Catalyst (Book 1): Decay Chains (11 page)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DAYS UNTIL THE SUPERVIRUS GOES GLOBAL: 30:16:56

Purdy veered the M-RAP off the road to go around a burning car. Flames shot out of the vehicle’s open doors and licked its roof. He didn’t look twice as they passed, but the others couldn’t take their eyes off the gleaming metal or the fire that threatened to go in all directions.

“So, where to?” Stan asked Stormy.

The question bumped around in her head and stirred her from her thoughts. She hadn’t gotten that far yet. All she could think about was that they had escaped the Business District. She wanted to touch everything to make sure it was real, but she got the feeling that just her rear end being in the back of this vehicle bothered Purdy. That feeling pervaded everything else, so she kept her hands to herself.

“I’m going to the edge of the cold zone and across,” Purdy shouted over his shoulder. “If it ain’t on the way, we’re not stopping.”

Josh looked back at Ian. “Well, I guess we’re sunk.”

“We’ll figure out a way to get to your place,” Ian said. “Let’s just get away from here.”

“Where do you stay at?” Attitude oozed from Purdy’s every syllable.

“Behind Reamer, by the college,” Ian said.

Purdy blew through a red light. “Not on the way. Sorry.”

“How about you?” Purdy asked Josh.

Josh didn’t even look at Purdy as he spoke. “Highwater Point.”

“Nope. Not backtracking for you either.”

“Do you need anything from your house?” Stormy asked Stan.

“I live on the other side of the hospital.” Stan waved it off. “I can’t go back. Do you live on this side?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Tell him where so he’ll stop. You’ll only have a minute, but at least you can grab some fresh clothes.”

“I can take Matt’s car too.”

“He’ll definitely stop for that.”

The guys were still going at it up front and they were only a few streets from her condo.

“What in the hell is wrong with you anyways?” Purdy asked. “You want to go back through an area the Army just fell back from, you realize that right?”

“It’s just I don’t have any of my stuff,” Josh said.

“Stuff? You’re worried about your stuff?”

“Well, it’s not a big deal to you. All your stuff is at your fort.”

“You got no clue what you are talking about, do you?”

“No, I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“I’m in the National Guard,” Purdy said. “I don’t live in garrison.”

“Oh, well sucks for you. About your stuff I mean. But my stuff—”

“Stuff, really? All that’s going on and you’re worried—”

“Maybe I have stuff I’m not supposed to.”

“You’re a thief?” Purdy’s index finger extended up and pointed around his head in a circle. “You better not touch anything in this vehicle. You hear me?”

“His stuff might actually be useful for once, given the situation,” Ian said.

“Well, that’s a sad story. We’re not going back for your stuff.”

“I get that you’re just trying to follow orders, but you don’t have to be unreasonable,” Ian said.

“Listen, I’m going to find out where the hell Alpha squad is and then I’m going to fall in with them,” Purdy said. “Ya’ll are hitchhiking, and hitchhikers get no say in the travel itinerary.”

“But—”

“I said you get no say.”

“Stop light, stop light,” Stormy shouted and pointed over Ian.

Purdy slammed on the brakes. The M-RAP groaned as it came to a stop three feet past the pedestrian line. Purdy looked annoyed that there was no traffic there to stop for. Thirty seconds in, he lost his patience and accelerated.

“What ya’ll don’t realize is that everybody’s probably looking for some crazy white folks that fit your description—”

“You don’t think they’re going to be looking for you, Mr. AWOL?” Ian asked.

“How am I AWOL when I’m returning my ass to the nearest control point?”

“I’m just saying we’re not the only ones with a BOLO out on us,” Ian said.

“BOLO?” Stormy said.

“Be on the look out,” Josh said.

“Oh,” Stormy mouthed. “Hey, that’s my street. Turn left. I have a car there.”

Purdy acted like she had never spoke.

“You radio in yet?” Josh asked.

“No. Did you see me call in yet?” Purdy said.

“Why not call?” Ian asked.

“I will.” Purdy readjusted in his seat and glanced at the side mirror. “I don’t take orders from you.”

“When?” Ian asked.

“When I’m out of that jammer’s range, if you must know.”

“Right here.” Stormy reached across Purdy to point out the windshield. “You can park here.”

Purdy braked hard. She could tell he didn’t appreciate her intrusion into the cab. As soon as they jerked to a stop, she retreated behind Ian’s seat.

Her condo sat a few streets back in a residential area that clenched a stranglehold on everything it enveloped. From the iron fencing that surrounded the trees and wastebaskets, to the choke collars on every pet that normally traversed the curbed sidewalks this time of night.

“All right, who’s going in with her?” Purdy looked at Ian. “Obviously, not you.”

Ian rolled his eyes. Stan patted his shoulder. The move clearly wasn’t meant to be as condescending as Ian took it.

“I need to take a look at his leg,” Stan said to Purdy. “You should go.”

“Fine, but listen,” Purdy said. “Five minutes, that’s all you get. You hear me?”

“I promise.” Stormy didn’t think she would need all five minutes. The list in her head was pretty short.

The hairs along her arms stood on their singed ends. She couldn’t tell if it was because the M-RAP stopped moving or if something about the condo was off. It was most likely the condo, and the memories of Matt that would rain down on her once she opened the front door. Hunched over, she headed toward the vehicle’s back door.

“Taking the keys with me, thief. Don’t try nothing stupid.” Purdy slammed his door shut. “And watch for trouble,” he shouted through the window.

The M-RAP took up two parking spots, but that was the least noticeable thing about it. Purdy aimed his weapon the whole way up the sidewalk. At what was anyone’s guess, the bushes, maybe the pool. Nothing else was in sight.

“Can you lower that thing before my neighbors call the police?”

“Hell no. Let them call. No one’s gonna respond tonight.”

Stormy shook her head and got her key ready. The minute she opened the door she realized she couldn’t come through on one of her promises. The keys to the Camaro weren’t in the dish by the front door. Matt had been here, and might still be.

Purdy brushed by her as he closed the front door. “What?”

“He took the keys,” Stormy said. “Matt was here and took the keys to the Camaro.”

“Who the hell is Matt?”

“My boyfriend. He’s a super now.”

“A super what?”

“He’s infected.”

“Move faster.”

She darted across the living room. Purdy’s steps comforted her, but she wished she had been smart enough to let him go ahead of her.

“Four minutes,” Purdy called out as she entered the master bedroom. She opened the closet before he could stop her. When it proved safe, he moved on to check the window, behind the door, the bathroom, and under the bed.

“I’ll be back. Keep packing.” Rifle parallel to the floor, he worked his way down the hall.

***

“Can we ditch Purdy and take the M-RAP?” Ian asked.

Stan angled himself over the center console into the cab. Ian watched him get situated in the driver’s seat. He refused to move even though it was obviously what Stan wanted. Stan glared at him until he finally propped his leg up on the center console.

“I’m not going to cut your damn leg off,” Stan said. “I just want to see.”

Ian gritted his teeth and pinched his eyes shut. “Get on with it already, Doc.”

“I’m not a doctor.”

“What the fuck?”

“I’m a med tech,” Stan said.

“Get away from me.”

“He’s still been to college,” Josh said.

“For like a semester,” Ian said.

“I didn’t want to be a med tech. I was a PJ.”

“A what?”

“An Air Force Pararescueman.”

“Then why are you a med tech?”

“There’s a freeze on hiring paramedics right now.”             

“Is that so?”

Stan ignored Ian’s affront and examined his cast. “Thought you said they shot you?”             

“They did. You mean to tell me you don’t know what a bullet hole looks like?”

“I know what I’m looking for, I just don’t see it. Do you know what a bullet hole looks like?”

“This is it right here.” Josh pointed to the left side of Ian’s cast, which was out of Stan’s view. “Right, Ian?”

Ian sighed. “I have to turn it over.”

Josh looked down at the floorboard while Ian used both hands to turn his leg. He was all sweat and curse words throughout the entire fiasco. Once the hole was visible, Stan reached out for the cast. Ian bristled and growled.

“Seriously?” Stan moved in on the cast again.

“I will bite your freaking hand off if you hurt me,” Ian said.

“Fine, you want to be a pussy—now’s a good time. Since the girl is gone and all.”

“Just do whatever it is you need to do.” Ian leaned back, gripped the edge of the seat, and closed his eyes.

Stan examined the cast and lightly touched the area near the bullet hole only when necessary. He was done in seconds, but let Ian sweat it out a while longer. When Josh looked like he was about to spoil the fun by snickering, Stan smacked the dashboard. Ian screamed, jumped up, and then held his cast and moaned. Josh laughed his ass off.

Ian retreated to his end of the cab. “I hate you all.”

“You’re fine. This was a broken ankle I’m assuming.”

“Yep.”

“I’ll know more when your cast comes off.”

Ian had nothing to say to that. They watched parked cars and counted off seconds.

“How come you got so quiet?” Josh asked Ian. “Are you still mad?”             

“No. I was just thinking that Purdy seems highly unstable.”

“So you’re afraid of him?” Stan asked.

“I’m cognizant of him.”

“I don’t understand how we got stuck out here waiting,” Josh said. “I have to take a piss.”

“So get out and piss,” Ian said.

“I’m not getting out of the vehicle.”

“That’s how we got stuck out here,” Stan said. “How the hell are you two paying attention to your surroundings when you’re talking so much?”

“You’re getting on his nerves,” Ian said to Josh.

“Fine. I’ll be quiet.”

A car drove by and all three of them jumped. Stan wiped his sweaty fingers on his scrub pants and then gripped his gun with an unexplained urgency.

Josh pointed at the back of a passing Prius. “Ian, look.”

“I thought you said you were going to be quiet,” Stan said.

“No, Ian. Look. Their bumper sticker says zombie hunter.”

Stan looked to see what had Josh so amused. The car had already turned out of the lot, but its brake lights reflected off another vehicle parked by the tennis court. A beige Cadillac with a busted front end.

“Oh, fucking shit.” Stan banged on the steering wheel with both hands, which sent the horn into fits.

***

Stormy heard the horn blaring out front and got nervous. She dropped a wad of clothes and left them on the floor. She had only come for some pictures and Matt’s gun. Even knowing she would never be back, all she wanted fit in a leather backpack. This was the one time she was happy that they couldn’t afford the homeowner’s association’s ridiculous pet deposit.

Purdy never offered to help her pack a thing. He stood alert in the doorway.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You’re not gonna get all nostalgic and emotional on me, are you?”

“I won’t if you promise not to either.”

“You don’t have to worry about that with me.” Purdy let her pass and followed her to the living room.

Every atom of her being tensed when she saw them. One towered over the other, both blocked the front door. Dr. Louboutin cringed sixteen inches from Matt, who emanated concentrated anger laced with bitter resolve.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DAYS UNTIL THE SUPERVIRUS GOES GLOBAL: 30:16:33

“I knew you were here,” Stormy said. “I felt it.”

“I knew you’d come back,” Matt said.

His voice made her flinch. It was still Matt, somewhere in there, but it didn’t feel the same. She couldn’t trust him anymore. His voice made him seem more erratic, when it was once the only thing that made him still human.

Purdy pointed his weapon at Matt. “Who the fuck is this?”

“Please don’t shoot us,” Dr. Louboutin said.

Matt stepped toward them. “Didn’t take you long to replace me.”

Purdy took aim. “Why the fuck is that casualty talking?”

As he locked on target, Purdy’s breathing steadied and he became real serious.

Stormy grabbed Purdy’s arm. “Don’t shoot him.”

Purdy jerked his arm away and moved in front of her.

Matt pointed at Purdy. “So is he moving in?”

Purdy’s aim moved from Matt to Dr. Louboutin. “Sir, move away from the talking dead guy or you get it too.”

Dr. Louboutin looked to Matt, who shook his head once. The doctor remained at Matt’s side, but his eyes darted all over the room.

Purdy adjusted his aim. “Whatever.”

“Stormy, tell your new boyfriend to back off,” Matt said. “Before he gets hurt.”

“He’s not my boyfriend and he doesn’t take orders from me,” Stormy said.

“Damn straight,” Purdy said.

Matt cleared his throat.

“And I definitely don’t listen to dead white people.”

“Stormy, come with me,” Matt said. “It’s the only way you’ll be safe now.”

Stormy leveled her eyes on Dr. Louboutin. “Is that what this is about?”

“There’s no other option, Stormy,” Dr. Louboutin said. “He can protect us.”

“Then why do you look so scared?”

“You’re afraid of me?” Matt asked.

“That’s not what I said.”

“Then fucking say what you mean.”

Purdy dropped one hand from his weapon and pulled Stormy completely behind him.

“Move out of the way,” Matt said.

“Hell no,” Purdy said.

Matt lunged at Purdy, who rolled to the side. Back up on one knee, Purdy shot at Matt, and only missed him because he was so damn fast. Stormy tried to follow Purdy, but Matt ripped her back. He pushed her into the kitchen doorway and knocked her head against the molding.

“You’re mine and you’re coming with us. Quit being ridiculous.”

“She’s not going anywhere with you.” Purdy shot at Matt’s feet and worked his way closer. Matt’s face never registered a reaction. Stormy flinched, terrified that shots intended for him would find her.

“Let her go or the next one is in the head,” Purdy said.

“You’ll kill her too,” Matt said.

“Okay with me. I don’t like her that much anyhow. Not my type.”

“So this is how it’s going to be?” Matt tried to make eye contact, but Stormy turned her head. “You’re breaking up with me, now? In the middle of this, when I can protect you?”

Her lip trembled and her hands shook. “You scare me.”

“I thought of all people you wouldn’t be like this. You used to have common sense.”

“It’s not this.” She pointed to the burns on his arm. “It’s this.” She tapped his temple. “You’re losing control.”

“Wrong,” Matt said. “I’m the only one who will have any control when it’s all over with.”

“If you don’t change.”

“I haven’t yet.”

“Did you people forget that I’m aiming a fucking gun at you?” Purdy said. “Move toward the door, Stormy. Now.” He shook his head back and forth and said something under his breath.

Matt let his face linger along her neck and breathed. Stormy knew he couldn’t smell a thing or feel the tingle that used to ignite between them. It creeped her out to know he was doing this to manipulate her. She fought the urge to close her eyes and imagine the way things were a day ago. Not even that, maybe eleven or twelve hours ago, before his stupid appendix ruined everything. Back when his touch wasn’t downright terrifying and passion laced with violence hadn’t consumed him.  

She wasn’t responding the way Matt wanted. Her discomfort triggered a primal reaction in him. He punched through the wall and then backed off. The impact loosened bits of dry wall, which dusted the crown of her head. As soon as he freed her, she darted to the front door. She threw a heated glance at Dr. Louboutin as she passed and dared him to do something.
The only good thing about him died today in a pool of her own blood.

She couldn’t take it anymore and spoke freely to the worthless doctor. “You better hope I never get a chance to return the favor you did me in the garage, friend.”

When the front door opened, the M-RAP’s distinctive hum floated inside. Weapon glued to his cheek, Purdy backed out of the living room.

“Stormy, this is over,” Matt shouted. “You’re on your own, and whatever happens now, happens.”

“Fine.”

Matt lowered his eyes and kicked the wall. In response, the drywall crumbled apart like breadcrumbs between busy fingers. Before the door shut, Matt started to tear the condo apart.

The noise poured outside and Purdy had to shout to be heard over it. “What the fuck are you doing dating a damn casualty? Are you that lonely, girl?”

“Long story.”

Purdy shook his head as he lumbered into the M-RAP’s driver’s seat. “White people. Always so desperate.”

Stormy stole one last look at the condo. She hadn’t thought Matt would be here when she saw it again. She closed her eyes to imprint the vision in her mind. The back door of the M-RAP swung into her and broke her concentration.

Stan closed the door after she crawled inside. “Doc’s here.”

“So is Matt,” Stormy said.

“Matt’s here too?”

“They joined forces.”

The M-RAP lumbered out of the parking lot and down the street.

“What the fuck?”

“The infected guy is a doctor?” Purdy asked.

“No,” Stan said.

“Then who’s the doctor? That other guy?”

“Not a good one,” Stan said.

“Where the fuck are we going?” Ian asked.

“No more stops,” Purdy said.

“We’re gonna need gas soon,” Ian said. “Isn’t that what’s leaking out of this damn thing?”

“What if he follows us?” Stormy asked.

“I wish I could’ve gone with you,” Stan said. “That fucking asshole.”

“He’s with Matt now,” Stormy said. “He thinks he’s safer.”

“Is he?”

“No,” Stormy said.

Stan was about to say something when a fight broke out up front.

“I said let me out.” Ian banged on the door. “I’m not going near those assholes.”

“Then get out,” Purdy said. “I’m not stopping to let you out.”

“Those assholes shot me and they’re going to shoot you too when you get there.”

“Tuck and roll, motherfucker. Don’t hit my door as you fall out.”

“Ian don’t do it,” Josh said. “You’ll get dragged under the tires.”

“I’m not getting out while the vehicle is moving. I’ll just wait till he stops for gas.”

Purdy glared at Ian and pointed at his gun. “You better not say a word between now and then.”

“Purdy, he’s got a point,” Josh said. “They were shooting at us back at the hospital. What makes you think they won’t gun us down when we pull up to the command center unannounced?”

“Cause, I’m going to radio us in.”

“This is a bad idea,” Josh said. “We should just get out of here and lay low.”

“You can get out when we stop too. Go on, nobody’s stopping ya’ll.”

Stormy got up, but before she marched two steps toward the cab, Stan pulled her back down to the bench. “Let them figure it out. We need to make our own plan.”

“None of us should separate,” she said. “We’ve got to stay together.”

She hadn’t noticed how bad she was shaking until Stan grabbed her. Matt had her head whirling and her body fighting to keep up. Stan’s reaction to her state was caution with a tinge of concern. He wouldn’t let go of her arm until she forced him to.

“We don’t have enough bullets to protect everyone here,” Stan said. “I can’t babysit them and us. Let them go their own way.”

“No.”

“You already did them a favor by getting them out.”

“We need them.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Are you a nerd genius? If not, you’re about to let the only two people that can help hitchhike away.”

“You don’t need the Jobs twins to survive, Stormy.”

“I’m not going to just survive this.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going after them.”

“Your going back to kill the supers?”

“No, I’m going after Cold World.”

“You mean that terrorist group you think did this?”

“Yes.”

“Well, never mind then.”

“Never mind what?”

“I thought you were the sane one. Now I see that you’re suicidal.”

“I’m not suicidal. That’s why I’m doing this. You can only run for so long. They won’t stop till someone makes them.”

“You should go with your friends. That’d be the best thing, I guess.”

“If people were ever more than assets to you, it might be harder to dismiss them when they become liabilities,” Stormy said.

“It’s not our fight, Stormy.”

“How long have you been in denial?”

“What do you mean?”

“It has been our fight since first thing this morning.”

It got quiet. Only the M-RAP’s multitude of inner noises filled the space. Equipment tapped on all sides, the engine chattered, and a can rolled around the back. But the quiet didn’t last long. The thick tension wouldn’t allow it.

“Great, I went from being with the stupid white people to the crazy white people,” Purdy said.

“Hey, that’s just wrong,” Josh said. “I’m not like, oh man, now we have a militant black man in the group. I’m like, oh man, we have a militant person in our survivor group.”

“When did you say anything about militant people to begin with?” Purdy asked.

“Since we saw you dragging a super across the street I’ve been thinking it.”

“Whatever, crazy ass. I shouldn’t have listened to the stupid white people back at the ECP, and I definitely shouldn’t of let the crazy ones in my damn M-RAP. Ya’ll are going to get me killed and then let the infected eat my damn body.”

“Nobody’s going to let the supers eat you,” Stormy said.

“Damn right, I’m not getting eaten by those damn things. That’s how it always happens though. Black folk are the first to go. But if I go, I’m taking some of the pasty white ones with me. You can count on that.”

“You have a real issue with white people,” Ian said.

“Didn’t say that. I have an issue with stupid, crazy, and white. It’s a bad mix. Always gets me in trouble.”

“Are you sure it’s not your mouth?” Stan asked.

“Definitely not. Perfect example, that dude back at the ECP. I told him not to go near that guy when he started moving again after getting shot up and chewed on. I said leave him alone. But he was all, I’m going to be a good battle buddy and save my friend. Then look what happened, he got bit too. Stupid man, it’s just plain stupid. But nobody listens to me though. It never happens. And now you crazies—”

“Maybe he was sick of you calling him stupid,” Josh said.

“Man, I didn’t call him stupid. I was in the middle of a fight. You think I got time to tell people they’re fucking idiots when I’m getting attacked?”

“But you went back for him,” Stormy said.

“Whatever, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“Great, neither do—” Ian started.

“You know this whole thing is about white people. You know who’s probably behind this? White people. Black people are just stuck in the crossfire as usual. Now you got more white people fighting the other white people. And if it’s not white people, it’s aliens. But you know what kind of aliens? White aliens. ET looking, bug-eyed, white aliens.”

Purdy grumbled off and on. The M-RAP clanked down the road beyond the well-kept residential area outside the Business District. Words like cooperate and compromise evaded Stormy when she needed to say them most.

Josh fumbled chunky fingers across every knob and button he could reach. “So, how long you been in?”

“A while.” Purdy’s gaze dipped from the road for a quick glance at his chevron.             

“Like how long?”

“Man, what’s with the interrogation?”

“I’m just trying to make conversation. You know, in Call of Duty, that many stripes means you’re a corporal.”