Martin takes a step back and then goes to pull his rifle up, but Dave hits the barrel and then kicks his knee out all in one fluid motion that brings him to his knees. He somehow manages to pull the hand gun from Martin’s vest and point it at his head. The other men quickly bring their rifles up and point them at Dave and Jason.
“Drop the fuckin’ gun now, asshole, or we’ll unleash hell! Drop it now!”
“Drop yours first, fuckers, or I’ll put a bullet in his skull!”
“Dave, drop the fuckin’ gun; you’re gonna get us killed!” Jason pleads.
In the distance the heavy weapons fire can be heard again, this time sounding more constant then before. Not too far off, the sound of dogs barking can be heard, sounding like they are getting closer with every passing second.
Jason looks the way they came, and then back to everyone. “We don’t have time for this. By the sound of it, that’s the military coming after us, so we need to displace right now. Dave, drop the fuckin’ gun. That’s an order.”
Dave doesn’t budge. “Not until they lower their rifles.”
“Everyone lower your weapons! This is obviously a big misunderstanding, and I really don’t want to have a meet and greet with the Major. So, men, stand down. That’s an order.” Martin looks at his men, followed by them lowering their rifles.
Dave soon lowers the pistol and backs away from Martin, who stands up and looks at the pistol in Dave’s hand. “Keep it. It’s yours.”
Dave looks at him suspiciously and then looks at his brother, who’s gone over to pick up his rifle out of the snow and grab their pack.
“We need to move out now.” Jason turns toward Martin. “My wife, along with our friend Peter, needs our help, and we need to get inside the Ark. You say this is your home. so can you please help us get in?”
Martin turns to look at his men and then turns back to Jason. “Peter is one of your friends? Kid with the dog who’s traveling with a girl named Maggie, Kelly, Nate, and a few others?”
“Yes! Kelly is my wife and they’re all in there. So can you please help us?” Jason looks back the way they came because the sound of dogs barking now seems like they’re getting a little too close for comfort. “I’ll explain on the way, but we need to hightail it outta here or we’ll never get to them.”
Martin looks back where Jason keeps looking and then bobs his head and looks at his men. “Von, you’re on point; you know where we’re going. Clyde, Remy, you take rear. Let’s move.”
They gather their gear and Von takes off ahead with Martin, Jason, and Dave right behind him. They move through the snow as swiftly as possible, but the pace soon slows because of the heaviness and depth of the snow. The four of them take turns leading the way and taking on the extremely hard task of blazing a trail through the snow.
Suddenly, shots ring out less then fifty yards behind them, followed by the sound of a dog attacking and a man who screams out in pain. More gunshots follow, and then a dog yelp force the four of them to stop and get into defensive positions. More gunfire, followed by more screams, makes the hair on Jason’s neck stand up, and his adrenaline skyrockets. A few minutes pass, then what sounded like a heavy exchange of gunfire soon ceases, and the woods again turn silent. Jason can hear Martin giving directions to Von, but they don’t leave their positions.
The silence is overpowered by his heart pounding, which has somehow become audible in his ears, because now that’s all he can hear. He takes one last look at Dave, and then over at Martin, when a gunshot rings out and a bullet shatters the bark just above his head, forcing him to fall backwards. Jason can then hear close proximity gunfire erupt from who he hopes is his brother, Martin, and Von, but he’s not sure.
Jason tries to get up out of the snow but only falls down again, and then it hits him . . . a dog comes flying out of nowhere and latches onto his arm. He yells out for help, but no one comes to his aid. The dog viscously and relentlessly continues its attack on his arm, and he can feel the flesh tear under his jacket. All of a sudden he sees his brother run up, grab the dog, throw it off of him, and then turn to shoot it.
The gunfire seems to slow, but the yelling from where it’s coming from intensifies. Dave drags Jason behind a tree and proceeds to check his arm.
“How bad is it? Can you still fire a weapon?”
Jason looks at his arm, but can’t feel anything; his adrenaline is obviously masking the pain. “Take the rifle and give me the handgun.” They trade weapons and then Dave turns and starts firing downrange. The gunfire gets heavy again for a few minutes, but then stops, and the only voices that can be heard are from Martin and Von.
“All clear. Von, on me, move up.” Martin and Von move toward their attackers with weapons trained. A few minutes later they come back and crouch down next to Jason while Dave continues to kneel next to him scanning the area.
“We’re in some shit now. We just took out a handful of soldiers and their dogs. Two of my men are dead, so it’s just the four of us now. But we need to get the fuck outta here and fast, before their buddies come lookin’ for them.” Martin looks at the two of them and then back toward the way they came. “Are you injured, Jason?”
Jason reaches his arm up, which Martin grabs and then pulls him up. “I’m fine. It’s just a flesh wound. Let’s move out.”
Again, Von takes the lead with Martin right behind him and Jason behind him, with Dave bringing up the rear.
Chapter 8
Simon awakens from a loud explosion in the near distance. He’s blindfolded and his hands are bound behind his back, accompanied by a searing pain in his leg. The pain seems to be slightly dulled, so he can only assume that someone at least dressed the wound. He doesn’t know how long he’s been out, but the gunfire intensity seems to be worse than before. It sounds like all-out war with Infected, most likely coming down on them hard.
He yells out for anyone, but after a few minutes no one comes to wherever he’s being held. He wiggles around and can feel that he’s sitting in a seat and figures they just put him back in the Humvee. He yells out again, but this time someone opens a door.
“You need to shut the fuck up in here, asshole, before the Major decides to throw you to the Infected. Now keep quiet.” The door squeaks and sounds like it’s about to close again.
“Wait! Don’t leave me here. I’m in need of medical attention.”
The person loudly exhales and takes a second to respond. “We don’t have time to assist you any further. The bullet was removed and the wound has been stitched and dressed. Other than that, we will not help you.”
“Thank you for tending to my wound, but can you please take this blindfold off? It’s really not necessary.”
“Sir, you attacked me when I was trying to get you help that led to your partners escaping. You made a fool out of me, and it won’t happen again.”
“I’m sorry I had to do that, but it was a matter of life in death and you people really didn’t leave me much of a choice. We needed to escape and that was the only plan I came up with. I apologize for hitting you and making a fool out of you, but it was out of necessity. Can you please get the Major? I need to speak with him.”
“I don’t think the Major has anything to say to you. Not to mention, we have what appear to be thousands of Infected advancing on our position. So just sit tight and he’ll come for you when he’s ready. Now, I need to get back to my men.”
“But wait, I can help! Just let me outta here!”
“Do you really think I’m going to fall for that shit again? Just sit tight and shut the fuck up!” He slams the door.
“No, wait! Don’t leave me . . . fuck!” Simon takes a second to regain his composure and tries not to panic. He rubs his head against the seat and eventually gets the blindfold off and sees he’s back in the Humvee. He twists his arms, but the flexi-cuffs just dig deeper into his wrists.
He attempts to raise his leg, but the pain is just too intense and he screams out, “Motherfucker! Sonovabitch!” He bite
s his lower lip to dull the pain, but it doesn’t help. Every time he moves his leg the searing pain shoots through his body like a lightning bolt, making him almost pass out.
The gunfire’s nonstop, accompanied by the occasional explosive blast that makes Simon jump every time he hears it. He wonders if they’ve made any progress with the Infected, but he quickly comes to the conclusion that they haven’t, since the gunfire only seems to be ramping up and now seems to be coming from more directions than just the way they came.
Simon gently moves toward a gun port, and he’s able to look out and see what’s happening outside. All he can see are soldiers spread out all around the perimeter firing at the steady stream of undead just beyond the make-shift fence erected just a matter of days ago—which doesn’t give him much comfort. He’s seen what they can do, and they usually don’t leave anything standing in their wake. He knows it’s just a matter of time before they take this place and everyone in it—leaving more like them behind.
He sits there for a while, watching the well organized and very systematic approach by the soldiers soon slowly turn into what closely resembles panic amongst some soldiers as sections of the fence begin to bow in from the relentless perseverance of thousands of Infected eager to get at their next meal just a few yards away.
Soon, the rate of explosions increase, as does the heavy weapons fire. Simon’s heart rate skyrockets when he sees soldiers begin to move back further away from the fence, obviously anticipating a breach.
Suddenly the door flies open and the Major is standing there with a soldier behind him holding a bullhorn. “Let’s go.” The Major reaches in, grabs him by his jacket, and pulls him toward the door.
Simon screams out in pain. “Motherfucker! Fuck, man, just give me a second and I’ll get out myself!”
“We don’t have a second! Now, let’s move!” He pulls at Simon’s jacket again and eventually gets him outside the Humvee. He leads him toward the main gate and then pulls him down to the ground and onto his butt. Simon screams again in pain, but the Major just ignores him and then takes the megaphone from the soldier.
“Peter Timmons, this is Major Stevens of the United States Army. We have your father bound and he is wounded. If you would like to ever see him again, I suggest you get these gates open and let us in. If not, consider your father food for the Infected. Do I make myself clear?” He repeats a variation of those words a few times and then waits for a response but receives nothing. He repeats those words over and over again, yelling as loud as he can, trying to compete with the never-ending weapons fire just behind them.
Simon just sits there shaking his head while the Major continues to yell into the megaphone. He waits for him to stop before speaking up. “Why don’t you just put a shape charge on the gate and blow the lock?”
The Major drops the megaphone to his side and looks at Simon. “What, you don’t think we already tried that? This thing appears to be designed to take a few blasts. So we’re not getting in unless they let us.” He brings the megaphone up to his mouth and waits in between explosions coming from behind before screaming again.
Chapter 9
John and Peter walk up the basement stairs and enter the living room to find almost everyone huddled around the front bay window. John turns to look at Peter, who looks just as perplexed as he does. They get closer to everyone before John loudly clears his throat to get everyone’s attention.
Maggie immediately turns around. “You guys need to see this.” She points out the window and they move toward it, while everyone huddled around moves aside so they can see.
John looks out the window onto the snow-covered landscape, his attention instantly being diverted farther away toward the fence line. He can barely make out someone saying something over the gunfire that can be seen mowing down hundreds of Infected that get close to their fence. He gets closer to the window in an attempt to hear what they are saying, but he has no luck. He then moves around everyone and darts outside to the front porch. He’s soon joined by Peter, Maggie, and Kelly, all trying to hear what they are saying.
They stand there in silence for a few minutes when Kelly speaks up. “I think I can kinda hear what they’re saying . . . something about opening the gates . . . it’s really hard to understand, but I think—” She walks off the porch, still obviously trying to hear better and starts walking toward it. She waves everyone off once they get closer and she just stands there with her neck extended and with one ear toward the action. All of a sudden she pulls her head back and turns to look at mostly everyone doing the same.
She moves toward them with her head down until she gets close and then looks right at Peter. “Peter, they have your dad, and they’re going to kill him unless we let them in the gates.” She drops her head and looks away.
Peter looks at her but doesn’t get any more of a response. He looks at John and then moves around everyone and goes down to where she was standing and listens. He takes a few minutes but then he drops his head before walking back up to everyone. “She’s right; I just heard it. They have my father and they’re going to turn him into Infected food if we don’t let them in.” He doesn’t look at anyone before looking at the ground and then back toward his dad.
Kelly gets closer to him and slowly puts her arms around him, but he just backs away and looks at the ground.
John looks at Kelly and then at Peter and thinks how torn he must be; he’s surprised he hasn’t asked him to open the gates. He puts his hands on the top of his head and starts pacing back and forth. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Motherfuckin’ . . .” His voice slowly drowns out as he paces a few more times and then stops and looks at Peter, but then quickly looks away.
Maggie looks at Peter and then at John. “Uncle John, what’re we gonna do? We can’t just leave them out there to die. We have to do something.”
“I know, I know. Just let me think.” He paces a few more times and then lets out a low roar and cracks his knuckles. “Alright, here’s the plan. Maggie, Kelly, you see that big ass house way up that hill?” He turns around and points with his head and waits for them to respond. They both nod their heads and then look at him. “Alright, then. I want you two to take the group to that house . . . it’s my house, and it’s built like a brick-shit-house. I want you guys to get over there and take up defensive positions to prepare for a firefight. Peter and I will go back to the Ark and get them to hopefully unlock the gates. It works on a low-voltage analog control unit that hopefully hasn’t been taken out by the EMP . . . I hope.” He looks around at all the doubtful faces looking at him to instill that same sense of ‘hope’ that he’s somehow holding on to. “Have faith, people. This place was built in a certain way that we have a backup plan for almost every aspect of this place . . . so try not to worry, and let’s move.” Both Maggie and Kelly look at each other, turn back to John and give him a nod, and then turn to go inside.
“Wait, shit . . . they’ll see the tracks in the snow . . . fuck!” They both turn to look at John. “You’ll have to use the tunnel system to get there. Get the group in the tunnels and I’ll tell you where to go from there. We’ll also need to hide the evac point in the basement with some boxes or something, as we don’t want the military finding it.”
“We’re on it.” Kelly turns and runs up the hill toward the house with Maggie right behind her.
Peter looks at John. “We need to talk about this before we proceed.”
John takes one last look out at the battlefield and then turns to walk up the hill. “Nothing to talk about; it’s the only plan I got.” He starts to walk, but Peter puts his hand up and it hits John’s chest.
“It’s not the only plan, and I think my dad—”
John cuts him off. “There’s nothing to discuss.” He moves past his hand and tries to start walking again, but Peter gets persistent.
“Yes there is, because my dad is a soldier, and he would not approve of putting lives in danger just to save one. And I think I agree.”
John again moves
past his hand, but then turns and gets right in Peter’s face. “Not approve?! You don’t approve that we try and save your dad? Is that what you’re saying? Listen, kid, that’s your fucking father out there and I’m guessing you don’t have much family left, do ya? So excuse me if you feel like I’m putting lives at risk doing so, even though my house is built to withstand a whole lot, and it can easily buy us some time until we can get in the Ark. So shut the fuck up about the soldier bullshit and realize that that’s your pops out there, and he’s the only one you got.” He backs away and waits for Peter to respond, but he just looks at the battlefield and then lowers his slowly shaking head and then looks up with glassy eyes. “You promise that house was built to withstand a whole army?”
“Absolutely. At least for a few days. And worst case scenario, we’ll fall back to the tunnels, blow the hatch, and buy us some more time. Okay? Now let’s move, because we’re wasting valuable time and your dad’s life is at stake.”
Peter nods his head slowly, then gradually nods faster, looking like he finally agrees. “Alright, let’s do it!” He stares at John with such grit and determination that it would pump anybody up.
“Fuck yeah, man! Let’s do this.” John slaps his hand, followed by a fist bump before taking off to the house.
They take one last look inside the living room at everyone getting their things together. John notices a couple of the girls have woken up and seem to be altercating with some of the medical staff. He looks at Peter, wondering if they should try and help, but he knows they don’t have any time.
He snags a rifle in the corner and tells Maggie to follow them, before bolting down the stairs, taking two at a time, with Peter and Dusty close behind. He gets to the hatch and slings his rifle on his back, and Peter does the same. John practically jumps down the ladder, only using a couple steps, and loudly exhales and crunches over when his feet hit the concrete floor, clearly misjudging how far it was. He waits for Dusty to be handed to him before setting him down and then taking off down the tunnel. They get to a junction and John tells Maggie which way to go to get to his house before she goes back to get the others.
The Ark Series (Book 3): The Ark of Alliance Page 5
