Dead Endz (2 page)

“Well,” he answered in his high pitched voice; one that sounded more like Michael Jackson and nothing like the Herculean giant driving the van. “I’ve flown mostly but it can’t be that hard when you follow the road signs.”

And that was the problem. The last road sign referring to Georgia that Paige could even remember had been a couple of hours ago and yet they still hadn’t reached the state. Apparently, Tiny hadn’t thought that was odd.

“Hon…
did
you take a wrong turn or something?” asked Kristie as they entered the small town of Deer Ridge.

Paige felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up as they slowed down. Deer Ridge appeared to be nothing more than another zombie wasteland on the outside, but she sensed there was something even more sinister to it. In fact, it was almost like driving through an old ghost town where tumbleweeds rolled by and eyes peeked at you from behind dark windows. Right now she’d bet anything the undead were close and on the verge of an attack.

He snorted. “Wrong turn? I don’t think so,” replied Tiny.

“We could really use a new map,” said Paige. “Then we’d know for sure.”

He’d lost the old one the last time he’d filled the tank, by swatting a fly with it and tossing it away.

“Yeah, we should probably get one. Let’s fill up at the next gas station and grab one,” replied Kristie.

“Just be on the lookout for thieves,” said Henry. “They’re going to be crawling out of the woodwork now, by golly.”

“By the way, Henry,” said Kristie. “How’s your back? You gonna make it?”

About an hour ago they’d pulled over to the side of the road for a break and so the guys could relieve themselves. Henry had stumbled backwards over a rock and had complained about his back hurting.

He shook his head. “It’s a little tender but I tell you what…this stallion isn’t ready for the glue factory just yet. I’ve got a lot of ride left in me.”

Kristie smiled politely. “I’m sure you do, Henry.”

With a gleam in his eyes he added, “You want to brush off my saddle, purdy lady, you just give the word.”

Paige groaned. She liked Henry but they’d been driving together for hours and hours and he really needed to shut the hell up about his riding skills.

“Oh, grandpa,” chuckled Tiny.

“Henry,” said Paige. “I think you need to forget about your saddle and help us figure out where the heck we are.”

“We’re definitely lost, that’s where we are,” he said, pulling out his tin of chew. “It ain’t rocket science, honey.”

“You really think we’re lost?” asked Kristie, looking concerned.

Tiny didn’t answer this time and Paige wanted to scream.

Chapter Three

Kris sat across from the doctor whose face became a blur after his impartial speech. She brushed the tears from her face and shook her head. “I just don’t understand. I mean, you told me that she was getting better. She even regained consciousness a few times.”

He handed her a tissue. “I know this is hard.”

“I want to see her,” she demanded.

“I’m sorry, we can’t allow that. She’s been quarantined and we’ll be doing an autopsy. Listen, I understand your grief, I have lost most of my family, too. It’s tragic, horrible. But you have to remain strong for the rest of your family.”

His eyes were flat and it was hard to believe he’d lost anybody.

“No, I want to see my daughter!” she cried, her voice getting shrill. “You told me she was getting better! And I’ve been at her side continuously until this morning when you took her away from me. I’ve been exposed to the damn virus from day one, so as you can see Doctor, it doesn’t matter if I go near her again!”

As if on cue, two soldiers stepped into the room. “Everything okay, Doctor Hill?”

She ignored the soldiers but pleaded in a much softer voice, “Doctor, let me see my baby. Please?”

The doctor sighed. “I’m very sorry for your loss. If there was anything else that I could do, I’d do it. Unfortunately, the government is making these calls and my hands are tied.”

It was obvious that he wasn’t really on her side and it made her furious.

The gloves were coming off.

She was tired of the bullshit.

Kris stood up and leaned over his desk, getting right into his face. “Okay, fine, I want to talk to whoever is making “the calls”, Doctor! I demand to talk to
your
superiors. Right now, dammit!”

The taller soldier took a step towards her but Doctor Hill raised his hand, halting him.

“It’s…its fine,” he said and then turned back to Kris. “Please sit down. This isn’t necessary.”

She sighed and moved back, but didn’t sit down. “Well?” she asked tightly, trying to keep her composure.

Doctor Hill rubbed a hand over his face and then finally nodded. “I’ll see what I can do, Mrs. Wild. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try. For now, why don’t you try and get some rest?”

She snorted. “Rest? I’ve
rested
quite enough. If I can’t see my daughter right this minute, then I want to try and call my husband, again,” she said. “Can you please find me a cell phone to use?”

He stood up and grabbed the paperwork from his desk. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said without looking at her.

His favorite line, she thought bitterly. He wasn’t very efficient in anything he’d promised and now he claimed her youngest had died from the zombie virus. But it didn’t make sense and something in her gut was convinced he was deceiving her. He
had
to be lying. She’d go insane if it were really true.

The two soldiers chaperoned her back to her room, which she’d been sharing with a couple other survivors. They were staying in a hospital where the remaining scientists from the CDC, the ones who hadn’t taken the vaccine, curiously enough, had set up a new research lab. The zombies had overrun the old facility so they’d all been transferred to the hospital. There were over one hundred survivors and almost fifty soldiers helping to secure the site.

“What happened?” asked Carly, who was alone in the room, reading a book. She was another survivor who’d wandered into the hospital, alone and frightened just two days before. Her entire family had been killed and she’d almost raped by a band of marauders. She was in her twenties and certainly had a strong will to survive. In fact, she reminded Kris a lot of her oldest daughter, Cassie.

Kris sat down on her cot and put her head in her hands. “They told me that Allie is…gone. But I don’t believe it. Carly, she just can’t be dead.”

Carly’s jaw dropped. “They actually told you she
died
?”

Kris looked up at her, fresh tears glistened her eyes. “Yes,” she choked. “They said Allie…my baby… died!”

“Oh Kris,” said Carly, kneeling down next to her, “I’m so sorry. This doesn’t make sense, though. They… are they trying to pull some kind of bullshit? You told me she was getting better.”

She wiped her tears. “Well, I really think they’re lying. It just doesn’t make sense to me, either. Yesterday morning Allie had opened her eyes and she’d recognized me! Even smiled before she fell back to sleep. Then, last night she squeezed my hand and her face looked so much healthier, it was like a miracle. Now, they tell me that she’d died in her sleep, and yet, they won’t even let me see her!”

Carly’s face darkened. “That seriously sounds like a crock of shit. They really won’t let you see her?”

Kris stood up and began pacing. “I demanded they let me see her and Dr. Hill refused, saying it wasn’t
his
call. I don’t know what else to do, dammit!”

“Have you spoken to your husband?”

She shook her head. “No, I can’t get a hold of him. His cell phone must have died. At least that’s what I’m hoping and it isn’t something else.”

Carly’s lips tightened. “If they are refusing to let you see her, than you have to take matters into your own hands. Shoot, I’ll even help you.”

Kris stared at her. “Really?”

She nodded. “Of course. Let’s start right now by sneaking into her room.”

Kris sighed. “If it were only that easy, she isn’t there. They’ve moved her.”

Carly bit the side of her lip. “What about the research lab? I hate to say this but maybe they’re experimenting on her.”

She clenched her jaw. “They’d better not be or I’ll kill every last one of them. I swear to God…”

***

They needed a plan and by the end of the day, they had one. Carly, with her voluptuous curves, blond hair and bright blue eyes had gotten the attention of one of the soldiers. It was obvious that he liked her and she was going to use her all of her feminine wiles to help locate Allie.

“So, I’m going to talk him into giving me a tour of this place. He’s been trying to get me alone and I’m going to give him the opportunity this time, so we can find your daughter.”

“Oh, Carly, you don’t have to go
that
extreme. It just wouldn’t be right,” said Kris.

She smiled. “I’m not going to jump in the sack with the guy. I’m just going to sweet talk him into giving me a private tour. I might let him kiss me, cop a feel, but nothing more. Don’t worry,” she said, shaking Kris’s shoulders playfully. “I know what I’m doing. I’m a grown woman.”

Kris sighed. “Just be careful.”

“If I can help you find your daughter, it’s worth being a little friendly to one of the soldiers. You’ve been so kind to me and I want to return the favor. I mean…the fact that they’re keeping your daughter from you, actually
lying
to your face is really pissing me off.”

She frowned. “It’s infuriating, isn’t it?”

“Damn right it is! But don’t you worry, hon; we’ll find Allie and then get the hell out of here. I’m
not
going to sit around and let them do this shit to you.”

Kris’s eyes filled with tears again. “I don’t know what to say, you’re amazing.”

She smiled and then looked over Kris’s head towards the door. “Showtime…here comes stud muffin,” she said under her breath.

Kris turned around and sure enough, Lieutenant Michael Smith stood just outside of the door, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw Carly.

Carly flipped her long blond curls and batted her eyelashes. “Well hello there Lieutenant. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

He grinned. “Now, I told you to just call me Mike,” he said, and walked into the room. He was younger than Carly, maybe early twenties. From the love-struck look in his blue eyes, he was already putty in her hands.

“Can I talk to you for a minute, Mike? Alone?” asked Carly, walking towards him, her hips swaying seductively.

He licked his lips and nodded. “Of course.”

She looped her arm through his and guided him out of the room. “You’re arms are so firm. Do you work out?”

Kris chuckled and then sprawled out on top of her cot. She closed her eyes and as usual, her thoughts went to her family. She missed them terribly and prayed silently they were all safe. It had been almost a week since she’d spoken to Dave and even longer for Cassie. The last she’d heard was that Cassie had escaped the clutches of the soldier from Texas, Austin, who she herself had actually saved the night the zombies showed up. She’d been very upset with the news but Dave had assured her that Cassie was doing well and that they were all on their way to Atlanta. But that was a while ago and they had yet to arrive. Now that Allie had been moved to a different facility, the chance of them meeting up seemed to be getting slimmer every day. 

Chapter Four

He made it to Atlanta in record time. The motorcycle had been a good choice when it came to weaving through the crowds of zombies and the countless abandoned cars. The problem was that he didn’t know where to start once he crossed into the city so he decided to wing it. He’d drive until it felt right to stop.

He found many of the tourist attractions in Atlanta right away, including a very popular one, the Georgia Aquarium, but unfortunately it did nothing for him. There was no pull, nothing. It was, however, crawling with zombies who were a little too excited about his arrival. He kicked it down as they approached the bike and drove further, until he was in an area of the city that appeared to have less walking dead traffic. As he began to relax, he noticed an abandoned mini mall in the middle of nowhere that looked inviting. He was thirsty and needed something to keep him going. It seemed to be less volatile than most other places he’d driven passed.

He parked the bike off to the side of the building and grabbed his ax. He then headed towards the small health food store in the center of the mall that had caught his eye. As he walked into the entrance he stepped over a couple of dead zombies that appeared to have been shot in the head. He tightened his grip on the ax and made a mental note to start looking for a gun, too.

It was quiet and appeared to be void of people, living or dead. Fortunately, there was also plenty of non-perishable food. He grabbed a canvas bag and started filling it with protein bars, energy drinks, and water. As it started to get heavier, he thought about trading in his motorcycle for a truck or SUV. He could carry more and have a place to sleep if needed. The question was gasoline; could he still acquire it and how long would that last?

He clenched his jaw as his head started to throb again, then sat down behind the store’s counter and took more pain reliever, hoping the pain would subside quickly so he could get moving again. As he began to relax, more images of people flashed through his mind; this time of two men aiming guns at him and shouting pretty angrily. Quickly, the images faded and he couldn’t recall anything more.

The memory lapse was really starting to piss him off.

He grunted and then stood up, stretching his arms. It was definitely time to move on.

He grabbed his bag of supplies and headed for the exit, halting in his tracks when he noticed the van in the parking lot.

Shit.

He ducked down as a man got out; a man that was built like a brick shithouse. Something about him looked vaguely familiar but also very dangerous, so he decided not to approach. Especially after his recent memories of being shot at.