The Demented Z (Book 3): Contagion

by Derek J. Thomas

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  The sickening crunch of bone and wet slurping of bloody flesh being devoured went on for what seemed like days. All of them sat in the darkness, afraid to make a sound. Each of them wished they could just fall asleep, allowing their minds to go elsewhere…anywhere but here. Instead they all just listened, imagined, and dreaded.

  None of them trusted the outsiders. Tom was sure they had lied about being a family. What kind of human would close his wife back out with those things. Even being dead, it was hard for him to imagine. Then there was the daughter. She was so glad to be with others. Her mad rush into his arms. The thought of closing their eyes with that man in the room was enough to keep them awake by itself.

  The greatest sight Tom had seen in quite some time was the sliver of light glowing at the base of the door, marking the arrival of morning. He shifted around looking at everyone else. Even in the dim light he could see the glisten of eyes wide open. None of them had slept a wink and were just as glad to see the birth of dawn as he was.

  Bear’s boots scrapped across the wood floor as he rose to his feet. He eased around the metal locker and peered through the edge of the shotgun blast’s ragged opening. Everyone froze, breaths held, while he continued to look out. Seconds seemed to drag into minutes as Bear continued to peer into the unknown. Finally he slowly backed away from the door as quietly as possible.

  Everyone quickly stood and waited expectantly. Bear gave them a wave toward the back of the building and then held a finger to his lips. Very quietly he led everyone to the back, tucked tightly between shelving. Despite the faint light, the fear and shock was evident on his face.

  He whispered, “Dozens…if not more.”

  Logan let out a loud grunt. There was a unanimous shhhh from the group.

  “At the door?” Tom whispered.

  Bear nodded his head. “Some are right outside. Made it tough to see how many, but there are a lot.”

  “What are they doing?” Hannah asked.

  With a shrug of his shoulders Bear said, “Tough to tell, but mostly standing or slowly shuffling…typical stasis.”

  Tom began to glance around at the windows. Others followed his eyes, a look of worry crossing their faces.

  “Think we’re surrounded?” Hannah whispered.

  Bear just shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, making it clear that he had no idea.

  Hannah started to move toward the nearest window, but stopped when Tom whispered, “Wait. Let’s gather up all our gear…quietly. Get weapons ready, then we check the windows. If this goes bad I want us to be fully mobile.”

  Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and began spreading out toward their individual gear. Tom kept an eye on the supposed father as well as the girl. They had nothing to gather together and instead the man began whispering to the girl. She looked distraught and only nodded her head several times as he spoke to her. Hank still had the man’s shotgun and Tom wasn’t sure he wanted to give it back.

  Tom stepped over to Hank and whispered, “Thoughts on weapons for the newbies?”

  Hank stood thinking. He glanced over at the pair and then back to Tom. “More firepower might really help…depending on what happens.”

  Nodding his head, Tom said, “Probably right. Keep an eye on them.”

  Tom grabbed the shotgun and walked over to the two of them. The man stopped whispering and turned at his approach. Tom held the shotgun out and said, “I’m Tom.”

  The man took the shotgun, nodded his head, and said, “Axel.” He looked down at the girl. “This is April. We needed help…needed in.” He said looking back at Tom.

  The group came together in the center of the room once they had all their gear and weapons. Bear held a crossbow and Tom held his bow, while the rest of the group had their rifles and standard weapons at the ready.

  “Shoot sticks if possible.” Tom whispered. After they all nodded their heads in agreement he said, “Let’s quietly check the windows…see what we got.”

  Hannah, Bear, Hank, and Tom all headed off to nearby windows. Each of them carefully eased back the coverings to see what waited for them outside. All of them replaced the coverings just as fast as they had opened them. Glances and headshakes told the group that there were infected on the sides. Hank eased to the back of the building, eyeing the rear window. Everyone watched him slowly approach the window. He carefully lifted the bottom corner of the blanket that covered it. Light spilled onto his face as he looked out. His head shifted closer and twisted from side to side, trying to get a better look. Letting the blanket corner fall, he turned back to the group and gave a thumbs up.

  They all gathered in a huddle next to the back window. With the blanket removed, white light washed over them and the nearby shelves.

  “If we don’t get in the main building then this trip is for nothing, but that doesn’t mean we die trying.” Tom looked over each of them. “First priority is get to somewhere we can assess the situation. Let’s move straight back to the hill…get to the other side. No hero stuff, just get to safety. If it hits the fan meet at the SUV.” Wide open eyes stared back at Tom while he talked. A mixture of fear and anticipation crossed their faces.

  “Roger that.” Hank said while the rest of the group nodded their heads.

  Tom eased the window open, being as careful as possible to avoid any unwanted noise. The neglected metal sliders groaned with resistance, but with persistence and a bit of wiggle Tom was able to get it open far enough for even Bear’s large frame to squeeze through. Tom leaned his head out, looking to both sides. He was relieved to find no infected in sight. Untouched white snow was the only thing lying between them and the hill. The flat walls of nearby barracks stuck out to each side, partially blocking the view further down.

  They stacked a few boxes up to make it easy to access the window. Bear led the way with his crossbow out and ready. Once on the other side he glanced around, double checking. He turned around and helped Hannah out next.

  “Look out, my turn.” Logan suddenly said as he began shoving at those next to him.

  Several members of the group began quietly trying to shhhh him.

  Tom’s heart thundered in his chest. The bookstore owner from months ago flashed through his mind. The elderly ladies’ kind demeanor had turned vicious and angry in a matter of minutes. The onset of rage hit like a flash. Tom stepped over to Logan and grabbed him by the shoulders, looking him in the eyes. In the light he could see the pair of red rimmed and swollen eyes staring back at him.

  “What’s your problem?” Logan shouted.

  Before anyone had a chance to do anything Tom had his bow up with an arrow notched. With a sharp whistle the arrow darted the short distance, penetrating into Logan’s head with a sickening crunch. He toppled backwards into the shelving and slumped to the floor in an awkward sitting position. Hannah let out a sharp gasp from just outside the window. Hank and April took a rapid step back, while Axel stood there with a shocked look on his face.

  Nobody had a chance to say anything. The infected had heard the shouting and responded immediately. Their shrieks and growls thundered like a coming storm. The building seemed to shake with their ferocity.

  “Go, go, go.” Tom shouted while shoving April toward the window. She resisted. Terror and fear had her muscles locked. Not slowing a bit, Tom lifted her off her feet and pushed her head first out the opening. Hannah bent down to help her. Right behind them, Bear was clipping his crossbow to his belt in preparation for swapping to his AR15.

  Needing no encouragement, Hank quick stepped up the boxes and piled out the window. Axel was right on his heels.

  Shadows flittered across the snow outside, marking the approach of demented. Loud booms echoed through the building as infected pounded on the front door, causing the massive locker to shudder with each hit.

  Tom’s heart sank when he heard the cack...cack...cack of weapons firing. He knew that once the shots started they would be in the thick of it. Knowing the building was a de
ath trap he followed the others through the window. Before his boots touched the snow there was a loud bang from behind him as the locker tipped to the floor. Angry shrieks rapidly followed.

  Hannah and Bear stood nearly back to back, both with their rifles raised, firing at the demented that were coming around the building’s corners. Their rapid fire was keeping them at bay. The rest of the group stood in a tight circle just to the side of the window.

  A quick glance back let Tom know that there were several infected pouring into the building. He quickly clipped his bow in and drew both MAC9s. “Get to the hill.” He shouted. He raced up to Hannah and Bear, tapping each of them in the shoulder, he said, “Go.”

  The hill was less than thirty yards away, but it felt like a mile sprinting through the deep snow. They hit the incline at full sprint and kept charging up the steep terrain. The growls were incentive enough to keep moving forward. Hannah was the first to reach the top and without hesitation she spun around with her rifle out. She began rhythmically squeezing the trigger, dropping the nearest infected. Had anyone been paying close enough attention they would have seen she was smiling. Not just a grin, but the smile of a mom seeing her newborn’s first smile. This is what she lived for.

  Tom, on the other hand, was pissed. Everything had been going smoothly until the trio of trouble had shown up. How any of them had survived this long was a mystery. He pushed the thoughts out of his mind as he reached the top of the hill next to Hannah. Raising both MAC9s, he spun around to see roughly twenty infected racing after them. Most wore military fatigues, but several wore civilian clothing. They were rapidly gaining on April. Her face was flush with panic as she struggled through the deep snow. Axel was midway up the hill and showed no concern for her well-being. Hank and Bear were just ahead of him.

  Hannah’s brutal gunfire was dropping demented one by one, but there were too many for her alone. The distance made for a difficult shot with the short barrel of a MAC9, so Tom holstered them and grabbed the bow off his belt clips. He had been making shots like these his whole life and muscle memory quickly took over. His forearms were taught as he drew back. In the distance he could see a pair of demented reaching out for April, their hands nearly on her. He took a steadying breath as his draw hand came in right next to his ear. In his head he made a rapid adjustment for distance and elevation drop, and then let the arrow fly. He knew it would be true the second it was loose.

  The arrow streaked past April and slammed into one of the two demented that was right behind her. At nearly the same instant one of Hannah’s bullets caught her other follower, toppling him over backwards in the snow.

  Tom had a second arrow notched. He drew back and sighted on another infected.

  Hank made the top of the hill about ten yards further along the ridge. He had his rifle out as he spun around to begin firing. The large .308 thundered. He quickly worked the bolt, racking another round in the chamber. Never looking at Tom he shouted, “What’s the plan boss?”

  “We stand.” Tom shouted back.

  Bear joined the fight with his AR15. With plenty of firepower raining down on the infected, Tom spun around and moved to the other side of the ridge. A quick sweep of the fence line made him feel safer that there would be no infected sneaking up on them. “Clear behind.”

  “Loading.” Hannah shouted.

  Axel and April had gained the top of the hill; both of them huddled next to Hannah. Axel had his shotgun out and ready, but held back, saving ammo in case anything got close.

  After a few more seconds, all that lay at the base of the hill were dead bodies surrounded by crimson snow. There were shrieks and loud bangs from nearby buildings, but no movement. The acrid smell of cordite hung thick in the air.

  “Clear.” Bear said.

  Tom looked over at April. She was crouched down in the snow, shaking uncontrollably. Hannah bent over next to her, whispering in her ear.

  “Not the best morning I’ve had.” Hank grumbled. “Now what?”

  Tom looked at the tall central building. “We get in there.”

  Chapter 8 - Unexpected

  There was a sickening crunch-gurgle as Bear continued to plunge his giant knife into skulls, making sure they were down for good. Even after hearing it for several minutes now, Tom shuddered with each finishing blow. Tom pulled his last arrow free and wiped it in the snow. Standing back up, he saw Axel just a few feet away watching him.

  Tom wanted to have a conversation with him and maybe now was the time. “What’s your deal? The woman…April?”

  Axel looked down at his feet, and then off in the distance. “Wife and daughter. We needed help and saw you pass us on the road.”

  “Come on, you’re not a family.”

  “We’re just tryin’ to survive like everyone else.” Axel responded with a touch of anger in his voice.

  “I think the two of you need to take the road back out of here. Follow it and you will come to a compound…tell them we sent you.”

  “We tried there before winter hit.”

  “Try again. Tell Miles that Hannah sent you.”

  “No.” Axel said. “We’re staying with you.” After that he turned and walked away, ending the conversation.

  Tom watched him walk between bodies. He was frustrated and didn’t trust the man, but would let it be for now. Bear and Hannah stood next to the supply building. They were shoulder to shoulder looking in the window. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they kept shaking their heads and shrugging their shoulders.

  They both turned at his approach.

  “What’s up?” Tom asked.

  Hannah glanced over her shoulder and said, “Just wondering where he got it. Takes about a week for symptoms to hit. Had to have got it at the compound.”

  “He didn’t seem sick, but his eyes…he definitely had it.” Tom said.

  Bear shrugged his shoulders. “Hind sight…he seemed off a bit.”

  Tom swept his eyes over the bodies lying all around them. “You two mind doing a sweep of the perimeter fence? Make sure there are no holes other than the one we made. Most of these bodies look like military from here…maybe the others are family or something. I just want to be sure that all we have to worry about is what’s inside the buildings.”

  “Yeah, we got this.” Hannah said while patting Bear on the shoulder. “Let’s roll big guy.”

  Tom watched the two of them make their way toward the hill. He was impressed with Hannah. She was smart, determined, and a great shot. He thought back to what she had said about shooting her dad. He couldn’t even imagine having to deal with something like that. She seemed to take it in stride…or hid it inside.

  Tom looked in at Logan’s body. The body still leaned against the shelving in a sitting position. Absently, Tom rested a hand on one of his MAC9s and looked in at the AR15 lying across Logan’s legs. Next to him sat the crossbow that was clipped to his belt ring. Not feeling happy with the short barreled guns and the awkwardness of having a full bow strapped across his lower back, the two weapons lying in plain sight were tempting. Tom had no idea how Logan had gotten infected and really didn’t want to risk touching his items or getting any closer than he needed to. Man…backpack full of gear too. He thought to himself as he turned away.

  Hank came striding up to Tom. With a thumb pointing over his shoulder he said, “I’m gonna check the crash hawks. Maybe we won’t have to hit the building.”

  “Good idea.” He watched as Hank started to walk away. “Stay sharp.”

  “You know me boss.”

  Tom gazed around, unable to shake the creepy feeling the military base gave him. In the distance beyond the buildings he could see Hannah and Bear making their way along the ridge of the hill, sweeping the fence. April and Axel stood off to the side. They both leaned on one of the buildings and stared down at their feet. Axel’s lips moved as he talked, but the words faded across the distance.

  Tom climbed back to the top of the hill where he could survey the base and keep
an eye on everyone. He spun in a slow circling checking all around. The woods were silent and still. Other than the members of his group, there was no movement around the buildings. The breeze of yesterday had faded, leaving Old Glory hanging still. From the higher vantage point he could see all the trampled snow that surrounded the storage building they spent the night in. It was difficult to tell for sure, but it looked like the horde had come from somewhere on the other side of the tall central building. He didn’t see any tracks coming from the choppers or main gate.

  April slowly walked up the hill toward him. Her head remained down, watching the snow at her feet. As she neared Tom she looked up. Her face was streaked with tears and her eyes still glistened from crying.

  “You okay?” Tom asked.

  She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “Yeah…you know…girl cry.” She said with a half-smile.

  Tom stood looking over the base, waiting for her to hit him with the reason for her little visit. It only took a few seconds.

  “I don’t want to leave you guys. We can help out however.” She said.

  So this is why she was up here. Axel probably had a talk with her and sent her up to do his pleading. “Answer me straight up. I know Axel is not your dad…does he treat you right?”

  She stood, alternating her gaze between the horizon and her feet. “I would be long dead if not for him.”

  “That’s not what I’m asking.”

  Another long hesitation and then she looked directly at Tom. “I can do whatever to keep us here.” She reached a hand out toward Tom.

  He grabbed her wrist before it made it to his chest. Her young eyes dropped. Tom was fairly certain of what she referred to and knew that was why Axel kept her around. “Don’t.”

  She pulled her hand away. “Please let us stay.” After a quick glance back toward Axel, who still leaned against the building watching them, she said, “I need to stay.”