Z.E.D.S. Series (Book 2): Z.E.D.S. Wayward Son

by Botts, Bradley

  Karmen stared at the man with a clinched fist.

  “What is he talking about,” I asked.

  “My sister Kara. She was my twin,” Karmen replied. “How did you know my sister?”

  The man laughed again before saying, “She is mine. For all eternity.”

  Karmen’s boot sent teeth from the man’s head to the side of the roof. As he spit more blood, more laughter followed.

  “Oh Atlas, you are the main course of this entire apocalypse,” the man continued to ramble. “You’re the reason why we all have to wait. But don’t allow that to give you a sense of purpose. You are an abomination to the entire order, a disgrace to your own kind. Not only did you fail as a human being for deserting your family, you let them die. Zora, Logan, Farrah and now your sick father. You, your bitch girlfriend, and your fake daughter are all going to burn. No matter what Brian taught you, you are not prepared for what’s coming.”

  I fired a shot into his knee while he trailed with a scream and dark laughter.

  “Don’t you say another word about my family or the next is going between your eyes,” I said while staring at him gripping his leg.

  “Oh, I love the pain. Keep it coming,” he said before turning to Lyle. “We can’t forget about you my chocolate friend,” the man continued. “You served a country only to betray the ones you were supposed to protect.”

  I turned to Lyle and saw his eyes widen.

  “They screamed for you to help them as the fire burned them alive. As they were eaten like an extra crispy dinner you ran away. You heard their screams and continued to run you coward. You let them all die!”

  “It was not my fault. I couldn’t help them,” Lyle said as he rubbed the barrel of his gun across the top of his head.

  “Is that what you keep telling yourself at night to help you sleep as you slide between a different woman’s legs each time the sun sets. There is a special chair reserved in Hell for whores and cowards. You have the number one seat,” the man said.

  “What are you doing,” I asked. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “I am the bringer of destruction. A totem of chaos. A fallen of the mighty heavens. A,” his voice went silent after blood sprayed from his head once Lyle pulled the trigger.

  I turned to Lyle and he had an angry look on his face.

  “What did you do that for,” I yelled. “I needed answers.”

  “That thing clearly has been stalking us for a while. We don’t know why, but with all that rambling he was doing there wasn’t anything important he had to say,” Lyle explained. “You know as well as I do that is a stall tactic. More are coming and we need to go.”

  “Some of what he was saying wouldn’t have been in a personnel file Lyle. He knew stuff that no one knew,” I yelled.

  I turned and looked at the man. His eyes were hazel with a tint of crimson.

  “What happened to his eyes,” Karmen asked.

  “I’m not sure,” I replied.

  “What did he mean he was a fallen from Heaven,” Karmen asked.

  A roar echoed from a distance.

  “And that is why he was stalling,” Lyle said.

  “Karmen, look through your scope and see what’s coming,” I demanded while looking around.

  Karmen raised her rifle and slowly placed it back down. “Trucks.”

  “How many,” I asked.

  “We need to go,” Karmen said.

  “How many are coming,” I asked.

  “At least four fully occupied,” Karmen replied.

  “Where’s the equipment we need,” I asked.

  “In the cellar of the gas station around the corner,” Lyle answered.

  “Can we get it before they get here,” I asked.

  “We don’t have anything to drive. How would we haul it back to Gamaliel,” Lyle asked.

  “Karmen, what’s your ammo situation,” I asked.

  “Three twelve round clips for the rifle and two for my Beretta,” Karmen replied.

  “I used up most of mine being the distraction. One clip left for my UMP and I do still have my grenades,” Lyle answered.

  “Okay. We clearly are not going to make it out of here without transport. We are going to have to fight. Let’s close the door and drag these bodies to block it from opening. Once the vehicles get in range, we need to take out the secondary and last vehicle. We will trap one truck from being able to leave while we steal the first truck. Keep one alive. We need answers,” I ordered.

  “What about the equipment we came to get,” Lyle asked.

  “Can you get to it before they get here,” I replied.

  “It would be cutting it close, but I think I can manage,” Lyle replied.

  “Go with him. Station up at the building. With his busted shoulder, he will need your extra hands. I’ll keep them from moving once they get here.” I said to Karmen. “Be careful.”

  Lyle and Karmen ran through the door and closed it behind them. I slid the bodies towards the door and blocked it from being opened again. I placed the M4 upon the ledge and kneeled behind the concrete barrier. I watched Karmen and Lyle run into the building before the trucks came over the hill. As I waited the dead man’s taunting appeared in my mind. How did he know my name? How did he know Kiere? There wasn’t a red cross painted on his face, so he wasn’t part of Warren’s people. He knew my life as if he was an old friend, but I have never seen him before in my life. His eyes weren’t like how Chase’s were. No red cascade. It was pitch black. A heavy shadow over his pupils. “What is happening to this world?”

  The roaring of the engines became louder as they drew closer. The beads of sweat sliding down my face was cool to the air as the wind flowed. I remember back in Afghanistan when we searched for the bioweapon that waiting for the moment was an entire balance of going home or meeting death.

  “Don’t do your counting,” Logan’s voice came across my ears.

  I turned but no one was standing near me. Usually when Logan told me not to count, it meant don’t measure your life in time, but moments. When the moment comes, you don’t need numbers. You only need your gut.

  “Pull,” Logan’s voice echoed in my mind.

  I squeezed the trigger and the tire blew out of the second truck causing a loud screech. Each truck halted instantly. The swift sound of a rocket flew across the air and connected with the fourth truck causing a vortex of fire to engulf its surroundings. Multiple people rushed from the remaining vehicles and frantically opened fire. I pulled the trigger towards the ones at the first truck as they leaped out of the doors. Blood sprayed the truck and the asphalt as they fell limp. Karmen and Lyle kept their focus on the third truck continuing to massacre each one that tried to leave. Firing through the door’s glass, they ducked behind the passenger doors to only shoot wildly. Ricochet’s of bullet fragments pierced the concrete slabs of the ledge. The only ones left from the carnage were the ones left from the first truck.

  “Hold your fire,” my voice echoed amongst the gun fire.

  Karmen and Lyle’s guns went silent. I waved my hand in the air and signaled them to go around for another vantage point.

  “Whoever is left at the road, acknowledge that you can hear me,” I demanded.

  “We can hear you, arsehole,” a voice replied.

  “Explain your mission,” I yelled.

  “Piss off,” the voice yelled before firing a couple more shots.

  “Karmen,” I yelled.

  A gunshot echoed through the roadway and a loud scream followed.

  “Son of a bitch,” the man yelled.

  “Would you like to start over,” I asked. “As you can tell, you are surrounded. If you surrender now and answer some questions, it won’t hurt your chances of leaving here alive.”

  “How about you eat my arsehole,” the man yelled.

  “All right. Makes no difference to me whether you live or die,” I yelled. “Karmen, how many are in sight?”

  She held her hand in the air and flashed two fingers.<
br />
  “Take out the one that keeps talking shit,” I ordered.

  A single gunshot escaped. “Holy shit,” another voice yelled. Blood oozed underneath the truck.

  “How about you? The one that is still breathing! Would you like to talk,” I asked.

  “How do I know you won’t just shoot me,” the voiced asked.

  “If I wanted you dead, you would already be dead. That’s pretty obvious,” I explained. “If you come out and answer some questions, I won’t harm you in anyway.”

  Silence fell over us as we waited for a response.

  “Okay. If you promise to not kill me, I’ll come out,” the voice said.

  “Slide your weapons and your friend’s weapons to this side underneath the truck. Then raise your hands in the air and don’t move,” I ordered. “Karmen, you keep an eye on him from the roof. Lyle, meet me ground side.”

  Lyle stood at the hood of the truck looking down towards the asphalt. I stepped around the back and saw a young teenage boy shaking with his hands in the air. He was geared with riot control attire. I signaled Karmen to join us.

  “How’s his eyes,” I asked Lyle.

  “Not black,” he replied.

  “What’s your name,” I asked.

  He looked at Lyle and then back at me. “Travis.”

  “What are you doing here Travis,” I asked.

  Travis hung his head towards the road.

  “I’m not going to ask again. State your intentions,” I demanded.

  “Please, I just met these people. I didn’t want anything to do with this,” Travis replied behind a stuttering voice.

  “Who are these people,” I asked.

  “I don’t know. My camp was attacked by zombies a couple of weeks ago. Me and a few others made it out but got separated when a storm came through a while back. It was the strangest thing. After the storm passed, they were all gone. They all just disappeared,” Travis replied. “I went to look for them, but never found them.”

  “How did you end up with these people,” I asked.

  “I stumbled upon an old church deep in the woods. I thought it would be abandoned and it would be a place for me to catch some sleep; but when I walked in, they were all there and they were having a service,” Travis replied.

  “These people were worshipping,” Lyle asked.

  “Yes, but not in the traditional sense. The words they spoke of wasn’t from anything out of The Bible. At least not to my knowledge. I’m not well versed in the book, but I’m sure what they were chanting wasn’t holy,” Travis replied.

  “What was the chant,” Karmen asked.

  “I’ve never heard the language. The only thing I understood was Lucifer. I believe that name is the same in any language,” Travis explained.

  “So why didn’t you just bolt out of there,” Lyle asked.

  “When you have more than a dozen armed people staring at you for interrupting their worship, wouldn’t you just play along as if you were a part of it,” Travis asked.

  “So, explain to me how you ended up doing whatever it is that they set out to do today and you do not know anything about the reasoning,” I demanded.

  “They handed me these clothes, those weapons and said get in the truck. They didn’t say where we were going or what we were doing. When we got here, all I saw was you people shooting at us and everyone getting blown up,” Travis replied.

  Travis’ hands were shaking as he kept them in the air.

  “Put your arms down,” I said as I kneeled towards him. “You don’t know anything about what is going on here?”

  “I swear to you I don’t. I was just trying to find shelter and basically had to lie my way into not being killed,” Travis replied.

  Travis’ breath exited his mouth and the steam rose in calming sequence. His arms were crossed pulling his sleeves upwards. A shade of black appeared at the cuff of the sleeve.

  “Travis, can I explain something to you,” I asked.

  “Yea sure,” Travis replied.

  “In all my tours as a Ranger there were a couple of things I would notice when it came to interrogating a terrorist,” I explained. “Also, with all of my tours I got to meet a lot of interesting people. Not as interesting as the ones I have met since the virus broke out, but there are familiar things that come about with the same people.”

  Travis looked at me with wide eyes.

  “Did you know in Afghanistan there was a cult of Satan worshippers that were sacrificing locals in the name of their religion,” I asked.

  “No, I didn’t even think they believed in Satan,” Travis replied.

  “Oh yes. Every religion has their own version of the Anti-Christ. He goes by many names except there is always one name that sticks with him. People tend to flaunt his name in a subtle but obvious way that they believe that no one will notice,” I explained. “But for someone, such as myself, that has dealt with many of these types of people can notice this pretty quickly. Karmen, Lyle, restrain Travis.”

  “What are you doing,” Travis asked as he tried to stand.

  Lyle and Karmen grabbed him by the arms and lifted him to his feet.

  “Thought you said you wouldn’t kill me,” Travis said.

  “I told you if you answered my questions then no harm would come of you, and yet you continue to lie to me over and over again,” I replied as I stood from the ground.

  “I’m not lying to you, I swear,” Travis begged.

  “Oh, you don’t swear to me. For someone who has some shaky arms and all kinds of show running nervousness, you sure can keep your breath steady,” I informed.

  “So, you’re going to kill me because I’m breathing normally,” Travis asked.

  “Usually when someone is terrified, their inhales and exhales are shorter lived. It means their mind is more focused on the terror than the actual repetition of something that comes natural,” I explained. “That’s not what has given you away though. That nice little tattoo you have is a dead giveaway.” I walked to Travis and lifted his sleeve to reveal a tattoo that said POD.

  “What’s POD,” Karmen asked.

  “Are you going to tell her that stands for the band or Prince of Darkness,” I asked.

  Travis quit resisting and began laughing.

  “Well shit. I tried,” Travis said.

  “Great. Here comes the cocky villain,” I said while pulling my Glock from the holster.

  “You will all burn at the feet of S…” Travis said before I pulled the trigger exploding his brains behind him.

  Karmen and Lyle let go of his arms and stared at me before Travis fell to the pavement.

  “Like I said, I’ve dealt with his kind before. All they do is talk about how great Satan is and blah blah blah blah blah. The shit gets annoying,” I said as I holstered my gun. “Let’s load up the gear and get back before the sun sets.”

  Chapter 29

  The sun began to escape for the night. Light was disappearing from a darkness coming to take its place. In all that conquers the world, darkness believes it is superior to light. What some need to realize is that light and darkness share a bond. For one to exist, so does the other. Not all that love the shadows are evil. Not all that follow light are good. There is a balance within both where sometimes darkness needs the light. Light will always need the darkness.

  Crickets had faded as the nights grew colder. Frogs quit singing their songs on the cold ponds. Fireflies have disappeared for a warmer climate. All these things that portrayed a sense of calm as the night came to be were long gone. All that existed for the night to flourish were us and them.

  The walls separated Gamaliel from the rest of the world. All who are wandering the world alone, as I have done before, I hope will never wander here.

  Lyle, Karmen and I parked away from the gates to put our plan into place. The gatekeepers won’t see Lyle and Karmen as they take over their places.

  “Once we take out the guards, we will signal you to come through the gate. Once inside, try
to get close to The Reverend before his exit to the courtyard. Once he is out in the open, your chances of killing him and leaving are slim to none. Even with your influence, some of his loyalist may still try to kill you,” Lyle explained.

  “Are you sure you want me to kill your father,” I asked Karmen.

  “That man isn’t my father anymore.”

  “Well that just breaks my heart,” The Reverend said from behind us. As we turned to aim our weapons, dozens of The Reverend’s men came out from hiding and cocked their guns. “I really hoped you were the savior. Instead I find out that you were the destroyer.”

  I stared at The Reverend as he stood with his arms at his side. Karmen leaped from her kneeled position only to meet the stock end of a rifle held by a guard standing next to The Reverend.

  “Karmen,” I yelled as I tried to reach for her.

  The Reverend placed the barrel of his gun to my head and said, “You don’t need to move. Lyle, if you would be so kind to lift my daughter and take her to the courtyard that would be a most appreciated act.”

  “How about you burn in Hell,” Lyle said as he spit on The Reverend’s shoes.

  The Reverend looked down towards his shoes and back at Lyle. “Well, isn’t that a pity.” He moved his gun from my head towards Lyle and pulled the trigger. Blood scattered across the leaves as Lyle fell backwards.

  “You son of a bitch,” I yelled before The Reverend put his gun back to my forehead.

  “Oh, come on now Atlas. You can’t be mad at me. I should be mad at you for turning my daughter against me. I sent you with them to fix her. Not to completely destroy her mind. She saved you in the wastelands for you to only kill her life here with her family,” The Reverend explained. “Matthew Chapter seven Verse twelve. Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men, should do to you, do ye even so to them. Since you want to destroy my daughter, I’m going to destroy yours.”

  A cold chill overcame my body as The Reverend stood with a smile on his face. I gripped the knife from my boot and charged towards him only to meet a shadowed end.