Dead Life (Book 2) (7 page)

              “That last one had an attitude.  Didn't he, Steve?”

              “Yeah, it took me by surprise.  I kind of forgot about the one on the ground.”

              “I had you covered.  What gives with the sword?  You actually looked like you knew what you were doing, you little samurai.”

              “Kind of Ninja looking, huh?  I just thought about what I was doing.  The last time I was just scared.  Plus, I sharpened the sword.  It was really dull before.”

              “So, the other day, you took a dull sword and tried to kill zombies with it?”

              “Yeah, it won't happen again.”

              By now, the others had joined us.  Gina threw her arms around me.  “Don't ever do that again.  You scared me to death.  Though, you did look pretty bad-ass for a minute there.  That is, until you fell on your ass.”

              “We need to get going.  When that big bastard roared at you, it brought some more attention to us.  There's more headed our way.”  Rick said.

              “Okay, let's go.  We'll stay on this road until we've passed the Rec Plex.  Then we'll get back on Mexico Road and try to get to the highway.”  Cindy said.

              We hurried back to our vehicles.  “Honey, you've got to talk to Rita.  If she doesn't come around, she won't last long.”

              “I know.  You just leave her alone.  I'll take care of her.  She lost both her parents.  Who have you lost?”

              “Okay, okay, I'll be nice.”

              “Head em up.  Move em out.”  Al shouted as he jumped into the truck.  Of course, he did drive once around the parking lot running over as many zombies as possible.  Gina and I just looked at each other.  We could her good old Al laughing.

              “That man has issues,” Gina said with a grin.               

Chapter 13

              We started down a side road running parallel to Mexico Road. This would take us past the hospital and keep us away from the Rec Plex. Hopefully, we would be able to avoid any hordes of zombies that would still be in the area. There weren't as many abandoned vehicles or accidents to slow us down. What we did find however were lots of dead bodies.  We passed bloated corpses that were too damaged to have turned into zombies. This was a residential area and the people living here must have been taken by surprise when the infection first started.  Maybe they were coming out of their homes to investigate the disturbances outside only to be attacked by the growing multitude of zombies.  We'd never know how so many people could have been so foolish as to allow themselves to be taken so easily.  Cars sat in driveways with doors and trunks open, partially loaded and so close to making it out of the neighborhood..  The owners were either dead beside them or one of the walking dead.

              Occasionally, we'd pass a home surrounded by zombies.  Knowing we were driving past survivors and leaving them for the ever patient undead wasn't easy but we couldn't save everyone.  When passing the small groups of zombies, they'd turn and follow us for a short while.  Then they'd return to the same house and resume their waiting.  Not once did anyone take advantage of their chance for escape.  Instead, they waited for a rescue that would never come.

              “Steve, there's a road block up ahead.”  It was Al on the radio.

              “He didn't say over.”  Gina said to me.

              “Let's let it go this time.  Hand me the radio.”  I said.

              “I know this area.  When Tim was little, we used to drive through the neighborhood on the right and look at Christmas lights.  If we turn right up here, we can go around and come out on the other side.  Over.” 

              “Okay, let's do it.  Keep an eye out though.  Somebody blocked the road intentionally.  If that was an army blockade, they would have used their own trucks.  There's six big vans and three trucks across the road along with trees on both sides.  Whoever put that blockade there knew what they were doing. There's no way around. They want us to cut through that neighborhood.”

              “Pull up beside him.”  Gina said.

              I pulled the Hummer up beside Al.  Gina rolled down her window and looked up at Al. 

              “You didn't say over.”

              Al sat staring at Gina.  His face was blank.  “Over.”

              We all burst out laughing. Everyone but Rita.  She just sat in the back.  She hadn't said a word since getting in the Hummer.

              “Girl, you need to snap out of it.  You're not doing yourself any good.”  Gina said.

              “Wow”  I lipped.  If Rita didn't straighten up, I was afraid Gina might throw her out of the Hummer.  I had to bend down so I could look up to see Al.

              “How do you want to do this?”

              “I know this subdivision too.  You follow the truck.  Stay back a ways.  We don't want to get bunched up.”

              Al pulled ahead and took the first right.  I waited a few seconds and followed him in.  From what I remembered, the second street on the left was the one to turn on.  Al must have thought the same thing because he turned there.  I was about one hundred yards behind him and just barely creeping along.  I had to resist the urge to follow too closely.  It was tight in here with cars parked in the street.  There was barely one lane clear to get through in many places.  Al was right.  I didn't like this.

              Al made another left. Before I could turn in behind him the radio came to life. “Don't come down here.  The road's blocked up ahead.  I've got movement on both sides.  Three men with rifles pointed at us are headed our way.”

              I could hear Cindy talking in the background.  “Al, two trucks just pulled out of those driveways behind us.  We're blocked in.”

              “Don't panic honey.  Rick, hide yourself back there.” I could hear him over the radio talking to the others. “Steve keep your ears on. Over, Gina.”                                                                                                   I looked at Gina and tried to smile.  I couldn't sell it.  She looked as nervous as I felt

              “Hey, how are you guys doing?  I was afraid we were the only people left in the world.”

              It was hard to hear but it sounded like the response he got went something like:  “Put your hands where I can see them and get out of the truck.”

              “Look, we don't want any trouble.  Just let us through and we'll be on our way.”

              “Jake, count to five.  If this asshole doesn't start moving, shoot the bitch.”

              They must have gotten closer because I could hear just fine.  I backed the Hummer down the road and into a driveway.  Al must have left the radio in the truck.  Static was all that was coming through.

              “Honey, you two stay here.  I've got to get up there.”  I grabbed my rifle and started to get out of the Hummer.

              “I'm coming with you.”  Gina picked up her assault rifle.  “You're going to need this.”  She handed me the sword. 

              There was a zombie coming around the corner of the house and headed our way.

              That was all I needed.  I got out of the Hummer, walked straight up to the zombie and hacked him in the head with the sword.  I turned around and went back to the trunk.

              “Rita, lock the doors.  We'll be back as soon as we can.”  I looked back at her.  She didn't even acknowledge she heard me.

              Gina reached in and locked the back door on her side.  “I mean it Girl.  Snap out of it.” 

              I locked the back door on my side and we both quietly closed our doors.  I went to the back of the Hummer and Gina met me there. 

              “We'll go up on this side of the street.  When we get to the road Al is on, you go up this side.  I'll cross and go up the other.  Stay close to the houses and try to stay out of sight.  Don't get any closer than you have to.  If someone spots you, shoot them.  Don't hesitate.  Take the ones closest to you.  I'll do the same.  Let's go.”

              We were five houses from the cross street.  I couldn't help but think how fucked up this was.  The two of us running through these yards, guns in hands, ready to kill at least five men.  The same streets I drove down all those years ago looking at Christmas lights with my son.  We stopped at the last house before the cross street.   I got down on the ground and looked around the corner.  Two men were trying to get into the back of the truck.  Rick must have locked it from the inside.  Their guns were leaning against the back of the truck.  I could see one man in front of the truck.  He was talking and looking down.  I got up and had Gina take a look.

              “I don't see either one of them.”  Gina said as she stood back up.

              “I think they're on the ground in front of the truck.  I only saw one up front and two by the back.  There's at least five of them.  Al said he saw three and there had to be at least two more driving those trucks they blocked the street with.  I'm going back across the street around the back of that house.  Then I'm going to come up the other side.  See that green house?  The one that is one up and across the street?”  She looked at me and nodded.  “Watch the corner by the trash cans.  When I get there, take them.  You got the two behind the truck and any on your side.  Okay?”

              “Which ones do I shoot first?” 

              “That's up to you.  Those two back by us aren't holding their guns.  Don't give them time to pick  their guns up.  Can you do this?”

              “Oh yeah.”

              I kissed her and started to go.  “One last thing, they are not zombies.  Aim for the chest or back.  Remember, Rick's in the back of the truck.”

              I ran back down the road a little ways and crossed the street.  I went through the yard to the back of the house and through two backyards to get to the other side of the street.  When I came out to the front of the house, I could see Gina.  She was watching the back of the truck.  I couldn't see the truck which was good.  That meant they couldn't see me.  Gina looked back and spotted me.  I waved to her and started back across the street.  I had to jump three fences to get to the front corner of the green house.  I was too old for this shit.  Thank God they were chain link fences and not privacy fences.  

              I crept up the side of the house.   The house next door gave me cover most of the way but I knew there was going to be a point where I was exposed.  I was going to have to get on the ground and crawl.  I had about ten feet to go and could just about see the front of the truck.  I started crawling on my stomach towards the trash cans.  I looked over and could see Al and Cindy.  There were four men standing over them.  One was pointing a gun at them.  The other three were drinking beer.  Al and Cindy were both naked, lying face down with their hands clasped behind their heads.  Al was looking my way.  He winked at me.  I made it to the trash cans and looked between them to Gina.  She saw me, gave a little wave, crouched down, and took aim.  I looked down the barrel of my rifle, yelled “Hey!” and opened fire.

              I guess Gina started shooting at the same time.  I had my assault rifle on fully automatic and just held the trigger down until I dropped them all.  I jumped up and ran to them.  I fired a short burst into each of the guys and went around the side of the truck.  Gina was walking towards me.  There were two men lying on the ground by the truck.  Each had a single chest wound.  I shot each one in the head just to be sure.  By then, Gina was behind the truck.  I heard two evenly placed shots and my gal came walking around the corner.  I assumed she'd just done what I had.

              We walked to one another and hugged.

              “Are you okay, baby?”   Gina asked.

              “Never better”

              We went back to the front of the truck.  Al was still completely nude collecting their weapons.  All business that man was.  Cindy was also completely nude busy kicking one of the dead bodies.  Gina started to go to her and Al looked at her and shook his head.  “Let her get it out of her system.”  Then he came to me, put his arms around me, and hugged me hard.

              “What took you so long?”  He whispered in my ear.

              I just wished he had put some pants on before he hugged me.