Zombie Infestation Read online

  Jacques said, “If you can hear me, tell me the name of the sports team I am going to buy.”

  The others snickered, but Nate responded, “Unless you become an Easter egg, or trees start bribing dogs, that probably ain’t happening bub. When I am done running all over Hell’s acres here, I am going to apply the fortune I make here to bail out my church. They are so poor they can’t even pay attention. Then I am donating the rest to some real candidates with true American values.”

  Next, Jefferson tested his com link. “This gig is going to pay for the rest of my mom’s cancer treatments.” He talked about this frequently, so it wasn’t new information to anyone working in BlackStone. Rose related with just a glance, as her mom was dealing with cancer as well. The money from this gig would fund the same thing for her.

  “Loud and clear,” she said.

  At the staging area, a group of armed soldiers were waiting. Ramirez ignored them and said, “Anything goes in New Middlesbrough.”

  Then he handed them each a waterproof map of the city. “Beyond the beach head, you will encounter several hordes of the undead.”

  The dirt hissed as an armored vehicle with a mounted turret braked behind them. When the doors opened, Harrison and another group of soldiers jumped out.

  Ramirez said, “Try to avoid engagements. If you must shoot, aim for the head.”

  When the group approached, Harrison’s loud voice was easily identifiable. “Your mission dossier was clear, but I want to make sure you don’t have any questions.”

  He locked eyes with each member of the Blackstone team.

  Rose said, “Don't you have satellite radios?”

  Harrison nodded as he responded. “Of course we do, but sometimes the Appalachians cause communications disruptions. Also, whatever building they were forced to occupy impedes our signal.”

  Again, Rose became their self-appointed spokesperson. “Why can’t the unit just wait for the area to be cleared?”

  Despite the inquisition, Harrison didn’t look the least bit annoyed. “Our capacity is limited, and every soldier is needed to execute our battle plan with expediency. I don’t want any undead to escape, so I can’t redirect any resources to recover them. ”

  Harrison adjusted his gloves.

  “Since the crash area is not scheduled to be cleared until tomorrow, they will need support.”

  Again, Rose inquired. “What is so important about this unit?”

  Harrison replied, “No one gets left behind. Not even you.”

  Chapter 5

  Ray swung the thick armored vehicle door open, then climbed up into the mounted gun turret. On the other side, Jefferson opened the driver’s door. Before entering, he adjusted the seat to accommodate his giant frame. Once inside, he turned the key in the ignition, and smiled at the sweet purr of the engine.

  Hearing the sound of some nearby chopper blades, Jefferson killed the engine and said, “No matter what they are paying us, I ain’t being zombie bait for some huss.”

  Rose glared at Harrison and shouted, “For whatever reason you decided we can’t just chopper in. Those birds had better not be following us.”

  The armed personnel around Harrison moved closer to him.

  Calm, he replied, “Based on your resume, I assume you know those UH1 gunships carry M134 mini guns, and also MK40 FFAR with swivel mounted M60 machine guns. The sound of those birds will attract the strongest zombies to the South side of the city. They can then thin that brood out quickly.”

  Rose interrupted. “What if your dazzling sizzle starts a fire? Exactly when were you planning on telling us this aspect of your plan?”

  Colonel Harrison finally looked annoyed. His expression made it obvious that her ongoing snark wasn't what he was used to hearing. Inside of the vehicle, the rest of the team laughed because they knew she had intentionally ignored using the word sir in her response.

  The colonel grit his teeth as he inhaled deeply though his nose. Harrison said, “If you had bothered to check any of the markings on your map, it should be obvious that your team will be entering the hot zone from the North, which happens to be the opposite side of the city.”

  There was long pause that no one filled, so he did.

  “Considering your dysfunctional backgrounds, it may seem strange for a commander to value their field assets, and want them to succeed. Frankly, if you want to live, you should learn to trust my judgment.”

  Inside the truck, the team started to whisper amongst themselves.

  Outside, Rose raised her voice so everyone could hear. “If you don’t think you hired the right people, we can just drive this fat bitch to the bar two towns over, and call it a day.”

  Harrison was visibly annoyed, but remained calm as he responded. “Marked on your map is the Northside bridge. It was intentionally destroyed to create a choke point because it is the only way into that side of town.”

  Rose looked at the map.

  “I personally loaded in some ropes and hooks into your vehicle so you can ingress and egress will.”

  Both Nate and Jacques sprang to action to verify that the equipment he mentioned existed. Then signaled Rose with an affirmative thumbs up.

  Harrison said, “Also marked on your map is the crash site. Our intel revealed that our distressed unit have taken refuge in a nearby building, but could be on the run. We lost contact, so we don’t have their exact location.”

  Everyone on the team scanned the map they were provided.

  “The city is ruined, so you may need to survey to find a feasible route. Until our units get there, you are on your own. You can kill anyone or anything hostile, living or dead.”

  Rose replied, “Tango Mike.”

  After she slid into the passenger seat, she switched off her comlink. Then turned in her chair towards the rear seats and said, “You guys still want to do this? This is your last chance to booney.”

  As if she had triggered a switch, they all responded with a thumbs up vote to continue. She exhaled like someone kicked her in the gut, then switched her comlink back on.

  When she looked over at Jefferson she said, “We’re toted up, so let’s move.”

  Chapter 6

  When Jefferson slammed the pedal to the floor, the heavy armored vehicle roared onto the open road. Then past the smaller fallback outposts set up outside of the fortified base. The mist and night fog between the tall pine branches and the blue green grass of the foothills was undisturbed.

  As Rose opened her map, she glared over at him. “Kill the fucking lights you dumb ass.”

  On the turret, Ray scanned the dark horizon.

  The main road that lead to New Middlesbrough was a steep downhill, probably much better suited for downhill skiing than driving. From the hilltop, everyone in the vehicle could fully witness the flickering explosions from the crackling tidal wave of firepower as it moved forward. Above it, gunships easily shredded lines of oncoming undead legions with an effortless spray of 50 caliber machine gun fire. Rose ignored this as she used a small flashlight to scan markings on the map.

  As they got further down the hill, multiple tank blasts shook the ground, which flattened waves of a thousand oncoming undead. After an extended barrage, sharpshooting infantry forces with flashing strobes mounted on their weapons moved forward to assassinate anything left in the vicinity. “That shit right there is hotter than a goat’s butt in a pepper patch.” Nate rarely said anything they all agreed with. This time it was an understatement.

  Rose shifted the map and said, “Okay, stop half way down, and turn left at that line of watch towers. Burry Road will wind around the base of the mountain and ends at the bridge on the North end of town, which is where we need to be.”

  Jefferson turned left at the fork and gunned it as Rose scanned the map.

  Then he said, “That bridge will be a bottleneck. So, hostiles can only come at us from one side, and if shit gets wicked, and Harrison’s diversion doesn’t wo
rk, we can just fall back and pick them off from the other side.”

  No one replied.

  The wind pressed on Ray’s face as the vehicle sped down the open road. After witnessing the onslaught of the massive waves of undead, he reflected. Like him, everyone on the team was collectively shocked into a hyper vigilant state. He knew the others could also feel their heartbeat pounding against their Kevlar vest, just like he could, so he ignored it.

  The mountain road was short, and after a few quick turns, Jefferson slammed on the brakes. Most of the Northside bridge was missing, but each entrance was still intact. When Jefferson used the rear view mirror to back the vehicle in, the two burning buildings that flanked the bridge looked like giant candles. “That brass dick motherfucker Harrison didn’t mention the stench down here.”

  The team retrieved the ropes and grapples, and laid all five of those out. Everyone on the team inspected the ropes, and examined the grapple hooks. The scenic overlook was stunning, and the sound of the river below was soothing, but ruined by the stench of the burning buildings mixed with the smell of the dead.

  Rose said, “It was smart to blow the bridge. Without it, none of those things can get over here. The vehicle will be clean if need it.”

  Jefferson opened the spare tire harness, and then slammed it shut as he said, “Just in case, I am putting the keys on the backside of the tire harness.”

  In the distance, they could hear and see the chopper gunships charge into the Southside airspace. The small warbirds sprayed their immense 50 caliber firepower into the hordes on the ground below. For a moment, Nate’s Southern drawl seemed louder than the racket in the distance.

  “Can you hear that Jesus? Thanks for sending some sweet drums down from heaven. That’s my favorite kind of music.”

  As she stared out at the horizon, Rose looked annoyed. “They better not blow their whole wad before we even get our clothes off. I didn’t show up for that kind of party.”

  The team had no response, as they scanned the surrounding area. She switched off her comlink and said, “I know you guys need the money, but I have got a bad feeling about this one. Anyone who doesn’t want to do this, speak up now, this is our last chance to head back or to bug out.”

  None of the team flinched or commented.

  As Rose switched her comlink back on, Nate attached the strobe to his gun barrel as he said, “All right ya’ll, time to get meaner than a wet panther.”

  Jefferson squinted with displeasure as he said, “That thing is going to attract them.”

  Rose pointed to the strobe attached to her weapon. “I hope I never need to switch that shit on, but if I need to blind some bitches, I will.”

  She adjusted the attachment.

  “If we do this right, we won’t need to even use it.”

  Chapter 7

  Geared up and eager, the group walked to the edge of the mangled bridge. Then Ray and Jacques each swung a rope with a grappling hook, then tossed it over to catch on the other side of the metal bridge caging. When they were sure it was secure, they fastened the other side of the rope to a bundle of bent rebar exposed in the concrete rail.

  Ray and Jacques waited while Nate, Jacques, and Rose Each crossed the river going hand over hand across the rope. On the hostile side, they flipped their night vision visor down, took a covering position, and waited while Jacques and Ray crossed in the same fashion.

  For a moment, they froze as they watched the silhouette of a small marathon of people sprint toward them down the smoky street. Hearing a member of the crowd cough, made it clear it was not the undead. Through their sites, the team scanned the horizon, and didn’t ease up when the panicked citizens stopped in front of them.

  “Stop or I will shoot,” said Rose. On command the citizens stopped. “Any of those things behind you?”

  Of the dozen people, only the woman in a flannel shirt spoke up. “We need to get across. Can you help us?”

  Rose gazed across the gap, then at the ropes, then back at the group. “Whoever is able to use the ropes better do it now, in 10 minutes I am cutting those and you are on your own.”

  Nearly everyone charged forward. Two of the men ran up and shoved one another to be first. Then each went hand over hand across the gap on a separate the rope until they reached the other side. Then the next two people in line pushed and shoved and jockeyed to be next. Neither were successful, and both barged onto the same rope simultaneously. Within one arm’s length, the rope broke, and the two men fell into the dark ravine below.

  Angry, Rose almost raised her voice, but refrained. “Let that be a lesson to ya’ll. Get your asses over there one at a time. The clock is ticking bitches.”

  The woman with a child strapped to her chest stared out at the tree line. To prevent the baby from crying, she pressed it to her breast, then was motioned to go next. Each person checked the horizon as they waited for their turn. The team flipped their night vision lens down, and scanned horizon as the exhausted and weak citizens struggled and barely made it across the rope.

  After everyone was across, Rose cut the ropes.

  Seeing this, Jacques scowled at her. “What the fuck? I thought you were kidding about that. How will we get across now?”

  She unfastened two of the three ropes and grapples strapped to her belt. Then cocked her hips and rolled her eyes.

  “Check out my new boots sweety.”

  When he looked down he saw two rolls of ropes with grapples attached on the ground.

  She smirked as she said, “Jeez, dude. Get it together, we need 100%.”

  As the team watched she bent down and picked up each rope and grapple. As she stashed those behind a nearby bench she said, “See any creatures yet?”

  Jacques and Ray both responded simultaneously like a canned chorus at a karaoke night. “Nope.”

  She knelt and then sliced the rope in one motion.

  “Hell of a toothpick you got there,” said Ray.

  “Thanks. Now let's get busy,” said Rose.

  Except for the multiple burning buildings, the jagged skyline of the decent sized town appeared to be structurally intact. Within the space of a breath, a lone silhouette rushed at Ray. When he drew both machetes, the zombie held its hands up to block the anticipated blow, but continued to charge at full speed.

  As it got within reach, he hacked its hands away from its face, then swung the other blade parallel across its neck. Now headless, it crumbled like a wet cardboard box. “Ramirez was right.” Ray rarely spoke, so it seemed strange to hear his commentary.

  She held her finger to her lips. “No shooting unless we have to. Let's stick with the blade play and keep things quiet.”

  When she signaled, the team moved forward. Just a few feet down the road, they saw a small group of slow moving zombies stumbling forward with stiff legs. Barely moving, they were easily detected.

  Chapter 8

  Each thin street on the Northside of New Middlesbrough was clogged by some type of blockade. Behind the piled debris and the smashed in storefronts, were packs of undead. Some paced back and forth like impatient consumers waiting for a liquidation sale, and others convulsed and shook in place as if an electric current was attached to them.

  Softly Nate spoke into his helmet comlink, “It’s as dark as Hades here.”

  Rose glowered at him as she put her index finger to her lips and reflected. The three missions I went on with him he almost never spoke, he must be totally freaking out.

  Next to them was a dingy three story concrete parking garage with flickering lights on the second level. Scanning the area, Ray put his hand on Jefferson’s shoulder and pointed to the tall building next to it.

  Ray said, “Cutting through the parking garage will be easier than going around. At the top level, we can climb over to the fire escapes, and from up there we can survey the area and analyze the map.”

  As usual, Rose commented. “Why that place?”

  Ray replied, “
It looks like the tallest building around here, and has fire escapes on both sides.”

  Since no one protested, she used a hand signal first, and then spoke softly into her comlink. “Okay team, then let’s roll.”

  Without hesitation, Jefferson and Ray grabbed the machetes from their belt and led the team forward. Nate and Jacques did the same thing, but covered the rear. Between them, Rose moved in tandem as she scanned their darkened route though the site of her weapon and the night vision goggles attached to her helmet. At the entrance, a large butterscotch yellow smiley face splattered with flecked blood greeted them.

  She whispered, “Avoid the stairs, if this area is dirty we will need space to fight.”

  As usual, when they were in the field, everyone did what Rose recommended. At first glance, the first level was empty, but as they cleared the corner for the next level, a single zombie staggered down the ramp. When Jefferson beheaded the ghoul with a single stroke, none of the team flinched. As its head rolled down the concrete incline, an amber gelatinous goo that resembled creamy wax trailed behind it.

  On the top level, they stopped. The snarls from a tiny horde of gathered undead stationed near the corner of the ramp was unmistakable. At first, the silhouettes of about two dozen zombies looked like store mannequins. Then as if someone had hit a switch, the matte shadows activated and began sprinting toward the team.

  Rose swung her strapped rifle back, grabbed her machetes. “Pretend these assholes fucked your girl while you were on a combat tour. In fact, that might be happening as we speak.” She readied herself. “Time to get dirty boys.”

  Spaced six feet apart with giant machetes in each hand the team awaited the speedy zombie horde.

  As they waited Jacques said, “The line about our girlfriends was kind of harsh.”

  She shrugged. “Use it.”

  Some zombies looked barely dead, while others looked decayed and mangled. Even in the dark, their glassy eyes were striking. Before attacking, the quick horde split into two groups, Rose charged forward and met one of the hordes head on.