Z-Risen (Book 3): Poisoned Earth (11 page)

08:35 hours Approximate

Location: Just outside of Oceanside

After Anna and I had our talk, I rose and grumped around for a half an hour, wishing more than anything that I had an energy drink or a gallon of coffee. A couple of weeks ago we’d found some packs of instant Starbucks coffee, but I’d kept them tucked deep inside my backpack and managed to make them last for a few days.

Even mixed with cold water, tasting grainy and undissolved, I’d treated them like fucking gold. I’d even thought about snorting the damn stuff for a rush. Probably end up with a headache and brown-colored snot.

Christy had filtered about a liter of water so I drank down a cup, then greedily drank another. I’d make it up to her by helping her filter more water later in the day.

I moved to the rear door and watched Christy and Frosty play. They’d found a stick, and the dog was running around, alternating between playing fetch and playing ‘try to catch me’. She had a devious look in her eye every couple of times she brought the twig to Christy. Christy would reach for the stick, and Frosty would dance back and shake her head while her tail flopped from side to side.

I opened the door and stepped onto the partially-finished porch.

I sat down and Frosty, seeing me, dropped the stick and dashed up the stairs. She puppy-attacked me for a few minutes of mock play that involved trying to grab my sleeve and pull me into the yard. I rubbed the dog’s head, and when she tired of that she dropped to her side and rolled on her back.

Christy took a seat next to Frosty and rubbed her belly while I did the same.

“Are we going to stay here for a while?” Christy asked.

“I don’t think so. It’s not safe to hang out in one location for more than a day or two. When Joel and I first got to San Diego we managed to hold out for almost a week. The Zs were still fairly new, and we didn’t have a lot of crazies out trying to steal our stuff.”

“Do you think someone will bother us here?”

“Hard to say. It’s not like we know the neighborhood. Joel’s got a plan to reinforce the place. If we have to, we’ll just bug out. The camper’s ready and we have a quarter tank of gas.”

“How far will that get us?”

“Not very far, but far enough for now,” I said. “If we run out there’s a lot of cars we can siphon from. Problem is, gas gets old when it sits around, and might not be useable in a few months.”

“What else won’t be useable? I’m worried about stuff like supplies. They won’t last forever, and we can only break into so many houses before there are no more canned goods sitting around.”

“I guess we learn how to garden, and hunt deer,” I said.

“Is there a plan B?”

“Smartass.”

Frosty stopped wagging her tail and shot to her feet. She stared into the woods that surrounded the backyard. She growled low in her throat, but then settled back down.

“Something back there?” Christy asked.

She stood and walked into the yard.

“Could be a Z that’s stuck. We’ll keep an eye out. If Frosty is on guard, I think that’s a bad sign.”

“Maybe we should just go,” Christy said, looking back at me.

“Maybe we should, but I agree with Joel. We need a break. We’ve been on the run for weeks and I’d like to catch up on some sleep,” I said.

Christy smiled tightly and went back to staring at the woods.

I put my back to the wall and took a minute to enjoy the afternoon sun. Frosty drifted over and put her head in my lap, so I closed my eyes and dozed for a while, content to enjoy a little quiet and companionship from the dog.

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08:35 hours Approximate

Location: Just outside of Oceanside

Voices from the front of the house woke me.

I shook away the cobwebs and found that Christy and Frosty had left me. They’d left me to be devoured if a zombie wandered across my form.

I rose and entered through the backdoor. No one was in the kitchen. Thanks a lot. With friends like these, who needed the zombie fucking apocalypse? I found them in the living room. Anna had her hand on her piece. Joel stood in front of the door and Roz had her back to the wall so she could cover the bay window. Christy hovered in the back of the room, looking like she wanted to bolt.

“Let me guess, more Zs. Jesus, why’d you guys leave me out there to get devoured?” I called.

The kitchen was deserted, and that just added to the realization that my friends had left me alone.

Then Christy’s head appeared around the corner. She looked at me with large eyes. “Jackson, someone’s here,” she whispered.

“Someone like a live person? Or someone like a dude drooling blood and looking for a free lunch?” I asked as I walked into the living room. “Can’t believe you all left me outside and asleep. What if a Z…”

Joel shot me a flat look.

“We just heard this guy, jeez, Jackson. You were only alone for a few seconds,” Christy said.

“Guard the back door, man. Something’s up with this fool,” Joel said.

“I was just back there and there’s no one out there.”

“Dude. This guy might be a decoy while others move on our six. Grab a big gun and get ready for the worst.”

I nodded and complied. If Joel was right, we needed to keep all entry points covered.

Joel moved his AR to the high ready position and covered the front door while Anna slid around a corner. If someone came in blasting, they had the entryway covered from two positions.

“Come on, Jackson,” Roz said, moving into the kitchen.

She drew her gun and double-checked the magazine. Roz was armed with one of the 9mms--the Sig, if I wasn’t wrong.

I unholstered my Springfield XDM and followed her.

We dropped next to windows facing the backyard and peered outside.

“Hey man, I don’t mean any harm,” a man’s voice called from outside. “Can you spare some food? Just a little bit, I got a wife and three kids. Please. We’re all starving.”

Joel didn’t answer.

“I know you see me and I know you’re there. There’s at least four of you. I swear I don’t want any trouble, just a little food. Anything you can spare. I’ve even got a few things I can share.”

“Does he look dangerous?” I called from the kitchen.

“He looks like he’s scared, but he also looks like he’s wearing something under his shirt. My guess would be some kind of body armor. I can’t see any weapons, but he hasn’t turned either. Could be he’s packing,” Joel called back, just loud enough for us to hear him.

“Be careful,” Roz said.

“Go away, man. I’m sorry to hear about your family but we don’t have any extra food,” Joel yelled.

“Please, just a few bites. We haven’t had anything in days.”

“We’re well-armed, so just fuck off, okay? Go to town and raid just like the rest of us been doing,” Joel tried to reason—like a Marine.

“You see anything?” I asked Roz.

“Nothing, but stay frosty.”

The mutt heard her name and wandered over to see what we were up to. Frosty’s wet nose on the back of my neck almost scared me out of my own skin.

I reached around and pulled her close. Frosty took a seat next to me and panted. The dog must have sensed our tension, because she cocked her head and stared in the direction of the door.

“What?” I asked her, like she could answer.

Frosty’s ears perked up.

“Just give us a little bit and we’ll leave you alone,” the guy outside the house called.

“We? I thought it was just you,” Joel called back.

“Shit,” Roz said. “This guy’s full of it.”

Frosty stood and moved to the door. She bared her teeth growled deep in her throat.

“Make this easy on yourself, man. You’re going to give up some food one way or another.”

“He’s moving,” Joel called. “I’m going to drop him.”

Joel’s AR spoke in the house. Glass tinkled as he fired a couple of rounds.

Frosty got spooked by the gunfire and prowled around the living room before she went to Christy and sat next to her.

“You get him?” I called.

“He’s behind a car. As soon as he shows his skull I’m putting one in it.”

“I don’t like this, Joel.”

“Keep it together, Jackson,” Roz said.

“Movement, there.” I pointed toward the East. Someone was fucking around by some shrubs.

I caught a glimpse of something dark, but then it was gone.

“I didn’t see it,” Roz said. “Wait, I see something but it’s at three o’clock.”

“Someone’s trying to flank us,” I called to Joel.

“Then put them the fuck down,” he said.

I pushed the window up and it gave without a screech--thank goodness for the new house. All I needed was for it to give us away.

I lifted my pistol and aimed where I’d seen the shadow, but it didn’t reappear.

“I got the other side, Jackson. You start shooting and be sure to call out targets. I’ll do the same,” Roz said.

Over the weeks we’d come under fire from a variety of bad guys. One thing I’d learned early on was that I’d rather face a horde of ravenous Zs than a bunch of dudes with guns. The mercenaries we’d been holed up with had shown me just how fast you could go down if someone had you in their sights. Now I felt like that again, like I was in the crosshairs.

A gun rang out and something struck the door. I dropped to all fours.

“Dumbass can’t hit the side of a barn,” Roz said.

She raised her head high enough to peek over the windowsill, then lowered herself back down.

Joel fired from the front of the house.

Frosty was smart and moved away from the door. She ran into the living room, hopefully to sit with Christy in a quiet corner. If someone got us and came through the door, they’d be in for a surprise when the dog took them down and Christy opened fire.

I took a quick look and saw a person moving across the line of shrubs near the woods. I poked my gun out the window and aimed, leading the target as it moved. I exhaled and squeezed the trigger. The gun bucked in my hand and the figure dropped to the ground, so I followed up with a couple more shots.

“I think I got him,” I turned and said to Roz.

A bullet burst through the window overhead and made me kiss the floor.

“I don’t think you got him,” Roz said.

She lifted herself off the ground and aimed. She took a couple of seconds to zero in and fired a pair of rounds.

“I saw three of them back there but they don’t look well-armed. Handguns, most likely,” Roz said. “Hope one of them isn’t toting a shotgun. I’d kill to have my Remington again.”

I took a look, but no one moved back there.

“I’ll cover from upstairs,” Anna said, then she pounded up the stairs.

“Watch the backyard, Sails. I think a couple got around the house. I got this asshole,” Joel said.

“Aye,” she called.

Something rattled on the side of the house. I strained to see over the windowsill, but there was no way to spot them without opening the back door.

“I think they’re trying to get into the camper,” Roz said.

“Goddamn it. I’m going out there,” Joel said.

“Joel, wait. We don’t know how many there are. You might be walking into a trap,” I said.

“That’s why you’re going to come up here and cover me. Roz, you got the back, Sails has the high ground, Jackson will cover me,” he said.

I shook my head and moved into the living room. Christy was huddled up with Frosty, but she looked very determined. She held her revolver in a shaky hand, but I was pretty sure the kid would drop anyone who came through the door.

“Creed, lay down a few rounds near that burned-up Mustang. I got him bottled up. If he peeks out, pop him. Stay in the doorway, behind the wall, and make sure he doesn’t shoot me in the back,” Joel said, and put his hand on the doorknob.

“Dude, I don’t know if I can do this,” I said.

“Piece of cake, brother, just aim and shoot. That guy’s probably more scared than you since I’ve been putting some heavy ammo on him. In a few minutes, all of these assholes are going to wish they’d stayed the hell away,” Joel said.

I nodded and sucked in a few breaths. I took station at the bay window and sighted the car. No shape had presented itself yet.

Joel opened the door and dropped to his knees. His gun swept up to the ready as he studied the battlefield.

“When I move, pop two rounds at the car. I think he’s behind the hood. Just spook him until I’m out of sight.”

A gun spoke from upstairs--Anna’s big .357, if I wasn’t mistaken.

Joel moved, so I did as he’d instructed. I fired a round, and then another one. Both struck the top of the car.

The figure that had been hiding dove from cover and sprinted toward a house. I aimed, exhaled, and dropped him with a single round. His arms flew up and he fell face first into the unfinished lawn across the street. He didn’t move again.

Joel was already gone, so I moved to the door to cover his exit.

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