“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.” Artemis replied. The whole situation was making him uneasy. If it was over the streets should be littered with the bodies of the dead, not just empty. Wren rolled her window down a bit in an attempt to hear anything from outside.
“Maybe the military is here and they cleared this part of town?” Wade suggested.
“No, we would know if it were the military.” Artemis shook his head. He reached down and tried to turn the radio on but nothing came across except static. Frustrated he turned it off with a quick jab of his finger.
“Look!” Wren pointed to the top of what appeared to be a dentist’s office. Atop were people, peering over the side down to the street below them. As they grew closer the low growl of the undead began to fill the air. They saw the people atop the roof bring something up beside them, push it over the edge and dangled it above the hoard.
“They’re dangling people!” Wade cried out. That’s when they noticed the thing the group was hanging over was moving, kicking its legs in an attempt to get back on the roof, back to safety. The group holding them let go and allowed the person to drop into the hoard who ripped them apart, feeding on them.
“Get us out of here fast!” Wren commanded. Artemis didn’t need her command, he had already pushed the gas pedal to the floor two seconds before she had said anything. They quickly moved out of sight from the group, and they all breathed a bit easier once that happened.
“They were feeding them with people.” Wade stated, shocked.
“I already thought the world was pretty messed up as it was, but it’s like hell now.” Wren narrowed her eyes.
“It will be better once we get to a safe zone.” Artemis spoke calmly.
“If we find a safe zone.” Wren retorted.
“Look we’re not all that far from Baton Rouge, we should make it there before nightfall.” Artemis pointed out in front of him down the road.
“Good.” Wade nodded. “I hope we find something worthwhile there.”
“All of us do, kid, all of us do.” Artemis shook his head.
They drove for hours, driving as fast as they could on the parts of the road that were clear. In other spots why seemed to slow down to almost a crawl because there were objects blocking the way. Some were just abandoned vehicles, others were overturned by what appeared to be an accident. As they drove past they spotted zombies strapped in with their seatbelts, clawing at the glass. Their higher brain function was gone, once they were stuck they would stay stuck.
A few dogs ran down the road, free from their collars and leashes they ran allowing the wind to blow through their fur. Wren watched with a low burning jealousy. She wanted to run free. Never once in her whole life did she ever expect this to happen. She always felt bad when she saw videos of children struggling to survive, whether they lived in extreme poverty here or in a third world country thousands of miles away. Here they were, struggling themselves.
“You want something to drink?” Wade held out a bottle of bright blue sports drink. Wren accepted it gratefully.
“Hey, there’s a sign!” Artemis pointed to the side of the road.
“It said Baton Rouge, next three exits!” Wade exclaimed happily.
“Do you think they would set up a safe zone in the middle of a city? Isn’t that dangerous? There are all kinds of hiding places there.” Wren shook her head as Artemis took the first exit.
“I don’t know exactly where it is. The only thing that I’m hoping at the moment is that there is a safe place.” Artemis pulled onto a street and began glancing around quickly.
“What are we looking for exactly?” Wade leaned up from the back of the cargo space.
“Anything. Look for signs or arrows or something pointing the way to a safe place.” Artemis replied.
“Alright. I got my eyes peeled.” Wade stated as he began attempting to look everywhere at once. They drove for ten minutes, no one seeing any sort of sign that would lead them anywhere. Finally, just as the last bit of hope seemed to fall to the wayside, a white sheet was seen blowing in the breeze and Artemis slowed down. Sure enough, spray painted on the white sheet:
U.S. Military, Safe Haven, This Right.
“The military!” Artemis cried out. “This better be the real military and not like that last bunch of yahoos we ran into.”
“Well there’s only one way to find out, let’s go!’ Wren pointed in the direction the sign was pointing. After four blocks they saw it. There was a large man made wall blocking the street. They had made barricades from the abandoned cars. Suddenly they over heard a voice on a bull horn.
“Please, exit your vehicle with your hands up.”
“Do as they say, move slowly.” Artemis shut the truck down. Wade and Wren followed him out, their hands raised.
“What’s your name soldier?” The voice called out again.
“Artemis Bandeaux. I was stationed at St. Katherine’s hospital in New Orleans.” Artemis replied. The voice was silent for a few seconds. The three companions looked at one another, before they spotted a man dressed in fatigues running towards them.
“Artemis, you son of a bitch!” The soldier was beaming as he embraced Artemis. Wade and Wren looked confused as they watched.
“Juan, you old asshole! I thought you were dead!” Artemis laughed as he returned the man’s embrace.
“Uhh…hello?” Wren interrupted.
“Who do you got here?” Juan asked as he looked Wade and Wren over.
“I saved them. We’ve been traveling together. That’s Henry and this here is Jackie but we call her Jack.” Artemis introduced them.
“Nice to meet you.” Juan nodded before turning back to Artemis. “Man, last I saw you was right before the city went to shit.”
“It wasn’t easy getting out, that’s for sure.” Artemis nodded.
“Come on. We’ll talk once we get back behind the barricade. Sarge is going to shit a brick when he sees you! Not to mention you managed to bring back two survivors who look like they can handle a weapon or two.” Juan turned to walk back the way he came.
“Our stuff is in the truck.” Wade pointed to the cargo truck.
“Oh, yeah grab your stuff. Be fast though, Sarge doesn’t like us to be out beyond the barrier too long.” Juan looked over his shoulder back to the barricade.
Wade and Wren ran back to the truck and grabbed their bags. Artemis walked over and grabbed his too, not forgetting his gun. They walked back and met up with Juan who was waiting for them.
“How many you got here?” Artemis asked.
“We got a good many. We got a lot of civilians though.” Juan laughed and shook his head. “Damn civilians, trying to act like this is the Wild West or some shit.”
“Is there any news?” Wade asked.
“Yeah, the first cities that fell, they’re reporting the zombies are just falling over dead, well deader. They ain’t walking no more and they sure as hell ain’t trying to eat a person.” Juan flashed a toothy grin to Wren. “No one is sure what caused it quite yet, but we got people working on it.”
They passed through a small opening in the barricade. People waiting on the safe side closed the opening behind them as fast as they could. It wasn’t much, but people weren’t running or hiding and there was no one stumbling towards them trying to devour their flesh.
“We got separate sleeping quarters, Artemis. Come on, I’ll show Henry and Jack here where they can put their stuff then I’ll take you to where we’re set up.” Juan walked a bit faster.
“If it’s okay, I’d rather not be separated from these two. We’ve been together for a few days now, I’m kind of responsible for them. They’re teens and they’re orphans.” Artemis explained.
“You ain’t got nothing to worry about. They’re safe in here.” Juan shook his head and pointed to a tent set up in the street. “Go on in there, and there’s a lady name Beatrice in there. Tell her that Juan sent you and she’ll help you get settled in. Me and Artemis here will come back in a bit and check on you, take you to get some chow, ok?”
“Yeah.” Wade nodded. Wren watched as Artemis walked away from them with Juan. He didn’t even look back at them. “Come on let’s go meet this Beatrice.”
“He didn’t even look at us, did you see that? What the fuck was that about?” Wren pinched her mouth together in anger. “It looks like we can only rely on each other, Wade.”
“He didn’t mean it that way, come on now. Did he let us down at all since we met him?” Wade asked, grabbing Wren’s shoulder and spinning her so that he could look her in the eyes. “He didn’t leave us after Jamie and Dad, he didn’t leave us after Mom, and he protected us from that weird family. He isn’t going to leave us now.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it.” Wren huffed as he turned and made her way into the tent. As soon as they walked in they were greeted by a little old lady who had short white hair.
“Hello, I’m Beatrice.” She smiled kindly.
“I’m Henry, this is my sister Jackie.” Wade held his hand out to shake the old woman’s hand. She took it gently.
“You can call me Jack.” Wren forced a smile as the old woman extended her hand to her. “Juan sent us in here.”
“Oh, Juan! Of course, of course! Follow me! Now it isn’t a fancy-shmancy hotel but it’s comfortable and warm.” Beatrice smiled as she took them through a flap into a large portion of the tent that contained rows of cots. “Go ahead and get settled. I’m sure Juan will be back in a bit to take you on a tour. He sure does like showing this place off.”
“Thank you Beatrice.” Wade smiled as he dropped his backpack from his back. It landed with a thud atop the cot. Wren smiled her thanks to the old woman who turned and walked away from them, softly humming to herself.
“How long do you think it will be before they come back?” Wade asked, as he sat down. Wren walked to the cot opposite him and sat down.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to lay down until they do. If I fall asleep you better wake me up to go along with you all. If you leave me behind I’ll kick your ass when I wake up.” Wren pointed her finger at Wade as she tossed her legs up onto the cot and laid down.
“Alright. I’m not laying down just yet. I don’t feel comfortable so until I do, we keep the watches going. You sleep first this time, and I’ll take the second sleep shift.” Wade folded his hands and looked around the sleeping area.
“Good plan, boss.” Wren stretched and closed her eyes.
Wade sat looking around. There was only one way in, and that’s the way they had come in. The other cots had blankets neatly folded sitting on the middle of the cot a pillow atop each one. He frowned. There were no personal belongings, no bags, no nothing. He mentally added the lack of belongings to the list he would ask Artemis about when he returned.
Beatrice walked in, holding two empty mugs and a carafe. She smiled kindly.
“I brought you some hot chocolate. I didn’t think she would be asleep just yet.” She indicated Wren with the hand holding the two mugs by the handles.
“She’s really tired.” Wade stood up and walked over to the old woman. She handed him the mugs first.
“It’s very hot so be careful not to burn your mouth.” She handed over the carafe.
“Thanks, I’ll be careful.” Wade nodded. “Have you seen Artemis?”
“Artemis?” Beatrice looked confused for a moment. “Oh, the tall gentleman that was with Juan? I saw them both in the canteen. They were talking shop, you know how soldiers are.” She laughed airily for a moment. “Go on, enjoy your hot chocolate and make sure your sister gets some too.”
“I will, thank you.” Wade smiled as he walked back to his cot. He tossed one of the mugs beside him onto the cot and poured himself some. He could see the steam rising from his cup as the dark liquid filled it.
Wren moved onto her side in her sleep, tucking her hand beneath her newly darkened hair, and sighed. Wade lifted his eyes from his cup and looked at his twin. They were the last of the family. The last tie to his life before the zombies was fast asleep three feet away from him. He inhaled deeply and made the choice to protect her no matter what, even if that meant laying down his own life in process.
“Hey!” Wade spun around on his seat and saw Artemis walking towards him.
“We were wondering where you went.” Wade turned back.
“Juan was showing me around a bit.” Artemis sat down on the cot beside Wade, moving the mug Wade had tossed there. “A few of my fellow soldiers are here.”