What Remains_Mutation (2 page)

Sully tapped a finger on his chin, motioning toward their bunkhouse as he started walking, not bothering to see if Cogan and Jake would fall in beside him. “Going on a scavenger run isn’t a problem. But getting enough fuel for several hours? Barrett will know we’re up to something if we take that much.”

Cogan nodded. “We don’t need more than the usual run. That station just south of town still has enough to fill the Hummer. Hasn’t been worth trying to syphon it…until now.”

Sully stopped dead, staring at him as if he’d grown another head. “That station’s been overrun for several months. We’ll only have a couple of minutes before they’re on us.”

“Then I suppose we’ll have to be quick.”

Jake stepped up beside them, glancing at the building. “There’ll be hell to pay when we get back. You know that.”

It wasn’t a question, and Cogan merely shrugged. “Can’t imagine the committee could make me feel any worse than I do right now just sitting here. Waiting.”

Jake gave him a smile. “Then I say we pack up and hit the road.”

* * * *

“There’s infected everywhere.” Sullivan Gates pressed his back against a wall, watching another group of zombies amble down the road. This was their third town, and it wasn’t shaping up any better than the last two. “This place is nothing more than a fucking cesspool of undead. There’s no way Gunner’s still hanging around here, or the other two towns we’ve searched.”

Cogan shouldered up beside him, sweat beading his brow despite the drop in temperature. “We knew this could be a bust. But I’d like to do a sweep of the main core before we give up. If Gunner’s crew did come through here, they wouldn’t have left without clearing that area first. Maybe they left us a note.”

Sully raised a brow. “I didn’t realize those military types knew how to write.”

Cogan smiled, some of the tension easing as he whacked Sully on the shoulder. “I’m sure they’ll be a lot of spelling mistakes.”

“We’ll have to be sneaky. Or fast.”

“Both.”

Sully grinned, heading along the wall as they angled toward an alley leading deeper into town. They’d already been gone for four hours. If they wanted to get back without Barrett’s team realizing they’d done more than just a local run for supplies, they’d have to leave soon. Even then, their cover was most likely blown.

He sighed as he turned onto another alley, taking a path that paralleled the main road. Though he knew they could handle some resistance, the sheer numbers he’d seen traveling the streets didn’t bode well in terms of success. And firing off a gun would only bring more infected to their location. Definitely not something they wanted to happen.

He stayed in the shadows lining the narrow corridor as he wove through the adjoining roads, stopping when a flash of pale skin appeared at the end of the alley. He held up his hand, pressing against the building as he studied the creature. Dull, black eyes stared at them, its lips twitching.

Sully frowned, glancing at Cogan and Jake. “I don’t like the way that thing’s looking at us. Something’s off.”

Jake huffed. “You mean besides the fact it’s already dead?”

“Kace says they aren’t really dead…just altered.”

“I don’t care what Kace says. That thing isn’t breathing.”

“I’m not saying it is, it’s just… I’ve never seen one study something so intently before. Like it’s figuring shit out.”

Cogan nudged Sully’s arm. “Let’s head back and go around. If your instincts are telling you something’s wrong, it probably is.”

Sully nodded, slowly retreating when the creature screeched and raced after them, its pace steady. Fast.

Cogan cursed and sprinted off, heading for the other end of the alley. Sully followed, alternating his focus between his team and the monster racing after them. They reached the adjoining street when more zombies appeared at the far junction, effectively boxing them in.

“The fire escape.” Cogan shoved Sully and Jake to his right, keeping both men in front.

Jake reached the ladder first, leaping up mid-stride and snagging the lower rung. The metal feet connected with the pavement, sending a shrill tone echoing down the alley. Sully cringed, knowing the sound would only draw more infected as Jake led the way, reaching the first platform in a matter of seconds. Sully glanced behind him, but Cogan’s gaze was still focused on the creatures running down the narrow road.

Sully snagged his collar giving him a tug. “Climb!”

The man nodded but stubbornly waited until Sully was halfway up before starting his ascent. Sully muttered under his breath. Cogan had always been that way. Ensuring everyone else was taken care of before he considered his own safety. Even as their captain back at the station, the man had risked his life more than once putting their well-being ahead of his.

Sully offered Cogan his hand once the man had reached the first level, pulling Cogan the last few feet as Jake shifted to make room. The zombies engulfed the bottom of the ladder, the view nothing more than a sea of pale flesh mixed with torn, faded clothing and exposed bone. Eerie grunts filled the air, bouncing off the buildings until the noise became a dull roar.

Sully nodded at the horde. “What the hell? I’ve never seen any of them run that fast before.”

Cogan shrugged, moving past him to join Jake at the next set of stairs. “There’re bound to be anomalies. Let’s just get to the roof and see if there’s another way down.”

Sully looked away, the stench of death heavy in the crisp air. God how he hated this. Always running. Never finding people alive, not that they’d done half as many recon missions as Barrett or Hunter’s team. Still, staring into the mass of undead made him realize how futile even this search was. How unlikely it was that Gunner and his crew were still alive.

He leaned against the brick, listening to Cogan and Jake’s boots ring on the metal steps, when one of the infected grabbed a rung, pulling itself up. Sully rubbed his eyes, certain he was finally losing it, when the creature gained the next one, snarling at him as it slowly ascended.

Sully rounded the stairs, grabbing Cogan by the shoulder when he reached the next floor. “One of you guys had better pinch me and tell me I’m dreaming because if I’m actually seeing this shit, finding Gunner won’t matter. We’re all dead.”

Cogan released a weary breath, staring Sully in the eyes. “What the hell are you bitching about now?”

Sully motioned toward the zombie halfway up the ladder “Take a look below us, jackass, and tell me if you’re still smiling.”

Cogan sighed, shifting his gaze downwards, when his breath caught in an audible rasp. “What the fuck?”

“I thought those bastards couldn’t climb?”

“They can’t. At least, I’ve never seen them climb. They knock shit over and sometimes scale small walls, but never a ladder…not like that. Only humans…”

“Reckoned as much” He turned to Jake. “Any ideas, bro?”

“Fuck no!”

Jake descended, moving purposefully over to the ladder and stabbing the bastard in the head as it crested the metal grating. The creature fell into the waiting crowd, but another simply took its place, fingers curling around the rung as it somehow pulled its body upwards.

Jake kicked at the rungs, trying to yank the damn thing up, but there was obviously too much weight below to do more than shake it. Mumbled curses floated up to Sully as Jake shook his head, moving back along the stairs to their level.

He clenched his jaw, his gaze never leaving the zombies ascending below them. “This is insane. What the actual fuck is going on?”

Sully huffed. “No goddamn idea, other than we’d better get ahead of them and find somewhere else to go, because we don’t have the resources to fight all of them.”

“Shit!” Cogan ran a hand through his hair, cursing more as he ran up the stairs, heading for the roof. “This is wrong. Something’s very wrong here. How the hell are they suddenly running like trained athletes and climbing ladders as if…”

“They were still human?” Sully suggested.

Cogan stopped at the top floor, staring down again. “They’re evolving.”

“Something like that, though I’m sure Kace will have a better understanding. He’s always going on about how we’re lucky the parasite only turns on part of the brain.” Sully kicked at the brick. “Shit. I don’t understand the man half of the damn time with his scientific jargon and complicated theorems. But that.” He pointed at the creatures just cresting the first level. “That I understand.”

Cogan grunted but nodded, climbing up the last ladder to the roof. Sully motioned Jake to follow, ensuring they still had time before scrambling up behind them. Cogan gave him a hand then headed for the far side of the roof, glancing over at the adjoining building before backing up and sprinting toward it. Sully groaned inwardly when the man cleared the distance, rolling to safety on the other side. Jake copied Cogan’s approach, not even bothering to size it up first as he crossed the open space, landing gracefully on the adjacent roof.

Sully punched his leg, hoping the simple act hid the slight tremor in his hands. “Shit! You guys know I hate jumping.”

Cogan gave him a smug smile. “You wouldn’t mind so much if you weren’t so bulked out.”

Sully sneered at his friend. This wasn’t funny. “I’m a fireman. It used to come in handy…saving people, remember?”

“Guess you can still impress the ladies with your muscular charm.”

“Fuck off.” Sully eyed the gap. No more than eight feet. A challenge, but hardly impossible.

Cogan merely raised a brow. “Get your ass over here, unless you think facing those things is better?”

“You’re a real jerk, you know that?”

“The jerk who’s waiting for you to stop being a baby and just jump already.”

Sully huffed then backed up. He kicked at the rooftop, hating the anxious feeling welling in his chest when a small object by his left foot drew his attention. He bent forward, snagging the length of cord off the rubber covering. His stomach dropped as he stared at the braided bracelet, the metal clasp wrenched open.

Cogan whistled at him. “Jesus, Sully, just fucking jump. Those bastards will be cresting the roof any minute.”

Sully fisted the cord in his hand, the hollow feeling inside growing as he held up the fabric.

Cogan moved over to the edge of the adjacent roof. “What’s that?”

“Paracord bracelet. A Navy SEALs one.”

The other man muttered something under his breath, glancing away. “Shit.”

“Wolfe never took this damn thing off. Some bullshit about it saving his life. He wouldn’t have left it behind unless they were in a world of hurt up here and he didn’t have time to retrieve it.”

Cogan palmed the edge of the other building. “Maybe they just got overrun and had to jump like us. Doesn’t mean they’re dead.”

“No, but it doesn’t give us much else to go on, either.”

“We’ll keep looking. We just need to lose our friends and get back to the Hummer. Try the next town before we decide what to do.”

Sully nodded. Cogan had a way of grounding him. Making him focus on the immediate task without giving up the bigger picture. It was one of the traits he respected most about the man. Sully tucked the bracelet into a pocket. They’d find Gunner and his crew even if they had to break ranks to do it. He took a deep breath then ran, launching himself over the sheer drop before landing on the far roof. He tucked and rolled, cursing when one of his weapons jabbed him hard in the ribs. Great. That one would bruise.

Cogan’s hand appeared in front of him and he grudgingly accepted it, giving Cogan a shove once he’d gained his feet. The other man smiled, looking up when Jake came jogging over to them.

Jake pointed at the far corner. “There’s a flagpole about four feet away from the edge of the building. Area below looks clear. Seems with all the noise, most of the residents headed for that alley, though it’s impossible to tell for sure. But I’m thinking we can slide our way down and decide from there. Lord knows we can’t stay up here. Even if those bastards haven’t learned to jump, we might lose what little opportunity we have to reach the ground without having to beat back another group.”

Cogan chuckled, though it didn’t sound as if he found the situation funny. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve slid down a damn pole?”

Sully nudged him, resisting the smile tugging at his mouth. “I can always carry you with my muscular charm.”

The man’s laugh sounded genuine this time as he swatted Sully in the shoulder before heading for the corner. He eyed the drop then scanned the area, his mouth firming into a thin line. “Looks safe enough. We’ll head for that park area as soon as we hit the ground. That way we can circle around to the Hummer without traveling the main roads. I just hope those trees don’t thin out too much, though being small town Colorado…”

Sully shrugged. “Beats the alternative.”

“Why doesn’t that make me feel any better?” Cogan nodded at the pole. “Okay, boys. Let’s see how much we’ve forgotten in the past year and a half. Who’s first?”

“You were the captain.”

Cogan glanced at Sully, a smile touching his lips as he moved to the edge, lunging forward, catching the pole between his hands. He wrapped his legs around the metal length, descending quietly to the ground. Sully grinned, looking at Jake. The other man merely shook his head, leaping for the pole and sliding effortlessly down.

Sully took a deep breath. He really didn’t like jumping, even the four feet to the pole. He sighed, launching forward, his instincts kicking in. Though it’d seemed like forever since he’d played the part of a fireman, the feel of the smooth pole passing beneath his hands felt right. A reminder of where he’d come from. Why he kept fighting.

He landed with a dull thud, quickly following his crew into the park and over to the tree line. Cogan darted through a copse of evergreens, stopping behind a couple of large pines. Sully moved in behind him, scanning the area as Cogan held up his fist.

He pointed toward a thicker patch of brush. “You hear that?”

Sully punched him in the arm. “I can’t hear past my blood rushing through my head from that damn jump. Maybe you could be more specific.”