ZOM-813 (Book 2): Fractured: The Other Side

by Marie Lanza

  Melody wondered what was killing her faster, the loss of blood or the infection running its course through her body.

  Jason didn’t sit around, immediately going to work and pulling supplies they needed from the shelves. Most of the shelves were empty, but he took everything that could fit in the backpack.

  Melody couldn’t look at the sight of the young woman dying before them. She seemed clearly aware she was near death, but appeared to have lost all motor abilities to reach out to them. So, Melody stayed in the doorway, standing watch for other infected that may be in the ward, that hadn’t revealed themselves yet.

  The woman threw up again, with that gag reflex first, then the vomit next. Her breaths were lighter and less wheezy.

  “OK, let’s move.” Jason was done packing and was making his way past Melody and Aubrey.

  “No, wait… We can’t just leave her like that, can we?”

  Jason was well aware of what Melody wanted; he just wasn’t sure if she knew exactly what she was asking him to do. The woman hadn’t turned yet, but it was inevitable she would. He knew they didn’t have time to be torn by a decision, so she walked over to the young woman and pulled his knife.

  The woman’s eyes met his, barely able to stay open. Jason thought she may have ever so slightly nodded, approving her death by his hands. Then he also thought it was just her neck muscles breaking down, causing her head to lightly bob back and forth, unable to hold it steady. He didn’t want to think about it, kneeling down and whispering, I’m sorry. Jason silenced her final breath, running his knife through the back of her skull.

  With no further delay, Jason moved out the door, pulling Melody and Aubrey with him.

  They traveled through the ICU, down another corridor which looked like a maternity ward. Melody tugged on his arm to grab his attention. “I’ve handled a lot, but I’m not sure I can handle seeing infected children,” she whispered.

  “It would be good to see if we can grab anything useful for Aubrey,” Jason urged.

  Before Melody could answer, several rounds of gunfire faintly cracked the air. There was a pause, before it repeated.

  “That’s definitely not good. We need to move. Get back to the trucks.” Jason swooped Aubrey into his arms and swung her on his back.

  They followed the path they entered through, luckily not running into any infected. Jason and Melody moved at a trot, slowing before corners and doors, surveying behind them every few moments, making sure nothing was following.

  The gunfire grew louder as they arrived back in the entrance hall. Jason looked out past the bridge to the parking lot, seeing the vehicles still parked, but not signs of the others. From the opposite end of the hall, Mike burst through the doors, with Nic right behind him.

  Melody stayed right on Jason’s feet as they ran for the exit to the bridge.

  “Go, let’s go! We got lots of company!” Nic shouted from down the hall. The doors were thrown open by a large horde of infected in close pursuit of Nic and Mike.

  Jason knew there was no turning around; they had to make it to the exit. He pulled Aubrey from Melody’s arms, both of them picking up their pace to get to the doors.

  Nic and Mike fired shots behind them as they ran knocking infected to the ground, but not killing them.

  Jason reached the exit first, holding the door open for Melody. They didn’t hang around for Mike and Nic, heading over the bridge for the vehicles. There was still no sign of Beck.

  Mike was out next, followed by Nic, both slamming the doors together. The infected assaulted the glass from the other side.

  Melody watched as more infected made their way down the hall to join in the charge. She knew there was no way they’d hold those doors closed for long. She made sure Jason had Aubrey back to the safety of the trucks before making her way back over the bridge. Melody was a few steps in when their barricade broke open, sending Mike and Nic stumbling forward.

  Mike gathered his footing, got up on his feet, and immediately turned around to fire his weapon. He was able to get two shots fired, before he realized how desperately Nic needed help.

  Nic was backpedaling away from the infected as fast as she could, but Melody noticed she had a limp in her step, and her weapon was on the ground.

  It all went very still. That stillness Melody was all too familiar as the world seemed to stop with a deafening silence. Melody turned back to see Aubrey crying in Jason’s arms as he motioned for Melody to get back to the trucks. She turned to Mike who fired his weapon at the infected in a frantic attempt to keep them at bay to cover Nic. Suddenly, the stillness was broken by shrills of Aubrey seeing the large mass of infected.

  “Get out of here!” Nic shouted to the others before her words were cut short, and her body was absorbed by dozens of infected.

  CHAPTER 9

  No one moved, nor did they say a word.

  Standing there with big eyes and open mouths, not truly processing they’d just lost Nic.

  Melody’s lungs let out an uncontrolled scream for Nic as she watched her body get torn apart by the infected. Jason tugged on her arm, pulling her away from watching anymore. Melody didn’t fight him, releasing herself to his grasp and running back to the vehicles.

  The infected gorged on Nic, too distracted to chase after Mike, making an easier getaway for him.

  There was still no sign of Beck, and no one was waiting. Jason put Aubrey in the backseat, leaving the door open for Melody to get in, but she stopped short, leaned over and began to throw up. Part of Jason knew it was coming, and a bit surprised it took so long. He imagined losing Nic was Melody’s breaking point. Jason let Melody do what she needed to do and helped her in with Aubrey, closing the door behind them.

  Mike was already in the truck with the engine rumbling. Jason didn’t waste any more time. He hopped in the driver seat of the Humvee and they began down the parking structure ramp.

  As they turned the final corner to head out of the parking lot, Beck ran into sight, waving them down. Jason pressed the brakes for only a moment to slow the vehicle and allow Beck to jump in the passenger seat.

  “I heard gunshots, what happened?” Beck asked.

  Jason was silent.

  Beck turned to Melody, noticing instantly her eyes puffed and red. He looked back at Jason. “What the fuck happened?’

  “We lost Nic.”

  “What? How?” Beck’s voice cracked as he reached for the radio. “Mike…”

  There was no answer.

  “Mike, come on, man…” Beck called out again.

  “It shouldn’t have gone down like that.” Mike paused. “Nic shouldn’t have gone out like that.”

  Beck threw the radio against dash in a mix of angry and frustrated emotions.

  Aubrey whimpered from fright of the sudden bang.

  Beck shook his head, ashamed of letting his emotions get the best of him. “I’m sorry.” He turned to Melody and Aubrey. “I’m sorry.”

  Melody signaled she understood. She and Jason both understood because they were all feeling the same way. Melody assumed Beck was already throwing around in his head the idea that somehow this was his fault. She imagined he was thinking he could have done something if he was there. Melody kept replaying it over and over in her head, wondering if she was only stronger, she too could have done something to save Nic. She had to search hard within herself to realize there was nothing any of them could have done. This was their reality now.

  Jason was driving with a heavy foot, only slowing around corners, making sure they were clear of infected and roadblocks. He didn’t ask anyone’s opinion on directions, staring straight ahead focused on the road.

  Buildings and homes were boarded up; most windows were busted out by the riots of the living during the first days, or the infected chasing them down. There were no signs of anything alive in the city. Every time Melody thought they were seeing fewer infected, a handful would show their ugly faces, coming around a corner of a building, meandering out of homes that no lon
ger had doors, or wandering the same neighborhoods they most likely died in.

  Driving through town, businesses and apartment buildings turned into single houses into subdivisions, to large areas of land holding homes with lots of acreages.

  They left the city using surface streets until they found Highway 59 that would take them out through mountain roads, into the desert. The highway had very few abandoned cars, allowing them to drive at a steady speed without stopping to get around obstacles.

  As they continued up the windy highway, Melody looked out past the tree line rushing by. She spotted what looked like enclosed tree stands that hunters would use, and wreckage scattered around. It looked as though there was a small battle in the woods, with bodies scattered sporadically throughout. Infected were caught in thorny barriers and continued to fight in their attempt to get released.

  “You’re gonna turn right on a dirt road up ahead,” Beck directed.

  The road was long and narrow with tree coverage on both sides. The trees thinned out to nothing, leading into a valley. Scattered along the narrow road, it looked as though the military clumsily scattered the same poorly constructed road blocks with razor wire strewn across their tops that they had been seeing all over the cities.

  More bodies of the infected came to life at the sight of them, thrashing around in the barbed wire, shredding themselves to pieces in their attempt to get free.

  Fort Mesa was in clear view. The facility had a wall surrounding it with the same razor wire as the ground obstacles. Two trucks outside the walls were charred, down to the metal frames, covered in ash. A pickup truck was smashed halfway through the front gate. Infected roamed the area freely in and out of the perimeter fence.

  Jason circled around just to get a look, but everyone knew they weren’t stopping.

  “I wonder how long these poor bastards lasted,” Beck said, sounding defeated.

  “And they didn’t take in survivors here?” Melody asked, wanting reassurance Harmony and Dan wouldn’t have been here when they took their final stand.

  “None that I heard. Just lab rats.”

  Jason took a few more seconds to take it in before circling around and heading back to the highway.

  “Where do you think they all went?” Melody asked.

  “My first thought is Glen. But I honestly don’t know anymore.” Beck sounded like a hollow shell of who they met just days before.

  Jason did a double take at him. “Then we get to Glen for another stop. But then we get to Summer Springs. No more unnecessary risks.”

  Melody was happy to hear it. They didn’t need anything extra, and the supplies they had could hold them over for at least a week, more if they rationed better. “How long do you think it’ll take us to get there? To get to Summer Springs.”

  “Two, three days at most.” For the first time, in many conversations, Jason had a very confident answer.

  Melody recognized that confidence as the man she trusted. Jason was now running on his terms, and as sad as it was that Nic needed to die for this part of him to wake up, Melody was grateful.

  Jason got back onto 59 and headed north.

  Melody found herself rocking back and forth, holding Aubrey. The little girl had been surprisingly quiet on the drive, which was usually something Melody thought she would have noticed, but she knew she had been distracted. Aubrey wasn’t necessarily a loud child but complete silence for any length of time was definitely unusual. She wondered if maybe she could sense mommy and daddy were stressed, or maybe she was scared, or maybe just exhausted and dazed.

  Melody rubbed Aubrey’s hands between hers and thought about the world around them their little girl was now living in. A world where they would constantly feel as though they were running for their lives. She would never play freely in their back yard or go to a park. She would never go to school and play with her friends. It was a strange feeling to think all that was gone – all the happiness gone.

  Jason slowed the Humvee and rolled it to a stop on the side of the road and rolled down his window halfway. Mike pulled the truck up next to him.

  “Everything alright?” Mike asked.

  “Yeah, we’re coming up to another town here in a few miles. I’m thinking we should go around.”

  Mike looked to the road ahead before nodding. “Probably right. Certainly don’t need anything.”

  “We’re thinking we take the 23 around, then get back on the 59. Should be a fast go around. This town is pretty small.” Jason handed the map back to Beck as he spoke to Mike.

  “Sounds good, man.” Mike didn’t have many other words. He looked exhausted and slightly conquered.

  The small convoy continued on, exiting the 59 and jumping on the 23 to make their way around the small community. It was a back road with nothing in the area.

  Melody admired the landscape and thought about how beautiful she remembered it before the outbreak. Tamed vineyards and orchards. Something she and Harmony enjoyed doing together, only they didn’t do it often enough. Melody’s mind brought her to think about Harmony and Dan, where they might be and what they were going through. Thoughts she had been hiding from herself because they were too difficult without answers.

  Jason slowed, pulling everyone’s attention. When Melody looked out to what was ahead, she noticed a truck in the middle of the road, facing in their direction.

  “Something’s not right about this.” Jason pressed the brakes and brought the Humvee to a stop.

  “I hear you,” Beck said as he leaned forward and reached under his seat pulling out a pair of binoculars. “We got a body in the driver’s seat. Can’t quite tell if it’s infected or alive or dead. Busted-up windshield.”

  “Don’t you think they’d reveal themselves if they were alive?” Melody asked.

  “What do we got, fellas?” Mike broke in over the radio.

  Jason picked up the receiver and called back, “Truck in the road has a driver but no movement. We just can’t make it out yet whether it’s infected.”

  “You think we got hostiles up ahead?” Mike asked.

  “Possibility,” Jason answered, not removing his eyes from the road.

  Beck used the binoculars to scan the area, but on one side they had a forest, and on the other were rows and rows of orchard.

  “Let me do the drive by first, see what’s up.” The truck was already pulling around the Humvee as Mike made the offer.

  “Mike, careful man. We’ll be right behind you.”

  “I don’t see anything out there,” Beck continued to survey the area.

  They watched as Mike slowly drove the truck towards the scene. Jason creeped the Humvee, following at a safe distance.

  The truck came to a stop. “Looks like we got a female. I’m gonna step out and see if I can’t get a reaction.” Mike hopped out of the truck and readied his weapon.

  Jason continued to roll forward. He was ready to hit the gas and blaze out of the scene if necessary. They watched Mike approach the vehicle, taking a wide walk around towards the driver side of the truck.

  “Shit guys, she’s gone.”

  “Infected?” Jason asked.

  “No, but bloodied up real good. Someone alive did this to her.”

  “Hold on, I’ll get over there with a medical kit!” The doctor in Jason went into high gear.

  “No, seriously, she’s gone. And not by bite marks. Her throat is cut wide open, man.”

  Melody’s heart sank. What kind of person would do that besides an infected? Melody knew people were turning into monsters as bad as the infected, but the civilized part of her, the part of her that still had hope for humanity, held out people would be helping each other

  Concrete and dirt suddenly exploded around Mike.

  Everyone in the Humvee froze before realizing he was being shot at.

  Mike ran for the truck jumping inside the driver’s seat and screeching his tires against the pavement.

  “What the fuck!” Beck shouted out.

  “Get d
own, Mel! Get down!”

  Melody leaned over, covering Aubrey with her body. She felt the Humvee pull side to side as Jason sped through the roadblock.

  Jason was right behind Mike. He didn’t see any signs of their attackers.

  “Did you see where that…?” Before Mike could finish, the truck’s tires exploded, sending the truck in a spin, burning rubber.

  Jason slammed on the brakes in an attempt to avoid wrecking into him. He took the Humvee off the opposite side of the road, passing up Mike who was trying to gain control, then pulled back onto the road.

  “Spike strips!” Beck pointed out. “We gotta get him out of there!” He jumped out and sprinted towards Mike who was already abandoning the truck. Both had their weapons aimed at nothing, knowing whoever did this could be anywhere.

  Mike ran straight to the back of the truck and immediately started pulling out bags of their supplies. Beck loaded several over his shoulders.

  Melody lifted her head to see what was going on. “Jason, down the road!” She pointed out towards the orchards where two trucks were pulling out.

  “Guys, let’s go!” Jason pulled his weapon, but knew firing would only be wasteful from their distance.

  Mike and Beck, both loaded with everything they could carry, ran for the Humvee.

  Jason heard what he recognized as the pops of gunfire. Without wasting another moment, he floored it, with both Beck and Mike still climbing in, barely getting the doors shut. They each sat with piles of supplies burying their bodies.

  Melody pressed her face against the window to see if she could get a view of the trucks distance behind them, while Jason continuously checked his side mirrors.

  “This world has gone to shit,” Mike said looking out his window behind them. “Anyone know how many?”

  “I counted only two,” Melody said as she took Aubrey off her lap. Melody put herself between Aubrey and the window, thinking if bullets came through, she could at least try to shield her.