Trepidation (17 page)

I crawled behind the boxes and threw the tarp over me.

The next thing I knew, someone had hopped onto the truck and was rifling through the boxes.

My heart stopped for a moment, then began to pound furiously. I hoped I wouldn’t be discovered, but I clenched my fists, prepared to fight if I had to.

Snap
!

Just like that, the tarp was flipped side, and I saw a gun pointed right in my face. 

“I
see you,” a woman said.

Much to my relief, it was Sandy.

“Come out, or I’ll shoot,” she threatened in a menacing tone.

I crept out and slowly held my hands up. I looked deep into her eyes. When I had met her back at the warehouse, she’d really liked me. I was sure I could use that to my advantage and beg her to let me go.
Surely she knows what Z will do to me if she turns me in.
I waited for a second to see if she would come around; if she wouldn’t, I’d be forced to attack, and I knew hot-tempered Asia would have my back. My hands shook as I prepared to take her down, a last resort I didn’t want to resort to.

“I know you aren’t here alone,” she said. “Your partner on this mission better come out before I shoot you right in the forehead.”

Right on cue, Asia came out of hiding, with her hands up high.

“Both of you,” Sandy demanded, “drop your guns and kick them over to me now.”

We did as we were told, but we also knew something Sandy didn’t: We had backup. 

“Dean,” Sandy said, the gun shaking unsteadily in her hands, “you’re deep behind enemy lines. What are you doing here?”

“You know what I’m doing here,” I said.

She let out a long breath. “You know I can’t let you leave.”

“If you don’t, I’m a dead man,” I whispered.

She looked at me intensely. “Yes, and they’ll do it in...a very violent way. I’m afraid our fearless leader is a firm believer in cruel and unusual punishment.”

“Not if you help us,” Asia said.

“And why would I do that?” she retorted.

“Because I heard you,” I said. “You don’t want this war. Look, there’s no need for the battle and all the bloodshed. We’re more than willing to give you and everyone else a place to live in the city, Sandy.”

“Z is...crazy,” she admitted again. “He’s murdered some dear friends of mine for no reason.”

“I’m well aware how unstable he is.”

“We just want peace,” Asia said, “a place where we can all live in harmony. We took down the lab and saved many of your people. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“It does,” Sandy whispered. “We are so thankful that you rescued our men.”

“Then why am I on Z’s hit list?” I asked.

“Because you live with Max, his nemesis.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you are willing to help them plan a bloodbath, the murder of innocent children and elderly people.” When she didn’t respond, I continued, “I watched the mother of small children die when Z’s zombies attacked our apartment building. Now those children are orphans! How can you condone this kind of behavior? You do that, and you might as well be a zombie yourself.”

“I don’t condone it! I was completely on Z’s side at first,” Sandy argued, “but after what I’ve seen him do...well, it’s like I’m stuck in some kind of nightmare.”

“Then join us,” I said. “Clearly, we’re the good guys...and I think you are too.”

“Z has hooked up with this group of militants, a bunch of hothead veterans and soldiers. They plan to ambush your town tomorrow, and they’ll take everyone out. Their creed is to take no survivors, and everyone must die. They’ll handpick who will be able to live in the city, and I’m afraid...well, if I join you, I don’t think I’ll be given that chance, Dean.”

“Sandy,” I said, as calmly as I could, “if you let me outta here, I can warn Max. We can destroy this camp, and that will leave Z weak and vulnerable so we can take him out.” 

“I can’t leave right now, but I’ll get you out. All I ask is that you promise me a place in the city. I want to live in peace too.”

Asia shook her hand. “Deal. Max has nothing against peaceful people living in the city.”

Sandy suddenly looked at me with a terrified look. “Have you seen those zombies...the smart ones?”

“We call them hybrids,” I said.

“They’re stalking us,” she said. “I’m worried.”

“You should be,” I said. “The creatures are beyond dangerous.”

“What are they?” she asked.

“Half zombie, half human.”

She cocked a brow. “They didn’t finish turning? They’re stuck that way. How?”

“Charlie created them in the lab,” Asia said.

“Z’s going to kill Charlie,” she breathed out. “For sending those things after us.”

“We’ve got the same problem,” I said. “So far, there’s been no major attacks, and they’re not feeding on unsuspecting survivors.”

“Like I said, Z will take Charlie out,” she muttered. 

“Not with an army of hybrids to back him up, he isn’t.”

“Can you get us some wheels to get outta here?” Asia said. 

“I can’t get you a vehicle,” Sandy said. “You’ll have to make it back on foot, and there are herds of zombies out there.”

“Just get us out of this camp,” Asia said. “We can handle the zombies. We’ve had plenty of practice.” 

Sandy nodded, then handed Asia a map and a compass from her coat pocket. “I marked out where you are with a red x. Head north.”

“Thank you,” Asia said. “You’re doing the right thing.”

“Well, we’re gonna be neighbors soon, and this is a little more important than lending you a cup of sugar,” Sandy said with a smile.

Asia returned the grin. 

“I can drive you to the main road, but that’s as far as I can go without looking too suspicious,” Sandy said. She peeked out of the flap of the truck. “It looks clear. Just stay hidden back here till I come for you.”

We nodded and crawled back to our hiding places under the boxes and tarps.

The engine clicked, and the truck started.

“Hold it, Sandy!” a man’s voice called.

My stomach lurched.

“I’ve gotta go pick up one more load,” Sandy lied.

“But we haven’t even unloaded yet.”

“Stop the truck!” another voice demanded. 

Before she could even answer, some men jumped into the truck and started gathering boxes. I wondered why Sandy didn’t just floor it to get us the heck out of there. Asia was probably wondering the same thing, because she looked at me, confused. I bit my lip hard when the tarp shuffled over my head; I was sure they were going to discover us any minute. When a man huffed as he scooted a heavy box away from me, I held my breath.
Please don’t let them find us!

Another man slid another box away from me, leaving me nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. My only hope was that he’d get distracted, that Sandy could think of something to throw him off our tail. So many thoughts rushed through my head that I almost grew dizzy. My heart was racing, throbbing in my temples, but I knew I needed to stay calm and focused and keep my head straight. Panic would only make things worse, but it was hard not to panic; I know all too well what Z would do to us if his men got their hands on us. I’d been there, done that, and it wasn’t fun.

Then, in a heart-stopping flash of a second, a man glanced down at me with a cold, chilling stare.

Busted
. And at that very moment, I realized just how ludicrous our plan had been. 

Shouting curses, he jerked me up by the shoulders and threw me out of the truck as if I weighed nothing. My breath caught in my throat when a boot hit me in the pit of my stomach, sending me tumbling backward, only to land with a
thud
on the snow-covered grass. I gulped, shook my head, and swallowed down the pain.

“Take him to Tent D,” the man ordered, “and take the girl to Tent F. It’s best to question them separately so we can catch ‘em in the lies I’m sure they’re gonna tell us.”

As two men dragged me off, I slammed my elbow into the stomach of one of my captors. When he loosened his grip, startled, I ran in a burst toward freedom. Another muscular bodyguard grabbed me and threw me on the ground like some kind of wrestler, while the other fiercely kicked me. My throat tightened, and I could barely breathe. He threw me over his shoulder and carried me inside a tent while stars danced in my vision from the blow. They set me roughly in a chair, pulled my hands behind my back, and tied me up securely. A piece of dark cloth was wrapped around my eyes as a blindfold. Of course I struggled in my bindings, but that was to no avail.

A few minutes later, a man walked in. “Z doesn’t like trespassers,” he said. “What are you doing here?” he asked when he pulled my blindfold down and peered into my eyes like some kind of enraged animal.

“I’m a survivor, just like you. I was just trying to get some food,” I fibbed, hoping he’d buy it and that he had some shred of compassion left.

“Nice try, Dean. Your little girlfriend told us everything.”

“Obviously, you don’t know her as well as I do. She’d never do that.”

“Right. So she’s not your girlfriend. You prefer redheads, don’t ya? Like that Marla chick.”

“Her name is Claire.”

“Many people here recognize you. We know who you are. Did Max send you?”

I laughed. “What makes you think he did? I’m a big boy, perfectly capable of going out on my own and—”

“So you’re claiming you were out looking for food and just stumbled upon us accidently?”

I didn’t answer.

“You’re a liar and a fool, Dean, but I’m sure Z will deal with you accordingly. He’ll be here shortly, and you can tell your little fairytale to him.” 

“Look, you seem like a nice enough guy, mostly on the sane side,” I said, trying to kiss up and appeal to any humane side he might have, “so why are working for a psychopath?”

He chuckled. “Not for him, Dean. I work
with
him, as his second-in-command. Now, why don’t you spare Z the interrogation and just tell me all about Max’s operation?”

I decided it was best to tell him as little as possible. I sat motionless, with my head slightly bowed, avoiding eye contact. From that moment on, I’d only speak if spoken to, and I refused to show any emotion. Max hadn’t told me all his secrets anyway, and I had no idea where he stored most of the weapons. In fact, I really didn’t know much at all. Max was very secretive and only confided in a select few, a sign of a truly great leader.

My interrogator’s calm demeanor quickly faded as I sat quietly, staring at him without saying a word, and he asked me the question once again. “Well? Are you gonna talk, or do I have to call Z in here?”

I refused to answer, even when I felt a jolt of pain radiate across my chin as he punched me.

The man grabbed the front of my shirt and shook me. “What kind of weapons does Max have?”

“I-I don’t know. Rifles, I guess—lots of them.”

Burning pain radiated across my jaw when he slapped me, trying to scare me into talking. “That’s not telling me anything! Everybody’s grandma has a freaking rifle nowadays. I’m sure Max has some kind of arsenal. Now what other weapons does he have?”

“Well, for one thing, I know he doesn’t have a tank!”

He repeated his question, this time in an even more demanding, threatening tone.

“Look, I’m relatively new there and only eighteen, a kid in most people’s eyes. Why the heck would Max tell me anything? Do you and Z go around telling teenagers your secrets? And shouldn’t you be more worried about those hybrid creatures lurking around your camp?”

Another punch came, and more pain exploded across my cheekbone. I wondered how long the interrogation would last, and I hoped Asia wasn’t receiving the same brutal treatment. He asked me question after question, beating me when I didn’t answer, until trickles of sweat began to roll down my face and I tasted salty blood at the corner of my mouth.

When he finally tired of using me as a punching bag, he let out a long string of curses, like he had a textbook case of Tourette’s.

A woozy feeling overcame me as I blinked. I winced, my head reeling.

“Remember what my brother did to you, how he hung you upside down over those zombie heads?” the man said.

Wait...Z has another brother? Great...and I bet psychosis runs in the family.

“Well, I was there, and I saw how scared you were. If you don’t start cooperating, Dean, you’re gonna find out real quick that what you experienced was just child’s play.”

My blood began to boil. Z had said his brother was killed in the lab, but there were obviously more of the evil spawn. I decided then and there that if I managed to get away, all of them were going down. I half-grinned as I imagined pounding on my captor like there was no tomorrow.

Suddenly, the tent flap opened, and I heard Sandy’s voice. “You said you’d wait for Z,” she said. “We aren’t supposed to do anything without his consent.”

He cursed at her, making it clear that there was a power play going on between him and his brother.

“I’ll let you have a few minutes,” the man said. “Get some vital information before we execute him.”

“I’ll try,” she said.

With that, he nodded and left the tent in a huff.

“Sandy,” I managed between gasps.

She touched my bleeding face and looked deeply into my swollen eyes. “My gosh, Dean. What did he do to you? This isn’t right. We’ve gotta get you out of here. I won’t stand by and watch Z kill another innocent person.”

I struggled, battling with the ropes that were tied so tightly they were cutting off my circulation and cutting into my flesh. “Where’s Asia? Is she okay?”

“She’s...” Her voice trailed off.

“She’s what? Where is she? Tell me, Sandy!”

“They roughed her up too, Dean. They’re...heartless.”

The words fueled my anger, to the point where I was unable to speak. 

“Z’s brother has the authority to kill you,” she said.

“Then what are you waiting for? Untie me and get me outta here,” I said.

She fumbled around with the ropes, nodding her head. “That’s the plan.”

When the ropes were finally loosened, The blood rushed to my hands, causing them to tingle. I quickly reached up and wiped the blood and sweat off my face.