Fractured: Outbreak ZOM-813 (13 page)

“You know, Mayhem’s food has a higher grade chicken than the stuff we eat.” I took a bite of tuna.

Dan looked at Mayhem eating his food. “Do you think we should ask him to share?”

Jaxon and Ethan chuckled in the back seat.

“I think we need to consider that it may get to the point where we ask Mayhem about sharing his dog food.”

Mayhem looked up at the sound of his name and tilted his head in curiosity.

Jaxon leaned over and picked up a piece of food from Mayhem’s bowl. “I don’t know guys, seems it would be like eating cardboard.” Jaxon investigated the piece of food with over exaggeration to get a laugh from his son. It worked. “Ethan, what do you think buddy? Dinner?”

“No daddy! Gross!” Ethan giggled.

It was such a refreshing sound to hear, listening to Ethan enjoy a few moments and laugh with his father. Laughing together as a group was the most normal thing that we had done since that word normal had disappeared and become something that seemed to no longer exist.

Jaxon popped the piece of dog food in his mouth and began to chew, acting as though he was thinking of how it tasted with every crunch. “It’s definitely doable. Not sure I’d eat it in place of chicken though.”

We all had a much needed laugh and finished up our small feast of canned food.

We could see a few more infected roaming around outside, but none of them had noticed us sitting in the garage, hidden away in the truck. We were all grateful for the break, however short it would be. The silence was a blessing.

“Do you think they’re still out there? Mel and Jason, the baby? Do you think they’re sitting in a place just like us questioning if we’re doing the same thing as them?” I couldn’t help but wonder out loud. 

“Let’s hope so,” was all that Dan could give me.

“Do you think Jesse and Carl made it out alive?” A part of me felt responsible for the boys. I knew we hadn’t forced them to come with us, but if we hadn’t stopped there, we wouldn’t have met them, and they wouldn’t have followed us to the base.

“You can’t do that to yourself, Harmony. Loss is something we all need to be getting used to,” Jaxon said. He adjusted himself in the back seat to bring his legs up, and Ethan cuddled on his lap.

“So I’m the only one who wonders what happened to them? I just feel like we brought them to a death trap.” I lay back in my seat and stared at the truck’s ceiling.

“Well, if you want to think like that, I’ve brought you to two death traps.” Jaxon spoke so nonchalantly.

“This world is a death trap, honey.” Dan reached over and patted my arm.

“You’re right. I know. It’s just hard. Hard to shut my brain off and not think about this stuff.” I turned my head to face Dan. “Would you kill me if I get infected?”

“Don’t ask me something like that.” Dan brushed me off.

I just stared at him waiting for a better answer.

“Babe, I have no idea. Would you kill me?” Dan wasn’t going to play my game of ‘what if’ scenarios.

I hadn’t really thought about it, nor did I really want to. I honestly didn’t know if I could do it.

“I’ll do it. I wouldn’t technically be killing you. You’d already be dead,” Jaxon interrupted, saving me from having to answer. Again he spoke so plainly and easily about death.

Dan and I both rolled around in our seats. I wasn’t quite sure if I was disturbed or happy that he made it seem like such a simple decision.

“I promise to wait until you turn,” Jaxon added and shrugged his shoulders.

After seeing him shoot his wife, there wasn’t any doubt in my mind he’d finish us.

“Do you think they’ll find a cure and save the infected?” I asked.

“I don’t think those things out there can be saved. They’re too far gone. But I think there’s the chance of saving anyone in transition. From when they first get infected until the change. But the infected out there, you can’t bring back the dead.”

I hoped Jaxon was right about saving at least those transitioning into the infected state. So many have already lost their lives to this virus. My mind drifted back to Mel, Jason, and the baby, wondering if we’d ever see them again. Our lives were taken from us so abruptly. There were so many unanswered questions, and I began to think we would never have closure. The only thing I could hope for was that they were alright. It was better to think that they were out there and that they found a safe place.

We all fell asleep fairly quickly, but the truck wasn’t the easiest place to get a good night sleep. I woke up plenty of times suffering from nightmares of infected breaking through the garage shop door and bursting through the windows of the truck.

Are they truly nightmares if they are real possibilities? 

The thought was not comforting.

The pitch-black outside prevented me from seeing anything past where the garage door window used to be. Everyone else seemed at peace in their sleep, or maybe they weren’t sleeping well at all but waking up when I would finally sleep. Either way, they seemed to be getting rest. This night seemed to stretch into an eternity for me.

I rolled around hoping that switching sides would make the nightmares go away and bring in new dreams. I can’t say how long I slept, but it seemed like I only closed my eyes for a matter of minutes before they shot open at the sound of Mayhem barking.

There was just enough light outside that I could see the silhouettes of the infected gathering at the window of the garage door. There were more than I could count, and I didn’t know how many I couldn’t see. Dan was already leaning over to the back seat, trying to calm Mayhem. Jaxon and Ethan were helping him as best they could. Mayhem whimpered and groaned, letting us know he was unhappy.

“We got a good crowd out there.” Dan noticed I was awake.

“How? What happened?” I was still pulling myself together, sitting up straighter in my seat.

“Who knows? Mayhem didn’t get upset until the first ones gathered against the door. His barking definitely caught the others’ attention,” Jaxon said.

I didn’t know if Ethan was just a calm and collected kid at all times, or if he was actually frozen in fear. He just sat there petting Mayhem, staring out the truck’s window at the infected.

“Did anyone get any sleep?” I looked at Dan then to Jaxon.

Dan shrugged.

“For the most part,” Jaxon answered.

“Have we thought about how to get out of here?” I asked, looking out at the infected crowding the door.

“We have two options to get through that door.” Jaxon was always thinking and planning.

“Do you think we’ll make it over all those bodies already lying on the other side of the door?”

“That won’t be our problem. We need to figure out our options.” Dan turned around to sit facing forward in his seat. “I think we can bust through that door and drive right past those things.”

“Let’s not try to figure that out. How about, I’ll open that door and get myself back in the truck as fast as possible. Ideally, before those things swarm us,” Jaxon said.

“That seems simple enough.” I had plenty of sarcasm in my voice.

“Well, everyone ready?” Jaxon asked.

“Daddy, I’m really scared,” Ethan spoke up.

Ethan hadn’t expressed fear since we had met him. My guess was that he was tired of his dad putting himself in harm's way for everyone else. I couldn’t blame him.

“OK buddy, well, I’m going to be so fast you’ll barely notice I was gone.” Jaxon ran his fingers through Ethan’s hair as he spoke, kissed his head, and pulled his weapon. He looked to Dan, “Go ahead, and put the truck in drive.”

“You got it.” Dan nodded, turned the car on, and shifted into drive.

It all seemed so rushed to me, but the guys seemed to have everything figured out. Jaxon got out of the truck, leaving the door open. He took a minute looking at the door and the infected on the other side.

The infected became more aggressive the moment he stepped out of the truck. They were pushing each other and fighting, trying to get to him.

Jaxon let us know he was ok with the plan by looking over to Dan and giving him a nod. Jaxon took another moment, holding the garage door, then with full force raised the garage door open and began running back to the truck before it rolled even half way up. The infected were almost as quick and began pushing through before the door made it all the way up.

“Here we go.” Dan braced the wheel staring straight ahead.

Jaxon jumped in the truck and shut the door.

Dan pressed on the gas as soon as he heard the door shut. The tires squealed on the cement. Infected were around the truck in a matter of seconds, throwing themselves against the windows, clawing to get inside. We easily ran them down as Dan drove the truck forward. When we reached the opening of the garage, we all came to the realization running over bodies wasn’t as easy as one might think. The truck rocked back and forth over the infected we had killed the night before.  The infected slammed against the truck, growling and biting at the glass. Mayhem jumped against the inside of the windows, trying to bite the infected on the other side.

The infected were as bad as anything out of nightmares. Hell didn’t withhold a thing when it designed this horror. Again, I noticed that their appearances just seemed to be getting worse, almost like their bodies were just falling apart.

“Hang on!” Dan shouted as the four wheel drive automatically engaged. 

As soon as the tires found the familiar traction of cement, and we knew that we were clear of the bodies, Dan stepped on the gas, and we pulled away from the horde of infected.

“Everyone alright?” Dan looked through his rear view mirror.

It was more reassuring to turn around and look Jaxon and Ethan in the face to get their answers. Jaxon nodded and rubbed Ethan’s back as the child held tightly to his father.  

I turned back around in my seat and reached over for Dan’s shoulder, giving him a light rub. “Nice work, honey.”

He smiled, undoubtedly proud of himself and grateful for four wheel drive, but kept his eyes on the road.

We needed to keep moving. Dan got back on the highway and headed north. I pulled the map from the glove box and began to scan it.

“It looks like the 40 highway is coming up and it’ll take us west to the Central Coast.” I kept my eyes on the map, grabbing details as I scanned. “It’s definitely more populated as we head that way.”

“Sounds good to me. Jaxon?”

“Let’s do it.”

CHAPTER 11

We drove another few miles before seeing the signs for the 40 highway. The morning sun was getting brighter as it peeked over the hills along the open road. This route would have probably been one of those scenic drives Dan and I would have loved to take in the past to enjoy the fresh air and manicured land.

I hoped this direction would bring us closer to my family if they were still out there somewhere.

I wished I had taken more drives with my sister through this area. Melody would have loved it. We would always talk about getting away for a weekend together, but it always ended up being just that, a lot of talk. I thought for a moment about a nice relaxing girl trip with our friends. We didn’t make enough time for things like that when we had those chances.

We rolled over a few more hills when a small town came into sight.

“Do you guys see that wreck? There are people standing in the road.” Dan pointed out ahead of us.

“Or infected.” I didn’t think any of us could determine whether they were living or infected from this distance.

“No, I think Dan’s right. Those are military trucks.” Jaxon leaned in between us from the back seat.

From our vantage point, we could see three cargo trucks with covered trailer beds and a couple of Humvees.

“Does anyone else think that truck wrecked on the side of the road looks familiar?” I noticed a truck with a very familiar yellow rust just behind the convoy and off the road. I was certain it belonged to the men who chased us down the night before.

Dan slowed down the truck as we drove downhill and got closer. “That must be the 40 highway they’re on.”

He was right. We made it to the turn, and Dan took a left heading in the convoy’s direction.

The group had already noticed us and gathered on the road with guns drawn.

“Stop here, Dan; let me get out,” Jaxon said.

Dan did as Jaxon suggested.

Jaxon slowly opened the door with his hands out. “Lieutenant Colonel Robert Jaxon!” he called out.

Some of the soldiers lowered their weapons. Jaxon and the soldiers approached each other and met half way between our truck and the convoy. Even with the windows down we couldn’t hear what they were discussing; but before long, Jaxon waved at us to drive forward.

Dan pulled up next to Jaxon and the soldiers who were talking with him.

“Park the truck just ahead of the convoy.” Jaxon looked over to the trucks just ahead of us.

It looked like a nice sized group, with a couple handfuls of soldiers and civilians. The yellow truck of Farmer boy’s friends was empty, and the tires were blown out. There were three large, military cargo trucks with long beds and camouflage covers over them and two Humvees. We also noticed a group trying to repair a few flat tires on the convoy’s trucks. A few soldiers were standing on guard watching the surroundings for infected. There were some civilians helping with the repairs while the others had gathered together off to the side of the road.

We parked and made our way back to Jaxon who was still talking with the other soldiers. I held Ethan’s hand in mine and took Mayhem in the other, figuring he could use the walk and a bathroom break. As we walked, I noticed several bodies lying piled up in a field and a guard standing watch over three men tied to a tree. I was starting to put it all together; this convoy had been attacked.

“Dan, Harmony, this is Hart and Miller.” Jaxon introduced everyone, and we all greeted with nods. Formalities don’t make much sense these days. Jaxon looked to Dan and me. “They ran into our friends early this morning.” Jaxon directed our attention back over to the men tied to a tree.

“Those guys got a little ahead of themselves thinking they could take over a convoy.” Hart stared down the marauders and then turned back to Jaxon.

A few of the men standing around chuckled.  Hart had a thick southern accent and facial hair that hid most of his face. From the look of him, I thought he must have been in his fifties.  Although I had to wonder how much of the aged look came from the situation in which we found ourselves.

“Not before we lost a few of our own though,” Miller said.

Miller definitely didn’t come from the same place as Hart. I couldn’t put my finger on his accent. He was also about in his fifties and had the same rugged look as Hart. But I guess all of us were looking a little rougher around the edges these days than we may have before.

“Some of their boys tried to take these guys hostage,” Jaxon said pointing to us. “Then later on those fellas tried to run us down. We lost them in a neighborhood last night.”

“What happened to their boys?” Miller asked.

“We made sure they wouldn’t be taking anyone else hostage,” Jaxon said plainly, then looked to us. “They’re changing out a few tires and going to keep heading west. I figured it’s better to travel in a big group as we go through a populated area. More firepower if we need it.”

“We’ll probably make a stop, if we can, in the town.  See if we can find any supplies, food,” Miller added.

Dan and I looked at one another and back to Jaxon.

“That sounds good,” Dan said.

“What are you going to do with them?” I directed my attention to the men tied to the tree. I couldn’t imagine they would be under the soldiers’ protection.

“We hadn’t really figured that part out yet,” Hart said.

“Tires are done. Load up!” a soldier called out from where they were repairing the flats.

The civilians and soldiers began to gather more tightly around the convoy of vehicles.

“Leave ‘em. Taking them isn’t good for anyone.” Jaxon said it with such ease it was almost unnerving. It was as if he had the idea the moment he laid eyes on them.

“Oh, I don’t know Jaxon. We’re trying to save the human race, not help kill it off.” Miller seemed reluctant to make decisions about other’s fate.

“Is that what you’d tell those men over there?” Jaxon pointed to the dead bodies lying on the side of the road.

“He’s right. We leave ‘em.” Hart turned to the others. “Let’s load up!”

I couldn’t keep my eyes off the men tied to the tree. We were back in the Wild West days where law and order was handled in the streets. No judge, no jury, and an army of rabid executioners. Their faces quickly turned very concerned as they watched everyone load up in the vehicles.

“Hey! Hey!” one of the men screamed out and wiggled in his ties.

“You can’t just leave us here!” another yelled.

We began making our way back to the truck when Jaxon stopped, turned to the men, and kneeled down in front of one. He looked to be about 40 years old, while the others looked a little younger. All of them seemed so much smaller in this position. Nothing scary about them anymore; just three weak men tied to a tree.

 “You know it’s always interesting, the sight of bad asses like you pissing yourselves when the tables are turned. Just remember you wanted this. You asked for it when you hurt innocent people.”

“We’re sorry, man! Give us a break!” one of the younger men begged.

“Like your friends did for them?” Jaxon pointed to Dan and me. “Or like you gave them a break?” He pointed over to the dead bodies.

“Those dead things are gonna kill us if we sit out here!”

Jaxon nodded in agreement, then pulled his weapon and fired it in the air, catching everyone off guard, and sending some ducking for cover. “Now, sooner rather than later.” Jaxon holstered his weapon and walked away.

Every infected in the area would have heard that shot. I wasn’t able to read Jaxon’s face, but I was thankful that we were on the same team. I wondered how much death Jaxon had seen during his military career, and if that’s what made this so easy for him. If it wasn’t easy, he sure hid it well.

Jaxon took Ethan’s hand and continued to the truck, never once looking back at the men tied to the tree.

The vehicles in the convoy revved their engines.

We loaded into the truck and waited for the convoy to drive ahead, then followed.

“Daddy, were those the men who tried to hurt us?” Ethan asked.

I turned around in my seat to look at Jaxon and Ethan. Ethan was curled up tightly next to his dad.

“Those were the bad guys, yes.”

It didn’t take long to reach the outskirts of the town. A few mobile homes still stood, abandoned cars were scattered, and structures that looked like they were long gone before the outbreak, maybe once farmhouses or barns, stood alone in vast fields.

As we drove further, we made it to the center of the town and were quickly greeted by some of the residents. The convoy came to a sudden halt, the abruptness punctuated by gunfire. The infected converged towards us from all corners of town.

“Do we really have to stop here?” I asked in a tone that sounded more like begging to get us the hell out of town than a rhetorical question.

“It would be a good idea to see if we can stock up on supplies while we’re here.”

I knew Jaxon was right, but this battle seemed wasteful.

Mayhem jumped on the back seat next to Ethan, barking fiercely at Jaxon’s window. Within a second, an infected slammed its body against Jaxon’s door, then another. Their blood splattered across the windows as they bit at the glass. Mayhem tried in vain to get to the window but Jaxon held him back.

If the infected pounded at the glass any harder, I feared they may break through the windows. I pulled my machete and rolled down my window just enough to slide it through. The infected were instantly attracted to the movement, redirecting their attack towards me. My machete was waiting for them, impaling the first through the mouth. Its body went limp and then slipped off the blade. The second pushed the limp body away and let it fall as it tried to get closer to me. The same as before, my machete sliced through his face, making a crunch as it cut the bone before collapsing to the ground.

My breath was all I could hear. I became dizzy with the flood of adrenaline that pumped through my body in the short seconds of the decision. I sat breathing, staring through the dark blood the infected had smeared across the window.

Dan’s hand slid on my shoulder, startling me. “You alright, honey?”

“Yeah. Yeah I’m fine.”

“Nice thinking there,” Jaxon said as he checked his weapon.

The gunfire finally slowed down and eventually stopped. The soldiers called out to one another giving the all clear and began exiting the vehicles to check the area.

Jaxon looked around and then opened his door. His gun was aimed at the infected next to our car. He made his way up to the others and disappeared with a group into a building.

We watched as some of the soldiers began piling up the infected preparing to burn them while others began systematically clearing the buildings. Most everyone else stayed in the vehicles. I was just fine staying in our truck, although I wish Jaxon had as well.

There was never a question or a hesitation with Jaxon as to whether or not he was going to be on the front lines. It was his nature, and we figured we wouldn’t try to stop him.

The soldiers seemed to move through the buildings quickly. Every few minutes we heard a gun fire. I flinched with every shot, feeling as though there had to be a quieter way to move through the buildings and kill infected. Guns were a dinner bell for all the infected in the area.

Another handful of soldiers kept an eye on the convoy and circled the perimeter at a slow pace with their weapons drawn.

Ethan stayed quiet in the back seat with Mayhem. I hoped that Mayhem brought him some comfort when Jaxon was away.

We sat for what felt like a half of a day, but it was only around a half hour. The soldiers began making their way back to the convoy and loading into the vehicles. The bodies were set on fire as the last thing on the agenda for this stop.

Jaxon made his way back to the truck empty-handed.

“Did they find anything useful?” Dan asked.

“Not really, most of the buildings were already emptied. They did find a couple of medical kits and some canned food.” Jaxon put his arm around Ethan and pulled him close. “We’re going to drive some and set up camp as soon as they find a good spot.”

Dan put the truck in drive. “Sounds good to me.”

We maneuvered through the town trying to avoid roadblocks and infected. When the infected reached the vehicles they would bounce off or get run over. No one bothered killing them as we passed.

Soon we were back on the highway surrounded by land and rolling hills as far as the eye could see.

* * *

The drive was uneventful. It was getting later in the afternoon and we knew we would need to stop soon to set up camp. It was never a good idea to try and search for a safe spot to stop in the dark.

We couldn’t have been more than 10 miles out of town when the convoy slowed and came to a halt. The first vehicles pulled off the road and into a field, with the others close behind in a tight line. There was a thick, wooded area about 300 yards from where they parked. The vehicles formed a wide circle which acted like a barrier so that the center was a safe zone.