The Infected (Book 6): Last Shot

by Gowland, Justin

Jake flicked the switch again and the room plunged into silence.

  “The rest of the message is mostly the same shite,” Jake said lifting his feet up onto the desk.

  “How did you find the message?” I asked feeling like I had been punched in the gut.

  He shook his head “I didn’t have to find it. It’s being broadcast on nearly all the civilian channels.”

  “Shit. You told any of the others about this yet?”

  Shaking his head “Nope just started hearing this last night. What the fuck are we going to do?”

  I stood there trying to figure out what we could do. “Do we still have the ability to transmit?”

  “Yeah, but it won’t do any good if they are constantly transmitting their message.”

  I walked to the door “Look, Jake, don’t tell anyone else about this till I have a chance to speak with them about it.”

  “Ok,” He said slipping his headphones on.

  Chapter Nine

  I closed the door and leaned against it and let loose a deep sigh. We really did need to take care of that fucking oil rig and soon. I walked down the hallway to the range and looked inside. All that was inside was the heavy smell of cordite. I headed back to the armoury and knocked on the door. I heard the lock turn and Tom poked his head round the opening.

  His face turned red “Erm…hey Marc!”

  “Hi, Tom is Chris in there with you?”

  He looked at the floor “Sorry no he…erm…he dropped off the rifles and magazines then said something about finding Tessa.”

  “You ok mate?” I asked feeling a little puzzled.

  “Yeah…yeah sure!”

  “Alright, if you see him can you tell him that I’m looking for him?”

  “Sure.”

  I heard a quiet woman’s giggle come from the other side of the door.

  “Hi, Rosa!” I called out.

  “Hi, Marc!” She shouted through the small opening.

  Tom started to panic and I had to laugh as I walked away. The door nearly slammed it was closed that quickly. Laughing all the way to the lifts I took the first one to the entrance. I must have looked like a fool to the couple who rode up with me. Outside was grey and overcast as I stepped out into the fresh air. It felt like the sky was just waiting for the right moment to rain. I headed to the first guard post and asked where Tessa was today. The guard pointed up the slope toward the next guard post. Walking up the slope I felt the first splatters of rain hit my head and neck. I sped up and was soon standing at the bottom of the ladder and the rain had started to fall.

  “Hey, Tessa is Chris up there?” I called out trying not to lift my face to the rain.

  Tessa’s head appeared over the side “Yeah come on up.”

  Climbing the slippery ladder, I stood up in the small shelter. Chris was watching the tree line with a pair of binoculars.

  Without turning, he said, “No fucking way!”

  I tried to lean around him to see what he was talking about. Tessa giggled from behind me.

  “What?”

  “There is no fucking way that I’m staying here whilst you go take on Benton’s,” His rumbling voice said as he turned to face me.

  “What the fuck?” I asked.

  He pointed to the radio which was fastened to the rail of the guard post. That fucker David had given Chris a heads up.

  “Funny because I’m not giving you a fucking choice.”

  “Like fuck you are. The last time you headed out you didn’t even know where you were going.”

  “Well, its different this time isn’t it?”

  His face was starting to get red and he took two steps closer. “Marc there is no way on earth that I am letting you go by yourself. Even if that means I have to lock you up or break something.”

  “Okay, King fucking dick what do you mean by that?” I asked stepping up so I was about an inch from his chest.

  “I mean I’d break one of your fucking legs to keep you here. Then lock you in your fucking room.” His eyes glaring at me.

  Tessa coughed “Erm…boys, I think you should calm down.”

  Looking over my shoulder I said, “Tessa sorry to say this but mind your own fucking business.”

  That’s when I felt the blow like a hammer to my chest. Stumbling backwards I fell out of the guard post. Hitting the dirt, all the air whooshed out of my chest. I then saw Chris’ large frame jump out of the guard post. I quickly rolled to the side and he landed roughly where my chest would have been if I hadn’t moved. The fucker would have killed me. I clambered to my feet and launched myself at his back and hammered a punch to his kidney. His back arched up and I swung another punch to his kidney when he rolled forward and my punch sailed through the empty air.

  Next thing I saw was his boot flying toward my chest. This time I rolled, but I still felt the air move. The mud was sticking to my clothes and the rain was dripping into my eyes. Chris circled off to my right so I headed to the left.

  “You fucker!” I called out.

  He growled “You never talk to her like that!”

  He dove for me and I just managed to move to the side and as he went past I kicked out. I felt my foot connect with his stomach and he grunted before slamming into the floor.

  “Stop it!” Tessa said as she climbed down from the guard post.

  Chris just ignored her and threw a punch which caught me in the shoulder and spun me around till I fell down on the ground. He jumped on my chest and before I had a chance to move and launched a quick punch to my face. I have to say this about Chris when he hits you; you know that you’ve been hit. I had to admit with the cold rain hitting me in the face I didn’t black out. Chris aimed another punch at my face and I managed to block it with the point of my elbow. He cried out as his fist collided with the bone. My arm went numb all the way to the fingers and I was sure that I heard bones snap. Now if they were mine or his I couldn’t tell.

  I rolled to the right and managed to toss him off my chest. He hit the ground and rolled, before jumping to his feet. I lashed out with my leg and swept his feet out from under him. As he fell he reached out. His hand hit the ground and there was a crack like a gunshot and his face went pale. He fell over onto his side and rocked from side to side whilst holding his arm. I was huffing in the air as quickly as my lungs could. Tessa ran over to where Chris was holding his arm.

  “You’ve broken his arm!” She shouted.

  My arm was still feeling numb and I thought he’s fucking broken mine as well. I struggled to get up off the ground with one arm and hobbled over to where he was lay. One of my eyes was starting to close and that side of my face hurt every time I moved my jaw.

  “I think he fell onto the arm that just finished healing.”

  “Well, that really does stop him from going now. Doesn’t it?” Tessa said looking at me with malice.

  I was shocked “What the fuck woman? I thought you would have been happy for him not to go?”

  Out the corner of my eye, I saw some of the guards running our way. I held my arm across my chest the numbness still hadn’t faded and I was sure Chris had managed to break it. As the guards came to a stop a few feet away. I told them that it was a disagreement and things had been settled, but I would be happy if they could help Tessa and I get Chris inside so the Doc could have a look at both of us.

  As I walked into the conference room turned triage I couldn’t see out of the eye that had been closing. Chris’ face was still pale and I could see the sweat streaming from his forehead. I was pretty sure I looked worse, but I didn’t say anything. Doc came in and saw Chris first as I sat on the other bed behind a screen.

  I heard the door “Where the fuck is that idiot?” I heard Amy’s voice. I knew that she wasn’t on about Chris so I just sat quietly hoping that she would leave. My hopes were dashed as the screen was pulled back and I saw the look of anger on her face.

  “What’s up Amy?” I asked.

  Her hands actually shook as she said “What the fuck do you mean
by that? All I heard was that you and Chris went at each other.”

  “Just a misunderstanding.”

  “Like shit it was. You told him that you didn’t want him to go along on your suicide mission. Didn’t you?”

  “He sort of already knew.”

  She looked puzzled “Then how the fuck did you to start fighting?”

  I looked at the floor and I actually felt like a dick. “I sort of told Tessa to shut up and not interfere.”

  Now she just looked plain shocked.

  “He got a couple of lucky shots in,” I said trying to grin through the pain in my face.

  “That’s not fucking funny Marc. Chris has become very protective of Tessa since she became pregnant.”

  Now I started to get a little pissed off “If he is that protective then why the fuck was he arguing about coming to the oil rig?”

  Amy sighed and walked closer “He’s been feeling torn between his duty to Tessa and their baby, and his duty to you and the Bunker. Tessa said earlier on that she wouldn’t stand in his way if he wanted to come with you. She knows that you and Chris have been through a lot and that you’re like brothers.”

  Sitting on the bed I saw more movement behind Amy and saw David appear behind her. The fucker was actually smiling when he saw my face.

  “I see you’ve spoken with Chris then?”

  I nodded which caused me to grimace.

  “Good thing cause that the exact thing I wanted to do to you when you came to speak with me earlier. Good thing I am such a civilized person.”

  “What he came to you as well?” Amy asked spinning around.

  David nodded “Don’t be so hard on him Amy. When he came to me, Jennie had been to see him first and strong-armed him into coming to see me.” The smile on his face didn’t even waver as he said that.

  She looked over her shoulder at me “You deserve everything that you got.” And headed for the door.

  “What no get better kisses?” I shouted.

  She turned to look at me with murder in her eyes. Taking two steps forward, she stopped and shook her head before turning to the door and leaving.

  “You know there are times,” David said shaking his head slowly.

  “What do you mean times?”

  “Times when you deserve to have your arse kicked.”

  Doc came in and his face said that he wasn’t pleased either. Now I was frightened because I knew if there was anyone who could inflict pain without injury he would be the one.

  “Well, you probably know that Chris’ arm is broken. He also has three broken fingers. He’s not very happy with you at the moment Marc.” Doc said snapping on some rubber gloves.

  “I didn’t want the fight Doc.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t,” David said from behind the Doc.

  “Piss off David!” I replied.

  His reply was a low laugh. The Doc put some pressure on my elbow and I nearly blacked out. He made a clicking noise in his mouth and then started softly pressing on my face. When he pressed on the cheekbone under the closed eye I threw up on his shirt. He just grimaced and David burst out laughing and had to leave the room otherwise he would have ended up on the floor.

  “Well, there isn’t anything broken. You’re going to have some lovely bruising and the eye is going to stay swollen for the next few days. You seem to have trapped a nerve in your elbow. That is going to take a couple of weeks to heal fully, but you should start to get gradual movement back over the next few days as well. All in all Marc you got off pretty well considering what Chris has been saying.” Doc said walking over to a paper towel dispenser and pulling out handfuls.

  “I suppose I asked for it Doc,” I said trying to sit up straighter.

  The Doc opened a drawer and pulled out a bandage and put my arm in a sling. “I know that you feel you need to deal with this Benton lot, but Marc that doesn’t mean that you have to burn your bridges here.”

  I winced a few times as he lifted my arm “Doc I was not trying to burn bridges. I was actually trying to keep the people I love safe. Chris has Tessa and the baby and if I dragged him off on some suicide mission and something happened to him and I survived. Well, let’s just say I would rather eat a bullet.”

  Doc stood back and looked at me. “Marc you have to remember that it was you that brought most of these people together and Chris was one of the first. He feels that he has to repay that debt.”

  Shaking my head I asked “Doc any chance of some pain killers?”

  I think he knew that I was trying to get rid of him because he just nodded and headed for the door. I leaned back and closed my eyes, no sooner had I done that than he was back with a small cup of water and four tablets. I swallowed them with the water, gave him my thanks and headed for the door. As I passed the screen I risked a quick glance at where Chris was. He was laid out on the bed with Tessa sitting beside him holding his uninjured hand. She shot me a look of pure hatred. Chris had his broken arm and fist plastered up and he still looked pale.

  Chapter Ten

  The hallway to my room was quiet once again and I leaned against the door as I tried to open it one handed. Chris was one of the few people that I would not have wanted to hurt. But I just wanted to keep him safe for the sake of Tessa and their baby. I managed to get the door open and stumbled inside. I was exhausted and my face felt like I had an elephant tap dance on it. Wandering across the room I headed for my bed and just collapsed onto it. Rolling onto my good side I closed my eyes and let sleep take me. No doubt I would feel the extent of my injuries in the morning.

  Waking up I thought that I had gone blind in one eye but then the pain crawled back with a vengeance and the fight from the day before played out in my head. Someone was knocking on my door so rolling off the bed and onto my feet I staggered to the door.

  Mike was stood outside. “You look like shit!”

  “Thanks, Mike, I feel like it as well. You want to come in?” I stood to one side opening the door.

  He walked past me and sat down in one of the chairs.

  “What’s up?” I asked crossing the room and sitting down slowly. My body ached everywhere, but my head hurt the worst.

  A small smile crossed his face. “I’ve been up to see Chris this morning. You caused some damage to him!”

  “Like I could ever cause him any damage. I just got lucky.” I said shaking my head.

  “Anyway…there is no way he is going to be ready to help out with the oil rig.”

  “I figured as much.”

  “David is saying that he’d have a divorce on his hands if he decided to go. We all know that Amy is never going to help out. Marc, I am having serious doubts about going myself.”

  I sighed. “Why do you not want to go?”

  He clasped his hands in front of himself “Tessa is having a baby man. My first grandchild.” I nodded and waited for him to finish. “I want to be here for when she has it and if we go to take out the oil rig I doubt anyone will be coming back.”

  “You want a drink?”

  “Erm…yeah.”

  I stood up and walked over the kitchenette. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey and two glasses. I poured out two good measures and carried the glasses back to the chairs. Passing one to Mike I sat down. He sipped at the whiskey and kept looking at me over the rim of the glass as I drank mine.

  “In the end mate it is your choice, just like the others. I am not forcing any of you to come with me. In fact to tell you the truth it would probably be easier if it was a solo mission anyway.” I said downing the last of my whiskey.

  He looked up quite sharply and the whiskey in his glass slopped over the side a little. “Fuck!” he half shouted. Mike leaned forward and put the glass down on the coffee table.

  “Marc the whole reason we came to find you was because your idea to take Benton’s on by yourself was just fucking nuts.”

  Nodding I said, “Looking back on it, it may not have been the smartest thing to do.”

  “So why in the f
uck are you saying you’re going to do it again?”

  “Truth be told mate I’m not going to let them harm anyone else. That and they know where we live now. That message Dr Jackson sent was just a way of him saying that he knew where we are.”

  “But that doesn’t mean that you or anyone else has to die to get rid of them!”

  I smiled “Mate the last thing I want to do is die and hopefully it won’t come to that. If blowing the legs on the oil rig is all it takes then maybe only one person could do it.”

  Mike sat there looking at me and I could tell that he was thinking about what I had just said. After a couple of minutes, he stood up and started to pace back and forth. He stopped and turned to face me.

  “If that’s all that it would take to bring them down….” he paused “then if someone piloted the boat and another attached the explosives. They could then detonate them from a safe distance.”

  “That might have been a good plan if there were two people going, but not to put a dampener on things, there’ll only be me and I don’t really trust anyone else in the bunker except our little circle.”

  Mike started to pace back and forth again. He face was showing a lot of emotion. I had to say that I was feeling like a right dick. I knew that he didn’t want to go with me, but I had made it sound so easy and that there wouldn’t be any danger. There could be all kinds of problems getting to the oil rig and countless other problems whilst we were there, but I could see him slowly coming to a decision.

  “I fucking hate you sometimes. You do know that?” he paused “I’ll have to fucking come won’t I?” He looked down at me and his face was resigned.

  “Look, Mike, you don’t have to come the whole way. You could just get me to the lifeboat and show me how to use the equipment. Then you could head back here. Like I said one person can do the job.”

  “Yeah, but it would be harder if there was just you to do the job.” He said sitting down.

  I lifted my glass “Want another?” I asked.

  “Yes please.” He replied passing me his now empty glass.

  Standing up I went and poured two more glasses. As I was walking back there was a knock on the door. After passing Mike his glass headed to the door. Chris was standing outside with his hand and arm in plaster.