We jogged pass the Sprint store. Malik reached out and grabbed my arm. I stopped running.
“Jesse?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong?” I sensed my face was frowned.
“What are we doing?” Malik’s sincerity was showing through his tough exterior and I had never seen it before.
“We’re going to get our people back.”
“Why are you always running to the danger?”
“I don’t have anywhere else to run to. The danger is everywhere. I’m going to get to it before it gets to me.”
My words seem to take a moment to sink in. “Okay.” He nodded and I felt like I recycled a pep talk that Nick had once given to me. I took off running and Malik was right beside me.
CHAPTER 21
The food court was at the epicenter of the mall. We stopped running when we came close to it. There was music coming from the sublevel where the food court stood. It was some weird circus music. The kind of music that played in a jewelry box with a miniature ballerina that danced in a circle. I had one, a present from my father.
“What is that?” I asked Malik about the music not sure if he had an answer.
“There’s a big ass merry-go-round in the middle of the food court.”
Seriously? There’s only one person I know of that would turn on such odd music.
“And this is a big ass gun pointed at your head.” The words hit us from behind. Malik and I froze at the words we wished we had not heard. Wayne was standing behind us, closer than his voice conveyed. He had a gun aimed at the back of Malik’s head. I cheated as I turned to see him. I didn’t want this to be happening so I thought that maybe if I looked back slightly this wouldn’t actually be reality. Damn! This is not the way this is supposed to go.
“Drop your weapons!” Wayne’s voice vibrated sending tremors through my rickety spine. Malik was first to drop his revolver. There was no hesitation on his part, just the thud of metal crashing to the lacquered floor. It was my turn next but I dithered. I was disoriented thinking of a plan.
“You too bitch!” Wayne shocked me back into our melodrama. My Colt slipped from my fingers and I instantly felt naked without it. “You two move it, down to the food court!”
Malik and I started to slowly walk like two unsteady toddlers trying out our feet for the first time. I heard Wayne nosily kick our guns. The weapons skidded across the floor and landed somewhere. I didn’t have the nerve to turn around to look. We walked down the few steps that led to the food court. We passed the music store on the left, the restrooms and small convenience shop on the right.
The carousel’s music volume began to increase as we inched closer. Not only was the merry-go-round’s music playing, the carousel itself was moving in a circle while the colorful painted horses pranced up and down.
I believed the double decker ride was empty until I saw Kait whiz by on a shiny white stallion with Bolt standing behind her. His creepy hand was rested on her back. She was leaning forward trying to escape his contemptible touch.
Bolt immediately noticed me and smirked with pleasure. As the merry-go-round rotated, Bolt and Kait vanished but I knew they would return in the 360 degree circle. I instantly regretted getting caught by Wayne outside Abercrombie & Fitch. I had put myself in a helpless position, as helpless as when I was infected.
My eyes scanned the court. They landed on Nick sitting at a table next to Joe. Shit! They have Nick and Joe, our strongest guys. We don’t stand a chance.
There was blood coming from the surface of Nick’s forehead. Someone had hit him with something. Joe was holding his left shoulder with his right hand. The sleeve of his shirt was oozing blood that trailed downward and tie dyed the front. The picture of Kurt Cobain on Joe’s T-shirt was soaked in wild blotches of crimson.
From where I stood it looked like Joe had been shot. I wasn’t quite sure and Joe’s facial expression didn’t give me any insight.
Wayne marched us a few feet in front of Nick and Joe. Bruce had his AK-47 pointed at the backs of their heads. Bruce was standing next to the gated entrance of the carousel. He pushed a few buttons on the control box mounted on the metal gate. The carousel music instantly stopped and the children’s ride began to slow.
As if on cue, the carousel stopped with Bolt and Kait directly beside us. Bolt was smiling that maniacal smile that I’m sure he had since infancy.
“Now this is really a party. We got chicks, dicks and the token black guy.” Bolt gazed at me like we had a special connection.
Malik took a moment out of his panic to glance over at me but it was clear Bolt was the star of this macabre get-together.
Kait was terrified, clearly her eyes conveyed this. I wonder if Bolt had already molested her in some way. Bolt removed his hand from Kait’s back. He snatched her by her tiny neck with his huge rapey fingers. Kait’s face reddened as he wrenched her off the plastic saddle of the carousel horse.
“So what now?” Bolt asked in a rhetorical fashion.
The silence was heavy. I could see Joe was thinking of a master plan. His somber face dictated that much. A plan with an AK-47 pointed at your back seemed moot but there was something taking shape in his thick skull.
“No suggestions I see so I only want the ladies so I guess you can dispose of the man folk.” Bolt said with blatant disregard for all us living breathing humans.
“Wait!” I called out and all eyes fell upon me. I would at the very least make a plea for the life of Nick and the others. If not for them I would be dead. “Bolt you’re a smart man. I know you can find some use for three strong guys.”
Bolt grinned. He was impressed with my nonsense interruption. “Three men? Two point five, I shot the bald one in the shoulder… Jesse, Jesse what do you propose I do with the men?”
As Bolt entertained my comments I noticed Bruce rolling his gaunt bloodshot eyes at me and the entire conversation.
“I think you could put them to work.” I threw out the first bullshit idea that came to mind.
“Doing what?” He asked.
“I don’t know. They can help you syphon gas or help build a gate to keep the dead out. It doesn’t matter just take us all and if you can’t think of anything then you always have the option of killing us.” I was trying to appeal to his sense of logic because Bolt was the tin-man, he didn’t have a heart.
“What do you think Bruce?” Bolt asked Bruce’s opinion. That was the first time I heard him ask for someone’s advice or input.
“These guys are fighters. They will resist but it’s completely up to you boss.” Bruce was growing tired of this back and forth. It was obvious due to his sluggish hold on his AK.
There were stairs leading up to the ground level behind Bruce. They were somewhat similar to the stairs Malik and I took to the food court but they were shrouded by a concrete encased elevator. From where I was standing I could see the stairs and the person that had just run down them and ducked into the food court ice cream parlor.
The sleeper cell was Brandon. Apparently he had followed us, not a good idea. Brandon was hidden behind the tall brick and glass counter of the ice cream parlor. I didn’t want to let on that someone else had joined our party. My goal was keeping a straight face.
Brandon peered up once and we made eye contact. Then my brain swelled with questions. Was his presence a good thing or a bad thing? Did he have a weapon? Did he know how to use a weapon? Would his presence get us all killed? As I thought about these things Brandon’s head popped up and then down again.
Shit, this time maybe I wasn’t the only one to notice. Bruce turned briefly but then resumed his position as watchdog.
“Jesse, Jesse, why did you leave me?” Bolt sincerely asked. Seriously, did I have to tell him he was cuckoo crazy?
“You know why?” I said. I was stalling for time. There was no plan on my part but I had seen people do this in movies so I thought every minute of talking was a minute more we all stayed alive. “Just think about the things you told me and maybe you can
figure it out.”
Bruce’s entire body was turned to the ice cream parlor. Everyone but Bruce was paying attention to me and that’s why they didn’t notice the top of Brandon’s head quickly peek above the ice cream shop counter. Bruce noticed and swiftly started running for the ice cream shop.
Everything was happening so fast. Nick and Joe were completely unaware of the drama that would unfold in the next few seconds. Their backs were turned to it but Malik and I had clear view.
“Kill him!” Bolt yelled out across the food courtyard. Now I knew Bolt had also seen Brandon’s rendition of a groundhog.
BA-BA-BA-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-BA!” The sound of rapid thunderous fire echoed throughout the court. Bruce had opened fire on the small ice cream shop, spraying bullets through every square inch. The shattered glass was a fraction quieter than the exploding bullets. The AK only fired for seconds but they seemed like infinite minutes. I prayed Brandon had lain down as flat as possible on the floor of the small shop area. There truly was no way he was still alive but I had survived a deadie bite, so maybe just maybe Brandon survived Bruce’s rampage.
Joe held his injured arm and turned to see the ice cream shops massacre. Nick stood to see it unfold. I don’t think they could believe what was happening.
“Don’t you guys even think about moving!” Bolt yelled as he pointed his Browning at Nick and Joe. Nick ignored Bolt but he had the good sense to stay planted on his mark instead of rush Bruce from behind, if that’s what he’s thinking.
Bruce cautiously progressed toward the ice cream parlor. He went behind the glass covered counter. We all could only see the top half of Bruce’s body. He reemerged and he was dragging Brandon’s bloody body by the ankle. Kait was on the verge of ruin. Her brother looked dead.
“Is he dead?” Bolt said as Bruce dragged the body closer to us all. Bruce dropped Brandon’s ankle.
Bruce shrugged. BA! BA! BAAAAAAAA! BA! Bruce blasted repetitious shots into Brandon’s chest and face. “He is now.” Bruce shrugged and lowered his assault rifle.
I gasped for breath as we watched the three dimensional slaughter of Brandon. Kait slipped from Bolt’s grip and fainted to the carousel floor almost falling off the edge.
“What the fuck!” Bolt looked down at Kait’s motionless body and he kicked her.
“You killed her brother!” I yelled at Bolt instead of his henchman Bruce who was the actual triggerman.
Bolt ignored my outburst and put his Browning in his pocket. His face was contorted with disgust. Things hadn’t gone the way he hoped. We all watched as he bent to gather up Kait. He slung her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing at all.
BLAM! There was one lone gunshot from behind me. Malik and I turned to see Wayne’s body fall to the ground. Who? What? Tailyn was standing behind us with my Colt in her hands. She had snuck up behind Wayne and shot him in the back of the head. She didn’t blink as she went to change her aim to Bolt. She took a shot at him and missed. All hell broke loose. I leapt to the ground to retrieve Wayne’s weapon. He was dead and he didn’t need it anymore.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Tailyn fired at Bolt as he jumped from the carousel with Kait hunched over his body.
Nick, Joe and Malik had taken off running in opposite directions as Bruce’s AK scattered bullets in all directions of the food court. I was up on my feet and spraying bullets of my own as I ducked behind a table. Malik had joined in the gunplay. He had a guy. Where did he get a gun? I remembered that Malik had taken Tinkerbell’s gun. He had two guns and he only dropped one of them when Wayne commanded us to.
It was difficult for Bruce to run backwards and shoot his AK but he was giving it his all. He was headed for the stairs near the elevator and Bolt was a few paces behind him. I tried to hit one of the sick bastards without hitting Kait but I’m sure I didn’t put a bullet in Bolt or Bruce. They were up the stairs pretty fast and they disappeared out of sight. My first mind said chase after them and that’s exactly what I did. I was in a vengeance filled trance that only lasted briefly. Out from nowhere Nick grabbed my waist and swung me around to face him.
“Don’t, they’ll kill you.” He whispered.
“They have Kait.” I pleaded as Tailyn and Joe sprinted toward us.
“I know.” He hushed as he pushed stray hairs from hanging over my eyes.
Joe knelt over Brandon’s body while we all watched.
Malik stepped into the semicircle and placed his hand over his mouth. “Oh shit,” was all he muttered as he fidgeted in place with his gun in hand.
Tailyn started examining Joe’s injured shoulder. Joe caught her gawking. “It’s just a flesh wound.” His words relieved her as well as me.
“We have to get Kait back.” I said with an unsteady tone. Only I was aware of the terrible things that would happen to Kait while with Bolt and his crew.
“That bastard took my Walther and left your Glock.” Joe stood and handed Nick’s Glock over to him. “He must have grabbed it from somewhere when I was shooting and not paying much attention to my surroundings.”
Tailyn had saved us all from uncertain death. I had just met her yesterday. The previous events started to play over in fast forward through my mind. Joe had taken my Colt from Tailyn’s shaky hands. She was trembling beyond belief. Maybe she had never shot and killed anyone before.
“Here, this belongs to you.” Joe returned my weapon. I handed dead Wayne’s gun over to Joe. “You guys go back to the camp and make sure everyone is safe. I’m going to follow them and make sure they leave.”
“What about Kait?”
“Brandon is dead. Courtney is dead. We can’t go after her and risk getting another one of us killed.” Joe’s delivery was deadpan. It was almost like there wasn’t a dead young man on the tile below us.
“Jesse, we will get Kait back but we need to get to the camp and get prepared.” Nick assured me, by prepared he meant armed.
“I’ll go with Joe.” Malik volunteered and there was no one with the strength to protest. Joe gave Malik Wayne’s gun. Now Malik had two guns.
“Nick, get them back safe and we’ll be there shortly.” Joe ordered and Nick nodded in agreement.
Joe kissed Tailyn on the lips. I was too dazed to think anything of it. Joe and Malik took off running the same way as Bruce and Bolt. They left us standing there alone until Nick’s voice pulled us behind him.
“Let’s go!” He shouted. I grabbed Tailyn’s hand and pulled her with me as I ran to keep up with Nick.
We were extremely cautious but we made it back to H&M safely and without incident. What was left of our camp was huddled in the back room of the store. Who was going to tell Doctor Mark his son was dead and his daughter had been kidnapped.
Nick noticed a wide-eyed Tinkerbell on the floor bound and gagged. He looked to me for answers.
“He’s with those guys. He’s the lookout. Me and Malik grabbed him out by the dock.” I gave Nick as much information as possible.
Doctor Mark stepped over Tinkerbell. “Did you run into Brandon? He snuck away while we weren’t paying attention?”
Tailyn and I looked over at Nick. He was the leader and I don’t think I was physically capable of forming mournful words at this time.
“Doc, Brandon, he didn’t make it. The men that broke in the mall, they killed him.”
Doctor Mark collapsed down on one knee. “What?” Michelle was the first to come to his aid.
“And they took Kait with them.” Nick added. “They had an assault rifle and that is how they got her.”
“What do you mean got her?” Naveen politely asked.
“Kidnapped, they took her from us.” Nick clarified.
“Where are Joe and Malik?” Naveen asked when the initial shock wore off.
“They should be coming back soon.” Nick answered. After the initial shock and silence, the grief started to sink in.
“I want my daughter back.” The Doc was barely audible through his sobs and wheezing.
Nick walked over to Doc
tor Mark and patted him on the back. “Doc, we’re going to look for Kait and we won’t stop until we find her… We will get her back.”
Doctor Mark jumped to his feet. “That’s not good enough!” The doctor pushed Michelle off his shoulder.
Quicker than my tired teary eyes could see Doctor Mark reached into the small of his back and pulled his gun out and pointed it at Tink.
“Where the hell did your friends take my daughter?” Doctor Mark had crouched over Tink and he jammed the barrel of his pistol into Tink’s forehead. “Talk or I’ll blow your fucking head off.”
Tink couldn’t respond with words because his mouth was duct tapped shut but Doctor Mark didn’t seem to care. Nick slowly pulled his Glock from the holster.
“Tell me!” Doctor Mark barked as he smashed his foot into Tink’s ribcage and resumed his stance with the gun at Tink’s forehead. Tink curled into the fetal position. “On three, you tell me where! One…Two…Thr--”
Tink used his bound feet to hard kick the doctor. BLAM! The gun went off and missed its intended target but landed in Michelle’s chest. The bullet blew her back into the wall and we watched as she crumpled to the floor. Nick was on the doctor’s back and he had already wrestled the gun him his grip as we stood there awestruck.
Naveen was the first one to Michelle’s side. He had snatched some clothing from a bin and started applying pressure to Michelle’s bloody chest. She was alive for now. I didn’t have the chance to yell ‘what the fuck just happened?’ I just joined Naveen on the floor. I held Michelle’s head in my lap. I brushed her red hair away from her flushed face. I wiped the sweat from Michelle’s face with my hands as her eyes struggled to stay open. There was no way we were going to lose four of our people in one day. Nick was holding two guns now. Doctor Mark was staring down at Michelle with blankness in his eyes that rivaled Joe’s vacant stare.
Deadies: Book 1, 2 & 3 Page 22
