Surviving The Aftermath (Book 1): The Dead Linger (35 page)

“What’s your name?” Stevie remained silent, he was too scared. He knew they would kill him, he’d tortured many people, he knew how this game worked. Make it painful, make promises and make them talk. Then their done. So this was how he was going to die, the irony. Another slap came on the other cheek.

“Where are you from?” No, can’t speak. Don’t say anything. *Smack*

“It’s better for yourself if you talk.” Oh how many times had he said that exact sentence?

“We know you’re not the leader, but if you tell us where he is, we’ll let you go.” First empty promise.

“Just tell us your name, we’ll give you some water.” Another promise. *Smack* He hoped soon his cheeks would go numb.

“Look, I know your use to a different caliber of people, liars, cheats, murders, rapist. But here we keep our promises, Stevie.”

“How the fuck do you know my name?” He replied. Tom circled around the man, this man had punished him before and killed Jeff. He’d seem him take women, and knew what he’d done to kids.

“I know a lot about you, and that Hell Hole you call home. About the poisons you, Luke and the others force your captives to make.” Stevie was panicked. Was this the military or the cops? How did they know all this?

“Listen Luke started that stuff, it was all his idea, I swear. I didn’t want anything to do with that.”

“I saw you murder people.” Tom got down in his face.

“No.”

“You molested children.”

Stevie winced, ready to cry, “No!”

“You broke up families, killed moms while the kids watched.”

Hanging his head and now crying. “I didn’t want to. He made me.” Tom ripped his blindfold off, the fluorescents causing Stevie to squint at the man in front of him.

“You don’t remember me?” Stevie shook his head. “Tom.” He pointed to himself. “I use to be a lot scragglier, you tortured me a few times, you made me watch while you tortured Jeff. Remember? I believe you were cutting off one of his fingers, while another held my head to watch.” Stevie started to shake and cry.

“Please don’t kill me.” Spit was sliding out of his mouth. “I was just a copy repair man.”

“With homicidal tendencies apparently.” Added Casey from behind the man.

“We just want to know where Luke is with our people and we’ll let you go. Simple as that.” Tom reiterated.

“We were camped out in a store, farther in the city. I think it was called Pete’s.”

“I know that place.” Another man said. Tom re-blindfolded Stevie and cut him loose from the chair, stood him up and walked him out the door. He knew he eventually was outside, and there were other people he could hear talking around him. He heard more noises, sounding like the sliding door on the back of an 18 wheeler. Someone was working on his cuffs, and his blindfold was removed again. He was shoved and fell to the ground. He turned to see Tom and some other men retreat.

“Wait where are you going?”

“I told you we wouldn’t kill you, your free to go.” The door shut without a backwards glance. He stood and saw the smashed car had been moved to the side, and there were blood and guts everywhere. He turned to run, zombies were milling all around, the blood and bodies attracted them, there had to be a few dozen all around him. Maybe he could slip off into the woods. Ding Ding Ding “Dinner!” Ding Ding Ding “Coooome and get it!”

“Stop what are you doing jackass?”

“Signaling dinner, what else?” The man on the roof said as he looked down at Stevie’s petrified face. Stevie froze, the zombies had already started closing in. With no choice he started sprinting, knocking over the first few, managing to side swipe the others outstretched hands. He was like a football player, bobbing and weaving, juking back and forth. He saw the road, yes he was home free. Suddenly his feet went out from under him. A crawler, everyone forgets the crawlers, and this one was agile too. The others slowly came around him, but the crawler got first dibs, Stevie didn’t even have time to scream as it bit into his face. The others slowly grabbed limbs or his torso, anything that was edible, and they dug in.

“Why did we get rid of him so early? We don’t even know what they want.” Kurt said.

“I do. They want this place and everything and everyone in it. That’s what they were discussing when I escaped. They tortured me and killed Jeff for the location here. You can ask Brian, they asked him to help lead them to me, but he’s ok now.” Tom paused with everyone looking at him, waiting for more answers. “Their parasites. They kidnap survivors and treat them like slaves to do their bidding.  We’ve got to figure out how to get our people and destroy that place at the same time, so they have nowhere to retreat too.” Tom told them all, as if there were no other options. “I’m deadly serious.” He was still looking at the shocked faces. “If they get in here, they will kill anyone who stands up to them, and turn everyone else out. They produce drugs made from any chemicals they can find. They run prostitution, guys and girls, they have gambling and make bath tub booze. We need to stop them.”

Casey was tired and sore, but there was no way in hell he was letting these people take this place from them without a fight. “So what’s the plan people?”

Jill woke to burning pain in her shoulder and hot, humid, stinky breath in her face. Gross. He opened her eyes and a grubby man face over hers. “She’s awake.” The face said.

“Oh good, our newest member. Maybe she’ll have something to tell us.” Jill was being propped up against a wall, her hands still taped behind her back. Her shoulder was still sensitive and sore. She looked around and saw Joe, Kim, the other man whose name she thought was Scott, and Jack. She wanted to give him such a big hug, but she didn’t move a muscle. She held herself ridged to the men’s perusal.

“So what’s your name pretty lady?” Luke asked her.

“Betty.” Jill said sweet and southern as good be. Luke was quiet and squinted at her for a minute.

“Ok Betty. Why don’t you tell us how to break into your fortress.”

“What fortress?”

“Don’t play stupid, your friends have already tried that and lost.”

“What friends? You already killed my partner when your dumbass buddy ran our truck off the road.” Jill replied. She wasn’t totally sure what game was being played but she wanted to buy some time to get her bearings. She saw Joe’s face had been bloodied, Kim’s shirt was ripped off and she was bruised with a tear stained face. Jill had a good idea of what was happening here.

“Yeah ok. You’re going to sit there and tell me you don’t know these people?” he pointed to them.

“No, I don’t know them, and I don’t know you. So if that’s all can I go now?” And she tried to rise but was promptly shoved down by another.

“I think you’ll stay with us and keep everyone company. I’m sure Kim here would love another girl around, you guys can gossip and girl talk. Oh what fun.” Luke said and clasped his hands together. Jill was unceremoniously shoved over by Kim. Luke and his men retreated to another room of the house leaving them all alone. Probably assumed no one could escape. Their mouths had all been uncovered with tape recently, Jill could see the red marks on their cheeks. Everyone started whispering questions at her all at once. “shhhhhhh! We don’t want them back in here. Yes Phil died the crash. Mike was able to escape, he either headed back home or he’s hanging around here.” She tried to say as quietly as possible. “I can see what’s going on here and have a feeling they want whatever we have. We might have been able to get out a May Day call, so I’m hoping Casey and them are working on a rescue.” They were quiet again listening to the men in the other discuss their own plans. Jill leaned her head on Jack’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re alright, I was so worried.”

“I’m good. I’m just worried what they will do to you and Kim.” He took a breath and continued. “If they try to . . . .”

She cut him off. “Stop, you’ll do nothing, we have to watch out for each other but also take care of ourselves. If it happens it happens, but don’t think Kim and I won’t give them a fight. Right Kim?” Kim nodded in agreement. She wasn’t the strongest woman, but she agreed, there was no one she’d let them violate her without drawing some blood from them. 

A couple of hours must have passed, and Jill must have fallen asleep with the others. She noticed the shadows in the house had shifted, and it was warmer in here now. Using this opportunity to take in her surroundings, she scanned the room looking for anything to use to cut them loose with. Knowing there would be a risk of punishment, she quietly rose up and wandered from the living room to the kitchen. Dust and cobwebs prevailed here, busted windows, broken dishes, quietly tip toeing she started opening drawers looking for knives. Nothing, damn it. The butcher block was empty, nothing looked useful as she looked down again at the broken shards of glass and plates. Bingo! She bent down awkwardly trying to grab as many pieces as she good. Quietly getting back to the room she sat back down waking everyone up.

“I found some pieces of broken glass, try and cut the tape on your hands.” She handed out pieces to each person with little finesse, but they started sawing at the tape as soon as they got it. The men were stirring in the other room, Jill worked faster, little cuts on her arms and hands making her bleed, cause the piece of glass to be sticky and slippery in her hands. All five of them were concentrating on vigorously getting free. Jill hoped at least one of them would get loose.  “I’m free.” Joe whispered. “Me too.” Scott said.

“Go, now, duck out the back, hurry.”

“No we can’t leave you guys here.”

“Trust me they need us, go, hide somewhere or try and find Mike but run.” Jill heard the men coming out, there was no time, every sat back down and pretended to be drained of energy.

“Well ladies and gentlemen I’m sick of this place, why don’t we go somewhere more comfortable.” A couple other men grabbed Jill’s arm and Kim’s. She knew what was happening, her only choice was to cut through the tape or get her arms forward to stab these guys. She hoped Joe and Scott would free Jack and they’d take off. Jill hid her shard of glass as they all climbed the stairs, Kim started to weep softly, she knew what was going to happen. They both did, their only hope was help would arrive before it got to that part. They continued to walk down the hall into a bedroom, there in the middle of the room was a large dusty four post bad.

“Who wants to go first?”

Mike made it back in 30mins, he ran the whole way, as he gulped down water, and sucked in oxygen he relayed the happenings and how they got Jill and all the other ones too. It was decided then that they couldn’t wait, with a hopefully good, yet haphazard plan they decided to rescue the others while destroying the fort at the same time. Tom drew up a map, it should only take about an hour to get there if they didn’t hit any snags, he pointed out the weak spots in the fencing, where the zombies had attacked and it was decided all the standing structures were to be burned down. The people, that was tossup. Some wanted them all to be saved, Tom said there was no one worth saving, but it was Brian that assured everyone that there were people there who deserved another chance. He was going to help lead the raid.

“Why aren’t you going with them?” Casey asked Tom.

“Because Luke is out there, and he and I have shit we need to settle.”

“I’m going to.” Vikki stated.

“No way.” Both Tom and Casey said.

“Those are my friends out there too, and you need good drivers and that’s what I am.” Casey nodded and cupped her shoulder with reassurance and headed over to where vehicles were being loaded.

“Please be careful out there. I know I haven’t been the best husband lately, but I am loving this whole new opportunity you are giving me. And chance to redeem myself, be a dad again.” He said as he stroked Vikki’s stomach when they were alone. She placed her hands on his chest, “I love you baby.” She reached up and kissed him, long and lovingly.

Everyone was hustling to prepare, dressing, loading weapons, packing water and first aid supplies. Oscar was getting the cargo truck ready to ride again. Kurt was pouring more Molotov cocktails with Andy. They were trying to think of every aspect to be prepared for. They were leaving small contingency behind in case this was all some sort of fake out. The two Humvees rolled out equipped with a manned turret gunner in each, they were going to each place, they couldn’t take any chances they had to try and out number and out gun the opposition. Meghan, Beth and Jane all jumped into cars prepared for battle, rifles, handguns, boxes of ammo were distributed amongst all.

“I think we’re ready.” Casey said to Kurt.

Oscar walked over and shook Casey and Tom’s hands “Let’s make it back in one piece, right guys.”

“Absolutely.” Tom added. Kurt and Oscar were leading the embattled group to rescue the people from the proclaimed Hell Hole with Brian at their side. Tom and Casey were leading a smaller group to hopefully track down and kill the people that held Jill, Jack and the others.

“How are you ribs?” Tom asked.

“Fine, Beth wrapped them for me and I’m wearing this stupid vest.” He lifted his shirt to show him the QB protective vest they had found in a sporting goods store, that Beth made him wear.

“It’s a bit awkward but not a lot of pain.” They hopped in the back of the car following the Humvee. Their plan was to put the Humvee at the end of the block, another armored type of vehicle at the other end and have to two speed cars hidden on the sides and ready in case if the guys tried to run. After the last set of “ready’s” were called out the troops moved out.