Mace of the Apocalypse

by Daniel J. Williams

  Gilbert covered his mouth with his hand and gasped, “Oh my God. Oh my God!”

  Rob wanted to laugh at him again but held it back. The guy was a pussy. He shouldn’t even be out here with them.

  Mace pointed down the street, away from the hospital, and whispered, “Let’s get to Lowe’s and fortify this place. If we walk on the far side of the sidewalk, we should be able to get past them as quietly as possible. We’ll grab a car once we’re out of ear shot.”

  They moved quickly and quietly around the bus and down El Camino Real, keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of trouble. Mace spotted a small Uhaul truck and was happy to find the keys still inside. If they could make it to Lowe’s without any more pileups, they could be back within two hours. That would give him enough time to go for the tanker. Sleep would have to wait. He was operating on pure adrenaline and wasn’t sure when he would be able to sleep again.

  He had to drive up on the sidewalk a few times and the going was slow, but they were able to make it to Lowe’s without any serious driving obstacles or running into any people. He couldn’t help but wonder where everyone was hiding. The deadness of the streets left him feeling apprehensive and lonely. They pulled into the parking lot and stopped directly in front of the loading door.

  “Let’s make this quick and let’s be careful. Rob, get the extensions cords and power strips while Gilbert and I go for the lights.”

  Rob looked irritated and shot Gilbert a dirty look before heading off. Something popped in Mace’s head and he called quietly after Rob. “Hey, was it you that called me in the hospital?”

  Rob looked defiant. “I wanted to find out what was going on.”

  Mace nodded, knowing the answer before he’d even asked it. “All right, I just wanted to know. Be careful. We’ll meet you back here.”

  Mace turned to Gilbert before heading inside and checked his shotgun. “Don’t even cock it unless I tell you. I don’t want to get shot by accident.” He handed it back to Gilbert, who looked like he was going to faint.

  “I don’t want to be here. I don’t know why I had to come.”

  Mace tried to reason with him. “We had no choice. This is the new reality. You might as well get used to it.”

  Gilbert was shaking. “I don’t know if I can.”

  The response was swift and blunt. “Then you’ll die. It’s going to be that simple.”

  Gilbert’s eyes filled with tears and he shook his head. “But I don’t want to die.”

  “Then stay next to me and do what I say.”

  Mace grabbed a flatbed cart and wheeled it slowly through the entrance, using it as a buffer in case anything moved towards them. The store was quiet so they moved slowly and silently through the aisles, trying to read the aisle signs while keeping their eyes and ears alert for any disturbance.

  As they approached the lighting aisle Mace heard a faint shuffling sound, so he placed his hand against Gilbert’s chest, feeling it tremble and pound. He turned towards him, putting his finger to his lips. Gilbert gawked back wide-eyed, nodding in affirmation as the noise grew louder. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and Mace motioned for him to stay put.

  He moved forward slowly and grabbed the base to a table lamp. He didn’t want to fire his weapon inside the store if possible. He held it like a club, feeling his own heart pound as he crept forward, listening closely for the direction of the noise. It was coming from around the end of the aisle to the right, and he edged closer towards it ready to drop the lamp base and pull his weapon if the need occurred.

  From the corner of his left eye, he saw Rob appear at the end of the aisle, holding an ax in his hands. Rob looked over, locking eyes with Mace. A twisted smile spread across his lips, and Mace felt a shudder pass through him. Mace motioned for him to stop, but Rob only grinned larger and shook his head no, continuing forward. Rob held up a hand with two fingers and pointed forwards, and Mace felt an electric surge run through his body as he realized what was about to happen. There was nothing he could do to stop it; he just needed to ensure that it finished quickly and quietly.

  He reached the end of the aisle, about three feet behind Rob. He could see them as he turned the corner. They were doing the same thing he had seen in the hospital room. They had their faces pressed up against the items in the next aisle and were shaking dramatically. Rob lifted the ax over his head and Mace tried to quickly pull up beside him.

  One of the things got a sense of it as Rob brought the ax down. It turned its head, the look of extreme fear in mid-transformation to rage as the ax sliced through it, splitting it in half. It convulsed as it went down, and the one next to it turned swiftly towards them.

  Swinging the lamp base with all his force, Mace slammed it against the side of its head, feeling its skull crack as its head crashed back into the aisle. For good measure he swung again, right on top of the skull, and it dropped like a stone.

  The ax was stuck in the head of the infected and Rob put his foot against its body and yanked backwards, ripping it loose. Gilbert, who had come up behind them, screamed as he saw the ax come loose and the head split completely apart. From around Lowe’s, they could hear the shrieks begin, and Mace determined that there had to be at least three or four somewhere inside.

  Rob was staring with wide-eyed intoxication at the sight of his handy work, seemingly unperturbed by the shrieks erupting around them. Gilbert dropped the shotgun and put his hands over his mouth as he realized what he’d done, and then looked around panicking at the sounds around them. He took off down the aisle searching for a place to hide, finally diving inside a half-open floor shelf, cowering as far in as he could.

  Mace watched him go and shook his head in frustration, smacking Rob in the shoulder with the back of his hand to wake him from his dementia before pulling his 9mm and heading for one of the shrieks. He almost ran head on into one as it came tearing down an aisle and he was shocked for a second by its condition. It had been mauled badly before it had turned, its insides completely scooped out and hollow.

  Mace put a bullet in its head and watched as it dropped to its knees then tumbled over. Another one appeared from three aisles down in the direction he had come. Before he could shoot it, Rob ran up behind it and thrust the knife he had grabbed from the gun store deep into the side of its head. He held on to the knife as the infected went down, dropping on top of it and stabbing it at least a dozen more times in the face in quick succession.

  Mace was blown away by the ruthlessness of the act, and almost let himself get distracted enough not to notice the last one, which was shrieking and running up behind him. He turned and fired, hitting it just above its left eye, and it fell to the ground dead. His heart was racing as he listened for any more, but a cryptic silence was all that remained.

  Mace felt shaken as he looked back at Rob, who was kneeling next to the infected, wiping the blood from the knife onto the infected’s shirt. Mace could still picture the murderous expression on Rob’s face as he repeatedly plunged the knife into the creature’s head.

  Rob looked up at him as casually as if they had just taken a stroll through the park. “When we came in I could see that first one as I came around that aisle down there.” He stood up, put the knife back in its sheath, and pointed past Mace towards one of the first aisles. “It was just like wiggling against the shelf. I could see the motion.” As he looked at Mace, a devious expression took over his facial features. “I figured it would be better to take them by hand. That ax worked perfect.” Feeling indestructible, he suddenly felt like he towered over Mace. “I didn’t see the second one until I was almost up to you.” His eyes glossed over and Mace could see a coldness emerge. “I never thought I’d see you scared. You looked a little scared to me: Almost like you didn’t trust me.”

  He said the last line slowly and emphatically, and Mace felt a disturbing sensation come over him. The look in Rob’s eyes brought the hairs on his neck and arms to a tingle. He realized that Rob was slipping over the edge.

&
nbsp; “Do you realize that if you’d gotten one drop of blood in a cut or in your mouth, you could be one of them right now? You’ve got to keep it together, Rob. You’re taking too many chances.”

  Rob just smirked. “I’m not going to become one of them any more than I am going to die. I was destined for this. My whole life has been waiting for this.”

  Mace felt a cold sweat cover him as he looked at this boy that had so recently broke down and cried on the bus. That boy was gone. He wasn’t sure whom he was dealing with now.

  Gilbert came creeping out of his hiding place with tears rimming his eyes. He was visibly shaking and on the verge of breaking down. “I’m sorry. I just panicked. I didn’t know what to do.” He looked at Mace with a pathetic expression of weakness, looking completely lost in this new environment. “I told you I didn’t think I could handle this and I can’t. I want things to go back to the way they were.”

  Rob’s eyes looked more reptilian than human as he stared at Gilbert. He took a few relaxed steps towards him, a chilly grin growing with each pace until he stood directly in front of him. He rubbed his thumb against the knife handle in its sheath, murderous thoughts dancing in his head.

  Gilbert’s eyes were glued to Rob’s and he took a step back, his pupils growing larger as he felt the evil presence before him. He slowly fell to his knees and put his head down in surrender. At that moment Rob felt his power grow in exponential bounds.

  Mace walked between them and lifted Gilbert, moving him back before turning around and placing a hand against Rob’s shoulder. “Let him be, Rob. He didn’t mean any harm.”

  Rob’s cold smile disappeared. “I think we’re done here. I’m going to find my own way back. I’ve got some things I need to take care of.”

  Rob puffed himself out, and Mace realized that whatever trace had been left of the boy was now completely gone. “Rob, this would not be a good time to split up. We’re on the verge of creating a safe haven. Once we get done with that, we can start planning for the future.”

  Rob smirked, holding his head up in an arrogant, juvenile way. “You do whatever you have to do. You’re not my dad and you can’t tell me shit. I’ve got some things I want to do. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  He studied Mace briefly, before picking up his rifle and slinging it over his shoulder. He smiled as he turned and walked away, his gait dramatic with bravado as his ego exploded in awe of his own power. He had arrived at his destination. He felt fulfilled.

  Chapter 29

  Mace thought about bringing Rob to submission but knew it wouldn’t do any good. He called out, “Rob!” but Rob just kept walking, flipping him the bird without turning around. Mace lowered his head, paused, then started trotting up behind him. Rob turned at the sound, slipping the rifle off his shoulder. He cocked his head, pointed the rifle in Mace’s direction, and said without humor, “I said I’ll catch up later. What’s wrong, you can’t do this without me?”

  Mace was taken aback and raised his eyebrows in surprise. Rob turned again and Mace let him walk away, surprised that he didn’t feel any anger towards him. He felt some sorrow, remorse, and a little bit of guilt but no anger. He had wanted to reach Rob but felt like he had done all he could. As he stood there, he realized how fragile his own ego had become and was grateful he’d been able to pull himself back together.

  Living in this new world was like being buried alive. Panic and terror were just below the surface. If you gave in you’d lose your mind and rub your fingers down to the bone trying to escape. He needed to stay calm and figure out how to stay alive in the casket.

  He needed to leave Rob behind in his mind and concentrate on the task at hand. There were people that were counting on him and he had faith that he could see them through this. He stopped in his thought process and stood there, marveling at the realization he just had.

  He had faith.

  The concept rolled around in his head for a few minutes before he felt like shouting out for joy in the middle of all the madness. It really didn’t matter what happened next. What mattered was how he dealt with it. He was going to get them through this or he was going to die trying, and if they did all perish, at least he would know that he had given it his all.

  He turned towards Gilbert and almost started laughing at the hysterical look in his eyes. “Don’t worry,” said Mace. “We’ll get through this. Let’s just get back to loading up this truck and we’ll get back in one piece.”

  He could see Gilbert struggle to muster some strength, and within a few minutes he pulled himself together enough to help Mace haul the light sets out to the Uhaul, then go back to gather the extension cords and power strips. They climbed inside the truck and sat there for a second, contemplating their future.

  Gilbert looked at Mace with a scared, fragile grin. “Do you think we’ll actually make it?”

  Mace turned towards him and nodded slowly. “I do. I think we might actually be able to pull this off.” He fired up the truck and they began to move forward before Mace abruptly stepped on the brake. “We need to go back in. We’ve got to get some fertilizer.”

  Gilbert looked at him like he was crazy. “You want to start a garden?”

  Mace laughed. “I used to know a demolitions expert. He taught me a few things.” He winked. “You never know. It could come in handy.”

  He drove the truck around to the garden center and Mace hoisted 10 bags of high nitrogen fertilizer onto a flatbed cart, then loaded them onto the truck. He smiled at Gilbert as they climbed in. “If that oil tanker works out we could have ourselves one hell of a party.”

  Chapter 30

  They drove slowly through the streets on the way back, Mace looking for any trace of Rob as he maneuvered through the gauntlet of cars and debris. The streets remained empty, and Mace couldn’t help but wonder, once again, where everyone had gone. He knew there had to be plenty of survivors. He also knew the infected would most likely greatly outnumber them. What he needed to find out was where they all were.

  They made it back to the spot where they had picked up the Uhaul and Mace stopped the truck, jumping out to determine if it would be safe to drive any further. He got close enough to the bus to determine that the infected had finished their feast and moved on, so he pulled the Uhaul as close as he could before heading back to the hospital.

  Jade greeted him at the back door, her face breaking into a smile at the sight of him. She started to rush towards him when she saw Gilbert, whom she hadn’t met yet, and noticed that Rob wasn’t with them. She got a curious look on her face. “What’s going on? Where’s Rob?”

  Mace shook his head, a shrug lifting his shoulders. “I don’t know. He just took off.”

  “What do you mean he just took off? You mean he left?”

  Mace nodded. “Yeah. He’s lost it, J. He said he’d be back but there’s really no telling.”

  Her eyes were wide as she tried to comprehend what he was saying. “Oh my God. Yvette’s going to be devastated. What in the world are we going to tell her?”

  Mace looked a little uncomfortable. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll just have to tell her the truth.” As he spoke, John Cole popped into his head. “Where’s John? Have you seen him yet?”

  She looked at him strangely, not wanting to change the subject yet. “Yeah, he’s with Father Jack. He ended up finding an oil truck and parked it by the generators. He says we’ll all be fine for at least a month. I don’t know what they’re talking about, but they’ve been talking for quite a while. Father Jack sought him out earlier, and they’ve been talking on and off since.”

  “What’s your impression of him?”

  Her head cocked as she stared at him, inquisitively. “You know, he seems alright to me. I don’t know what you were so concerned about, but he seems like he might be okay.”

  Gilbert rolled his eyes and Jade caught the motion. Mace saw her glance in his direction and turned to introduce them. “Jade, this is Gilbert. He helped me get some lights. We’re going to li
ght this place up tonight. Hopefully it will draw some people here and keep away the bad guys.”

  Jade looked at Gilbert and could sense his high level of stress, but sensed something else as well, something that didn’t feel right. She couldn’t put her finger on it but knew enough not to feel comfortable around him. “Hi Gilbert.”

  Gilbert nodded back awkwardly. “Hi.”

  Mace went back to thinking about John Cole. “Did you get a chance to talk to Maria?” He thought Maria might have mentioned something about John. He trusted Jade’s opinion about people and couldn’t understand how she hadn’t pick up on John’s attitude.

  “Not really. She’s been taking care of Yvette. Why?”

  He shook his head. “Never mind. It’s not important. I’d better go talk with John before we start bringing the lights over. I need to know how we’re going to hook them up.”

  Jade nodded. “Okay. They’re down the hall in a room to the right. There’s coffee upstairs if you want some.”

  Mace headed down the hall and got a strange feeling as if everything was back to normal. Jade was more relaxed, it was obvious, and things were starting to come together. He hoped things would continue that way.

  Gilbert stayed beside him as they walked, not saying a word, and Mace almost forgot he was there. He could hear voices coming from a room a few doors down and walked in, surprised to find Father McCann and John sitting side by side, having a pleasant conversation. He had honestly expected there to be some tension in the room when he entered.

  At the sight of Gilbert John lowered his head, took a few deep breaths, and then rose out of his chair. Looking up with a pained expression, he said, “Gilbert, I don’t even know how to try to explain things to you. All I know is that I did some very horrible things.” He lowered his head again and tried to find the right words. “I really lost it there for a while. I’ve been trying to figure out how to make things right. I don’t know if I ever can.”