The Three of Us: A Novella

by Lee, W. Tavi

  "We could rush it, bash the cameras while you open a store room or rooms and take/destroy as much as possible and head back out." Holly suggested, watching the chemical reaction heat up their meal.

  "Hmm, smash and grab would work. I don’t want to just take their food, I want blood," Sebastian said. “We need a truck.”

  “Mmmhh,” Bennett acknowledged. “How likely do you think we’ll find a working truck near us in a few hours?”

  “Not very, but if we’re going to take the food, carrying it on our backs is not going to work.”

  “I saw a Uhaul truck earlier today,” Holly piped up, stretching out on her now tattered and dirty blanket.

  Both men looked at her to continue.

  “Yeah, it was down one of the side streets. I think around the time we ran into those bikers.”

  “You sure,” Sebastian prodded.

  “Yup. It had a picture of the Mississippi swamps on the side.”

  “Well I guess I can check it out soon. You two can stay here and keep an eye out.”

  Neither protested. They knew they’d need a truck if they wanted that food to bring back to George and his people. After splitting the hot meal, Sebastian grabbed his water and disappeared around the corner.

  “Do you think he’ll be back with it?” she asked.

  “He’s not called Sebastian the Determined for nothing,” Bennett smiled. Holly nodded. They couldn’t rest while Sebastian was out there alone and there wasn’t much to say. Both were lost in their own thoughts after a few hours when they heard an engine rumbling closer.

  “Get down,” Bennett hissed as they moved into better hiding spots. It was definitely coming their way. They hoped it was Sebastian and not trouble. The truck stopped right at the corner, it’s engine idling rough and diesel soot coming from the tailpipe. Mississippi swamps depicted on the side. Sebastian got out, covered in grime, a giant grin on his face. “I probably just alerted everything around us that’s still moving, but we got ourselves a truck.”

  Holly gave a fist pump into the air and Bennett nodded.

  “It took some fiddling and parts from nearby vehicles, but I MacGyvered it pretty good.”

  “See told ya it was there,” Holly grasped his shoulder as he joined them on the ground.

  "OK, back to that staircase," Bennett said, getting them focused.

  "Could we jam something in the door?" Holly said.

  "A metal bar wedged in the handle might stop them for awhile. The door opens towards the stairs. That would give us enough time to clear some of the storerooms."

  "And then what, go in guns blazing?" She said.

  "That's what we're here for."

  "Yeah, I know. It's just that now, after we've come all this way, we're finally here. I don't know. I just think it's a brutal way of doing it."

  “I came here for revenge. Period. That’s all I have left to live for."

  “Let’s stop being chicken shits and do what we came here to do,” Bennett offered. They looked at him as he continued. “We’ve all been hurt, we’ve got nothing to lose, so let’s go out with a bang.”

  “That’s what I imagined I would do, because I figure it would just be me.”

  “But it’s us now,” Bennett replied softly.

  “Let’s do it. Guns blazing,” Holly agreed.

  Night was upon them as they were partaking in a second MRE. It was quickly passed around.

  “I’ll need to override the doors so both can be opened at the same time.”

  “Think you can you do that?” Bennett wondered, before eating the last cracker. “I think so. Just need to remember which panel it’s behind.”

  “If you can’t get them both open, we’re screwed,” Holly reminded them.

  “I know. We’d still be able to make a few trips before we’d have to bail and destroy the rest.”

  If their plan worked, they'd be hauling a lot of food and water out in the morning. Over some hot tea from the kits, they agreed to do it the same time as before. This time, not bothered to be stealthy. Sebastian estimated it's going to take 30-60 minutes for the 3 of them to empty the rooms. They also had to account for security coming around from the front entrance once they realized what was happening. One of them would have to stand guard. They settled in behind the counter. Holly was rolling out her blanket and Bennett was stretching his leg which still hadn’t fully healed.

  24.5

  Morning came quickly. None of them slept well. Again, they walked across the street and Holly got down to crawl to the panel. Bennett had part of a street sign to be able to wedge the door. Holly gave a nod that she was ready. Sebastian and Bennett looked at each other, gave a slight nod and looked back at Holly. She entered the same six digit code and once again heard the beep of acceptance. She stood up and got in behind Bennett.

  Sebastian was at the door with key in hand. They got in and used a tiny light to guide them to the other door. Sebastian used the same key and unlocked the heavy sealed door. They all pulled it open and got inside the transition room. Sebastian went straight for the panel and started working on it. Holly and Bennett watched outside for any signs of movement.

  After what seemed like too long, he cried out “I think I’ve got it”, inserting the key.

  They pushed the second door open. Holly had the rifle, Bennett the handgun, along with the pole. Quickly they went and worked on those doors. They were still using just the flashlight, but if someone looked at the screens, things would start to get crazy.

  After the other two doors were opened, Bennett walked to the end of the hall, jamming the pole through the door handle, wedging it between the floor and wall.Giving a good pull, he was satisfied that it should hold. If not, well, it is what it is.

  Sebastian was already unlocking all the storerooms and Holly was opening them up.

  25

  Mike was in the security room when all hell was breaking out on the monitors. Who the hell is in the hallway he thought.

  "Steve. Do you copy? STEVE!"

  What is it now Steve thought. He was just sitting, staring at his coffee cup. "This is Steve"

  "People are in the hallway!"

  "What?" he asked not believing what he heard.

  "People from the outside are in the hallway! We’ve been breached," Mike screamed.

  Steve stood up, knocking his chair over as he rushed towards the stairwell. People from the outside? How? Who? His mind was racing as fast as he was running.

  Mike hit the alarm button which didn't do much besides make loud beeping noises through the whole bunker, alerting everyone that something bad was happening.

  The scientists would hopefully follow protocol and suit up and lock themselves in the lab. The CEO and other board members would gather in the mess hall and everyone else would go to their quarters. But none of that happened. He could see through the monitors everyone just stood there, dazed and confused.

  He got on the radio again, his other security guard had the night shift and was in his quarters sleeping. The alarm should have woken him.

  "Joe, do you copy? Joe?" The radio crackled.

  "Joe?"

  "Yeah, I'm here. Just getting my pants and gun on. What the hell is going on"

  "Get to the front entrance and make sure it's secured. We have a breach."

  "Jesus, how is that possible?"

  "Just go!"

  "I'm heading there now"

  Mike was reeling. How could this happen? Watching the monitors he counted three people. One was systematically going to each storeroom door and opening it. He was going much too quickly to be picking each lock. If that was even possible with those doors. Did he have a key? Was it an inside job?

  "I'm going to the lab and mess hall to make sure everyone is there." His gun with one hand and the radio in the other as he made his way to the mess hall first. Steve got to the stairwell and looked up. Nobody was there and the door still closed. He slowly started to climb with his gun angled upward. What if they're infected. I shou
ld have brought a mask. His mind was psyching him out. No, I'm a professional. I've trained for this sort of stuff. But still, if infected were inside.

  We're all doomed. Joe reached the front entrance. Just a short hallway to a set of doors. Nothing was disturbed.

  "Entrance looks good. What now?"

  "Go to the lab and round everyone up. Do a headcount and lock them inside." The alarm was still sounding, matching the sudden pounding in Mike's head.

  Steve got to the door at the top and peered through the small window. He could see them. He could shoot them through the glass as long as it wasn't bulletproof. He wasn't sure if it was. Grabbing his radio, whispered for Mike. "I'm at the door, I see them."

  "Don't be seen, give me a minute and I'll meet you."

  26

  Sebastian finished unlocking all the doors and went to check the stairway door. He grabbed it and tested to make sure it was solid. Looking through the window, he saw nothing.

  "OK, let's start moving the food first."

  Bennett was already in the first room. He'd found a hand cart and was piling cases of #10 cans on it. Holly was looking into each room assessing what was there. Just boxes of cans and buckets. 55 gallon barrels of water too, but would be hard to

  move. There was a lot of food. They might not have enough time to take it all she thought. Unless they took care of everyone first.

  Sebastian helped Bennett load up the cart and shouted to Holly "Go to the exit and guard. You and Bennett can switch out after we move a couple loads."

  With Holly watching the door, they made a few trips to the Uhaul they’d found. The ramp made the unloading quick.

  27

  Mike had just finished quickly yelling at everyone to stay put. He took a count. They looked scared. This was the first alarm to go off down here. Some demanded to know what was going on, others were whimpering. He had to tell them someone was inside, but that's all he knew.

  Before anyone else could ask questions he excused himself and ran out towards Steve. Rushing up the stairs he saw him in the corner crouching, gun drawn, staring at the door.

  "Anything?"

  "I saw someone's shadow and heard muffled voices"

  "Let's try to peek inside."

  Mike eased his head sideways enough to be able to see part of the hallway through the window. He was mortified at what he saw. Two men pushing their cart full of their food out of the storeroom.

  "They're taking our food! They knew it was here. Must have gotten in through the quarantine exit."

  "What! How?"

  "I don't know," He pulled out his keys and hastily stuck it in the slot. It made a click but didn't budge open. Pulling harder and still wouldn’t move. "Damnit. They jammed the door."

  "Is that window bulletproof?"

  "No. We need joe to come around the other side."

  "You mean go outside. What about infected? Are they infected?"

  "We've got no choice. They're STEALING OUR FOOD."

  Mike got on the radio. "Joe. Where are you?"

  "I'm just leaving the lab heading your way"

  "Stop, go back to the front. You need to go outside to the back entrance"

  Hearing that, Joe stopped dead. "Go outside?"

  "Yes, they're taking all our food. We're going to try and get them through the window while you go around and hit them from behind."

  Joe knew he had no choice. That their only food. "Arggh, OK. I'm heading back. I'll let you know when I'm outside."

  "Roger" was all Mike could say.

  28

  They had just dumped their 4th cart which was a little more than a quarter of the food supplies. They were making good progress.

  "Holly, leave the barrels, grab those buckets of dry food. Bennett, watch the door," Sebastian yelled out.

  Bennett was on the lookout as Sebastian loaded more boxes onto the cart, Holly taking buckets two at a time.

  29

  "I'm just at the corner of the alley." Joe crackled over the radio in a hushed voice.

  "OK. Get ready on three. If you see anyone, use deadly force."

  Mike went to the window, Steve behind him. “One, two, three” he called out, smashing the glass with the butt of his gun. Clearing out the corners of the remaining shards of glass he reached through, getting a grip around the pole they’d wedged in.

  Holly heard glass break and stopped, letting the buckets fall. Grabbing her gun she edged towards the stairwell door. Someone was trying to get through.

  Down the hallway Sebastian heard Holly shout. He dropped the case to help. She heard Sebastian coming back. Drawing his gun, Sebastian motioned Holly to get behind him.

  “STOP,” he shouted, aiming for the hand.

  The hand darted back through the window before it was replaced with the barrel of a gun. Without warning the first shot came at them blindly. A few more shots rang out before someone started shouting.

  "Who are you? How did you get in? We've got you surrounded."

  Sebastian didn’t answer. He motioned for Holly to keep moving back.

  "It’s time to go. There’s probably someone coming around."

  When they didn’t answer the voice, a few more shots rang out. One ricocheted and hit Holly, forcing her to the ground. Sebastian fired a few shots back, but retreated towards her.

  Her leg was bleeding from the thigh down. She was trying to get back up, but having trouble.

  Sebastian moved to help her. “Let’s go. Wrap your arm around my neck,” he ordered.

  She complied, grimacing with pain. Moving down the hall backwards, he kept aim at the corner. She was leaving a trail of blood.

  They got to the outside doors where Bennett was. He turned his back to look at them.

  “She’s been hit.”

  “How bad?” Bennett asked.

  “My leg,” she said, keeping pressure on her wound.

  30

  Joe had rounded the corner, his adrenaline was pumping, not sure what to expect. A big moving truck was parked in the alley. The exit was open, but he couldn’t see anyone. Raising the gun he moved around the truck. He saw someone with their back turned. Holly saw him, pointing and shouting.

  The man fired his pistol. Bennett turned around as the bullet whizzed by him.

  Raising the rifle up he took one shot as the man pulled the trigger again, moving from the cover of the truck.

  Bennett’s round connected with the man as his to Bennett’s chest. He fell to his knees. Holly screamed.

  Sebastian yelled and dove to catch him before he hit the ground. In Sebastian’s arms, Bennett was smiling. Even through the pain he must have felt, he looked happy. Content. Holly had hobbled over to them, knowing that he wouldn’t make it. As Bennett’s gaze went skyward, Sebastian got back into action.

  31

  Searching the body they came up with his pistol and a walkie talkie. Using a tarp they’d moved Bennet into the truck and back to the coffee shop. Sebastian used the med kit from the quarantine room bag to clean up Holly's leg. She was still sobbing for the loss of Bennett who laid nearby. The bullet passed through after tearing through her thigh muscles. No major artery, but Sebastian knew it had to be kept cleaned or risk infection.

  “Joe,” the walkie squelched.

  "Joe is dead" Sebastian answered.

  "Who are you? Why are you doing this? How did you get inside? Did you have help?" the person was asking question after question.

  "We are a group of people that have been traveling for weeks to reach the bunker and get revenge on those responsible for this nightmare. I helped design it and had keys.”

  "You want to murder us, like you did joe."

  "Your man got one of ours too. You are the ones who started this whole mess, infecting 90% of the population. If you haven't noticed, since being stuck down in your little bunker, millions of people have died because of the people you're protecting. We have taken much of your food. There is no mercy for any of you," He was raising his voice.

 
Mike knew it was all truth. His mind reeling trying to figure a way out of this mess. If they didn’t have enough food, they're would be no reason to stay. They'd have to be on the offensive and try to take back their food. But how many are out there? There's at least two which could be problem enough, but what if there's more. Larger groups were most likely roaming around. He didn't have high powered guns to defend against anything more than a few people. Now that Joe was gone, they had two pistols and a taser. He should call a meeting with the board to tell them what's going on. They can decide the action needed to take he thought.

  "Is there any negotiations for the food? We have money."

  "Out here in the real world, money is useless and food is gold. Better than gold because you can eat it. I'm guessing you're the head of security, which means not directly responsible for the death and destruction of this world.”

  "Yes"

  "How many are children or not involved?”

  “Only a few.”

  “They can go. Everyone else will be dealt with. CEO, the rest of the executives and scientists. Let us have our revenge on them and you can go and live your life."

  "Are you mad! You want to murder these people."

  "They’re not innocent."

  "But their families..."

  "We’ll let them go. They can try and make their way to an encampment that would welcome them. They’ll have to experience what we have experienced. Infected chasing them, trying to tear chunks of skin off their loved ones. Become infected themselves and have to put a loved one down. Encounter gangs, find food and all the things they’ve been sheltered from.”

  Silence on the other end.