Midnight Outbreak (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Josh had resumed his leadership role at the compound. For however long that was, he had no idea. There was no game plan. They couldn’t go back to Louisiana. The memories were too big for them to pick up where they left off. Josh, Brendan, and Will had no idea what the city had become.

The group decided to take a trip out to a nearby lake. East Texas was known for some great lakes around the area, but none of them had taken advantage of it.

They hiked it on foot. Everyone except Joan, Sarai, and the vampires were there. Weeks earlier, Joan had come down with a cold. Sarai had taken her place like she always did as Joan’s caretaker. Joan was tired. Tired of trying to be brave and be the matriarch. Josh knew she didn’t have too long left.

Mari was ecstatic to be out on a ‘field trip.’ She went running off, and Josh thought how weird it was to see a child at play with a gun by her side. But that was their life, he supposed.

Makayla and Josh walked silently, hand in hand. Van and Will were up ahead, Van hitched up on Will’s back. Makayla was the complete opposite of her sister. She was soft-spoken and sad. Maybe that’s why he got with the girl in Nevada; she reminded him of Makayla. West had grown taller while he was away, his boyish face starting to turn skinnier, his features more prominent. He was still a kid at heart, though; he ran to catch up to Mari.

They made it to Lake Tyler. The grayish water spread out for forever, it seemed. Brendan had been to this lake as a kid plenty of times. They crossed over the parking lot, carefully checking each car they came across. They were haphazardly strewn around and they called the kids back to their sides just to be safe. One by one, they hopped over the guardrail at the end of the parking lot and made their way down the hill towards the lake.

“It’s too cold to swim, right?” Mari asked, her hands on her hips.

Her father nodded slowly. “It is. We’re just getting some fresh air. It must have felt like being in a prison with all those military guys around.”

Mari frowned. “Yeah, it wasn’t that great. The food they brought was good, though. I still hope they leave soon.”

“They’re supposed to,” Will spoke up. “When spring ends. Which is about a month away, I suppose.”

Bored by the conversation, Mari and West took off to a group of picnic tables in one corner. There was a group of tents across the lake on the other side; they looked worn down by the weather, patches missing and sides collapsed.

Will and Van took off towards the edge of the lake, away from the kids. Will stopped every so often and picked up rocks. When they got to the edge, he and Van started a rock skipping contest, and Josh laughed as Will’s first one hit the water hard and sank.

Just then, a loud rustling sounded from across the parking lot in the trees they had just crossed. Will and Van ran over to the rest of the group and the children did too. The men instinctively reached for their weapons and stood in front of the group.

“Who’s there?” Josh called out, gun raised and pointed at the bushes.

The rustling stopped and they saw two people; a man and a woman peeked their heads out. Josh’s eyebrows furrowed. He lowered his gun.

“Come on out; we won’t hurt you.”

The man was tall, his skin a golden tan. His black hair was shaggy and pulled back in a ponytail. The woman was short, with blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail as well. Both faces were dirt-covered and thin. They stepped through the bushes and began walking across the parking lot.

Josh and Will met them halfway, weapons still in hand. The nomads had backpacks, threadbare and covered in dirt. 

“Who are y’all?” Will asked; his voice had a hint of weariness.

“I’m Simon, and this is Lisa,” the man said, his southern twang apparent. He offered his hand, but Josh ignored it.

“Where y’all from?”

“We’ve been here for a little while. Originally we’re from Shreveport.”

“Weapons?” Will asked.

The man and woman looked at each other quickly and both nodded. “But we mean you no harm. We heard y’all coming and hid in here. We haven’t met many survivors.”

Will nodded, satisfied, and put his katana back in the sheath. “Well, I’m Will, and this ugly ass man next to me is Josh. This is our group. We were just on a field trip. Needed some fresh air and let the kids run around.”

A faint smile appeared on the edge of Lisa’s mouth at the mention of children.

“Y’all have just been here at the lake? Where’s your camp?”

“We move around. We’ve been around the lake several times.”

Will and Josh looked at each other. Will’s eyes were questioning. Should they let these newcomers in? Josh gave a slight nod. He wasn’t about to just leave survivors abandoned. Strength was in numbers and they had lost a few good men. They needed newcomers just as much as Simon and Lisa needed the compound.

“Well, we’ve got a permanent camp set up a ways back. We’ll take you to it. You can stay with us.” Will paused. “But, I’ll warn you. This man right here,” he hooked his thumb pointing to Josh, “is a badass leader. You got to put in some work; nobody lives there for nothing.”

Simon and Lisa exchanged a look, nothing but hope in their eyes. “Thank you so much. We really appreciate it.”

“Come on, and we’ll introduce y’all to the rest of the group,” Josh offered.

***

They made their way back to camp with the newcomers in tow. They had stopped at their tents, the same ones Josh had seen across the way, to get the rest of their belongings, but it wasn’t much. Josh once again realized just how lucky they were to have the compound. To have the shelter that Uncle John had provided them so long ago.

Simon and Lisa were filled in on the army’s presence at the camp and what the men had seen while they were serving. There were extra vaccines at the camp that the newcomers could have.

Lisa exclaimed. “You mean they have a cure? That’s such a blessing! We never thought they would.”

“Well it’s not a cure. They can’t make all those dead heads back human again,” Josh explained. Lisa’s face fell, and he continued. “But it’s a guarantee we won’t turn. No matter what. They have big plans to rebuild. Plans I don’t know anything about, but they are getting rid of the dead heads. It’s probably ninety-five percent clear as we speak. Even if you do get bit, you won’t turn.”

Simon and Lisa’s faces were masked with confusion and doubt. Will stopped and motioned for Van to help him lift his shirt up. When she did, Simon and Lisa gasped loudly. The scar was nasty. The chunk of flesh looked like a crater in his otherwise smooth back. Lisa instantly reached for it, and then drew her hand back.

“No, it’s okay. You can touch it. I got this in Cali, right before Josh and I came back home.”

“So the vaccine does work?”

Will nodded. “I’m living proof.”

“That’s amazing,” Lisa breathed.

“It is. I guess that’s what all the top-dog scientific people were doing when they ran off and left us to fend for ourselves.” Brendan’s voice was laced with bitterness. His distrust in the government had only grown after being a part of their co-op military unit.

Mari and West walked up ahead, collecting twigs and weeds they came across. The adults tried to fill Simon and Lisa in as much as possible without making their heads explode.

Lisa and Simon also shared their story about staying near groups of water to survive. They had seen how the zombies didn’t congregate in those places, preferring big cities and then finally moving to the country so they could continue their rampage.

They arrived at the compound at dusk, Simon and Lisa stopped in their tracks. “This is where y’all live?”

Everyone nodded.

“Oh, my word.”

“We’ve been luckier than most. Our leader, my Uncle John, invited me here when the plague first happened. I brought Josh and Will, and my daughter Mari. We’ve lost a few people, including Uncle John. But this place has stood the test.”

“And we can stay?” Lisa asked.

“Of course. We brought in Makayla, Van, and West a couple years back. Right before we were shipped off,” Brendan replied.

Josh took a few steps towards them and lowered his voice. “This world already went to hell. We’re not those kinds of people who only look out for ourselves. If we can help you, we will, as long as you pull your weight. The war might be over, but the world’s still a shithole to try and survive in.”

Simon’s eyes grew misty and he sniffed. He offered his hand and this time Josh took it. “Thank you. Thank you very much. We will do whatever job we need to. We haven’t slept indoors in a
very
long time.”

Josh grinned as he brought his other hand to clap Simon’s shoulder. “Well I bet y’all haven’t eaten that great, either. Come inside, and we’ll get dinner going.”

That night, the whole group celebrated. Simon was drunk already after a couple rounds of whiskey, and Lisa ate so much, her belly was visibly protruding. The introductions to the vampires went okay. Lisa was scared at first, but Lexi, as she had a tendency to do, made her feel calm. They explained how they came to know the group, and how they helped out.

Brendan was sloppy drunk and Luna took him upstairs. Later they heard a slight knocking sound. Lisa’s face reddened and she looked for the kids. They were passed out in front of the fireplace. The men just laughed loudly and then the crude jokes started.

The night went on with more drinking and more laughter. Everyone was in great spirits because of their ‘field trip’ and the fact that they had added two more to their group.

Chapter Thirty

The next day, after everyone woke up and ate breakfast, Mari and West took Simon and Lisa on the tour of the house. Mari let West lead. He had grown into a little brother for Mari and she was thankful. She loved him.

After the tour, Josh called a house meeting. He was more clear-headed than usual. He looked somber as he sat at the head of the table.

“Alright,” he began, “We have a few new things to cover. I talked to the captain this morning and the troop will leave our compound at the beginning of next week.”

Smiles broke out all around the table. Mari let out a squeal.

“But,” Josh broke in. “We will also be saying goodbye to one of our own.”

“Say what?” Mari asked, anxiety riddled on her face.

“Sarai will be leaving with them and continuing her job as the head medic.”

A hush fell over the group and Sarai gave a small, sad smile. “I’m going to miss all of you. The captain asked if I would continue working for them and I just feel like this is the direction I’m supposed to go.” She sighed. “Lord knows that y’all have given me more than enough job security around here. I think I’m really needed out there.”

“Like it’s your calling right?” West asked. Makayla gave him a weird look, and he just shrugged.

“Exactly, West. When they pack up and leave, I’ll be going with them.”

Joan, seated next to her, leaned her head on her shoulder and shut her eyes.

Brendan cleared his throat. “Well Sarai, we are going to miss you. I know Uncle John was forever grateful for your help with all of us. Especially him, since he never could go a day without at least one accident.”

Everyone except the newbies laughed, remembering Uncle John and all his accidents. Brendan’s quip lightened the mood immensely.

“Okay,” Josh spoke up, quieting everyone. “Second thing is, we need to discuss what exactly will happen to us going forth. I think that the compound should stay around. We don’t know how long the world’s going to take to rebuild, or what exactly is going to happen. I don’t know if anything will ever be the same, but it’s doubtful. If you want to leave, that’s fine. There’s family that many of us have wondered about throughout the years, old homes, old hometowns. If you feel like you want to leave, then that’s your prerogative and there will not be any ill will if you decide to do so. Just like Sarai here, if you have a calling somewhere else, then admit that’s where you need to be.

“If you do want to stay, then we have work to do. Simon told me last night of an old lumber store that they passed not too far from here. The soldiers will leave all the fences around the perimeter. We need to rebuild certain sections of the house. The weather’s gonna be getting warm, so we’ll have to restock our food. When the army does leave, there won’t be all that extra food anymore. So we’ll have to go back to how we were before, with hunting and gardening.

“The vampires aren’t staying. Well, except for Luna.” Josh cast a glance at Brendan, whose cheeks reddened. Will muttered something, and Brendan jabbed him in the side with an elbow. Josh continued, “While the vampires have suffered a lot of loss, they still have places that they can go. But they won’t until all the dead heads have been rid of.”

Mari let out a small cry and immediately put her head in her hands.

“Mari, they’ll still be around. They won’t disappear forever. We’ve come to an agreement that they will keep in contact with us.” Josh tried to console her. She doubled over, her head disappearing from view as her tiny body shook.

Van got up, motioning for Brendan to stay put, and she went to Mari’s side. She whispered into her hair and then stood up with Mari. They walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Lisa looked confused. “I guess the vampires are good friends?”

Brendan nodded. “Well, they are, to
all
of us. They’ve served with us here and Mari took a real strong attachment to Lexi and Sienna when this all happened. Her mother was killed when she was five and the vampires came into her life very shortly afterward. Lexi has been like a mom to her. For a very long time.”

Lisa nodded. “Poor thing.” Brendan only gave a short nod, creases wrinkled his forehead.

“So, with all that being said. If you want to stay at the compound, raise your hand.” Brendan’s hand shot up, as did Josh’s.

Will put both his hands up. “I’m Van’s answer. We’ve both discussed this already and she wants to stay.”

Makayla and West’s hands were next. Simon and Lisa looked around at the group, then at each other and raised theirs. Only Joan and Sarai didn’t have theirs up.

Everyone looked at Joan and then Josh. This next bit of news was going to be hard. Joan had come to him in the early hours this morning and had told him.

“Joan, go ahead and tell everyone else what you told me.”

She nodded and cleared her throat and began. “Back when all this started happening. I told myself that if it ever stopped, if there was ever a time when it was free and clear I would go search for my daughter and son. They were both in other cities but I wrote them when the mysterious ‘illness’ was starting. I told them to go to our acreage of land in Tennessee and stay put. My daddy had a place a lot like this and I can only hope and pray—and I’ve done a lot of both in the last seven years—that they made it there and stayed put. I have to go see. I don’t have a lot of years left. I want to see my babies before my time’s up.”

Her confession shut the entire room up. Will’s shoulders slumped, as did Brendan’s. Sarai was shocked and looked at her with her mouth agape.

“How are you going to get there?” Makayla asked quietly.

“Well, the captain said he would fly me up to the area. If they’re there, I’ll stay. If not, then I guess I’ll find my way back to you guys. Y’all have become my family. I love each of you more than anything. My daughter and son were my life. They were only twenty and twenty-four when all this stuff happened. Both of them were in college in different parts of the state of Michigan. I can only hope they followed my directions and didn’t think their mom was a raving lunatic.” She smiled, her wrinkled face glowing just a tad bit.

“So that’s that. There will be some changes. There’s always been changes around here and we’ve always pushed on. I’ve already told Joan, that if—God forbid—her kids aren’t there, for her to come back home to us. She knows how to contact us on the CB and we’ll go get her.” Josh cracked a smile. “I haven’t been out to Tennessee in a while.”

Will raised his hand and Josh nodded to him, giving him the floor. “Simon and Lisa, we hope that both of you find this place agreeable. It’s not perfect by any means, but it works. The future is one big unknown and maybe one day we won’t need this place, but I don’t think that time is anywhere close.”

The newcomers nodded. “We are so appreciative. We really are,” Simon said truthfully. He and Lisa had cleaned up the night before, taking a shower and getting in cleaner clothes. Lisa had proven to be a very attractive girl without all the dirt covering her. Simon, who was part Cherokee, they’d learned, looked better as well.

They’d told the group how they were high school sweethearts and had been on summer break right before their senior year when the plague happened. Their families had all been taken from them and they stuck together for the entire time.

“Well then, everyone is free to go. Just hold strong for the rest of the week. The soldiers will be gone soon.” He threw an apologetic glance at Sarai. Nobody liked the army being there but when they left it would mean Sarai’s sweet soul would be gone as well. She shook her head and shrugged, telling Josh not to worry without having to use words. She was good like that. Not having to say one word, but conveying so much in her simple gestures.