Midnight Outbreak (12 page)

“How bad is it?”

Josh grimaced at the wound. A big chunk was missing from his shoulder. The wound was an angry red. “It’s not that bad,” he lied.

“Bullshit; it hurts like hell. Who’s got the medic box?”

“Mark, I think.” Josh put his fingers to his lips and whistled loud. The three stooges looked up and he motioned for them to come over. They bounded over, jumping over dead bodies, or just stepped right on them, squishing them, creating more of a bloody mess.

“He got bit. Get out the medic box,” Josh demanded. Mark took a knee and dug it out of his backpack. Even though they were vaccinated, procedure called for an injection to be given in case of a bite.

The vaccination was a wonder. Took years to develop, but it worked. Josh himself had never been bitten, but others had, just like Will, and they had turned out fine. The scar was nasty—there was nothing they could do about repairing a chunk of missing flesh—but that was better than the alternative.

Mark expertly filled the syringe with the vial of medicine and injected it into Will’s shoulder. The shot had to be delivered next to the wound. Will hissed, drawing breath in between gritted teeth. “Shit man, you could’ve warned me,” he growled.

Mark laughed quietly. “Sorry.”

“At least buy me dinner first,” Will quipped.

This time, everyone laughed out loud. They were all riding on an adrenaline high, their bodies slowly coming down from the enormous amounts of testosterone and whatever else running rampant in their systems.

“That shit is going to make you nauseous dude, so take it easy,” Mark warned.

“Well, you ugly fuckers are going to have to carry me to the home then.”

“Yeah, right.”

Josh stepped back and took out his walkie to let their sergeant know that things were cleared. The next step would be clearing out the bodies, but they didn’t do that. Not when it was a big herd. A plow would come and push them all into a huge pile. Then they would burn them. That was the best way to dispose of the bodies.

“Alright ladies, let’s head back home; we’ve been cleared,” Josh announced.

Will winced with every step he took. He was alive, and for that he was grateful. Well, most days anyway.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Life at the compound with the army was different. For one thing, everyone was full, finally gaining weight. The food that was brought in kept coming, and everyone was thankful. The compound family still kept the vampires under wraps. And they stayed inside the house at night, but soon that was starting to get old. The vampires itched for normalcy—well, the normalcy that they had in the pre-army days—and one night Sienna decided that she’d had enough.

She took Lukas aside, venting about being cooped up. They had never felt so claustrophobic before. Being a vampire meant being free, being able to fly hundreds of miles out in a second.

“I just feel like I’m going crazy. I need some air, some space.”

“Well let’s just fly over a few towns and walk around. Maybe see if some of our friends are still around in the next council?” Lukas suggested.

He, too, was feeling the same way. He wanted out. He knew Lexi and Miguel would be against it. They would throw their two cents in and make them both feel like idiots. So they didn’t tell them. Luna, well, Lukas didn’t know if she would notice. She was beside herself with grief and worry.

Often, she would stay in Mari’s room, watching over her while she slept. Lukas understood her, though; he never rebuked her from doing so. Mari reminded her of Brendan. When a vampire fell in love, be it with a vampire or a human, it was hard to let go. That’s why Lexi and Miguel always ended up back together. They would take breaks, and then always find their way back to each other. So he left Luna alone, but made Sienna and Lexi make sure that she kept feeding. They encouraged her to take care of herself because Brendan was coming back and they were going to be together in the end.

It was a cold winter night. Not cold enough for snow, but still chilly, with wind whistling through the naked tree limbs. Sienna and Lukas snuck out the basement door holding hands and, after checking to make sure nobody was around, flew up into the dark night.

They returned hours later, drunk and giddy off their freedom. They had travelled to another town, one that was completely deserted, and they acted like kids. Playing on the broken down playground, trying to ignore the sad feeling that kept creeping into their minds reminding them what used to be, who used to play here and how everything was gone, changed.

Perhaps they should have been more aware, more tuned in to their senses. Vampires, after all, were blessed with heightened awareness, to be able to hear a beating heart from miles away or smell the distinct scent of a human. They weren’t. They were happy, and the night had been great for both of them.

As they walked back to the house, intending to go in the south side—the one that wasn’t guarded as well as the others—they heard, too late, the sound of two sets of footsteps and two guns being cocked into place.

“Don’t fucking move,” a low growl sounded to the left of them. Sienna’s heart plummeted to her belly. Her eyes narrowed and she focused on the two army soldiers.

“Shit,” she whispered.

“Shut the fuck up! Tell us who you are.”

Lukas exchanged a glance with his vampire wife. It was a look laced with sorrow and regret. They could take out these two in an instant. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was the consequences afterward, explaining how two soldiers wound up dead, and bringing their human friends into the mess.

Sienna put her hands up. “We’re not going to hurt you; we were just out taking a walk.”

“We don’t recognize either one of you. This is property of the US and Canada army regime. You two are not part of the household.”

Lukas shook his head. “We thought it was abandoned, we apologize.”

Just then, Sienna barely registered Mari’s smell as she swooped in front of them, standing at attention with a small pistol in her hands. She was shaking and Sienna could hear the girl’s heart beat thundering in her chest.

“They
are
a part of my household, assholes,” she whispered. Then before anyone could say anything she pulled the trigger. Once, twice, shooting both soldiers in the head.

Sienna’s jaw dropped as the gunshots rang throughout the air. Mari lowered the gun with one hand and put her hand to her other ear. The men crumpled to the ground, neat little round holes in their foreheads now, blood pouring out.

“Get out of here, now! Go to the basement and I’ll cover. Please, hurry, go!” Mari pleaded, her eyes big and round.

Lukas nodded and grabbed Sienna’s hand, pulling her behind him.

They heard the humans shouting and running towards Mari.

“What did she just do?! Why? No, no, poor Mari.” Sienna sobbed as they settled into the basement. Lukas tried to comfort her, but failed.

“She did that for us and now, oh no, Lukas, she’s just a kid. She’s just a kid and she tried to protect us.”

Lexi and Miguel slammed the basement door open and rushed toward them. Somehow Lexi knew what had happened without them even telling her. But she demanded that they tell her anyway.

“She just showed up; what was she doing with that gun? And she just shot them, both without hesitation, headshots.” Sienna was rambling, not making much sense. They were all in disbelief over the little girl they had watched grow up.

“They’re all outside right now with her,” Lexi said simply. She was stunned and had taken a seat. “That was so very stupid of both of you to go out. You know better. So very stupid.”

Sienna cried some more. She couldn’t be consoled. She feared that now her little human friend would be forever changed in ways she knew too well.

***

Tears streamed down Mari’s cheeks, making her skin feel hot and wet and scratchy. The tears were real. She had just killed two people. Her story was completely false, made up from the top of her head and she prayed silently that it was believable. Her heart was beating so fast, she felt dizzy and weak. Sarai had instantly taken her vitals and her blood pressure was through the roof. She made Mari lie down in the living room while the army captain sat opposite of her, interrogating her. They were stunned to see two dead soldiers and a small little girl confessing to their murders.

“I was just sneaking out. It’s been so boring here lately. I just, I…I like being outside at night time. We used to do it all the time,” she sniffed. Sarai sat at her feet, mindlessly patting her calves, her eyes sad. The captain was stone-faced, staring at her without blinking as she rambled on.

“I’ve been carrying my gun with me ever since my daddy left. He told me to! Especially if I’m alone. I walked around for a bit, but it’s too cold out, so I came back. They were standing in the shadows and I thought they were the dead heads ‘cause they just groaned and didn’t say anything—”

“They were groaning?” The captain asked incredulously. Mari didn’t pause; she knew pauses meant you were trying to think.

“Yes, they were. And so I thought they were dead heads and I saw their shadows, but I couldn’t see their faces. Ever since the breach happened and Uncle Peter died, I’ve been scared. They came so close last time. So I shot them. In the head, ‘cause that’s the only way dead heads can die. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry. I thought I was in danger!”

Mari continued to whimper. Her small body shook and Sarai did her best to comfort her. For several tense minutes, all the captain did was stare. His breathing was even, controlled, and it scared Mari to death.

He finally spoke. “Young lady—Mari, is it?”

She nodded, dragging her palms across her eyes. Her tears continued to flow, even though she felt like her ducts should’ve been completely dried.

“I am very sorry for your situation. It could have happened to anyone, and now, sadly, I’ve lost two good men. Our country has lost two good soldiers.” He stood up. “But, alas this is what happens sometimes in war time. We will clean up the mess and in the morning we will convene with a new plan. Things have been too lax, and when that happens, mistakes happen.”

Sarai and Mari exchanged a glance. He spoke, like always, with authority and stiffness.

“You ladies try to get some rest and we will talk in the morning.” With a curt nod, he left.

A thousand emotions ran through Mari. As soon as the army men left the house, her family gathered around. They wanted answers—they wanted the truth. Mari decided to tell them the truth. This was her family, none by blood, but all by circumstance and years. They took her confession; one told in hushed whispers and mangled sobs. They accepted it and loved her.

The vampires came upstairs. Lukas and Sienna were beside themselves with guilt. They both gathered Mari in their arms and hugged her tight.

“You saved us, Mari,” Sienna crooned. Mari smiled through her tears and reached up to kiss her on the cheek.

“I love you two. I couldn’t let them know about y’all,” she whispered.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The day after their assignment, the lieutenant himself flew out to their bunker. Josh and Will stood up right in front of the doorway, watching as the helicopter came down. The lieutenant hopped out; they hadn’t seen him in over a year. He was always flying off somewhere or recruiting more survivors. He had three other people with him and neither man could believe his eyes.

Lieutenant marched up to the doorway, stopping right in front of them outside. Brendan stood behind him in the doorway, his body lean, no visible fat at all. He looked like a different person, with a buzz cut and scars all up and down his arm. A hint of a smile played on his lips as he looked at his friends.

Josh and Will both stood up, confusion covering their expressions.

“Men, you’ve served us well in the last eighteen months you’ve been with us. You’ve been brave and have helped our country make monumental movements toward winning this war.

“Today, I’m adding Brendan to your unit. Unfortunately, the other soldier who came with your group passed away a year ago in an attack up north. There are two more assignments to do, and then after those, you three are free to return home. Your service will be completed and we appreciate you all for fighting the good fight. America is rising again, gentlemen, and you should all be proud that you had a hand in it.” The lieutenant saluted them and walked off toward the helicopter, leaving Brendan alone with them.

“Well,” Josh finally said, “you’re still one ugly son of a bitch. Maybe even uglier.”

Brendan’s face broke out into a grin and the three men reached for each other in a weird, three-way man-hug. They embraced for a long time. Josh and Will had always speculated about Brendan, wondered where he ended up, if he had died. They were scared for him, because of what he left behind.

“Man, you two are a sight for sore eyes,” Brendan said, his voice muffled. They pulled away, and Josh saw him wipe his eyes. Hell, he was feeling teary-eyed too. It was like reuniting with a long-lost brother. Actually, that’s
exactly
what it was.

They invited him into their bunker; the three stooges had come out from the back room to see the commotion. They made their introductions. Brendan was polite, but it was apparent he was ready to catch up with his buddies. The other guys excused themselves back to their room.

Will went to the fridge and grabbed bottles of beer for the three of them and handed them out.

Brendan popped the cap and took a long swig. “Y’all are lucky here. We didn’t have it good up north.”

“Dude, were you there when Nathan died?” Josh asked.

Brendan’s gaze fell to the floor. “Yeah, I was. It was bad. We were ambushed and not properly ready for what we were thrown into. Nathan was out front like he always was, too much guts and not enough brains,” he paused. “Sad to say that, but y’all know how he was. It’s the truth.” Will and Josh nodded; sometimes the truth hurt.

“I can’t believe we get to go home. I thought we were going to be here forever,” Will remarked.

“Man, I know. Believe me, I know. Mari’s probably all grown up by now,” he said, his eyes growing misty again. “But we are winning this war. That’s no bullshit. All the years and weather hasn’t been good for the dead heads. They’re being wiped out, section by section. We were in the middle of Canada and the snow is what killed them off. All the ones who didn’t die were killed by us. The officers have made sure that we do detailed searches for them and when we couldn’t find any, they sent me off.”

Each man took another swig from their bottles, the cold amber liquid making them feel like they were back home, not stuck in some army bunker thousands of miles away from it.

***

“Hey, you know what day it is?” Brendan asked as he sat down next to Josh during breakfast the next day.

“No, I don’t carry a planner, numb nuts.”

“Valentine’s Day,” Brendan went on.

“No shit?”

There was a pause of silence and then Josh laughed. “I’ve always hated that stupid holiday. Luckily, Myra, did too. She said it was nothing but a commercialized holiday. I made the mistake of buying her something that first year we were dating and she scoffed at me and said she would break up with me if I ever bought here anything for Valentine’s Day again. She was a quirky one, alright.”

“Yeah, Claire was the opposite. She decorated the house for it. But then again, I think she decorated the house for every little holiday.”

Josh nodded; he remembered seeing their porch decorated with foil hearts and garland. “I remember that.”

“Yeah,” Brendan nodded. “We met on that day, actually. We had both been stood up by our dates. So we ended up at the same bar, drinking our sorrows away. Made out in the alleyway and the rest is history, as they say.”

“It’s so weird how many holidays have passed. Uncle John always tried to keep the spirit up. Remember that first year’s Thanksgiving?”

“Yup. Roasted deer and some hog. That was good eating.”

“Here though, the time passes by with nothing. No thanksgiving. No Christmas. No Valentine’s.”

“Huh. I don’t remember Uncle John celebrating that one.”

“Nah, don’t think he did!” Josh agreed.

Will walked out just then with a beer in his hand, and sat down opposite of them. If it was one thing they had a ready supply of, it was beer, and all the soldiers drank quite extensively. No matter what time of day it was, most men had alcohol with every meal.

“What you ugly mugs talking about out here?” Will asked.

Brendan and Josh looked at each other and cracked a smile. “Valentine’s day,” they answered in unison, and then both laughed. Will looked from one to the other with confusion on his face.

“What are you pansies talking about Valentine’s Day for? Y’all got each other promise rings or some shit?” He smirked. 

“Nah, Josh said he got you one though, going to get down on one knee and all that jazz,” Brendan retorted.

Josh reached over and slapped him lightly on the back of the head. It was nice to have this light relationship with his comrade. The ability to laugh and shoot the shit. They continued to make fun of each other and crack jokes until it was time for them to take stations.

A couple of straggler dead heads came to the west side where Josh and Brendan were standing watch. They were buzzed and felt a little guilty because they weren’t sober on their watch, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

It was a man and woman zombie, but it was hard to tell sometimes. As the years went and as their bodies deteriorated more and more, they became unisex almost. Each one of them was ugly as sin. They came stumbling in close to the chicken coop.

Almost lazily, Josh brought up his machete and swung at the guy’s head, lobbing it off. The woman got mad and shuffled toward him. Josh was about to swing when Brendan came from behind, punching the back of the dead head with a sickening wet noise, Josh just stood there and stared as Brendan’s hand coming out of the woman’s chest. Then he retracted, something bloody in his hand.

“Dude? Are you holding its heart?”

Brendan laughed. “How’s that for a happy Valentine’s Day, guys?” He squeezed it and it burst, making another sickening squishy noise. Bile rose in Josh’s mouth for the first time in a while.

“Ugh, that’s fucking nasty.”

“Sorry, JJ.”

“Dude, you’re sick.”

“Yeah, a little,” he laughed. He grabbed a towel from his back pocket and wiped his hands. “Fuck Valentine’s Day.”

“Yeah!” Josh exclaimed.

“Fuck dead heads!”

“Yeah!”

“Man, I need another beer. That was kind of sick, huh?” Brendan shook his head.

“Hell yeah!” They walked off toward the bunker, ready for another beer.