‘General’ Dean lunged over the front seat and grabbed the walkie-talkie. “Shoot at will!”
“And attract every non-breather for miles around.” Chalice yanked it from his hand.
“They’re already here.” He fell back into the seat as shots ran out.
A soldier stood in the opening at the top of one of the transports and riddled bullets from a semi-automatic rifle into the milling herd. Bodies dropped, littering the pavement. The shots attracted the undead’s attention and they turned as one toward the vehicles.
Chalice gripped her pistol in her right hand and her sword in the other. “If we have to get out, General, you stay in the car. You won’t be any help out there.” The man was one of the biggest idiots she’d ever met.
As bullets continued cutting the herd, the undead continued shuffling forward. Their sheer numbers churned Chalice’s stomach. Antidote or not, no one would survive on their feet out there.
“Retreat!” Colton’s neck bulged as he screamed into the walkie-talkie. “Keep shooting as they come. Don’t let them overtake us.”
Slowly the vehicles backed up, drawing the herd after them, dangling themselves like a carrot before a murderous mule. As zombies fell, those behind them climbed over and kept coming.
Chalice rolled down her window and aimed. Her first shot blew half of a man’s neck off. Her second took the one behind him in the face. She got on her knees and perched on the door frame.
Soon, Mychal’s shots rang past her. Even Dean finally put himself to good use and squeezed off some shots. She could only pray their ammunition would hold out.
The Hummer hit the ditch. Chalice fell, landing on her back. Her breath fled from her body. She struggled to breathe as Mychal climbed out beside her.
“Come on.” He glanced at the approaching undead.
“I can’t … breathe.”
“You’ll be that way permanently if you don’t get back in the Hummer.”
“Chalice, come on!” Colton maneuvered the Hummer out of the ditch and positioned it between them and the undead. “Get in.”
She pushed to her feet, one hand clutching her side, and climbed in. She slammed her door as Colton pressed the gas pedal, shooting them forward. He raced back to their position between the transports as the undead converged on the spot where Chalice fell.
“What possessed you to sit in the window?” Colton glared.
“Who told you to run into a ditch?” She returned his glare before taking aim out the window again. “I had a much better shot from there.”
“You have a much better chance of living from here.” He plowed over a straggling woman. Half her torso was missing, the bones shining white through the gore.
“Just concentrate on your driving.” She didn’t mean to be snippy, but the pressure to free their friends filled her. Not only did they need to draw the undead away, they needed to dispose of them. They couldn’t empty out the mall if they had to worry about a crowd this size.
Once on the highway, the transports turned to face the oncoming horde. Soldiers appeared through the top of the other two transports and joined their gunfire to the first. The soldiers in the back of the trucks, fired through any opening the barrel of their weapons would fit through.
“Hey!” Amos’s voice came over the walkie-talkie. “I know how much you guys love that old Hummer, but I think you’ll be safer in here.”
“I agree.” Chalice shoved the walkie-talkie onto a clip on her belt and shoved her door open. “Make it fast. Those things are coming and coming quickly.”
The General rounded the front of the Hummer, glanced behind him, and froze. Chalice shoved him toward the trucks. “That shot won’t do you any good if they catch up to you.”
“Right. Yes.” He grabbed a soldier’s hand and scrambled onboard, the others right behind him.
“I thought you stayed behind,” Chalice said, grinning to Amos.
“I never could resist a good fight.” He pulled the back of the truck closed. “Things are going to get ugly.”
“They can’t push us over, can they?” The General plastered himself against the truck cab.
“Let’s hope not.” Chalice took a position on the side and gripped her sword. “Save your bullets, gentlemen. It’s hand-to-hand combat now.”
The soldiers stopped firing and gripped their weapons, bayonets out. Most of them were no older than her and Colton. She doubted any of them had the fighting experience her group did. She closed her eyes, prayed, opened her eyes, and then jabbed as the first of the undead charged the trucks.
The truck shook under the impact, but stayed upright. The General, his face pale and stoic, openly struggled to keep his composure. If the imbeciles wanted his men’s admiration, he’d gain it better by fighting alongside them.
Chalice grimaced and kept fighting. Amos had most likely saved their life. The Hummer, even as strong as Bill had made it, would not have survived an onslaught such as this.
Shots from the behind the zombies riddled through them. Chalice and the soldiers ducked as a tank rumbled in their direction. Standing tall behind a machine gun, was Sarah. Within minutes, what was left of the undead lay in piles.
Chalice climbed from the back of the truck. “Remember, guys, they can still bite. Any that are moving need a bayonet in the head.” She hurried to the tank, Colton right behind her.
*
Bill emerged from the tank. “I was hoping it was you guys. You’re late.”
Colton grabbed the older man in a tight hug. “We’ve quite the story to tell. How is everyone?”
“Just fine. The Jackson three went out the other day and bagged a deer. Who are your friends?” He glanced over Colton’s shoulder.
“They’re here to help us move.” Colton placed his hands on Bill’s shoulders. “Rachel did it. She succeeded in making an antidote.”
“I’m living proof of it,” Chalice said, pulling down the collar of her shirt. “We’ve all been immunized. Once we get all of you to the base, you’ll receive your shots.”
Bill took a deep breath, his relief palpable. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get this place packed up.”
Colton and Chalice dashed for the Hummer, leaving Mychal to come with the soldiers. It was going to be a job to empty the mall of everything with value, but even the kids could pitch in with most of it.
Colton stopped before driving up to the door. “I’ll miss this place.”
“Me, too.” Chalice placed a hand on his arm. “Too bad we can’t take the whole thing with us. We’ll have to leave some of its comforts behind, and start all over.”
“I don’t want to do that.” He glanced at her. “The first thing I’m going to do is build us a place of our own on the far corner of that base. I’m taking at least a mattress. I’m not spending my marriage nights on a bunk bed.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” She gazed out the window. “You know what I would really like?”
“What?”
“To live in one of those houses we cleared out. It’s a gated community. Why can’t we move there? It’s closer to the base, only half a day’s drive. The undead can’t get in.”
“We’ll have to clear out the park.”
“These soldiers will help.” Her face fell. “I don’t want to join the military, Colton. I want a normal life, whatever that is now. I want days to go by without having to fight one of those things.”
He ran his thumb down her cheek. “Then, that’s what you’ll get. Let me talk to the General.” He pushed open the door. “Go say hello to Grandma for me.”
He jogged to where the General looked at the destroyed body of one of the undead. The man nudged it with his foot. “Disgusting things.”
“Sir.” Colton stood at attention. Giving the man the credit he felt he deserved would only strengthen Colton’s request. “A word, please.”
“Proceed.” He smiled as if he knew Colton buttered him up.
“There is a housing development half a day’
s drive from here. I’d like to use the soldiers to clear out the park where we trapped a lot of these things. We’d rather live there than at the base.”
The General looked around them. “I don’t blame you. This is a nice set up you have here.” He rubbed his chin. “I’ll lend you my men on one condition.”
“Yes?”
“You let us take some of the comforts inside that mall to the base. My men deserve more than what they’ve got.”
Colton thrust out his hand. “Agreed.” A small price to pay for Chalice’s happiness.
He returned his handshake. “How many houses are there in that community of yours?”
“About thirty, maybe more. It’s gated. We’ve already cleared out most of the houses. There are a few to be emptied.”
He nodded. “I might just like to live in a house again, myself, but driving back and forth to work each day would take more courage than I possess.”
It would take anyone with a strong stomach to make that daily drive. “Thank you.” Colton dashed inside the mall in time to hear Chalice telling the rest of their group about Rachel’s discovery. She stood on the upper level, one hand on top of her dog, Lady’s head, her voice carrying to those below.
Taking the non-working escalator steps two at a time, he joined her, Buster jumping around his legs. “The soldiers will help us finish cleaning out the nearby gated community,” he said. “Those of you who want to live there, can join Chalice and me. We’ll build a garden in the nearby park, have school in the community building. It’ll be as close to what we had before this nightmare as we can make it.” He slipped his hand in Chalice’s. “If that isn’t something you’d like, you’re free to live at the base.”
Cheers rose from those below. Colton had no worries over the children. The adults would take them in, giving them a family. He grinned down at Chalice. “Ready to clear out some zombies or wait until tomorrow?”
“There’s no time like the present.” She leaned against the wall and ducked her head. “I don’t want anyone not immunized to go with us.”
“I agree.” He tilted her face to his. “What’s bothering you?”
“What if none of our friends choose to come with us?”
He chuckled. “My guess is that they’ll all come. Who wouldn’t rather live in a house than a barracks? A military base is no place for children.”
“Will we be safe?” Her eyes searched his.
“As safe as anywhere else. The land is fruitful here, Chalice. We can grow food, hunt the woods, and survive. Someday, these walking undead will no longer be a problem. That community is as good a place to make a new life as any.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Then, let’s go.”
7
Chalice stared at the Victorian style house she had admired on their first trip to the swanky housing community. She’d noticed the sign outside the fence, something she had missed the first time. The granite sign stated New Beginnings. Fitting, considering things were finally looking up for the survivors.
“This is the one I want,” she told Colton. “It’s already been cleared out. No blood, no gore.” She shuddered, thinking of the house where the woman had hid in the closet with her infant. Someone else was welcome to that particular horror show.
“It’s perfect.” He kissed the top of her head. “The soldiers are headed to the other side of the development with strict orders not to remove anything but the undead. Since the General wants some of the mall’s supplies, I’m not giving up what might still be stored here.”
“Agreed.” She unsheathed her sword and marched down the street toward the park. The closer she got to the iron fence, the more undead that crowded the bars. She’d dispose of what she could from the safety of this side, before cutting the padlock. The far gate would remain closed to prevent others from entering.
Faith and Trinity appeared at her elbow.
Chalice sighed. “How did the two of you get here?”
“We hid on one of the army trucks.” Faith stabbed a sharpened spear through the bars. “If this is going to be our home, we should help clean it up. This is something we can do. Alyssah is watching the babies.”
“Once we head into the park, the two of you have to lock yourself into one of the houses.” What was she going to do with that girl? “Promise?”
“Promise,” she said.
Trinity nodded. “Mychal taught us how to do this a long time ago.”
“I know.” At the time, Chalice had been angry with her brother, but now—
Faith was right. The children needed to help make this place a home. “Just be careful. You haven’t had your shot.” She eyed the leather gloves they wore. At least they’d thought about protection.
“Somebody has to help.” Faith stabbed again. “Mychal and Eddy found motorcycles in a garage. They’re playing, not working.”
“Colton will stop them.” Chalice grinned. Already, life was becoming easier. Someday, children could play outside without the dangers of the undead. Someday, she might have a child of her own to play ball with in the park.
She glanced at the clear sky overhead. Someday. Her gaze drifted to where the church steeple pierced the blue of the sky. She smiled. Maybe her and Colton would marry before heading back to the base to get the rest of their group inoculated.
“Let’s go.” She stepped back and eyed the heap of bodies. “We’ve done all we can safely do from this side of the fence. It isn’t safe to stick our arms through too far.”
The girls backed up and headed for the house Chalice had chosen for her and Colton. “Don’t forget to lock the doors,” she called after them. “I’ll come get you when we’re through.”
“The houses are cleared.” Colton joined her. “Luckily, most of the residents had fled, instead of finding this place their grave. Once the soldiers join us, we’ll head in there. You ready?”
Approximately fifty of the undead still shuffled around the park. With the soldier’s automatic weapons, they should have it cleared easily enough. She wrapped her right arm around Colton’s waist and leaned into him.
She raised her face for a kiss as the soldiers joined them. They lined up at the fence and opened fire.
Chalice sighed. One more major battle and they’d be done for a while. “Let’s clear out the stragglers.”
Along with the soldiers, Chalice and the rest of her fighting group formed a line and entered the park, disposing of any bodies that still moved and any that the bullets had missed. It would take a week to gather the undead and burn the bodies.
“My men have piled the bodies they found in the houses in front of the community center,” the General said. “Would you prefer they are brought here?”
“Yes, please.” The open area of the park would make a better bonfire than the street and hopefully fertilize the ground for a garden.
An undead grabbed her ankle, almost yanking her off her feet. Chalice plunged her sword into its head and kept moving forward. She was so tired of it all. Tired of smelling like death, tired of fighting, tired of protecting what was hers.
“What the hell?” The General stepped behind Chalice and Colton.
Ten sprinters raced toward them from the right. The soldier on the end didn’t have time to raise his weapon before they were on him. His screams chilled Chalice’s blood. The sprinters attacked the next soldier in line before the others fired, cutting down both the living soldier and the undead.
Chalice whirled to face the General. “Go finish off your man.”
He shook his head and shrank back.
“You can’t leave him there with his gut torn open.” She shoved him. “You want to be the General, then act like one.”
The other soldiers turned and stared at them, their faces impassive. The General stared at the knife in his hand as if wondering how it had gotten there. “I can’t. He’s still alive.”
“He won’t survive and is suffering.” Chalice shoved him again. “Do it.”
He stumbled, then righted himself and approached the dying man. The soldier lifted his hand, pleading to be saved. The cowardly General raised his knife, and froze. He turned to the side and vomited.
Colton groaned and stomped forward, finishing off the wounded man. He glared at the green-faced Dean before returning to Chalice’s side. “Waste of flesh.”
Dean yanked Chalice close and held his knife to her throat. “I want safe passage back to the base, now!”
“We aren’t finished here.” Colton’s face darkened. “We’ll leave in the morning.”
Chalice swallowed hard, the tip of the knife pricking her skin. “You never had any intention of taking our people with you, did you? You came only to take what we have.”
“That’s the way of the new world.” He backed up, keeping Chalice between him and the others. “Men, return to the trucks.”
The soldiers stood firm.
“Doesn’t look as if you are their leader any longer,” Colton said.
His grip tightened around her neck. “You’re all I need to get me safely home.”
*
“Then what?” Colton asked, his gaze never leaving Chalice’s wide-eyes. “Are you going to kill her? Marianne, too? What about Rachel and Eric?”
“Now that the antidote is done, they are no longer needed.” He continued his backward pace toward the trucks.
How did this keep happening? Was there no one left they could trust?
Colton took a step forward when Dean glanced at the remaining eight soldiers, freezing when the man looked his way again. If he could distract him long enough …
Amos stepped from behind one of the trucks, a machete in his hand. He held a finger to his lips.
Colton nodded, then shifted his gaze back to Chalice. He motioned toward her feet.
She brought her booted heel down on Dean’s foot, Colton could no longer think him a general of anything, then flattened on the ground. Amos rushed forward, swinging his weapon.
Dean turned, plunging his knife into Amos’s abdomen before the big man could take off his head.
The Zombie Awakening (Complete 6 Volume Series, plus prologue) Page 38
