Dead State (Book 4): Immune

by Shupert, Derek

  She glances up to him and takes hold of it. “I’m not that little. I’m actually nine, right, James?” Cindy tilts her head to the side and glances up to me, waiting for me to confirm her statement.

  “That is right, squirt.”

  “In either case, it is an honor to meet you.” Lucas notices the teeth marks in her arm. The indentions aren’t as deep and the flesh doesn’t look to be decaying. The cream-colored tone of her skin around the infected area has come back some. He smiles at Cindy, then shifts his gaze up to me.

  The lights overhead dim slightly. They flicker off and on. A low humming sound emits from the bulbs.

  “Damn it all. Are we going to lose power again?” Commander Reynolds says.

  Sergeant Jacobson looks up to the ceiling. He watches the dull white lights flicker as if they’re fighting for survival. He pulls free the radio attached to his hip, and adjusts the rounded knob on top.

  “How are we coming along on the generators, over?”

  Static clings to the air. A voice crackles in through the speaker and battles through the white noise. The sound of machinery in the background drowns out the man’s tone.

  “We’ve got one operating at capacity. The other needs a bit more attention. Seems like a cable has come loose or something. We can’t reach it, though. Our hands won’t fit. If we don’t get it back up and running, the other generator will be taxed to the point where it’ll die.”

  Sergeant Jacobson looks to Commander Reynolds who has a scowl on his face.

  “All right. Stand by and keep working on it. Over.” Jacobson lowers the radio. He and Commander Reynolds move away from the stairwell entrance and secure the door. They stand a few feet from us and continue to discuss the generators.

  “Do we have anyone who we can send down to the boiler room to aid in the repair?” Commander Reynolds inquires.

  Jacobson rubs his chin. “Not that I’m aware of. We’re beyond stretched thin right now. We’ve got the majority of our men outside battling the infected, which aren’t letting up. The team on the fifth floor is MIA, and we can’t spare anymore men to go search for them. Plus, we have some other issues I need to brief you on. Privately, sir.”

  Doctor Harper approaches the two men. He leans forward and pulls the torn fabric away as he takes a closer look at Commander Reynolds’s arm. “We need to get this dressed and stitched up quickly.”

  Commander Reynolds diverts his gaze down to his arm. “It’ll be fine for now. We have bigger problems.”

  Doctor Harper releases the bloody, torn pieces of the commander’s shirt. “The longer it goes without being properly treated, the more likely infection will set in. We can’t afford for you to fall ill right now, sir.”

  Commander Reynolds offers a slight nod. “All right, let’s go patch it up. Come and debrief me, sergeant.”

  The doctor escorts the commander and Jacobson down the hall. They enter the third room on the right.

  Lucas nudges my arm, and nods to his right, indicating he wants to speak in private.

  I turn to Cindy, then point to Cassie. “Hey, I’m going to have you hang with Cassie and Duke for a minute while I talk to Lucas, ok?”

  “Ok.” Cindy continues to rub Duke’s head.

  Cassie half smiles. “I’ll keep an eye on her for you.”

  “Thanks.” I follow Lucas away from open ears.

  He kicks his voice low. “What do you think we should do? Might be good to have a backup plan in case things go south here and we have to bail.”

  I shrug, but then nod in agreement.

  I hadn’t really thought past finding Cindy, but having an exit strategy wouldn’t hurt.

  Besides, I trust the government right now about as far as I can toss them. They have done some devious things that have made me leery of putting my full faith in them—like destroying one of the main bridges back where I lived and mowing down the people trying to flee this outbreak.

  “We could always try to get back to the Humvee. Make a break for it if we must,” I say.

  Lucas cringes. “That’d be tough to do, especially with all of the infected they’re saying are in the area now.”

  “If push comes to shove, we’ll have to do something,” I counter. “Their men are dropping like flies now, and it seems as though they’re running out of options. I think we should do what we can to help until it’s no longer feasible. I just found my sister, and I don’t plan on any of us dying in this hospital. If we find that we need to cut and bail, then we’ll do it.”

  Lucas glances in the direction that Doctor Harper took the commander.

  “We may need to find out what they’re discussing,” he suggests. “From what was being said earlier, it didn’t sound too good.”

  I nod in agreement. “I’ll go give a listen.”

  I walk away from Lucas when he snatches my arm. “Um, you?”

  “Um, yeah. Me.”

  Lucas releases my arm, then leans in close. “I can do it, James. You have a tendency to lose your cool when hearing bad news.”

  I sneer at the snide comment. It’s true most times, but the comment was still uncalled for. “I’ll be fine. Besides, if they catch me eavesdropping, I don’t think they’ll do anything. You, on the other hand, could be a different story.”

  Lucas sighs. “Fine, just be quiet, and don’t do anything stupid.”

  I wink. “I make no promises.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Lucas walks back over to Cassie and Cindy while I head toward the room Jacobson and the commander are in. I plop down in the chair next to the partially open door. I lean forward with my forearms resting on my thighs. My fingers intertwine as I focus on their voices.

  Back home, I was always able to eavesdrop on my parents’ conversations when they spoke in their room. I could tune out any background noises and focus on what was being said. Came in really handy, especially if I was in trouble, and they were figuring out what to do with me.

  It’s a bit different here, though, with the discharging of automatic weapons from outside the building and the occasional thunderous rumble of an explosion trying to distract me.

  “Jesus Christ,” Commander Reynolds grumbles.

  “Sorry, sir. I’m being as gentle as I can while stitching up this wound,” Doctor Harper remarks.

  “It’s not that, Jim. It’s this damn mess that we’re stuck in,” Commander Reynolds grouses. “How much longer can we hold out here with the men and supplies we have?”

  “Tough to say, sir. We’re running low on ammo and bodies. Without having our gunship around to provide perimeter support, the infected are able to get closer to the hospital,” Jacobson retorts. “We aren’t fully equipped to deal with the influx of infected who are showing up.”

  “All done,” Doctor Harper says.

  I twist in the chair and peer through the crack in the door.

  Commander Reynolds hops down off the bed he’s sitting on. He glances at the wound that has been dressed. Torn pieces of his shirt dangle from his arm.

  “I still can’t believe that we lost that bird and those men,” he grumbles.

  Jacobson nods. “I feel the same way, sir. The horde of infected that overtook them before they could take off, isn’t too far away from here. There is a chance that they could be heading this way. I don’t think I have to tell you how bad of a situation we’ll be in if we’re still here when they arrive.”

  Commander Reynolds rubs his chin, and moves toward the window across the room. He stands firm and looks out through the narrow slits in the blinds. The sun is getting low. The once fiery sky is now changing to a dark palate. Night is coming.

  “What was their last known position where they went down?” he inquires.

  “They were roughly 7.5 klicks due east, sir,” Jacobson answers.

  Commander Reynolds sighs, then lowers his head. His fingers run through his silver hair. “So, given the known pace of the infected and if they stay on their current course, then theoretically they co
uld be at our front door within a few hours?”

  “That’s our best guess,” Jacobson answers.

  Commander Reynolds turns away from the window. He looks to Jacobson who’s standing with his arms behind his back.

  “All right. For now, withdraw all forces we have outside and have them fall back into the hospital. We barricade all entrances on the ground floor. No one is to fire unless absolutely necessary. We need to conserve that ammo.”

  The lights suddenly go out. The faint hue of white rises and dims from the bulbs overhead.

  Panicked chatter from the people standing in the hall looms in the air.

  “We need to get that generator back up and operational,” Commander Reynolds demands. “We still have some tests and data that need to be finished. We can’t afford to lose what we’ve worked so hard to obtain here. We must have someone here who can head down to the lower level and aid in the repair of the generator.”

  I think of Cindy and the others, and the mass of chasers who are coming for us. Knowing that certain doom is marching this way sends a wave of worry over me. I can’t lose anyone else.

  A thought gels inside my head. We could leave. Load up in the Humvee and take our chances out in the dead state of the crumbling country. But what about Cindy?

  I have narrowly escaped the boney fingers of the reaper numerous times. I can’t, in good conscience, do that to her. At least here, with the military, we may have a chance at survival. For now, they haven’t offered me any reason to doubt their intentions. Still, I’ll be keeping a vigilant eye on them.

  I spring up from the chair and twist toward the door. I shove it open, and barge into the room.

  All three men instantly turn and stare at me. A look of surprise clouds their faces.

  “This is a private briefing,” Jacobson growls.

  “I can help.” I fight to keep the uneasiness from spilling out through my voice. My stance is firm and rigid.

  “Thanks, but not sure what a kid is going to do to help us.” Jacobson dismisses me with a roll of his eyes and wave of his hand. He turns back toward the commander whose gaze is fixed on me.

  What a brash asshole. He’s really in no position to be turning away the help of the few people left in this building. Besides, I haven’t seen too many others volunteering to help out. Especially considering that I’m no military grunt, just the son of one.

  I turn and point toward the hall. “I have just as much at stake here as anyone. I have family and friends out there that mean the world to me. They’re all I have left, so I will do whatever I have to do to make sure they’re safe. Right now, we’re in this together.”

  Jacobson stares at me. I can’t tell if he’s thinking on what I said or if he’s pissed. He always seems to have a scowl on his face when I speak.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea. No offense, but you’re just a kid and all. If the crap hits the fan, you’ll have to think on your feet and possibly defend yourself, or others, from that bio-hazard. But, it’s not my call.”

  “Thank you for your input, sergeant!” Commander Reynolds says.

  Jacobson snaps to and stands at attention. “Sir.”

  Doctor Harper is to my left next to a set of cabinets. He has a tray clasped within his hands that has bandages and other medical supplies resting on its top. He stands there motionless as he looks to me, then the commander. The news of the incoming horde of infected must have him worried.

  “We appreciate the offer, James, but not quite sure how you might be able to help us out.”

  “I think I’m probably the only one you have here who has hands small enough to fit within that tight space in the generator. It’d be safe to assume that without me, the odds of this place going dark and all of that test data you’re trying to save will go away. Afterall, nighttime is coming, so we don’t have much time. I don’t know about you two, but I’d rather fight the chasers in the light than in the dark.”

  Jacobson rolls his eyes, but doesn’t venture a response. “Sir, I think we should have our guys continue-”

  “Agreed.” Commander Reynolds glances back toward the window and watches as the sun continues its descent over the horizon.

  Jacobson purses his lips, then grits his teeth.

  “I’m not overly keen about sending you down there, though, with the infected gathering in mass just outside. Although I’m confident that our men will hold them at bay, if for any reason they fail and the chasers flood into the hospital, it will be difficult to get back here.”

  The thought of the chasers getting inside causes me to gulp. I hadn’t really thought of that possibility. Still, I remain fixed in my decision.

  “Understood. I don’t plan to hang out down there,” I respond. “I’ll do what needs to be done, and book it back up here.”

  The commander looks to me then out of the window as he wrestles with the decision. “All right, son.” He nods to Jacobson. “Make the call.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Cindy isn’t going to care for this idea one bit. There are a ton of unknowns that cloud the air. Hopefully, Commander Reynolds’s men will be able to barricade the front entrance well enough and keep the chasers at bay. At least long enough for us to get back upstairs.

  Jacobson hops back onto his radio and relays the commander’s orders to his men out in the field. Static lingers from the speaker as he brushes past. He cuts his eyes down at an angle and narrows them at me.

  “I say again, pull all ground forces back and retreat to the interior of the hospital, over.” The radio clicks. He turns to the right and hurries from the room.

  The commander strolls across the room with his arms laced behind his back. He stands before me with his face painted in a rigid, yet concerned manner.

  “Are you sure you want to do this, son?” he inquires once again.

  “Not especially, but it isn’t so much a matter of what I want to do as it is of what needs to be done.”

  Commander Reynolds offers a slight smirk. He places his hand on my right shoulder. “You’re a brave young man, James.”

  Life has made me brave. One must do things now that would never have been considered before this outbreak happened.

  “I’ll have one of my men escort you down to the first floor after they’ve secured the entrance of the hospital. From there, I’ll have the men stationed down there take you to the boiler room.” The commander walks past me and heads out into the hallway.

  I take a moment and allow the realization of what’s about to transpire to really hit me. I try not to get too worried about what could happen. Once his men fall back and secure the entrance, they’ll hold the chasers back. I know they will.

  I turn sharply around, and make my way out of the room. Cindy and the others sit in chairs near a nurse’s station that has Nurse Debbie and a few other nurses huddled about.

  Cindy continues to pet and love on Duke, who is eating it up. He rests on his hind legs with his tongue dangling out of his mouth as she kneads his head.

  Lucas spots me and stands up from his chair. “Well?” he asks in a low tone.

  I lean in close and keep my voice lowered. “They’re pulling their ground forces outside back into the hospital. Seems like there’s a mass of chasers heading this direction. The chopper we saw when we first arrived apparently went down east of here after they spotted a large horde. Seems they’re heading in this direction. The military is sending in some other transports to provide support and evac us, but it may take a bit. So, we’re going to have to hold out until they arrive.”

  “That doesn’t sound good at all.” Lucas diverts his gaze briefly, and looks off into the unknown as he chews on my words.

  I remove my hat, and run my fingers through my hair. I slip it back on and clear my throat. “There’s one more thing.”

  “What’s that?” Lucas trains his attention back to me.

  I point toward the lights. “They’re having issues with one of the generators, which is making the other unit work ov
ertime. Apparently, there’s some loose or faulty wire that they can’t reach. They have some data that they’re needing to back up, and they need the power on to do so. Also, if we don’t get the generators working, this hospital is going dark. As in, no electricity.”

  “Ok. That sucks.” Lucas lifts his left eyebrow up.

  “I’m going to go down to where they have the generators and see if I can help them out.” I lift my hand in the air. “My small hands might be able to reach in there, and help fix whatever is wrong.”

  That same look of concern that Sergeant Jacobson had clouds Lucas’s face. He glances back to Cindy and Cassie. He rubs his beard before turning his focus back to me.

  “You sure that’s a wise decision? They cleared the first floor in case the chasers somehow gain access. If they end up doing that while you’re below, that’s going to be a difficult spot to get out of. You’ll be cut off and on your own.”

  I don’t discount the potential dangers that face me.

  “Yeah. I’m aware, but the data they’ve gathered is vital to helping us find a way to stop all of this. Cutting and running isn’t an option, as much as I’d like to do that. You’ve been there through all of the narrow escapes and near-death situations we’ve encountered. I can’t do that to Cindy. Not to any of you. For now, I think it’s best that we stick it out here, and do what we can to help keep things going until the reinforcements arrive. If I do nothing, then all those who have died, and WILL die, will be laid at my feet.”

  Lucas lowers his head into his palm. He rubs his face up and down and finally sighs. “Fine, but I’m coming with you.”

  I shake my head.

  “Why the hell not? You’re going to need someone to watch your back while you’re down there. If the crap hits the fan, those soldiers may not give a rat’s ass about your safety.”

  I look past him to Cassie and Cindy. “You need to stay here with them. Cindy is all I have left in this world, and I need to know that she’ll be properly looked after. If things do go off the rails, and the chasers get inside, I want her with people I trust with my own life. Besides, your shoulder is still healing. I’ll take Duke with me.”