Each block seemed like it took forever for them to pass through. There were no signs of the individual it was as if they totally forgot about them. They were obviously a master at explosives and traps. Cowan put up his hand and halted them both. “What is it?” “I am not sure but it seems like a daisy chain.” “A what?” “A daisy chain it is a link of explosives strategically placed in order to be most effective in killing groups of people.” “Well how the hell can you tell that?” Cowan pointed towards the ground about 10 meters away. “The rain washed away some of the dirt. They did not bury it too deep. So that tells me either they wanted us to see it and go a different way or use it when some poor unexpected group would walk through and blow them up.” “So now what do we do?” “Well we have two options we can crawl through it and hope the blast doesn’t affect us too much or try going down one of the alley ways to get around it and get back on our path.” “Are you fucking mad going through that shit. I would think going down the alley way would be a lot better and we won’t be out in the open like we are now.” “Explosions go up and out. If we stick to the ground we could make it. If we do go down the alley way I am sure they would have a lot more traps there than out here in the open.” “What about blowing it up with some of the C4 you have in the pack?” “The C4 might not detonate the explosives.” Just then both Cowan and Bobbie felt cold metal against the back of their heads.
Chapter 16 – The Guest
Hobbs paced the store worrying about his all-time friend Cowan. There weren’t too many missions they were not on together. They always did things together but this mission Hobbs could not justify risking the lives of everyone to go on. Even if he was able to locate the helicopter it did not mean it was intact nor that they would be in a better situation than what they were now. Their only hope was to do something they knew would protect them and that was the bunker. Even if the place was in shambles and not totally destroyed they would be better off. Hey buddy boy, what are you worrying about? I know it is not for that stupid hot head Cowan. He is nothing but trouble. What good has he done for you? What save your life once or twice? How many times have you saved his? If anything he owes you not the other way around. “Shut your mouth,” growled Hobbs out loud. Ooh touchy are we. I am just saying save your own ass and head to the bunker. Forget about him. He was the one that chose to go not you. I am just saying what you already know. You need to look out for numero uno. Ditch these people and leave them behind except that exceptional specimen there. You know the one I am talking about. I know the way that you look at her and how she looks at you. Cowan is gone and this could be your chance. So what do you say? Uh? Hobbs just shook his head.
“Hobbs are you ok? You seem like something is troubling you?” Yeah baby boy what’s bothering you? Hobbs just shook his head once more as if it would get the voice out of his head. “No Becky I am ok just worried about Cowan. We have been through so much together and now being split up it really bothers me. I worry he might not make it back in time or at all. I just don’t know if I could leave without him.” Becky laid a gentle hand on Hobbs shoulder. “It’s ok he will be fine. I am sure he will return. He is a soldier after all isn’t he? If you want to wait a few days more, then I am sure the rest of the group would not object to it. Especially if he comes back with good news.” “No Cowan and Bobbie do not see eye to eye all the time. Cowan is sort of a hot head and runs off at the mouth.” Becky stared down at the floor as if avoiding Hobbs’ gaze. “Well you know I am sort of glad that Cowan is not here right now.” Becky moved closer to Hobbs. “Why is that?” “Well he looks at me kind of funny as if he is planning something and I really just don’t feel safe around him at all.” “Well that is because you look like the love of his life.” Becky was taken back about it. She did not know his past or anything about the man. She just knew how he seemed to her. “I…I didn’t know that.” “Why would you? You guys just sit around here waiting for something to happen and for someone to save you. Do you guys even bother to get to know us? Yes we are soldiers but we are so much more than that.” Becky’s face reddened. “You know what Hobbs forget about it! I was trying to come here and comfort you because you seemed to have something bothering you. Maybe you are just a soldier, a cold hearted bastard!” She quickly turned and stormed off.
Well that didn’t go well now did it? There goes your chance of fucking her and watching those perky tits bounce all over your face. You know I wonder if the carpet matches the drapes. I would really have wanted to see what she is hiding under all those clothes. Are you done harassing me? Why don’t you go hide in some dark corner and leave me alone! What would be the fun in that? You are entertaining like a great show on television where everyone loves to watch the hero struggle internally just to come out in the end victoriously. I am here for you Hobbs. I am rooting for you here. Hobbs! Hobbs! Hobbs! The voice followed by an evil laugh that faded out in the distance.
Hobbs finally getting some peace in his own mind walked over towards Becky and the group. Becky looked up and noticed Hobbs coming her way. She stood up and meet him halfway. “Look if you are coming over to apologize then you can shove it! I have had boyfriends like you. They think they can say whatever they want and then say I’m sorry and act like nothing ever happened. Well let me tell you something that is not how the world works and that is definitely not how I work. I don’t care how much stress you are under there is no reason to act that way towards anyone. That shit will not work with me ever. You had your chance. I was trying to be comforting and you just blew it. So take your sorry ass somewhere else because you will not get any pity from me.”
Hobbs grabbed her arms rather forcibly and kissed her. She seemed to melt in his arms as a tear rolled down her cheek. Then she quickly pushed him away and Hobbs felt a sting across his face as Becky slapped him. “Who the hell do you think you are and what gives you any right to do that to me?” “I...I...” Hobbs tried to form words of how he thought they had a connection but he was sorry. Nothing more came out. Feeling defeated his shoulders slumped and his headed tilted downwards admitting defeat. Then he felt a warm hand against his cheek. Hobbs looked up rather puzzled. Then Becky leaned in and kissed him gently but briefly. Hobbs spirit raised just for a moment and did not understand women. Hey buddy boy, you finally made it you manned up for once. Women though how can you ever understand them? Women understand women and that’s why they hate each other. “Don’t think too much into that.” Hobbs eyes met her eyes that seemed to sparkle amidst the dark room. “Now is not the time for romantic gestures. There is horror that is happening outside and… I just thought I wanted to actually kiss someone before I died.” She looked down at the floor adverting his gaze which made him feel uncomfortable. “I have always kept to myself and as you can see here there really was not much to choose from you know? I was from a little town and decided to venture out and where did I end up? In another small little town. I did travel a lot though like I said before I like medieval times and went to festivals. My parents died off a while ago. There was a freak accident and two airplanes crashed in mid-air. I was devastated and kept to myself pretty much after that except for a few asshole boyfriends. I am just glad they’re not here to see how things have turned out with the end of the world.” She continued looking down at the floor feeling vulnerable and insecure about where she fit in with all that has been happening.
Hobbs just gently lifted her chin with his fingers and looked at her for a moment. “The world is what it is. We have to accept what has happened and there is no changing the past we need to push on.” Oh boy now you are giving her those cheesy lines. Which movie did you get that from huh baby boy? Feed her some more lines from movies that you have seen and maybe she won’t notice. “Well thank you. I am not sure if I really want to survive but something just keeps driving me. I don’t know what it is but when I get out there and fight I feel relieved and I feel with each zombie I dispatch I am bringing life and hope to the world.” She quickly turned around and left him sta
nding there. Hobbs followed and went to the group that was sitting there with obvious entertainment the two were providing. The hurry up and wait was killing them. They all wanted to know what was happening outside with Thomas, Bobbie and Cowan. Lilly broke the silence. “So what do you think they have found out there?” She talked to no one in general. “I don’t know dear.” Edward grabbed her hand and squeezed it in a loving gesture. “It has not even been a full day yet. I am sure they have not found anything yet it is too soon.” Edward looked up to Hobbs for confirmation. “Uh yeah it is way too soon. That helicopter could have travelled miles by now and they might not even find anything at all...” Hobbs trailed off thinking to himself about Cowan and the rest of the group. Sure it was only what a day before he headed out but it just seemed a lot longer. On top of that the group was already starting to get restless. Restlessness equaled trouble. He figured it would just be a matter of time before they would want to head on out even if it was too dangerous.
Hobbs from time to time looked over at Becky but she adverted his gaze time and time again. He was not sure how to approach her anymore without it being awkward. He walked to the door and peered out hoping to see something different than just the horror that laid outside taunting them. The world was desolate and bare there was nothing to see but a former world that existed with people going about walking down the street giving the greeting of the day to each other. The hustle and bustle of normal day life just was not there anymore. Then he thought about Becky and what she said this is not the time for romantic gestures.
Then they heard rumbling outside. They all turned their heads to see what was going on. It was a long time since they had heard anything besides the few stragglers from the horde of zombies and their low moans. Hobbs rushed over to the door peering outside trying to find what all the commotion was about. He had seen a motorcycle that was slowly coming down the road. He could barely make it out but already thought it was trouble. The motorcycle was loud and would obviously attract zombies towards them and wondered why anyone would want to make that much noise. The engine of the motorcycle revved up making more noise. “What is it?” asked Edward as he came up next to Hobbs staring out the window. “Get back! Hopefully he will just move on.”
The man on the motorcycle was dressed in tattered clothes. There was something different about the man. It appeared he was wearing some sort of dress maybe a kilt thought Hobbs but it just seemed different. The man was slowly passing through town looking into different buildings to see if there was anyone around. Then Hobbs heard a small moan coming down the street. “Damn it that man is making too much noise! You guys get back and hide behind the shelves. Now go!” Hobbs continued to look with the limited view he had. “What is it?” Came the soft spoken voice from Becky. “It’s some guy on a motorcycle and I have no idea what the hell he’s doing. He might be a scout for a larger group. Then they heard the engine from the motorcycle rev up once again. Then the man was gone.
Hobbs could not see what the man was doing. He turned around to the group and then all of a sudden he heard a tap at the door with a key. Hobbs turned around and the man was standing right there at the door staring directly at him. Hobbs turned around and raised up the rifle. What Hobbs saw surprised him. The man seemed to be in his mid-sixties if he had to guess. The black shirt he wore was stained with blood and mud. He also had long jeans on with coyote tan boots which appeared to be standard issue for the army. What Hobbs thought to be a kilt was actually faces. Hobbs mouthed the letters WTF. This man had taken the faces off of what seemed to be zombies as the flesh was dark and a greyish color. This was not someone with a sound mind but yet he was not that stable either. The man tapped the window once more. “Well are you not going to invite me in?” “Who are you and what do you want?” Hobbs flicked the safety from safe to semi with his finger. The bolt was already locked to the rear until Hobbs released the bolt making it go forward with a small click. “Hey man I don’t want any trouble. I am actually here looking for more survivors.” “Where is the rest of your gang?” Hobbs gritted his teeth as worry started to kick in. “Gang? I don’t have any gang. It’s just me, myself and I.” The man gave a small smile.
This man was definitely out of his mind but he might be useful at some point in the future. Like chaining the beast until it was time to release it. Yeah buddy boy use him as a pawn. There can be so many uses for him. Like an insurance policy. Throw him to the wolves if you need to escape. Yeah Hobbs answered the voice. Then Hobbs shook his head. What am I thinking? This is a human being no matter how deranged he was. Are you sure about that? This is the new world baby boy the rules are no longer in place. Society has crumbled and all that is left are those smart and strong enough to do what needs to be done. No! That is not what I am going to do. There is still hope out there. Hope? What? You mean that desolate place out there. Where is the hope in that? It is either kill or be killed you will not get a second chance. This is not like a video game where you can screw up and respawn where you left off. This is survival. What do you think you can repopulate the world with just those two women there? How far will that get you?
“Are you ok? What is the hold up here,” the man said impatiently. “Nothing.” Hobbs slowly opened the door with his left hand keeping his rifle up with this right. The rifle cocked and ready to fire at the small squeeze of the trigger. The man entered in slowly not wanting to make any sudden movements. “That took you long enough.” The man’s grin got bigger and wider as the seconds passed on. He put out his hand to shake Hobbs’. Hobbs slowly reached out with his left hand letting the rifle drop slightly in his right. “My name is Plague.” “Plague what kind of name is that?” “Well it’s what I call myself now because I am the bringer of death to the undead. What’s your name?” “I am Hobbs and they are Lilly, Edward, and Becky.” Plague smiled and nodded his head. The group was standing up in shocked at what they were seeing. If there was a crazy scale from one to ten this man had to be a fifteen.
“Like I said I am plague. I have been travelling around with no particular destination. Just where the open road takes me. You are the first one to actually take me in and for that I am grateful.” He bowed showing his gratitude. “Most people would run and hide but you… I can tell there is something special about you.” He winked at Hobbs. “What’s up with the skirt?” blurted out Edward.
The man picked up one of the faces from the kilt he wore. “Oh these? They are my most prized possessions. They say when a man takes a scalp they become part of their souls.” The man laughed. I am just kidding. I think it looks great and besides,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “It scares the undead. Yep when they see me coming they run.” “Well that is more than a scalp though?” “Yeah you say pot-a-to I say pot-AW-to. They are awesome aren’t they? I will let you touch one just this time but don’t be going and getting attached to them because they are mine.” The man stared blankly at Edward. Plague bellowed out in laughter and then stopped in the middle of the laugh and stared again at Edward. It was as if the man was trying to intimidate Edward and it was working. Plague reached behind him and pulled out his sawed off shotgun with his left hand and reached around for what appeared to be some sort of modified axe. The handle was short but the blade seemed to be heavy and at the bottom metal which was used to help balance out the weight of the blade making the center of gravity in the middle. “Yep with these two babies.” He kissed the shotgun first and then the axe. “I can do almost anything.” Lilly gasped at the gesture since the axe was stained with coagulated blood that still dripped from the blade from his latest kill. “Yeah I wish I still had my AR15. I was in a bind as waves of those cum fuckery shit bags were coming. Poor little rifle just couldn’t handle it. Damn barrel melted. It was a poor shame too. Then luckily I came across this baby,” he swung the shotgun around. “Yeah I pulled Lori here from a bar that I visited down south. It has saved my life more than once.”
“Hobbs is it? You mind keeping the door open for a minute I need
to get my pack.” “Sure I guess.” The man walked out to his motorcycle and opened the leather pack on the left side of the motorcycle and pulled out what appeared to be an old claymore bag. Then he proceeded to open the pack on the right side and pulled out a skull. Oh shit Hobbs. Hobbs was a little bit perplexed. He couldn’t tell if the skull was real or not. Neither would have surprised him.
The man walked back in and walked over towards Becky and sat down. The group was just looking at him with awe. He proceeded to pull out a can of soup and pulled open the top and proceeded to eat the contents in it with his bare hands as the broth dripped down his hands and onto the floor. “You know,” as he spoke between mouthfuls. “I have seen some great set ups and I tell you what. You guys have the worst setup I have seen. I am surprised you guys have made it this long. Most people are held up with barricades and what not. I will say this though you guys have a Humvee and that is the first I have seen on my adventures.” “So where have you all been?” asked Hobbs. The man put down the can of soup and poured some water into the halved skull and took a swig. “You know the biggest problem today is no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies. This one here was from my second kill. That was a doozy.” Plague eyed the group as if he was trying to see what their reactions were. “Well the first one like most people were just awe struck at what was happening. I rammed my blade right into the stomach.” He used his hand as a knife as if he was sticking the zombie in the stomach. “Then I looked directly into its eyes. It tried to take a bite out of me. I was lucky enough that my reflexes are so good.” He smiled as he was impressed with himself. “But when I moved my body backwards I fell and it followed me. So there I was trying to figure out what the hell I was going to do. I pushed against its chest and thrusted the blade upwards I did it so hard that its skull cracked at the crown. So that is how I got this trophy.” He held up the skull staring at it with pride. “Well I have been to most of the major cities, Jacksonville, St. Augustine. I tell you what St. Augustine was beautiful. I stopped and went to all the major attractions you know the fort, the Lions Bridge, and even went into the Ripley’s Believe it or not. Now the fort that was a magnificent site to see. I figured there would be people inside and I tell you what there was not a soul alive. They barricade themselves in. The poor bastards. There must have been someone that was infected and then turned on everyone. Yeah it was a shame. It was a good setup too. They had plenty of food and even mountains of water jugs. It was nice though. I always meant to go there. Oh where was I? Awe yeah travelling. I made my way down the coast I even made it past Miami. Now that was a shit storm. You know the keys are nice this time of year.” Plague stopped and took another handful of noodles and finished drinking the broth from the can. Then I made myself up the west coast of Florida and eventually made my way here.
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