“Sorry, but now I can shoot,” James said. “Plus, if we’re getting shot at, chances are it’ll break anyway.”
“You’re right,” Tank said, “But next time lets plan something a little better than just smashing it.”
“Granted, it wasn’t my best idea,” James said, smiling.
“Definitely not,” Connor said.
“This sucks,” Chloe said, her brunette hair whipping wildly in the wind.
“I don’t mind it. Feels good,” Selena said, her short black hair not as affected.
“Anyone have a hair tie?” Chloe asked.
“Oh yeah, I always keep one on hand,” Tank said, and for a moment it seemed like she believed him. Then her face soured.
“I have one, sweetie,” Selena said, taking one out of her pocket.
“Thanks.”
“Fine then,” Tank said, putting a hair tie into his pocket.
Chloe ignored Tank and Connor looked over at him curiously.
“I just found it in the cup holder,” Tank whispered to him.
Connor chuckled. “You’re a piece.”
Tank smiled. “So James, what happened to your ear?”
“Those bastards at the ambush shot a chunk of it off,” James said, gently touching it.
Tank laughed. “That blows.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” James said.
“So we just continue on this until . . . what?” Tank asked.
“Emmett said he’d meet us on US-87 somewhere, so I guess we take this until we meet him or hit I-90,” James said.
“Do you know where it hits I-90?” Tanks asked.
James shrugged.
“In Sheridan,” Selena said.
“Well, hell,” Tank said. “So much for avoiding big cities.”
12
To Build a Fire
Houses were becoming more frequent as US-87 merged with another highway, turning to the northeast. Zombies became more numerous as well. Tank had to actively work at avoiding them.
It’s not as easy when you don’t have a truck to run them over with, James thought.
If they weren’t careful they could high-center or wreck the car by hitting one. Tank was a good driver, however, and he weaved around them as they continued to grow more prolific.
“Damn, they’re everywhere,” Tank said as they drove past a group of four zombies that tried to follow them, staggering behind the car like drunks chasing a butterfly.
“We need to get on I-90 as soon as we can and get north of town. Hopefully, Emmett did the same,” James said.
“What about the radio?” Connor asked. “Might work now that we’re closer.”
“I’ll try,” James said as he pulled it out. “Emmett, do you copy?”
Static played over the radio and he tried again without success.
“Worth a try,” Connor said as James put the radio back.
“It means he’s more than likely north of Sheridan, hopefully. I’ll try again when we get closer,” James said.
“How far will one of those reach?” Selena asked.
“Maybe a few miles,” James said.
“In perfect conditions,” Connor said.
“So about as far as you can throw ‘em,” Tank said.
“Ah,” Selena said.
“Is that a person?” Chloe asked, pointing ahead.
“What?” James asked, looking forward. She must have seen a zombie or something. Surely no one would be walking around out here alone.
“She’s right,” Connor said. “He just ran off the right side of the road.”
James stood up through the broken window and aimed at the spot with his AR. Connor stuck his out the window. As they drew near, Tank slowed the Mustang to a stop. James could see something poking out from behind a tree ten yards off the road.
“I see you there,” James said. “Come out and we won’t shoot.”
A tall, lanky boy stepped out, hands in the air. He appeared to be in his mid-teens and had light brown hair. He wore an orange backpack and a ragged green jacket with an old single-action revolver tucked into the front of his pants.
“Well, at least you’re not the Reclaimers,” the teen said, smiling.
“Who?” James asked, keeping the teen in his scope.
“The crazy people around here who like to shoot first and ask questions later,” the teen said.
“What’s your name?” James asked.
“Mike,” he said.
“So, Mike, what are you doing out here alone? You are alone, right?”
“Of course I am. And, you know, just playing hide and seek with the zombs.”
“You don’t have a group?”
“I did, but the Reclaimers killed them all and took me prisoner.”
“You escaped?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Show some respect to the man who holds your life in his hands, boy,” Tank said.
“What? Like I’m scared of you? I could die at any second by the zombs or Reclaimers. So what if you’re the one to do it?”
“Just calm down,” James said. “So you escaped and now here you are?”
“Pretty much. Been running for a couple days, trying to get out, but they have the interstate and a lot of the roads blocked.”
“Yeah, we know,” Tank said.
“Have you seen anyone else on the road?” James asked.
“You mean like other people? No. But zombs? Plenty.”
“We’re looking for the rest of our group.”
“Where’d you see ‘em last?” Mike asked.
“I-90 at the barricade. They broke through and went north. We’re hoping to meet up with them.”
“You’ll never see them again,” Mike said with a chuckle.
“Do you need an ass kickin’?” Tank asked.
“Why do you say that?” James asked Mike. He agreed with Tank. This punk needed to be decked right in his smug face.
“Reclaimers have another spot they catch people at. The good news is, if you make it past their first ‘trial’ they let you live and just take you prisoner.”
“Sounds like they’re crazy,” Connor said.
“Oh yeah, or at least their leader is, straight up mental. The rest just want any excuse to shoot people or zombs, doesn’t matter which.”
“Great,” Tank said. “More insane bastards. Not like there wasn’t already enough in FoCo.”
“Yeah, so can I hop in with you?” Mike asked. “I’ll give you all my weapons. I just want to get out of here.”
“Tank? Connor?” James asked.
“Sure, the more the merrier,” Tank said. “Plus, if he pisses me off, I’ll just punch him in the nose.”
“I’ll take your weapons,” Connor said.
“Rad,” Mike said, walking over and pulling out his pistol and a knife from his boot, giving them both to Connor. “Where am I gonna sit?”
“Just like me,” James said as he scooted all the way over, sitting above the backseat with his feet on the seat.
“This majorly sucks,” Chloe said as she scrunched next to James’s legs.
“Hello, ladies, I’m Mike,” he said as he climbed up on the trunk and sat down like James.
“Yeah, we heard,” Selena said. “If you step on me, I’ll throw you off the back.”
“Man, you’re all so hostile.”
“Comes with the times,” Tank said as he pressed on the gas and the car lurched forward.
Mike’s arms flailed in the air and he almost flipped off the back but gathered his balance at the last second. “Hey!”
Tank and Connor laughed and James barely held his mirth in check.
“Tank,” James said.
“Just making sure everyone knows to hold on tight.”
“I’m as good as dead,” Mike said, gripping tightly to the roof and doorjamb in front of him.
“Yep,” Tank said as he topped out at a good cruising speed and they continued north.
A few minutes later
, they were in the southern part of Sheridan. Tank drove to the nearest intersection and turned right, heading toward the interstate. Abandoned and crashed vehicles were scattered everywhere, complete with zombies. James was amazed. It looked like a lot of this destruction was fresh—maybe only a couple of days old. The zombies began to stumble toward them.
“This place hasn’t been like this long,” James said.
“No, that’s why we were heading this way,” Mike said. “It was supposed to be in good shape.”
“So much for that,” Connor said.
“Yeah, it’s gone now,” Tank said, turning onto the off ramp for the interstate.
“What’re you doing?” Chloe asked.
“Are you serious?” Tank asked. “It’s the end of the world. There’re no vehicles driving around and you want me to pass that huge horde of undead to get on the interstate the right way?”
“Well . . . never mind,” Chloe said, clearly flustered.
“I can see why you’d initially think that,” James said, trying to alleviate some of the tension. “It’s an honest mistake.”
“Don’t patronize me,” Chloe snapped.
“Okay . . .” James said, turning back to the task at hand—keeping a lookout for Emmett or anything else they might come across. This woman was seriously frustrating. He was beginning to see why Tank treated her the way he did. Then again, Tank treated everyone like that at some point or another.
“I wouldn’t try,” Tank said. “The more you try to help, the pissier she gets.”
“Only with you,” Chloe said.
“No question there,” Tank said.
“I guess it’s not just me you hate then,” Mike said.
“No, I pretty much hate everyone,” Tank said. “The undead were supposed to take care of that, but they failed on a few, I see.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you started all this,” Mike said, eyeing Tank.
“Of course I did! I’m Arthas Menethil!” Tank said with a laugh.
“Nice reference,” Mike said.
“You know what he’s talking about?” Selena asked.
“Of course. Arthas is the Lich King in World of Warcraft. He controls the Scourge, a faction of the undead,” Mike said enthusiastically.
“Maybe you’re not all bad,” Tank said.
“What are you talking about?” Chloe asked.
“It’s a video game,” James said.
“Figures,” Chloe said. “I’m stuck in a vehicle with a bunch of children at the end of the world.”
“When you say it like that, it does sound kind of depressing,” Mike said. “How about, ‘The end of the world has come and my companions are masters of the lore of Azeroth.’”
“Much better,” James said.
“I like that,” Tank said.
“You’re all a bunch of nerds!” Chloe said, exasperated.
“Thanks,” Mike and Tank said at the same time.
“Jinx!” Mike said.
“Dude, no one does that anymore,” Tank said.
“You still owe me a soda.”
“Fine,” Tank said, then whispered to Connor. “But I’m going to shake it up first.”
“I heard that,” Mike said.
“Damn, guess I’ll have to try that on the next one who jinxes me.”
“I thought you said no one does—”
The vehicle swerved hard to the right. Mike tumbled off the back, crashing to the pavement. Even with swerving, Tank hadn’t been able to avoid it. He’d seen it too late. The spike strip tore through the driver’s side tires. It took all that Tank had to keep them from flipping. Their momentum caused them to crash into the side of an SUV, but they’d slowed down enough that the airbags didn’t even deploy. James ended up on top of the girls in the backseat. He picked himself up and climbed out the back window. Already, zombies were beginning to stumble toward them and Mike, who was kneeling with a hand to his head.
“You got them?” James asked, looking at Connor.
“Go,” Connor said, climbing out of the Mustang.
James took off running to Mike, his ear beginning to throb from the exertion. Crouching down next to him, he raised his AR and shot the two closest zombies, dropping them to the pavement.
“You okay?” James asked as Mike removed his hand. James looked at it, aside from some road rash, he looked fine. “Did you hit your head?”
“Not when I landed. I fell on my ass. I may have broken my tailbone,” Mike said.
“Okay, let’s get you up and see if you can walk,” James said, helping him stand. “Good thing we weren’t going much faster or this could have been a lot worse.”
“No crap. What happened?”
“Spike strip.”
James hauled Mike to his feet, and after a few limping steps, he was able to walk on his own.
“My hip freaking hurts too.”
“You’re good for now. The more you walk, the better you’ll feel.”
They made it back to the group, who were all out of the car, standing next to it.
Connor shot the nearest zombie, then looked back at them. “We need to go.”
James looked around, realizing there were more zombies than he thought scattered around the vehicles on the interstate.
“I’d say,” Tank said.
“Is that a used car lot over there?” Selena asked, pointing into town to the west of the interstate.
“I think so. Let’s go,” James said.
“Here,” Connor said, giving Mike his revolver and knife back. “Don’t use your handgun unless you have to.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you two do all the shooting. I only have three bullets left anyway.”
Hopping over the guardrail, James led the way down the small embankment into the northern end of Sheridan. Tank followed behind him with the girls next, then Mike, and finally Connor bringing up the rear. Crossing the train tracks, they entered town and stopped at the back of a department store.
“Here,” Connor said, offering Tank his tomahawk.
“Entering stealth mode,” Tank said.
“Really? You’re joking in a situation like this?” Chloe asked.
“Of course. These are the best times for joking.”
“You hang here. I’m gonna go check it out,” James said. “But I don’t think that’s a used car lot.”
“No, it looks like a junkyard,” Connor said.
James ran in a crouch from behind the department store. Luckily, as big cities go, Sheridan wasn’t that big. There were still too many zombies for his liking though. Running across the street, two zombies took notice of him. He drew his tomahawk and took care of the first one, then moved on to the second, ending it with a spike to its skull. Moving to the fence that surrounded the yard, he found a shorter section and climbed over. As he dropped to the ground a couple of feet below, he realized that was exactly what this was—a junkyard.
While some of the vehicles looked usable, he decided they’d have better luck elsewhere. He approached an old school bus that was missing its tires, planning to climb it to get a better look at the surrounding area, but stopped suddenly. He could see the children’s faces behind the windows, being burned alive as flames consumed them. Their screams tore through the silence of the evening and he watched in horror as he could do nothing to save them.
James shook his head, breathing heavily and realized he was sweating. He looked again at the school bus sitting there. It wasn’t the one full of kids but an old rusty one in the middle of the junkyard.
What the hell was that? he thought.
He looked down at his tomahawk shaking in his hand. Taking a deep breath, he tried his best to clear his mind, but that image was still burned into his subconscious. Shaking his head again, he growled and climbed up onto the hood of the school bus. His ear began throbbing and the pain returned. Even though it wasn’t vital, his missing piece of ear was sure a pain in the ass. He wondered if cutting the whole damn thing off would help. He knew
it wouldn’t—this was just turning out to be an annoying wound.
On the roof of the bus James shivered, the sweat on his skin turning cold. The wind was picking up, and even on this warm summer evening, it brought an unexpected chill from the mountains. Immediately, he spotted a used car dealership across the main drag. It looked like there were quite a few vehicles in good shape. The only problem was that there were zombies scattered all around town, especially between them and the dealership. They’d need to think of something to lure them away because there was no way they were getting past them.
~~~
Connor watched as his brother jumped off the bus, climbed over the fence and ran back, taking down another zombie along the way.
“Okay,” James said. “That’s definitely a junkyard, but there’s a used car dealership across the road.”
“Sweet,” Tank said. “Anything big and mean-lookin’?”
“Couldn’t tell. There are a lot of vehicles though. But we have a problem.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less,” Tank said.
“There are too many zombies between us and it. We need to draw ‘em off.”
“Of course,” Mike said, sighing.
“What’s the plan?” Connor asked.
“There’s a gas station a little farther to the north—”
“Finally, I get to blow some shit up!” Tank said.
“Exactly,” James said. “We’ll blow it up and the explosion and fire should draw ‘em.”
“Aren’t you worried about the fire spreading?” Chloe asked.
“And what? Takin’ more undead out with it?” Tank said.
“It doesn’t look like there’re any houses nearby, just a bunch of businesses,” James said, “And the wind blowing this hard will keep the fire from catching the trees to the west.”
“So, how do we blow it?” Tank asked, that mischievous glint returning to his eyes.
“Not sure,” James answered.
“A flaming arrow!” Mike said.
“Do you have a bow? Or even an arrow, for that matter?” Tank asked.
“Well, no.”
“Do you expect us to have one hidden somewhere?”
“Okay, okay. It was a bad idea. What if you just shoot a pump?”
“Won’t work. Haven’t you ever seen Myth Busters?” James asked.
The Brother's Creed (Book 2): Battleborn Page 14
