“You’re not even real,” Abby whispered. It’d been easy to ignore this creature over the years, as its visits were infrequent and short, and never had it actually talked. Abby never thought of it as more than a figment of imagination, her mind creating a foil upon which she could project her darkest fears and memories. But since venturing out into the Wild with Hiamovi and the others, this thing had become almost tangible. It even spoke to her. And now there was this buzzing in her head, which Abby feared was also the doing of her past self.
It wasn’t even real…right?
Abby rubbed her sweaty palms against her pants. Real or not, there was no reason to let this thing stand between her and her ultimate goal. The only reason she’d come out here was to see Zach again, to personally confront her demons. She hadn’t expected them to be quite so visible, but that still shouldn’t stop her, not when she’d come so far. Besides, what was it going to do? As far as Abby knew, it was attached to her and her existence. So it couldn’t just up and kill her, could it?
With a deep, shuddering breath, Abby took a step towards the creature, bracing for the worst…
…but nothing happened.
Feeling a little less frightened, Abby took another step, and yet another. Still the dark spirit remained rooted in—
A flash of darkness. In an instant, the specter snapped forward, standing nose to nose with Abby. The black flame flickering behind its glass-like eyes burned Abby’s eyes of silver, and the buzzing in her head turned into an ear-splitting screech.
Abby stifled a scream in her throat, releasing only a short, staccato squeal. The rest of the group looked up from their food, turning their attention to Abby. “Sorry,” she muttered. Hiamovi looked at Abby with concern, but she just shook her head.
Defeated, Abby dropped her gaze to the ground and shoved her hands into her pockets. The spirit was gone now but it’d won the battle. Abby didn’t dare to even look in the direction of Zach’s grave now. Instead, she slowly turned and sauntered back towards the group.
Chapter Twenty-One
Abby’s mood remained grim in the days following her latest encounter with her demon. She felt defeated and weak, hitting a point lower than she’d been in a long time. Despite being tobacco-free for years now, she almost asked Jax for a cigarette once or twice. The only thing that stopped her was the knowledge that Hiamovi wouldn’t allow her to regress like that anyway.
He was a good source of comfort, her new husband. It still felt strange to call him that, but it was a good kind of strange. It brought a smile to her face, fleeting though it was. The ring on her finger felt more natural by now, though she still fidgeted with it, twirling it around her finger when she felt compelled to do something with her hands.
They neared the outskirts of the sprawling urban mass called Chicago now. Soon they would link up with some of the other advance parties who were either moving south along Lake Michigan or north from Kentucky.
Here at Chicago, the military sweep across the nation would pause. President Heammawihio knew from Abby’s testimony that there had been at least one war band the size of a small army in this area, and he wanted to advance with caution. This was also, of course, the very site of the first major outbreaks, making it a significant landmark. Clearing the city would be a good time to halt and allow the rest of the nation to catch up and return home. That would be a major moral victory for the nation, and for the world, and Heammawihio planned on using it to inject some hope into the populace, and to allow the military and the advance groups a chance to rest and refit themselves for the final push to the Eastern shore.
But that was for future weeks. Right now, Abby and the others had to focus on just getting to Chicago and then assessing the situation from there. If the city seemed empty, they were to head straight for Navy Pier, clearing and reconnoitering as they went. If, however, they found significant armed resistance or a prevalence of zombies, they were to hold in place until the full weight of the military could be pressed forward.
This last point now seemed unlikely, however. After observing the starving zombie from the prison complex, it seemed probable now that most zombies, at least the ones around the sites of the first outbreaks, were disappearing, or fast becoming far less of a threat than they had once been. This revelation had been passed through the ranks of the main force behind them and up to the other reconnaissance groups, assuaging a lot of fears in both the top brass and the rank and file.
“So those zombies we saw back in Colorado must have been, uh, fresher, I guess?” Miguel asked.
“I suppose so,” Abby answered. The squad considered her the zombie expert and frequently asked her such questions, usually after any encounters with the creatures. Abby wasn’t sure why they expected her to provide solid answers. Fighting zombies didn’t make one an expert on their biology, after all. But she understood the insatiable curiosity and so humored them with her best attempts at providing clarity.
“Could have been some folks trying to head west, or people fleeing from Arthur’s regime,” she continued. “Either way, yeah I think that the zombies can only live for so long.”
“Think those were Mr. Marrane’s friends?” asked Todd.
“Who?” asked Abby.
“Mr. Marrane. Remember that weird hippie we ran into way back in Colorado? He told us about a group of people nearby, maybe they were the ones that attacked us.”
Abby had completely forgotten about that old man until now. She shrugged and said, “Yeah, I guess that’s certainly possible. It would make sense, at least.”
“So do you think it’s gonna be like the shuffling dead or whatever when we get into the city?”
“I really don’t know, Miguel. I haven’t been here in years, but if there’s still a bunch of zombies around, then it’s likely they won’t be running at us.”
That was a relief to the group. In each encounter with the creatures, except for the one just the other day, they’d lost a man. Two encounters was two too many for the Raiders, and they hoped to never have to see another zombie again.
Of course, zombies were not the only threat out in the Wild. They still didn’t know if any of the murderous gangs that Abby encountered years earlier still roamed the city, and while the Raiders felt much more comfortable engaging in gunfights, these were still dangerous situations that Jax hoped to avoid.
***
Sunrise.
Abby watched the sun peak over the eastern horizon, partially obscured by the Chicago skyline in the distance. One more day of riding should bring them to those record-setting skyscrapers that still towered over the landscape, unmoved by their abandonment almost a decade ago. If there was one thing Abby missed about this city, it was that gorgeous, much-photographed skyline, something she thought she’d never see again.
But she was back.
Back where it all started.
With the arrival of dawn, Abby, the lone person on watch, woke the rest of the group, receiving the usual grumbling in response. But boots were soon laced up, breakfast devoured, and bladders emptied before the group saddled up their horses and resumed their journey, eager for the coming pause in operations.
“Remember, don’t smell the barn,” Jax reminded the group as they began to spread out. “We’re almost there but we’re not out of danger yet. Heads on a swivel, just like always.”
They didn’t really need these reminders. Abby included, this was a group of highly-trained, disciplined, and dedicated warfighters. They knew better than to grow complacent, but as their leader Jax felt compelled to go through the motions a bit, and that included occasionally telling them things they already knew.
“Hey, Gunny! Think you can take us past the Michael Jordan statue?” Chad asked. “I’ve always wanted to see that.”
Jax ignored the comment, shaking his head. But Hiamovi decided to take the baton from Chad and keep the joke going.
“If we’re taking requests, I wanna get up close to the Sears Tower.”
“It’s th
e Willis Tower now, ‘Movi,” said Max.
“Whatever, same building. I wanna see that.”
Abby snickered, and saw Jax pinch the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. Being one of the boys by now, she thought it only proper to join in the fun herself.
“How about a group picture at Cloudgate? That’s what everyone does when they go downtown,” she said.
“The hell is Cloudgate?” Jax asked.
“That’s what you tourists call ‘The Bean’, Gunny,” Abby replied.
An exasperated sigh escaped Jax’s lips, but he continued to ignore the banter of his younger Raiders. He knew they enjoyed pushing his buttons, and had grown accustomed to letting a few quips roll off his back.
But the following silence was broken by the usually quiet and reserved Miguel. “Maybe we can check on the zoo and see if any animals are still around.”
“Keep it up, y’all!” Jax said amidst scattered chuckling. “Keep it up, and we will check out the Sears Tower or Willis Tower, or whatever the fuck it’s called now. From the top floor. Several times. Going up and down the stairs until your damn feet fall off. Tracking?”
That put an end to the joking as a few more grins were exchanged. Though they had fun at his expense, the Raiders never pushed their leader too far. Being in an elite group gave these young men a lot of wiggle room in the usually rigid military chain of command, but Jax was still a Gunny and a man they respected.
Now that the talking had died down, Hiamovi steered his horse closer to Abby. “Hey, how you doin’?”
“Fine,” she replied. She gave him a smile and said, “Better.”
“Must be weird coming back here.”
Abby shrugged. “A little, yeah.”
“But not so much?”
“I don’t know, this trip hasn’t been exactly what I expected. I feel something when I see these familiar places, but it’s not closure. I don’t know what it is, really.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I guess that’s kinda why I didn’t want to go see Zach’s grave. I haven’t been getting the kind of closure I’d expected, so I was scared of what I’d feel if I went there.”
“Maybe you will someday. Once this is all over, we can go back there.”
“Maybe. We’ll see. I’ve been saying ‘someday’ for a long time now, and I backed down when I got my chance. Maybe I’ll never go back there.”
“Hey now,” Hiamovi said in tone of mock sternness, “that’s not the Abby I married. You don’t just give up after setbacks. You’re a fighter, always have been. So keep fighting. And if you need some emotional support, you know I’m here for you.”
“But this is my fight. I shouldn’t have to rely on you or anyone else.”
“No one ever fights alone, my love. There’s nothing wrong with needing help. No shame in asking someone to help you to your feet. That’s what I’m here for, and all these other fine men around us, too.”
Abby looked at Hiamovi and smiled. “You know, that’s almost exactly what I told Yuri after Nate died.”
“It’s always easier to give advice than it is to take it,” Hiamovi replied with a grin.
“I guess I probably should start taking my own advice,” Abby said, nodding her head in agreement.
“I promise you that we’ll go back one of these days. Together.”
Hiamovi reached out to take Abby’s hand in his as he said that, bringing a smile to both their faces. “Together,” Abby replied.
***
“What kept you jarheads? Just couldn’t keep up with the Rangers, huh?” asked the man in an Army uniform, a grin of mockery on his face.
“Well, as usual, the President wanted Marines handling the difficult tasks, so we’re a little behind,” replied Jax. He dismounted from his horse and walked over to shake the other man’s hand.
“Sarn’t Wilson, 75th Ranger Regiment,” the man said, clasping hands with Jax as he introduced himself.
“Gunny Jackson, Marine Raiders.”
“Pleasure, Gunny.”
“Likewise.”
As planned, Jax’s squad had linked up with one of the other advance parties near an old Army Reserves center along a canal that ran parallel with the Des Plaines River. So far it was just the one group of Army Rangers, but more would follow. Jax’s squad was dismounting from their horses now and introducing themselves to the other Rangers, and that’s when Wilson noticed Abby.
“Who’s the chick?”
Jax turned in confusion, not sure to whom the sergeant was referring. “Hm? Oh, that’s Abby.”
“What the hell is she doing out here?”
“Good question,” Jax answered, “considering she’s already done more for this country than any of us after taking down Arthur damn near single-handedly.”
The look on the sergeant’s face turned from distrustful derision to bewilderment as the realization sunk in. “Wait, hold on. That’s…the Abby?”
Jax nodded.
“Wow. I thought I read that she was ducking out of the spotlight after the war, that she just wanted to carry on?”
“She came back. She’s a special woman, and it’s been an honor to have her in my squad.”
“Is she, uh, do you know if she has a—“
“She’s married.”
“Damn. Lucky bastard, whoever he is.”
“Oh, that’d be that young man right there.”
“Ah, well I’d challenge him to a fight for the fair lady’s hand but if there’s one thing you crayon-eaters teach right it’s hand-to-hand combat.”
“Don’t knock ‘em until you try ‘em,” Jax said in response to the comment on crayons.
Abby approached Jax and the sergeant now, having finished her introductions. “Did you boys get the latest word about the zombies, sarn’t?”
“Yes, ma’am. We did, thank you,” Wilson replied. “We were pretty damn happy to hear we won’t have to face a city full of those fuckin’ things.”
“We’re pretty happy too,” Abby said. “Any zombies left are probably knocking on Death’s door like the one we found. But that’s the least of my worries. There’s still the possibility of armed resistance.”
“We ran into some of that,” said Wilson. “Paranoid shitheads took shots at my boys a couple times. We…we lost Martin in Minnesota.”
Abby shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
“We lost two ourselves,” said Jax, “and one had to be sent back.”
“Doesn’t it always seem like it’s the best of us that pay the price?”
“Every goddamn time.”
“Well, my boys sure are happy to get a chance to relax for a couple days here, as soon as we sweep this city.”
“How many more groups are we waiting on?” asked Abby.
“Ten more,” Wilson replied. “A few coming from further up north, and the rest from the south. They’re a little behind so they’re riding hard to get here. They shouldn’t be long, I’d imagine.”
“What’s the plan then?”
“So far the city seems abandoned, so I’d say we pair up groups and head on in,” Wilson said to Abby. He then turned to Jax with his eyebrows raised, seeking his opinion on that plan.
“I agree,” Jax said. “Carve the city up, give each group a sector to clear, call Navy Pier the finish line?”
“First one there gets to ride the Ferris Wheel.”
***
With introductions complete and a tentative plan in place, Abby returned to Hiamovi. “Guess we’re going into the city once everyone gets here,” she said.
“Good,” he replied. “I want to get this over with.”
“Me too.”
“So what are you going to do once we clear the city?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“I mean, you were only asked to help us get to Chicago. Beyond that, you don’t have any obligation to stay with us, and you’ll be just as unfamiliar with the terrain going forward as we are.”
; “Oh,” Abby said. After so much time out in the Wild and bonding with Hiamovi and the others, she’d forgotten that Chicago was meant to be the end of her role in this operation. The idea of leaving them had not even crossed her mind in recent days.
“And I don’t want you to feel obligated to stick around, you know?” Hiamovi said after a pause. “If you feel like there’s no use in you continuing on, that’s perfectly fine with me. Won’t be too much longer before we hit the Atlantic anyway.”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Abby replied. “It’s not something I’ve thought about at all. I can’t say I particularly want to keep going, but I can’t really imagine leaving you guys out to dry, either. And there’s this whole thing.”
Abby held her left hand up and tapped the ring on her finger. Hiamovi chuckled and said, “I like that thing a lot. But like I said, I don’t want you to feel forced into coming with us. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
They shared a quick kiss then returned their attention to their horses, ensuring their valiant steeds were taken care of while they awaited the arrival of more soldiers. This final push was shaping up to be a quick and uneventful capstone to a long journey, and Abby needed to think about what she was going to do at the end of it.
But her thoughts were interrupted when, not far up the canal, a boat sailed into view carrying several men with rifles.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The men on the boat noticed the Marines and soldiers just a moment before anyone on shore spotted them. In an instant, rifles were raised on both sides. Shouted threats and demands filled the air like angry hornets, but for the moment no bullets left any guns.
“STAND DOWN!” Jax bellowed with as much volume as his lungs could muster. His voice carried such power and authority that not only did his own Marines lower their weapons, but so too did the Rangers and even the men on the boat.
“We’re US military!” he shouted to the men on the boat. “Do you need any kind of assistance?”
His Name Was Zach | Book 3 | Their Names Were Many Page 18
