Outbreak The Living (The Outbreak Series) (10 page)

“God, Egypt, you feel so good,” he grunts in my ear. His hand wraps around my breast and squeezes roughly. The pain is almost unbearable when I hear a click of a gun. Turning my head, I try to see what is going on. And then I hear it.

“Get the fuck off her, you bastard,” Mack growls.

Jake doesn’t move fast enough, I hear a crack. Suddenly all Jake's weight falls onto me from behind. Struggling, I try to move him off me. Suddenly I feel the weight being lifted off me, and then a thump as he is thrown on the ground. I hear fighting going on and turn enough to see Mack pounding on him, Jake finally goes down. Pushing up from the desk, Mack grabs me and wraps me up in his arms. The tears are running down my face and I cannot talk for the lump in my throat. He helps me with my jeans and then walks me over to sit down, he hands me a bottled water and just watches me. Looking over at Jake you cannot tell that it is him, his face is really messed up. Mack walks over and puts a bullet in his head.

“Mack, you came,” I say. Looking at the bottle, it’s shaking just as much as my voice is. Mack dabs at my head. Wincing, I grab his hand. Looking up at him “Can we just get out of here?" I ask him. He hands me the cloth and stands up, reaching down for me to grab his hand. Grabbing it, I stand up. I am sore all over but mostly between my legs.

“Egypt, we need to talk about this, please don’t shut me out, but for now we need to leave and get as far from this place as we can,” Mack says. He grabs the bag by the door and opens it up. Todd is standing outside and looks me over. Mack shakes his head at him, and we keep moving. He has a hold of my hand like he is never going to let go. And to be honest, I do not want him to. We make our way down the dark hall to a set of steps. They are not the fire exit ones, but like main steps. Mack doesn’t stop and heads down them as fast as I can keep up. Hitting the glass doors at the bottom, Todd goes out first and looks around. He gives the all clear and we head out.

Looking around there are a few zombies to our left and more than that on the right. Letting go of Mack’s hand, I grab my gun that he gave me. “Where are we heading, Mack?” I continue to look around until I finally see the truck.

“Head to the truck, Egypt,” he says as he fires a few shots at the zombies that are getting to close. Running across the street, I make it to the truck. Opening the door, I let Todd get in the back, I jump up front and slam the door closed, locking it. Looking around I see more zombies coming out of an alley, shit, we really need to get out of here.

It doesn’t take Mack but a few seconds to get in and take off. We slam into a few lingering zombies, I grab the ‘oh shit bar’ as we go over them.  Looking over to Mack, “Did you guys get the medicine that we needed?” I ask.

“Yep, we sure did, and then some,” Mack says.

Smiling I hope it can mean only one thing. “Are we heading home then?”

Mack slows down to take a curve that’s a bit sharp. “Yep, we might make a stop at the CDC if we can get to it.” Grabbing my hand he squeezes it. “We’re headed home, baby,” he says with an enormous grin on his face.

Looking out the window, I sit back and relax. Home. I knew I would see it again, but it does feel like a dream. How long was I gone? About 2 weeks by the time I get home. I think the CDC is a good idea. Maybe someone is left alive and can tell us what happened. Maybe there is a vaccine for this that can protect my family. I wonder how they are doing.  What is going on there?

“Hey Mack, is Sally and Tara OK?” I did not mean to forget about them. There is just a lot going on, a lot I have to think on. He turns my way, I can tell he is not happy but, what was I to do? I had to think fast.

“Yeah, they're fine. Shaken up but good,” he says and by the sound of his voice there’s something else going on. Looking over at him, I want to ask but he shakes his head.

“OK, guys, look sharp, were going to be coming up on the CDC,” Mack says. He grips the wheel a little bit tighter and is on alert. Sitting up straighter, I watch out the window. The roads are becoming thick with the undead. Looking down the side streets as we pass them, I see it’s just as bad that way as well.  Pulling up my hair to get it out of my eyes for when we get out. It’s windy out and I need to be able to see.

Making sure my boots are tied, I sit up. “Mack, what’s the plan since I’ve been out of the loop?”

“It’s going to be tough, we are going to have to make a run for it," he says, speeding up. The zombies are rubbing up against the truck making it hard to see.  There’s a shiny glass building in front of us now. The bottom half is all brick, there’s metal pulled down where the windows should be. They were ready for something to happen, assholes.

Mack slows the truck down and I put my hand on the handle. We are going to have to fight our way in—if there is a way in. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.

“OK, guys, be ready do what you have to. Try and stay together and head to the front door. I’m sure it’s going to be locked, but there’s a camera just make sure you’re seen,” he says. Looking behind me, Todd is getting geared up and gives me a smile. Nodding back, I make sure I have what I need. I add four more clips to my belt. And grab my gun, clicking the safety off. I am ready to go.

Mack stops the truck where there is not so many zombies. Pulling the handle, I hop out and open the door so Todd can do the same. Looking over, Mack is already coming to my side. Looking left and right, they are starting to surround us. Shit! Pulling out my knife, I walk forward grabbing the first zombie putting the knife right through his eye socket. He drops to the ground, turning to my left, I take out two more the same way. Blood is splattering all over the front of me. The street is getting slick with the shit.

Stepping over the dead, I continue to the door. Mack and Todd are doing the same thing. If we don’t hurry, we will be overrun and then, it is game over!  Making it to the door, I look up at the camera, screaming for them to let us in. The guys get to me and push me back against the door. Blocking me as the zombies get closer, the smell is horrid and the moaning will be in my nightmares for the rest of my life. Gagging I try again pounding on the door, but no one comes.

“Mack, what do we do?” I scream over the sounds of them. He reaches behind him, grabbing my hand. I look up into his eyes and I see agony there. Shit! Turning, I pound on the door. "Come on, open up!" I scream.  The guys are pressed back against me when suddenly the door opens and we fall inside. Laying on the ground, I look up at the men. I can hardly breathe with them on top of me. Looking around the room I see there are other people in the room with us. Tensing up, they need to get the hell off me. Images of Jake start running through my head. His hands all over me. Mack looks down at me and freezes. Never taking his eyes from mine he tells Todd to get up now.

Mack doesn’t move while I try and push him off me, I try to smack him in the face, but he stops me. Looking up at the others he tells them we need a few minutes. I hear a door close and it is just us.

“Egypt, you’re safe come back to me,” he says softly in my ear. Looking up, I realize it is Mack. But I am still not comfortable with him on top of me.  “I’m here, Mack. Please, get off me.” Looking him in the eyes, he nods and sits up to the side of me. I look anywhere but at him I don’t want to see the hurt and pity there, it would shatter me.

“Egypt, look at me.” He gently grabs my chin and makes me look him in the eyes.

“Mack, I can’t do this, please, let me up," I say with a crack in my voice. I cannot lose it right now. Mack stands up and reaches his hand out toward me.  Grabbing it, I stand up looking up at him.

“Egypt, nothing has changed between us, you hear me? But you do need to talk about it,” he whispers. 

Squeezing his hand, I know he is right. “I know Mack I just can’t right now and I really want to head home, please,” I beg him.

We start walking to the door where others went. We do not talk anymore, but he still has my hand in his. I need that more than I can say right now. Opening the door up, we walk in looking around. There are four people, not including Todd, in what seems to be a lab. Squeezing Mack’s hand, we go further in and sit down with the others. There are three guys and a woman that could be old enough to be my mother.

“Please, please, sit. Get something to eat and drink. I know you must have a thousand questions,” the lady says.

“Nope just one,” I say looking over at her, “what the fuck did you guys do?” I know I sounded pissed off, but you know what? I am.  The world is coming to an end and it is this bitch’s fault. Looking around the table everyone looks shocked, well screw them.

“Well, I guess so much for pleasantries.” As she gives me a dirty look. But she continues, “As best as we can tell this came from the flu vaccination that everyone got this year.”

Looking over at her I shake my head. “What the hell are you talking about? That can’t be right. My mom got that vaccination and she’s just fine,” I say looking over at Mack. He just stares at the doctor without saying anything. Again, she gives me a dirty look but continues.

“Somehow this virus got into it, but it is killing people, but only they come back alive so to speak. As for your mother, she must be immune to the strain. Boy, I’d like to get some blood samples...” She doesn’t get to finish.

“You will NOT go near my mother,” standing up, “she’s been through enough already,” I say angrily. Looking around, I spot what I am looking for. Grabbing my pack, I head to the restroom. I need to get cleaned up. Walking through the doors there are sinks, showers, and everything in here. Walking over to the showers, I turn the water on and it’s hot almost immediately. Taking off my clothes, I step in and let the hot water run down my body. Watching the blood and the rape wash away.

Resting my head, I watch the steam start to fill the room. Closing my eyes, I start to relax. I cannot keep them closed long before I start thinking about Jake and what happened. Jerking my eyes open, I grab the soap and start washing off the blood, the guts, and Jake. I did not realize just how sore I am there. Taking the washcloth, I gently clean myself, I cannot stop the tears from falling. How am I going to move on with Mack? Why would he want me? Can I still be what he needs and wants?

Hearing the door close, I move the curtain a little. Mack is sitting on the bench that goes right down the middle. Closing my eyes, I lean my forehead on the tile and let the water run down my head and back. Feeling the chilly air hit me, I turn slightly to watch Mack join me in the shower. Looking at him, I almost laugh at the sight before me—Mack left his boxers on. He must really not want me or that he feels sorry for me. I might as well get this talk over with so that way we know where we stand.

He goes to say something, but I stop him as I turn around and put my fingers to his lips. “Mack, let me say what I have to say before I can’t. I was raped, I know it’s not my fault, but it still doesn’t change what happened. I can let this either make or break me. And I chose to let it make me. I’m stronger than what Jake forced on me.” Looking up, I can see he is really listening to me. “I will understand if we don’t go any further than what we have. I was raped by Jake and it might be hard for you forget.” I don’t get to finish because he wraps his arms around me and kisses me more tenderly than he ever has.  He does not try and touch me in any other way. I don’t know if I feel grateful or hurt.

“Egypt, yes, you were, but that doesn’t change how I feel for you. I love you and nothing can change that. I’m not leaving you. I want to help get you through this.” He pushes me away from him a little. “You are the strongest woman I have ever met, and I know this won’t break you.” Looking into his eyes I know he means what he says, the bottoms of his eyes are filling with tears. “Don’t leave me, Egypt.” I cannot hold it in any longer and I cry. The hardest I have ever cried. And I think he is too. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get to you faster. If I had…”

“I love you, Mack. I think I always have.”

Resting my head on his chest, we stay that way until the water runs cold. We get out and get dressed. I feel better, like a ton of bricks have been lifted off my chest. Sitting down, I watch him finish getting dressed. He looks up and smiles at me. I know I will be fine.  We needed to talk about this.

“Mack, I just want you to know that I don’t blame you. You came as fast as you could. And I love you for it. Don’t you ever blame yourself for what happened,” I say, looking at him. He stiffens up a bit but relaxes quickly. He pushes his pant leg down over his boot and walks over grabbing me in his arms.

He kisses me gently on the lips. “I love you, too. We need to head out of here, one of the doctors wants to look at that cut on your head. It’s still bleeding." He hands me a few paper towels and I press them to my head. Mack grabs our bags, looking down at me. “Ready?” he says.

“As ready as I will ever be” We head out the door back into the lab. One of the young male doctors walks over smiling, telling me to sit down. He cleans up my cut and puts on a few steri strips and puts a gauze pad over it. I thank him and walk over to where Mack and Todd are. The doctors give us a few bags to take with us. And tell us to be careful, and that there is no cure. We head to the door and they tell us to wait. One of the doctors went to the roof of the building and lit a few fireworks on the other side of the building.

Watching out a little window, the zombies fell for it and are going to the other side. That is our cue to leave and we do just that. Walking outside into the bright sun feels welcoming. Mack opens my door and throws our gear in. I hop in, waiting for Todd to do the same. Once he is in, Mack shuts the doors and gets in himself. We head north to pick up a highway so we can get into North Carolina by nightfall I’ve been on 77 many times it will take us right to Ohio. Which means home and my family. We are meeting Sal and the others there, where we will stop for the night and get some sleep.

I’m glad that we are. I have some unfinished business with Sal and Sally. I want to get it out of the way. So I can try and leave all this bad stuff behind me. I cannot say that anyone will like the new me. But I really don’t give a shit.