by Morris, SJ
They knew I had just about reached my breaking point after today’s events. I looked up to the people now taking residence in my home and they all averted their eyes away, but Justin looked stunned. I wiped my face quickly. I had my pity party and those few seconds were all I was going to allow myself.
I stood up defiantly, “I killed three people today, and Lance had to kill one, also. This is real, and it’s here. Not just here in the sense of a few infected here or there either. If it’s this widespread in Los Angeles, then it’s only a matter of days before it’s absolutely everywhere.”
Allycia started to sob in my arms again. I decided that she had had enough for one night.
“Tyler, please take Allycia to her room and make sure she gets to bed. Lance, you had a hand in what went on today, so if you’re up to it, we need to have a discussion with our new friends here about what’s going on.”
Lance straightened himself, “I’m good, Mom.”
I squeezed Lance’s hand, and handed off Allycia to Tyler, after giving her a brief hug. No more tears for me, no more being vulnerable. We had to do something to be sure we were all safe, and getting here was the worst part so far. I was not going to let it get to me anymore. What was done was done.
“Justin, when did you get here, and did you see anything out of the ordinary, or run into any infected?”
“No. Jessica, David, and I got our camping gear just like we planned and headed here. We didn’t get a phone call from Troy. I guess he knew we were coming anyway and that you’d plan for the worst.”
“So, I assume you know what’s going on since there were visitors here when you arrived?”
“Kind of. They filled me in a little.”
I took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, “So, Mr. Bryant...”
“Call me, Chris, please.”
“Okay, Chris. When did Jack first let you in on what happened to him and his team in Africa?” I looked at the former Marine, trying to look just as stone-faced as he was, but as soon as I finished asking my question, he lost a little bit of his scariness.
“Africa? That’s not what Jack told me.”
“Okay, so let’s hear what Jack told you since I apparently haven’t heard it.” I sat next to him on the end of the couch he was sharing with Dan, Kristen, and Chase. There wasn’t enough room for me, so I sat on the arm, which put me in very close proximity with this dangerous-looking man. At least he had to look up a little to look me in the eyes.
“All right, I guess I’ll just start from the beginning. Jack and I go all the way back to boot camp. He and I both excelled from the moment we started our training and became quick friends. We were both at the top of our class and we went to sniper school together. After sniper school, I went off to Ranger training and he left to be a Navy Seal, or so he told me. I came to find out later that he was part of a task force that really didn’t have a name. The team went from place to place, taking care of situations that needed to be kept very quiet but needed more manpower than just one operative could supply. I can’t get into many details because that’s all he really told me about it. He did tell me that they’d been sent to Afghanistan on a mission in a very remote, mountain area. He said his team was tasked with wiping out a small village because all of the inhabitants had been labeled as insurgents. This pretty much meant killing every living thing there and then, what he called, ‘sterilizing’ the location. He said they were supposed to make it look like it was just another random ghost town. Jack said usually, this would take the ten-man team one or two nights at most, but once they got to the village and did their recon, they knew something wasn’t right. It was only a family of about thirty living together in seven or eight small homes with a well in the center of the village but none of the people really came out of their homes. There was a large structure with a long table near the well that would’ve frequently been used for family meals, but there was almost no one around. Jack said that he only saw two or three people run to the well for water very quickly for the first few days and the third day no one left their homes at all. He said the team frequently heard moaning or screaming coming from the houses, but no one came out. Jack said they reported their findings and were told to retreat with no further orders, other than to not engage. One of the men broke his ankle on the way to the extraction point so it took them longer to get back than they had planned. He said they saw three fighter planes level the entire valley where the village was, with two passes. This was when Jack really knew something was wrong. If they needed the village wiped out, then they could have told the team to infiltrate the homes and take out the residents like they had done countless times before. He said something was definitely not right about that mission. He believed it had to be a biological threat since the team was subject to a full physical workup when they returned.”
It was difficult to hear that before I met my husband, he was a ruthless killer for the government, but it was his past that got us to where we were today. My heart ached to know that he’d done those things, and knowing him, he kept all of that with him. All of the faces of the people he killed would have stayed with him. I’m sure that’s why he made it his remaining life’s mission to help people after he was discharged from the military.
“So, how did he know that what happened in Africa, what led to us meeting at the CDC, was linked to the Afghanistan event?” I asked Chris.
“I asked him that very question when he told me about Afghanistan, and he said it was the moaning. The people that attacked them in Africa sounded exactly like the people in Afghanistan. He said he just knew it was the same thing. Then, he got together with our new buddy, Troy, and they pieced the puzzle together of what was happening.”
“So, what else do you know? What pieces of the puzzle did they find?”
“They found out that whatever this was, it was originally created to be used as a bioweapon by the Chinese, but it got out from the testing facilities they had in Afghanistan. Which, come to find out, was located near the site of the village that Jack and his team were supposed to clear out before the US decided it was better to level the place and ask questions later. Apparently, when the US government found out what the Chinese were up to, they thought they could go in and take some of the blind-study subjects who were infected and have their own bioweapon after Jack and his team killed everyone in the town. I think we’re seeing the results of the Chinese and the US trying to beat each other to the punch of making this weapon a reality.”
“Well, that makes sense. It also sheds some light on why the government chose China for the initial outbreak footage location.”
“It sounds like you’re becoming a conspiracy nut, Abby.”
“Chris, it’s not a conspiracy when you’ve seen and done the things I have today... and in the past.”
“Speaking of, do you want to share your adventures with the group?” Asked Justin.
It took me about an hour to relay everything we’d done since Troy called this morning, and everyone was riveted by my recollection. Lance spoke when I told them about him shooting the driver of the pickup but only to confirm that he had killed the man with his bow. He looked exhausted. By the time I was done, all I wanted to do was take a super-hot shower and curl up in my bed for as long as I could.
“All right, I think that’s enough for one day. Lance, go get washed up and get to bed, I’m going to do the same. Is it okay if I let Lilly outside to go to the bathroom, or should I walk her on a leash?”
“You can let the dog out ma’am. The fences give us plenty of security. Also, I haven’t heard any of the perimeter alarms go off since you pulled in,” Thomas replied.
“Perimeter alarms? You know what, tell me about it tomorrow. Come on, Lil, outside.”
The dog jumped up from her ball on the floor at my feet and headed right for the front door. I flicked on the lights to the porch and was so scared that I was going to see one of those things that I almost didn’t open it.
Lilly pawed at the door jam and
reminded me there was a reason I was attempting to go outside. Just then, Chris came up to me and practically whispered that it was okay, everything outside was safe, for now, and that the dog would be fine.
His voice was so deep it was almost frightening, but for some reason, his words were comforting, and the light grasp of my shoulder from his bear paw of a hand caused a flutter in my stomach I hadn’t felt in years.
This made me giddy and worried at the same time. The last thing I needed to worry about during the zombie apocalypse is falling for someone, especially another military man.
Chapter 7
All I wanted to do was sleep in for as long as possible, but apparently, my cell phone had a different idea.
My phone started buzzing, and I rolled over slowly to reach for it. The sunshine was right in my face, and I had to hide under the blanket from it since it was so bright.
Then, I realized where I was and what had happened in the last twenty-four hours. So, I jumped up and grabbed my phone, immediately answering it.
“Hello, Troy, is that you?”
“Yes, Abby, it’s Troy. Aren’t you a chipper one in the morning?”
“Well, the phone woke me up, and it took a few seconds for my brain to remember that the world was in the process of ending.”
“Well, as you said, the world as we know it is ending. I’ve been able to confirm the Z-Strain is on every major continent as of this morning, and some of the smaller countries have stopped reporting any news altogether, which could be good or bad. Either they cut themselves off from the outside world on purpose, or the Z-Strain did it for them. Did you make it to the cabin?”
“Yes, we made it in last night, but not before coming in contact with some of the infected.”
“Oh my God! Did you get any of the bodily fluids in your mouth, eyes, or any other orifices, cuts especially?”
“No, thank goodness. I had the bright idea of suiting up in helmets and head-to-toe biker gear, so we were prepared. Do you know anything about the spread of the virus from the bodily fluids of the infected into water? Like, do fish, or other animals get the virus?”
“No, from my research, the virus cannot sustain itself in water for very long, and all the animals I’ve tested died from the Z-Strain, but none reanimated after death. Abby, I don’t know how much the men at the cabin have shared with you...”
“Oh yeah, thanks for the heads up on that one! It would’ve been nice to tell me that a bunch of my husband’s military commando buddies I’ve never met, or heard of, would be my houseguests!”
“Abby, I’m sorry. There were more important things I had to tell you before they traced the call, and I was found.”
“So, what’s different? Why is it okay to talk all calm and not quickly now?”
“Well, the people that were after me before have much bigger things to handle than me now, so they’ve stopped monitoring me.”
“Okay, so what’s up? I could talk to you all day about the virus and its properties, but what’s going on? What great news do you bring other than, yes, the world is ending?”
“Well, I wanted to ask if I’d be able to come and meet you at the cabin. I want to stay in my lab as long as I can to do more research, but I know that I can’t stay here for much longer, or I’ll be stuck here.”
“Absolutely, Troy. I was actually planning on asking when you were going to be joining us. You and my husband apparently worked together on a lot of things, so you’re part of what he and the others built here. I’d expect you to be here. So, where are you coming from?”
“That’s the thing. I’m in the boonies out in Pennsylvania, so if I leave now, I’m sure I’ll have a great shot at making it to you with limited encounters with the Z-Strain, but if I hold out like I want to because my lab and all of my research is here, I may not make it out there at all.”
“So, come now. Pack as much of your stuff as possible and take the back roads to get here. If the highways aren’t jam-packed with people trying to leave, then they will be soon, and where there’s a lot of people, there’s more than likely a lot of infected. Your life is worth more than your research. Also, we have plenty of room out here. I’m sure we can accommodate some kind of lab for you to continue your work and I can be your assistant! Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of? I know it’d be nice for me to have someone in our field of expertise to talk to.”
“Now that you put it that way, I think I’ll pack up today and head out first thing tomorrow morning. How bad was it for you? I know you said you came in contact with the infected.”
“Well, it wasn’t like there were mobs of them. The worst we hit was two at a time but that was because we took the back roads and stayed away from the majorly populated areas. That, and your call to tell us to get the hell out of dodge. So, thank you.”
“Well, that’s good. You said you were wearing helmets and gear? What kind?”
I went on to tell Troy our story just as I had with the others last night. I went through the shopping that we did and Troy was very impressed with some of the things I thought of, like the snake boots.
He was going to settle for his old Doc Martens since he didn’t exactly have the time to go out and buy the items we had, which I thought was funny. The man calling everyone to warn them to stock up and get out was the least ready of all of us.
Troy agreed to travel first thing in the morning, or as soon as he was done packing if he was quick about it. He’d drive straight through, only stopping for gas, and that was only if he desperately needed it. Troy checked his GPS, and he was eight and a half hours from us with normal traffic. Then, I reminded him to make sure he turned off all toll roads and highways. That added another three hours.
So, a total of an eleven-and-a-half-hour drive should get my new buddy to us. I just hoped that he’d be able to make it without coming in contact with the infected or running out of gas. Being on foot was not something he’d be looking forward to if it came down to it.
Just as I was hanging up, there was a soft knock at my door. My first thought was that something was wrong, so I jumped up out of bed in my t-shirt and underwear and flung the door open. Chris stood there with a crooked smile and his elbow on the door jam.
“I wanted to check on you. I heard talking coming from your room, so I wanted to make sure you hadn’t gone crazy and started talking to yourself.”
I covered myself up as best I could with my hands and felt my face turn a lovely shade of crimson.
“I’m fine. Troy called and he’s coming here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get some clothes on.”
I shut the door and fell back into bed. I felt like a teenager in high school who just bumped into the boy she had a crush on in the hallway. What the hell was wrong with me?
“Is Troy leaving now?” Chris said through the door.
“Let me get dressed, and I’ll tell you everything!”
I felt like I was living in a dorm now, no privacy. Living with all of these people wouldn’t be any fun, even if there wasn’t the threat of zombies taking over.
I threw on some clothes and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth when I realized that Lilly was curled up on the rug in the bathroom. I wonder who let her in my room? I had left her in Allycia’s room last night.
Hopefully, it was one of the kids.
As I walked out of my bedroom, I smelled the fantastic aroma of bacon and pancakes. Nothing had ever smelled so good before. I walked into my kitchen that was bustling with people and Chris handed me a mug of coffee.
“I didn’t know how you take your coffee, so I left it black.”
“Lots of milk and three Equal, if we have it.”
“Coming right up.”
“You don’t have to wait on me. I can get it myself.” I pushed past Chris and went to the table that was full of my new guests and my kids, eating breakfast. I grabbed the milk from the table, and Allycia looked up to smile at me.
“So, I take it you slept well last nig
ht, sweetie?” I asked her.
“Yes, Mom, I slept pretty good.”
“What’s with the ear-to-ear grin?”
“Oh, nothing. I’m just happy to be here safely and to have met all these awesome new people. Right, Lance?”
“Ugh yeah sure, awesome people,” he replied with a mouth full of pancakes dripping with syrup.
I turned, and Chris was right there in front of me with three packets of the blue stuff.
“Thanks.”
“You’re very welcome. Oh, I put Lilly in your room last night. She was sniffing at your door around two, so I figured she wanted to be with you. Oh, and I didn’t see anything more than what I saw this morning if you were wondering,” he said as he turned away and found a seat at the counter smiling.
Awesome. The guy I might have a crush on has seen me in my underwear more times than my kids now.
I turned to address all of our guests, “So, good morning, everyone. I trust everyone had a good night’s rest? Speaking of, where is everyone sleeping? There’s only three bedrooms here.”
“I can answer that,” said Chris. “When Jack reached out to all of us to make some modifications to the cabin, we decided that we definitely needed more living space, but it had to be out of plain sight. So, even though you can’t see them, we’re all staying in apartments that were built underground.”
“Underground? Why do they have to be out of plain sight?”
“Well, in case something like this did happen, then we had plenty of room for more people. Also, if there were people that might be looking to take supplies from us or take over the cabin, they wouldn’t be able to tell we had more people. Kind of a surprise attack by numbers, if we needed it.”
“Okay, but you really think that’ll happen?”
“Well, if the situation goes like we think it will, there will eventually be raiders. The human condition breaks down fairly quickly in bad situations like this. So, if there’s a raiding party that thinks they can just try and break in and take what we have here, they’ll be surprised to find out that there’s a lot more fighters inside than they bargained for.”
