“Rockwall?” Mills chimed in, clearly remembering signs better than us.
“Yeah, that sounds right. Anyway, Katherine got us out of there, but they kept on our trail. I guess they thought we had supplies that they could use, or maybe they just wanted our guns? I really don’t know, but these guys were out for blood. We were so busy fighting them and running for our lives, we lost track of where we were. Gabriel’s men staged an ambush that saved us, and then he made us an offer. We could either keep going to San Antonio undeterred, or we could join his group and try to reclaim the city. The ones that wanted to leave did, but Katherine and my family stayed put. Matthew stayed, too, but I think it was more for Katherine’s sake, since she was barely holding it together. It seemed senseless to try and make it another few days, without bullets, when we could just accept his offer.” Matthew had grown a lot since our first meeting, so I was thankful that Kat had someone to anchor her humanity. Let’s hope the kid was an asset when I went back, though.
“For what it’s worth, Eric, she didn’t trust this guy right off the bat, either. She learned a lot from you, and she was paranoid as hell about the whole situation. I’m telling you, though, Gabriel is the real deal.”
“What’s his story?” Bad or not, I still wanted to know his background.
“From what I’ve heard, he’s SAS. He was here on a vacation with his little brother, but the shit hit the fan and I guess his brother got killed somewhere down the line. I feel like I’d be a wreck if I lost someone that close, but I guess he’s used to it.”
“You never get used to it, you just learn how to hide it better,” I replied, tightening my grip on the steering wheel in discomfort. Marcus caught on and stayed quiet, giving me a moment to come back from memories. “He hasn’t seemed unhinged at all?”
“Not that I’ve seen. Gabriel teaches people, Eric. He doesn’t steal or eat people or weird shit like that. He tries to help his group, and I think you’ll find a lot in common once you give him a chance.”
“We’ll see,” I grunted, not wanting to accept that Gabriel was such a good guy. “We’re still a ways out from San Antonio, so you should all try and get some sleep before we get there. I know we’re all hoping it’s a safe zone, but I’ve been told that before. We need to be prepared for anything.”
Marcus and Dave took me up on the offer, but Jessica stayed up for a while longer, waiting until they were asleep to talk.
“I know you, Eric, so I know you won’t reach San Antonio and just take a breather. What’s your plan?”
“I’ll get everyone there, like we promised. Whether it’s safe or not, I’m turning around and going right back to Austin to meet Gabriel.”
“What if she’s changed as much as Marcus says?” She clearly knew my intentions, and she wasn’t wrong. “What if she doesn’t want to come back?” I took a deep breath and let out a long exhale.
“It’s ultimately her decision, but I have to try. I can’t let this world swallow her up without a fight. You and I have been through enough that someone deserves to live a normal life, you know?” I met her eyes in the rearview mirror and saw understanding, and a little sadness.
“I know, Eric. Just try to prepare yourself if things don’t go the way you want.” She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. “We don’t know what she’s been through.”
Jessica was right, but I couldn’t accept that Kat had given up. The kind of darkness that came from pure survival, knowing nothing but the fight…she didn’t deserve that. I had spent the last several months down that path, and the guilt had definitely taken a toll on my conscience. Who knows, having not seen Samantha since my decision to stop killing, maybe there was hope for even me.
Chapter 95
Day 243
Trying not to hit anything in the dark turned a trip that would normally take under four hours into double that, letting the sunrise welcome us as we passed the city limit sign of San Antonio. Mills woke up first, rubbing her eyes and blinking rapidly.
“How long was I out?”
“Around seven hours.” She whistled.
“Seven? Damn, I must have been more tired than I thought. How are you doing up there?”
“Drifting in and out, swerving like a drunk. Honestly, I don’t know how we’re not dead.” It’s been a long time since I’ve cracked a joke, hasn’t it?
“It’s good to see that smile again.” She smiled, too, and slapped my shoulder. By this time, Dave and Marcus were awake and, once I informed them we were close, I found a good place to pull off for breakfast. Small talk ensued, filling the silence and erasing the tension from the night before, though my eyes never left our surroundings. Paranoia had kept me alive this long, so I wasn’t ready to relax just yet.
Once we had eaten, Jessica took the wheel and I rode shotgun, scanning the road ahead for any signs of danger. We were barely five miles into the city when we began to encounter blockades, cars stacked to block off roads. I’m sure I missed a few things, as my eyesight wasn’t what it used to be, but I did notice the odd rifle barrel poking out amidst the wreckage as we drove.
The blockades guided us around a bend, where we saw a makeshift gate up ahead, two large metal panels erected on wheels. The space between buildings was filled with seemingly anything that would fit, forcing any attack to go through the main entrance. The truck jerked as Jessica eased our speed to a crawl, her eyes darting back and forth to assess our situation.
“Keep your hands visible and exit your vehicle slowly,” a man on a megaphone called out from the window of a building above us. Lacking in options, we opened the doors and cautiously stepped out with our hands raised. There was a small army of men scattered across the rooftops, and I knew they wouldn’t hesitate to turn us into paste if we so much as twitched in the wrong direction.
A well-hidden door opened next to the gate and six men poured out of the entrance, their mix-and-match uniforms telling me they were a collection of broken units. It wasn’t hard to steal clothes, but the Kevlar vests and authentic weapons made a good case for the rumors of San Antonio being a green zone. The soldiers surrounded us, stripping our guns and giving Dave a look when they pulled his Garand from the truck.
“All clear,” one of the marines shouted over his shoulder, keeping his M16 trained on me. A lieutenant stepped out of the building, the bar on his chest gleaming in the sunlight. He circled us slowly, eyeing each of us carefully, before stopping in front of me.
“State your business.” His tone was stern and matter-of-fact, a man clearly tired of bullshit.
“We heard the military had a safe zone here, and we were hoping to gain access.” He nodded, considering the proposition.
“You’ll be allowed inside, provided you relinquish your weapons and answer any questions we ask you. Any act that threatens anyone’s safety will be punished, with a zero-tolerance policy. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.” He gave a signal and the gate parted.
“Follow me. Vasquez, stay on our six. The rest of you, return to your posts.” The men shuffled back into the building, except for the man I assumed to be Vasquez. As soon as we were inside, the gate sealed shut behind us.
“As you can see,” the lieutenant spoke from ahead of us, “we’ve made significant progress rebuilding the city. Unfortunately, every step forward means new barricades to maintain safety, so it’s been an uphill battle for the last few months. With more civilians arriving, though, it’s a necessary expansion. You’ve come at a good time, assuming you’re not lying just to steal supplies.”
“Has that been a problem?” I asked, thinking of Gabriel and wondering if Marcus just wasn’t aware of his darker deeds.
“Not much, but the issue has come up in the past. We don’t exactly maintain criminal records, you know? Sleeping arrangements aren’t the Hilton, but they beat the hell out of the other options. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that, though.” Armed guards stood watch outside a house that the lieutenant led us into
. They eyed us carefully as we passed by, their fingers not quite on the triggers.
We followed through a living room and down a hallway before stepping inside a den, with two soldiers standing guard inside the door. The lieutenant took a seat behind a desk, removing his hat, and gestured for us to sit. I took the chair across from him, as did Mills, while Marcus and Dave sat on a couch to the side.
“I’ll cut right to it, then. I am Lieutenant Charles Murphy. The military power we’ve organized has been able to successfully capture most of San Antonio, despite multiple waves of assault from the infected. The civilian population is further into the city, where they’re better protected. However, I have some questions of my own before I can allow you to enter.”
“That makes sense. Can’t let just anyone in or you risk putting everyone in danger.” He nodded.
“Exactly. Now, have any of you had contact with the infected?” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes, extensively,” Jessica answered, glaring at me.
“Have any of you been bitten, scratched, or otherwise physically assaulted by the infected?” I could see where this line of questioning was headed.
“The answer you’re looking for is that we’re not infected. While we’ve been in constant fights with them over the course of months, no one in this room has the virus.”
“You understand that we’ll have to check before you can join the populous, though.”
“Of course. I’d actually worry if you didn’t.”
“Alright. Assuming you’re cleared, would any of you be willing to join our ranks?”
“What is the deal with that? I mean, I’ve seen joint ops before, but every branch working together? Who’s in charge?”
“Currently, the highest ranking member of our force is Colonel Harper with the Army, but I have it on good authority that many members of the military are alive and have begun operating out of outposts throughout the United States.”
“That must have been what Murray was talking about,” I spoke to Jessica.
“Who’s Murray?”
“He’s a police captain out of Chicago that’s assisting in the expansion of those outposts.” Murphy eased back into his chair and withdrew a cigarette from his shirt pocket, lighting it thoughtfully.
“Perhaps you’d better tell me how y’all got here.”
We went down the line, explaining our individual stories and how we all came to be together. Throughout the story, Murphy’s expression became grimmer, until finally Marcus finished telling his adventures with Gabriel.
“What do you say we all go for a ride?” The lieutenant stood and we followed him back outside to a duo of Humvees, getting in and watching the city as we rode. Murphy hadn’t been kidding about the uphill battle, as evidence of bombing and gunfire was evident throughout. We made a quick stop at the next checkpoint, where a team of medics performed a strip search to look for signs of infection. After we were cleared, Murphy and another driver took us further through the war-torn city until we rolled to a stop.
The irony of using the Alamo as their Forward Operating Base was amusing, but I kept my jokes to myself as we headed inside. Following Murphy through the historic site, he told us to wait at the entrance to the next room as he stepped forward and saluted. The man being saluted stood behind a table, his appearance well-kempt, his hair the classic salt-and-pepper grey of experience, and his uniform still in relatively pristine condition. I didn’t have to guess to know this was the colonel that Murphy had mentioned. He returned the salute and they exchanged words before we were waved forward.
Colonel Harper studied us with stern eyes, keeping his hands pressed onto a map on the table.
“According to the lieutenant, you have information for me.”
“Tell him what you told me, and leave nothing out,” Murphy urged, but I couldn’t be sure which part they were after. After telling my story for the hundredth time, Harper looked to Murphy with a familiar grim expression.
“Losing Indiana, and a colonel, is a big hit, but this police captain…he may prove to be an asset moving forward.” He turned to us. “Thank you. Lieutenant Murphy will escort you to the civilian housing and see to it that you’re taken care of.” Dismissing everyone, Harper went back to studying the map before him. It reminded me of the map Matheson had at the compound, with various markings indicating losses. Not much had changed by the looks of things, but Harper placed a new mark where Murray was as we left the room.
We were driven to a hotel further in, the civilian half of the city a drastic change from the gate. Boxes were stacked in the lobby, labels telling of their contents. Most were generic titles, like “food,” but a few had actual names on them. I didn’t ask, but I knew those had once belonged to soldiers by the look on Murphy’s face as his eyes drifted. While the accommodations weren’t five-star, they had done a great job setting up the dining area. Passing down the food line, we were given a hot meal of chili and bread in a Styrofoam cup before Murphy started back to his post at the gate.
“Lieutenant, a word. I was wondering if you might know a man named Thomas and his wife Rebecca.” Murphy thought for a moment, frowning.
“It’s possible, but I’d have to check our records at the checkpoint. Everyone that comes through is registered, to keep some record of personnel.” So they would know who to mourn. He left that part out, but I knew. “May I ask the reason?”
“Tom is my grandson,” Dave chimed in, his voice almost pleading with hope. Murphy nodded slowly.
“I’ll see what I can dig up and check back in the morning. Now get some sleep, all of you. You look like hell.” With that, the lieutenant left and a soldier took us on a short tour of the hotel, as well as explaining the nearby areas. They had secured a few parks and an activities center, though at this late hour none were in use. At the heart of the city, a small market had been set up for bartering goods, which answered my earlier doubts about the worth of money. As for the housing arrangements, space was limited. Families were given a room to themselves, but single men or women had to stay with at least two others.
Jessica went ahead to find a room while we followed the soldier down the hall to set up our sleeping areas. Inside our room, the bed had been removed to make space for sleeping bags along the floor. Two other men that introduced themselves as Max and George were also staying in our room, so we tried our best to make small talk.
They had been in San Antonio the entire time, so, after realizing how much I had strayed from humanity, I left the room and found Jessica down the hall. She was sharing her room with three other women, all very nice by her explanation. We sat in the hall and had dinner together, simple bags of sandwiches and chips, before saying good night and going back to our respective rooms.
All in all, the day passed quickly and, after my turn in the shower, which was heavenly, I’ve spent what little daylight remained catching up in the journal. It was crazy to flip back through it, reminding myself why I fight so hard to stay in touch with who I was. Of course, it also reminded me how much had happened to drag me further down into the world of monsters.
Chapter 96
Day 244
I passed out almost immediately, knowing I was safe to close my eyes for the first time in a while, but I was restless. It wasn’t nerves that woke me up, because I didn’t rattle, and it wasn’t excitement. There was a feeling of anxiousness in my chest, like my body knew how badly I needed to go back to Austin. The truth is, I wasn’t sure if I was fighting so hard for Kat or to convince myself that anyone could come back.
After quietly tidying up my things, which took about two minutes, I left the room and headed down the hall. Jessica came out of her room as I passed by and jogged up to me.
“Where are you sneaking off to so early?” She grinned, until she realized the accuracy of her wording. The smile faded quickly, replaced with a look of concern. “Eric?”
“Walk with me?” She nodded and followed me downstairs, folding her arms in impatience on the la
st step.
“You know, it feels like years ago, but I remember a stranger walking up to the gate of my compound. He was kind of an asshole, but he was endearing, had this way about him that let you know he had a plan. I also remember the look he had just before he went off to a huge showdown at a courthouse, one that got him killed.” She grabbed my shoulder and met my eyes. “It’s the same look you have now, so tell me what the hell you’re doing.”
I sighed and found a small bench to sit on, running my hand through my hair and rubbing my face. I was hoping to avoid this conversation and deal with the fallout when I got back, but that clearly wasn’t going to happen.
“I’m going back to Austin.”
“I know that, we all do. That doesn’t explain why you’re trying to ditch us like a bad prom date.” Here we go…
“I’m going alone, Jessica.” Her eyebrows shot up before crashing down with a vengeance.
“The hell you are!” Her jaw clenched and she took a deep breath. “You’re not alone anymore, Eric.”
“I know, Jessica, but that’s part of why I’m doing this.”
“Don’t give me that, ‘I need you to be safe,’ bullshit, Eric. Seriously, I’m so mad right now, I could kick your ass.” I laughed.
“I know.” I put my hands on her shoulders and ducked my head to find her evasive gaze. “I’ll be fine.”
“Like you were fine when you left the compound? I let you go without me and I remember how that went so well.” It was a cheap shot, but I deserved that. “Look, Eric, you need to prepare yourself for the idea that she’s not the same girl you put your life on the line for.”
A Broken World (Book 2): Shattered Paradise Page 20
