The Beginning of the End (Book2): Road to Damnation

by Kidd, Sean

  Before setting out again, the man in the snakeskin boots peeked through the rear door of the MRAP admiring his handy work. The merciless pain he inflicted on this woman and others somehow seemed to fill the void in his heart.

  He said goodbye to Windy’s mutilated carcass and whistled his new favorite tune as he dragged her body out of the MRAP.

  After another quick clean up in the grass, he was ready to get moving again. He paused for a moment, watching Kane as he stared to the south.

  “I thought you would have joined me for a little Windy. She was simply ravishing. Maybe next time,” he said as he started the vehicle.

  Chapter 35

  Cowboy held Sophie’s hand and led her over to Chevy. He was back on his feet, and the congratulations and hugs were beginning to dry up. Most of the group had dispersed and were laughing while they watched Herman rolling around on the ground with Charger.

  They passed the group and went right to Chevy.

  Cowboy reached out with one of his sizeable hands, and Chevy took it without hesitation.

  “Congratulations, Chevy,” Cowboy said smiling, “I’m not gonna lie, hoss. You really had us nervous there for a minute. We were afraid we were going to lose you.”

  The smile disappeared from Chevy’s face, “You don’t have to tell me, Cowboy. You think you were worried? How do you think I felt? It was happening to me. I would have died too if it wasn’t for Sophie.”

  Sophie was no longer angry and extended a forgiving hand. Chevy let go of Cowboy’s, looked at Sophie’s, and threw both of his arms around her, “Thank you so much, Sophie. You saved my life. I owe you everything. I’m sorry for being rude before, I was afraid I was going to die.”

  Sophie, uncomfortable with the hug, patted his back a couple of times and politely pushed away, “You don’t owe me anything, Chevy.”

  “Sure I do. I owe you my life. I don’t know when or where, but someday, I promise, I’ll return the favor.”

  “Chevy, really you don’t owe me anything. I know what Bob’s death did to me. I didn’t want your family to bare the same burden. If you really do want to pay me back, you can do it by helping me get the ZMapp to Atlanta. I don’t want anyone to have to go through what you almost went through today.”

  “It’s a promise,” Chevy said as he locked onto Sophie’s shoulders and slapped a big wet kiss right on her lips. Shocked, she opened her eyes wide and blushed.

  “All right, hoss!” Cowboy cheered, clapping his hands.

  Chevy released Sophie’s lips and left her standing there astonished.

  “I didn’t know you like the younger guys,” Cowboy said poking fun at her.

  Sophie turned to him, “I… he… I…no...”

  “Ha, ha, ha, looks like the kid left ya speechless, doc.” Cowboy said as he pushed his hat back on his head and strutted away.

  * * *

  After the big kiss, Chevy joined Luther, Sidara, and me at the back of Sophie’s Jeep, “What are you guys doing?” he asked.

  I threw an arm around him and gave him a half-ass hug, “Are you sure you should be up and walking around? What did Sophie say?”

  “Not much. Besides, I feel great since she gave me the ZMapp. I feel strong like I could lift up the back of this Jeep, or run a marathon. So what are you guys doing?”

  Sidara held onto to both of Chevy’s hands and gave him a kiss, “Let’s not go lifting anything, until we make sure you’re okay.”

  Chevy blushed, “Wow, two kisses, from two girls, in two minutes,” he cheered.

  “What do you mean, two kisses?” Sidara asked sternly.

  “I gave Sophie a kiss for saving my life.”

  “Well, that’s okay, but no more, cutie.”

  I looked at Sidara and back at Chevy, “Did I miss something between you two?”

  Sidara gave him another kiss on the cheek and spoke as she walked away, “I don’t know, Two-gun. Did you?”

  “What the hell is going on?” I questioned Chevy.

  He shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know. Now that I’ve been bitten, everyone seems to love me, or something.”

  “Or something,” I teased.

  “So for the second time, what are you and Luther doing?” Chevy asked.

  Luther knelt down showing Chevy a map he had drawn in the dirt. It wasn’t much more than a couple of straight lines and an X.

  “What’s that?” Chevy asked tilting his head.

  Luther picked up a pencil size stick that was on the ground next to the map. He pointed to the X, “This is us. This dot here is New York City. That’s where Ty’s dad is. This straight line is I-87, and this middle dot is Albany.”

  Chevy examined the map for a second and used his finger connecting the I-87 line to the Albany, “So the plan is to go to the hospital and meet up with the survivors at the hospital? The ones from the T.V. transmission.”

  I let out a deep sigh and drew a second arching line bypassing the hospital, “Or, we hop off I-87 and go around Albany altogether.”

  Chevy looked confused, “But I thought you said we were going to meet up with the hospital people and have them help us get the cure to Atlanta?”

  I could feel Chevy giving me his disapproving stare, “That was before.”

  “Before what,” he asked.

  “Before we saw the serum work.”

  Chevy looked confused, “You didn’t think the serum was going to work before?”

  I rubbed my temple and was careful to pick the right words, “Sophie said the serum worked, and I didn’t doubt her. But when she used it on you, it was then I realized its power. The thought of making it to Atlanta, before seemed like an almost impossible task, but now after seeing the results, I’m afraid the danger has doubled. How do we know for sure, when we get to the hospital and tell them we have the cure, they won’t kill us and keep it for themselves?

  The fate of humanity rests in our hands, and I don’t think we can trust anyone else to help us. At least not a group with numbers large enough to kill all of us and steal it.”

  “But I’m sure they want to save the world as much as we do.” Chevy contested.

  I put my hand on Chevy’s shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes, “After you were bitten, I would have done anything to save you. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have killed Sophie for that serum. If anyone realizes its power, they’ll kill for it too. That’s why Luther and I both think it’s a good idea to avoid Albany altogether. We just can’t risk it. By making it to Atlanta, we’ll be saving all of them and the rest of the world.”

  “But you said there’s strength in numbers and the more people we have, the better our chances of making it.”

  “I did say that, Chevy, but what happens if every time someone gets attacked, we give them the serum. There’s not enough to go around, and it’s a risk I don’t want to take.”

  Chevy still didn’t look convinced and knowing him, he wouldn’t be able to understand by avoiding the people we actually are saving them. But he didn’t respond. He wasn’t even looking at me now. He was staring off into the distance.

  “Hey, ADHD. What are you looking at?”

  He looked back at me like something was wrong, “You’re mom. Look at her. She’s just standing there, staring at something.”

  I watched for a minute. There was something wrong.

  “Come on,” I said to Chevy and Luther. We jogged over to where she was standing. She was peering due north and didn’t turn when we called out to her. She kept watching the horizon like something was wrong.

  “What is it, Mom? What do you see?”

  Without looking away, she said, “Something is coming, Ty. And it’s going to hurt us. It’s going to hurt all of us.”

  “What’s going to hurt us, Mom?”

  “I don’t know what it is, but we need to leave now. Get the Humvees loaded. We need to go, Ty, and we need to go now.”

  Chapter 36

  “Are you sleeping over there, dear brother? Wak
e up, Kane. Oh, there you are, welcome back. I’ve been driving for almost an hour, and you’ve slept the whole time. I had a thought. I’ve been going all day. What do you say about us pulling over and finding a place to sleep? Do you think it’s a good idea? Fabulous. I’m sorry, Kane. What was that you just said? Yes, I see the exit sign. Gas, Food, Lodging, and Amusement Park. Of course, I’ll take the exit. Ha, what do you say ol’ boy? Fancy a ride on a rollercoaster?

  What do you mean no? I’d be more than happy to bring you to the park little brother. Well, if you say no, then, no it is. Why don’t you quit being such a stiff, and help me find a hotel? There must be one around here somewhere.

  What?…Where? Oh, I see it now, thank you, Kane. Let’s see if they have a vacancy, shall we?

  The MRAP pulled into the parking lot, only stopping after bumping the steel pole of the drive thru carport. A thundering boom reverberated throughout the building.

  “Oops, see what I’ve done now, Kane. Maybe if you weren't a Chatty Cathy all the time, I could focus more on driving. No worries, though. This pig mobile is practically unstoppable.”

  Kane’s brother hopped out of the vehicle and walked around to the front examining the damage. He rubbed his finger against the white scuff mark of paint left by the hotel’s steel pole. He scrubbed his thumb at it again, this time with a little spit. It came off clean, not even leaving a scratch.

  “Good as new brother, I’ve repaired the damage. You sit there, and I’ll check us in.”

  He reached into the back of his waistband and pulled out his revolver. With a quick look, he confirmed it was loaded with six fresh .357 hollow points.

  He peeked in the hotel’s welcoming glass door and saw an older lady wearing a name badge standing behind the counter. As he stepped in, the dead employee's blue swirling irises caught his attention.

  A step closer and he was standing at the counter just out of her reach. He tapped the top of the silver service bell giving off a piercing ring. The dead woman behind the counter moaned and clawed at the stranger.

  “Hello,” he moved in a bit closer to read her name badge, (Hospitality Host Matilda).

  “Hello, Matilda. My brother and I are in need of a room. You see I’ve been driving and killing people since this morning. To be quite honest, it's utterly exhausting work. If you could tell me if you have a vacant room, I’d be your best friend.”

  The older dead woman, locked behind the counter, moaned, clawed, and snapped her teeth at the customer. He stood there smiling unfazed by her persona.

  “Oh, you do. That’s wonderful. What are the chances I could trouble you for a room with a double bed? Non-Smoking if possible? It’s such a disgusting habit. I’m sure you agree.”

  He stood there hypnotized by her eyes. Minutes had passed before he spoke again, “Oh, you do. That’s wonderful. Room 7, you say, perfect that’s my lucky number. Did you want to hand me the key? No? Just grab it myself? Okay, no problem, Matilda. Thank you, and may I say your service has been outstanding this afternoon.”

  He lifted the revolver and pointed it at the woman’s face. Sliding his finger down to the trigger, he paused, watching her eyes again, “Very angelic,” he said as he tucked the revolver back in his waistband. “Matilda, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I bid you farewell and adieu.”

  Kane’s brother inched out backward, refusing to turn his back on Matilda. He closed the door and held up a swinging key toward the MRAP, “Look, brother, they had a room available. I’ve gotten us checked in. We’ll be sleeping good tonight. Matilda assures me.”

  He paused and looked off into the not too distance south, “What do you suppose that black smoke is off in that direction, brother. I must admit it's peculiar and leaves me perplexed. What do you say we check it out before going to our room? Just maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll run into your friends there. Wouldn't it be nice to have a reunion before dinner?”

  Kane’s brother climbed into the MRAP, stepped on the gas, and tossed the MAC-10 into Kane’s lap, “You may need this, old sport. Judging from the scene where I found you, my guess is you and your friends may not be on the best of speaking terms right now.”

  Kane’s brother slammed on the brakes, bringing the vehicle to a sliding stop. He snapped his head over to Kane, “They did what to you? My goodness. Whatever did you do to deserve that?”

  Kane’s brother sat there staring at Kane’s open mouth and eyes. He felt his temperature rising as he imagined Kane speaking to him. Telling him all the gory details that had led to the demise of him and his crew. In all actuality, Kane was unable to speak. He had been dead for hours, already rotting and stinking. The mad man sitting next to him was continuing to have delusional conversations with his brother’s corpse.

  “My dear brother. You must be off your game if you let them leave you in a hole on the side of the road like that. Well, do not fret. We are near. We will find them, and we will kill them. And kill them all, we will.”

  The vehicle’s accelerator slammed back to the floor jerking both of the brother’s heads. The insane man behind the wheel hopped curbs and sideswiped cars racing for the plume of smoke, “It won’t be long now, brother. It’s just over that hill.”

  Kane’s brother let off the gas as the MRAP neared the crest. They rolled to a stop and surveyed the area from inside the vehicle, “That building is still in flames. The fire can’t be more than an hour old. Oh, dear brother. I spy a Jeep with the back open on the side of the supermarket. Do you think those are your friends? Maybe I’ll take a little walk down there and see if there’s anyone still around. You wait here and guard the vehicle.”

  Kane’s brother reached over and grabbed the MAC-10 from his brother’s lap. He checked the magazine and chambered a round. He was careful to place it back on his brother’s lap, so the barrel was pointing toward the windshield. He tried to put Kane’s finger on the trigger, but it was stiff and had to be manipulated. After a couple of creeks and cracks, the finger became a little more pliable. Now it easily fit in the guard and rested against the trigger.

  “There you go brother, a perfect fit. If anyone comes up to you, shoot first and ask questions later.

  With Kane guarding the MRAP, his brother was free to explore the supermarket. He descended the hill with the grace and expertise of a Green Beret. If someone would have been watching in the distance, they might believe he was a lone military man. He leaped over a row of cedars and dove into a drainage ditch. From his back pocket, he removed a small monocular. The Jeep was empty, and he assumed the occupants had left in a hurry. Traveling for days, he had commandeered numerous vehicles, and he could not recall leaving the doors or trunks open on any of them. They must have made a quick get away, or they were off on foot now.

  He crawled out of the ditch and jogged across the parking lot toward the Jeep with his revolver at low ready. When he got to the vehicle, he moved around to the back and took a knee. He assessed the parking lot again. No one had seen him. He peeked in the Jeep. It was empty. He moved around and opened the driver’s door. The keys were in the ignition. He turned the key, and the vehicle started right up.

  “Hmm, interesting. The Jeep runs perfect, and there’s almost three-quarters of a tank of gas. You must have acquired yourselves another vehicle. Perhaps a larger vehicle you found in the parking lot to carry more supplies. That’s what I think.”

  The evil brother was more relaxed now and made his way toward the store. He paused at the three burnt bodies, “What happened to you, chaps? Is that your Jeep or was the owner the one that did this to you?”

  Kane’s brother tucked the revolver in his waistband and rested his hands on his hips, slowly spinning in a circle taking in the whole scene. Something caught his eye, next to the supermarket exit. He headed over to investigate. Dark rubber streaks coated the worn pavement. He rubbed the fingers across the tire marks. A thick black residue tarnished his hand. “I think you left in a hurry. It appears you went south. Where are you going in such a hurry?”


  He broke into a sprint toward the MRAP. He was yelling as he ran, “Brother, I have some good news. I’ve found them!”

  Chapter 37

  The three men entered the elevator heavily armed and stood there before hitting the button for the Parking Level. Sawyer pulled the mag from his M4 to make sure it was full. He had four more velcroed to his MOLLE vest. He racked the weapon and flipped off the safety, glancing over at Daniels, “Are you ready? All locked and loaded?”

  Daniels shook his head, giving Sawyer the affirmative.

  “What about you, Bunker? You sure you know how to use that thing?”

  Bunker reached behind him feeling the large ammo pack on his back. He moved the barrel of the gun, from left to right, “I think I’m all set.”

  Sawyer tapped the P button on the elevator, “Ready or not, here we go. Bunker, remember, short bursts with that thing and try not to hit the Tahoe’s. Those rounds will go right through them.”

  “They will?” he asked, looking at the six barrels.

  “Hell yeah,” Sawyer bragged, “those 7.62’s will go halfway through the engine blocks before they stop.”

  “Just imagine what it will do to those zombies,” Daniels said, in a nervous, shaky voice.

  The men watched as the elevator floor buttons lit up as they cycled down. The P button lit up, follow by an electronic sounding ding.

  “Here we go, boys!” Sawyer screamed.

  The doors slid open and dead were everywhere. So many, the men couldn’t step out of the elevator. Daniels and Sawyer fired their M4s. A single shot to each zombie's head was enough to drop them. The two men cleared enough dead they were able to step out, giving Bunker the room he needed. Their gunfire was attracting dead from every direction. Bunker froze against the back wall of the elevator wall with fear. Daniels looked back when he realized Bunker hadn’t moved out of the elevator car, “Fire that damn thing!”