by Silas Cooper
“I did, and I’m sure he’s fine,” she soothed.
A commotion at the van caught their attention. Richard had fallen out of the back of the van, his ropes falling off of him.
“Shit, somehow he got out of the ropes,” Lucas exclaimed.
“He has a gun,” Sherri screeched.
They raced back toward the van as Richard aimed the gun at Dax. As they approached, Richard put the gun right to Dax’s head, metal against skin. As they skidded to a stop just short of Richard, Lucas pushed Sherri behind the side of the van.
“Don’t move,” Richard commanded.
Chapter Seven
At the edge of the tree line, a gas station came into view. Chase sighed, gaining a small, pained smile from Jayda. He noticed she looked a little pale, as well as tired like the rest of them.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You need a minute? I’m not trying to baby you, as I remember all too well how you hate that. I’m just genuinely concerned given the baby and all. It’s been hard on all of us, and we aren’t… well you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I get it. You can stop rambling now. I’m not going to bite off your head for your concern,” she replied, her voice hoarse. “Truthfully, I a little concerned myself, especially down the road as the pregnancy goes on, that I’ll become a burden.”
“Don’t worry. You won’t. A baby, I mean that’s big. And each of us are willing to take up any extra to accommodate for such a blessing in such a dire time. In fact, as far as morale goes, something like this could be just what we all need to keep going, to keep fighting.”
“At some point I will weigh down the team,” she said. “No pun intended.”
“Did you hear what I just said?” Chase laughed. “I will keep you safe.”
“How when I won’t be able to run or fight?”
“I’ll run for you. I’ll fight for you. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I promise you, I won’t screw up again.”
With that, he just walked forward toward the gas station, listening for her to follow close behind him. He was set on keeping his promises to her this time. He may not have to live up to his vows anymore, but Richard was no longer in a place to, and damn it, he would this time keep her safe.
* * * * *
Richard held the gun against Dax’s head. The metal felt cool in his hand, even though he knew that after laying in the sun it shouldn’t. The heat burdened him, even though it wouldn’t even reach eighty degrees today. Sweat rolled down his forehead into his eyes. He swore his brain was melting. He couldn’t keep a thought together.
As his anger burned, he whispered whatever words he could find into Dax’s ear.
“Damn…Ass. You fucking…Ass. I’ll…shit. I’ll shoot. Damn ass,” Richard went on and on.
The words, whatever he could get out, released the pressure in his head and his chest. All he could concentrate on was Jayda, the fact she was with Chase instead of him. He yelled across the road to Sherri and that damn boy, whatever his name was. With the gun he waved them over.
Once they started to move, he pushed the gun back at Dax. He waited. The gun got too heavy and started to shake. He propped it on Dax’s head to help himself remain standing.
“We’re leaving,” he announced to the group once Sherri and the boy got close enough to hear him.
“We have no gas,” Dax said.
“We’re walking. Forest,” he got out and motioned the gun toward the trees.
His arms felt sore. His legs shook. His brain focused on only one thing.
“I’m going to kill Chase,” he announced as he used the gun to push Dax into motion.
* * * * *
Chase stopped cold. He pushed Jayda behind him, Focused on the head that had just popped out from behind the gas pump, he gripped the handle of his gun tighter, and moved forward to kill. In a few steps, he could see that the man was alive.
“Hey, where’d you come from?” the old man in relatively nice clothes still, asked as he pumped gas into a container.
Chase said nothing, but he lowered his gun. His finger remained on the trigger, though. He held out his arm to keep Jayda behind him, though he could feel her strain to see around his shoulder.
“So, what are you doing here?” the man continued on. He had a strained smile on his face that set off some alarm bells in Chase’s still fast beating heart.
“Guessing gas,” the man answered for Chase.
“Yes,” Chase got out as he stepped closer with great care.
“No worries. There’s enough for us both, I’m sure. Look, I’ll go grab you another container from inside,” the guy offered.
“I don’t like him,” Jayda whispered in Chase’s ear as the guy moved away from them.
“I feel the same,” Chase agreed. “Just stay behind me until we figure him out.”
“Sure,” Jayda sighed.
Chase didn’t have time to marvel at her easy response. The guy came back out with another container in one hand, a bucket hung from his arm and some sort of tool in his other hand.
“The pumps aren’t working, but I’m sure there is gas down in the chamber. Used to work in one of these places. Gas gets low, the pressure fails. But I can open this up,” the man said as he waved to the metal circle on the ground by the pump. “I’ll get us some.”
Chase just watched as the man filled the first bucket. He proceeded to fill his container with it. Then, he moved to fill the bucket again. He started to fill the second container. Then, he moved the bucket down in again. Chase furrowed his brow, but then heard the bucket drop. Moving to get a look down into the hole, he stopped at the sound of feet hitting the pavement hard.
The man had grabbed both gas containers and took off on a run while Chase was distracted looking into the hole. He figured Jayda had been doing the same as a few seconds later he heard her gasp.
He pulled his gun as he marveled at the speed that the old man had already gained. He yelled for him to stop or he’d shoot, but his finger remained frozen on the trigger.
Chapter Eight
As the man continued to run away, Jayda yelled for Chase to shoot him. He adjusted his hand on his gun, but rather than pull the trigger, he clutched the handle tighter. He adjusted his position again. Again, Jayda demanded he shoot. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm, and then let his arms fall to his side.
“I can’t do it,” Chase exclaimed.
“If you don’t we won’t make the checkpoint,” Jayda hissed.
Chase tried again. He aimed. He touched his finder on the trigger. He slowed his breathing and lowered his chin. Yet, his arms fell to his sides again.
“I just can’t. He’s alive. How can I shot him?”
Jayda sighed and walked back to the open chamber. Dropping to her knees, she looked down in the hole. She even stretched her arm down inside.
“If there is anything left, we can’t get to it,” she huffed.
* * * * *
Lucas did as Richard asked and walked into the trees with Sherri. With Richard behind him with the gun and talking crazy, he did as instructed, as his mind searched for a full-proof plan. Richard hit Dax with the gun a few times. Hard enough to daze him for a few seconds, but he kept walking.
As Dax stumbled, so did Richard. The sight behind them as Dax’s face got red and swollen with small trickles of blood made his stomach clench. Richard had to be an easy target now, it was just a matter of the right execution. They had a crazy sick guy with a gun.
“I’m leaderCha,” Richard choked.
Lucas dared a look at Dax. He could practically see the wheels turning in his head as well.
“Chase—” Richard got out.
Sherri coughed.
“Funny?” Richard yelled.
The sheer volume of it startled Lucas, as he looked at a stricken Sherri with her hand still over her mouth.
“Laughing….at me?” Richard screeched.
“No,” she stumbled over the one word. “I had a tickle in
my throat.”
“I’ll infect you,” Richard managed to get out the threat coherently.
Then, without warning, he moved a step forward around Dax. With ease he hadn’t had in hours, Richard hit Sherri in the face with the edge of his gun. She cried out, and Lucas stepped forward. Richard moved to pull back up his hand with the gun. Without thinking it through, he lunged at Richard and pushed him.
Richard crumbled to the ground. Without hesitation, Lucas tackled Richard as he struggled to get up. Richard swiped at Lucas, but got only the material of his shirt as Lucas rolled away and toward Richard’s gun. He came to standing fast, aiming the gun at Richard’s head.
“Ha!” Richard scoffed. “What are you going to do? You can’t shoot that thing. You serious?”
Lucas tightened his muscles. Richard hadn’t gotten out that many words in one go all day. He seemed lucid suddenly. As the man rolled to his side to get up, Lucas swallowed hard and pulled the trigger.
The sound of the gun made him jump just as the kickback moved him slightly. Blood began to flow from where the bullet had hit Richard in the arm. He fell back onto the ground. Sherri just looked at him with an expression he couldn’t read. Dax, on the other hand, seemed to smile his way with pride.
Lucas straightened his back, gun still aimed at a now motionless Richard. Dax gave him a brief nod of his head before he turned toward the sound coming toward them. Chase and Jayda suddenly appeared from behind a patch of trees into the small clearing they’d stopped in.
“I shot Richard,” Lucas stated in a voice he didn’t even recognize as his own.
“I see that,” Chase replied.
Lucas watched Chase take in the scene, looking from a crying Sherri to a swollen Dax to a bleeding Richard, then back at him.
“I shot Richard,” Lucas repeated.
“You already said that,” Chase responded, his voice not giving away if he approved or disapproved.
Lucas couldn’t look toward Jayda, who had remained behind Chase, oddly without sound.
“He needed to be stopped,” Lucas continued.
“I’m sure,” Chase answered.
“You got gas,” Dax muttered.
“No,” Chase answered. “We need to improvise.”
Chapter Nine
Chase watched the little bit of liquid seep out of the needle as Jayda checked for air bubbles. He and Dax held Richard down so Jayda could insert the needle into his arm. Like a held down tiger, he squirmed and tried to scratch at them. Weak, his words now slurred, he knew holding back the sting they held for Jayda no matter what nonsense he spouted.
With Dax, they lifted his body into the van and shut the door on him. Jayda stepped around the side of the vehicle blinking her eyes. Chase moved from his mind the last time he’d seen her cry.
“We need a plan, here,” Chase huffed.
In unison, a resounding round of having no idea what to do next were tossed his way. He shook his head then rubbed his forehead. It seemed he’d have an eternal headache until he got this ragtag group to safety.
“I saw a church a ways back,” Sherri piped up. “It stood out to me because it seemed that the parking lot had a lot of cars in it. I’d wondered if people had gathered there to maybe pray as the world ended or something.”
“Let’s go, Lucas,” Chase said. “The rest of you stay with the van and Richard. We have to do this fast.”
With a piece of tubing from the medical kit, a bottle of water and the empty gas container, he and Lucas set out. They made it to the church out of breath, but hopeful one of these cars or more would have some gas.
They moved around the building looking into the one window without stained glass at the back to see if they could see anyone. When he didn’t, he moved to the first car he came to and started to siphon gas. Relief flooded him as he got a little. He tried his luck with the next car in line. A smile actually broke over his face as he heard the liquid flow. Lucas had the next car ready to go when Chase got there.
“Excuse me,” a voice said. “What do you think you are doing?”
Chase and Lucas turned at the same time. He saw Lucas reach toward his gun. His pride soon fell to the wayside when he saw a preacher standing at the door of the church. He didn’t look angry or anything, just genuinely curious.
“I asked what you were doing,” the man restated, his voice remaining soft.
Chase and Lucas looked at each other, but honestly words failed him. His limbs weighted, he clutched the gas can. His other arm he had braced and ready to go for his gun.
“Okay, then. Guess I can figure out what you were doing on my own then. Are there more of you?” he asked.
“No,” Lucas blurted.
“Don’t lie to me,” the man said stiffly.
“There are three more of us. They are waiting back at our van for us to get some gas. We looked in the window and didn’t see anyone, so we assumed the cars were abandoned,” Chase offered. “Look, we have to meet someone soon. It’s important. Can we just take what little we have?”
“Why don’t you come in for something to eat and drink,” the preacher offered.
“Look, that’s kind, but we have to get back,” Chase replied.
“I insist. You can keep the gas. Just let us offer you some hospitality first,” the man insisted, his voice getting deeper.
The man who had been moving toward them as he spoke made a lunge for the gas can. Chase’s eyes unfortunately went to Lucas’ gun raising.
Chase stopped the gun with his hand as he lost the gas can out of the other.
“You bring your friends back, and you can have it back,” the man said with a polite nod before he turned around and disappeared into the church.
“What the hell just happened here? Listen Lucas, you can’t just go pointing that gun at the living.”
“He took our gas. Shouldn’t we shoot to protect what is ours?” he rebutted.
“It technically wasn’t ours. Some rules should still apply,” he said, softly. “Lets’ double back and get the others.”
Lucas just nodded and they went back. When they got there, Chase could see the question in Jayda’s tight face as to where the gas can had gone.
“A preacher at the church caught us. He said we could have gas if we came back and got a bite to eat with them,” Chase offered.
“Oh, that doesn’t sound suspicious at all?” Dax groaned.
“I know how it sounds, and the guy was definitely off. But, at this point, what choice do we have?” Chase said, his shoulders slumping even as he tried to catch his breath.
“I say we go in armed, and…” Dax was cut off by Chase’s glare.
“We can’t just go around like thieves or looters. These people are still human. Laws still apply. You can’t just go shooting humans because what they need doesn’t suit your needs,” Chase rambled, his words clipped.
“You wouldn’t even shoot the guy who stole gas from us,” Jayda spat.
“We never actually had it. We didn’t know what his situation was. Look, we have no choice here. We have to go back to the church and take on whatever they throw at us to get that gas without shedding blood,” Chases said as he turned on his heel to walk back to the church.
He was scared and relieved at the same time as he heard the group follow him. He didn’t know how he’d gotten to be leader. He’d given up the position long ago for a damn good reason or two.
By the time they hit the church again, Chase felt like he could fall asleep standing up. The hours were ticking away, and they were running out of time to get to the checkpoint to meet Daniel.
The preacher met them at the back door.
“Look, I actually need to ask a favor of you. Then I promise, I will offer you food and drink and give you the gas you need,” he said as he opened the door to welcome them in.
He led them through an empty room and into the back of the sanctuary. A collective round of gasps came from his group once the sanctuary came into full view.
Chapter Ten
The sight of church members praying over what appeared to be dead zombies sent a shiver down Chase’s spine. The room smelled, adding insult to injury to the gory sight. The chanting sound of their voices added the horror music needed to fully creep him out. He wanted to back out almost as much as he needed that gas.
“We’ve had some success in bringing back the spirit or soul of the human back into their body. Granted, this was with those dying. We saved one. So, we are attempting to do the same with these poor souls,” the preacher droned on. “That’s where we need help. We believe in the power of prayer, and of the sheer number of souls adding to that power.”
“You want us to pray over them?” Jayda asked.
“Yes. Please. You can have the gas in exchange for a little time with God requesting a miracle for those we have lost. Have you lost anyone? Do you know of any afflicted?” the preacher continued.
“Sherri lost her husband, but we left him behind,” Jayda said, pointing toward Sherri who had remained gaping at the room. “My husband has the disease, but is still alive in the van.”
“Bring him, then,” the preacher exclaimed. “Bring him in to be cured.”
“The van is down the road without gas,” Jayda said.
Chases noticed the crack in her voice.
“I’ll go get the van if you give me just enough gas to get back here,” Dax offered. “I can be quick.”
Once the logistics of that were worked out, Dax left alone with a water bottle of gas, while the rest of them were assigned zombies to pray over. The preacher gave them cards, something they had written up to say over the bodies or corpses. Either way, Chase was grateful for the words. He would not have known what to say otherwise. He felt a bit rusty anyway. He’d lost his faith after Jayda had lost her leg and he’d lost her. He did what he had to, always using moments when the preacher wasn’t observing them all to look at his watch. He calculated the time they had left as he mumbled words.
It wasn’t long before the silence beyond the eerie chanting broke. Dax came crashing through the door with a screaming Richard. The sweat on the guy’s brow showed just how feverish and far gone the poor man was.
