Z14 (Zombie Rules) (34 page)

             
A woman in a nightgown ran outside. She had something wrapped in a blanket and I was chastened when I realized she was carrying a baby. I had forgotten all about the child when I planned this out. She ran toward the back of the house and disappeared from sight. Lady luck was still with me. I’m not sure how I would live with myself if I had killed a child.

             
I waited for the Captain to make an appearance. In the meantime, two other men ran out from the back of the house. They were armed with assault rifles. They looked around for a target, and finding none, they tried valiantly to put out the fire. I scored a headshot with each.

             
I waited another ten minutes for him, my nemesis, to appear. All I needed for him to do was show his face, even for a moment, and I’d send him to hell. The old wood house was now fully engulfed, but he was nowhere to be seen. I came to the conclusion he was currently burning to death, or perhaps, he had escaped out of the back, which I could not cover. I watched the house burn.

             
I had no idea if I’d gotten him, but I knew I had hurt him. Badly. By my count, ten of his men had been sent to hell, and, I just burned his house down.

             
It felt good, but not good enough. The not knowing if he was dead was going to be bothersome. Nevertheless, my gut instinct told me to get the hell out of there. I slipped out of sight into the darkness and headed back to the barn.

             
“It’s me.” I whispered as I opened the barn door. Even though it was getting light outside, it was still dark inside the dusty old barn. I made out Andie, standing at the far wall, unmoving. I sensed something was wrong, but I did not react fast enough.

             
The first punch caught me on the side of the head. I partially avoided the blow, but it still struck me with enough of an impact to knock me to the ground. I was on the verge of losing consciousness, but I was still awake enough to feel the sharp impact of a steel-toed boot in my abdomen. It knocked the breath out of me. The only thing I could do was bring my knees up in time to block a kick to my groin, but not the follow-up kick to my head. Fireworks went off in my head.

             
While I was dazed, the Captain rolled me over on my stomach, and I felt a pair of handcuffs being snapped around my wrists. He cinched them down tight before rolling me over again. He grabbed my Kimber out of the holster and tossed it over to where my rifle was lying. He then stood over me with a sadistic grin on his face.

             
“When my soldiers didn’t come home last night, I knew you’d be coming to pay me a visit.” He kicked me again, in the side this time.

             
“Zach, Zach, Zach. It is time for you to pay for your betrayal.” He lamented. He looked around the barn.

             
“It’s you who betrayed me, you cocksucker.” I croaked out. He laughed and kicked me again.

             
“Did you know this is Andie’s favorite spot?” He nodded with a wicked grin. “It sure is. She would meet the neighborhood boys here in this barn after school and suck their cocks. Did she tell you that?” He asked.

             
I didn’t answer, but I glanced at Andie. She was crying, and I noticed for the first time she was battered and bloody. Both eyes were swollen, and it looked like her nose was broken.

             
“Oh, yeah. They’d bring the dope, she’d bring her mouth. I caught her one day and threatened to tell her mother. Do you know what she did? She offered to suck my cock if I’d keep her secret.” He laughed without mirth.

             
“So, Andie, what happened yesterday?” The Captain asked.

             
“They’re all dead.” She answered with a weak attempt at defiance.

             
The Captain grimaced, and slowly nodded. “Yeah, I figured as much. I told them not to underestimate young Mister Gunderson, but they didn’t listen of course.” He canted his head. “What about George?” He asked.

             
“I killed him. I killed them all.” I said. Andie stared at me with despair.

             
The Captain laughed again and kicked me in the thigh. I had an instant painful charley horse to go along with all of my other aches. He waved a hand at Andie.

             
“You see, when I arrived home yesterday, I was chagrined. My work was not completed because your stinking ass was still alive. Yes, Zach. I knew you were a threat to me from the very moment I met you.” He kicked me again in the same thigh. I grunted with pain and my whole leg became paralyzed with pain.

“
When my crew did not arrive home last night, I knew you would be coming. I didn’t know how, but I
knew
you were going to bring the fight to me. You were going to try something, but I didn’t know what. I pondered over it all evening and well into the night. Finally, at about four, I suddenly awakened. An epiphany came to me in a dream.”

             
He smiled and pointed at Andie. “I figured the little slut would probably help you. I dreamt of this old barn and Andie on her knees pleasing all the boys, so I snuck out the back door and made my way over here. What do you know? My instincts were right on the money.” He looked down at me with a contemptuous sneer.

             
“But I erred in my logic. I told my soldiers to be extra vigilant, for you were coming. How did you get past the guard?

             
“If you mean the dumbass in the guard shack, he was asleep.” I smiled up at the Captain. “I slit his throat.”

             
The Captain smiled back at me, knelt down and dropped his knee on my chest, putting his weight into it. I thought my sternum was going to crack and fought to breathe.

             
“Where are your friends at Zach? Are they around here somewhere, waiting for you to meet up with them?” I glared at him while gasping for breath and didn’t answer. He clucked his tongue.

             
“Refusing to answer? No matter, I’ll get it out of you, and then you know what I’m going to do?” His sneer was replaced with a lascivious grin.

“
I’m going to pay Julie a special visit. I’m going to kill them all, but I’ll save Julie for last.” He brought his face even closer. “Yeah, I’m going to have a good time with her. But first, I’m going to have a little fun with you.” He pulled a knife out of a sheath on his belt and locked the blade open.

             
“I think I’ll start with your face and work my way down. Oh, and you’ll be pleased to know I brought a camera along. I’m going to take pictures to show Julie.” He brought the knife closer and stuck the point in my cheek. Blood spurted out. He then pulled a small digital camera out of his pocket.

             
“Smile!” He said, and took a picture.

             
I grunted, but managed to keep from screaming out in pain. It was going to happen though. I knew at some point I was going to scream out in agony, and once I did, I wouldn’t stop. But, there was no way I’d ever tell him where my friends were. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

             
It was a hell of a way to die. Lady luck had left me, and I was now paying the price. The Captain dragged the point of the knife along my cheek, cutting deeply. It was a searing pain. I gritted my teeth. He chuckled at me.

             
“You’re a tough one, huh Zach?” He chuckled some more. “Not tough enough though. You’ll be begging me to stop soon enough, and maybe I will. Maybe I’ll work on you a little while, and then work on Andie a little bit. What do you say Andie? How about you telling me where Zach’s friends are and I’ll be nice to you. Hell, you can even come back and live with me.” He chuckled as he turned to face her. He suddenly froze. I looked over at Andie. She had retrieved her snub-nosed revolver from wherever she had been hiding it, and was now pointing it at the Captain.

             
“Get off of him.” She said. She was glaring at him, but her voice betrayed her fear. The Captain smiled at her.

             
“Andie, be a good girl now and put that gun down.” He continued smiling but I could feel him tensing up. He was about to spring on her, and the big bastard could do it.

             
“Watch out Andie!” I shouted. The Captain turned back to me and twisted the knife blade. I gasped in pain.

             
“Shut the fuck up.” He growled.

             
“Uncle Charlie?” Andie’s voice was cracking. The Captain looked back at her. “I loved you once.” She said and then pulled the trigger.

             
The Captain’s head flew back as the bullet struck him in the cheek. Andie stepped closer and fired again. The second projectile struck him in the right eye. He fell on top of me, which gave me a close-up of his lifeless face. What was left of his eye began to ooze out. I wiggled free and attempted to stand, but was too weak.

             
Andie knelt down beside me and stared, as if she didn’t know what to do.

             
“I’m sorry, Zach.” She stuttered. She was breathing hard, and looked like she was on the edge of panic.

             
“Andie, I need you to focus. Go through his pockets and find the key to these handcuffs.” I said. She complied dumbly, like she was in a fog. She fumbled through her uncle’s pockets, came up with some keys, and slowly went through them, one at a time.

             
“Focus, Andie.” I said, and gestured with my head at one of the keys. “I believe it’s that one. Stay with me sweetheart.” I said, trying to calm her. She separated one and looked at me expectantly. I nodded and turned my back to her. She made several attempts before finally unlocking one side. I turned and took the keys from her. Getting my other hand unencumbered by the cuffs, I dropped them on the floor and unsteadily got to my feet. Andie instinctively grabbed my arm and put it around her shoulders.

             
“Help me get in the jeep.” I said. She walked me to the passenger side and helped me get in. I was in a lot of pain and blood was gushing down my face.

             
“Do you have a first aid kit?” I asked. Andie looked at me blankly. “I need to staunch this bleeding. Do you have anything at all?” She responded with a look of confusion, but after a couple of seconds, she opened the glove box and came out with a tampon. It wouldn’t have been my first choice, but it’d have to do. I tore the wrapper off, took the cotton material, and held it to the gash in my cheek.

             
“How bad are you hurt, are you able to move?” I asked. She nodded nervously. “Okay, gather up all of our stuff and let’s get the hell out of here.” I said to her. She complied, but it looked like she was moving in a fog. When she finished, she got into the driver’s seat and looked straight ahead. She was in a daze. I had to do something.

             
“Hey.” I said. She continued staring straight ahead until I snapped my fingers several times. She finally looked over at me. She looked like she was in shock.

             
“You’ve saved my ass twice now. You’ve done good.” She stared at me as if my words did not register to her.

             
“Hey!” I yelled. Her eyes widened. “Don’t be zoning out on me!” I lowered my voice.

             
“Listen to me, we’ve just been through a nightmare, but we survived. Okay?” I asked. She continued looking at me, but finally nodded her head. “Good girl. Now, let’s go home.” Andie nodded and started the jeep.

             
Using the mirror on the sun visor, I took a look at my injuries. I had a knot on the side of my head the size of a softball. The cut to my cheek looked to be less than an inch long, but it was deep. I could see my cheekbone through the gash. I worked my jaw, and although it was swollen and ached, it didn’t seem to be broken. I knew my leg was going to have a large bruise, but my main worry was when he kicked me in the gut. I was having a lot of pain there.

             
We arrived at the Allen’s new home approximately twenty minutes later. Julie and Rowdy jogged outside to greet us. I saw Howard standing inside the doorway with his shotgun at the ready. Julie gasped when she saw us.

             
“Oh my God, are you two alright?” She asked as she helped me out of the jeep. I smiled at her. It was only an hour ago I thought I’d never see her again.

             
“We got our asses kicked, but I think we’re okay. Help me inside and I’ll tell everyone about it.”

             
I put my arm around Julie and Rowdy practically carried Andie inside. Everyone gathered around as I was assisted to a chair at the head of the kitchen table. Lashonda hurried about fixing a meal while Julie fussed over me. I was in too much pain to eat.

             
“You should eat,” Rowdy said to Andie. “Put some meat on that skinny butt.” Andie tried to smile, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.