Zombified (Book 2): Shady Oaks (12 page)

Chapter 17

Cindy took a deep breath and stole a fearful glance at Judith, who quickly hurried over to her side.

“
C'mon!” she hissed under her breath as she grabbed Cindy by the elbow. “Let's get out of here before they come up, there's a set of stairs in the next room, they come out on the back porch.”

Cindy silently followed close behind as they crept quickly into the next room. Judith eased a door open and looked down, with Cindy peering over her shoulder. Judith flicked on her flashlight and revealed a set of tiny and very narrow wooden stairs descending into the darkness below.

“
I didn't realize these were here,” Cindy whispered as she turned on her own flashlight and quickly descended behind her friend. Judith paused on the last step and cautiously peered around the door jamb.

“
It's clear, let's get the hell out of here,” she whispered as she turned toward Cindy. “I think we should head for the apartments, someone will be there and we can let them know what's going on here. We sure don't want to use the walkies right now.”

“
Okay,” Cindy whispered back. She aimed her flashlight toward the ground. “Right behind you.”

Judith scurried toward the back door and quietly turned the lock on the door then slid the dead bolt open with a faint click.

They both hurried out and trotted across the street and down the road until they reached the apartments. To her surprise, it seemed as though no one was around. Ever since the first day Shady Oaks was reclaimed, someone was always there.

Cindy remembered when they first arrived in Shady Oaks, it was the first place they stayed and it seemed as though everyone went through a short stay at the apartments first before settling into a home. Now it seemed totally deserted and the only sound she heard was her own rapid breathing.

“
I'm going to check inside,” Judith whispered and without waiting for a reply trotted over to the door and disappeared from view.

Cindy followed and lingered outside the door, alert for any sound or movement. Judith reappeared a few moments later, followed by an elderly man Cindy recognized as Casey McMillan. According to Dexter and Charlie, Casey and his friend Barry did a lot to help get Shady Oaks up and running again. Cindy often saw him doing odd jobs and although they always exchanged friendly nods when seeing each other, she had never actually spoken to him. Judith had known him for years and after quick introductions, she turned to Cindy.

“
Casey here says there was a skirmish along the main road and everyone not assigned a post high tailed it over there,” Judith said as she flicked her flashlight back on. “I think we should go get the truck and find Dexter, most likely he'll be somewhere near the main road. We definitely need to let him know about the people in the store and see what he wants to do.”

“
I'm supposed to stay here and keep an eye on things,” Casey interjected. He cocked his head to the left and grinned at them. “But I'm thinkin' you need to get to Dexter right now so let's take my truck, it will save you time.” He nodded toward a small, beat up red truck sitting alone in the small parking area.

“
Thanks, and you're right, we should hurry,” Cindy replied with a smile as she holstered the pistol.

“
I'll ride in the back so you two can get better acquainted,” Judith said as she turned and headed toward the truck.

They quickly got settled in the truck and as it rumbled to life, Casey glanced at Cindy as he threw the truck into gear and headed for the street. “I've heard a lot about you and your family, you should be proud.”

“
I am, and thank you. I've also heard good things about you, too.”

Casey turned onto the street and to Cindy's surprise, stomped on the accelerator, causing her to grab for support as she fell back into her seat. She heard a muffled yelp from behind and turned to see Judith righting herself in the truck bed. After Judith grinned and gave her a thumb up, she chuckled and turned back to Casey.

He was looking in the rear view mirror and Cindy chuckled again at the look on his face. “Sorry!” he yelled at Judith. “Sometimes I have a bit of a lead foot,” he said contritely to Cindy. “I want to get us there, but I'll take it a little slower.”

“
I think we'd appreciate that,” Cindy said lightly. She patted him on the shoulder and could feel he was not much more than skin and bones. She'd definitely have to invite him over for a few dinners. “But yeah, we should probably try to get there in one piece.”

He glanced at her again and winked. Her eyes widened and when he laughed out loud, she joined in. She was beginning to like this feisty old man and was sorry she hadn't met him sooner. She decided then and there that when everything settled down, she would make it a point to get to know as many people in town as she could.

“
I'm taking the side streets and coming up from behind,” Casey said as he took another turn. His headlights lit up still-deserted homes as they swung by and headed toward the main road into town.

“
Someone needs to head back over here and mow those yards,” he remarked. “High grass just begs for rats and other vermin to come investigate.”

Before Cindy could respond, she heard a strange noise. Suddenly the whole windshield shattered and she realized someone was shooting at them. They both automatically ducked.

“
Turn on the next side street!” Cindy yelled, pointing. She turned to see Judith lying on her side in the back, eyes wide with fright.

“
Don't have to tell me twice,” Casey yelled back. Fortunately, the next street appeared quickly and he jerked the wheel hard to the right.

As he accelerated, Cindy turned back and pointed to a small stand of pine trees. “I think we'd better stop, so why don't you pull in over there?”

Casey nodded and flicked off his headlights before reaching the trees. He turned into a neighboring driveway and drove across the yard right into the center of the trees, then turned off the engine. Cindy opened her door and Judith immediately jumped in.

“
Well, wasn't expecting that,” she said in a shaky voice. She rubbed her arms vigorously. “Scared me to death.”

“
These Connor people must be everywhere,” Cindy said as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a shaky hand. “I think we should go on foot from here, it's not that far and we will probably be safer if we're not such a big target.”

No sooner had she spoken than a flash of light behind them briefly lit up the truck. Within seconds, they were making their way carefully down a ditch about eight feet deep with steeply slanted sides that ran along the other side of the trees.

Judith had Casey by the arm to help him and Cindy reached the bottom of the ditch first. The night was turning cooler and damp, Cindy could see a light mist beginning to form off to her right. For a moment she allowed herself to think of Mick and wondered if he was doing better than they were. Once Judith and Casey were beside her, they turned and silently walked single file down the middle of the ditch, occasionally dodging small puddles of water. Cindy hoped they were walking away from the danger behind them and toward the safety Dexter and the rest of their friends offered.

****

Brooke took the two small blue pills Jake offered her and with a small smile, put them in her mouth and washed them down with several small sips of water. She handed the glass to Jake, who passed it on to Jenny. Jimmy was now sitting in a small overstuffed desk chair next to her cot.

“
Okay, why don't you lay down now, before you know it you'll feel very relaxed and will probably fall asleep,” Jake said as he returned her smile. “Jimmy and your Dad will be right here, so don't worry about a thing.”

Mick wasn't sure how much she really understood, but he was glad she accepted their plan so readily. Charlie found another generator in the other tent and already had it up and running.

He watched Jake head straight toward the back, Mick knew Jake would be booting up the computers in the hopes that he could find out if they indeed had the cure to the virus.

If they didn't, they would have to test Brooke to see if she was one of the lucky ones whom the current vaccine wouldn't kill. Jake was almost certain that Malcolm's people didn't have the time to reformulate the vaccine to make it safe for everyone, but he had to check, and that would take time.

With another glance at his daughter, he patted Jimmy on the shoulder. “I'm going outside to talk to the boys, but I'll be right back.”

At Jimmy's nod he turned and headed out to find his sons. He spotted Scott right
away; he was standing in the bed of the pickup, looking out toward the meadow with a pair of night vision binoculars.

“
What's got your attention?” Mick asked as he leaned against the truck.

“
Hi Dad, I'm watchin' Sean do his thing.”

“
Do his thing? What do you mean?”

Scott held out the binoculars. “Hop on in and I'll let you see for yourself.”

Mick scrambled up and switching off his flashlight, took them from his son.

“
You might need to adjust them a little,” Scott said. “Look over to the far left; you should be able to see him.”

Mick held them up and after a few minor adjustments he was able to see Sean. He was wearing night vision goggles and was bent over something, but was too far away for Mick to make out exactly what he was doing. Then he rose up and Mick saw he carried a metal rod with a giant spike coming out of the side.

Mick grunted. “Let me guess, he's out there killing zombies.”

“
Yep, he couldn't take it any longer, those things are dangerous and he said if he didn't do something about them and someone else got hurt or killed he wouldn't be able to live with himself. He's using his newest creation; he couldn't wait to try it out.”

Mick couldn't blame him, if he didn't need to stay close to Brooke, he would be tempted to join him out there in the deadly field.

As they stood there watching, Mick asked, “What kind of monster is this guy? I can understand going to great lengths to try to keep your kids safe, but murdering hundreds of people to accomplish that goal? A sane person would never do such a thing, they'd find another way.”

“
I guarantee you one thing,” Scott growled as he leaned on the cab and adjusted his glasses. “He will pay sooner or later, and I hope it's sooner.”

“
I agree, the whole situation is difficult enough without having to constantly watch our backs, always wondering where Malcolm and his hired thugs are.”

Mick pointed toward Sean. “What is he doing now?”

“
When he kills a few, he cuts them loose and puts them in a pile, that way he's got a clear area to work from as he moves in. We're planning on coming back here tomorrow if we can and burning the corpses.”

“
Oh,” was all Mick could think of to say. The whole idea of putting zombies down and disposing of them would never sit well.

Scott picked up a flashlight next to his pack. “I need to do a little patrolling, do you want to stay here or come with?”

“
I probably need to go check on Brooke, so I'll take a pass,” Mick said as he handed the glasses to Scott, who returned them to his pack. “I'll be back later; hopefully I'll have some good new to pass along.”

“
I hope so, wish we could do more for Brooke, I hate this helpless feeling.”

“
We all have the same feeling,” Mick said with a sigh as he gave his son a pat on the shoulder before hopping down. “Best thing we can do is keep her in our prayers.”

Scott nodded and jumped down beside Mick. “Oh we've already been doing a lot of that. Praying that Jake has some good news on that cure, too.”

Mick nodded. If there was one thing that would change everything it would be that there was now, indeed, a cure to the terrible curse they found themselves under. With a wave of his hand, he turned and using the light from inside the tent to guide him, headed back inside.

****

Fog was beginning to envelope them as they descended the mountain, but it didn't matter. They were close...so close he could almost smell them, especially since there were so many now.

He knew the area well, at one time when he had another
agenda; he was an unobtrusive and covert observer. As they continued on, the fog grew ever thicker, shrouding them as they stumbled toward their goal.

Sudden movement ahead caused him to stop mid-stride, those behind him froze in place. Nothing moved in the silent fog. Patiently, he watched. His eyes were sharper now and it wasn't long before he spotted more movement. Slowly, he moved forward and almost as one, those behind him followed.

At one time he would have recognized the two men as part of Malcolm's team, but now all he knew was that they represented relief for a few of them. He stepped back and called to the ones directly behind him. Seven responded and he watched them silently descend on their prey.