Survival (16 page)

“It sure sounded like it.”

“We need to get to it, Noah. I’m not sure how, but we need to find a way…”

Noah sighed. He pulled himself into a crouch and crawled across the attic. He could feel Caddy’s eyes watching him. When he got to the hole over the bedroom, he snuck a glance over the edge. At the sight of him, the creatures began falling over each other, hissing in unison. He backed out of sight.

“How bad is it?” Caddy called from across the attic.

He shook his head. “It’s bad.”

Although he couldn’t tell how many were down there, he knew there was no way to force through them. Noah stared across the room at the boxes that Caddy and her mother had kept in storage. Earlier they’d perused them, hoping to find a weapon, but all they’d found were children’s toys. Caddy had explained that her mother had been sentimental. The toys were from when she was a baby, and Theresa had been reluctant to get rid of them.

At the time they’d seemed useless. Now Noah had an idea.

“How attached are you to the things in those boxes?” he asked.

Caddy shrugged. “At this point, does it matter?”

N
oah and Caddy hovered over the opening to the closet, peering into the room below. Several of the creatures tilted their heads upward at the sight of them, reaching out with mottled hands to try to grab them.

Noah dangled the stuffed sheep in the air.

A melodic song rang from the sheep’s stomach, filling the air with its high-pitched notes. The creatures below them waved their arms in frenzy.

“I guess they like it.” He smiled.

He watched as more of the creatures tumbled into the bedroom, fighting each other to get through the hole in the door. The things rolled across the bureau and tumbled onto the hardwood. One creature in particular—formerly a woman with stringy black hair— opened its mouth, emitting a screech through a set of broken teeth.

He rewound the lever on the side of the sheep and pitched it through the hole. The stuffed animal bounced off one of the creature’s heads and disappeared in a mound of flesh. The creatures hissed and bent over it, hoping to find some warm flesh within.

Noah beckoned to the boxes, which contained a slew of other stuffed animals and toys.

“All right, let’s give it a shot!”

Across from him, Caddy had already dug out a teddy bear. She squeezed the thing’s stomach, setting off a pair of flashing lights and a lullaby. Then she fired it through the opening.

Noah tore through the boxes beside him, setting off mini-keyboards, fake plastic guitars, and miniature zoos. To his relief, most had batteries, and most still worked. He threw each of them from the attic to the bedroom, aiming over the heads of the infected. They bounced across the hardwood and scattered across the room, creating a chorus of dissonant songs.

Between the musical toys and the ever-increasing groans of the creatures, the room quickly became a hotbed of noise and movement. Soon the majority of the creatures had migrated from the hallway to the bedroom.

“Time to go!” he yelled.

Caddy was still working on a teddy bear, and he grabbed hold of her arm, motioning her to the other side of the attic. She winged the toy through the opening and scampered after him.

Noah’s knees hurt from crawling, but he crept forward as fast as he was able, knowing their time was limited. At best, they’d created a temporary distraction. Once the stuffed animals stopped making noise, the creatures would turn their attention elsewhere.

They pushed on through the attic, making their way to the main opening. When they reached it, Noah flung aside the door and stared down into the hallway.

The ground below them was clear. He could see a few straggling creatures down the hall, but none in the immediate vicinity.

He could also make out the two rifles. Both were sitting in puddles of human remains.

Noah glanced back at Caddy and gave her the thumbs up. Then he leapt down into the hallway.

He crouched as he landed, hoping to dampen his fall. Once he’d hit the ground, he looked left and right to ensure nothing was approaching, then lunged for the closest rifle.

He’d just grabbed hold of it when he heard Caddy hit the floor behind him. He spun, handing it to her, and then snatched the other one for himself. The weapons were wet with blood and gore, and he choked back the bile in his throat. Something shiny amidst the remains caught his attention, and he reached down and grabbed it out of instinct.

A set of keys.

Several of the creatures had noticed them from the end of the hallway. They’d abandoned what they were doing and started in Noah and Caddy’s direction.

“Come on! Hurry!”

Noah plunged down the stairs, Caddy at his heels. He aimed the rifle in front of him. He had no idea how many bullets were left, if there were any left at all.

When he reached the living room, a creature was waiting. It lunged at him with outstretched hands, saliva dripping from its gaping mouth. He aimed the barrel in its direction and pulled the trigger, sending it reeling to the floor with a tumultuous blast.

The rest of the living room was clear.

“Let’s go!” he cried, ears shrieking from the gunshot.

He could sense movement behind him, but not from Caddy. The house shook from the impact of feet on the stairs; the creatures had broken from the bedroom and were storming after them.

The kitchen was in shambles—broken dishes and plates scattered across the floor, drawers and cabinets hanging at odd angles. One of the things was climbing through the window above the sink; either the boards had given way or they’d been destroyed by the men. The back door was still barricaded and closed.

Noah swung the butt end of the rifle, cracking the creature’s skull and knocking it back outside. Then he leapt on the kitchen counter and turned to help Caddy. She scrambled up beside him, her feet sliding on the stainless steel of the sink. He ushered her through the opening and then followed suit. The creature he’d hit was still on the ground, attempting to regain its balance. They ran past it without delay, daylight washing over them.

He could already hear the cries of the things behind them.

The car in the driveway had been smashed and ruined. The tires had been flattened. The back door remained open; the interior was filled with blood and remains. The two of them tore past it and down the driveway. There was no time for reflection now. There was only time for survival.

Noah’s feet pounded on the pavement as he ran, the rifle swinging in front of him. He scoured the street as he ran, certain they’d have more creatures to contend with. Given the noise, both from the gunshots and the creatures, there was sure to be an influx of the things in the area.

Caddy had caught up to him, and the two of them ran side by side.

They crossed the street, shoes slapping the asphalt in unison, searching for a way out. They scanned the other vehicles in the road, but none were drivable. It looked like the men had gotten to them as well.

“Keep going!” Caddy shouted.

Noah shot a look behind him. A swarm of creatures was careening down the driveway, falling over each other in an attempt to get to them. They had to gain ground, and they had to do it fast.

He continued off the asphalt and onto the grass, racing toward the McDonalds’. The longer they stayed in the open, the more likely it was they’d be overtaken. They had no option but to run inside. He was about to veer into the house when he saw something in the distance.

Behind the neighborhood, hidden in the trees, was a black pickup truck.

The memory returned, and he patted his pocket. Inside it were the keys he’d taken from the house.

“Caddy! Over there!” he yelled, pointing to the distant woods.

But she’d seen it as well. Running in tandem, the two of them flew past the McDonalds’ house and into the tall grass. Noah could hear a chorus of moans behind him, but he dared not look back. A second lost could mean the difference between life and death. He knew that all too well.

Halfway across the lot, he saw movement in the field. Several creatures were hiding in the tall grass. Unlike the others, these were on their hands and knees, crawling through the weeds. They cried out at the sight of Caddy and Noah, but made little attempt to get to them. Their faces were sagged and decaying, their mouths agape.

Was it really true? Were they dying?

There was no time to think about that now.

Noah cast the thought aside and pushed harder. The F150 was only a few hundred feet away, tucked behind a cluster of trees. He could see it clearly now—the shiny grille, the thick tires, the headlights mounted on top. The vehicle gave him a shiver of fear as he recalled the men who had once driven it.

But he couldn’t think about that now, either.

He dug into his pockets and removed the slippery keychain, mashing the buttons on the remote as he ran. The lights of the pickup flashed, the vehicle beeped. It was as if the truck had been waiting for them all along.

In no time they’d reached the pickup. Noah darted around to the driver’s seat and flung open the door. The vehicle smelled of tobacco, dirt, and old food. He leapt in and jammed the key in the ignition. Caddy took the passenger seat, and she slammed the door shut behind her.

To Noah’s relief, the engine fired without hesitation. He pulled the door shut and threw the vehicle into drive just as a gray pair of hands slapped the vehicle. He stomped the accelerator, driving out from the cover of the trees.

A horde of creatures was spread across the grass-covered field, arms waving as if they were air traffic controllers on a runway.

Noah swerved back and forth, trying to avoid the lunging bodies. To his left was the neighborhood they’d abandoned; to his right was thick forest. The trees were too dense to navigate.

He’d have to aim for the road.

He cut a diagonal path through the field to the top of Caddy’s street. The vehicle jolted as they ran over something; whether it was a rock or one of the infected, Noah wasn’t certain. He gritted his teeth and continued covering ground.

Within seconds they’d hit asphalt, tires bouncing over the curb. They’d left the majority of the creatures behind; only a few stragglers remained on the roadway. Noah swerved deftly to avoid them and raced to the street’s end.

When he’d reached the stop sign, he glanced over at Caddy to ensure she was unhurt. She gave him a faint smile. Her rifle was propped expectantly on her lap, and her eyes darted between him and the road.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” she asked, punching his arm. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

H
aving traversed the roads several times in several days, Noah felt a sense of familiarity as he drove them. In spite of that, he took the turns with caution.

If there was one thing he’d learned, it was not to take his safety for granted.

Caddy held both rifles in her lap. Her head swiveled in all directions, assessing the roadway for signs of danger. It felt good to have a companion. Just a few days ago he’d been alone, forced to play the role of both navigator and scout. The presence of another person alleviated some of his concerns.

Beneath the rumble of the tires, Noah could make out the faint static of the radio. He’d turned it on once they’d cleared the neighborhood, hoping for a repeat of the broadcast he’d heard. So far, he’d heard nothing.

After a few minutes, Caddy turned and looked behind the seats.

“Holy shit,” she whispered.

“What is it?”

“Jackpot.”

She pulled several items from the cab and placed them next to her. Noah snuck a glance. In addition to several weapons, she’d located some of the food from his pickup.

“You’re kidding me.”

He shook his head in disbelief. Over the past few days, it felt like his luck had gotten worse and worse. Every turn had introduced a new form of danger, and one by one his amenities had been stripped away. The discovery of the food seemed like a miracle. Before he could say another word, Caddy began tearing into one of the packages.

“I’ve never had apple cinnamon rice cakes before.”

Noah let loose a laugh.

“You’re in for a treat.”

Caddy offered him a handful; Noah reached out and popped several mini rice cakes in his mouth. Now that the immediate threat was behind them, his stomach was growling, and he was grateful for the chance to eat. The two of them crunched the food.

“There are even a few cans of gas in the truck bed,” Caddy added. “So we have that covered.”

After they’d consumed the entire package of rice cakes, Caddy flipped open the glove compartment and rustled through the car’s paperwork. She pulled out a tattered registration, unfolded it, and read the name printed on front.

“Norman Gateway,” she said.

Noah’s stomach fluttered. He wondered who the man had been. In all likelihood, the truck had been stolen. He doubted any of the men had owned it.

Regardless of its past, the F150 was providing them with a safe means of transportation, and for that he was relieved.

Having tossed aside the registration, Caddy pulled out a stack of folded road maps. She used one to pinpoint their location.

“We’ll want to go west for several miles,” she said, pointing to the horizon. “Connect with I-70. After that, we should be able to make it in a few hours.”

He nodded. They’d only been traveling for a little while, but already the road was starting to hypnotize him. The smooth pavement and yellow lines seemed to stretch on forever.

Noah realized he’d gone another night without sleeping. His eyelids were heavy; his hands were white from gripping the wheel. He shook his head back and forth to clear his drowsiness.

“Are you OK?” Caddy asked. “I can take over if you want.”

Noah smiled. “I’m a road warrior. I’ll be fine.”

For a second he pictured his best friend Kendall next to him. Just a week earlier, they’d been on a similar journey. It was hard to believe how much had changed since then. The past seemed like another world, a moment in time that could never be recaptured.