Slow Burn: A Zombie Novel (26 page)

“
You think everything will run smooth on this raid?” I asked, looking at the radio in my hand.

“
Hell yes!” Dan replied. “I just wish I was going with, and had Mattie for my partner just like you.”

I did make sure she was in my group
, I thought with a chuckle as I reached my cot.

I was forced to kick off Buddy, who had burrowed under the blankets and shot me a dirty look as he walked up the stairs.

* * * * * * * *

Over the next couple of days, the power surprisingly stayed on. We attracted only a limited number of zombies during that time, and it seemed that most of Stephen’s neighbors had left the subdivision altogether. I even went so far as having myself and Chris go out in a vehicle and patrol the subdivision looking for survivors and checking in the clearly abandoned houses for anything useful. No living persons were located, but several pets had been left behind, and we made sure they could get out of the residences and had access to food and water. Mattie and Vanessa kept a running list of things we both wanted and needed to locate to fill in gaps in our supplies. Stephen had Paul filtering all their water and wanted all the containers topped off daily. He knew that the power would go out for good at any time and the water pressure would go along with it. Dan made several fuel runs as well as they located more cans. Viable food from several refrigerators and freezers was also found, and Stephen hoped that his generator could run his freezer after the power went off.

“
We’ve gotta stretch our food supply as far as possible, Mike,” Stephen confided one night. “We’ve got no idea how long this whole mess may last.”

Pizza parties consisting of frozen pizzas were had at night to pass the time, and Dan taught everyone several new card games. Our group was getting along surprisingly well considering that we were thrown together under such trying circumstances. We also spent a lot of time watching the broadcasts from the safe zone. They seemed to be making progress and were becoming better organized. Captain Marshall even made a second trip back with additional instructions and a report that the military was working on larger, more secure safe zones around the country. He insisted, however, that these smaller safe zones were of utmost importance to the government. In his daily broadcasts, Troy Lundell passed along information that he was getting from the Associated Press wire, and most of it was grim. All of the larger cities were considered dead zones, and several reports were coming in of major military instillations being abandoned or overrun. And the worst news of all was that the infection had gone global, and no help was likely coming from the rest of the world. He also mentioned the increase in the number of infected they were seeing and stressed the importance of survivors reaching the safe zone soon, if possible. Dan’s communications with Phil brought only more grim tales of desperation.

After a group meeting on the fifth day of the outbreak, it was decided by all that we would make our planned supply raid in the morning. Once we secured the proper vehicles and supplies, we would decide as a group the best course of action. Everyone was a bit apprehensive about what we would find out there in the morning, and we tried to relax by playing cards and watching a movie as a group. Stephen’s place had provided a bit of a sanctuary the last couple days, but we all knew that it wouldn’t last. Tomorrow we would go out and face the enemy in the field for the first time since the outbreak, and I wondered how we would do. Finally I got sleepy and went over the plans with everyone one last time. Satisfied with their answers, I hit the sack, anxious to kick some zombie ass in the morning.

Unable to go back to sleep after my morning bathroom ritual, I trudged over to Stephen’s weight pile, and after an hour or so, I had my workout completed in plenty of time for our 0800 launch time. Breakfast today consisted of cold cereal and milk but there were at least bananas to cut up in the Frosted Flakes. I shared the breakfast table with Dan, who mentioned that last night he had heard a large firefight to the north, maybe a few miles out. Sounded to him like several guys with assault style rifles really going to town for a good 15-20 minutes, and he again reminded me to be careful when on our raid today.

I looked outside; the sky was heavily overcast and it was a bit cooler outside. Stephen’s American flag snapped in the westward wind. Paul was already standing in the driveway waiting, grim faced and a little scared looking, dressed in his Eddie Bauer yuppie hiking gear and backpack, when I exited the house.

At least he thought to bring a gun.

He white knuckle clutched the 30/30 Marlin and had the 686 Smith & Wesson revolver in a black nylon holster Stephen had given him.

Stephen finally emerged from the basement looking like he was dressed for a military inspection. I gave him a slight smirk and shook my head as he walked by. He was wearing a clean and pressed set of military ACUs, along with a chest rig containing three extra 30-round magazines for his AR-15. His Beretta M9 rested in a thigh holster and a double magazine pouch was also on his belt. A matching ACU go bag and a pair of ballistic Oakley glasses completed the look.

“
What the fuck are you looking at?” Stephen asked and then laughed before adding, “Don’t be a hater, I make this look good!”

While Mattie, Jamere and Chris gathered their gear for our little raid, I brought Paul inside and again went over our operational plans. I would take Jamere and Mattie on a run to the Joliet Police Department’s west side substation. Once there, we would check for any survivors, take what we could as far as equipment and possibly the armored “Bearcat” A.P.V or the larger S.W.A.T truck. If acquiring the trucks was not feasible, our Plan B was to try for a short bus located at the nearby Plainfield South High School. While we were checking those locations, Stephen, Chris and Paul would hit the Walgreens pharmacy for medical supplies for the group as a whole and mainly for the prescription asthma medication for Paul’s daughter. Their secondary target was the Aldi's grocery store located just to the north of Walgreens. Jamere and Mattie passed us on their way out the door, and I told them I would be out in a minute.

After giving Paul a reassuring pat on the back and making a quick check of my own gear, I walked out to the landscaping truck and noticed my crew for today’s raid had already loaded up and Jamere sat behind the wheel. We made quite a motley crew when you sat back and took a look. Jamere was a short, slim, very athletic black man who could run fast as hell and moved even faster with the ladies. Always known to have juggled several relationships at once, he seemed to actually love the inevitable drama whenever he eventually got caught. In fact, as I approached the truck, it appeared he was trying his best at making moves on Mattie right now. She was blushing and giggling softly at some joke Jamere had made.

Mattie had her hair pulled back into a girly ponytail and was wearing a baseball cap. Wearing a bright pink, form fitting long sleeve shirt complete with painted on Capri blue jeans.

I wondered how long it had taken to wiggle into those. It wasn’t the most tactical look by any means, but she pulled it off nicely indeed. I stood there holding my rucksack loaded with ammo and other gear we might need for the raid, smirking as I hatched an idea. I “accidently” dropped a few of my loaded rifle magazines.

“
Hey, Mattie, could you grab those?” I asked dumbly.

She stopped and bent over to grab them, “Sure thing, Mike.”

When she bent over I was given quite the spectacular vision of her ass. I am such a pig.

Next to our truck, Stephen, Chris and Paul finished loading up in Chris’ huge GMC pickup and were now waiting on us.

“
Move ‘em out, pilgrims,” I called to my teammates in my best John Wayne impersonation.

Our little caravan headed east out of Stephen’s neighborhood without having any zombie contact whatsoever. To better view our surroundings, I had Jamere halt our truck, and I climbed into the back and stood watching over the cab as we continued out of the subdivision northbound up Ridge Road. Glancing back, I noticed that Stephen did the same in the rear of Chris’ truck. He gave me a shit-eating grin and waved. I waved back, but with my middle finger, and turned back facing the road, grinning as well. Out on the road, the street was mostly clear with only a few unattended vehicles off to the side. The subdivisions we passed along the way seemed to be in the same state as Stephen’s. Open garage doors and vacant houses, signs of a mass exodus.

We slowed down as we approached the intersection of Ridge Road and Caton Farm Road, and turned east. I glanced back again at Stephen’s crew, who crossed the intersection and pulled into the Walgreens parking lot. We lost sight of them while continuing east, and I began to notice a few groups of roaming zombies in the immediate area. They appeared to be heading Stephen’s way, so I got a hold of him on the radio to warn him.

“
10-4, Mike, we just arrived,” Stephen responded and then continued after a slight pause. “We’ll post a guard out front to keep watch while we stock up with what we can.”

* * * * * * * *

In the Walgreens lot Stephen and Chris each put on their “game face” and prepared to move. Paul stood nervously by the truck and had his head on a swivel, which Stephen had to admit, was a good thing.

“
Listen up, guys,” Stephen said as he jumped out of the back of the truck. “Mike advised that he saw some zombies headed our way. Chris I want you to pull guard out front, while Paul and I clear the store and get the meds.”

“
Roger,” Chris said, exited the driver’s seat, and adjusted his rifle sling as he settled into a comfortable “ready” shooting stance.

Stephen turned to Paul, who was now visibly pale and sweaty.

“
Look, Paul, just relax and follow my lead. I will take point and clear the building. You just follow behind me and make sure the area to our rear is clear while I do so.”

Paul gulped nervously. “Alright, but it looks dark in there.’

Stephen shook his head in pity. “Yes and that’s why we use these neat little gadgets called flashlights that help us see in the dark.”

Without waiting for Paul to answer, Stephen headed for the door.

The front glass door had been shattered prior to their arrival. As they stepped into the dark silent building, the only sound they could hear was the crunching of glass shards under their boots and Paul’s panicky labored breathing. Stephen switched on the powerful light attached to his rifle and searched each aisle. By the looks of things, he could tell that the place had been seriously looted already, and merchandise was scattered everywhere. Many of the shelves were stripped bare, but he could still see a lot of stuff they could use spread out across the floor. Finally reaching the pharmacy counter in the back, he found it basically untouched, and the metal security screen was still intact.

Paul grabbed the metal screen and frantically yanked on it.

“
It won’t open!” he said breathing hard. “What are we gonna do?”

Stephen just looked at him and shrugged. “I guess I’ll use my key.”

“
What key? Where did you get a key?” Paul asked, sounding shocked.

“
Just watch our back okay?” Stephen ordered. “And make sure you got your earplugs in.”

I get stuck with the idiot
, Stephen thought,
While Mike gets the hot girl
.

Taking aim with his rifle, Stephen fired several times at the lock mechanism on the employee entrance and then kicked the door twice before he was rewarded with it crashing open. Entering the medication aisles, they began searching for the inhalers Paul’s daughter needed, as well as a list of antibiotics Dan had given them.

Jamere slowed the truck down and pulled into the Joliet Police west station. Right off the bat I could tell we were too late. The enclosed garage that the S.W.A.T vehicles occupied had all the bay doors open, and both vehicles were missing. We could see that there had been a major fight here as the ground was littered with hundreds of shell casings and dozens of corpses lay sprawled everywhere on the parking lot and inside the garage stalls. We all silently stared at the carnage before us for a few moments. Finally I snapped out of it and begin scanning for threats.

“
Kill the engine,” I ordered down to Jamere from the back of the truck.

Jamere shut off the loud truck, and we sat quietly, listening for the telltale moaning and growling of nearby zombies. Hearing none, I tapped the roof of the truck before hopping out of the back. Mattie and Jamere carefully climbed out of the truck cab, both having to sidestep slightly to avoid bodies. I signaled quietly for Jamere to pull guard outside of the open bays of the garage and Mattie and I entered the silent police substation. Dan was right. There had been a huge battle, and it was waged right here. It looked as if not everyone made it out alive. Seeing our familiar blue uniforms on crumpled bloodied bodies, I turned over several corpses belonging to police officers that I once knew. I forced myself to again come to grips with the reality that not everyone I knew would survive this pandemic, and there were bound to be tragedies along the way.

As I continued to clear the immediate area, I could hear Mattie sob quietly in grief at the loss of even more of her fellow coworkers. In short order we cleared the small substation with no opposition. Out in the garage, I noticed a piece of paper fluttering in the wind near one of the open bays. It was a note taped to the lockbox that held the S.W.A.T vehicle keys: