Age of Decay (Book 1): Contagion (18 page)

Trevor took the bloody Phillip outside with him and brought him over to the group. Lauren winced at his cut lip and black eye.

“Phillip here has agreed to work with us,” said Trevor. “We need to move fast because tomorrow, the crazy bastard there is going to feed that thing he has tied up.”

“Do we know who the leader is?” said Galen.

“Some guy named Jake Rawlings.”

“Rawlings?” said Galen. “Shit, what is that clown doing back up here?”

“I take it you know him, Uncle?”

“Yeah, I do. He’s an old local thug. He grew up here and was in and out of jail. You know the type. He got arrested so many times we lost count.”

“Jake caused a lot of trouble for the local RCMP,” said Steven. “People used to make fun of him in town. Last we heard he was in some gang.”

“His kind never change,” said Billy.

“Now he’s back,” said Erica.

“Lad wants revenge,” said Ian. “For what the town did to him.”

“Well I don’t care what this guy’s past is. We need the supplies in the town, and we’re going to get them. As far as we are concerned, he’s just in the way. Time to take out the trash,” said Trevor.”

“He always has the demonstration at noon,” said Phillip. “Most of the other bikers are still in the hotel or getting drunk somewhere. We can catch them off guard.”

“Yeah, and he plans to execute anyone that doesn’t agree with him,” Trevor said. “We have to move fast and take these guys out.”

“Do you have a plan?” said Steven.

“Yeah,” said Trevor. “We have to take out the hotel and catch them there. We can use Molotov cocktails and hit the hotel hard before they know what is happening. Everyone will be in one area, so it shouldn’t be that difficult to get most of them.”

“What about the civilians?” Billy asked.

“Some of them will get caught in the crossfire, we can’t help that. We’ll try and save as many of them as we can.”

“There are always several guards around while Jake speaks,” said Phillip.

“Galen and Billy will provide sniper fire,” said Trevor. “They are both good shots.”

“How are we going to get close to them before they know what’s going on?” said Steven.

“We’ll pin down Jake and his buddies with sniper fire, then hit the hotel hard and take out most of his gang there. The commotion should confuse them so we can take them out,” said Trevor.

“What about Jake?” Galen asked.

“Hopefully, we can capture him alive. If not, it’s not a great loss.”

“Ian, I’ll need you here to look after Lauren, Gail, and the others who can’t fight. I know you want to help, but your axe isn’t much help against a rifle.”

“Aye, lad. Not a problem.”

Trevor checked his rifle. “It’s going to be risky, but we can’t wait any longer. We have to free the town if we want to survive. There’s nowhere else we can go right now. The people of Hope need us. We can’t abandon them to these bikers.”

“I’m ready, Dad,” said Jason.

“Where am I going to be in all of this?” said Erica.

“Well, I have something special planned for you.”

“Oh, I don’t like the sound of that,” said Erica.

“We’ll need to clear the guards and get the road open into town. That’s where you come in.”

“There’s usually two guards,” said Phillip.

“Good, that shouldn’t be a problem then,” said Trevor.

“So what do I do?”

Trevor looked at her. “Smile and look pretty. Tomorrow morning, we fight.”

***
 

In the pickup truck, Erica drove towards the biker checkpoint. She adjusted her short blue halter top. She was showing plenty of cleavage and her belly button in the shirt. She had found the outfit in one of the homes around Galen’s place. She also wore tight jean shorts and black boots. She would definitely grab the attention of the guards who were coming up ahead of her. Erica swallowed hard, knowing they may just shoot her, but she was willing to risk it. They had had to get town before noon, which is when Jake and his bikers sacrificed another person, then slaughtered the rest that wouldn’t go along with his plan. Erica put the pick-up into park and got out near the overturned cars and makeshift barricade across the road. She leaned on the side of the truck and lit a cigarette. The bikers raised their weapons.

“Hey, girl. That’s far enough,” said the biker with the ample belly and black leather jacket. “You can’t go through here. Get back in your vehicle and go back wherever you came from.”

Erica walked slowly from the truck. She undid her hair from the bun and let it fall to her shoulders. “Sorry, I didn’t know. I’ve been on the run from those things out there. You have a camp or something? It’s pretty scary out here you know. They are everywhere now.”

The biker with the big belly pointed his shotgun at her. “Go back if you know what is good for you.”

The smaller man with a black shaggy beard next to him tapped the bigger man on the arm. “Hey, man, shut up. She looks like she could be a lot of fun. Jake would like her. Hell, I’d like her right about now. He keeps all the pretty ones to himself.” He slung his rifle over his shoulder and called out to her. “What do you have in that truck we could use?”

“Oh, honey, I got lots of things you could use. I have some ammo, food, water, and other supplies. You’re welcome to it if you want.” Erica got closer to the bikers. “I got other things too, you might like.”

“Yeah,” said the smaller man, as he took in her chest and long slender legs. ”You got all sorts of things we like, darlin’.”

“What do you say? Will you take me to your camp? I bet you boys could take real good care of me.” She reached out and ran her finger down the bigger biker’s gut. “Yeah, you could really take care of me, you know.”
   The bigger biker wasn’t impressed. He pushed his shotgun into her gut. “I say we shoot you right now, and take all your stuff.”

“I don’t want any trouble, honey,” said Erica. “I just want safe passage and a good time. A girl needs a good man after all this happened.” She got close to the fat biker again and pressed her chest into his. She looked him in the eyes. She tried not to wince at his disgusting smell. “I have lots of things you need, baby.”

The bigger biker began to relax and lowered his shotgun. “Like what.”

“Like this.” She put one arm around his neck and kissed him on the mouth.

“Fuck yeah,” said the other biker. He reached for his belt and began to unbuckle it.

As the bigger biker leaned into Erica’s kiss, she reached behind her back and drew the knife from its sheath she had hidden behind her back. In one swift motion she slammed it into the fat biker’s guts and twisted the blade. “Sorry sugar,” she said. “You’re not my type.” She sliced his stomach open, then withdrew her blade as he staggered backwards. She kicked him and the man staggered backwards, clutching his guts. She then sliced his across the throat which sprayed blood all over.

Before the smaller biker could even process what was happening, an arrow went through his neck, and he dropped like a stone. Erica drove her blade into each one of their skulls so they wouldn’t reanimate. Out in the grass behind her, Galen and Trevor appeared, along with Steven, Billy, Phillip, Jason and several of Galen’s neighbors behind them.

“Nice work,” said Trevor. “Jason, go back and get the truck.”

Erica wiped her blade on the grass. “Thanks. Great shot with the arrow, Galen.”

“I prefer my rifle, but I’ve taken down some deer with it. I never thought I’d need to take out a human, though.”

“You did fine,” said Trevor. “You taught me all in know about hunting and firearms in general. I miss those old days of my youth. Remember that moose we got?”

“Yeah, good times,” said Galen.

“I hate to breakup this family reunion.” Billy looked at his watch. “We better get moving soon. Need to be in position before it starts.”

The group made their way towards the town. In about a half an hour they would be engaged in a battle for Hope and control of the town they desperately needed. If they had gone the other way, they would have ran into a far deadlier group that was headed for Hope, too.

They came from the suburbs of the towns, the apartment complexes, and other areas, they marched relentlessly without a care for anything, they had only one need. They had no interest in control of the town, they were simply hungry.

They were the dead.

Jake Rawlings brought the woman outside to the tree where the constable was. It really didn’t matter who he killed, he just needed to get the town behind him and intimidation was the best way to go about doing that. He had picked the forty-two year old out at random, beat her up in the jail, and was now going to feed her to the hungry constable he kept as his little pet.
Didn’t think ya would serve the town in this capacity, did ya Constable?
You and your boys arrested me enough. Consider it a little payback.
Jake stood near the tree in the park. The woman was on her knees in front of him with her head down. Several bikers stood guard with their guns draped over their arms. In the parking lot by the trees were several cars and trucks Next to the tree where the constable was tied up, were several people that Jake had hanged. They were turned and hissed out at the crowd gathered there. It was a sick display of Jake’s lust for power. Most of Jake’s men were still in the main hotel in town, getting laid, drinking, or passed out. The girls he had picked out for them were keeping the men happy.
Just the way it needs to be. Soon this town will worship me as their savior
.

Beside him stood Vance, who was having second thoughts about what was going to take place. “One of our patrols isn’t back yet. They have been gone all night. Something’s up.”

“We’ll worry about that later. Right now, we need to get this town in line with us. Once they see what lies out there for them, they’re going to go along, you’ll see.”

“You sure you want to do this, man?”

Jake turned to him. “Ah shut up, I know what I’m doin’.” He stood by the tree and addressed the large crowd there. “We are all here for a reason. Out there, beyond the safety of this town, lies the dead. If we all come together and work as a team, we can have safety and security here.”

A man about sixty-two spoke up from within the crowd. “How is this security? You kill innocent people. How can I trust that you won’t kill me next?”

Jake put his hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Hey, old man. You have food, water, and shelter, do you not?”

“Yeah,” he replied.

“Out there it’s a new dangerous world friend. Only the strong will survive. In here, I’ll keep you safe. You work, do what I say, follow my rules, and everything will be just fine. You comprehend that?”

“Sounds like a dictatorship,” grumbled the old man

Jake raised his voice. “You all have a choice. Become a part of my new town, and live in security away from what is out there. Out there are no rules and no hope for you.” He pointed to the constable. The man that was once Andrew Nielsen was an absolute wreck now. Dried blood was congealed on his face. His lips and teeth were stained bright red. The white eyes gaped out at the crowd. He reached out his arms and tried to grasp a hold of Jake. His hissed and spit ran down his chin. “This is what you face out there. Is that what you want? Watch and learn, my friends.” He pushed the sobbing woman into the constable.

The crowd watched in horror as the ghoul ripped into the woman’s neck. It tore off a huge chunk and blood gushed out. The woman screamed and tried to step away, but Jake used his boot and pushed her back as the thing tore into her arm next and then ripped open her guts and began to devour the content of her stomach. The woman twitched on the ground, the last shrieks dying out as she died.

“Watch what happened to you out there. Get it through your skulls, people. That is your reality. Horrible, isn’t it. Man, he sure is hungry, look at him go.” The constable raised his blood-soaked face and stared out at the crowd. Many of them were now crying, and two men had picked up a woman who had fainted. An older woman bent over and vomited on the ground. The old man and several others, however, stood tall and didn’t move a muscle.

“There’s your choice!” screamed Jake. He was becoming unhinged now. His desire for power overwhelming him. “Those that want to live, step back!”

Most of the crowd stepped backwards. Children were crying and women tried to comfort them. Many in the group held hands or hugged each other tightly. Only about a dozen or so out of the one hundred plus residents stood their ground, including the old man.

“Oh, that’s so noble.” Jake laughed at the old man. “Maybe I should salute you or something. Hey guys, gramps is out to save the town. It’s just like our constable friend here.” Several of the bikers burst into laughter.

“I’m not like you and your buddies,” said the old man. “I know I’m gonna die, but I’ll die proud and on my feet. I won’t live on my knees with the likes of you.”

Jake pulled his pistol out of his waistband. “Oh, I can grant you that right now if you like, Gramps, right fucking now.”
Fucks like you aren’t gonna stop me. This is my town, get it!

The crack of the shot tore through the sobs of the residents who stood there, but it wasn’t the death of the old man. People screamed and ducked for cover as the head of one of Jake’s biker’s exploded in a spray of blood and brains. Vance ducked behind a car.

Jake pushed the old man back and took cover by another tree. “Vance, grab my rifle over there!” He pointed to his rifle which laid against a car tire. “Keep your fucking head down, we got company.”

“Right!” Vance moved out from his position by the car.

Another shot rang out, but it missed one of his men and instead tore into the head of one of the residents that ran in all directions trying to get away from the gunfire.

One of Jake’s biker’s got off two shots towards the rooftop of a building down the street from the park. He yelled out to Jake. “On the roof, down there. That’s where the shots are coming from. We got snipers!”