***
Jeff looked to see if Michael had climbed down into the courtyard. When all he could see was Lydia, Ray, and the children, he scanned the tops of the other RVs and spied the leader running across the rooftops toward them.
Jeff watched him run, curious what he was doing. Michael skidded to a halt next to Frank and Cindy, but was calling to Ben, who was nearby. As Ben turned and they began to speak, Jeff crept toward them.
When Ben pushed Michael out of the way and took off across the RV rooftops, Jeff dropped his weapon and walked at a quicker pace toward Michael.
“There’s … there’s a lot more of them. They’re all around …” was the first thing he heard out of Michael’s mouth. The leader’s eyes were wide with fear, and he looked dazed.
Cindy finally noticed her boyfriend standing behind her. She glanced dismissively at Jeff and moved next to her man. Michael swiveled his head to her, and for the first time, Jeff saw a spark of nervousness in Cindy’s eyes as she saw the look on Michael’s face.
“What’s going on?” She let her weapon clatter to the roof as she reached for him.
Michael repeated his disjointed assessment of what he had seen. Jeff ignored him and Cindy as he watched Ben bound around the curved walls of the compound. He had stopped on top of Lydia’s RV and was looking below. Jeff could see his shoulders sag. Moments later, he was returning.
“Pull yourself together, asshole!”
Jeff turned at the sharp sound of Cindy’s voice. She was standing toe to toe with Michael, her hands gripping the front of his jacket as everyone else looked on.
“Because if you freak out now, you’ll lose control of these pricks, guaranteed.” Cindy leaned in until her eyes were nearly level with Michael’s.
Ben came to a halt a few feet away. Cindy looked at him and stepped back, her eyes still on fire. Michael seemed to realize that everyone was watching him, and his face went red. Jeff couldn’t tell at first if it was from embarrassment or anger. Moments later, he knew the truth.
“All right, everyone listen up!” Michael snarled. “There are more of these bastards to the south. We’re going to need to spread out along the wall, so we can thin them out. I’m going to put a single team on each-”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Ben shouted at him.
Michael whipped around.
“You’re kidding, right?” Ben moved closer, his hands still gripping the wrecking bar of a weapon he had used against the ghouls.
“Now why would I be kidding, Ben? What possible reason would there be for me to kid at a time like this?”
“I don’t know, but if you think we can still survive by poking at these bastards with as many as there are surrounding us, you’ve gone off the deep end.”
Ben stood with the weapon at his side, his body relaxed. His words were a casual assessment, as calm as ever.
The others began to talk, their panic rising above the wailing cries of the rotters down below.
“Everyone shut up! I can’t hear myself think!” The voices died down, and Michael shut his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them, he focused on Ben. “So what would you suggest we do? Huh? Any bright ideas? I mean, didn’t you agree with me before? We can’t just drive out of here, now can we? Not with so many of these bastards out there, right?” Michael paused, his head swiveling to capture everyone within his line of sight. “But if we fight. IF WE FIGHT …” He elevated his voice to overcome the mounting protests. “WE MIGHT STAND A CHANCE!”
“Boss, are you sure? I mean, we could still try to get the hell outta here.” Frank’s words sounded panicky. All the bluster and anger had gone out of him. He was looking at the other faces: Ben, George … even Jeff, in the hopes that they would back him up.
Michael sighed and stiffened his shoulders as he took a deep breath. He appeared calm when he spoke. “You want to get out of here, huh?” He surveyed the crowd. “You all want to leave, right? So how do you propose we do that?” He moved to the edge and pointed down at the desperate hands grabbing for him. “Those dumb fucks don’t appear to be all that good at climbing, and I seriously doubt they can manage to topple fifteen goddamned tons of steel. So what makes you think we’re better off trying to leave? Please, someone enlighten me!”
“Because they will get in.”
Michael’s eyes shot daggers at Jeff.
“No they can’t! Or didn’t you just hear me?” The leader moved toward Jeff, his pupils pinpoints as he ticked off his reasons. “They can’t crawl underneath; there’s barely any clearance. They can’t squeeze in between; we made sure the RVs were wedged tight against one another. They can’t climb, as I’ve already pointed out, so it’s not like they’re getting over the top. So tell me, Jeff. Please, I’m begging you. How are they going to get in?”
Jeff did not budge as Michael bore down on him. He was too tired, too exhausted to be afraid of the man anymore.
“They won’t need to climb over the top. Soon enough, they’ll be tumbling over the walls, no matter how many we kill.”
Michael stared at him, his expression a mix of disbelief and disdain.
“So let me guess … they’ll form pyramids and boost each other up?”
“No need.” Jeff moved toward the edge, aware that one gentle push from Michael would send him toppling down into the crowd. But he had to get his point across. “The more we kill, the more bodies fall to the ground.” He glanced down below. “We’re only killing a small number, but the bodies are all piling up next to the wall.”
Michael bellowed with laughter. “So let me get this straight: You think our kills will act like a giant stepladder for those things? Oh that’s rich.”
Jeff smiled feebly. “It’s not just the ones we kill, Michael.” He gestured toward the crowd. “Take a closer look.”
After glaring at Jeff for a few moments, Michael followed the other man’s eyes down into the crowd.
“See how some of them pop to the surface and then disappear again?”
“So what?” Michael countered. “I’m getting really tired of your bullshit observations, Jeff.”
“They’re crushing each other underfoot.”
Michael looked back down. “What do you mean? They’re attacking one another?” His expression was skeptical.
“No, they’re pressing so hard against the trailer that the ones in front are being sucked down beneath the others. They’re not attacking each other; they’re just doing everything within their power to get to us … even if it means crushing everyone in their way.”
Michael opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He watched as a man whose facial skin dangled like a second chin below his jaw was smashed repeatedly against the metal skin of the motor home. He grabbed and scratched at the side of the RV, but within seconds, the pathetic wretch was dragged underneath another ghoul, an obese woman who did not even look as she pushed down on his head. Other arms moved forward, grabbing his shoulders and pressing the faceless ghoul down even farther. The rotting man sank under the morass of spongy bodies until he disappeared entirely.
“It doesn’t matter.” Michael shook his head. “We can draw them away from this spot, all around the periphery of the camp. Even if what you say is true, when we spread them out, they won’t be able to pile up.”
Jason chose that moment to speak up. “Then won’t they just get in from even more places? Ben’s RV is the only one with the windows covered up, right?”
Michael’s eyes darted to the twelve year old. The leader had a shocked look on his face. Jason stared back at him, the admiration he had shown the man the day before completely gone, replaced with something that more closely resembled loathing.
Cindy rushed past Michael, practically charging at the boy. “Who said the little snot nose could speak?” she snarled. She stopped short as George stepped in front of Jason. Her claws were bared, and she looked at the middle-aged man without an ounce of fear in her eyes. When he didn’t back down, she glared at everyon
e else.
“You all better start listening to Michael right fucking now.” The low hum of Cindy’s malevolent voice cut through the nervous chatter that had started back up amongst the group. “Because last I checked, he was still in charge.” She pointed at Jeff. “Not you.” The words dripped with contempt. She turned and pointed at Ben next. “And not you either.”
She stepped next to Michael. Picking up her rifle, which had been lying near her feet, she held it stiffly in her arms and dared anyone to dispute her claim. Frank hesitated for a split second and swallowed hard before moving next to her and Michael.
Jeff looked around at everyone. No one seemed willing to speak up, not even Ben. He knew Cindy was crazy, but the idea of staying on the roof as an infected horde that numbered in the thousands surrounded them on all sides was pure insanity. He sighed as he realized it was once again up to him to take a stand.
“Cindy, it doesn’t make one bit of difference who’s in charge. If we stay up here, we’re dead.”
Cindy screamed in a rage at Jeff’s words and pointed her rifle at him. Michael reacted quickly, batting the barrel skyward just as she pulled the trigger. A shot rang out, and Megan screamed as almost everyone ducked or dropped to their knees.
“You stupid bitch!” Michael’s fist shot out and connected with Cindy’s cheek, knocking her flat on her back. Her head rebounded off the metal roof, and she lay still. Michael wrenched the rifle from her hands.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” he yelled at her, the butt of the rifle pointed at her face. He looked tempted to drive it into her nose, but froze. Cindy, dazed but conscious, stared up at him with raw hatred in her eyes.
Michael took a deep breath and looked around. Everyone was watching him, horrified at what had just happened. Jeff was stunned at Cindy’s reaction to his words, but equally as shocked that Michael had saved him. He watched from his knees as the brooding leader’s expression changed from rage to exasperation.
“So you all want to leave?” he repeated his question from earlier.
Heads rose up, surprise etched on faces as everyone heard the words spat out between clenched teeth. A few of the survivors replied with timid nods. Shaking his head in frustration, Michael moved back toward the edge of the RV and glared angrily at the infected multitude.
“Fine then. Go down below. If we’re leaving, we need to move fast.”
Chapter 21
Jeff stood and pulled Megan up next to him, giving her a hug as relief poured over the two of them. His smile faded as he saw Cindy rubbing her cheek where Michael had struck her. She spotted him looking, spat out a wad of blood in his direction and smiled, her crimsoned teeth reminding him of the creatures down below.
He watched Michael move next to her and extend his hand. Cindy stared at it, and her eyes narrowed. It looked to Jeff as if she were debating whether to grasp the appendage or tear into it with her teeth. When Cindy sullenly reached up, Michael hoisted her to her feet. They glared at one another until he turned to address the group.
“Move it, people! We’re all getting into my RV. Grab as many supplies as you can. We have to get rolling as quickly as possible.”
As everyone scrambled down the ladder, he shouted after them.
“You have one minute, and I do mean ONE minute!”
Lydia had been watching from below, huddled with the children next to the table on which Ray lay. Jeff smiled at her, and she returned it weakly as Megan ran to explain what had happened. The gray-haired woman’s eyes widened, and she nodded then rushed to her RV.
She flew past Jeff as he moved toward the children. Megan was talking to them, and he looked at Ray, who was conscious again, his face ghostly pale. Jeff could see the veins beneath his skin, and his irises were almost completely milky white. His breathing was shallow, but he appeared to be cognizant of what was going on.
“So we’re leaving?” he wheezed.
Jeff nodded wordlessly, afraid his voice might crack. Ray was fading, but might have a couple of hours left. The last thing the boy needed to hear was the fear in his voice. When the teen smiled, Jeff tried returning it, but was grateful when Teddy ran up. Ray’s eyes moved to his friend, and his smile widened as they clasped hands.
“We need to get you up and into the RV,” was the last thing Jeff heard out of Teddy’s mouth as he turned away, relieved. Taking a steadying breath, Jeff moved next to Megan and the kids. He painted another false smile on his face.
Joey, the sandy-haired boy, was trying to look brave as Megan whispered to them. Nathan’s flaming red hair stood out like a beacon as he mimicked the older boy and did his best to stand tall. They remained close to Sadie, whose bright eyes were glued to Megan as the little girl clung to a ratty baby doll.
As he got close, Jeff could hear Megan’s words. “So head on over to Michael’s trailer, okay? We’re going to take a little trip. Isn’t that exciting?” She looked at them, her eyes glistening. When Sadie nodded shyly, Megan ruffled her fine, silky hair. “That’s a good girl.”
Megan looked at the boys. “Take Sadie inside the RV and get in the back. Just ignore the noise outside the camp; everyone will be in there with you in a minute. Now go!” She shooed them away. Each boy grabbed one of Sadie’s hands, and they ran to the RV. Megan watched them go as Jeff slipped a comforting arm around her shoulder. As the children entered the RV, the two adults watched it vibrate from the pounding it was getting from the opposite side.
Jeff looked around the camp. George and Jason had gathered the small amount of supplies from their RV and were back in the courtyard. Frank and Ben had already lugged several large duffel bags full of gear out of their trailers and dumped them in Michael’s. It looked like everyone was about ready to go.
Jeff groaned as he saw Michael speaking heatedly with Cindy near the fire pit. Whatever the argument was about, it seemed to be coming to a close as Michael turned from his girlfriend and whistled to gain everyone’s attention.
Jeff nudged Megan. “Our fearless leader speaks.” She snorted in derision as everyone stopped what they were doing.
“It’s time to go. Time to say farewell to this place.” Michael shook his head and looked at the ground, his eyes filled with frustration once again.
“There’s just one more thing that needs to be done before we leave.”
Everyone stood waiting. Jeff could feel the tension in the air; they were all anxious to get a move on and were growing tired of Michael’s little speeches. Jeff glanced at Teddy and noticed the boy had managed to get Ray up off the table. They leaned against it, watching their leader like everyone else.
Michael took the M16 off his back and pointed it at the ground. “This place has meant a lot to us. We fought hard to get here, and it was my hope that we would be able to stay a while longer.” He looked up and smiled. “But it wasn’t meant to be. So now we leave, and hopefully we can make a fresh start somewhere else.” He raised the rifle up. “But first, we need to say goodbye to old friends who lost their lives helping us get this far.”
He turned to face Ray and took aim.
“Goodbye, Ray.”
Chapter 22
The bullet plowed through Ray’s right eye, blowing shards of his glasses along with globs of brain fragments all over the table on which he had just been lying. The noise exploded around the compound and was swiftly followed by screams and howls of shock.
Teddy stared at his friend as he slipped from his arms and slumped, lifeless, to the ground. Jeff gaped at the corpse and then at the other boy, who could only stare down at Ray’s body, a blank expression on his face.
A smell of cordite and shit permeated the air as Lydia ran over to Teddy, who was now kneeling down trying to speak to Ray. She glanced at Michael for a split second, a look of absolute horror and revulsion on her face.
Michael spun, the rifle pointing at Ben. Jeff had seen a blur of motion out of the corner of his eye, and apparently so had Michael. Ben froze, but the homicidal intent was still in his eyes. Mic
hael held the rifle steady as he glared at everyone. Megan, who was one of the people who had been screaming, shoved her face into Jeff’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her, stunned.
The only sound inside the camp now was of Teddy screaming as Lydia fought to wrestle him away from Ray’s body.
“It’s time to move on, people! Ray was dead already,” Michael shouted. “We couldn’t take him with us, and you know it. Remember the rules! Once bitten, you’re already dead. There is no going back, no cure, no hope, and no prayers that can change things.” He looked at them with contempt. “Did you really think we could take him with us?” He spat on the ground. “WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WEAK, PEOPLE! If you plan on surviving much longer, you better accept that right fucking now.”
His eyes burned into them. Teddy was still clutching at Ray, and Lydia had given up trying to pry him away. Instead, she leaned over him and whispered in his ear as she rubbed his back.
“Everyone, move out!” Michael waved the rifle and motioned the survivors toward the RV. No one moved at first, and he hissed in frustration.
He went to Frank, who looked afraid of the other man. “Get them all aboard. Do it. Now.” He glared at his underling until Frank bobbed his head and walked away. The rotund hick looked relieved, as if he had barely escaped becoming Michael’s next victim. He waved everyone into the RV. They dragged their feet, a fatalistic look in their eyes.
As Jeff moved toward the RV, his eyes stayed locked on Michael, who was holding Cindy by the arm and giving her a command. She appeared to be the only person besides the leader who wasn’t upset by what had happened. Jeff was not surprised. He watched her bob her head and run toward Ben’s RV. Michael turned back to the others after she left. He kept waving the rifle, urging everyone to move at a faster clip.
The Dark Trilogy Page 35
