“I appreciate all of you coming out here and giving me a few minutes of your time,” Jon began. “I know this has been a trying few days for everyone here. Not only have you all lost people close to you, but there are others still fighting for their lives after that fight with the Vultures. And so, even though we were victorious against those thugs, we still have a lot to fight for.”
Jon paused, studying the faces of those in the crowd. He then pointed to the medical tent.
“We don’t have all of the supplies we need to take care of the people who risked their lives fighting the Vultures.” His eyes shifted to Dennis. “Dennis and his small crew are in there working hard, trying to save lives, but he can only do so much.
“Now, myself, Brooke, and Terrence have found the supplies we need, but they aren’t free. They come at a cost, and it’s a dangerous one. A cost that could potentially put more people in that tent with injuries, or worse.”
“I know you’re not about to ask us to go out and risk our lives again!” a man in the crowd shouted.
“Just listen to what he has to say, Jason,” Garrett called out.
“I’m not about to ask you to do anything you don’t want to do,” Jon said. “But I can tell you that, for this camp to survive, there are going to be risks. And with those risks will come consequences and casualties.”
“What is it you’re wanting to do?” Curtis, the butcher, asked.
“We met people from another camp,” Jon said. “They’re good people. That’s where Terrence and Brooke are now.”
“How do you know they’re good people?” Jason asked.
“Because they saved our lives when they didn’t have to,” Jon replied. “We were in a bind, and they could have left us. Could have siphoned the gas out of our truck and let us rot amongst a horde of zombies. But they didn’t. Instead, they came to our aid. And they’ve offered to provide us with the goods we need if we help them.”
“Help them with what?” someone else asked.
Jon took a deep breath. “There’s a prison, not far from their camp. And they want us to help them take it. The thing is that the place, at least on the outside, is flooded with zombies. Just getting inside will be a dangerous endeavor all on its own, and if I’m being honest, we don’t know what’s waiting for us on the inside. It could be nothing, or it could be more zombies or even survivors. But we aren’t going to know until we get in there.”
“So, you do,” Jason said. “You want us to go and risk our lives again.”
The conversation spread amongst the crowd. Jon tried to grasp where the group leaned, but there was so much talking amongst the thirty or so people that he couldn’t distinguish what anyone said. Garrett finally addressed the anxious crowd.
“Everyone, listen,” the leader of Hope’s Dawn said. “We told you that we aren’t forcing anyone to go. This is strictly a volunteer mission. Due to my own injuries, I can’t participate, and I will never ask anyone to do something I won’t be doing myself. Unfortunately, this time, I can’t prove that to you.” He pointed at Jon. “But I trust this man. He hasn’t been with us long, but he’s like family. He was willing to die for us. Remember? And if he says this is the best thing for Hope’s Dawn, then I believe him. And I want to encourage all of you to take heed of what he’s saying up here. Because I think—I know—that it’s the best thing, not only for the people lying injured in that tent right now, but for all of us trying to survive here at Hope’s Dawn.
“So, I ask you who is going to stand with this man and go and fight for our survival?”
The crowd was silent then as Jon scanned their faces. The mood had changed. Garrett had a way of inspiring these people. It was no wonder he’d been chosen to lead the camp and that they’d survived as long as they had. But he had pulled them through that, and he would help guide them into the future.
Out of his peripheral vision, Jon saw Hugo step forward. He stood next to Garrett and said, “I’m going.”
Jon glanced at him and nodded. He knew this wasn’t an easy decision for Hugo to make, and he was proud to see him coming forward.
“I’m in,” Curtis said.
“Me, too,” someone else declared.
Jon’s eyes fell upon Jason, the man who’d tried to rattle Jon while he’d talked. He looked down at his feet for a moment, and then back up at Jon. Without smiling, he nodded, joining the others.
By the time it was said and done, half-a-dozen people had volunteered.
“Thank you,” Jon said. “We need to head out within the next half hour, so gather what you need. We’ll wait until we get to Freedom Ridge before we go over the plan.”
As the crowd thinned out, Jon stepped away to have a moment to himself. He hated talking in front of people and needed just a moment or so to recharge.
“You did good,” Garrett said, approaching Jon from behind. “That was really inspiring, and you were even able to convince Jason.”
“I don’t blame them for being upset,” Jon said.
“But you fought through it and even got him to agree to come along. That’s a sure sign of a good leader.”
Jon shook his head. “I’m not a leader. I just want to do my part to do what’s best for the camp and the people here.”
“Another sign of a good leader.” Garrett smiled. He put his hand on Jon’s shoulder. “Whether you think you’re a leader or not, you are leading this mission, at least as Hope’s Dawn representative. Get back to us safe, with as little collateral damage as possible.”
“I plan on bringing everyone back here safely.”
“Please do.” Garrett stuck his hand out, and Jon shook it.
As he stepped away from Garrett, Jon saw Lucas sitting in the chair he’d used to stand on to give his speech.
“We’ll be ready to head out pretty quick,” Hugo said to Jon.
“Sounds good. Just give me a minute.”
Jon approached the boy, who sat in the chair kicking the dirt on the ground in front of him. He didn’t see Jon as the man approached.
“You’re supposed to be kicking the soccer ball, not the dirt,” Jon said, referring back to the first interaction he’d had with the boy.
Lucas looked up for a moment before staring back down at the dirt. He shrugged.
“There’s no one for me to play with.”
“I’m sure some of the other kids will play with you if you ask. If not, me and your mom will when we get back. How’s that sound?”
Jon expected the boy to smile, but he didn’t. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on the ground and continued kicking the dirt, the particles floating in the air and blowing up near Jon’s face.
“What’s the matter?” Jon asked.
“I just want my mommy. Why does she always have to be gone?”
In the little time that Jon had known her, he’d wondered the same thing. He wished she would stay at the camp and look after her son, but he wasn’t going to try telling her that again.
“I know it’s hard for you to understand at your age, but your mom is doing what’s best for all of the people here. More than that, she’s doing what she thinks is best for you.”
The boy frowned. “That’s what she tells me. But I already lost my dad. I don’t want to lose her, too.”
Jon got down onto one knee where he could be at the boy’s level. “Your mom is strong, and she’s smart. Nothing is going to happen to her. And I can tell you that I’m also going to make sure that she stays safe. Alright?”
The boy nodded, gazing down at the ground, clearly still upset. Jon had to think of something to cheer him up.
“You know she talks about you all the time,” Jon said. “I mean, she doesn’t stop.”
“That’s funny, because she talks about you all the time, too.”
Jon swallowed, unsure of how to respond. The revelation made him feel special, and he wanted to pry for more information. But it wasn’t right. He couldn’t turn this conversation back onto himself.
“I just want
you to know,” Lucas continued, “that if you end up being my new dad, I’ll be okay with that.”
“Nobody’s going to replace your dad,” Jon said without thinking. “That’s not how it works.”
“Lucas!” Hugo’s wife Rosa called. “Come on, I’ve got some lunch ready for you.”
Jon ran his hand through the boy’s hair. “Run along and get you some food. You’re mom wanted me to tell you that she loves you, and I promise that you’re going to see her very soon. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Thanks, Mister Jon.” Lucas then made his way over to join Hugo’s family.
Jon exhaled, trying to digest everything the boy had said to him. He only had a moment before Hugo approached him.
“I’ve got the box truck ready to go.” Hugo held the keys up. “You driving, or you want to drive the pickup back?”
Jon stared at the keys for a moment, a grin growing across his face. He shook his head.
“You can drive the truck. I’ve got other plans.”
22
Jon opened the throttle on the country road, feeling the wind blow through his hair. He’d missed being on the bike. It had brought him much peace and comfort since the world had gone to hell, and especially since Carrie and Spencer had been killed. With nothing surrounding him to shield him from the open air, riding the bike brought him a sort of freedom. Though this wasn’t a leisurely ride, he still enjoyed the moment while he could.
Hugo and Curtis followed in the box truck and pickup truck respectively, carrying the others who had volunteered to come try to take the prison. They followed Jon from Hope’s Dawn up to Freedom Ridge. When they arrived at the dirt road that led back to the camp, Jon realized he’d forgotten to warn Hugo that the camp was hidden. Hugo would likely wonder where the hell Jon was taking him, but he knew the man trusted him. Once Hugo saw Freedom Ridge, any doubts he might have had would be gone.
Jon hadn’t thought much about the dirt road himself, though. His cruiser was made for asphalt, not for dirt and mud. But he rode carefully, avoiding any spots of mud and being sure to keep on the most level parts of the ground.
They finally reached the end of the dirt road and arrived at the camp. The guard recognized Jon, and opened the gate before he had gotten close enough to have to stop.
Inside Freedom Ridge, only twenty yards or so from the entrance, Brooke and Terrence sat at a picnic table. When they saw the Hope’s Dawn contingent entering the camp, they made their way over with smiles on their faces.
Jon parked his bike off to the left, and Hugo pulled up beside him, the window down.
“I didn’t know where the hell you were taking us,” Hugo said.
“Sorry,” Jon said. “Guess I could have warned you about that.”
Hugo stepped out of the box truck. “It’s alright. This place looks legit.”
“It definitely is,” Brooke said. “They even have coffee.”
The two embraced. “It’s good to see you,” Hugo said.
As Brooke and Terrence greeted everyone who’d come from Hope’s Dawn, Jon shut off the bike to conserve fuel. As he stepped off, Raylon and Lennox approached. Raylon whistled, his eyes glued to Jon’s bike.
“That’s a pretty sweet ride, my man. You gonna let me drive that to the prison?”
“Not a chance,” Jon said, grinning. He then turned back to the group from Hope’s Dawn, who were finishing up their greetings with Brooke and Terrence. “Let me introduce you to the crew here.”
Hugo and the others stepped forward. Jon introduced Raylon and Lennox to his people first, and then allowed Hugo and the others to greet them.
“Thank you all for coming to help,” Lennox said as the introductions concluded.
“It’s not a problem,” Hugo said. “I’m just glad we were able to find some other decent people out here.”
“Likewise,” Lennox said.
“Alright,” Jon said. “Let’s get everyone up to speed and we can head out.”
“Well, we ran into a little problem while you were gone,” Terrence said.
Jon raised his eyebrows.
“We didn’t have the bottles we needed to make Molotovs,” Raylon said. “Apparently, a couple of the kids here got into the stash and had fun breaking several of them a few days ago. We’ve searched the entire camp but can’t find more.”
“How many were you able to make?” Jon asked.
“Only about a dozen,” Brooke said.
Jon put his hands on his waist and shook his head.
“That’s not enough?” Hugo asked. “How many zombies are we talking about at this prison?”
“It could be enough,” Jon said. “But I’d rather us have more than we need to make sure we can take those assholes out once we get there. I feel like we’ve only got one good shot at this.” He looked at Raylon and Lennox. “So, where can we get more bottles?”
“I’m nearly positive there are some at the grocery store back in town,” Raylon said.
Jon sat back down on his bike, feeling the shocks bounce him a bit as he settled into the seat. As he went to start the bike back up, Brooke stepped up next to the bike.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to go get the bottles,” Jon said. “We can’t go to the prison without more Molotovs. The plan doesn’t work if we don’t have enough.”
“Let’s go in the truck then, and I’ll come—”
“No,” Jon said, cutting her off. “There’s no reason for more than one of us to go do this. I can get in and out of there faster on my bike.”
Brooke bit her bottom lip, trying to think of something to say to convince Jon he shouldn’t go alone. He knew she would think of something, but Jon wasn’t going to let her sway him this time. He thought back to Lucas’ earlier conversation with him and how the boy was tired of her putting herself in danger. In this particular instance, there was no reason for Brooke to do so. Jon could manage this by himself.
“I’ll be fine,” Jon said. “You all go ahead and ride to the prison. I’ll meet you there shortly.”
“He’s right,” Terrence said before Brooke could say anything else. “With just him and the bike, it’s less of a risk.”
Brooke stared at Jon for a moment before looking away. She pinched her lips together, her face turning slightly red. As she dropped to a knee, she slid her backpack off of her shoulder. She pulled out most of the possessions inside and then stood, offering the pack to Jon.
“You’re going to need something to put the bottles in.”
Jon glanced at her, then at the bag, before accepting it. He slipped it onto his back, adjusting the straps.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Just be safe.”
“I will.” Jon started the bike, revving the motor a few times as the group backed away.
Brooke looked at him with her arms crossed. She swiped her hair out of her eyes, looking away from him. It was clear she was frustrated that Jon was going without her.
“Lucas wanted me to tell you that he loves you, and he can’t wait to see you again,” Jon said.
Brooke looked at him then, her lips parted. Tears formed in her eyes and a smile showed up on her face.
“Thank you,” she said.
Jon nodded. “I’ll see y’all in a bit.”
Then, he opened the throttle and turned around, speeding through the camp’s exit and heading for town.
23
As soon as the town came into sight, Jon brought the cruiser to a stop and shut off the engine. He was far enough away that the zombies likely wouldn’t be able to hear the bike, but close enough to where he could scout the area. Even though Raylon and his crew had taken out the zombies in the pharmacy where Jon, Brooke, and Terrence had been trapped, Jon remained cautious. He knew there could be more zombies in the town. In fact, he expected it. And he hadn’t been inside the grocery store at all, which was where Raylon had suggested he go to look for bottles. The last time Raylon had been there, he hadn’t seen but a coupl
e of zombies, but that didn’t mean the place wasn’t swarming now.
Jon wiped the sweat from his brow. “Here goes nothing.”
He started the bike again and took off slowly—so as to not cause the engine to roar and increase his chances of drawing zombies outside.
As he rode through the center of the small town, he looked back and forth to either side of the street. The last time, and the only time, he had been to this place, he and his friends had nearly died. He was especially reminded of this when he cruised by the pharmacy. The door to the place was still open, and he could see the rotting corpses of the infected lying not only on the sidewalk outside, but across the floor on the inside. At the same time, he also noticed there appeared to be no zombies lingering inside. It gave him hope that maybe the slaughtering done by Raylon’s crew had scared off whatever zombies had remained in the area.
Jon made it down the town’s main strip without seeing a single zombie that hadn’t already been put out of its misery. Ahead, the grocery store came into view. A couple of creatures loitered near the edge of the parking lot, located some twenty yards from one another. Their distance from the building gave Jon hope that they’d just been passing through and that there wouldn’t be a larger contingent of undead inside the building. Both of the creatures looked up and snarled as he approached. Jon stopped the bike a safe distance from the nearest one and got off, grabbing the baseball bat off the side of the bike. The zombie came running at him, and he swung, connecting with the monster’s head. The creature went limp and hit the ground.
Recovering, he prepared for the second zombie, which was quickly making its way toward him. It had its hands up, seemingly guarding its face and obstructing Jon’s aim. Instead of swinging, Jon waited. The zombie lunged when it was only several feet away from him, and Jon quickly sidestepped it. The zombie’s momentum sent it falling face-first down onto the concrete.
Jon then put his boot in the middle of the creature’s back and raised his bat over his head. With a grunt, Jon swung straight down, connecting with the back of the zombie’s head. With the creature’s face buried in the asphalt, its skull cracked open on impact. The splat sound it made sickened Jon, and he didn’t end up hitting the thing more than once. He knew that’d be overkill.
Dead South | Book 2 | Dead Lies Page 9
