Zombies On The Rock (Book 3): The Republic of Newfoundland Page 8

  “Call off the assault now. We need to regroup.” Warrant Smith barked. Tina tried to see what was going on, but she didn’t have enough strength to lift her head up. She felt a warm blanket draped over her body as Warrant Smith eased her to the ground.

  “Regroup?” A voice chimed in over the radio.

  “Yes, we have a big problem. We are going to need backup.” Warrant Smith was agitated. “They’re here.”

  A young man looked down at Tina with piercing blue eyes. He smiled to reveal yellow, tobacco stained teeth. His facial features seemed far to soft to belong to a soldier, but his eyes were stern and alert. “You’re going to be just fine, okay.” Private Byrnes scooped Tina up in his arms and headed towards the cover of the woods. Warrant Smith had trouble keeping up with them as he took deep breaths, nearly doubled over at the hip. He was beyond the point of exhaustion but refused to give up, his legs still finding the energy to take its next step. The comfort and warmth of the blanket should have let Tina to a sound sleep before she had time to discover what was happening. She was afraid that this was some cruel dream and she would wake up, stuck back in that room with Ted when her eyes would open again.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN:

  THE FALLEN

  The crackle of wood startled Dana out of her nightmare. Eric stood in front of the fireplace using the poker to move around the logs. “You should get some rest.” She tried to coax her husband back to the couch. She didn’t want to sit up, she was afraid that she would tear her stitches again. Her head was sank into a pillow and for the first time since she had gotten shot, she felt relaxed. The heat from the fireplace poured over her.

  “How are you feeling?” Eric asked as he stared into the fire.

  “I feel better, but my insides are on fire.” Dana couldn’t feel much besides the intense burning sensation in her abdomen.

  “The pills are on the table. You should have another one. You need to get that infection under control.” Eric placed more wood on the fire. The cabin was already way to warm for Dana, but she figured she found it so uncomfortable because of her fever. She could feel the sweat rolling down her forehead, her shirt was damp and clinging to her body.

  “Hank came through,” Dana said. “Where is he?”

  Eric sat on the couch next to Dana’s feet. “Hank and Sasha left to meet up with the vikings. They should have been here by now.” Eric sounded worried. “You have plenty of pills now, but Craig is going to need a doctor soon. Hank thinks he is going to bleed out. I’ve changed his bandage twice already and the bleeding still hasn’t stopped.”

  “Everything is going to be okay, Eric.” Dana tried to comfort him.

  “I know everything will be okay for you, but I think it’s only a matter of time before Craig turns into one of those dead freaks,” Eric said. “I don’t want him to suffer because of me.”

  Dana didn’t like the tone of her husband’s voice. “What are you trying to say, Eric?” Dana knew what he meant, but maybe if she could get him to say it out loud he would realize what he was thinking about was crazy.

  “His fever is burning him up. He’s hot to the touch.” Eric placed his hand on Dana’s knee.

  “Eric I had a fever too, but I’m fine. Craig will be too.” Dana tried to appeal to Eric’s compassionate side. “You can’t just put him down like a wounded animal.”

  “I can’t let him turn,” Eric snapped. “I can’t risk it. What if he turns into one of those walking dead monsters and I’m not there to stop him.”

  “Eric I can handle myself.” Dana defended herself.

  “Dana you can hardly stay awake. You’re in no state to be left here alone.” Eric placed the poker into the fireplace.

  “Then don’t leave me alone. Where do you have to run off to now?” Dana started to sob. “I need you to stay here with me.”

  “We can’t stay here forever. We can’t block out the rest of the world.” Eric stood up. “We need to find my parents. I need to make sure Jason and Nick know where we are. We will need food soon. We have to prepare for the future.”

  “You want to prepare for the future as you talk about ending Craig’s. This isn’t you Eric. You’re better than this.” Dana had to stop Eric from killing Craig. “You’ve made mistakes and I know that you wish you could take them back, but you can’t. All you can do is try your best to keep things together. If you kill Craig like this you won’t be able to forgive yourself.”

  “I won’t be able to forgive myself for what I’ve done. I’ll carry that with me forever. That’s not what I’m worried about.” Eric stared off into the distance, a defeated look on his face.

  “What could you be worried about, Eric?” Dana responded quickly. She was getting frustrated with her husband. He had always been a stubborn person, but her patience was wearing thin. She didn’t appreciate being left alone so often.

  “I’m worried that Hank was right, that I would do anything to keep you alive,” Eric said, softly.

  Dana didn’t understand why Eric was worried about keeping her alive. “Eric that doesn’t make any sense. I understand that you would do anything to keep me alive. What’s bothering you?”

  “What if I do something so horrible that you stop loving me.” Eric lowered his head to his chest. “What happens then?”

  A loud thump from upstairs interrupted Dana before she could respond. Eric stood up and grabbed the poker from the fire. “Eric wait, you don’t have to do this?” Dana blocked the stairway. “I can do it.”

  Eric had a worried look on his face. “What if he’s turned? You’re in no shape to take him down. You could pull your stitches again.”

  Eric was right but Dana couldn’t let her husband do this alone. “I can go with you.”

  “Why? You don’t trust me.” Eric’s voice was harsh.

  “I trust you. I just don’t want you to do it alone.” Dana tried to reason with Eric, but she could see the bitter look on his face.

  “You want to make sure I don’t kill him if he hasn’t turned.” Eric raised his voice. “That’s it isn’t it?”

  A low groan could be heard from upstairs. “Craig.” Dana called out trying to avoid saying the wrong thing to Eric. The only sound that could be heard was a slow thumping and something dragging across the floor. At least Eric wouldn’t have to make the hard decision. More importantly, Dana was glad that she didn’t have to argue with Eric about that choice. Dana stepped aside and let Eric head up the stairs to deal with the corpse roaming around the top floor of the cabin.

  Eric slowly climbed the stairs, he wasn’t afraid of the foul creature that awaited him but he was terrified by his all of the horrible decisions he had made since parting ways with Warrant Smith. Dana had nearly died and three of his friends had met their untimely demise. Now he wondered where Jason and Nick were and if he shouldn’t have let them go to Buchan’s alone. Maybe if he had gone with them none of this would have happened. The metal fire poker felt heavy in his hands, weighed down by the cruel task it was meant for.

  Ungghhh

  The ghastly moan of the dead creature was undeniable. Only the damned could replicate that demonic call. It was hungry, sad, angry, lost, and full of rage all at the same time. Eric peeked his head around the corner at the top of the stairwell and looked at his abomination standing alone in the long corridor. Craig had been unable to walk after Eric had shot him, but here he stood almost proud of himself, a sly smile on his face. Craig’s skin was pale white and soaked with sweat from the intense fever that had taken his life. His scent wasn’t as bad as the rotting corpses that Eric had grown accustomed too, but the pungent stench of decay was distinct.

  Urrnngghh

  Craig’s head snapped towards Eric, his nostrils flared wide open. The evil grin opened just enough to let the white spittle from inside his mouth soak into his thick beard. The rest of his body couldn’t keep up with his instinct to feed and he tripped over an end table that he had been leaning on. His arms didn’t move to brace against the fall, and his ja
w slammed hard into the floor boards. A large hunk of Craig’s tongue slid out of his mouth quickly followed by a river of blackened blood.

  Urrrrhhhh

  An angry, gargled moan escaped Craig’s mouth. Eric clutched the poker in his hand tightly. He didn’t want to miss his mark. “I’m sorry for the way everything turned out.” Eric began apologizing to the stranger that Jason had rescued. “I used to be a hero, or at least I thought I was. I don’t know what went wrong but lately I’ve become...” Eric trailed off, trying to think of the right word. “I’ve made rash decisions. Maybe I’m afraid of losing the people I love.” Eric didn’t know why he felt like he needed to explain himself to this zombie, but he felt an obligation to justify his actions. “I don’t know whats worse.” Craig fumbled his way to his feet, his limbs not accustomed to the rigor mortis and decay that was setting in. The zombie’s elbow was contorted at a painful angle. It had applied to much weight to the joint and now it was popped out of place. “The fact that I made such terrible decisions that lead to the death of innocent people.” Eric walked forward to greet Craig in the middle of the hallway. He reached out and grasped hold of the zombie’s collar and pinned him against the wall, knocking a picture floor. “Or the fact that I am perfectly happy to make those decisions again as long as my loved ones will live.” Craig’s jaw snapped wildly as he strained his neck forward, trying to taste the flesh of the man who turned him into the diabolical creature. His warm breath cascading over Eric’s face.

  Aaarrrhhhhnnnn

  Uaarrrrhhhhg

  “I know that it’s wrong, but does anything else really matter anymore?” Eric could see the milky fluid slowly creep into Craig’s eyes, his human features fading away into the sadistic monster he was becoming. Eric began to feel like he was losing time. Craig still looked human for now, but he wasn’t about to confess his sins to the newest member of the dead. “I know I’ve already said this, but I am truly sorry. I pray that I can find another way.” Eric jammed the spiked end of the poker upwards through the bottom of Craig’s jaw. He let go of the handle and watched the dead man collapse into a heap, his eyes rolling back into his head so only the whites remained.

  “You will find a way.” Dana startled Eric. He didn’t hear her come up the stairs.

  “I don’t know if any of this matters.” Eric turned around to face his wife, holding back tears that formed in his eyes. “Do you want to live in this world with those freaks?”

  The colour in Dana’s skin had started to creep back. Her rosy red checks didn’t stand out so much now. “Of course I want to live. I want to see the day we rid the earth of those demons.” Dana brushed her hair back, a clump of hair stuck in the sweat that coated her forehead. “Don’t you?” Her voice came out sounding angry, her eyes locked onto Eric’s.

  “I don’t know if I can rid the world of them.” Eric choked back a sob.

  “Eric you don’t have to do this alone.” Dana sprinted forward and grabbed Eric’s hand. “This is not your mistake to fix.” She ran a finger up his forearm and tried to pull him in, but Eric resisted. “As long as we are together we can find a way to build a better future.”

  “What kind of future could we hope to have if everyone keeps dying?” Eric wasn’t mad at Dana, but he felt like he was fighting a losing battle with himself. He wanted to have a future, but he was afraid to let hope cloud his judgement. He had let himself get comfortable in Howley and he had wished for a sanctuary here at the Pelley compound. “What if this life is our only future.” Dana pulled his hand towards her belly, he felt the bandage underneath her soaking wet shirt.

  “I didn’t know how to tell you, but I think I do now.” Dana held Eric’s hand against the bandage. Eric was confused, but he remained silent, waiting for Dana to continue. “Before the outbreak started I should have told you, but I didn’t have the courage. I do now.”

  Dana shifted Eric’s hand away from the wound on her stomach and pressed it against hard against her belly button. Eric felt a bump against his palm. It was faint but undeniable. “What?” Eric’s jaw dropped open. He knelt down on one knee and placed his cheek where his hand had been. He felt the same soft push again. “Is that kicking?”

  Dana placed her hand on Eric’s head and rubbed his hair. “I thought I lost the baby when I got shot.” Dana tilted Eric’s head up and looked down at him with a giant smile. “If you wanted a reason to build a better future, you have one. If you needed hope for humanity, the miracle of human life will find a way.”

  “You need vitamins and more food.” Eric was flooded with a surge of raw emotion. He was overwhelmed by sheer joy. He felt like a new man.

  Dana let out a chuckle. “I know sweetheart. As soon as Hank gets back we will figure it out. I’ve made it this long, it can wait a few more hours.” Dana grinned from ear to ear, her nose scrunched up to met her rosy cheeks. Eric stood up to embrace Dana. He pulled her in close and squeezed tightly. For a brief moment, Eric closed his eyes and pictured a better life. He could see a brightly painted room with a crib nestled beneath a window, a ray of sunshine reflected off the clean floor. A wooden toy box filled with stuffed animals rested at the foot of the crib and Dana sat in a rocking chair with their child. When Eric opened his eyes he couldn’t help but stare at Craig’s white eyes, the grizzly image a harsh reminder of this cruel world. Eric didn’t want to let go of the future and was now more determined than ever to make it reality. He just didn’t know how he was going to make it happen.

  CHAPTER TWELVE:

  LIES

  Doctor White pushed the stretcher down the hallway, while Jason wobbled back and forth on the bed. The restraints were holding him in place and had been tightened to make sure he didn’t attempt an escape. The wheels squeaked with a methodical rhythm and Jason could hear footsteps in the hallway. A feeling of dread slowly crept over Jason as he imagined all of the terrible things that could go wrong during his surgery. No one spoke a word in the hallway which made him uneasy. He didn’t know if people had become so used to prisoners being wheeled around the facility or if they were to afraid to speak up.

  “Are we almost there?” Jason couldn’t stand it any longer. He needed to hear a human voice.

  “We are just about there. Just a little further,” Alvin said. “I wish I could tell you this was going to work, but I’ve never done this before.” Doctor White’s voice trembled.

  “If this doesn’t work I need you to do something for me.” Jason couldn’t handle being blind. “I need you to kill me.”

  “I can’t do that for you.” Alvin responded quickly.

  “You have to, I can’t be blind in this world. That’s a cruel fate that no one should have to suffer.” Jason shuddered at the thought. Zombies weren’t picky eaters, but they were the least of Jason’s worries. He couldn’t imagine what kind of torture David would inflict upon him if he didn’t have his sight. “Please don’t let me suffer in the darkness, I beg you.”

  “Mr. Cook there is absolutely no way I could do that. Do you have any idea what Mr. Steele would do to me if you didn’t make it?” Doctor White was clearly afraid of David and Jason couldn’t blame him. “I’m worried what he’ll do to me if you wake up without your vision.”

  “Can’t you make it look like an accident?” Jason understood how the doctor felt, but he was completely defenceless without his vision. “I need you to do this for me.”

  “Jason I’m sorry but I can’t help you do that.” Alvin sounded sincere, but Jason wished he could look deep into his eyes, feel a connection with the man who held his life in his hands. Jason could feel the stretcher turning to the right as his body shifted with the abrupt movement. “We are here now and you need to keep your mouth shut about this. If any of the nurses hear you talk about this, they will tell David, then things will get a lot worse for you. Your wife won’t be given the decency of a quick death. It will be a horrendous ordeal. Do you understand?”

  Jason wanted to change the doctor’s mind but the threat of David Stee
le torturing Tracy stopped him from trying. “Let’s get this over with.” Jason had to put his faith in the doctor. He had lost all control of his own fate.

  “We are ready with the gas.” A soft male’s voice spoke, almost to timid to register.

  “Thank you.” Alvin responded.

  A plastic mask was fitted over Jason’s face. The straps were tightened snuggly around the back of his head, his long hair giving him extra padding against the rigid plastic. A slow, mechanical hissing noise sent a shiver down his spine as someone turned the valve of the sleeping gas. A bitter taste filled Jason’s mouth, and his head started to spin almost instantly. Jason clenched his eyes shut out of instinct trying to stop the spinning. “I think I’m going to throw up.” Jason tried to warn the doctor, but the mask muffled his voice.

  “Try to relax Jason. This will all be over soon enough.” Alvin’s voice seemed to fade away as Jason slipped into a catatonic state.

  Jason’s eyelids felt like they were sewn shut, as he struggled to open them. His head wasn’t spinning anymore, but the effects of the gas still lingered. It felt like his head weighed one hundred pounds and made of bricks. Jason tried to concentrate on opening his eyes, but he couldn’t gather his focus long enough. It took every ounce of his will to avoid falling back to sleep; he needed to open his eyes to see if his vision had returned. A long drawn out creak caught his attention. “Doctor White?”

  “No honey, it’s me.” A rough woman’s voice answered, Jason felt a hand on his forearm.

  “Tracy, is that you?” Jason asked. The voice sounded familiar but much to hoarse to belong to his wife.

  Tracy ran her finger up and down Jason’s arm. “Of course it’s me. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up ever since your surgery ended.”

  “What happened to your voice?” Jason needed to be sure it was his wife, the way she ran her finger up his arm was unfamiliar to him. He tried again to lift his eyelids. A wet substance had them stuck together. Tracy placed her hand on Jason’s face, her thumb rested just below his eye and she used a finger to help pry his eyes open. All Jason could see was a bright light glowing, which reminded him of a blank computer screen. “What happened to my eyes?” The only thing Jason could see was a blinding flood of bright light pouring in on him from every direction.