You and Me against the World: The Creepers Saga Book 1 (20 page)

Austin gave Nick a punch in the arm and then sat back down.

“So here’s the deal,” Devin continued. “Even if we fix the van, we need another vehicle. Now I didn’t see a dealership back in town, and honestly, going back there is probably a pretty bad idea.”

Heads nodded.

“But we need to at least get the van a new radiator. If—and that’s a big if—we can fix it, we can pull out the seats. We can pack the little kids in there with some supplies. Nick and the doctor can drive that one. The two SUVs can carry some supplies, and we pack the rest of us in them for a few miles. We are bound to find another vehicle down the road.”

“So the problem is the van repair,” Thorn said.

“Exactly. We need to go into town and find a radiator.”

“But town is a bad idea,” Thorn added.

“Right. So Adam thinks we’re better off splitting up. A group goes ahead and finds another van and another SUV.”

“I saw that movie.” Brandon laughed. “Everyone dies.”

“Well, I have a question that might help with the solution.” Thorn looked around. “Does anyone know how to put in a new radiator?”

No one did.

“Then I have a different solution. Let’s fix the one we have.”

“Okay, my turn, Doc. Do you know how to fix a radiator?”

“Umm, I never have, but the idea is fairly simple. We have a hole in the van’s radiator, but the fan and the hoses are still okay. We weld the hole shut, using that welding equipment we found in the other room. We refill it with water, and then we drive slow and watch the gauge.”

“Will that work?” Devin asked.

“In theory, it should. As long as we can stop the water from draining out, it should be okay.”

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is,” Brandon quoted and smiled.

Devin looked at him. “Are you done?”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“But don’t we need to take out the radiator to weld it?” Nick asked.

“I don’t think so. We just break off the front grill to reach the hole.”

“And it won’t blow up?”

“I guess we can put some of that sheet metal behind it to keep the torch away from the engine. If it works, we can stay together and find a better solution. If it doesn’t, we’re no worse off—just a little delayed.”

“I want to get out of here as soon as possible,” Devin said.

“Afraid they’ll find us here?” Thorn asked.

“That, and it’s damn hot in here without air conditioning and I hate the heat.”

The group laughed.

“Okay,” Devin said. “Let’s give it a try.”

They pulled the seats from the van. They argued over the supplies. Some were not happy about leaving behind food and water; others argued leaving ammunition and weapons behind was a death wish. They balanced out the best they could. Thorn was surprised to find that he, the pacifist doctor, felt a pang of uncertainty at the boxes of bullets and number of guns they had stacked in a corner.

Devin walked over and stood beside him.

“You hope that a day doesn’t come when the horde is running you down, you’re chambering your last bullet and thinking about this pile we left behind.”

Thorn nodded.

Devin put his hand on Thorn’s shoulder and said, “But there are no right answers anymore, are there, Doc? Just the next choice to make based on what we need at that moment.”

Thorn turned and looked at him.

“Spoken like a true leader, Devin.”

“Yeah, I still prefer to be just the bro making plans.”

“I think,” Thorn said, “those days are over.”

It was Devin’s turn to nod.

“Well, it’s time to see if my crazy welding plan works,” Thorn continued.

“Yeah,” Devin smiled. “This one’s on you if it doesn’t.”

Brittney screamed. Brandon silently cursed God. Everyone ran to the open door, where the young girl lay on the floor.

She pointed to the parking lot.

“They attacked her. I told her not to go, but she did, and they all just jumped on her when she opened the gate.”

Adam stepped outside, and the others followed. He directed a large flashlight into the moonlit gravel parking area. A hundred feet from the building, Vanessa lay on the ground. She didn’t move. Twenty infected cats crawled over her, tearing off pieces of her flesh and eating them. The cats only slightly resembled their preinfected state. Although they were no taller than an average cat, in the flashlight’s beam, their fur was thick and luxuriant. Beneath all the fur, the group saw the cats’ muscles ripple and bulge. Their green eyes were luminescent in the dark, but when they faced the light, they became a deep liquid gold. The flash beam drew their attention and twenty gold eyes were joined by forty more that poured through the now-open gate.

“Get in, close the door,” Thorn yelled. He had forgotten about the infected cats and again cursed his own stupidity.

“No!” Brittney screamed. “We have to get Vanessa.”

She pushed through the small group.

“She’s dead,” Thorn said, more harshly than he had intended.

“No, she can’t be. She can’t be!”

Adam tried to push her back through the door, but she broke away and ran toward her fallen friend. Adam started after her, but Nick grabbed his arm.

“Don’t,” was all he said.

The cats attacked the young girl. Her screams were brief, and then she too lay motionless on the ground. The cats ran toward the group as they fell back inside and slammed the door.

Inside they were silent. Each considered how they had failed their two young and loyal companions.

Duets

Caroline and Susan cried over Brittney and Vanessa’s death. Perhaps because they had spent the most time with the two girls, or perhaps because they had not been killing former humans and current rapists. Perhaps through that lack of killing, they had managed to maintain more of their humanity than the rest of the group. Thorn held Susan and let her cry. Devin did the same with Caroline. There was little time for mourning, especially with the sound of the infected cats scratching at doors as they searched for entry.

Thorn and Devin left the women with the children. Both the women collected themselves quickly, which in Thorn’s opinion, was a further testament to the inner strength they both possessed. The children were aware something else bad had happened, but they had the benefit of innocent resilience, and they returned to helping sort through boxes and repacking for the trip.

“I’m starting to lose my sense of humor with this shit,” Annie said. You could see the intense anger behind her blue eyes and in the flush on her face. “Creepers by day and now fucking infected cats at night. What the fuck! And I hate fuckin’ cats. I say we go out there and kill them all.”

“No one’s going outside,” Devin said. “Chill, Annie.”

“I’m tired of fuckin’ chillin’ while everyone around me dies.”

A tear spilled down her cheek and then another as she put her head down. Golden approached her sister and hugged her. All of the anger drained from the Death Dancer and she cried. Brad finally stopped pretending he wasn’t in love with the girl, walked over, and hugged her.

Devin cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes. It wasn’t necessary to hide the emotions he felt; he wasn’t alone in his sorrow.

“Doc, I think we need to get that van ready,” he said.

“I think you’re right.”

“Nick and Brandon, can you guys help me load these vehicles?” Adam asked quietly.

Adam looked over at Brad and decided to leave his friend to his girl.

“I’m gonna take Golden, and we’ll patrol the inside perimeter,” Austin added. “Annie can join us when … well, whenever she’s ready.”

The Escalade had a flat tire. The jack was under the pile of supplies in the back. They needed to remove everything in order to reach it. It took several attempts to weld the radiator. Thorn didn’t know how to use the torch, and the weld kept breaking away. Things were the usual cluster fuck.

They needed at least another ten minutes of preparation when the first infected cat found its way in through a vent in the second room. Only an hour remained before sunrise. Devin sighed at the thought of another bad escape plan.

“We got company,” Austin yelled from the hallway, and then his rifle shot cracked, and the children screamed.

Annie broke off from Brad and rushed to help her brother.

Devin and Thorn followed her.

“How many?” Devin asked.

“So far, just one dead kitty,” Austin said and pointed to the torn ventilation duct. “But listen.”

From the vents came the sound of hundreds of claws scratching on the metal ductwork. At two of the vents, they saw the green eyes that peered at them through the slots.

“I’ll send you some help,” Devin said.

“No, me and Annie got this. Just get our ride ready,” Austin countered.

Devin looked at him. “Fine, but don’t be a hero.”

“Too late, bro, I already am.” Austin smiled, but his eyes acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

Devin and Thorn ran back to the group. Devin shouted orders, and everyone moved with an urgency that had become their lives.

“Feel better?” Austin asked Annie.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“Well, you wanted to kill some cats; here’s your chance. But put those knives away and take this.” Austin handed her his rifle. “They’re too small to get with those blades.”

“I have my pistols.”

“The rifle is more accurate, trust me.”

“What are you going use?”

Austin unslung his bat.

“I thought they were too small?”

“They’re bigger than a baseball.” He smiled. “And this way, I can cover your reloads. Here, kitty, kitty,” he called.

And the cats came.

Annie pumped bullets into the stream of cats that fell from the broken vents. Austin swung his bat with deadly accuracy. He was working on a perfect batting average, and then one got by him. It dodged his bat with a quick fake, and then it propelled itself inside his swing zone. Austin turned with his own catlike speed, and the feline sailed past him. Its claws struck out as it passed, and the sharp daggers caught Austin’s exposed side. He felt burning heat as the claws tore through his shirt and made three deep scratches across his ribs. He felt the warm trickle of blood as it seeped from his wounds. The physical damage was not fatal. A gunshot exploded from behind and disintegrated the cat’s head. Golden stood at the door with her .38.