PRIME (20 page)

“I think I remember doing it once or twice,” Zero said. “Maybe more.”

“Then you’ll drive,” Grace said. “We herd the children out and get everyone into the back of the truck. Anyone doesn’t fit will be stuck in the front. Alice, I want you up front with Zero. Do you remember how to get to the base?”

“Yes,” Alice said. “I could do it in my sleep.”

“Good then. We get to the truck as quickly as possible; only engage if you have to. Wounded and casualties are second priority. Are we clear?” There was a short grudging silence before everyone nodded.

Grace nodded back once. She opened the door and stepped through. Weak beams of light drifted down the subway stairs to the platform they now stood on. These only spread a gray haze over the otherwise black area, but it was enough to get the group from one end to the other without falling. They followed Grace. The group flowed in a tense knot, eyes and ears open for any sign of movement.

The high ceiling arched away into the blackness, and Alice had a hard time not imagining a million things that could be hiding there. The zombies hadn’t yet shown the skill to even open a door, but she had the insane fear that they were in the rafters waiting to jump down. Alice shook her head, trying to get rid of the image. She glanced back at the children. They moved with focus, though the fear etched in their faces couldn’t be ignored. Beside her, Cale was helping Sarah along, and even she was managing to stay silent. Alice was sure whatever was going on in Sarah’s mind could make her own fears seem like daydreams.

They reached the foot of the stairs without incident. Alice gave a quiet thanks to whoever was the patron saint of people running for their lives. Grace motioned Zero up to the front. They slowly began to climb the stairs. Even though it was barely fall, the solid concrete surrounding them was cold to the touch and seemed to radiate that cold as they climbed. Alice shivered, not sure if it was from fear or cold. She had a distinct feeling of being watched. She turned, but only saw Jake staring at her, concern in his eyes. He looked almost embarrassed for a brief second, then gave her an encouraging smile.

Jake looked at the stairs under his feet. That was the second time in only a couple hours that he had been caught staring at Alice. He wasn’t sure if it was worse for her to catch him, or for that God damn Cale with his hero complex to catch him. He had to put that from his mind though. If he didn’t focus on the present he might not live long enough for it to matter that anyone saw him staring.

The air coming down the shaft was tainted with death and rot. Underneath that was the scent of fresh air. It tasted sweet after weeks of being locked inside the hospital. They’d die outside at least, thought Alice before she stepped onto what had once been one of the busiest streets in the city. At first she didn’t see any movement, but only a few steps into the open she saw them. The zombies lurched out of alleyways, store fronts, and side streets.

“They were waiting,” Cale whispered, gripping Sarah’s arm to pull her along. It seemed farther away than it really was. Sarah began to wail, her body falling against Cale so he was almost carrying her as he struggled forward.

Zero had begun to sprint at the first sign of movement and was nearing the truck as Quigley stepped off the stairs, bringing up the rear. Grace glanced back. Cale was falling behind as he tried to support Sarah.

“Leave her,” Grace yelled in a voice that would accept no argument, but Cale continued to pull Sarah along.

Alice spun, racing back towards Cale. Jake caught her arm as she passed him, pulling her to a halt.

“Are you crazy?”

“I’m not leaving him,” Alice said.

“He isn’t worth it,” Jake said. Alice glared and shook him off. She was going to get herself killed for that asshole. Served them both right. Jake ran for the truck.

In a moment Alice was at Cale’s side. She slapped Sarah across the cheek. It wasn’t hard, but it was enough to snap the girl out of her panic. “You run now, or you’ll die.” Alice barked, surprised by the sound of her own voice, flat and careless. “Come on.”

Alice took Cale by the arm and began to run, pulling him along behind her so he had to let go of Sarah. The girl had no problems keeping up with them. She only limped slightly as she followed on their heels.

Quigley and Grace had the back doors of the truck open and were swinging the littlest kids up into it while the older ones clamored in as fast as they could. On either side, the zombies were closing in.

Sarah screamed.

Alice turned, two zombies had Sarah, tugging her into a swarm. As she screamed, another zombie joined in and then another. Soon five zombies were tearing into her, pulling flesh from bones. Cale’s steps faltered and Alice tugged hard on his arm. He kept moving as Sarah’s screams abruptly cut off.

“Look out,” Alice called as a zombie lurched for Quigley. He spun and fired, catching the thing with a spray of bullets across the chest and head. The beast dropped to the ground, but another one followed close behind.

“Down, Grace!” one of the civilian men called. He fired over her head, dropping another zombie.

Grace stood, looking shaken. She turned to thank the man who had just saved her life. A zombie was already on him, clawing at his shoulders and pulling him away

“Markus!” Grace called. She took a step away from the truck, then hesitated, remembering her own rules. She turned and lifted another girl into the truck, forcing herself not to look at the young doctor as he was pulled away.

The truck’s engine caught with a roar, sending sputtering smoke out its tail pipe. On either side, the zombies pressed close to the truck. Most headed for the back, eager for the meat they could smell there. Grace hopped into the truck. She reached back to pull up another kid only to find Corwin lifting the boy up to her. Grace smiled to see he was still alive. As they helped the last few kids in, it became apparent there wasn’t any more room.

“It’s full,” Grace called to Quigley, firing past him into the crowd of zombies. She took a few out, but not enough to help. There were too many.

Alice came up beside Quigley and Corwin. “I have to get to the front,” Alice yelled over the gun fire.

“Take the kids,” Corwin said. The three children in question were cowering in fear beside the truck, all of them under ten, and crying uncontrollably as they stood frozen with fear.

“What about you two?” Cale asked, edging toward Alice.

“Someone’s got to be a hero today,” Corwin answered with a maniacal smile.

“Oh, you shithead,” Quigley yelled. He dropped a few of the closest zombies and sighed. “Take the kids, we’ll shut the doors and cover you as well as we can. We can try to hop on the back when you get going. Tell that Zero fuck to honk when he’s going to pull off.”

“Alright.” Alice bent to pick up one of the little boys. He clung to her with a death grip. Beside her, Cale scooped up the other two. Alice didn’t like it; he wouldn’t be able to use either of his guns. She held her hand gun in front of her and turned to the passenger side of the truck. “Clear a path.”

Quigley knelt and sent a rain of bullets through the zombies at knee level. They fell to the ground and Alice was able to take off toward the front. As she ran over the zombies they tried to grab her, teeth snapping at her ankles. One got a good hold on her pant leg, and she fired a shot into its head. She kept going, feeling sick as their bodies tore and snapped beneath her feet.

“Damn it!” Cale swore, and there was a burst of bullets. Alice reached the cab and tossed the boy to Zero who pulled him safely in. Alice looked back at Cale in time to see a zombie falling away, gunned down by Quigley’s bullets. His dead hands kept their grip on one of the kids though, and he fell screaming with the zombie to the ground. The other zombies were on him in seconds.

Cale didn’t waste the distraction. He shoved the last kid at Alice and pushed them both up into the cab. He let out a quick fire of bullets into the zombies and climbed in after them, slamming the door.

“Honk the horn and go!” Alice yelled to Zero over the crying of the two boys. They huddled against her.

Zero fumbled with the steering wheel. It was locked in place. “Shit,” he swore and began to push buttons on the dash. There was a loud burst of back feed, and then music blared to life from every speaker in the truck. It nearly deafened Alice. The zombies instinctively stumbled back a few paces, apparently startled by the noise. Zero punched the correct button and got the wheel moving. He leaned on the horn and stomped on the gas.

The truck lurched forward, slamming into zombies that stood in the way. Out in the street, Zero did his best to keep the truck under control, driving as fast as it would go, which didn’t seem to be above forty. It was enough. Four blocks later they were zombie free.

19

Chicago Streets

“Turn here,” Alice said. Zero made a mad turn onto another street, empty as far as they could see.

Alice relaxed as the children’s crying began to taper off. Zero let up on the gas; too many obstacles in the road. Deserted cars, downed trees, and abandoned belongings littered the street.

“Fuck,” Zero swore quietly, shaking his head. “We lose anyone back there?”

“Yeah,” Cale answered gruffly. He didn’t look at Zero or Alice, only stared out into the wasteland the city had become.

“Turn off the music.” Alice reached forward and pressed the button. The music faded into welcome silence. “No need to announce where we’re headed any more than we already have.”

“Right.” Zero held the wheel tight with both hands.

“Take your next right,” Alice said. Zero nodded. He took the turn more carefully than the first.

Alice guided Zero to the road that would take them to Coda, while Cale brooded silently beside them. He glared straight ahead, teeth clenched. He kept feeling the tug as the zombie pulled the boy from his arms. Though no one would blame him for the child’s death, it still hung heavily on his conscience.

“Just stay straight now until we see it.” Alice sat back wearily as they pulled onto the freeway. “It shouldn’t be long.”

She shut her eyes and leaned her head back on the headrest, trying to shut out everything for a few minutes. The truck rumbled along under her as fast as Zero could wind through abandoned vehicles.

Cale almost smiled at the sight of Alice sleeping. They would most likely run into trouble at the base. It would be good for her to be rested. He did his best to sleep as well, but he saw that boy’s damn face every time he closed his eyes. Instead of resting, he settled in to watch the barren landscape crawl by out the window while the two surviving boys slept peacefully across his and Alice’s laps.

The trip went slowly. The highway was littered with an obstacle course of deserted vehicles. Zero was all over the road, swerving this way and that to avoid the other cars, but thankfully they saw few zombies. Cale noticed Zero glance down at Alice with a warm smile and bit back jealousy. They deserved whatever happiness they could find for however long they could find it.

“You’re going to take care of her, right?” Cale asked softly.

“Huh?” Zero glanced away from the road for a moment, confusion clouding his eyes.

“Alice. If it’s just you and her, you’ll take care of her, right?”

“Of course,” Zero said. “She’s something special. Just being near her a feel like I’ve won the consolation prize for the end of the world. Like everything’s gone to hell, but you get a pretty girl.”

Cale smiled, but didn’t say any more. He could give Alice up to someone who loved her. It sucked, but he could move on.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Coda came into view in the distance. Cale’s heart sank. Zombies crowded around it.

“Alice.” Cale elbowed her in the ribs, and she jerked awake. Her eyes snapped open, her fight or flight reflexes on point.

“Huh? What?” She looked around the cab and counting heads without even realizing it. Everyone was still there, the boys were sleeping quietly, and that set her heart rate back to normal; obviously there wasn’t any immediate danger.