“Maybe, but we’re smart too. I’m sure we can figure something out. We just need to look at the terrain, that’s all,” Anke urged.
“What if they do catch us?” Chas said. “They’ll ground us. Lock us up.”
“If we’re careful, we’ll be back before dawn. Aren’t you tired of doing nothing but stupid supply runs while the adults get to do all the good stuff?” Anke said, folding her arms and lifting her chin in the air. “I looked after myself for weeks after my parents died. I was alone all that time, fighting zombies, scrounging for food, looking after myself. I don’t need these people to tell me what to do, and neither do you. We’re survivors. Fighters.”
“I know, but it’s too dangerous. Anything could go wrong,” Chas said.
“That’s part of the adventure, isn’t it?”
Chas gazed out into the park, the trees blurred by the falling rain. The sun had set, and night had fallen, thick and heavy. The seed of doubt she’d carried all along now blossomed beneath Anke’s words. What if help didn’t arrive in time? What if the safe zone fell and everyone died when they could’ve come up with a plan. Her and Anke. All it would take is a quick look, right?
“Come on, Chas. You know you want to,” Anke said. “What if you and your friends never snuck out of the safe zone? You took a risk then. A big one that worked out.”
Chas slowly shook her head, fighting against the temptation to give in. “No, I won’t. I’m sorry.”
“Fine, have it your way. I’ll find some other way to save them. To save everyone,” Anke said, stomping off into the night.
Chas stood stock still for several minutes after Anke left, chewing over the conversation they’d had. Was she making a mistake? Was she being a coward? “No. I’m being responsible, that’s all. Like Stokes wanted.”
With determined strides, Chas made her way to Grumps’ room. She needed reassurance from him. To hear from his own lips that he had a plan. She crossed the street and bypassed the church, entering a neighboring building where her grandfather had set up his quarters. She stopped at her room first, stripping off her wet clothes and towel-drying her hair.
Neither Vanessa or Emily was to be seen, and she guessed they were having supper. Her stomach growled at the thought, but at least, she’d had the apple. It was better than nothing. “Hope they’re enjoying their full bellies.”
Chas found Grumps inside his office, pouring over a map. He looked up when she entered and frowned. “There you are.”
She approached the desk slowly, wondering at his foul mood. “Hi, Grumps. I wanted to ask you something.”
“Yes?”
“What happens if Julia and Alvarez don’t come back in time?”
“What do you mean?” Grumps asked with a frown.
“It’s been days, and we haven’t heard anything from them.”
“Delays are to be expected. Besides, we knew we’d lose communication the moment they got out of range of our radios.”
“Yeah, but do you have a plan for in case they don’t come back? To save Lala and Mom?”
Grumps looked down at his desk. “We’re working on it. I’m sending out recon teams every single day to look for a way out.”
“Could I go on one of those recons?” Chas asked. “Maybe all you need is a fresh perspective.”
“Absolutely not,” Grumps replied in abrupt tones.
Chas sucked in a breath. “Why not?”
“Lieutenant Stokes told me what happened today. I’m very disappointed in you, Chasity Martin.”
Chas’ heart sank into her boots. She knew she was in real trouble when he used her full name like that. “I’m sorry about that, Grumps.”
“I’m suspending you from all further supply runs until further notice,” Grumps said.
“What? You can’t do that,” Chas protested, her mouth turning dry with horror.
His eyebrows lifted. “I can, and I will. You will not leave this base without my express permission.”
“That’s unfair. What about Vanessa, and Dean?” Hot blood stained her cheeks as anger flooded her veins. He can’t do this to me!
“They, unlike you, have proven themselves to be responsible young people. They can be relied upon. They follow orders. They are willing to learn. Are you?”
“Of course, I am. I won’t disobey again. I’m sorry,” Chas cried, desperate to turn his decision around. “Please, Grumps. Don’t ground me.”
“I’m sorry, Chasity, but you’ve left me no choice. Until you’ve proven to me that I can trust you, you are to remain here. Understood?” Grumps’ voice carried a note of finality, and she knew she’d lost the battle.
“I understand,” she muttered, before fleeing from the room. Her flying feet carried her to her bed where she lay sobbing at the unfairness of it all.
After a time, tears gave way to rage, and she pummeled the cushions in frustrated anger. How dared he ground her? After everything she’d done. It wasn’t fair.
Chas sat upright, wiping the tears from her face. Anke was right. They were survivors. Fighters. And they didn’t deserve to sit on the sidelines. “It’s time to take matters into my own hands.”
She searched the corridors until she found Anke who eyed her with wary caution. “I’m in. I’ll go with you.”
“Really?” Anke’s face lightened up with a broad grin.
“Yes. Grumps grounded me. I’ve got nothing more to lose,” Chas said.
“What about your friends?”
“Forget them. They’re responsible young people now. They won’t understand,” Chas said, mimicking Grumps.
“Okay. Meet me at the parking lot around midnight. Armed, of course,” Anke said.
“I’ll be there,” Chas replied. Her empty stomach twinged as she turned away. “Oh, bring something to eat, will you? I’m starving.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Anke replied with a laugh.
As Chas walked back to her room, she did so with a lighter step. Sure, a little voice in the back of her head was telling her she was wrong. Wrong to sneak out, wrong to belittle her friends, and wrong to disobey Grumps, but she squashed it before it got too loud. “I’m doing the right thing. I’m saving my family, or at least trying to.”
Chapter 5
Chas was sitting on her bed when her friends returned from supper. Vanessa was somewhat sympathetic upon hearing that Chas had been grounded, but Emily pointed out that she should’ve known better. “We warned you, Chas. Both of us did. Neither Grumps nor Stokes are to be trifled with.”
“It’s not just about you,” Vanessa agreed. “It’s a team effort. Everything we’ve accomplished so far, we’ve done together.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Chas grumbled.
“It’s true. I started out in the infirmary washing patients and emptying chamber pots,” Emily said with a wrinkle of her freckled nose. “Now, I’m dressing wounds and checking vitals. You just have to show them what you can do, Chas, and running off on your own isn’t the way to do it.”
“They already know what I can do,” Chas said. “Haven’t I done enough?”
“They weren’t there to see that, and over here, it’s the community that counts. You have to do what’s best for everybody,” Vanessa insisted. “I mean…I know you might not want to hear this, but…”
“Spit it out,” Chas said, slumping back against her cushions.
“I’ve been promoted to squad leader. I’ve got my own team to command now,” Vanessa said.
Emily squealed with joy, while Chas’ jaw dropped to the floor. “Seriously?”
Vanessa nodded. “Are you angry with me, Chas?”
“Angry? No, of course not. Congratulations. You’ve earned it,” Chas said, but her smile was stiff as she tried to find even a spark of genuine happiness within herself. She failed. Instead, the sour tang of jealousy burned the back of her throat. It’s not fair. I deserve it more than she does. I’m the leader here, not Vanessa.
Her tummy growled as she sat listening to th
em talking and laughing about their great new lives, feeling more like an outsider than ever before. They were both so happy while she was utterly miserable.
“Did you sneak me anything to eat?” she asked at last, interrupting the two’s happy chatter.
Vanessa’s smile fell away. “I’m so sorry, Chas. We should’ve gotten you something, but I clean forgot.”
“Me too,” Emily cried. “Sorry.”
“Forget about it,” Chas muttered.
“You can have my bacon tomorrow,” Vanessa said in a placating voice.
“And my toast,” Emily offered with a guilty look.
Chas stared at them, surprised at how hurt she felt. It wasn’t about the food. It was the fact that they hadn’t even considered her. In the old days, if one got detention at school, the others would volunteer for it too. At least, Emily did. Vanessa would simply do something bad until she was punished as well. Now, it seemed like they couldn’t be bothered.
Are we even friends anymore? Chas wondered.
It was an ugly thought, but she couldn’t help but feel that she was becoming the third wheel. The loser. The forgotten one.
“It’s fine, guys. Don’t worry about it. I’m going to bed now. I’ve got a long day ahead of me. Night,” Chas said with another forced smile, before turning her back on them.
“Goodnight,” they chorused, soon returning to their conversation.
She pulled the covers over her head and listened to them while praying they would shut up and go to sleep. At last, they crawled into their beds. She waited until close to eleven before taking her chance to escape from the room.
She’d stuffed all her things into a bag earlier and now made her way to the bathrooms down the hall to get ready. Her bare feet made no sound on the thick carpets, and she kept her breathing slow and steady.
Inside one of the stalls, Chas got dressed and pulled her hair into a tight knot. Her gun and knife went onto her belt, and she wore a jacket to ward off the cold. After stuffing her pajamas into the bag, she checked the rest of the contents. It contained the bare essentials. A bottle of water, gauze, bandages, a flashlight, and a box of matches. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. Grumps and Lieutenant Stokes had confiscated all the fancy stuff they’d brought along from the camp including the night vision goggles.
“They’d have sure come in handy now,” Chas grumbled as she slipped out of the bathroom.
The corridors were dark and silent. Everyone was asleep as she made her way toward the parking lot in full stealth mode. At this point, she no longer cared what anyone thought. Or even if she was caught. I’m not a kid anymore, and I won’t let them treat me like one.
Chas reached the exit without mishap and opened the door with slow movements, careful not to let it creak. A gust of wind sent raindrops flying into her face, and a shiver crawled down her spine. She zipped her jacket up to her chin and tucked her hands into its pockets while searching for her friend. “Anke?”
“Over here,” came a low whisper.
She spotted Anke hunkered down next to a single-cab truck. It was an old model with a dark blue paint job. An excellent choice as it would be easier to start and the color would blend into the night.
She hurried over, and they climbed inside, closing the doors with soft clicks. Outside, the rain continued to fall, blurring the view through the windows. The wind screamed around the corners, drowning out all other sounds.
“Are you sure we can do this?” Chas asked. “The guards might not watch the vehicles, but they do watch the perimeter. How will we get through the barricades?”
“I’ve got a friend who’s on guard tonight. He’ll let us through, no questions asked.”
“How come?”
“He thinks we’re going on a mission. He’s not very bright, and he knows you’re our leader’s granddaughter,” Anke said.
“So, you used my name to arrange this?” Chas asked, amazed at Anke’s daring.
“Yup. Besides, this is excellent weather for an adventure,” Anke said. “All the other guards will be huddled inside. If we stick to the plan, we’ll be fine.”
“Okay. Here goes nothing,” Chas said, pulling out her knife. Remembering her near disaster while trying to hotwire a car before, she reached for the steering column with trepidation. Then a thought occurred to her. “Wait a minute.”
She reached up and lowered the visor, and a set of keys tumbled out. “Why hotwire it, when we’ve got the keys?”
“How did you know it’d be there?” Anke asked.
“I didn’t, but it’d be the easiest way to store the keys. It makes for a faster getaway in the event of an emergency,” Chas said. “It’s the kind of thing Grumps would do.”
“Smart,” Anke said with a nod. “Now, let’s get out of here. Can you drive?”
Chas nodded. “A bit, but not very well.”
“Let me do it then,” Anke said, and they exchanged places. “My dad was giving me lessons before all this happened. I’d have gone for my license next year.”
“You’re fifteen?” Chas asked.
“Almost sixteen,” Anke answered as she pulled out of the lot. “So, you can relax. I’m practically an adult.”
Chas snorted. “I don’t think Grumps or Stokes would see it that way.”
Anke shrugged. “Probably not, but this is the zombie apocalypse, and we’ve had to grow up pretty fast. If they can’t see that, tough for them.”
Chas pushed aside the last of her reservations as Anke passed through the barricade without a hitch. The guard even waved at them as they passed and a sense of freedom washed over her. “Woohoo!”
Chapter 6 - Julia
“I wonder what Chas is up to?” Julia mused as she picked through the canned goods on the shelf.
“No good, probably,” Alvarez answered in a low rumble.
Sanchez chuckled at his words. “My kind of girl.”
Alvarez snorted. “Your kind of girl would have to be crazy. Just like you. You take insane chances, you know that? One of these days you’ll get killed. Or bitten.”
Sanchez shrugged. “I’m still here, aren’t I?”
Julia glanced from one to the other. “You’re both nuts when it comes to the zombies. I just hope none of that rubbed off on Chas. That girl has a good head on her shoulders, and I’d like it to stay that way.”
“She also has a knack for getting into trouble and ignoring her elders,” Alvarez said.
“So, she has an independent streak. That’s a good thing,” Julia said.
“Not in the army,” Alvarez answered.
“Being in the army isn’t the only viable career in the world, you know?” Julia said with a raised eyebrow.
“Maybe not, but it’s the best.” Alvarez puffed out his chest and raised a haughty chin.
“Spoken like a true soldier,” Sanchez crowed, throwing a packet of napkins at Alvarez.
He tossed the packet back before shouldering his bag. “I’ve got a full load. See you outside.”
“I’m right behind you,” Sanchez added, hefting her full backpack with both hands. “Julia?”
“I’m almost done. Give me two minutes,” Julia said, tossing two more cans into her bag.
“Hurry,” Sanchez said as she exited the small supermarket. “We’ve got a long way to go still, and this has not been an easy trip.”
The door swung shut behind her, and Julia was left alone in the deserted store. Not that she minded. After the near disaster of earlier when they’d burst a tire, she needed a few moments of silence. The entire trip had been stressful. Plagued with one setback after the other. “I’m beginning to think this mission is cursed.”
Satisfied that she had enough food to last them a couple of days, Julia moved to the next aisle searching for powdered sports drinks. She found a few sachets and checked the flavor. Orange. Her favorite.
As she was about to leave, a low click caused her to freeze. The sound was followed by a slow creak and heavy breathing, harsh raspin
g breaths that sawed in and out of the lungs. Her right hand crept toward her gun while she searched for the source of the noise. They’d cleared the store when they came in earlier…didn’t they?
Through the racks, her eyes caught movement right next to the door that led to what she’d presumed was a storage room. She’d checked the door herself, and it had been locked. It couldn’t be a zombie then. It had to be a living person.
Placing her pack on the floor, she gripped the gun with both hands and stepped into the open. “Stop right there.”
The stranger froze for a second before slowly turning to face Julia. A single shaft of light illuminated the person’s face, and Julia gasped. It was a girl, a teen. Around sixteen or seventeen. Her eyes were blank, and her skin was a pasty white. She was chewing on a piece of raw meat, and the bloody juices ran down her chin to stain her t-shirt.
Julia swallowed and stepped beck, her sensitive nose picking up on the stench of rot. Her eyes honed in on the meat, noting the wriggling forms of maggots. They crawled between the girl’s fingers and fell from her lips onto her chest. She didn’t seem to notice…or care.
Julia fought against the urge to vomit, and managed to ask in a calm voice. “Hello? Are you okay?”
The girl didn’t answer. She simply continued to chew and swallow the putrid meat like it was a gourmet meal. Her empty gaze jumped around, settled on Julia’s face for a moment, before moving on again.
Is she infected? In the last stages maybe? Julia wondered, taking another step back for safety. The end stages were characterized by aggression, extreme hunger, and lack of rational thought, but you were still you. Mostly.
“Are you okay? Do you need help?” Julia asked again, more forcefully this time.
The girl jumped and looked straight at Julia, seeming to focus. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“I’m Ju—”
“Get out! This is my home. Mine,” the girl screamed, baring her teeth.
“Okay, calm down. I’m leaving,” Julia said, reaching down for her bag. She swung it onto one shoulder and backed away on cautious feet. The girl watched her retreat with hostile eyes, but didn’t move to attack.
Gen Z Boxed Set Page 37
