Brent Acuff - Undead Nation 01

by Outbreak

  The second man pulled a gun on this last one and placed it against the temple of his head. He yelled something at him and immediately the walking dead began to move quicker. The gag was removed from this last man and he began running towards the colony, screaming loud enough to be heard by Liam and Alex. The two captors then ran back to the truck and started to drive off. Alex thought this odd when the unthinkable happened.

  There was a small jerk as the roped tied to the hitch of the truck snapped taught then fell limp. The binds of the zombies and the gags over their mouths fell away and the moans of the dead rose up immediately to fill the night air. Alex couldn't believe what he was seeing. The men in the trucks were using zombies as a weapon against the colony.

  -----

  Everyone in the farmhouse moved with frantic, but controlled movements. All were armed and took up positions in and out of the farmhouse in their predetermined defensive positions. The plan that was in use had been designed to handle the possibility of overwhelming numbers of walking dead attacking them at once. So far they had never had to implement the plan, and Alex hoped that it would suffice for the living as well.

  Alex and Liam remained on the rooftop scanning the horizon. Both of them knew that something was not right, that the deployment of ten zombies was not the end of the attack, but as of yet they could not find the bigger threat. Ten zombies would be nothing for the defenders to handle, but a group of living, thinking attackers was another case altogether.

  "See anything?" Alex asked Liam.

  "Nothing, man. It's too dark to see much and those dead heads are making enough noise to cover the approach of a small army." Liam looked up at the night sky. "No moon tonight. Whoever these guys are, they planned this."

  Sam's voice called up to Alex and Liam through the roof access. "Hey guys, there's someone approaching the outer wall. What do you want us to do?"

  "Shit, man," Liam started. "What do you think we should do about that guy?"

  "Well, one thing is for sure. We don't let him in. At least not right now. We can't be sure if he's infected or he might even be working for those guys out there." Alex shrugged his shoulders in frustration. "Either way, we don't have time to find out."

  Alex called back down to Sam. "Don't let him in, no matter what. And if he tries to get in..." Alex caught Liam's eye over his shoulder, "well, take care of it."

  "Um, alright," Sam said. "Let us know what's going on," and Sam hurried out of view to spread the orders around.

  "Found 'em," Liam said to Alex. "There's a group of fast movers to the north." He chuckled. "Distract us with zombies in the south while the attack from the north. Not too bad actually. What do we now?"

  "What do you mean, 'what do we do?' We let these fuckers know we're serious." Liam's face broke into a wide grin and he turned to meet Alex's eyes. Alex was smiling too.

  "The fifty's?" Liam asked.

  "The fifty's," Alex responded.

  As fast as they could move, Alex and Liam were down the ladder and unpacking the two .50 caliber rifles that New Hope had in their arsenal. Liam's father, Charles, had bought one of the rifles off of an acquaintance years ago as a favor. The man was down on his luck financially and couldn't find anyone who had the means or the finances to take it off his hands. The second .50 caliber was owned by Shawn and Luke as the main display feature of their gun store. The limited amount of ammunition available for the rifles made them unfit for everyday use, but would prove themselves today.

  "Hayden, get up here," Alex shouted and his brother-in-law came racing around the corner, a scoped 30-06 rifle in his hands.

  "What's up?" he asked a bit frantically.

  "Get upstairs and help Liam and me keep a lookout." Alex winked at Liam. "We're going to roll out the welcome mat." As Liam and Hayden raced up the ladder, Alex called for Sam. "Let everyone know that someone is going to try and get in the perimeter. Under no circumstances," and Alex paused to let those words sink in, "is that person allowed to enter. I don't care what he says or what happens out there. Do NOT let him in."

  Sam nodded in understanding and hurried out the door spread the word. Alex turned and headed up the ladder, .50 caliber rifle in tow.

  Up on top of the roof Liam was finished with setting up his rifle and Hayden had already taken up a position behind him to provide feedback and contact information. Alex hurried to set up his rifle as Hayden began calling out enemy positions.

  "Four contacts at ten thirty almost four hundred yards out. They are in some tall weeds..." The .50 caliber just below Hayden exploded and he jumped backwards cursing. "Shit! Warn someone before you do that." Liam grinned up over his shoulder as he ejected the cartridge from the slide. Alex could barely contain his laughter. Trying hard to regain some of his dignity, Hayden quickly stood and scanned the horizon once again looking for the approach gunmen.

  "A hit! You nailed one of the bastards!" Hayden could barely contain the excitement. "The other three hit the dirt about six feet from the downed attacker." Still looking through the binoculars, Hayden said, "They're backing off. They're backing off! I think they are leaving." He looked down at Liam and Alex for confirmation of his assessment, but received none.

  "Think about it, man," Alex spoke in a commanding voice. "They weren't planning to take this stronghold with four men and ten zombies. There will be more."

  As if on cue, shots rang out from the west and Alex swiveled his .50 to meet the threat. At least fifteen muzzle flashes could be seen scattered in the darkness about one hundred yards from the perimeter berm. The bullets began hitting the side of the farmhouse, some bouncing harmlessly off the side while others found a weak spot and punched on through. Someone from below cried out in pain.

  Alex pulled the rifle in tight to his shoulder and sighted a muzzle flash before squeezing the trigger. The gun erupted and one less rifle flash was visible on the horizon.

  "Contact," Liam called from the east. "A dozen and a half at least, all heading straight for the farmhouse. Everyone's fighting west and no one is in place to stop this advance."

  "You are," said Alex. "Shoot the fuckers," and Liam's gun exploded again.

  "Seventeen, but they're still coming," Liam announced. "I can't stop them by myself."

  "Jesus Christ!" Alex cursed and hefted the rifle to assist Liam. "I thought you were a crack shot. You can't handle this by yourself? Damn you're getting old."

  "Shut up," Liam snapped. "I'll fight every fucking thing I shoot at, but there are too many to stop before they get here." Both men fired almost simultaneously, two more attackers falling before the echo of the gun shots had died away.

  "Hayden," Alex yelled. "Get over here and take over. There's not a lot of ammo for these, so don't you dare miss." Alex moved back and hustled Hayden into the firing position. "Time to hit the perimeter defense." Alex swung over the edge of the roof hatch and disappeared from view before popping back up again. "Hey, let them get a little closer," he said before disappearing again. Hayden and Liam looked at each other confused.

  Alex ran through the house, grabbing Liam's AR-15 and three extra clips of ammunition before heading outside. Gunfire popped from everywhere and a bullet cracked in to the side of the house just above Alex's head causing him to duck low in reaction. Dr. Cahn and Paula were crouched low on the front porch attending to Marcus who was writhing on the ground, blood spreading from a wound in his right leg.

  "How are things going on out here?" Alex asked of the two eliciting surprised and sarcastic looks from them.

  "Everything's great," Dr. Cahn snarked. "Love the fireworks. When's the finale?"

  "Give me a minute." Alex smiled and winked. "It's going to be spectacular!" Alex stayed crouched low and sprinted across the open field towards the perimeter. Bullets pockmarked the ground around Alex and he slide the last few feet to land at the base of the eastern berm. Stealing a quick look over the top of the berm, Alex saw at least eight muzzle flashes still advancing on the farmhouse.<
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  Alex motioned for the defenders behind them to cease fire. A moment later, and a few confused looks later, all of the gunshots from within the perimeter ceased, save for the explosions from the .50 caliber erupting from the rooftop. Slowly, the gunfire from outside the eastern perimeter died away and an uneasy silence descended, broken only by the large caliber rifles that Liam and Hayden were utilizing.

  Whispered voices drifted over the top of the berm, just south of Alex's position. He waited, letting the attackers closed the distance before giving them the ultimate surprise. A head crested the top of the berm, and Alex sprung his trap.

  The torch in his hand arched through the air and sparked the thick liquid that lined the bottom of the trench and a fire erupted. The flames raced around the entire length of the perimeter trench, eight foot flames crawling over the men trying to breach the New Hope defenses. Their screams tore open the silence and caused the two men on the rooftop to cease their attacks.

  The night was erased as the flames completely encircled the New Hope colony. The screams of the attacking men faded as they succumbed to the fire and an uneasy silence fell over the colony. The guns were silent the rest of the night.

  -----

  Everyone was on high alert for the next few nights, fully expecting another attack. Nothing came. All in all, fifteen attackers had been killed, six of them in the fire that Alex started, nine by gunfire. The New Hope colony only lost one - Marcus, who bled out from the gunshot wound he sustained in the fighting. Four others had been injured in the fighting, but suffered only minor wounds that were easily cared for by the medical team of Dr. Cahn and Paula.

  The consequences from the night were many and some far reaching. The resources and ammunition from the battle were severely depleted and the governing council knew that a foraging party had to be formed to find new supplies. The concern over the late night attack kept the council uneasy, and Liam's vote to send out a small squad were outvoted by the senior members. A week after the attacks, Sam and Charles agreed to send five men out into the nearby city to find food, medicine, and ammunition. Alex volunteered to lead the team, was outvoted, then pulled rank and chose his team anyway. Alex made a stirring argument that this was of strategic importance and stopped any argument that could be made.

  Alex and his team left the New Hope colony the following morning in one of the two trucks still available to them. They left just after dawn and planned to be back at the colony before sunset when it would be too dangerous to be out in the countryside, unable to see any threat around them. Plans were made to signal the colony when they were nearing the entrance. One signal to indicate that they were safe and clear of any dangers, the other if they were under attack or duress. Everyone prayed they would never have to use the second signal.

  -----

  The trip into Canton took just over an hour. Canton was the largest of the nearby cities and Alex viewed it at the most likely source of the supplies they needed. It would also prove to be the most heavily infested of the cities, seeing as the population of Canton was larger.

  "Okay, listen up," Alex said grabbing the attention of the other four men. "Our main priority is to try and get some ammunition to help replenish our stores. After that medicines, and finally any food we can find."

  "But isn't food more important, sir?" The young man, Pierce, spoke up. He had been in the colony for two weeks and still had not found his rhythm within the group. Every time he spoke it was timid and questioning, never with confidence. Alex chose him for this mission for two reason: he hoped it might help him find a place within the colony, and he was expendable. If Pierce couldn't get past his intimidation with every aspect of day to day living in this new world, he would only be a drain on the colony and never make it.

  "We have food in the colony and a few cattle left for fresh milk and meat. Worst case scenario, we slaughter a cow and head out into the nearby cities in search of food stores." Alex stared hard at the young man, willing comprehension on him. "But if we don't have ammunition to protect the colony and those food stores, then there is no reason for this little jaunt into the outside world, is there?" Everyone in the back of the truck kept to themselves, each one trusting in the direction of the man who had gotten them this far. They all knew why Pierce had been chosen for this mission, but none of them wanted to talk about it.

  "Yeah," Pierce said timidly again. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He sank down into his seat in the back of the truck looking to the other two men there with him for support. He did not receive any.

  Liam had provided Alex and Shawn with the directions to the gun stores located in Canton. There were two of them plus a Wal-mart that might still have supplies of ammunition. Alex knew full well that the first things to be looted when an nationwide crisis like this would happen would be the gun stores and the food stores. He just hoped that there was something left for them to take home.

  "Contact," Shawn called through the open window of the cab. "Two slow movers just ahead." The foraging party had discussed this plan in great detail, making everyone aware that driving a truck into the city was not going to be subtle. They were going to be advertising their presence to everyone and everything in the area, so their guard had to be high and the actions quick and decisive. Alex made a standing order that no one, even if they were believed to be clean and uninfected, was going to be taken back to the colony with them. Each person asking would be given the directions to the New Hope colony, but would have to get themselves there. At that time, their health status and usefulness to the colony would be assessed, but not before.

  The directive was not well received by any member of the foraging team, but no one dared to question it. Logically, it was the correct thing to do. But it was no where near humane. In these times of chaos, everyone would have to fend for themselves. Alex stood and moved the the front of the truck bed, placing the rifle and the top of the cab to steady his aim. Liam had been able to fashion some additional sound suppressors for some of the rifles and these would be the first line of defense used this afternoon. Two barely audible pops issued from the small caliber rifle and the zombies fell to the ground.

  Shawn turned left on Main Street and stepped on the brakes. Cars blocked the road in front of them leading to the gun store two blocks ahead. "What do you want to do?" Shawn asked through the opening.

  "Kill the engine to begin with," Alex ordered and the truck fell silent. Without the sound of the small block engine affecting their ears, the small foraging party could begin to hear the moans of the walking dead. Alex assessed their situation and surroundings and began to form a plan. "Everyone out of the truck and let's clear that building." He indicated a tall building on the corner at the intersection of the two main roads in Canton. "Clear it, secure it, and we'll move from there."

  Alex's team moved with surprising precision and efficiency despite the fact that this was their first trip outside of the stronghold to forage for supplies. With two men on point, two guarding the flanks and one bringing up the rear, the small squad moved quickly away from the truck to approach the front of the building. The doors were locked and Shawn stepped away from the building, reaching for the sawed-off shotgun slung across his back.

  "Stand back, everyone," he warned and gave the team just a moment to clear away from the entrance doors. The shotgun boomed and the lock in the door disintegrated as the double-00 buckshot tore a fist sized hole where the lock used to be. "They'll have heard that," he said and hurried to switch the shotgun for the scoped hunting rifle.

  "Inside," Alex commanded the team, "and keep your eyes open." The three men entering the front of the building, Mark, James, and Pierce, drew the sidearms from their holsters and pushed the door aside.

  "Contact," one of them yelled and small arms fire erupted inside the building. Alex and Shawn entered behind the men, their rifles shouldered looking to support the men already inside. They had talked and planned for instances such as this, entering, clearing and securing a buildi
ng, but this was their first practice. And it had all gone wrong.

  Fresh, red blood stained the floor and it spread from the multiple gunshot wounds in the two victims splayed out on the floor. "What the fuck did you do?" Alex yelled at the men, quickly realizing that talking about entering a possible infected building and doing so were two completely different things.

  "We...we thought..." Mark stammered, trying to find the words to explain what had just taken place.

  "No, you didn't think!" Alex fumed. "God dammit! Use your fucking heads BEFORE you pull the trigger!" Shawn was at the victims sides, checking for a pulse in the bodies lying on the floor.

  "Dead," he announced to the group.

  "Wake up, people. This isn't a fucking video game. If you shoot something it dies. If something bites you, you die! Screw your heads on or you're going to get me and Shawn killed here." Shawn chuckled at this statement. Alex was pissed, but at least he was trying to keep some humor. Ever since the attack on New Hope a week ago, Alex had been a different person; a better person.

  "Clear the building," Alex ordered, "and for God's sake don't fuck up again." The team of five men proceeded to move throughout the building, checking each room with utmost care. Shawn remained below, securing the door against anything that might try to enter.

  The building was free of any walking dead and any additional living people. Alex had figured as much, but knew that they had to follow through with the procedure to be sure. Once he was satisfied, Alex and the other four returned to the bottom floor to regroup with Shawn and discuss further plans.