“We promise we are not your enemy Atlas. We are on the same side,” Lyle said.
“If either of you cross me on this run, I promise you you’re not coming back,” I said before lowering my weapon. “You leave first.”
“Understandable,” Karmen said.
Chapter 28
Desolate roads were infiltrated by nature’s own way of taken back what is rightfully hers. A plague of misfortune and undertaking to which all life that existed by man has been gone for many days. Abandoned farms, crumbled silos, desecrated animal carcasses were all that the eyes could see. Street signs pointed our way to the valley town of Tennessee, but where they once stood on their own, they now have vine coverage. Nature was no longer hiding amongst man. It was taking over.
A strong force in which no one prepared for but must adapt to. No one is above nature because eventually she takes back what is rightfully hers. I may have flesh and bone, but I too have always felt like a force of nature. I believed that nature seen us as enemies of her kingdom, so she has raided with such fire and all contempt for those who have poisoned her home. When Kiere found me, I felt the power. I once lost faith and power, but now it is building inside of me. Lyle and Karmen carried a strength with them. A strength that was undeniably a redemption. Warren Cross was a leader to many, but he was an enemy to us.
I sat in the back seat on the supply run with the barrel of my gun against the back side of the driver’s seat. Lyle was driving and Karmen was sitting shotgun. “Tell me how you know Warren Cross.”
“When my father and I first got to Gamaliel it was a ghost town. Not many that were around had a heartbeat. It was more of a wandering town for zombies than it was a survival ground for the living. As we explored some of the town, we saw some survivors in hiding. They had barricaded themselves into their homes and only ventured out when absolutely needed,” Karmen explained. “As months passed, we thought we were the only ones that were going to come across the town. After clearing off most of the undead, that is when we began building walls.”
“This was long before I came,” Lyle said. “I was still finding my way across forests and farmland.”
“As the walls got longer, we started seeing more and more people come to us. My dad would welcome them and give them a crash course on the sign from God he received personally and the prophet that was to come. If they were skeptical, he would lock them away until they what he called repented. If they never had a change of mind, then he would send them on their way,” Karmen explained. “So, after months of building, fortifying and slowly running out of resources, this man comes along. A man by the name of Warren Cross. He tells my dad that for man to survive this world then sacrifices must be done. The Old Testament is the way of the world for it was when all life followed the rules of God. Sacrifice is complete with transformation and purification.”
“I’m still not following here,” I said.
“Transformation is when people turn into zombies,” Lyle explained. “The purification is the burning of the zombie amongst the giant cross you have spotted in the courtyard.”
“So, they are sacrificing zombies? For what purpose,” I ask.
“That’s the thing. Apparently in the Old Testament, sacrifice was made in God’s name to please him,” Karmen said.
“But that type of sacrifice was of something that belonged to the person that did the sacrificing. It wasn’t the choice of a random person. Some religions believed that you had to sacrifice a virgin for it to please a god,” I explained.
“Exactly. So, you tell me how sacrificing anything or anyone that isn’t remotely a beloved friend or family member going to be pleasing when a sacrifice revolves around giving up something you love,” Lyle said behind heavy breaths.
“Calm down Lyle. The order to sacrifice came from Warren Cross himself. My father never hurt anyone in his life until he met that man. My dad wanted to save people. All he talked about when this began was bringing people together to fight and survive,” Karmen explained. “He was a good man. I don’t know what he is now.”
“This sacrifice is chosen by Warren of a random person inside your town,” I asked.
“My dad picks the sacrifice. Warren comes to watch the show,” Karmen replied.
“Warren is coming tonight,” I asked.
“Every fourth Sunday of the month to perform the sacrifice,” Lyle replied.
“The most bizarre part of this entire situation is that not all sacrifices are transformed. They volunteer themselves to be burned alive because of what The Reverend preaches. Some were forced to stand up and burn. There is no logic to the entire ceremony. There is no righteousness to any of it. We are killing more of our own than the zombies that are outside of our walls. It is an extermination hidden within the mind of misguided people,” Lyle preached.
“Is this why you asked for my help? You want me to aid in stopping this entire thing,” I asked.
“I want you to kill The Reverend. That man used to be my father, but he hasn’t been him since Warren arrived in Gamaliel,” Karmen said.
“If you take care of The Reverend, we will take care of Warren,” Lyle added.
“Are you sure about this? Like it or not he is still your father and Warren believes that he is of a holy quest. He believes he is above man. The most dangerous villain anyone could ever face is the one with belief that no matter what they do it is for a greater calling. What are you going to do to stop him,” I asked.
“That’s why I haven’t been able to kill him myself. As much as that man isn’t my dad anymore, he still looks like my dad,” Karmen explained.
“You are also the only one that can get close to him no matter where he is. I have never gone passed the big door. Once he comes out, he has hidden snipers all around watching his every step. You wouldn’t have any problem getting close,” Lyle said.
“With Warren, we are going to be stationed at the gate as he comes in. After we take out the guards at the gate, we will be able to set post upon the wall. Once he arrives Lyle and I will open fire on his entire crew. Once the gun fire starts, that’s when I want you to kill The Reverend,” Karmen said. “Everyone will be turning to us which will allow you to discreetly take him out. Once everyone sees that he is dead, then we can stop this entire thing.”
“How would killing The Reverend put an end to all that they have been doing,” I asked.
“The Reverend follows Warren. The people follow The Reverend. The Reverend has already declared you as the prophet. With your words, you can seize all of which The Reverend has done since he nor Warren would be able to speak against you. This will be the main way your prophet influence could do some good,” Karmen explained.
“What if Warren survives your surprise attack? What then,” I asked.
“He won’t. Karmen and I have been to this valley town before, but The Reverend doesn’t know it. I have a hidden stash of some very explosive equipment in an old gas station cellar,” Lyle explained.
“Do you trust us now,” Karmen asked.
I placed my gun onto the cushion of the seat and began to relax.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Hold up. We got a problem,” Lyle said as he slowed down the car.
“What is that smell,” Karmen asked.
I rose from the backseat to look out of the windshield. What I saw in the distance caused the hair on my neck to stand. “Oh my God.”
Dozens of trucks were parked on both sides of the road with metal poles and wire reaching across from truck to truck. Hundreds of unclothed people were hanging from their necks with their feet dangling above the middle of the road. Blood stained the asphalt beneath them, and zombies were reaching for anything they could possibly grab.
“Who would do something like this,” Lyle asked.
“Look at their faces,” Karmen suggested.
Red crosses were painted from forehead to chin but with a word carved into their chests. Men, women, and children dangled from the line.
�
�What does that say,” Lyle asked.
“It says Z.E.D.S.,” I answered.
“Z.E.D.S.,” Lyle asked. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a message from Warren,” I replied.
“How do you know that,” Karmen asked.
“That message is for me,” I replied.
“Is there something you want to tell us,” Karmen asked.
“After we get out of here. We just need to go,” I demanded.
Lyle drove through the drifters that were trying to scrape what skin was left from the dead. They were so focused on what was above their head, they didn’t realize we were creeping behind them.
Welcome to Red Boiling Springs Tennessee.
The sign was destined to lay waste forever. Graffiti covered most of the rich sparkled green of the sign, but the words were still visible. The town stood almost untouched by anything but the passerby’s spray painting the words END OF DAYS, WE HAVE LOST, HELL HAS RISEN, WE ARE ALL DEAD.
“This place has gotten a little more art since we were here last time,” Lyle said.
“I wonder who came through and done this,” Karmen said. “I thought this place was deserted.”
Rubble forced its way from the building beside our truck with fire trailing behind it. My window shattered into tiny shards scratching parts of my face. Lyle tried to regain control of the truck as it skid out of control, but the screeching tires couldn’t grip the asphalt as one blew sending the truck into a side flip. As my body flung from one side to another, my head impacted different sections of the interior. The truck slid to a sudden halt. Constant gun fire echoed around us. Bullets were connecting to the metal of the truck as we stayed inside.
“You guys okay,” I yelled as I wiped the blood from the top of my head.
“I’m good,” Karmen yelled. “Lyle?”
“Yea. My shoulder is a little jacked, but I’m good,” Lyle responded.
“We got to get out of this truck. Anyone know where that gun fire is coming from,” I asked.
“It’s behind us. We should be able to get out safely through the sunroof,” Karmen replied.
“Karmen, cut my belt. It’s stuck,” Lyle demanded.
“I’m going to go out first to make sure we can move,” I said as I grabbed the M4.
I crawled out of the sunroof with glass charging into my skin. Shattered glass crunched beneath my boots as I stepped down the truck. I kneeled at the hood of the shattered vehicle and searched around to see who was shooting at us. There were people stationed on the roof tops of each building. Muzzle flashes gave away most of their positions.
With two rapid taps on my shoulder Karmen signaled she was behind me. “Where do we need to go from here?”
“There are two on the rooftop of the old pizza place. One on top of the bank and there is a couple more on top of the old video store. We need to head behind us around the gas station and towards the old Roadhouse restaurant,” I replied. “We get to the West of them and we should be able to flank from the South. Lyle, can you keep them occupied long enough for me and Karmen to go around?”
“Yea, I got you covered. I’ll lay suppressive fire from the back of the truck,” Lyle replied as he stepped towards the bed of the truck.
“All right. Let’s hoof it,” I said before running towards the hill.
Lyle opened fire towards the buildings. Karmen and I ran around the gas station. The tall grass offered some decent cover as we snuck around. Running alongside the ditch line, naked drifters were reaching for us as they were tied to poles with no way to be released on their own. Each had a number spray painted on different parts of their bodies.
“What were these zombies used for? Target practice,” Karmen asked.
“Seems that way. Each number indicates a point system for a hit,” I replied.
“Sick bastards,” Karmen replied.
“We’re going to go inside the restaurant and clear it out so you can get to the roof top and obtain a better viewpoint of the ones stationed at the pizza place. I’m going to go into the back entrance of the video store and take them out which would only leave the one on the bank. Give me a fifteen second run before you go to the roof. Once you take out yours, I’ll take out mine. Hopefully, Lyle will have the other distracted and we can pick him off from the roof.”
Karmen pushed open the door and the gut-wrenching stench of rotting meat and moldy potatoes invaded my nostrils.
“What is that smell,” Karmen asked as we ran through.
“Bad food,” I suggested.
Pushing over mahogany chairs and jumping over broken Martha Stuart glassware, not one zombie lurked in the building. The Roadhouse sign dangled from one chain with a hand dangling on the end of it. Food was left on plates with nothing more than green mold and rats to enjoy the leftovers. Liquids stained the hardwood floors and cockroaches scattered at the sight of the sun’s beams. Karmen made her way to the door leading to the ladder in return lead to the roof. I pushed out the back door keeping my eye to the old video store. Their attention was still to Lyle as he kept shooting towards them. As I crossed to the back of the video store roamers appeared with dragging legs and guts about to burst. Each had a chain around their neck and no clothes to cover themselves. I looked towards the roof top again, but I still wasn’t seen. While placing the M4 strap around my shoulders, I pulled my blade from my boot.
“Over here big guys. Come on,” I taunted as they were swatting towards me. “You smell as bad as the restaurant.”
One cannibal demanded my flesh more than the other and lunged towards me with only meeting the end of my knife in its head. It fell to the ground as I backed away and my knife was coated in the black goo that is now their blood. One zombie tripped over the recently deceased as the other walked around it. Its skin dripped from its limbs with sun burn blisters oozing with puss.
“You’re a slimy bastard,” I said as it got closer.
Growls and chomps exited its mouth. I pushed my leg into its stomach to only trapping my foot as a hole appeared through it.
“Shit,” I said while hopping on one leg.
Pushing forward the zombie’s entrails seem to have a firm grip on my leg. Its fingers gripped into my pant leg and began pulling itself closer to me. I pushed off the ground with my leg and swung my foot to the side of its head. I fell to the ground as its head rolled away from us. I caught my weight with my hands in the tall grass before impact. As I pulled my leg from the zombie’s body the intestines came with it.
“Great, this is just freaking nasty,” I said as I stood from the ground.
I stepped towards the back entrance of the video store while eliminating the last drifter. It struggled to pick itself up. I wrapped my hand around the chain hanging from its neck and pulled it tightly until the head separated from the rest of the body. From my boot to the wooden door it swung open only to shatter against the wall as I pushed it. I gripped the M4 and sped up the stairs to shove the door.
“Hey,” I yelled once they appeared before my eyes.
One turned only to fall as quickly as I pulled the trigger. I heard Karmen fire her shots towards her targets and I fired another towards the loner to the side. As my second target turned, I pointed my gun towards her.
“Nope. Don’t do it,” I said as I shot towards her feet. “I’d much rather have answers than killing you.”
The woman held up her hand and began lowering her gun. A sudden move to aim her gun towards me ended with a bullet in her head. I looked to Karmen and she signaled a wave before walking back into the restaurant. I walked over to the edge and spotted Lyle standing in front of the truck.
“You good,” I yelled to Lyle.
“Yea. Freaking fantastic. It’s not like there is a million bullet holes over here in our ride. It’s not like my shoulder is jacked up,” Lyle replied.
“Oh, quit your complaining,” Karmen said as she walked up behind me.
Faint grunts appeared from the side. Karmen and I turned to see one of th
em was still alive. I walked over and placed my foot on his chest. The scream that came from his voice echoed beyond the city limits.
“What in the Hell was that,” Lyle asked as he walked through the doorway.
“I think that was his scream,” Karmen replied.
The man had a bandanna covering his mouth along with goggles shielding his eyes. His shirt was soaked in his blood that oozed underneath my boot. Karmen reached down and pulled the goggles off his head.
“Oh wow,” Lyle said as he backed away.
The man’s eyes were raven. Black goo oozed from his mouth.
“What are you,” I asked as I aimed my gun towards his head.
“You have no idea what’s coming,” the man said as his voice turned infernal. “You are all going to burn.” A dark whisper exited his voice. “The end is nigh.”
“This dude has lost his damn mind,” Lyle said. “The virus has messed him up.”
“Don’t you worry Lyle; this is nothing compared to what’s coming for you. We will all be together in the end,” the man said as he laughed. He turned to Karmen and behind his black smile he said, “Your sister says hello.”
Karmen kneeled to him and grabbed his collar. “What did you just say you psychotic son of a bitch.” Karmen threw punches into his face.
“Karmen,” I yelled as she kept punching him. “That’s enough.”
“Come on girl. The man has clearly lost his mind,” Lyle said as he pulled Karmen off him.
The man continued to laugh while coughing up more blood.
“Who are you,” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter who I am Atlas” the man said after a dreadful cough. “There are more of me than you will ever realize. The bounty on your head will have me in a high place back at home. You, your fake daughter, your girlfriend, your entire family will be burning as you sit and watch. Your struggle will be legendary,” he explained.
“How do you know my name,” I asked.
“I know more about you three than you could comprehend,” the man said before turning to Karmen. “Your sister killed herself because she couldn’t stand the sight of you anymore. You were a disappointment. She never wanted to look like you, it was just a cruel joke for her.”
Z.E.D.S. Series (Book 2): Z.E.D.S. Wayward Son Page 24
