Keep Going (Book 1): The Beginning (10 page)

“I trust you, Alex.” He spoke truthfully. “We’ll get there.”

She smiled with her eyes as he leaned his against her shoulder seeking the warmth from the night air. She dropped a kiss on top of his unruly read hair as his eyes drifted shut. The kiss was a promise that she would protect them, not matter what. As his soft snores filled the air around them that silent promise became a determination in her mind. They were going to get to that base; she’d make sure of it.

11

Petey’s walked mimicked those of the monsters around the. Except his groans spoke more to the pound in his head and did not bring fear to his companions but laughter. He attempted to glare at them but the action caused a sharp pain to his already throbbing head.

“Told you it was a bad idea.” Maggie said smugly.

Oh how he wished he could glare and snarl some way. Any way to show his annoyance but all movements of his face made him ill. Walking in itself made his stomach turn but he powered through it. He threw his arm over his eyes to block out any light walking blindly down the road. He was sure Maggie would scream or Alex would give warning if there were any danger. Speaking of Alex…

“How come you’re not hung-over?” He groaned.

Alex lips were down curved in annoyance but her dimple was peaking out betraying her frown.

“Well you’ve puked twice, drank most of the wine and oh yeah; I can hold my own.” She laughed.

Petey tried to growl out his pleasure but all that came out was a whimper. Alex finally took pity on the man and stopped walking. She pulled the duffle bag from Maggie and reached in to retrieve a large bottle of water and some crackers. He looked at it worried that he might be wasting it one something that was rightfully his own fault. Alex stared at him, his features darkened by the sun.

“We need you feeling better just in case. Plus I’m sure they’ve got water there. Either in bottle form or something we can use to refill our own.” She justified.

He agreed with her logic and drank down the water. It wasn’t very cold but it made his tummy happy. He marveled at the miracle of water and how a bottle of water made things just a little bit better.

She smirked as he stared to nibble at the crackers like a mouse. She tossed the bottle back into the bag and they continued on their way.

“How much farther?” Maggie whined.

Petey let out a muffled growl, his cheeks puffed up with crackers. His headache was almost gone but the sound of her voice threatened for its return. Alex laughed under her breath Petey’s blunt dislike of Maggie. She pulled off to the side pulling out the map and laying it out on one of the abandoned cars.

They stared at it for a second trying to figure out where they were compared to the base. It appeared not too far at all at least on the map.

“Looks like we got another couple of miles then we take the first off ramp we see. Should only be 5 or so miles after that.” Alex said.

“That’s if we’re driving, we’re walking though.” Petey pointed out. His fingers dragged along a new route for them. “WE just need to get off the expressway in about half a mile. We should be coming up on Cedardale Rd and turn Stackpole Rd, should be a straight shot from there.”

It looked like it would cut a lot of time off their travels and shorten the distance. Alex nodded at his words and folded the map up. With a quick ‘let’s do it’ they started again.

With the occasional monster the walk was uneventful. Petey stopped feeling his stomach turn after the 6
th
monster he slammed his crowbar into. It concerned him however how easily Alex fell into this. She barely stopped, whipping her machete through their heads every hit her brown eyes turned darker, almost as if the light behind them kept dimming.

He wanted to voice his concerns but he didn’t. Didn’t think he had any right after all she was the only reason they were still going. Maybe it was selfish of him but he understood he needed her like this to survive.

They got of the highway, carefully sliding down the slanted grass onto the road beside it. They stood at the crossroads, to one side there were crops, and they were small but growing. On the other side a few houses, it seemed to be a small neighborhood. Petey raced from their side to the driveway of the first house.

“Check it out! A non-damaged car!” He stopped his running and crept closer to the car. Not wanting a repeat of yesterday he raised his trusted crowbar and readied. Alex felt sick at how quick Petey’s demeanor changed. She ignored the feeling and followed behind ready to back him up.

The white sedan was empty, he pulled the door open and brushed away the broken glass from the seat. He dug through the compartments looking for keys and by some miracle there they were. Nestled securely between the registration and insurance. He started the car and smiled proudly.

“Shall we arrive in comfort?”

Alex rolled her eyes but slid into the front seat. Maggie grudgingly but happy to be off her feet, jumped into the back seat. Titling her head back and letting herself relax for a little bit.

“You’re such a dork.” Alex smiled.

He pulled out of the driveway and headed down the road. It would only take a few minutes now for them to reach their destination. The air rushing through the shattered windows made them shiver or it could have been the sight of a few monsters snarling at them as they passed. They were close to the base but so were those things. Maybe there was a chance they would get there first. It became harder and harder for Alex to feel hopeful. The fear and worry was breaking her will and heart. She wouldn’t allow the others to see it; she needed to be strong.

They came to a hard stop at the high metal fence that blocked their path. Stepping out of the car, they all entwined their fingers with the mental and leaned against it. Feeling the cool metal against her skin, Alex wondered how long it took for them to put this fence up. This didn’t’ look like something that was done in the spur of the moment especially in a residential area. How did they know they would need this fence?

Looking ahead they saw not the base but a shimmer of light. The sun was reflecting off something from the distance. Petey looked around for a guard or an entrance; something that indicated that this was the place they needed to be.

“It’s the base!” Maggie’s sudden voice startled the two others out of their thoughts.

Petey and Alex kept staring at the glimmer trying to confirm her statement but at last they couldn’t make that call. Before they could get a word in Maggie rand down the fence looking for a way in. There had to be agate or post, something where they could get in. In her rush she didn’t hear the footsteps that followed her pace. It wasn’t until she felt a hand clamp over her mouth and an arm wrap around her waist pulling her hard against a flat chest.

“Don’t move and don’t say a word. There are still those things near by and you don’t really want to draw attention do?” Petey hissed in her ear.

She shook her head or as much as she could with his hand weighing down on her.

“We need to keep quiet until we know for a fact that we’re safe or that this is the base. So no yelling and no running off. Understood?”

he let her go after she made an agreeing sound. He turned back to Alex to figure out to do next but he noticed she had move from leaning on the fence to them. He was never able to read Alex’s face before, always closed off or held back. But this time everything she was feeling was clearly on display. Hope, pain, happiness and hate all mixed together with an underling of surrender.

“Alex?” He stepped towards her.

His hand stretched out as to not startle her. Her focus shifted and just like that her mask was back on. However she couldn’t rid her face of that underlining emotion. It had found its home on her face and he didn’t understand why surrender. They had made it. Didn’t they?

“Alex.” He tried again. “What’re you thinking?”

Alex blinked slowly and raised her machete. He stopped his reach for her and instinctively took a step back away from the blood tip. But he realized that the point was not aimed at him.

He followed the direction of the point and saw what caused such a sense of surrender. He didn’t noticed it when he chased Maggie but there it t was, a hole in the fence. It had been ripped open in haste. Alex packed her machete and walked over to the opening. She ran her fingers over the jagged edges the scratches on her arm burning at the memory of how those things tore Charlie apart and how they probably tore this apart as well.

She tapped the sharp edges that pointed at her. Which meant that something wasn’t fighting to get in but fighting to get out.

“It’s torn from the inside out.” She muttered.

“What do we do?” He asked despondently.

She hummed continuing to trace the edges as if she was touching a fine piece of art. Removing her fingers she took a knee and ripped open her bag. Pulling out a small black gun, she motioned for Maggie to come over. She explained the mechanics of it and how to use it and the all the rules of safety. Maggie took it with great doubt but it calmed her uneasiness a little know she could protect herself now. Alex jerked towards the opening they followed her without a word. She packed away her machete and held out the shotgun. She didn’t know what they were walking into but she was going to be prepared. Petey fell into step next to her.

“Really think it’s a good idea for her to have that gun?” He whispered.

“Trust me.” She whispered back.

He did but he still had some serious doubts. They got closer and closer the grass below them slowed turned into grave.

“It’s too quiet.” Petey said.

Alex hummed her agreement as they reached another fence this time it surrounded what they figured was the base but it looked like a small camp. There stood multiple green tents scattered around but circling a large metal shed; it looked like an airplane hanger. But that’s all there was; no people or any sign that there once was. They walked along the fence looking for another opening but praying they didn’t find one.

Papers littered the ground, barrels knocked over and things were tossed in a very erratic manner. It very much looked like someone left in a hurry. A sudden breeze floated past shaking the tents. The opening to of the green tents fluttered open and just for second Alex could see it. See the red that stained the tent making it darker. She dropped her eyes ‘there was still a chance’ she kept repeating like a broken record.

They came upon a post sitting at what looked like a gate; it had a flimsy board that had once guarded the entrance but now sat broken on the ground. Alex held her hand out stopping the two in their tracks. She raised her gun has she crept towards the post. She leaned inward to see her fears confirmed. There lied the poor soldier who was unfortunate enough to be working outside. He snarled, reaching out his half eaten arm towards her but not being able to reach. He was trying to stand but taking closer look at his body, she could see it was spilt in half. His legs were next to him, she doubted he could get her. Realizing there could be more around she settled her gun down on the edge of the post and reached for her machete. Her fingers wrapped around the handle but she didn’t pull it out. Instead she let go. They didn’t need to see this; they didn’t need to know that this was a lost cause. She gave him a quiet apology for the fallen soldier before turning away.

“Anything?” He asked.

She swallowed hard and shook her head. Only one noticed the action but he didn’t say anything as they moved on. they slid against Humvees, Alex let out a snort. Looks like he was right after all. The scratches burned yet again as if he was speaking to her, mocking her. She stepped faster to the large shed as noise began to form around them.

Only a few more feet and they were there. If only life was that easy. Mucky hands grabbed her but they were in slime she was able to break free. The cold blue eyes bore into her as they reached for her again. Petey raised his gun to fire but Alex stopped him with the raise of her hand. She motioned for them to look around to see what she saw.

The hoard that wandered aimlessly apparently not paying any attention to their presences. Understanding, Petey lowered his gun and swing his crowbar instead. The blood splattered on to Alex but she took no notice. They moved as quick as they could dodging the grasping hands of monsters. Alex sliced off a few heads as Petey bashed in a couple of his own before they reached the large metal doors.

Alex wanted to bang on them and scream for anyone but there was no reason to. They were open.

She squeezed in between the opening of the doors to find nothing. The airplane hanger was empty, completely empty of people at least. Petey stepped in next his mind becoming dizzy at the pitiful sight. Grayish metal lunch tables went up and down the center but they were empty. Maggie came in and held her breath as looked at the boxes that lined the walls of the empty building.

Maggie put her hand to her mouth trying to keep her sobs quiet but she took a step too far back, her foot hit the metal doors causing it to open a little more. It was not very loud but it was enough to draw attention. Alex and Petey turned towards the woman, her eyes wide in horror at the knowledge at what she had done. She moved away as the snarls came closer. The pair racing past her towards the doors. They jabbed their weapons through the opening killing or pushing anything that tried to sneak in. With the path clear, they each grabbed one of the large doors and forced it closed.