Age of Decay (Book 1): Contagion (13 page)

The man on his knees moaned and spit blood on the floor. He wiped his lips and coughed. Jake drove his heavy boot into the man’s stomach once more.

“Now... one more time, who are you and why did you come here?”

“I told you the truth… just trying to escape from them. Made my way up here...”

“Shoot man, you can’t just come into my town. I own this place.” Jake put his boot on the man’s back and pushed him down. He dug the heel into the small of his back.

The man began to sob. “Please… haven’t eaten anything since it all began…”

Vance came over and pulled back roughly on the man’s hair. “You heard the man, he owns Hope. Why are you here? You hidin’ around here with others? Maybe they sent you to scout it out, eh?”

“I swear I don’t know anything about that. Please, I just want some food. I didn’t come here to scout… don’t even know who you are.”

“Yeah, shut up for a minute. Say, Vance, I got an idea. Ya know, I never liked the name Hope, it’s just lame. How about we change it to Rawlings? Damn, now why didn’t I think of that before?”

“Sure, man. I love that idea.”

Jake put his pistol to the man’s temple. “So why are you here?”

“I told you before. I was just passing through. Tryin’ to get away.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that. Got anything we can use?”

“I don’t have anything on me. I just ran when it all started. Barely got out.”

“Well, that’s a shame. See, you can’t come through here without having something to offer us.”

The man coughed again. “I can work. I’ll do anything you ask, please just don’t hurt me.”

“No, that won’t do. I’m sorry then. I just can’t help you.”

“What ya want to do with him?” said Vance.

“Gather the town together, then meet me by the tree.” Jake picked the man off of the floor. “Come on, buddy, I got someone I want you to meet.”
 

***
 

Hope was now a shambles of the town it used to be. The Marauders had taken over basically everything. Debris littered the streets along with corpses, which were rotting in the sun and creating a nauseating stench that was hard to escape from. In fact, the smell of death was the new norm. The town was cleared of dead, but the survivors faced the new hell of a motorcycle gang, bent on doing whatever they wanted, with law and order a thing of the past. The survivors of Hope gathered by a large tree with Jake standing in front of it. He held a pistol to the temple of the prisoner, who sat on his knees with his head flopped down, staring at the ground. He shook his head from the violent kick Jake had just given to his ribs. He kicked him again in the stomach, and the man bent over as he vomited. His arms were shackled behind him. The man peered up, his bruised and battered face visible to the crowd. You could barely recognize his left eye, which was now an empty socket as fresh blood seeped from the horrific wound.

“So glad you could all make this little gathering. First of all, we have some good news. This town will now be known as Rawlings, B.C. You all are its first new residents. Well, except for our buddy here.” Jake pulled the wounded man to his feet. “I want you all to understand clearly what happens to those that defy me. Do as I say, and we’ll all get along fine.”

The man’s eye was wide open in horror as he gazed at the ghoul chained to the tree. Its hair matted to the head. Congealed blood covered the trousers, the result of gunshot wounds. The thing tried to reach for Jake, but he was well out of the way of the chains. It hissed as fluid dripped from the jaws.

“No!”

“Meet my friend here, Constable Nielsen. How are ya today, Constable? Hungry, I bet.” Jake lifted the man to his feet and patted him on the back before shoving him towards the zombie.

The man started to plead. “I’ll do anything, God, no!”

Jake pushed the man right into the ghoul. Before he could react, it bit down hard on his shoulder. He screamed as blood fountained out when it tore off a huge chunk from his shoulder. He shrieked and held onto he wound as he staggered back towards the crowd, which moved backwards. Jake got in front of him and pushed the zombie back with his boot. The zombie tried to reach him, but the chains held him in place. The man on the ground coughed heavily, gurgling undecipherable words. Jake shoved the man away from the ghoul.

“Now, Constable, don’t get greedy. I’m sure I’ll have more tasty treats for ya soon. Geez, you give a new name to the word pig.”

“What do we do when he reanimates?” said Vance.

“Use him for target practice.”

Someone in the crowd fainted, while others looked up at the other tree near where the unfortunate constable, Jake, and the helpless man stood. The corpses that hung in the tree there were grim reminders that the town did belong to Jake and the Marauders.

Trevor stood in the field near the house and wondered when his son would come back. He should have given up his shift long ago and gone back inside, but he was worried that something may have happened.

“I should have done this myself,” he said.

Erica out her hand on his shoulder. “Hey, I’m sure he’s fine, just running late. Maybe they found some good supplies out there for us.”

“Yeah. If any—”

Erica pointed to vehicle moving down the road. “Look.”

Trevor readied his rifle. “Go over there and take up a position. We don’t know who or what they want. I’m gonna position myself by the house. If anything happens, open fire.”

“Right.”

Trevor moved at a fast pace through the grass towards the front of the house and the concealment of a tree there. The vehicle was still too far away for anyone to see him move. As it got closer, he trained his sight on it. He moved his finger near the trigger as the pickup came to a stop, but lowered his rifle as the driver came into clearer view. He moved out of his position, so he was visible to the truck occupants. He motioned his hand towards Erica as both Donald and Jason got out of the pickup.

Jason took a look at his dad’s rifle. “Were ya gonna shoot your own son?”

“You know we can’t be too careful. You didn’t exactly have a truck when you left.”

“Well, I figured it would be the best way to get all the gear and food we found back here.”

“Sure got a lot of things,” said Donald, “some guns, too. There are enough supplies here to last a while, I’m sure.” He chewed down on an apple.

“Run into any problems out there?”

Jason patted the shotgun slung over his shoulder. “Nothing I couldn’t handle. They aren’t exactly fast, you know.”

“Yeah, but too many of them is going to be a problem. We’ve been lucky here so far.” Trevor looked over to Donald. “Thanks for your help. I figure we’ll have a look at all this gear and take what we need. Perhaps the roads will be clear enough to get us there.”

“I’m with you. Gonna go inside and eat.”

“Right.”

Trevor waited until Donald went inside. “So did he give you any problems?”

“Problems? Well, no. It’s just that he runs like a frightened girl when he encounters them. He can’t shoot or even swing an axe very good. He’s about as useless as they come.”

“He’ll learn. I’ll show him how to shoot. Maybe you can help.”

“Help him? We have enough problems saving our own asses. He’s gonna slow us down just like the other two inside. Erica and Ian are the only good ones we have. Fuck, can’t save everyone we—”

“Because there fucking human, that’s why!” Trevor put his arm on his son’s shoulder and shoved him back some. “We’re all in this shit together. We have to save these people, or there will be no one left to save.”

“Yeah, you’re the big hero, out to rescue humanity. I’m out to save only one person and that’s me.”

Trevor stood back and looked at his son. “What the hell happened to you the past few days?”

Jason laughed. “Well shoot, you’re blind. Take a fuck and look around, dear old Dad. We are all as good as dead. If we try and be Mr. Hero, we’ll all die that much quicker.”

“We have to try. Won’t be many of us left. Life has to go on
.
”
Maybe he’s right, Trev, your son is right. We are all so fucked.

“Well, if you say so. Just don’t send me on any more missions with that dimwit. I’ll take care of myself.”

“That will get you killed.”

“Yeah, Dad, it might. You could say they got it easy, those dead out there. They are just waitin’ for us to join them.”

“What are you waiting for?”

Jason gathered his backpack out of the pickup and turned towards the house. “I’ll let you know when I find it.”

Erica approached Trevor who stood there watching his son leave. “What was that all about?”

“Beats me. Give me a hand with this stuff.” Trevor went over and began to pick things out of the truck. “That’s someone I no longer know.”
 

***
 

The supplies Jason and Donald had picked up were modest, but they were well worth the trip. Jason had found a few rifles and some ammunition which they had in short supply. They had enough camping gear as well as clothing to go around for everyone in the group. Once another vehicle could be picked up and an ample supply of gasoline obtained, everything would be set. The back roads would be safer until they made their way to Hope, or that was what they wished for. There was no telling what would greet them on the way. It was a time of great fear, as the world descended into utter chaos and mankind descended into the base need for survival.

The group all gathered around the dining room table. Lauren had set out candles she found in a Christmas box. The light filled the room and illuminated the weary faces of the survivors. It would be their last meal in the house before setting out to the mountains, with no idea what was in store for them. The meal was simple with whatever they could put together from the food that was left in the house. Gail had created a nice salad with the leftover vegetables, there was canned tuna, crackers, cheese, and soup warmed on the wood stove downstairs. It would carry them ‘til tomorrow.

Trevor poured a bottle of wine he had found in the liquor cabinet. “I know this isn’t much, but we have to save our supplies. I don’t know when we will be able to pick up more or just how safe we’ll find it out there. I just hope we come across more survivors. We’ll get through this, everyone. We do it together, there’s no other way.”
But who’s going to make the right choices? If you make the wrong one Trevor, everyone dies. They all die
.

Erica spoke up. “I’m not very religious, and I don’t know if anyone else is here, but I’d like to say a few words before we eat.”

Lauren clasped her hand. “Sure.”

“Oh Heavenly Father, Grant us the strength to see it through these dark days. Guide us with your wisdom so we may find the light. Allow us to rebuild and create a new world. Thank you for this meal. We ask these things in your name. Amen.”

“I liked that,” said Samantha.

Across from her, Ian smiled. “Couldn’t have said it better myself, lass, well done. Shall we eat? Its good company tonight, let’s make the most of it.”

“Yeah.” Trevor took a long swallow of the wine. “This is a great meal, we should be thankful after all we’ve been through. Might not get another one like this for a long time. It’s been too quiet, and that worries me.”

George cleared his throat. “It’s a good salad, honey. The dressing is terrific.”
No more fighting, Dammit, I do love you. Maybe this can bring us closer together
.

“I made it from scratch. I guess we have to get used to that now, don’t we? Go back to the old ways.”

“Jason should be here,” said Lauren.
I worry about you
,
out there with who knows what around the corner
.
We’re just existing now.

“Aye, but he wanted watch,” replied Ian. “He took my place, Donald went with him.”

“I’ll put a plate aside for them,” said Erica. “Take it town and relive them. I have to thank him again for the great jacket he got me. It will take the chill off at night.”

“He can be thoughtful at times,” said Lauren.

“If it’s alright with you all, I’d like to take the watch after that,” said George. “You all have done so much, and my leg feels much better now.”

“Are you sure?” said Trevor. “I wouldn’t want to rush you with that leg. We can handle it.”

“Yes.” George took another bite of food. “I want to pull my weight around here. As you said, we have to work together. I’m a fast learner, just give me a few pointers with a gun, and I’ll be fine. Hell, I’ll just fire the damn thing in the air to warn you.”

“Now, Geo—”

“No, hon. You know I got to do this, understand?”

“Alright.”

“It’s settled, then,” said Trevor. “Once Jason gets back, it’s Erica and myself, then George and Ian. That will get us through until we leave. I don’t know what we’ll find out there, but hopefully we can come across someone that knows what is going on and how to solve this.”

Erica raised her wine glass along with everyone else. “To friends.”

“Amen to that, lass,” Ian raised his glass. “Amen to that.”