Contagion: The Rising

by Carter, John

  “If we can keep our location a secret,” he looked at her and smiled.

  She laughed, “Seriously?”

  “I think we will. It’s been fairly nice getting some new vegetables that we haven’t seen in a long time. Now that winter is pretty much happening in a few weeks, we get to harvest it and hold our position for a while.”

  “You guys have been together for quite a while, huh?” Emma winced at the pain coming from her shoulder.

  “Yeah,” Jeremiah watched as she argued with her bandages. “Let me see that.” He adjusted the underlying bandage enough for her to move freely. “I’m sorry for making those a bit too tight. Are you feeling okay?”

  “It’s okay, I understand I have to make double sure it heals properly. Not really, I feel normal, but that’s coming from someone who doesn’t understand how it’s like to be at normal.”

  Jeremiah nodded, “How have you been able to survive this long without controlling your sugar?”

  “Well, we’ve been lucky to not have any good food whatsoever. It was either cardboard or grass. So I stuck with grass. Although, that might not be a great option, it was simple and kept my sugar low.”

  “You need some carbs too,” Jeremiah shifted his feet around the sandy part of the highway shoulder. She nodded. “Sorry for preaching. Okay,” he cleared his throat. “If you go through the part of that other hill that’s a bit flatter, you’re pretty much hidden from anything that’s traveling on the highway. If you go south, you should hit the forest where the farm is at pretty quickly.”

  “Thanks, Jeremiah.”

  Jeremiah nodded, “Hey Emma.” She turned around but walked backwards. “Be careful.” He smiled and started his walk back to the bunker. Emma continued to watch as he disappeared and she turned back around to the road in front of her.

  Brady stopped and turned to Mark, “Why are you helping them?” Mark stood still as Brady paced. “I see how you guys are. Working both sides of the fence, huh?” He pointed at Mark and laughed, “You didn’t think I’d notice how you acted around that bitch of a sister of hers.” Mark grabbed him and picked him up by his uniform.

  “You want to hit me? Then hit me. I’m not the one being a rat,” Brady laughed as Mark let go of his uniform and dropped him. He landed on his knees and continued laughing. Mark walked back and headed to the forest. “Yeah, go. Go waste more energy and time! That’s all you’re ever good at,” Brady got up and strolled over to the barn.

  Mark continued walking and stood near the edge of the forest. He listened to the trees swaying and heard a twig snap close by but saw nothing stirring. He walked closer to the sound and pulled out his gun. A sudden wail scared the crap out of him. He jumped over the broken log in front of him and laid down on the forest floor. He quietly listened to the noises get louder and closer to him. The ground rumbled as the Riser stood still near the broken log. It raised it’s head and wailed once again. Mark looked up and watched the Riser sniff the air. A distant wail signalled the Riser in front of him to answer. It responded with a lower pitched wail and jumped off the log. Mark waited until he heard the wails get further away. He slowly crouched near the log and leaned on it. He sat down and looked at his gun. Another twig snapped near him which caused him to point the gun in the same direction. A shadow forced him to fall over as it loomed over him. He attempted to shoot but his gun was no longer in his hand.

  Brady sat on his broken lawn chair and took out another cigarette. Trevor walked in and threw a bottle of alcohol at him. His green eyes glowed with frustration.

  “It’s about time. I was beginning to wonder if you even had time to make this,” Brady lit his cigarette. He offered one to Trevor, who raised a hand to decline.

  “What’s the plan?” Trevor sat on a nearby barrel and played with his suspenders holding up his jeans. He reeked of alcohol.

  Brady shook his head, “We have to get rid of Mark’s group.”

  “Yeah, I figured so.”

  “I’m thinking Chloe is ready now.”

  “Yeah?” Trevor looked uncomfortable.

  Brady smiled, “Are you falling for her?” Trevor’s demeanor quickly changed and he shook his head. The flash of light from the fire showed the scar under his chin that he received from the failed supply run. His father had shielded him with his own body and died due to the shrapnel.

  “Seriously? I figured you would,” Brady puffed on his cigarette. “Don’t be so upset. I’m sure she’d forgive you.” He exhaled smoke, “Eventually.” Trevor stood up and walked over to the barn door.

  “Get things done,” Brady stretched his legs as Trevor walked out of the barn.

  Sarah watched as Trevor walked out of the barn and back to the silo. “He had another meeting with Brady.”

  Rory sat at the table, “I’m guessing we have to leave sooner than we thought.”

  Sarah backed away from the window and sat down at the table. Rory looked down at the maps stretched out on the table.

  “We still need to head to the coastline,” Sarah pointed on the map. “I know that outpost is out there.”

  “We’ve had no confirmation of any survivors there. It’s a gamble to even think about heading that way.”

  “It’s that or deal with Chloe and Brady,” Sarah looked up as Rory frowned and nodded. “I’d rather see if we can survive out there. We have no idea what they’re planning for us here.”

  The shadow sat back on the log as Mark struggled with his balance and the loss of his gun. He waited to see if the shadow would attack once again.

  “Mark, it’s me. It’s Emma,” Emma got closer to Mark and touched his shoulder.

  His eyes widened, “Emma?”

  Emma motioned for him to calm down. He reached for his lighter as he regained some composure. “You’re supposed to be dead.” Mark shook as he held the lit lighter next to her face. “Your eyes are still normal,” he stared at her eyes and suddenly hugged her. The abrupt scrape from his facial hair to her face shocked her. She winced from the pain of her injured shoulder and pushed him away.

  “Is my sister okay?” She continued to wince as Mark slowly moved away from her.

  “Yeah, but it might not be that way pretty soon,” he motioned to her shoulder. “Is that where….”

  She held her shoulder and sighed, “Yes.”

  “Can I see?” he turned his attention to her shoulder. She crouched down as he brought up his lit lighter to inspect her shoulder. “Who bandaged it?”

  Her eyes dropped, “Some people found me. Soldiers. Actually, a family. They took care of me and well, gave me a few things to get back out here.”

  “Are they here?” he looked over her shoulder and back towards the forest.

  “No, they’re not bad people,” Emma wiped her face with her sleeve. “You know them, Tony, Kayla and Dani.”

  Mark smiled, “I did a long time ago. I’m glad they’re still around. I’m sure they’re willing to help us out right now. We need it. You need to see your sister.” He motioned for her to follow, but she stayed still and shook her head. He walked back to her, “Why not? She’s been a wreck without you.”

  “Brady will hurt her as soon as he sees me.”

  “I’ll sneak you in.”

  “He already knows about you helping us, I’m sure he’s got Trevor watching you all day.”

  “What?”

  “Tony and Kayla told me of what you were doing.”

  “Oh,” Mark sat back, “Yeah, then what do you want to do?”

  “Bring her back here.”

  “I’ll bring them, but where will you hide?”

  “I’ll be around. Just stay close to the ground. The broken fence let a few in but I took care of the one earlier.”

  Mark hugged her carefully and kissed her forehead. She smiled as she watched him disappear into the forest. He made his way to the edge and walked to the house. Sarah opened the door as Mark was about to knock.

  “Hey Mark, is everything okay?” Sarah said suspiciously bec
ause his face was flushed.

  “We all need to meet up in the forest. Five minutes, okay?”

  Mark walked off as Sarah looked confused and called Rory over. “Mark wants us to meet him in the forest.”

  “Did he say why?”

  “No, but he looked shook up.”

  Brady slowly sat back in his broken chair and attempted to sleep. The pain from his arm grew worse and bothered him as he tried to get comfortable. He suddenly jumped up and started screaming as his body contorted.

  Chapter 7

  Trevor pulled Parker outside and motioned to keep his voice low, “She can’t hear this.” Parker smirked and followed his brother over near the barn.

  “What is it? Is he ready to go on the plan?” Parker crossed his arms and rested against the barn.

  Trevor smirked, “Yeah, all we need to do is set her up.”

  Parker hit Trevor’s arm, “Are you sure you can go through with it?”

  “Yeah,” Trevor’s voice cracked. “Yes, we need to. Brady has been stock piling all of the supplies and thinks we can head out in a day or so.”

  “I’m hoping that you’re right, even though I don’t trust him. He still might double cross us.”

  “Yeah, well we have a backup plan.”

  “The Risers?” Parker raised an eyebrow.

  “Yeah, I’m sure a few of them got in when we busted the fence open,” Trevor shifted his feet and watched Chloe approach the barn. “What the hell is she doing?” Chloe saw the twins talking and instead walked over to the silo. “She’s just going inside to go to sleep, probably.”

  Parker looked at Trevor, “So you’re not hooked on her, right?” He smirked as Trevor walked over to the barn. Parker followed as Trevor stopped short of the entrance.

  Sarah walked slowly with Rory right behind her until she spotted Mark near the edge of the forest. “What are we doing out here?” She squirmed and shifted her feet.

  “Sarah, okay,” Mark motioned for her to stay there and hurried into the forest. He stepped out with Emma.

  Sarah fell to her knees as Rory stood in shock. “Emma…is that really you?” She stuttered as she continued to stare at Emma.

  Emma approached her and helped her up. Sarah instantly hugged her, which caused Emma to yelp out in pain.

  Sarah let go of Emma, “I’m sorry.”

  “No, it’s okay. It’s healing,” Emma smiled and hugged Sarah who started to cry.

  “You’re alive,” Sarah sobbed as she held onto her.

  Emma nodded, and Sarah finally loosened her grip on her. Rory got closer to her and hugged her slowly.

  “Where’s Ryan?”

  Sarah looked down, “A Riser got him.”

  Emma’s eyes widened, “What the hell happened?”

  “They were on patrol and a Riser attacked them. Brady was able to get free and he left him out there without a weapon.”

  “That son of a bitch!” Emma yelled as Sarah attempted to calm her down. She looked down and covered her face as she continued swearing.

  Sarah hugged her again, “We’re going to be okay. You’re alive.” She kept touching her uninjured arm to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

  Mark smiled as Sarah held onto Emma. “We have a huge problem going on with Chloe and Brady.”

  Emma looked at Mark, “When?”

  “Tonight. Trevor should be preparing Chloe on a rampage. She’ll go off on your sister and Rory then Brady will kill her.”

  “Wow,” Emma said.

  “What?”

  “That plan really sucks,” Emma shook her head as Rory chuckled and Sarah smiled. “What? It’s dumb. I mean granted, it is Brady thinking of this shit. Nevermind. Anyway, so what are we doing?”

  “I’ve stashed a few things around the house and near the back of the barn, so we can take that with us.”

  “We’re going on foot?” Rory asked.

  “Yeah, Emma met some of my friends to the North.”

  “They were on the bay for a while, but they’ve been near the farm for a short time,” Emma explained. “We were right about the outpost but we were about two months too late. I think they’re moving somewhere else now.”

  “Will they help us?” Sarah looked to Mark.

  “Yeah,” Mark sighed. “It’s just getting to where they’re at now. I’m sure you’ll remember the area, Emma.”

  “Yeah, I do,” Emma agreed. “I’m sure they’ll help. They didn’t really like Brady either.”

  Trevor walked closer to the entrance of the barn and was met with complete darkness. The fire was out and there wasn’t a sign of Brady anywhere. Parker and Trevor rushed in and lit the fire barrel. They searched through all of the stalls and found nothing.

  “He left us, he fucking left us!” Parker started to freak out and grabbed a shovel. He started to stab the nearest hay bail and yelled at it.

  “No, man. He has to be here,” Trevor looked confused.

  Parker dropped the shovel and walked over to the last stall. “He. Left. Us. I fucking told you, he’d double cross us again.”

  “He didn’t exactly promise us that Dad wouldn’t get killed. He did warn us of making him go there with them.” Trevor pulled at his blonde hair and hit the sides of his head. Parker searched the back room of the barn and found the supplies they horded within the month.

  “It’s still here,” he showed the room to Trevor, who carried a single torch over from the fire barrel.

  “Then where the hell is Brady?” they turned towards the fire barrel and found a dark figure standing near it. “Brady?” Trevor slowly approached the figure. It appeared to roll it’s neck side to side and turned to face them.

  “What’s up, man? Is the plan still on?” Parker said as Brady’s face became visible with Trevor’s makeshift torch. His eyes were completely white and part of his face started to droop. He smiled and jumped onto Parker. Brady constantly kept biting on Parker’ head until Trevor was able to pull Brady off. He threw him against the far barn wall and picked up a pitchfork. He watched as Brady reared his head and wailed. He shoved the pitchfork into Brady’s head and impaled him against the wall. Parker was bloodied and dizzy but managed to grab a shovel and helped his brother separate Brady’s head from his body. The body twitched as the head made expressions of anger.

  “Trevor!” Parker yelled as he held onto his head. His ears rang as his eyes rolled back into his head. Trevor grabbed onto Parker as he fell down to the ground.

  “Oh god, Parker! Please, keep breathing,” Trevor held his brother as he twitched and writhed in pain. “Parker, keep breathing!” Parker eyes remained still and the rest of his body stopped moving as he lay in his brother’s arms. Trevor held on to Parker’ body and began to cry. He slowly rocked with his body in his arms for a few minutes and quietly placed Parker’ body down on the ground. He walked over to Brady’s semi-Riser body as it was still trying to piece it’s body together. Trevor grabbed the shovel and impaled Brady’s head. The rest of the body parts to suddenly ceased their movements. He kept stabbing until there was nothing left but blood, tissue and broken bones. Trevor sat in silence as the blood from Brady’s and his brother’s bodies covered him from head to toe. Trevor stood up as Parker stirred, “It’s okay, Parker. You stay here. I’ll get the rest of them back here.”

  Sarah led the group from the forest with Emma walking a few steps behind her. Mark quickly noticed that something didn’t seem right when they arrived at the house.

  “Does it seem quiet to you?” Mark looked around.

  “Yeah, too quiet, you mean?” Emma searched in the dark and found the silo in darkness. “Hey, they don’t have their usual fire outside.”

  “The farm doesn’t either,” Rory pointed towards the farm entrance. “It looks like smoke it coming out of the door.” Smoke from the recently extinguished fire barrel quickly billowed out of the entrance.

  “Go grab your weapons,” Mark directed Rory and Sarah as Emma followed after him with her machete out. They walked ove
r to the barn entrance and peered in. The darkness of the barn stopped them from venturing closer as Mark decided to light the barrel. The fire quickly grew huge and smoke flowed out before the fire settled down. They heard noises toward the rear barn wall.

  “That’s close enough,” Trevor’s voice bellowed throughout the barn. “I’ve got a rifle here, and I’m pretty good at shooting as you may have remembered.”

  Rory and Sarah inadvertently flash their flashlight towards Trevor’s voice. Parker wailed behind him. “Holy shit!” Rory jumped back and pulled Sarah away from view. Mark flicked his flashlight on and off to divert the attention over to him. A single shot rang out and it destroyed Mark’s flashlight.

  “Quit with the damn flashlights,” Trevor sounded more annoyed than angry. “Parker doesn’t like the lights.” Mark threw his broken flashlight at him. “Real mature. Throw out all of your weapons.”

  Sarah threw out her machete as Chloe grabbed her and held the machete to her neck. “You didn’t think I’d forget about doing this.”

  Rory thought about lunging at her, but Sarah shook her head. “Listen to your girlfriend, unless you want to have a headless one.”

  Emma hid behind Mark and inched closer to Chloe.

  “You better wait there, Mark, or else Parker isn’t going to be very happy,” Trevor looked at his Riser brother, who sneered at Mark but looked domesticated towards Trevor.

  Emma motioned for Rory to grab Sarah as soon as she would be able to rush Chloe. She watched as Chloe grew tired of holding the machete too high and lunged at her. The hit separated the machete, Sarah and Chloe with a loud bang. As Rory pulled Sarah away, Emma continued to punch Chloe. Emma finally raised the machete to kill Chloe, which triggered Parker to jump at her. Sarah grabbed a nearby shovel and cleared Parker’ head from his body.

  “No! Parker!” Trevor cried as he shot wildly at them as Emma shielded her sister.

  Mark was able to locate Brady’s rifle on the ground, lying next to Chloe. He waited for a muzzle flash from Trevor’s rifle and shot at the flash. Trevor suddenly cursed and climbed to the top of the barn.