“Not my problem, sweetheart,” he replied. “Just make sure you do a good job. We can’t have those corpses rotting up the entire place.”
Emily bristled, her freckles becoming extra pronounced while her cheeks flushed with hot blood. “I’m not your sweetheart.”
Sergeant Brown shrugged. “Whatever.”
“And what exactly is our job?” Dean asked.
“To pick up all the bodies and parts and take it to that open field over there to be burned,” Sergeant Brown said, pointing to a stretch of charcoaled grass and vegetation.
“We have to go out there? Alone?” Chas asked, pushing down the bubble of panic that rose in her throat at the thought.
“Relax. You won’t be so far from the gates that you can’t make a run for it,” Sergeant Brown said with a malicious smile.
Chas stared down the fence at the dark splotch of dead people to the spot where the bodies would be burned. The two places were several yards apart, and they’d be completely exposed while outside the compound. Not even the guard towers or patrolling soldiers gave her any real comfort. “I hope you rot in hell, Brown.”
His smile fell away. “I’ll see you there first, sweetheart.”
Chas was about to say something that would’ve landed her in real trouble, when a familiar figure walked up, the shoulders square and the back straight. It was Alvarez, his dark hair freshly cut in the military style and his uniform immaculate. Over his shoulder hung an automatic rifle and on his hip rode a sidearm.
“It’s all right, Sergeant Brown. I’ll take it from here,” he said.
“My uncle put me in charge, Sergeant Alvarez,” Brown protested.
“Actually, your uncle asked me to escort these kids while they’re outside the compound to ensure their safety,” Alvarez replied in a frosty tone.
“He did?” Brown frowned. “I thought they were going alone?”
“You didn’t really think your uncle would allow that, did you? These are children, and their parents expect them home in time for supper. Safe and sound, I might add.”
“I know, but we discussed it earlier, and he agreed they’d be fine on their own,” Brown said. “There are guards along the fence, after all.”
Alvarez sighed, and when he spoke, he did so slowly as if talking to a toddler. “If anything happens to these children while they’re outside that fence, who do you think the parents will blame? You’ll have a riot on your hands, and at least, your uncle realizes that. Is it worth the risk?”
Even then, Brown hesitated. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re lying to me.”
“Look, if you don’t believe me, you can ask him yourself.”
“I think I will,” Sergeant Brown said, shooting them each a nasty glare before flouncing away.
Chas smothered a giggle. Next to Alvarez, Brown looked like a plump little boy, his chin weak and his stomach pudgy. They all hated the guy, and it was good to see him put in his place for once.
Alvarez looked at the kids with a frown. “What am I going to do with you lot? Whenever I turn my back it seems you get into trouble. Why can’t you be like normal kids and just play ball or something?”
“It’s not our fault,” Chas protested. “It’s Major Brown. He hates me for lying about the Senator’s daughter and keeps punishing me for it. He won’t stop.”
“Well, I was able to talk some sense into him, at least, and he agreed to let me guard you during your chores.”
“Thank you, Alvarez. We really appreciate it,” Chas said, and she meant every word.
“Let’s just get this over with. I’m not exactly looking forward to an afternoon mucking dead bodies in the hot sun, but first…”
Alvarez led them to a military truck and opened the back, removing proper masks and safety glasses. “Put these on. It’s better than that crap Brown gave you. Tie your hair back as well, Vanessa.”
Once they were done, he had them put their gloves on and proceeded to duck tape them shut around the sleeves. He did the same to their boots, and straightened up with a satisfied nod. “Now nothing can get inside your jumpsuits. It’ll be hot and uncomfortable, you’ll sweat like pigs, but for goodness sake don’t scratch your skin, touch your eyes or mouth, take your gear off, or do anything else that might be considered stupid. Once you’re done, I’ll help you clean up and disinfect.”
Emily heaved a relieved sigh and said what they were all thinking, “You’re a lifesaver, Alvarez.”
“If you think that’s great then you’ll love me for this,” Alvarez said, nodding toward a group of five soldiers approaching them. Three were dressed in a similar fashion to the kids while the other two were armed to the teeth. “I got a few volunteers to help out. Sanchez and Smith will assist me in keeping you guys safe, while Williams, Davis, and Johnson will help you clean up.”
The five soldiers smiled and greeted them and introductions were made all around. Afterward, Chas asked, “Won’t Major Brown get cross with you guys for helping us out?”
“Major Brown is attending to an emergency at the electrical station, Miss. He’ll be busy all day long, along with his favorite nephew,” Smith said.
“An emergency?” Chas asked with a suspicious frown.
Smith nodded with mock seriousness, his eyes twinkling. “Oh, yes. Most dire. It requires immediate attention of the highest order.”
“Besides,” Sanchez said, her smile dazzling against her smooth skin, “Major Brown embarrasses the National Guard with the way he treats you guys. You should be playing or learning while being protected and cherished, not threatened and bullied by a man in uniform.”
“Amen to that,” Williams said, shifting his lanky frame from one foot to the other.
“There’s not a soldier here who’ll tell on us, so you can relax,” Johnson added with drawl that marked him as a Texan. “We’re in the clear.”
Chas eyed the soldiers with a heart that was about to burst with gratitude. It was good to know they weren’t alone in their opposition of Major Brown, and that others saw through him too. “Thank you, guys.”
“Just let us handle the worst of it,” Davis said, her expression sympathetic. “You shouldn’t be doing what you’re about to do in the first place. You’re far too young in my opinion.”
Chas drew herself up as a spark of her former self took flame. “With all due respect, Ma’am, we’re not kids anymore. We’ve seen the infection at close quarters, and we’ve all had our turn fighting it. A few bodies is nothing new to us.”
Davis stared at Chas for a second. “That’s what makes it so sad.”
“Well, let’s not waste anymore time,” Alvarez said as he walked towards the gate and motioned for the guards to open. Once the area was cleared, they made their way toward the heap of dead bodies that still lay piled up against the fence where they died.
The closer they got the worst the smell was even though the zombies hadn’t been dead for very long. The corpses were already starting to rot in the heat as the gas in their stomachs expanded. Flies buzzed around their open wounds, eyes, and lips, and dried blood covered every surface.
Chas gagged when she spotted an arm lying by itself in the grass, the torn ligaments and bone glinting in the sunlight. For a moment, she was back at the fair again, staring down as people ripped each other to pieces. She watched as the little boy turned and launched himself at his mother. The screaming, the smell of blood, the adrenaline pumping through her veins, it all came flooding back until she almost thought it was real.
Davis nudged her shoulder, bringing her back to reality. “Are you sure you can do this, hun?”
Chas took a deep breath and reached out a tentative hand to pick up the limb. She dropped it into her sack and said, “I’m okay, Davis. I promise.”
“Let’s hope so, my dear. Let’s hope so,” Davis replied with a sad smile.
Deep down, Chas hoped so too. The dreams, the nightmares, the waking visions…they were getting worse, not better, and she was more scared than she’d eve
r been in her entire life.
Chapter 4
It took them the whole day to clean up the mess created by the machine gun turrets during the attack the night before. The high-powered bullets were designed to rip through flesh and bone, and that’s exactly what they did. The mass of zombies had quickly been reduced to little more than ground meat.
At first, it took all of Chas’ willpower not to throw up every two seconds, and she sorely regretted eating breakfast, but as the day progressed, it became easier to handle, almost as if she were becoming immune to the blood and gore.
What didn’t get easier was the sense of fear at being out in the open, exposed and vulnerable, even with Alvarez, Smith, and Sanchez on guard duty. More than once, Chas or one of the others thought they heard something or saw something move. It was nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time.
To their credit, the soldiers did most of the work, carting away the bodies on stretchers and using the shovels to clear bits of infected flesh and blood from the ground. Chas and her friends helped as much as they could, trying to act bravely in front of the grown-ups. It was hard, though, and it was not a day any of them were ever likely to forget.
After clearing away the bodies, the ground was sprinkled with bleach and salt in the hopes of nuking any remnants of the virus that might still be lingering in the earth or vegetation.
Emily just shook her head and laughed. “That’s ridiculous. It’s been proven the virus cannot survive out in the open without a living host for more than a minute. All they’re doing is killing the plants.”
“What about animals and insects? Worms?” Dean asked.
Emily shot him a rude look. “Don’t be ridiculous. Insects and worms are not suitable hosts for the virus. Besides, we’ve been standing here for more than a minute already. The virus is dead, and the ground is safe.”
Dean beat a hasty retreat before Emily’s superior knowledge, raising his hands in the air. “Whatever you say, Emily. You’re the smart one among us.”
Emily pushed her glasses back up her nose and sniffed. “Don’t you forget that.”
“Too bad the grown-ups don’t realize how clever you are, Em,” Vanessa said. “They’re completely underestimating us, and have done so from the beginning.”
“You’re right, of course, but what can we do about it? In their eyes, we’re just children,” Emily said.
Chas listened in silence, for what was there to say? They were young, and the adults were justified in their desire to protect them, but it was galling to be treated like a baby. Emily’s parents especially tended to go overboard, and Chas guessed she should be grateful her mother didn’t stay with them as she also had a tendency to baby her only child. Yet, at the same time, she’s content to leave me alone with Lala. I’ll never understand my mother.
Once the fence line was cleaned up came the awful job of burning the corpses in the allotted clearing. Smith doused the bodies with gasoline before lighting a match, and together they watched the zombies burn while making sure nothing escaped the flames.
It was late afternoon before Alvarez declared the site completely clean. “All right, guys, we’re done here. Time for decontamination.”
In silence, they all trooped back inside the base where they stripped off their uniforms in a nearby ablution block, men on the one side and women on the other. Their old clothes and gear was burned and new outfits issued by the supply depot. After a scalding shower using buckets of soap and disinfectant, they were as clean as they were ever going to be.
It was only when they were all together again, that Chas realized the heavy toll the day had taken on her friends. Not only had they performed an extremely gruesome and dangerous task, but they’d done it without complaint, knowing that if they rebelled, Chas would pay for it.
She looked from one to the other, taking in their shell-shocked expressions, and more than ever, the guilt weighed on her conscience. I have to do something even if it means sucking up to Major Brown and licking his boots. Anything to get him to leave my friends alone. They deserve better than this.
Her morbid thoughts were interrupted when a convoy of vehicles in the army colors rumbled up to the gate. Chas stared with fascination at the trucks, each bristling with guns and soldiers. In the middle were a few plain vehicles bearing the logo of the CDC, and she whistled. “The Army and the CDC? What are they doing here?”
It was common knowledge that the National Guard was in charge of the country’s numerous safe zones and that they were essentially on their own for now. What was not so obvious was either the Army or the CDC’s role in all of it.
“As far as I know, the regular army has been tasked with securing key federal and military installations, extracting government officials, and safeguarding the country’s borders against possible invasion. I have no idea what they’d want with us,” Dean said.
As one, the girls turned to look at him, and Emily exclaimed. “How do you even know that?”
He shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. “I listen when the soldiers talk. I’d like to enlist one day, so…”
“So, you’re keeping in the loop. Smart,” Emily said. “The CDC being here can mean only one thing, though. They’re looking for a cure, maybe a vaccine. Some form of treatment.”
“Here in Red Rock?” Chas asked. A brief flare of excitement lit in her chest, only for her to realize it didn’t mean anything for them. They were still stuck in the safe zone. We’re not going anywhere.
After a brief delay, the convoy was let inside and Chas watched them rumble past until they disappeared around a corner.
“Guess we’d better go,” Chas said.
“Yeah, I’m starving,” Dean said.
“Ugh, how can you even think about eating after today?” Vanessa asked, wrinkling her nose.
“I can eat,” Emily said, surprising all of them. “What? It’s just Biology. Flesh, blood, and organs are a normal part of life and nature. It’s just cells made up of…”
Chas rolled her eyes as Emily droned on, in full teacher mode. It was good to know she was back to her old self again. Now the rest of them just had to get over their hang-ups, though Chas suspected it was more her than them. Vanessa and Dean seemed to be coping quite well with the end of the world.
As they turned to leave, Alvarez called them over, surrounded by the other volunteer soldiers. “Before you guys leave, we just wanted to say something.”
Smith cleared his throat and produced four candy bars from his pocket. “This is for you, but don’t let the Major find out about it.”
Chas looked at the chocolate bar with wonder, admiring the shiny red and gold wrapper. It’d been a month since her last piece of anything nice except for the stolen coke the night before. “Why are you giving this to us?”
“Because we’ve never met a bunch of braver kids in our lives,” Sanchez said.
“Yes, I was wrong to doubt you,” Davis added.
“Amen to that,” Williams said. It seemed he didn’t say much of anything else besides that.
“If I wore one right now, I’d tip my hat to you,” Johnson the Texan said, which Chas took to be a great compliment.
“I don’t know what to say,” she managed at long last, still staring at the candy bar in her hands.
Emily burst into tears, Dean shook all their hands with great gusto, and Vanessa flashed them a grin before tucking her chocolate away.
“All right, that’s enough of the sappy stuff. Off to dinner with you,” Alvarez said. He turned to Chas and bumped her on the shoulder. “Buck up, kiddo. Don’t let that man get to you, okay?”
Chas nodded. “Okay.”
His words did nothing to ease her mind, though. Throughout dinner, she worried about Major Brown and what he’d do next to her and her friends. The fact that they had to lie about what they’d done the whole day, didn’t sit well with her either.
“How was your day, dear?” Lala asked.
“It was okay,” Chas mumbled.
“Okay?”
“We fixed fences. Boring stuff.”
“I see, and you didn’t go outside of the fence? Major Brown kept his word?” Lala asked.
Chas looked up, meeting Emily’s gaze. Em gave a slight shake with her head, and Chas said. “It was fine, Lala. We never went out.”
“Well, I’m happy to hear that,” Amelia said, stroking Emily’s hair. “As long as my baby was safe.”
Emily smiled for the benefit of her parents before staring at her plate again. Vanessa, at least, had no one to report to. Her foster mother Sarah had been admitted to the infirmary that afternoon with suspected Bronchitis.
“We’ll go visit her tomorrow after church, hun,” Lala assured Vanessa.
“Thank you, Lala,” Vanessa replied, but her shoulders drooped, and Chas suspected she was exhausted. They all were.
When the promised ice cream showed up, Chas could hardly summon the energy to eat it, let alone enjoy it, especially when Major Brown stopped by with a smarmy smile.
“Good evening, folks. I see the young ones are enjoying their treat,” he said, ignoring the hateful stares they shot his way.
“Yes, thank you, Major,” Amelia said. “I hear they were well looked after and in good hands today.”
“But of course. I promised, didn’t I?” Major Brown said.
Chas nearly choked. While the latter part was true, it was thanks to Alvarez that they weren’t zombie bait. Not the Major or his idiot nephew. Brown’s threat earlier hung over their heads, though, preventing them from speaking up. It was with a heavy heart that she realized he had them right where he wanted, and there was nothing she could do about it.
At least one interesting thing happened during supper. The army and CDC folks arrived to eat, and Chas ogled them with unabashed curiosity.
“Chasity, it’s rude to stare,” Lala said.
“I know, but I can’t help it.”
One woman, in particular, stood out to Chas. She was young and wore an army uniform without rank. A private. She was very pretty too, with long dark hair in a french braid and golden brown eyes rimmed by thick black lashes.
Gen Z Boxed Set Page 15
