“Were cops. Were bein’ the operative word, Bailey. Stop livin’ in the old world!” Kyle yelled. “Did the last few days’ wipe away the memories of what happened in Malvern? Those people we tried to help—most of them our friends and neighbors, mind you—they bolted! Didn’t appreciate the help and ran like frightened sheep at the first sign of trouble. We’re not helpin’ anyone else, especially strangers. Period. It’s too risky, and I’m done stickin’ my neck on the choppin’ block for ungrateful fools. That’s the harsh world we live in now, so pull your head out of the past. If you don’t, a thing might eat it in the present. Or you’ll fuck-up again and shoot one of us.”
Bailey lunged forward. Kyle was ready for him. “Pender, you’re an—”
It only took one, solid punch. Bailey went down after Kyle unleashed his anger directly into Mike’s chin. Kyle grinned, ready for the piece of shit to stand back up just to be knocked down once more.
“Keep your voices down, idiots. Dead ears might be listenin’,” Walt interjected, stepping over to help Bailey up. “Okay, you two done now? Got it all outta your system, Kyle?”
“I could go another round or two. Doubt he could, though. That one was for Shaun. The next would be for pure pleasure.”
“You always were a prick, Pender. That ain’t changed,” Bailey muttered while rubbing his jaw. “Yeah, I’m done.”
“Okay then, back to our original topic. Though it’s a tough pill to swallow, Reed and Kyle are correct. We can’t deviate from our plan. Can’t let our emotions get to us, and stop pokin’ the hornet’s nest of past mistakes! Those still in that cave up yonder, they need us to return. So no, Reed. I don’t plan on playin’ hero. We go, help Bailey and Allsop, then grab what we can and come back. That’s the mission. Time to move out.”
Kyle and Reed headed to their Humvee, while Walter walked toward his. Bailey and Allsop didn’t move.
“It’s not our mission, Walt. We’re not in the same place at the moment. Y’all have your loved ones around—”
“Not all of us, remember?” Kyle interrupted. “Some died so your sorry asses could live.”
Ignoring Kyle’s comment, Bailey continued, “We’ll go alone. If we find our families, we know our way back. We just—we can’t ignore others, and you know we’ll run across some on the way. It’s that simple. We’ll help those we can.”
“Death sentence,” Kyle muttered.
Walter paused in mid-stride. “I ain’t runnin’ a bed and breakfast, boys. You and your kin—should you find them—are welcome to come back. However, don’t even entertain the notion of bringin’ strangers back with you. If you do, y’all will have to set up tents in the woods. I’m not riskin’ the lives of my loved ones. Y’all sure this is the way you want to end things?”
Bailey and Allsop exchanged glances. Kyle knew their answer before either man spoke.
“Yeah, we’re sure. Thanks for all you’ve done, Walter. But we ain’t quite ready to let go of who we used to be just yet. Safe journeys.”
Walter shifted directions and walked over, stopping next to Reed. “Same to you, boys. Hope you find your families.”
Bailey and Allsop turned and climbed inside the Humvee. They backed out and headed down the road without saying another word.
“Well, that didn’t go quite as planned. Guess we’ll be headin’ straight to Bentonville now, huh?” Reed asked. “Kinda glad, because I never liked Branson. Tourist towns make me cringe.”
“Yep. They’re on a fool’s quest, that’s for sure. We all know they ain’t gonna find shit out there but death and destruction.”
“Ain’t gonna miss either of them. Stupid people won’t survive much longer, and they’ll just bring down those around them when they fall.”
“Kyle!”
“Sorry, Reed, but it’s the truth. Bailey already cost Shaun his life. Which one of us woulda been next? And Allsop? We’ll, he’s always been a dreamer—a man with his head in the clouds. Hope he crashes back to reality soon, or he’ll just end up bein’ a corpse, roamin’ around the countryside, lookin’ for his next meal.”
“Nice, Kyle. Real nice,” Reed said.
Climbing inside the truck, Kyle settled in the driver’s seat. “Truth always hurts, Reed. Always. Cuts to the bone of the matter, leavin’ the rest of the shit behind in a big, ugly pile. Let’s go. I’ll take the first shift drivin’.”
Reed and Walter remained silent as they entered the Humvee. Kyle knew his words were harsh, but he also knew both men were thinking the same thing. He could see it on their faces.
To lighten the mood, recalling how the horrible rendition of My Girl eased some of the tension in the group, Kyle started to sing Better Run Through The Jungle by Creedence Clearwater Revival. In seconds, Reed and Walter joined in, and the trio headed down the road toward Hell.
Kyle wondered if they’d ever return, or this suicide mission was their last hurrah.
RUNNING ON EMPTY - Thursday, December 25th – 11:15 a.m. – Central Standard Time
“Cooper? Wake up. We’ve got a problem. Several, actually.”
“What’s wrong, Teresa?” Cooper asked, nerves immediately on alert. Glancing around, he realized it was late morning, they were in the woods, and Mason wasn’t anywhere in sight.
“Where’s Mason? And where the hell are we?”
“Mason? Not a clue. We’re somewhere in Oklahoma, about thirty miles from Claremore. At least, that’s the last road sign I remember passing.”
Cooper climbed up to the front seat, joining Teresa. “Claremore? That’s way off the route!”
“Excuse me for trying to pick a road that wasn’t full of the fucking dead! I had no choice but to get off of 75 last night. The roads were jammed with cars and corpses. How you slept through all the twists and turns, I have no idea. Mason damn near pissed himself until I stopped at this rest area and hid in the woods.”
“Exhaustion does that to a person. I’d been up for two days straight,” Cooper sighed, rubbing the sleep encrusted in his eyes. “You said several. What else is wrong?”
Teresa pointed at the gas gauge. “We’re running on fumes and only have one can left back there. The three other cans are gone. So is my gun.”
“What the hell? Do you think Mason took them?”
Teresa’s glare could have melted steel. “No, I think maybe a dead person decided to spare our lives and just rob us while we all were sleeping. They got tired of shambling around and needed gas for an abandoned car they stumbled upon.”
“I see gettin’ some rest didn’t help your foul mood,” Cooper responded. He scanned the area, looking for any signs of Mason. “Of course, my question was a stupid one, so forgive me. I still have sleep cobwebs inside my head.”
“Yeah, obviously. Look, the kid went on a suicide mission for gas. I get that. But the chances of him finding any, or making it back here alive, are pretty much nil. I say we fill up the tank with the remaining gas and head out.”
Cooper turned his gaze over to Teresa. He knew she’d suffered some major trauma—hell, they all had—but the harshness in her voice and words made him cringe on the inside. He’d seen what she was capable of, and didn’t doubt for one second she’d kill again.
Without saying a word, Cooper leaned over and snatched the keys from the ignition. “I’m not leavin’ him. End of story.”
A pair of defiant, dark eyes stared back. “Really? Mighty big turnaround there, Chief Hollingsworth. You didn’t have a problem leaving the kid behind in Steamboat. So, what now? We sit here as live bait, waiting until one of those things finds us, while praying the little nerd returns? Great plan.”
Cooper forced his mind to remain calm. Never, in his entire life, had he considered striking a woman, but Teresa’s defiance and hateful attitude made his fingers twitch. “I get it. You’ve been through some major shit. Not only did you travel far and endured horrors I can’t imagine, but you didn’t go willingly. Those men hurt you, and I really am sorry. Really. I always hated rapists
and child molesters, and believed they deserved to pay, dearly, for their actions. So, I’m not gonna say a thing about what you did to them. Hell, I applaud you. But, I ain’t gonna tolerate your callous attitude toward me, or Mason. We saved your life, or did you forget that? He’s just a kid for Christ’s sake! Yes, I left him behind because he wanted to stay. It wasn’t my call to make him come with us. I don’t force people to do what I think is best for them. Didn’t back then, and don’t now.”
“Really? You just took the keys away, which forces me to stay with you.”
“Bullshit. You want to leave? Take your chances out there alone? Fine. Go. Just remember, there’s only one gun and vehicle left, and I ain’t givin’ them up, so you’ll be unarmed and on foot.”
“Which leaves me little choice.”
“There are always, choices, Teresa. The trick is learnin’ to pick the right one. The safe one. The one that lets you live another day. Now, are we done with this? I hope so, because I need to go find Mason so I can get back on the road. I’ve got to get home and find my children.”
Teresa’s mouth dropped open. “Are you insane?”
“Probably. The last few days pretty much wiped away the remainin’ traces of sanity. I woke up to a nightmare, just like you did. Watched dead people eatin’ live ones, had to shoot my wife, and have seen shit on this journey that’s probably turned my hair white. All I care about is gettin’ home and keepin’ you two idiots safe. You comin’ or stayin’? Your choice.”
The shift in Teresa’s demeanor was lightning fast. The tightness in her face relaxed. Her dry lips curved into a sexy grin. “Let’s stay here, Cooper. We’ve got some alone time, now. How long’s it been since you’ve been with a woman? Considering we don’t know if we’ll live another day, maybe we should—”
“Back up your horses, girl. I’ve already seen what your capable of when a man’s pants are around his legs. I’d prefer to keep my boys intact. Besides, I’m a married man.”
Teresa seemed unfazed by Cooper’s words. She leaned closer. “Not anymore.”
“This act may work on younger men, but not a seasoned one like me. I’ve had my fair share of women come on to me over the years, and I’ve always passed. I loved my wife—still do, for that matter. So, dial down your act. Save it for someone who’d be stupid enough to fall for it. I’m headin’ out. Last chance to come with.”
“God, I’ve always hated cops. At least that’s one thing that hasn’t changed during this mess. You’re a tough cookie, I’ll give you that. Or, maybe, you’re too old to get it up? Didn’t remember to pack a little blue pill?”
Cooper studied Teresa’s face while shaking his head. “You’re the tough one, Teresa. Your tenacity will keep you alive, I just know it. Now, I’m leavin’ to go find that boy. If you stay, lock the doors.”
He didn’t give Teresa a chance to respond. Opening the passenger door, Cooper stepped out into the bright sunlight. Pulling the gun from the holster, he scanned the area for any signs of movement. Seeing nothing, he turned his attention to the ground, searching for Mason’s tracks.
The driver’s door opened then shut. Cooper heard Teresa muttering under her breath in Spanish. He figured she was calling him every cuss word she knew.
Cooper didn’t trust the girl, so he made sure to keep her in his line of vision. “Do you remember seein’ a gas station on your drive last night?”
“Yeah, about three or four miles that way,” Teresa pointed west. “Mason noticed, too. He wanted to stop and see if the pumps worked, but I didn’t.”
Cooper heard an underlying sense of fear in Teresa’s words. She put on a tough act, but she was scared, too. “Don’t blame you one bit, Teresa. You did just fine, girl. Just fine. Come on, Mason went west, too.”
“Esto es un error,” Teresa whispered.
Cooper walked alongside Mason’s footprints. “You keep your eyes on the woods, and if you see anythin’, please warn me in English. I only took one year of Spanish in high school, and that was ages ago.”
Teresa snorted, yet didn’t respond. Cooper pulled the key fob and clicked once, locking the SUV. As he followed Mason’s steps, he prayed the kid was still alive. Not only would he feel awful the kid snuck away without him hearing a thing, but Cooper hated the thought of riding the rest of the way to Arkansas—alone—with Teresa. She was dangerous, and he needed another set of eyes on her at all times.
Shit, Mason. What were you thinking? This is not the time to start acting like a hero! You should have waited until we woke up. We could have gone together. Why would you make such a stupid decision?
A sickening thought raced through Cooper’s mind. He stopped walking, waiting for Teresa to do the same. After about five steps, she realized he wasn’t moving.
Turning back around to face him, Teresa smiled. “Change your mind?”
Cooper’s anger erupted from inside his chest. He forced himself not to yell. “It was your idea, wasn’t it? Used your wiles to whip the boy into a sexual frenzy, urged him to do it. Right?”
Teresa’s smile disappeared. Her face looked like cold marble.
Cooper pointed the gun at her head. “Answer me! The idea wasn’t Mason’s, was it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Closing the gap between them, Cooper stopped when less than five feet away. Teresa stood her ground. “You better hope we find him alive. If we don’t, I’ll go back on my promise to not hurt you. I’ll blow your fuckin’ brains out and leave your corpse on the side of the road. I swear.”
“You’re wrong. It was his idea!” Teresa whined. “I tried to change his mind, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not lying! He talked about it while you were sleeping, right after we stopped. I told him no, and to wait until daylight, then we could all go. Do you really think I’d give him my gun, leaving me defenseless in a vehicle with a man I don’t know? Not just no, but Hell no. I woke you up the second I realized he was gone.”
“When we find him, you best hope his story matches yours. If it don’t, today will be your last day alive. Guaranteed.”
“Did you hear that?” Teresa whispered.
Cooper froze, and so did Teresa. She was looking at four cars on the side of the road about forty feet ahead of them. Two SUVs, a small sedan, and one truck, were tangled together. It wasn’t the first time they’d come across multi-vehicle accidents, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
Glancing over at Teresa, searching her face for any trickery or deception, the hairs on his neck stood up. Teresa wasn’t joking. Her eyes were wide with fear.
He hadn’t heard a sound, other than a few crows when they first started walking. They’d been on the move for nearly thirty minutes and had yet to see—or hear—a soul. Cocking his head, Cooper strained to pick up any noise.
A faint scratching sound up ahead made his heart pound. Teresa nodded her head, indicating she heard it, too, and pointed toward the mashed sedan.
Squinting in the bright sun, Cooper searched for any movement in the vehicles. Beams of sunlight bounced off the windshields, making it difficult to see.
Teresa snapped her fingers and pointed toward the trees. Hot saliva filled Cooper’s mouth.
Two gas cans were on the ground.
Motioning for Teresa to stay put, Cooper edged his way toward the wrecked vehicles. He was about ten feet away when he heard them.
The hissing, grunting noises erupted from the cab of the truck and one of the SUVs. Cooper stopped and planted his feet, ready for them to attack. Seconds ticked by, and though their racket increased in volume, they remained inside the vehicles.
They’re either restrained by their seatbelts, so mangled from the accident their legs don’t work, or they haven’t figured out how to open doors. Okay, steady. Mason’s gotta be close.
Rounding the back end of the truck, Cooper saw him. Mason was on the ground next to the gas tank, the gun about three feet away from his outstr
etched hand.
Fighting the urge to call out his name, Cooper ran to the other side of Mason, praying he wasn’t about to see the boy as a zombie. A sigh of relief escaped—no blood; no visible wounds; no bluish lines on Mason’s face.
Crouching down, Cooper covered Mason’s mouth with his hand and whispered, “Mason? Mason? It’s Cooper. Can you hear me?”
Mason’s eyes fluttered open. The stench of fear rolled off him in waves. Nodding once, Cooper said, “We ain’t alone, so don’t yell. You hurt?”
Mason shook his head, so Cooper removed his hand. “Can you walk?”
“Yeah.”
“Then move your ass. We gotta get. Now.”
Gravel crunched from behind them. Cooper spun around, ready to shoot, until he realized it was Teresa. She bent down and picked up the gun. “Did you get some gas?”
“Yeah. Was filling the third one when—”
“Ain’t no time for that now! Move!” Cooper grumbled.
Mason scrambled to his feet, and the three of them moved away from the wreck. The creatures inside the vehicles pounded on the windows, but not with much strength. Cooper figured their broken bodies weren’t cooperating.
“Get the gas. Now!” Teresa yelled.
“Oh, shit, wait!” Cooper screamed, grabbing Mason by the collar. Together, they turned and fled in the opposite direction.
“Five seconds. Four,” Teresa said, taking a few steps back with each word. “Three; two; one!”
Teresa fired, hitting the gas-soaked ground. The explosion knocked them all down. The heat was intense as plumes of fire and smoke shot tens of feet into the air. The eerie sounds of the grumbling dead, ceased.
“Holy shit!” Mason muttered.
Ears still ringing from the blast, Cooper stood and brushed the dirt and debris off his pants. He saw Teresa get back up and walk toward them. His nerves went into overdrive. Yanking Mason up, he moved in front of him. “Don’t move.”
“What? Why?”
Tainted Future (The Rememdium Series Book 3) Page 14
