Tainted Future (The Rememdium Series Book 3) (24 page)

“Did you kill them?” Dr. Berning asked, looking behind Jesse toward Drake and Dirk.

“No, they’re just takin’ a good nap,” Lamar answered. “Their heads will hurt like crazy when they wake up, but they’ll be no worse for the wear. We aren’t monsters. We’re just tryin’ to live.”

“Aren’t we all?” Dr. Berning muttered. “Seems our chances exponentially dip with each passing day. How long do you plan to wait for the others in your group to return?”

“As long as it takes, so sit tight,” Turner added. “We all go, or no one does.”

“They’ll never agree to taking you with us.”

Jesse’s anger spiked. “We don’t plan on givin’ them a choice. Either we go with, or you don’t. I doubt they’ll want to risk losin’ you.”

“There won’t be enough room. The plane only seats twelve. These are good people, but they won’t hesitate killing you if necessary. It’s nothing personal, I assure you. It’s all about survival now.”

“Yes, it’s all about survival now, Doctor. And like Jesse said, we don’t plan on sittin’ here, waitin’ to slowly die. If there’s a chance to escape somewhere safe, we’re takin’ it,” Turner said.

Jesse could tell Dr. Berning was a good man. She sensed his kind spirit behind the wounded eyes. Setting the rifle down, she walked over and knelt down. “We aren’t bad people, either, Dr. Berning. We aren’t. We’re all each other has left in this whole, messed up world. All of us have seen things, lost loved ones, had our hearts and souls crushed, durin’ the last week. Before all this happened, I was just a girl learnin’ to live life clean and sober, enjoyin’ the company of my boyfriend; workin’ at Walmart. Doin’ my best to make up for past mistakes to the people I hurt with my addiction. That’s all changed now, just as I’m sure your world changed. Everythin’ we know, everythin’ we believed in, our complete way of life—it’s all gone. Brave, wonderful men we all love, left yesterday to get more supplies so we could live longer. Unfortunately, they left before findin’ out the news about the radiation. When they return, they’ll be devastated to learn they risked their lives for nothin’. So, the plan in place is to give them some new hope in the form of gettin’ outta here. Watchin’ my mom blow her head off was horrible, yet somehow, I imagine watchin’ these wonderful people here die slow, painful deaths from radiation poisonin’ would be even worse.”

Tears filled Dr. Berning’s eyes. He nodded. “Yes, it’s an awful way to die.”

“Then please, help us convince them to take us, too. You don’t seem like the kind of man who could walk away, knowin’ you just sentenced us to death.”

“I’m not, but again, it’s simply a matter of logistics. The plane won’t hold all of us.”

“Can’t, or won’t?” Turner asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Is twelve the FAA recommended seatin’, or the actual capacity of the plane? It’s not like the pilot will be at risk for breakin’ FAA standards.”

“I don’t know. That’s something you’ll have to ask the pilot.”

“Here’s another question—where are y’all plannin’ on headin’?” Jane asked.

“We don’t know quite yet. We’ve got to go somewhere far away from a reactor.”

“You’re lyin’!” Lamar yelled.

“I’m not, I assure you. I may be a scientist, but I don’t recall every location of nuclear plants around the world. We have to get the map first.”

“What map?” Jesse asked.

“There’s one at the estate of the man who set up the lab. I saw one in his library.”

“Where?” Jesse asked, sensing the man was telling the truth.

“Down near Clinton.”

Jesse rose and looked at the remainder of the group. A new plan rolled around in her mind. “Then we’ll just go get that map. With you, and the directions, in our hands, the negotiations will go our way. Guaranteed.”

“Jesse, that’s too risky!” Turner said. “You can’t go alone with him! What if he’s lyin’?”

“I’ll go,” Jane whispered. “Lamar and Martha can stay here, guard those men. Clinton isn’t too far. We’ll make it back by midnight.”

“Are you both insane?” Lamar yelled. “Jesse, there’s no way. Too risky! No tellin’ what kind of troubles await y’all out there!”

“Lamar, we aren’t goin’ to stop. It’s not like this is a supply run. We’ll drive straight there then come right back. If the place has a library, it’s probably expensive. Am I right, Dr. Berning?”

“Yes. And surrounded by a brick wall about fifteen feet high. We locked it up before leaving, so the chances of running into the dead inside are slim. The same can’t be said about the roads leading in and out, but the estate is far up in the mountains, and the closest neighbors are at least five miles away.”

“Then it’s settled. Before Uncle Reed and the others return, we do this. Get back here as soon as possible, tell them of the plan. Have all our ducks in a row, then we’ll all head back to your lab, Dr. Berning. If we want to get out of this place alive, we need to stack the deck. Let’s roll.”

For a few seconds, Jesse worried one—or all—of them would put up an argument.

They didn’t.

All of them, with the exception of Dr. Berning and the two soldiers tied up and out cold by the front door, seemed to accept the plan was the best course of action to take. Jesse grabbed the rifle and a flashlight. Jane did the same.

Turning to face Dr. Berning, Jesse motioned for Lamar to tie his hands. “No offense, Dr. Berning, but just to be safe.”

“You needn’t worry about me. I’m a scientist, not a soldier. Besides, either way this works out, we’ll have the map, which is crucial to our survival. Doesn’t really matter to me who takes me to get it, as long as they’re armed.”

“Well said, Doctor,” Jesse responded. She hugged Turner, Martha, and Lamar, whispering her love before pulling away. Martha handed her a set of keys to one of the Humvees. “We’ll be back soon. Lamar? Keep an eye on those men. Don’t you dare fall asleep.”

“On it,” Lamar replied.

Without another word, Jesse led the trio topside, flicking on the flashlight. She jogged at a brisk pace, hating the sensation of being outside, in the dark, as they ran.

We can do this. We have to do this. We will do this. We will continue on.

ALTERNATE ROUTE - Thursday, December 25
^th
– 4:15 p.m. – Central Standard Time

“Should we say something?”

Cooper tamped down the last pile of dirt over Walter’s grave with his boot. “I’ve already said the Lord’s Prayer in my head, Mason. Don’t need to speak for words to be heard.”

“Did you know them, I mean, like, were you all friends? Or just neighbors?”

“Known Walter for years. Yeah, we were friends. Walter Addison was a good man. A damn good man. Reed Newberry and I went to high school together, but we lost touch when he moved away after graduation. He came back two years ago, but only had the chance to catch up a few times. Reed was a good man, too.”

“I still can’t believe this. We drove for hundreds of miles without seeing any signs of life, then run into people you know. Unreal. Good thing I was smoking and the window was down, or we wouldn’t have heard the shots, or Kyle yell.”

“I would have. Recognize that boy’s voice anywhere. He’s been on the force for years. Kyle’s my best officer. Come on, let’s go find out what they were doin’ way up here.”

“It was nice of you to be the one to bury Walter and Reed. I think Kyle’s done for the day. He looks rough.”

Cooper wiped his dirty hands on his pants and turned around. Kyle hadn’t moved from the blood-soaked ground next to where Walter and Reed passed. He just stared at the pavement, overwhelmed by the events, and the fact he shot Walter. Cooper recognized the look—utter devastation. He’d felt the same thing only days before in Colorado.

“Guess I’ve put off long enough talkin’ to him. Best go hear what he has to say.”

Mason handed Cooper back the gun and followed behind him. Cooper nodded his thanks, surprised the kid had stood outside with him while he buried the dead. Then again, Mason had surprised him by jumping out of the SUV with Teresa’s gun, shooting at the zombies while running. He doubted the moment of heroics was to impress Teresa. Mason was tougher than Cooper gave him credit for.

“You afraid he’s got bad news about your hometown?”

Cooper nodded, unwilling to say the words out loud. Deep down in his heart, that place in a man’s soul rarely visited, Cooper already knew what he was about to hear. Yet, as long as no one else said them, they weren’t real. He decided to add a few more minutes to what he assumed would be a heartbreaking conversation with Kyle, by talking to Mason.

Stopping for a moment, Cooper used the visual aide of all the dead bodies to bring his point home. “Mason? You steer clear of Teresa. I mean it. She’s only out for herself, and that certainly didn’t start when the world ended. Women like her are the kind who use men to get what they want. Back in the old world, she’d use her charms and looks to snag a rich man. Now, she’ll use them to keep herself alive. If you let yourself get tangled up with the likes of her, you’ll end up just like those corpses.”

“You’re wrong, Cooper. She’s just—”

“I’m not wrong, Mason. Want to know what she was thinkin’ while you were passed smooth out on the highway? She was tryin’ to convince me to pass the time away by screwin’ her, that’s what. Of course, her little act wasn’t because she wanted me. She wanted what I had, which was the key. She said we should just fill the tank with the remainin’ gas and leave you behind. That’s the kind of woman she is, Mason. Cold. Callous. Willin’ to do or say anythin’ to get what she wants.”

The look of shock on Mason’s face made Cooper feel bad for hurting his feelings, but it couldn’t be helped. The boy needed to be aware, and if he still opted to pursue the woman, Cooper wouldn’t feel guilty if things turned out bad.

“That bitch,” Mason muttered, looking toward their SUV. “You promise you aren’t bullshitting me? You don’t have eyes for her, do you?”

Despite the horrors of the last two hours, and the fact Cooper knew he was about to find out news no father ever wanted to hear, he laughed. “Son, that could be the last snatch on earth and I’d still walk away. My Johnson would rather die lonely of old age than get shredded to pieces.”

“If you don’t trust her, then why in the world did you let her come this far with us?”

“Because that’s just who I am. Besides, we needed an extra set of eyes on the road. Now, I’m done talkin’ about her. Let’s go check on Kyle.”

Dodging the dead on the ground, Cooper and Mason walked across the parking lot toward Kyle. He didn’t flinch or give any indication he’d heard them approach.

“Kyle? Come on, get up. It’ll be dark soon. It ain’t safe outside.”

“It ain’t safe anywhere, Chief.”

Steadying himself, Cooper asked the question burning a hole in his heart. “What were y’all doin’ up this far north?”

Kyle swung his gaze up at Cooper. The look on his face made Cooper’s heart clench. “Because we had no choice, Chief. Malvern’s gone. What the dead didn’t destroy, the government did.”

“Oh, shit,” Mason muttered.

“All of it?”

Kyle stood, readjusting his rifle. “Yes. Only a few of us escaped. Walt took us to a cave near Blanchard Springs, and we’ve been holed up there ever since.”

Cooper forced the words out. “My children? Did you see—”

“We tried, Chief. Tried to save them. We were hunkered down in Walmart. Charlie and Charlene were there, but when the soldiers attacked us, everyone panicked and scattered. They didn’t make it out of the parking lot.”

He tried to hold back the tears. Tried to remain strong and tough, suck up the crushing sorrow. It didn’t work. Cooper’s sobs of anguish filled the quiet parking lot.

“All this way…I made it all this way…for nothin’.”

“That’s not true, Cooper. You saved me; Teresa; and Kyle. You’re a hero in my book. God, I’m so sorry, but please, don’t give up now. We need you. I need you,” Mason whispered.

“So do I. Because Martha Addison is gonna kill me when I tell her I let Walt die, if Jane Richmond doesn’t get to me first. Jesus H. Christ! I can’t believe this shit!” Kyle spun around, kicking the tire on the Humvee.

The sound of feet running made them all turn their heads. Cooper and Kyle raised their weapons. “More coming this way! Run!” Teresa yelled.

Looking behind her, Cooper saw a handful of the dead less than twenty yards behind Teresa.

“Humvee! Now!” Kyle yelled.

All three men jumped inside the vehicle, Kyle behind the wheel. Mason held the back door open, screaming for Teresa to hurry.

“Start, you piece of government shit!” Kyle yelled.

“Hurry, Kyle. They’re closin’ in fast!”

Teresa burst inside and Mason slammed the door. The engine coughed and sputtered before starting. “Hang on!” Kyle yelled, right at the same time several of the creatures slammed their dead bodies into the side doors.

Kyle gunned the engine. The Humvee bounced over the corpses like they were burnt speed bumps. Tires barked as he turned onto the highway. Cooper watched the mangled, deformed bodies fade into the distance.

For the next several miles, no one spoke. Kyle finally slowed down as the road grew curvier.