The Infected (Book 6): Last Shot (10 page)

Chapter Nineteen

“What about Tessa?” He asked in a quiet voice.

Helping him walk back to the Bunker entrance “She’s fine as far as I know. Chris is with her and I think he was going to let her know what happened.” I said pressing the button and waiting for the lift. Mike’s legs wanted to go out from underneath him and I was finding it hard to hold him upright. The doors opened and Chris stood looking at us.

“Give me a hand Chris!” I shouted to him.

He stepped out and using his good arm helped me guide Mike inside the lift.

“How is Tessa?” Mike asked looking up at Chris.

Chris’ shoulders sagged “As well as can be expected. She’s taking it hard and Doc had to give her something to keep her calm. He said it will only work for the short term because it can harm the baby if it is used for a long period of time.”

And there was another reason why Benton’s had to pay for everything that they had done. The babies coming into this world should never have to put up with everything that was out there. I shook my head and watched as Chris spoke with Mike. I had stopped listening to what they were talking about and was watching the numbers on the lift slowly change. The doors opened on the fourth floor and we helped Mike along the hallway to the room that Chris and Tessa were sharing. Chris pushed the door open and we helped Mike over to the chairs. The bathroom door opened and Tessa stepped out.

“Daddy!” She shouted and flew over and into her father’s open arms. They both started to weep so I headed to the door. Only to be stopped by Mike’s large hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at him.

“I am coming with you when you go!” He said in a calm quiet voice.

I knew that I couldn’t argue with him so I just nodded and walked out into the hallway and headed down to my room. I pushed the door open and heard my shower running. I walked over to the bathroom door and pushed it open with my foot. Amy was lathered up in the shower; she turned her head so that she could see me. I just gave her a slight nod and closed the door.

Grabbing a bottle of water out of the small fridge I drank the whole thing in large gulps. Tossing the empty bottle into the trash I sat down in one of the chairs and just stared at the wall. To be honest the day had been a huge kick in the balls for me and I was finding it hard to react. I was angry yes, but how was I going to channel that anger at this moment?

The door to the bathroom opened and Amy walked out with a large towel wrapped around her slender body. She didn’t come and sit with me instead she sat in the chair opposite and looked at me. I noticed her looking at me from the corner of my eye and I could also tell that she wanted me to open up and let it all out.

If I did that I would have ended up a mess on the floor in front of my chair. I really didn’t want her to see me in a state like that. I still loved her even after everything we had been through. The fact that she was in my room wearing nothing but a towel and wanted to know how I was made me think she still cared for me. We sat there me looking at the wall and her looking at me, for a good while.

We had sat for so long that Amy had air dried. She started to shiver. Standing she walked back into the bathroom and after a few minutes she walked out in jeans and a tight grey t-shirt. She walked past me and stroked my hair as she headed for the door. She paused and turned to look at me, her hand on the doorknob.

“You can’t blame yourself for any of this!” She said her eyes looking at me with pent up sadness. I just sat there and never said a word; in fact I didn’t even turn to look at her. She shook her head and opened the door. It closed behind her and I looked over at it.

“Like shit I can’t!” I whispered.

Standing I grabbed my rucksack and started to pack. I was going to end all of this once and for all. Even if I never got the chance to return. I packed three changes of clothes, my sleeping bag. Setting it beside the door I opened it and walked into the hallway. I went looking for Chris and found him up with the Doc. Tessa had taken the news of her grandfather badly and the Doc had given her something to sleep. I knocked on the door frame and the both looked over at me.

“Hey, Doc! Is there any chance I can have a word with Chris?” I asked.

Doc nodded “Sure! I need to go check on Tessa anyway.” He finished and stood up. He walked past me and patted my shoulder as he went.

Stepping inside the room I closed the door behind me and sat down beside Chris.

“Look before you say anything none of this is your fault!” Chris said rubbing his eyes.

“Amy said the same thing!”

“Smart woman.”

“Maybe. Look I came to tell you that as soon as I get my shit together I’m going after them.” I didn’t need to tell him who ‘them’ were.

He nodded his head slightly “I thought as much. That’s why I am in here talking with the Doc.”

I looked at him puzzled.

“I’m coming with you like I said!”

“Ok!” I answered.

“What no argument?” He said tilting his head to one side.

I smiled slightly “Nope no argument. We started this together, so we might as well end it together.”

“Mike still wants to come,” Chris said standing up and looking down at me.

“Fine! Can you go sort out weapons and I’ll head up to the dining room for food and water.” I said standing up beside him.

We both knew that there was a high chance, we wouldn’t be returning. If by some fluke one of us did then they would do their best to help the family we both left behind. Chris walked out of Doc’s room first and I followed. Doc came out of the room next door. I waved him over.

“I know what you are doing!” He said, stopping in front of us.

Chris just nodded “I’m going to go talk with Mike and get the other things sorted.” He walked away toward the doors.

“Doc I need you to look after Tessa and Amy. I also need you to help David run the Bunker.”

“You’re coming back, aren’t you?” He said with shock in his eyes.

I gave a slight shake of my head “It’ll be a miracle if any of us survives any of this.”

“What about your children?!” Doc said his voice climbing slightly.

I smiled “Mine will probably be better off without me. Look can you just say that you’ll help the girls?!”

The Doc looked at the floor “Of course, of course.”

I placed my hand on the Doc’s shoulder “Thanks” I turned and headed out of the room. I could hear the Doc mumbling something, but I couldn’t make it out.

Following the hallway to the dining room, I pushed the doors open and walked inside. I saw the women and men working in the kitchen and was glad that David and Jennie weren’t in sight.

I stood at the counter and called out “Hello, anyone there?!”

A young man stopped as he walked passed. He had a butcher’s apron on and it was streaked with blood.

“Can I help you?” he asked as he rubbed his hands on the apron.

I looked into the kitchen “Is there any MRE’s left?”

He nodded his head but never said anything.

“I need enough for three weeks, for three men and water for the same amount of time.”

“Why?” he asked peering over the counter at me.

To tell you the truth, I was a little shocked at the one-word question. It took me a little while to come up with an answer; in the end I just said the first thing that came into my head “Because I fucking asked for them!” I snarled at him.

He stepped back, and his face started to go red and I could see that he was going to either say something stupid or do something stupid.

Leaning over the counter I said, “Before you go making a fucking mistake. My name is Marc.”

The red flush suddenly started to drain from his face and he looked at the floor.

“Sorry!” he said after a slight pause.

I glared at the top of his head “Don’t be fucking sorry, just get what I asked for.”

He quickly turned and ran back into the kitchen. I waited for him to come back.

Chapter Twenty

The doors to the dining room opened and Chris walked through carrying my rucksack and two others.

“I thought that you might need these for the supplies!” He said dumping them at me feet.

I grinned “I knew I had forgotten something.”

“Managed to speak with Mike. He’s down in the Armoury sorting out weapons and ammo. He’s going to meet us up in the entrance. Tessa is still upset.”

I looked at his face; he had red-rimmed eyes and looked pale. “I don’t blame her for being upset. Have you seen David and Jennie?”

He looked back at the doors to the dining room “Jennie was in with the girls trying to calm Tessa down. Tessa knows that Jennie and David had nothing to do with what happened. Jennie can’t forgive herself for what happened and keeps saying sorry to Tessa. I feel bad for them but if I get my hands on Philip and if he doesn’t have a good excuse for what happened, I’ll shoot the little fucker.” He said turning back around to face me.

Just then, the man returned to the counter and started to lift items up on to the top. He kept casting glances at Chris and me whilst lifting all the gear up from behind the counter.

Chris saw him casting the glances and asked “What the fuck you looking at?”

The young man nearly jumped out of his skin when Chris spoke and mumbled something.

Chris placed both hands on the counter and leaned forward “What the fuck did you say?!”

“Nothing I said ‘Nothing’” he barely managed to say.

The last of the supplies were put on the counter and he scurried away into the kitchen. I helped Chris load up and we carried the rucksacks out to the lifts. The doors opened and Amy started to walk out when she spotted us and stepped back into the lift.

“I was just looking for you two.” She said looking at us in the face.

Dropping the rucksacks on the floor I said, “You’ve managed to find us. What did you want?”

“I want to come with you.” She said looking me in the eye.

“No!” was all I said and pressed the button for the ground floor. The doors closed and the lift lurched upward.

“What the fuck do you mean ‘NO’? I have every right that you have to go after them.” She shouted.

Chris let out a sigh and turned to her “Look, Amy, you can’t come with us. Marc would have too much on his mind if you did and sorry to say it, but it would end up putting us in danger. And I really want to get back and see Tessa and the baby.”

She glared at him “Why don’t you fucking stay then?”

“Because Marc and I started all this and it should be us that finish it!” He said looking at the lift doors.

I just stood there ignoring Amy. I loved her but like Chris; there was no way in hell that I was going to place her in any danger. He was also right that having her along would distract me from what we had to do.

Amy punched me in the shoulder and said “What about you? Are you not going to say anything?”

Turning to the side I looked at her eyes “Amy there is no way I am letting you come with us and you know why!”

“But I don’t want to lose you!” She said with tears falling from the corners of her eyes.

I lifted my hand and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Amy this is the only way!” I said keeping my hand on her cheek and looking into her eyes.

She leaned into my hand and more tears flowed from her eyes. The doors opened and I turned letting my hand drop to my side, picked up two of the rucksacks and walked out of the lift. Mike was leaning against the open hatch with a pile of rifles and some ammo crates at his feet. Chris followed me out with the last rucksack. Turning round I watched as the doors on the lift closed on Amy. I sighed and carried the rucksacks to the hatch and stepped out into the daylight.

“It’s for the best,” Chris said as we headed for where the vehicles kept.

Mike and just nodded to Chris’ statement. Mike bent down and lifted the weapons and ammo. With nothing more being said, we walked to where the vehicles were being kept.

“What are we taking?” Mike asked.

“Might as well finish this the way it started and take the A.P.C,” Chris said pulling the gate open.

“We got enough fuel for that beast?” I asked looking at the A.P.C.

“The last time I checked we did,” Mike said walking toward the rear of the vehicle.

Chris pulled open the driver’s door and climbed inside. I walked to the back with Mike. We heard the back hatch being opened. Chris stood in the opening; I passed him the bags and climbed in behind him. Mike then passed me the rifles and ammo. I stacked them on the benches. Chris squeezed in between the front seats, taking the driver’s seat.

“Who the fuck said you were driving?” I asked.

Chris turned to look at me “Well you can’t drive for shit, the last time you drove anything, it got stolen and the time before that you fucking crashed it!”

“He has a point,” Mike said pushing past me.

“What the fuck?” I said watching Mike climb into the passenger seat.

“I need the comfort, seeing as I have to

drive the fucking boat when we get there.” Mike said with a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“I fucking give up!” I said flinging my hands into the air and slumping down onto one of the benches.

They both just grinned at me. Chris started the engine and the familiar rumble filled the cabin. We slowly exited the vehicle compound and headed for the main gate. The gates swung open slowly and we headed up the small hill and as we crested it, I glanced back. The gates were closed and from here the people outside in the compound looked like ants scurrying around in the sunlight. Then the picture was gone and I turned to look at the floor. I felt the A.P.C turn onto the main road and felt the difference in the road below the wheels.

We had left the Bunker so quickly I was kind of glad. If we had dragged it out, it would have been even harder on us.

We sat in silence for the first few hours, but the longer we sat in silence the more I started to worry about things. So I started thinking about when Chris and I first met and how Jay wanted to pitch me from the roof, where I had found them. Chris and I bounced the conversation back and forth for a good half hour before Mike spoke up asking about it had all started. He said that he had never really had time to ask questions when we first met and he supposed now was a good a time as ever to ask those questions.

I told him all about me working Benton’s and how they had made the virus. I told him how Tony my work mate had died at the paws of the pet from hell. One of the questions, he did ask whilst I talked was why did I not kill the cat when I had the chance.  To be honest, I didn’t have an answer to it. After that, we sat in silence. The A.P.C swerved in and out of stalled cars and other traffic as we headed toward the lifeboat. After four hours inside the rumbling A.P.C, we decided to pull over for some food and rest.