“I guess it’s time we decide where to go,” Connor said.
“Yeah, I don’t wanna be a sittin’ chicken,” Tank said, smiling.
“Let’s head back toward Sheridan and take the first exit east. Find a house out there to set up in until we figure out what to do,” James said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Tank said, stepping on the gas and turning the Hummer around.
Cold by Five Finger Death Punch played through the speakers as the empty bus disappeared into the darkness behind them. James left some of his guilt with that bus. The rest he would carry with him until the day he died.
~~~
Since this time they weren’t being shot at and chased by Reclaimers, it took them longer to get back to the turnoff for US-14. Arriving at the exit, Tank turned onto the highway, heading southeast. They passed a bunch of houses and subdivisions on the outskirts of town, taking the first dirt road on the left, which led them to a house with some outbuildings hidden among the cottonwood trees. Pulling up in front of the house, the Hummer rolled to a stop. James and Connor climbed out first, scanning their surroundings.
“Looks clear,” Connor said.
“Same here,” James said from the other side.
Chloe climbed out of the backseat and Tank came around to help her.
“Thanks,” Chloe said, reluctantly.
“Don’t mention it, babe,” Tank said.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “My ankle should be fine now.”
“Might as well take it easy for a bit longer,” Tank said. “Let it heal fully.”
“Fine, you can help me, but just watch your hands,” Chloe said.
“Oh, I will,” Tank said, winking.
Chloe shook her head, but she let Tank help her out of the Hummer. Stepping down, she kept the weight off her left ankle.
“You two wait out here,” James said, walking over to join his brother, who was facing the house. “We’ll check inside.”
James switched to his 1911 handgun and led the way. Connor followed and they posted up outside the front door, James entering the building first. His handgun swept the interior, flashlight attached on the bottom, cutting through the darkness. A zombie came at him from the kitchen in front of him and he fired. A muffled crack sounded through the house as the zombie fell to the ground, the hole in its head slowly oozing blood. He stepped over the corpse as he entered the living room, his brother following him. They cleared it then Connor nodded, pointing to the hallway they’d passed on their way in.
James led the way as they moved to the hall. There were three doors—one at the end and two on the right. They went to the first one, James entering as Connor opened the door. James swept into the room, handgun leading the way. The bedroom was clear and they moved back out into the hallway. Moving to the next door on the right, James once more waited as his brother opened it, and then he burst into the room. Three small, half-eaten bodies lay on the floor. Blood covered the back wall and the two twin beds. A small zombie came at him, but he didn’t notice it.
James was no longer there, he was back in the house in Meriden. Fourteen little bodies were scattered around the room in various states of being consumed. Blood covered everything. One little girl with black hair was still alive, hiding under the bed. On the other side, a zombie clawed at her, trying to reach her. She cried, scooting farther from the zombie. It fell to its belly and started to crawl under the bed after the girl. She whimpered and scrambled out from under the bed, running for the door. She tried to open it, but it was locked. James had told them to lock it. She fumbled with the knob. Finally, she got it unlocked and started to twist the knob, but it was too late. The zombie rose from under the bed and descended on the girl. She tried to scream but the zombie ripped into her neck. Blood splattered the door as she was taken to the floor.
Something pulled James from behind and he fell. He blinked, trying to figure out where he was. He was in a hallway looking into a room where his brother had just taken down a small zombie with his tomahawk. Connor turned around and stared at James, his expression shifting from concern to anger. He came over to James and offered his hand. James took it and his brother hauled him to his feet. He’d just had another episode and almost been bitten. The small zombie lay on the ground not a foot from the doorway. It would’ve had to have been only inches from him when Connor pulled him back.
“Get a grip, James,” Connor said, looking his brother in the eyes.
“I’m trying,” James said.
“Stop trying! You either get a grip now or you get yourself and others killed.” Connor said.
James hung his head. It was hard enough fighting zombies and the Reclaimers; he didn’t need his own mind against him. He just didn’t have the strength to fight enemies within and without.
“I’ll take point from now on,” Connor said.
His brother moved to the last room at the end of the hall, leaving James standing there. Connor opened the door and cleared the room by himself, taking down two zombies. How were they ever going to take on the Reclaimers when he kept having these episodes? It was simple: they weren’t. If they tried to fight, they would all die. Every last one of them. Connor walked by, giving him a pat on the shoulder, and James followed him back to the entrance.
“The house is clear,” Connor said as they walked back to the Hummer.
“Perfect,” Tank said. “I’m about done with surprises today.”
James walked in front of Tank, who helped Chloe inside the house. Connor brought up the rear. As they entered, James took them to the first room, not glancing down the hall to the next room. This was the master bedroom, with a king-size bed and connecting bathroom. Tank took Chloe to the bed and she sat down.
“And this is where the magic happens,” Tank said, winking at Chloe.
“You’re such a pig,” Chloe said.
“Will you two cut it out?” Connor said, walking into the room. He closed the door behind him and sat down in a chair.
James sat on the floor, resting his AR on his lap. “So, now that we’re here, what do we do?”
Tank shrugged.
“I think it’d be best if we just turned ourselves over. Do as the note says,” James said.
“What the hell are you smokin’?” Connor asked. “We can’t just surrender.”
“Yeah, what badass movie ever has the heroes surrendering?” Tank said. “I’ll tell you—none. And what kind of video game would have the heroes just give up when they’re faced with tough situations?”
“I hate to break it to you,” James said, “but we’re not in a video game. This is real life. You know that.”
“Tank does have a point,” Connor said. “Since when have we ever given up?”
“They do have a lot of people,” Chloe said.
“Exactly! And we’re almost out of ammo,” James said. “We don’t have the manpower or firepower we need. If we try anything, we’ll get ourselves and the others killed.”
“Why are we even discussing if we attack or not?” Tank asked. “We should be planning how we’re gonna attack. When I said I was with you guys, I didn’t mean I was gonna go in with my tail between my legs. Ready for them to shoot us. I meant I was with you to fight. If you guys are surrendering, I’m out. I didn’t survive this long just to give up.”
“We’re not gonna give up,” Connor said. “We just need to figure this out.”
James didn’t want to give up, but he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out how they were going to plan a successful rescue. It would be one thing if they had his truck and whole arsenal, or Emmett with them; however, on their own, with hardly any ammunition? Facing a group of that many people and that much firepower would be suicidal. So what could they do? Whatever it was would need to be quick. They only had a few hours left to figure it out before whoever “J” was would start killing their people.
“Okay,” James said, “we’re not surrendering. The Reclaimers would probably
just kill us and them anyway. It’s not worth that risk.”
“The note said they would kill someone every twelve hours, right?” Tank asked. “Do you know what time they were captured?”
“Shortly after they left us, more than likely,” James said.
“So twelve hours would be…?” Chloe asked.
“Sunrise,” Connor said, “about five-thirty.”
“So what are we gonna do?” James asked.
“Kill ‘em all,” Tank said.
“Well, yeah,” James said, “but how? We don’t even know what their hideout looks like or how big their group is.”
“We need to scout it out,” Connor said, standing, “but first we need to find some ammo.”
“And we need to hurry,” James said. “We only have a few hours.”
“Then what the hell are we doin’ just sittin’ here?” Tank said. “Let’s get our asses movin’!”
3
A Choice
Post-outbreak day seven, morning
Ana looked into those blue eyes and felt fear like she hadn’t in years. This woman was going to kill her and there was nothing she could do about it. With that thought, she steeled herself. If this was really the end, she wasn’t going to go out begging or crying. She would go out with her back straight, staring into the eyes of her murderer.
“If you’re going to kill me,” Ana said, “then just do it. I’m tired of your games.”
“Games? What games?” Jezz asked.
“Whatever this sick game is you’re playing,” Ana said. “Quit trying to scare us. I’m not afraid of you.”
Ana stared her in the eyes, trying to hide the fear in her own. This woman was exactly like her mother…
Her mind went blank.
Ana blinked. It’d happened again. Something about today was causing her to remember things she’d locked away years ago, memories she hadn’t thought about in a lifetime. She had to do something. She couldn’t let herself be killed by someone like this.
“Oh, but you are afraid,” Jezz said, smiling, “and you should be.”
“Just do it,” Ana said, staring daggers.
“Your time will come,” Jezz said, turning and striding through the barn. She knocked on the door and a man opened it from the outside. She turned back into the barn and pointed at Ana.
“That is the one,” Jezz said. “Bring her.”
Jezz strode through the doorway, disappearing outside, and the man headed straight for Ana. He was a burly man with cold eyes and a flat face—Max. The one who’d led the ambush and captured them.
“No!” Alexis shouted as Max walked by her.
He didn’t even glance in her direction but kept moving forward with purpose, his eyes locked on Ana. There was no way she was getting out of this one. After all she’d been through, after all she’d survived, to end up like this. She almost wished her mother had just...
No, I won’t think like that.
Max went around the back of the post and unlocked her chains, taking hold of them. He prodded her in the back and she started walking toward the exit.
“Please, no,” Alexis said in a hushed voice.
As Ana walked by Alexis, their eyes locked and a look passed between them.
“Goodbye,” Ana whispered.
Alexis opened her mouth to say something, but Max pushed Ana forward. He brought her outside and she blinked at the sudden brightness.
As soon as her eyes adjusted, she looked around, drinking in her surroundings. The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon to her right. This would be her last sunrise. She took a moment and memorized the complimentary reds, oranges, and pinks painting the sky. She’d never seen a sunrise so beautiful and didn’t know if it was because it was her last or because the sunrises in this country were that much better than on the east coast.
Pulling her eyes away from the horizon, she continued to look around. To her right sat a small pond, the light breeze creating ripples on the surface. A hundred yards in front of her were a couple of buildings. They had cream-colored siding and dark green roofs: a house and a detached garage. On her left, a red dirt driveway snaked down the small hill leading to more buildings. Looking behind her, she confirmed that is was a large pole barn they’d been held in. Two guards stood outside the door, one looking at her with obvious eagerness and the other not looking at her at all. Judging by all the buildings and fences, she guessed this was a ranch they were on. It sat in a small valley surrounded by mostly barren hills, like the country around Sheridan they’d been driving through before the ambush.
It’d only been a short ride from the interstate last night when they’d been brought here, so they probably weren’t far from town. They should have been more prepared. If they’d been ready for it, maybe they could’ve… No need to think about that now. What’s done was done.
Jezz stood in front of the pole barn, a predatory smile on her face, and Max brought Ana to stand before her. A dozen armed men and women stood around them, aiming at her. Max let go of her chains and went back toward the barn.
Ana locked gazes with Jezz. She would not go out whimpering.
“You are a fiery one,” Jezz said.
Ana continued to stare. Thoughts clawed at her mind, trying to get out of the boxes they were locked in, but she didn’t let them out. Now, of all times, she would not let them out. Her mind worked through plan after plan, but she knew it was hopeless. There was no way out of this. There were too many guards, they were too well armed, and the woman in front of her was a time bomb waiting to blow.
Jezz just stood there and continued to smile.
“Are you going to do it or not?” Ana said, frustrated by the mounting anxiety inside her.
“In time,” Jezz responded.
Ana heard whimpering behind her and glanced back. Max had returned and he had someone with him. Dragging the woman by her short blonde hair, he threw her down between Ana and Jezz. Max then went over to stand next to Jezz, drawing his handgun. The woman’s glasses were askew and her hazel eyes were brimming with tears. It was Mila—the flirtatious woman who had a thing for James. Ana hadn’t interacted with her much, but she knew Mila had a good heart. Why had Jezz brought her out, too?
Jezz sneered down at Mila and she lowered her gaze, beginning to cry softly. Ana didn’t blame her. She wanted to cry, too, but she wouldn’t give Jezz the satisfaction.
“Now, here is how this works,” Jezz said. “Time is up. It has been twelve hours and one of you has to die.”
Jezz walked back to one of the guards in the ring around them, and the guard handed Jezz a handgun. It was a Glock 17. Ana would know; it was one of her favorites. Returning to the prisoners, Jezz racked a round into the chamber and then removed the magazine, looking directly at Ana.
“This is the fun part,” Jezz said, her eyes twinkling. “The choice: Join us or die.”
Ana’s mind reeled. Join them? How could she join them? They were nothing but a group of murderers led by a psychopath. Was death really better than joining them? There was always a cost for something like this. What would be the cost of a life? Her life? At that moment, she decided to do whatever was necessary to survive. She would live, and then she would kill the monster standing before her.
“I see you begin to understand the stakes are high,” Jezz said. “I will make it simple for you. Kill this woman and join us. You get to live. Or I will kill you both.”
Ana glanced down at Mila, who looked up at her, tears streaking down her face. Mila didn’t deserve this. She was kind-hearted and brave, and she didn’t have any black marks in her past. Mila didn’t deserve to die. Ana, on the other hand… she deserved to die. But Mila didn’t get to choose. Ana did.
“You don’t have to do this,” Mila whispered, looking at her with pleading eyes.
Kill Mila? Kill someone else to save her own life? She didn’t have any attachments to Mila whatsoever, but she was one of her group and Ana wond
ered if she could really kill her to save her own life. The real question was: if Ana did survive, could she live with herself after this? If she joined them, she’d be free to plan, and there was a possibility that she could save the rest. Sacrifice one to save them all? Not that she cared about them all—just Alexis. A debt had to be paid.
Jezz stood there, handgun held by the barrel, grip towards Ana. “And do not get any ideas,” Jezz said, nodding at Max. “If you try anything, he will kill you and your whole group. I know I said that I would only kill one every twelve hours, but if you force me, I will reclaim them all.”
“Please,” Mila said, glancing at Jezz. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
Jezz ignored Mila. Her eyes were locked on Ana.
A guard came over with a key and removed Ana’s shackles. The chains fell to the gravel with a metallic clash. She was free and she had a choice to make—one decision that would define the rest of her life: kill to live, or die. Ana took two steps towards Jezz, the handgun within easy reach as her mind tried to reconcile it. Could she really do it? The woman kneeling before her had hopes, fears, and dreams of her own. She was a living, breathing person, a good person. While the woman holding the handgun was a monster, someone who deserved death. Was she fast enough to kill Jezz? Would it matter if she did? With one bullet she could decide her own fate and the fate of another. If she wanted to live through the day, the cost of her continued survival was one life. A life taken for a life gained.
In one quick, fluid motion, Ana grabbed the handgun, aimed, and pulled the trigger.
4
Preparation
Post-outbreak day six, late night
Connor nodded to his brother. James opened the door and Connor shouldered his rifle, easing into the room. Looking around, he quickly surmised that this was the two-car garage they’d seen from outside. He swept into the room, checking all the corners and shadows with the flashlight attached to the rail of his 1911 handgun. The last room in the house was clear.
The Brother's Creed_Book 3_Wolf Pack Page 2
