Brent Acuff - Undead Nation 02 (22 page)

Alex slowly replaced the Glock in its holster, stooping to pick up the letters he had dropped. "He was lying," Alex snapped and shoved the letters towards Donovan. "Read them," Alex ordered. "Everyone needs to know."

Donovan quickly scanned both of the notes and looked up to Alex in shock and surprise. "Alex?" he said, but was interrupted.

"Read!" Alex yelled. Donovan slowly read the letters so that everyone present could understand.

"From Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Hill to Alex Kemp. I regret to inform you that we have suffered a terrible lose here at the colony of New Hope. Only days after your departure from the colony, the defenses were struck by a massive attack by the undead. The attack was of such a magnitude that our defenses were overrun and we suffered heavy casualties. The weakness of the defensive positions were only hampered by the untrained and disorganized nature of the New Hope colonists, and it was because of these faults that the colonists suffered a casualty rate of 100%.
 

It is with my greatest sympathies that I have to deliver this information to you. We have had to abandon the colony because of its compromised defenses and poor strategic location. Private First-Class Kenneth Sanchez has the necessary information and equipment to allow you to make contact with the United States forces in the area to arrange the transfer of my wife and daughter to their protection. The Portable Shelter Unit that has been set up for you, should provide all of you with sufficient supplies and protection until contact with proper military units can be made.

Your contribution to your country and the war effort will not be forgotten, Mr. Kemp. I pray that you and your men have not suffered too greatly in your mission. My prayers are with you for your, and my family's, safe return."

"Signed, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Hill," Donovan finished. Alex's eyes remained locked on the dead private laying at his feet.

"Read the second," Alex said in a low tone. Donovan complied immediately.

"Mr. Alex Kemp. I regret to inform you that everything that Private Sanchez has told you is an complete lie. Your families, and the colonists of New Hope have been murdered. There was no attack. There was no invasion of the undead. Each and every one of them have been murdered under the order of Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Hill.
 

I am sorry that I was unable to prevent this from happening. Doing so would only have resulted in my own death and the inability for me to provide you with information and supplies to help to in finding their killer. I could eliminate your family's murderer for you, but revenge is meant for you.
 

I have supplied you with two military Humvees, food, weapons and ammunition for your use. The nearest military depot is located forty miles north of the Texas-Oklahoma border. There you and your men will find the necessary ID's and military profiles in order to infiltrate the special forces unit located outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. From there, I will try to supply you with the necessary coordinates and information as to the current location of Lt. Col. Hill.

Good luck, Mr. Kemp. I pray that you are able to find us, for your sake and that of your families'. If, for whatever reason, you are unsuccessful, rest assured, I will help exact justice for you. Mr. Kemp, you must find us. Your daughter is alive. She is with Lt. Col. Hill."

Donovan finished the letter and folded each carefully. He looked to Alex for instructions.

"Bury the dead," Alex said solemnly. "Say your goodbyes and grieve for your loss. We leave in the morning." Alex looked up from the dead private at his feet. He met everyone's eyes.
 

"We are going to find Lt. Col. Hill. We are going find this man, and we are going to kill him." Slowly, each man nodded their agreement, steeling their resolve to find the Butcher of New Hope.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Epilogue

The train roared down the track, and the wind whipped around the men who were huddled low against the sides of the open railcar. Most of them rode in silence, hoods pulled up, hugging their rifles to their chests as they attempted to get as much rest before reaching their final destination. Three of the twenty, talked loudly, boasting of the adventures and exploits that were yet to come.

"I'm going to shoot the fuck out of those deaders," one boasted loudly. "Bam, bam," he yelled. "Fucking headshot!"

The other two men sitting close to him laughed loudly and offered up their own take on things. "You see this fucking saw, man," another said, holding up the massive rifle to show off to his comrades. "This is an M240G, motherfucker. Just pull the trigger and tat-tat-tat...everything in front of you drops like a bitch." The three men again laughed hysterically at their own jokes.

Huddled in the corner, another man sat quietly, watching the scene before him. He pulled back his hood slightly and nodded his head to another across from him, indicating the three loud men in the railcar. The man pulled down the neoprene covering on his face to reveal a smile and speak.

"They have no clue, do they Chad?" The second man pulled down his own face cover, himself smiling widely.

"Not one."

Their ride continued in the same fashion with everyone in silence save for the three loud individuals huddled together. When the railcar lurched and slowed, it was the three loud men who shuffled towards the front of the car, pushing their way past everyone else. Reaching the last of the men in their way, the first of the boasting men spoke.

"Out of the way, old man," the young one said. "We're here to kick some ass and you're in our way."

A hand was placed on the young man's shoulder. Chad pulled the man back. "I believe you need to wait your turn, young man. Everyone will get their shot." The younger man shrugged off Chad's hand and spit on his shoes.
 

"Fuck you, too, bitch," he said and high-fived his two comrades. "We're getting off this train before any of you other fuckers."

Chad moved up to stand over the younger man. "I don't believe you know who you are talking to," he said nodding his head to indicate the man standing at the head of the ladder. The man turned towards Chad and shook his head.
 

"Won't make any difference, Chad. Let him through." Chad stepped aside and let the three younger men pass. Everyone descended the railcar and congregated in an open area, waiting for someone to give them further orders.
 

"All right, motherfuckers! Let's mess these deaders up!" one of the younger said.
 

"Do you ever shut up?" someone said behind them. They turned to see the man who had blocked in their way off the railcar.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" the trio's leader said. The three men looked behind the man and saw the man Chad and a second individual holding back the rest of the occupants of the railcar. "What the fuck is going on here?" he asked.
 

Moans rose up behind the trio. Turning to see what commotion was, the trio was greeted by the sight of six corpses heading in their direction, only ten yards from where they stood. The trio panicked.

"Fuck!" the screamed in unison and struggled to raise their weapons. Pulling the triggers of their weapons, the guns clicked but failed to fire. Once more the men struggled with their large weapons, searching desperately for the safeties. Finding the mechanisms, the trio opened fire on the fast approaching deaders.

Bullets ripped through the creatures bodies, ripping hunks of rotting flesh from them, but failing to bring any of the creatures down. The trio's guns clicked on empty with the zombies only feet away from the men.

Pops from suppressed carbines issued from the behind the trio, single and precise. Each one of the zombies dropped to the ground, a single bullet ripping through their skulls and destroying the creatures' brains. Turning, the trio saw six of the hooded men standing behind them, their carbines raised and smoking.
 

"Think you got your point across to them, Lieutenant Barric?" Chad said. The man who had blocked the trio's exit from the train stood before them, hood pushed back and face covering lowered. He was grinning from ear-to-ear.

"Point made, Sergeant Orri. Don't you think?" The lieutenant now addressed the trio who stood gawking at the man. "You three have the unfortunate assignment of cannon fodder. The army doesn't want you, and after that display, I'm not sure I do either." Lt. Barric shrugged his shoulders and continued. "Nonetheless, you are here, and while you are in my platoon, there are a few things you need to know."

The trio still stood motionless, dumb looks plastered on their faces.
 

"First off, the only good a weapon like those are going to do, is to send out a calling card for a free dinner. If you don't hit them in the head, you're just wasting your time. And life." The lieutenant put his hands behind him and paced back and forth in front of the trio. "And secondly, none of you are going to say another fucking word, unless you want me or one of my men to put a bullet in your head ourselves. This is not a fucking game, and if you are going to put me and my men in danger, you will be eliminated. Understand?" The trio slowly nodded their heads in acknowledgement. The lieutenant smiled again.

"Good," he said. "Now, Sergeant Thompson? Would you mind relieving these gentlemen of their less than useful weapons and make see to it that all of the new recruits are outfitted with the necessary equipment for deployment?" The sergeant stepped forward and let his carbine lower to hang in front of him.

"Right away, sir," he said, and turing to the new recruits snapped. "All newcomers to the Neoguard, follow me to the quartermaster. We need to get you outfitted and into training immediately." The young recruits jumped into movement behind the sergeant and were quickly off to receive their assignments. Sergeant Chad Orri walked over to Lieutenant Zane Barric smiling, not looking away from the retreating recruits.

"You think they'll make it, Alex?" Chad asked. Alex looked at his friend and shrugged.

"We'll see, Liam. We'll see."