed her belly soothingly, feeling the baby stir wildly inside her. Whenever she was upset the baby was upset.
Maria made sure Sebastian was locked up safely in with Evelyn in the bunker. She trusted Evelyn with her life, knowing he was safe with her. She delivered him. She wasn't thrilled with giving her child to someone else, but it wasn't safe for him here. He had a better chance if someone were to happen to her or Tommy. It was the hardest thing she ever had to do, but sometimes a mother needs to make a tough decision in order for their child to survive. A mothers love is unbinding.
Betsy and Lizzie ran up to the them in alarm. Their eyes were wide with fear as they held onto their weapons tightly.
'Who are they?' Lizzie jumped as she heard the hooves of the horses coming closer,'Are they coming to kill us?'
'Not me.' Becca's tone was blunt as she nodded resolutely,'They want me alive.'
'Why?' Maria frowned,'No offense, but why do they care about you?'
She swore she would never tell a soul. She promised her husband. Ellie. She couldn't compromise them. While she loved and trusted Maria. This secret also included her child. She wasn't willing to sacrifice that for anyone.
'I don't know.' She shook her head and sighed,'My grandfather researched the fungi that caused the outbreak. He warned everyone back in the seventies but no one believed him. They thought he was a kook. He said humanity was its own worst enemy. He had been right.' She swallowed harshly,'My grandmother gave me his notebooks. I destroyed them. They must want the information.'
Becca wasn't exactly lying. She was omitting the entire truth. She's never been a liar. This felt dirty and wrong.
Maria arched her eyebrow at her and crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't seem convinced, but she didn't have enough time to call her out on it. They had bigger problems to worry about about.
They all stood in fear as they heard the footsteps approaching the front steps. They all stood and silent as statues as they covered their mouths with their hand to muffle their breaths. The footsteps surrounded the entire house. The four women gathered whatever weapons they could find. They had an AK47.
Joel trained her out in the field the previous day. He had been proud of how easily she handled the gun. He told her he was glad of her upbringing. She was raised around guns and wasn't afraid of them.
He kissed her out on the field, whispering his love and promise to return. They would make it out alive. They would live the rest of their lives in peace.
They all gasped as the lights were switched off, enveloping them in complete darkness.
Becca sighed and shook her head,'Fucking bastards cut the electricity.' She looked over at Lizzie, who was crying hysterically.
She sighed and walked over to the young girl, kneeling in front of her. She cupped her cheek and stared her straight in the eye,'You need to listen to me. I need you to be brave right now. Okay? Everything is going to be okay.' She kept her gaze focused on her,'I won't let anyone hurt you.'
Lizzie nodded as she held her rifle tightly in her hands,'I'm okay. I know how to shoot.' She gave her a small smile,'Let's kick ass.'
Becca snorted as she stood up straight. She prayed to God she were right. Lizzie was strong willed, much like Ellie. Her daughter wouldn't settle for a wallflower.
Everything suddenly became eerily silent. They heard a loud bang as a bomb blew the door off. They crouched down and covered their heads as they ran towards the kitchen. They knew they were surrounded. They couldn't escape even if they tried. Even with stacked weaponry it was still eight against four.
They had bombs.
Becca watched as one of the cloaked figures came advancing towards them.
Becca turned to Lizzie and cleared her throat,'Anyone comes close to you and you shoot. Don't even think about that.'
Lizzie swallowed harshly as she nodded,'Yes, Mrs. Miller.'
She aimed her rifle and cocked it quickly as she fired at its head. The blood splattered against the wall. She was glad to see it was actual brain matter. She actually didn't know what to expect. Maybe something more interesting.
Curiosity got the better of her. She walked over to the figure and bent down. She slowly pulled the hood down, her eyes widening when she saw a bald head. The skin was sickly pale, an almost grey. She pulled the black mask down and gasped when she saw the eyes. They were a dark red, like what an infected looked like when they started to turn.
She seen it in her own parents' eyes. Her brothers. So many countless times she's come to face with this creatures. Once humans, living and breathing as any other.
This was different somehow. They didn't seem as if they've just been infected. The process had been stopped somehow.
She shook her head in disbelief. Did they somehow manage to do it? Rather than a cure did they find a vaccine? At what cost? To whom's expense? Not hers or her children.
Maria crouched down behind her, her eyes looking over the body. The top of its head was blown off, its brain matter splattered all over the kitchen floor. Something didn't seem right about its body. It seemed almost…inhuman.
Maria looked up at Becca and sighed,'Is that what I think it is?'
'Yeah.' Becca looked back at her with fear in her eyes,'They've found a way to…curb it.'
Maria's eyes widened as she shook her head in disbelief,'Are they controlling them? The council?'
'I don't know.' Becca blinked away tears as she stood up straight,'I don't know anything anymore.'
Betsy sighed as she stood over the dead body,'There's been disappearances around here over the years. Not a lot to draw attention, but enough to notice if you're paying attention.' She nodded,'I've been paying attention. There's been over fifty people missing since I've been here. That's fifty in fifteen years.'
Becca's heart started pounding as her mind started racing,'Maybe they're experimenting. Infecting people and then giving them a vaccine.'
Maria scoffed as she placed her hand on her hips,'This is some heavy shit.'
They heard others approaching the living room. The four of them placed their backs against the kitchen wall.
Becca peered her head over the corner,'There's three of them. They all have rifles. Big dudes.'
'Of course.' Maria rolled her eyes and sighed,'Remember to keep yourself protected. Joel would kill me if I let something happen to you.'
'So would Tommy.' Becca squeezed her hand tightly as the men approached the kitchen.
Maria shot the first guy to walk into the kitchen. She missed his head and hit his shoulder. He stumbled for a moment as he went to shoot her, but she shot him in the chest again. Her eyes widened as he didn't fall back. He went to shoot her, but Lizzie jumped onto his back and knifed him in his throat.
Maria was shocked by what she had seen. Not by what lizzie had done. She's witnessed younger children doing eviler things. The figure didn't die. It didn't stumble. It should've been injured. It was different than the other one.
What the fuck was going on?
Lizzie slid off the figure as it slumped over. Becca looked over at him and shook her head,'At least we know bullets don't work.'
Betsy snorted as she tried to stab the other figure, but he wrapped his arm around her throat and pressed the gun against her temple.
The three women all pointed their rifles at the figure, knowing it was useless, but needing to feel in control of the situation.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you. He tends to get cranky when guns are pointed at him.'
The deep and commanding voice came from the living room as the figure walked into the kitchen.
The four women turned to stare as the cloaked man walked up to them. He wasn't like the others. He was human. Uninfected.
His face wasn't covered in a mask. He wore black pants and riding boots up to his knees. His thick beard grey, but with red undertones. His reddish grey hair was slicked back. His blue eyes looked familiar.
Five men stood behind him that looked like security guards. They were wearing Army tactic gear and bullet proof vest, assault rifles at their chest.
Becca swallowed harshly as she looked at the older man. It bagged at her. Who was this man?
Maria glared at the older man and nodded towards Betsy,'Gonna tell your little science project to leave her alone? She's no threat to you.'
The man sighed and lifted his hand up,'Stand down, dear boy.'
Becca's eyes widened at the gentle way he spoke to the mutant. Almost like a pet. Lovingly. Loyal.
The mutant did as it was told. It let go of Betsy who ran over to Lizzie and held her tightly.
Becca narrowed her eyes as the older man walked closer to her. His eyes lowered down to her belly. She backed away from him and covered her stomach with her hands protectively.
The man frowned and shook his head,'That's no way to treat family, dear Rebecca.'
Her eyes widened as she shook her head confusingly,'Family?' She sneered,'Who the hell are you? I don't even know who you are.'
He feigned of look or hurt as he placed his gloved hand over his heart,'You wound me with your words.' He smirked,'Sassy little thing just like your mama.'
Becca's eyes widened in realization as she shook her head in disbelief. Tears filled her eyes as she took another step back from him.
'No.' She sighed shakily,'You're dead. You've been dead since I was little. They had a funeral.'
'Did they?' He cocked his head to the side smiling softly,'That was sweet of your grandma.' He frowned,'Shame they never found my body after my car crashed into that ravine.' He narrowed his eyes,'They assumed animals ate my body away. When they've been the animals all along.'
Tears blurred Becca's vision as her body wracked with sobs. She felt as if her entire life had been a lie. What else wasn't the truth?
Her whole entire life she felt like she never belonged. She felt like a fraud. The money and the country clubs were all just a facade. Her family was filled with liars and sinners who hid behind their false gods, going to church every Sunday and reading the Bible. They were hypocrites.
She felt like she belonged here with Joel and Ellie. She didn't take where they ended up. As long as they were together. She could be herself with Joel. She didn't have to be perfect and that was okay. They could be messy and wild together. They were imperfect but complimented each others weaknesses.
He would come for her. She was sure of it. Her man would live up to his promise.
Francis held his arms out and grinned,'Not even a hug for your grandad?' He looked her over,'What a beautiful woman you are. Just like your mama and grandma.' He sneered,'That lowlife piece of trash doesn't deserve you.' He raised his chin up,'You're a Bennett.'
'I'm a Miller.'She smirked as his eyes widened,'I won't have you disrespecting my husband in his home. Especially when he's not here to defend himself.'
Maria averted her eyes between them,'Wait a minute?' She shook her head.'So you're telling me this is your grandpa who was that scientist that tried to tell everyone about the cure? The one who was ridiculed?'
'I was right.' Francis shoved his finger in her face,'Now I'm gonna be the one who's gonna change the world. Just like I should have in the first place.'
'You're a maniac.' Becca spat out,'You can't use me. I won't let you. I'll really kill you this time.'
Francis laughed and shook his head,'I don't think you have a choice.' He sighed,'Jackson is only the beginning. The…test run if you will. A social experiment.'
Becca slapped him hard in the face as tears fell from her eyes,'Fuck you! People aren't toys! You can't play games with peoples lives.'
Francis laughed as he wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth. He took a deep breath and backslapped her in the face.
She stumbled backwards as Maria caught her. Becca held her face as she stared up at him. He was absolutely insane. He was fueled with rage at no one believing him. He wanted to control what was left of the world.
Francis sighed as he turned to his men,'Tie them up.' He gave Becca a small smile,'I can't wait to meet my grandson-on law.'
Becca's she's widened as fear gripped her heart. She wondered if Joel would even show up. She dreaded what was to come when he did.
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Joel and the group ran as fast as their tired feet would allow them. He was breathing raggedly, his old down trodden body already feeling exhausted from the tunnel excursion. He ran faster than he ever could. He didn't let his feet give up. Even though his chest was aching and his heart pounded in his chest.
Tears ran down his face. If he didn't get there fast enough. He could lose her forever. Those cloaked figures in black on their black stallions rode fiercely. He saw the rifles in their gloves hands. They meant business. They come to take her and his child.
He sighed in relief when they reached the perimeter of the ranch. His body was hurting, but he made it. Ellie and Am were young. They could handle running the long distance. Even Tommy was huffing and puffing, but they made it.
His chest ached something fierce as his heart pounded in his ears. A chill ran throughout his body when he saw the black stallions posted up in front of the house. His eyes widened when he saw the entire house shrouded in darkness. They must've cut the lights.
He saw the front door blown wide open and fear gripped his chest tightly. Please let them be okay.
'We need to sneak up on them.' Joel whispered as he crept up to the house.
Ellie nodded as she held onto his sleeve, staring up at him,'You think they're okay?'
Am swallowed harshly as he thought about his mother in there,'I really hope so.'
Joel shook his head and sighed, lifting his hand out to silence them,'We gotta get in there without them noticing.'
They heard the rifles being cocked behind them. Joel, Ellie and Am turned around to see Tommy and his two men pointing their rifles at them.
Tommy lifted his rifle in front of his face and aimed it at Joel,'Turn over your weapons. Don't make me fucking tell you twice.'
Joel's eyes widened as he stared at his brother. It felt like the earth collapsed underneath him. Everything around him completely dissipated. The force of the emotional blow almost made his knees buckle.
Tears filled Joel's eyes as he shook his head in disbelief,'Jesus Christ, Tommy. Ya gotta be fuckin kiddin me.'