Fractured: Outbreak ZOM-813 (5 page)

“Mel, are you there?” I called out over the radio. We waited. “Mel, we’re on our way. Are you there?” I called out again.

Dan concentrated on navigating the maze of road blocks and infected wandering the streets. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him give me a concerned glance as I called out to Melody with no response.

The streets were much worse outside of our immediate neighborhood with cars jamming intersections, some looking like they had caught fire, others riddled with bullet holes. Our truck immediately caught the attention of all the infected roaming the area. 

It was a straight shot once we left the neighborhood. Turn left, down for a mile, then another left onto Melody’s block, and less than a half mile to her house. Easy enough.

“Why isn’t she answering me?” It was a rhetorical question.

“They’re fine. Maybe they left it when they locked themselves in the bedroom or the batteries ran out. We just don’t know,” Dan calmly theorized.

“Mel, Jason, are you there?”

A drive that typically took us less than ten minutes took double that time due to maneuvering blocked lanes, avoiding the infected, and making a few detours. The infected didn’t move fast enough to make contact with the truck, but we certainly captured their interest.

Dan’s eyes stayed mostly straight ahead, just taking an occasional second to check the rear view mirror. “Are they following us?”

I turned in my seat looking out the back window to see groups filling the streets. “Yes, but they won’t catch us.”

The infected filed into the streets, shuffling along in a slow shag step, and followed in our direction.

When we turned into Melody’s neighborhood, we saw piles of bodies burning in front yards sending columns of black smoke rising and blocking out the sky; it gave the feeling we were in an enormous cavern as opposed to the outdoors.  The smell of burnt flesh leaked through the air vents of the truck. 

“I think we are invited to Satan’s personal BBQ in Hell,” Dan said.

Arriving at Melody’s house brought more fears racing through my mind making my chest feel like it was closing in with every breath I took.

“The military came through here,” I said.

Dan pulled into the driveway. We looked around the truck and didn’t see any infected, so without wasting any more time, we jumped out taking Mayhem along with us.

Melody and Jason’s cars were still parked in the driveway. Their windows were boarded up from the inside. A few windows were broken, and the remaining bloody jagged shards protruded from the violated frame like the last straggling teeth of a badly beaten man.  

Dan approached the front door to find it partially open.

“Jason, Mel.” Dan spoke gently as he poked his head in the door and then turned around to me with a look that was not too comforting.

We entered.

The house is small so we were able to see into almost every room by standing in the living room. Melody’s usually spotless home, a hallmark of better living, was in complete disarray. The floors covered in muddy foot prints, pictures knocked over, and the glass from broken windows littered the floor.

In the mess of broken memories lay the radio. It appeared like it was dropped as several parts had been knocked off. I picked it up along with the pieces and continued through the house.

Their bedroom door, as well as the baby’s room, was open.

“What happened here?” Dan whispered to himself.

We made our way back to the front of the house, searching for anything that may give answers.

“The military picked them up,” I said, looking at the floor of muddy boot prints. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“Honey, we have to go,” Dan responded, looking out the door. “Infected are coming.”

I pulled a framed family picture from the wall that was spared from the tornado of chaos that spiraled through the home.

We didn’t hesitate another moment.

Dan and I left my sister’s house, closing the door behind us.

CHAPTER 5

It didn’t do either of us any good to let fear set in and take over our emotions. We needed to think and plan with clear minds.

As we drove north, I stared at the family photo I had pulled from Melody’s wall showing Melody, Jason, and little Aubrey smiling at the camera. A perfect moment captured in time. Dan and I knew we had to find my family. It was all either of us had left.

“We’ll drive north towards Summer Springs. There’s two military bases on the way, three if we stay inland instead of on the coast.” Dan scanned a map.

We were parked on a canyon road about a mile outside anything that was once civilization. Both of us assumed there had to be safe areas outside the reach of infection and zoned off by the military, a place where they were bringing survivors. All the military bases were far from the most populous areas around the state.

“The closest one is about forty minutes north in the desert.” Dan finished highlighting our route then folded the map and handed it back to me. “We’ll head there first.”

Dan put the truck in drive, and we continued up the canyon heading north until we hit a main freeway. Vehicles jammed the on ramps, so we stayed on the shoulder leading us to the freeway that was now a congested parking lot.

“So many people… just gone,” I said under my breath. “Where did everyone go?” I looked at Dan even though he didn’t have a clue either.

Dan reached over and held my hand. He stayed on the right shoulder of the freeway where it was clear of any barriers. There were no infected on the road, nor was there a living soul in sight. Quite frankly, I was happy about not seeing either. Killing things that were once human was bad enough. The thought of having an encounter with people acting as savage hostiles made me cringe. Disasters historically brought out the worst in certain groups of people, like looters and rioters. 

It wasn’t long before we made it to the turnoff for Highway 59, the narrow roadway that would take us over the mountain range and into the desert. This road was less cluttered allowing us to move more easily and at a normal speed.

The trip was silent, both of us emotionally exhausted from the events and the losses since the outbreak. I gazed out the window watching the world pass by and wondering if we were the only two left. It felt like we were anyway. My thoughts drifted to Melody, Jason, and Aubrey, wondering where they were and if they were alright. Were the infected actually successful in breaking into the home, or did the military kill all the infected on the outside and break in - to rescue my family? I was going to slowly drive myself mad if I kept asking questions I couldn’t answer.

“Infected?” Dan’s voice broke the silence.

A man had burst from the tree line and was running down the road in our direction with one hand waving in the air.

“He’s moving too fast to be infected.”

As we got closer to him, we were able to make out that he was military. Besides the closely shaved head, he was dressed in full camouflage, carrying a backpack, and an angry looking M-4 automatic rifle with a bayonet attached to the muzzle.

Dan began slowing down until he came to a complete stop before reaching the soldier. The soldier slowed his pace and continued towards us. He wrapped his weapon around his shoulder, holding both hands up as if he was surrendering.

“Maybe he needs help,” I muttered.

“I thought we promised not to be heroes.” Dan made a good point.

“Maybe he has answers to where they took Mel & Jason.”

We both rolled down the windows. Mayhem stirred in the back of the truck, anxious of this new stranger before us.

“I’m Lieutenant Colonel Jaxon!” the soldier called out. “I’m just looking for a ride out of here.”

Dan and I gave each other a quick look and back at this Lieutenant Colonel Jaxon.

“Where you headed?” Dan questioned.

“There’s a base not too far from here. I lost contact after we were attacked at my post. I need to get there.”

“Alright… but unarmed.” Dan sounded as if he had thought about this the moment he laid eyes on him.

“I get it. That’s no problem. Your car, your rules.” Jaxon pulled the gun off his shoulder slowly and laid it to the ground, then pulled another gun from his holster and also laid it down.

“Get in.” I opened the back door.

As the soldier made his way over to my side of the truck, Dan jumped from his door to pick up the weapons. The new passenger hesitated by the door, glancing at me for reassurance as Mayhem glowered with a deep growl.

“Mayhem, leave it.”

“Thank you.” Jaxon nervously climbed into the back seat next to Mayhem.

Dan crawled back into the driver’s seat, placing the weapons on his left side between him and the door, and rolled up both our windows.

“I’m Dan, this is Harmony, and that’s Mayhem.” Dan situated himself to face the soldier.

Jaxon looked nervously at Dan and quickly returned his gaze to Mayhem who sat uncomfortably close to the soldier as if the dog was sizing him up. “Lieutenant Colonel Robert Jaxon, but I go by Jaxon. I can’t thank you enough.”

“You said you were attacked?” I asked.

“We had posts just about hundred feet behind the tree line along this highway. We were monitoring the roads after the outbreak and killing all infected in the area. I lost six men during the night by a group of infected moving through here. My radio is busted so I haven’t been able to make contact with the base or the other posts.”

“Are they taking survivors to this base?” I asked.

“Only as a temporary stop. Any survivors are being taken to Camp Glen or Fort Coulee. About ten miles ahead is Fort Mesa.  It’s being used for scientists and southwest military command center. If survivors make it there, it’s only for a brief stay.” Jaxon shifted uncomfortably in the back seat with his eyes nervously shifting from Mayhem, to Dan, and then to our surroundings. We were sitting ducks in the road, and it was apparent Jaxon was getting uncomfortable.

“So Fort Mesa then?” Dan looked at me and then turned back around in his seat.

I sat twisted in my seat so I could make eye contact with Dan and Jaxon. Dan put the truck back in drive and continued heading north.

“When were you attacked?” Dan looked through the rear view mirror.

“Last night.” Jaxon rubbed his knees, still seeming agitated.

“Why didn’t they send reinforcements?” I asked.

“No reason to yet. We aren’t due to make contact with the command center for another twelve hours.” Jaxon gave me a sidelong glance as he continued to also look out the windows.

“There are some water bottles in the back there, Jaxon. Help yourself.” Dan offered.

“Thanks.” Jaxon looked down at the floor behind Dan’s seat but passed on getting a bottle.

I noticed a wedding band on his ring finger.

“My wife and little boy are staying on the base,” Jaxon began to explain as if he knew I wanted to ask. “I haven’t seen or spoken to them in a few days.” He gave a small hint of a smile as he turned his wedding band around his finger.

“I’m looking for my family. My sister, her husband, and their little girl disappeared from their home with signs the military was in the area,” I explained.

“It’s a good bet they were picked up. Any civilians found alive and still healthy in the first few days were sheltered on Navy ships offshore. Once the ships were at capacity, we began to bring people to military bases throughout the country.”

“What happens to anyone who isn’t healthy?” I asked.

“They’re killed.” Jaxon looked at me point blank.

Mayhem finally began to relax. The dog curled up in the seat and laid his head on Jaxon’s lap. The soldier nervously reached down and began to rub Mayhem’s ears. The action seemed to calm both of them. 

As we continued up the windy mountain highway, I could see where the fighting with the infected had occurred beyond the tree line. Posts similar to hunting platforms sat vacant within the trees. There was a military vehicle wrapped around a tree and another overturned in a ditch. There were bodies of the infected and other soldiers scattered throughout the route.

The smell of smoke began filtering through the air vents. A thick scent of scorched wood and choking ash left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Do you smell that?” I leaned forward searching for where the smoke was coming from, but the trees were blocking my view.

“Yeah.” Dan looked out his window and began to slow the truck just a bit.

“There’s an unmarked road coming up about a half mile to the right. Turn there, the base is another mile,” Jaxon instructed.

Dan shifted in his seat, scanning our surroundings. Barbed wire fence lined the highway with infected caught in the thorny wire dangling above the ground. There were a few abandoned vehicles sitting along the road with shattered windows and flat tires. The cars looked as though they had been looted; doors were cast open and bags, suitcases, and various articles of clothing scattered the road. Jaxon continued looking out the window. I couldn’t tell if he was searching for survivors of his unit or thinking about his family. Maybe both. I didn’t ask.

“Turn right here,” Jaxon directed.

The dirt road wasn’t on any maps. The smell of smoke and burnt rubber was getting stronger. Dan took the turn and continued on. The trees began to thin out until they were gone, leading out to a vast valley, and beyond that, mountains.

Scattered along the narrow road were crudely fashioned road blocks with razor wire strewn across their tops. The sharp tips of the wire gleamed in the sun, and scattered throughout were the thrashing bodies of the infected. 

Like flies in a spider’s web…
obstacles with more infected caught in the traps.

“Jaxon, something’s wrong.” I finally was able to see where the smoke was coming from.

“This doesn’t look good.” Dan slowed the truck.

Jaxon leaned between the front seats to get a better view. Ahead of us, less than a half mile away, a massive cloud of smoke rose to the sky.

The wall surrounding Fort Mesa was about seven feet high with barbed wire lining the top and more wire obstacles around the base. There was one guard tower overlooking the entire compound.

As Dan brought us closer, we began to get a better look at what happened. Two trucks outside the walls were burning, and the entrance looked as if another vehicle, maybe a pickup truck, had smashed into the gates.

“You can drop me off here. I won’t ask you to bring me to the gates.” Jaxon studied the scene. “But I would love my guns back now.”

“What are you talking about drop you off? My sister could be in there.” There was bit of worry in my voice.

“We’re in this Jaxon,” Dan insisted.

I don’t think either of us really knew what that meant when Dan said it. But the reality was, there was nothing left for us to do but find my family.  If that meant going on a rescue mission, then that’s what we needed to prepare for. Besides, it wasn’t like there was a better option out there with the world falling apart around us.

“OK.” Jaxon hesitated for a moment. “Let’s stop here and make a plan.”

Dan put the truck in park. We both looked back at Jaxon for our next move.

“The base is small. We’re talking ten buildings with two of them being living quarters. There’s a main hall, medical ward; the rest are offices and science labs. This in front of us is the main entrance. There’s an emergency exit on the back end that leads out to a fire road we use if shit goes down. If survivors like your family came through then they would be held in the medical wards for brief quarantine then ….”

The word quarantine was jarring. A vision of my family sitting in a medical room for evaluation was unsettling.

What if they stick them in a room with sick people and don’t even realize it?

“So those are the only two buildings we need to get to,” Jaxon continued.

“What buildings?” I realized I hadn’t been paying attention, missing valuable information.

“The medical ward and living quarters.” Dan raised an eyebrow, a little surprised I had drifted off.

“Where will your family be?” I asked Jaxon, surprised he hadn’t brought it up yet.

“My wife will be in the labs. My son spends most of the day in her office.” Jaxon sighed.

Dan and I must have given off simultaneous expressions of curiosity with that statement.

“My wife is in charge of the experiments and testing.” Jaxon gave us our answer. “Look, I’ll be honest, I have no idea what we might find or what we may run into. Stay behind me, and stay together.”

“Mayhem should come. He smells these things before we even see them. He’s a great asset,” I insisted.

Jaxon nodded the OK.

Dan turned back in his seat and put the truck back in drive.

“I say we get up a little closer to those barriers and back up near the entrance.” Jaxon pointed ahead.

Dan drove the truck forward. We didn’t see anything alive on the outside of the walls.  Dan turned off the road into the dirt and circled, then began to back up closer to the wall near the entrance, finally putting the truck in park.