“So what were the other cities like?” asked Hobbs. “Well they were not crawling with anything living at all I tell you that. Most of the bigger cities’ undead were starting to clear out. You know reading all those zombie books and seeing all the movies you would think the places would be jammed packed with zombies. What I found was it was the country side that you need to be worried about. I would say I killed most of my zombies in between the cities than I have inside of them.”
“Well Plague I am glad you came here. Let me be the first one to welcome you to our little pack,” said Becky. Plague just looked at her with a blank stare. “Who said that I was going to stay here? The way I look at it I have a lot of area to cover and more zombies to dispatch. The more experience I get the more I can level up…” There was a pause where no one spoke and Becky looked at Hobbs. She could not make out what he was mouthing and she shrugged her shoulders.
“So Plague, what did you do in the military?” asked Hobbs. “Oh I was wondering when you were going to ask soldier boy. Well you might not know about my little MOS that I carried. Hell most of the army did not even know. You don’t see too many of us for some reason. Maybe it’s because we are so crazy.” Plague tilted his head from one side to the other side. “I am a sapper. You know all high speed and shit.” “Well that explains a lot then,” said Hobbs. Plague’s eye brow raised looking at him. There was only two reasons he would know that. One Hobbs is a combat engineer or some infantry which had to work with one. “So Hobbs what do you know about combat engineers?” “Well since you had asked, I am a combat engineer. I never made it to sapper school some bullshit about funding.” “Uh yes funding of course.” It was meant as a stab at Hobbs which infuriated him. “Yeah funding. You know the money that is needed to send someone to school!” “That must make you National Guard huh or a reservist? Those little sissies running around in uniform thinking they know about war and all.” “Yeah National Guard? You got a problem with that?” Hobbs stood increasing his presence in the room ready to defend what he has done for his country. “No none at all if you want to consider them part of the military running around and playing soldier thinking you are making a difference.” “I have done more than play soldier I have a couple tours overseas during the shit storm. You know route clearance, patrols, kicking down doors, breaching and shit. So don’t you talk to me about playing soldier!” Hobbs face was red with fury and tried to hold himself back. “Calm down soldier boy I am just pulling your chain. Geez you have no humor at all. I guess it is the new army where you have to be careful not to offend anyone these days. So what’s your master plan here? Just sit here and try to survive while you can? I tell you what you need to keep moving in order to survive this new world. Staying in one place and trying to hold up someone is bound to come along like I did and they won’t be as friendly as I am. I have seen it before someone would hole up somewhere and when I came back they were overrun by marauders. I would hate to see the same thing happen to you lovely folk here.” Plague blew a kiss to both Becky and Lilly smiling showing his teeth.
Lilly shoved Edward in order to get him to say something about another man making a move on her. Edward cleared his throat and before he was able to speak Plague jumped in. “Oh sorry man I didn’t mean anything by it. I would not want to impede on a fine specimen as that one there when she is already taken. You really won the lottery on that one now didn’t you.” “Uh well um yeah I guess I did, didn’t I beautiful.” “Well you might have but you are ready to lose it real quick!” “Ooh and a real fighter too man you are lucky.”
“So um Plague what are your plans if you would be so lucky to indulge us,” asked Becky. “Well I plan to keep moving like I said you have to keep moving in this world. I like you guys though so I think I will stay a little bit. If it is ok with soldier boy over there.” “Well we are going to a bunker down south.” Edward blurted out the words before he realized it might not have been the best idea to divulge their plans. “Oh a bunker huh. Now that might be a place to hold up for a while. I would not stay too long or else something might come your way and I am not talking about marauders either. When I was down south I saw something that would turn a ghost white.” “That makes no damn sense,” said Hobbs. “Well I ran into just one of them. It was different from the others. This thing was massive huge I tell you like a walking giant. It had speed and muscles I tell you muscles in places where I did not even know anything had places. I would not want to run into one of those again. I barely survived. So there I was cruising slowly in the country side and out of nowhere this thing came running full speed. It took me by surprise and knocked me ten or fifteen feet. It took me a moment to regain my surroundings. That is how hard it hit me.” Hobbs eyes grew wide knowing what beast he was talking about as he had faced one earlier on his first mission. “I drew my shotgun ready to fire but the thing was too quick. It knocked away the shotgun as if it knew what it was. Luckily though I was already grabbing for my trusty axe over here.” He kissed the axe signifying his love for the inanimate object. I plunged the axe into the things neck. Dark green blood squirted everywhere. The thing drew back and gave a loud grunt. I got to my feet and almost got my shotgun when the thing grabbed me by my leg and threw me about ten feet away. It was right on top of me right after I hit the ground. I could smell its breath of death as it brought up hits arm ready to smash me into several pieces. I was able to get the axe that was still stuck in its neck. The thing screamed and more blood came gushing out. Then I swung the axe which lodged itself into the skull of the beast. It shook its head and tried to reach for the axe. Then I was able to get to my feet and ran for the shotgun. Then I pulled the trigger and it was no more.
“That is utterly preposterous!” Edward exclaimed looking at Plague. “Preposterous you say? Like the dead coming back to life? I tell you it was true it gives me the chills just thinking about it.” Plague shuttered for dramatic affect. “No I have seen the same creature. We were on the countryside me and Cowan and we came across it as well. It was something different and strong like Plague said. We took its head back to the lab at the bunker.” Becky looked at Hobbs angrily. “So when were you going to tell us this? That is important information to know especially before we head on out to the bunker!” Hobbs just scratched his head out of nervousness. “Well I didn’t think of it at the time. It was something I did not want to remember and I was hoping it was the first of its kind and hopefully the last.” Hobbs stood pondering the idea of having more than one of those creatures out there. It must mean there are more out there and now having to deal with a new threat that is faster and stronger than the slow walking undead lowered their chances of survival.
“Well Hobbs you said you had seen one before and now Plague has seen one as well so now what do we do? Do we change plans on heading to the bunker?” asked Edward. “Well we can hope Cowan out there has found something useful like a better place to stay.” “Excuse me but who is this Cowan you speak of? Another member of your little party here?” “Yeah a good buddy of mine we have served together for years. He and an old man named Bobbie headed north. A while ago we had seen a helicopter fly over heading north. They went to see if they could find where it landed or crashed. We were hoping they would be able to find a permanent place to stay that is close to here. We were going to wait for a week and if they did not return we were going to take the Humvee and head towards the bunker. They are supposed to meet us there if they did not find anything.” “Kind of risky don’t you think? I mean two guys out there and I bet they are not a bad ass like me.” “No there was another that went with them. Thomas, he was one of the survivors that Becky, Edward and Lilly know.” “So three guys making a trip north to find a helicopter where you have no idea where it was headed except for north and they are to find it and return within a week? Are you mad or something?” “It was better than sitting here doing nothing! I mean if they found something close by then it would be a lot better than going out there for a week or so trying to make it t
o the bunker. Besides Cowan can handle himself and Bobbie might not be as good as Cowan but he can hold his own as well.” “I would write them off now. I mean to be out there for a week looking for a needle in haystack was stupid. That’s FUBAR!” “What’s FUBAR?” came the small voice from Lilly. “Fucked up beyond all recognition,” the two men said in unison. “Oh ok.”
Chapter 17 Decisions Must Be Made
“Both of you need to drop your weapons and back away from them slowly.” The voice was a female’s which came as a shock to Cowan. Cowan tried to think of something he could do. Maybe distract her for just a second he would need in order to disarm her. Maybe she will flinch and shoot Bobbie instead of him. It was worth a try but he was not sure he would be shot first since he would make the first move. Then he thought about talking to her to try and prolong his life a little bit longer until an opportunity presented itself. “Well if I do that then how am I supposed to defend myself?” “That sounds like a personal problem to me now doesn’t it.” Just keep talking he thought to himself. “Well how have you survived for such a long period of time?” “That is none of your business. I am surprised the two of you have made it this far. To be honest I am not sure why this old man stays around. I saw what you did to the other guy. Either he was bitten or you are just a heartless piece of shit that thinks nothing but about himself.” “Heartless me, no I am not heartless. I do care about things. I care about my mother, my father, my brother.”
She swiped him across the back of the head with the barrel of the gun. “Now what was that for?” “You need to shut your face before I make sure you don’t have a face.” “Well come on sweetie just you, the old man and myself we can have a lot of fun together.” He anticipated her next move. He ducked and twisted his body bringing his arm around and grabbed her arm and twisted his body in a circular motion to take away her balance. She fired the gun that was trained on Bobbie. The bullet scrapped the side of Bobbie’s head and it started to bleed. Cowan quickly rolled on top of her and pulled her arms to her sides and placed his knees on them putting as much pressure as he could. She was pinned he had the dominant position and there was nothing she could do. She tried to squirm to free at least one of her hands but it was useless Cowan was too strong for her. Meanwhile, Bobbie was laying on the ground whimpering holding his head where the bullet had grazed it. “Now little missy, can I call you that? Well I guess it doesn’t matter.” She spit in his face. She was hoping he would wipe the spit off. Giving her a chance to free one of her hands. “Nice try but I won’t fall for that shit. I know what you were trying to do.” “Yeah and what was that?” “You were trying to get me to wipe my face like any normal person would react.” She knew already he had to have some sort of sense to him since he was able to make it through the mine field and the booby traps she had set. “So what do you want to do with me then?” “Well first off why the hell didn’t you just leave us be? Hell we were not even bothering anyone.” “Fuck you!” “Oh wow what language you have. That is not befitting of a lady now is it?” He lowered his body just slightly lowering his center of gravity just in case she tried to squirm and knock him off. Cowan made sure he was out of reach just in case she tried to head butt him. “Well we will play a little game here. I ask a question and you answer it.” She turned her head in defiance not admitting defeat. “Now, now there is no reason to be that way. I just want some answers and we will leave you alone. First off like I asked before what the hell is your deal? We weren’t bothering you or anyone we were just trying to pass through and you had to be a hero. Now look where that got you.” “I am not talking to you so either kill me or let me go.” “Well I don’t want to kill you if I don’t have to but if you leave me no choice I will.” At this point Bobbie was standing up looking at the show before him. His hands were crimson from the blood that was still slowly coming out of the wound. The blood was not pulsating meaning it didn’t hit a major artery. “Like I said before we are not here to hurt anyone unless we have to. We are just trying to look for a helicopter that flew north. We just want to know what direction they went.” She turned her head.
Bobbie raised his rifle and pointed it at an angle so when the bullet ricocheted it would not hit him. He placed his finger on the trigger debating whether to kill her or not. He slowly squeezed the trigger but he just couldn’t do it. He lowered the rifle. “Ok well let’s try something different. My name is Cowan and that is Bobbie over there who you shot.” She didn’t say a word. Her hands were starting to lose feeling. Desperately she tried hard to keep her grip on her pistols. The feeling went from tingling to hurting. “Bobbie go ahead and take her pistols would ya?” Bobbie moved towards her and pried the weapons out of her hands. He did not recognize the brand which seemed odd to him. He had seen almost every kind of weapon there was imaginable especially since he owned a gun shop. He dropped the magazines and unchambered the rounds as they flew out hitting the concrete and making a small ping sound.
“Now I am going to slowly get up so don’t try anything or Bobbie over there will have to put a bullet in your head.” Cowan slowly raised himself up and to his surprise she didn’t put up a fight. Then he put his hand out to help her up. She raised her hand up but it took a lot of effort since her arms still had no feeling. Cowan grabbed her forearm and lifted her straight to her feet. “So what’s the name?” She stared at him for a few moments deciding if she was going to answer. “It won’t hurt you to give us your name or do you want us to just call you sweetie? I mean I prefer sweetie.” “Nina,” she said rather hesitantly. “Well Nina have you seen any helicopter come this way?” “No I haven’t.” She was rubbing her left arm and then the right trying to get feeling back in her arms. “Why is that helicopter so important to you anyways?” “Well really the only thing about it is we wanted to see where it landed we are trying to find some sort of safe haven. Maybe find other soldiers or another community.” “Well I can tell you two I have not seen any helicopter. Trying to find another community well good luck with that. There is nothing around here for miles. I was living peacefully until you two showed up. Coming in here all big and bad. Now please leave and just let me be.”
Cowan thought about it for a few moments. If she was telling the truth then the helicopter didn’t come this way. No telling where the hell it went. It could have turned directions at any time. He could take Bobbie with him and head back or they can push on and keep searching but with no direction it would be pointless. “Are you sure you did not see any helicopter?” “Look I told you already I did not see anything. It has just been me here. The only thing I saw was a huge cloud of dust off on the horizon it was west of here. It was not any helicopter I tell you. The dust cloud was way too big. To be honest I have no idea what it was but whatever it was I am glad it didn’t come this way.” She pulled Chap Stick out of her pocket and applied it to her lips. “Well what do you think Bobbie?” “Yeah I don’t know. If we have no idea where it went there is no point in searching anymore. We knew this was going to be a difficult mission and this is the only town north of where we are so I say we head back.” Cowan rubbed his chin as the stubble started to itch. “Yeah I am not sure what to do but I sure as hell don’t want to be risking my neck for something we don’t even know where it went. I was hopeful we could find someone that saw it but now it seems like it is a lost cause.” “Yeah I agree with you. I say we head back but it’s starting to get dark.” Both the men looked at Nina. Nina already knew the question before they even asked it. “No you two can’t stay here. You said if I told you, you two will be on your way.” “Look it will just be the night and you can stick us far away from you,” pleaded Bobby.
Then all of a sudden they heard explosions off in the distance. Nina turned her head. “It’s coming from the north. If you two would not have come then this would not have happened it’s all your fault!” “Well you can sit around and bitch about it or we can do something!” shouted Cowan. Nina picked up her two pistols and loaded the magazines. “Come this way.�
�� Nina ran towards the building opposite of where they were. It was an ice cream shop or it used to be one. She quickly opened the door and rushed the two inside. “This way to the roof.” She ran past the counter towards the back. The place smelled of spoiled milk. Cowan looked over the counter and noticed the green, yellow and black fuzz that was floating on top of the melted ice cream as bugs swarmed around it. Dust collected on the three booths that sat against the wall. The register was open and empty. Cowan just shook his head. Money is not worth the paper it was printed on anymore. Hopefully the poor bastards were able to use it before it became useless. They climbed up the tiny narrow stairs and Nina opened the door to the top and rushed towards the north side of the building. She picked up the scope that was laying on the pebbled roof. She looked towards the north. Her fears were confirmed.
Alpha of the Omega Page 23
