Jesus, we’ve been down here most of the day, it’ll be getting dark outside. We’ve got to get back to Sledge and the horses—
Mercy spoke to the others, “OK guys, I think we should move. It’ll be getting dark outside. I don’t want to stay any longer down here than we have to. Is everyone good to go?”
Flynn looked at Tawny and Barnes, “Yeah, let’s get out of here—”
Jade patted Annalise on the shoulder, “We’re good—”
Rose stood up and racked the slide on the pistol Jade had given her, “What are we waiting for people?”
Barnes tapped his ear and gave Mercy the thumbs up, “It’s mostly just ringing now, the hearing’s coming back. I’m good—”
Mercy slung her rifle over her shoulder and pointed to Annalise, “Annalise, I reckon it’d be good to have silenced weapons up front. You handy with that crossbow?”
Annalise flashed a smile, “You could say that—”
Mercy checked her silenced pistol, “You’re with me Annalise. I want Barnes watching our six. Everyone else, just try and keep it quiet—”
Mercy led the way up the spiral staircase to the open hatch on the surface. The light was fading fast outside. Mercy stopped short of the hatch and crouched low, listening. Fresh air cooled her skin. The aroma of pine trees and grass wafted down the shaft. Mercy took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
Outdoors at last—
She wrinkled her nose.
Undead—
Mercy shrunk back and waited.
Shit, they’re out there—
Mercy turned and signalled to the others to stay put. She pointed at Annalise and pointed up. They ascended the last five steps and looked out over the silo compound. Six figures wearing stained Hazmat suits were standing in the weed infested compound.
Shit, six of the bastards, probably triggered by the security system. They could be regular tropes or alphas—
Mercy stared at the figures in the dying light.
Think. They’ve got oxygen tanks strapped on their backs. If a round hits one them it could explode, that’ll send shrapnel everywhere, not good for us. We could crawl out the way we crawled in, but they’re too close… they’d be on us in a flash if they saw us. A frag? We could throw a frag away from here, the sound would draw them… no, the frag could hit their oxygen tanks—
Annalise tapped Mercy’s shoulder. She pulled a road flare from her webbing and handed it to Mercy.
Perfect—
Mercy dropped down the shaft and explained her plan to the others. Once they were ready she got in position and ignited the road flare. She threw it out, over the swaying figures, away from the hatch. The flare landed beside the radio mast, burning bright red. The six figures lurched towards the flare, turning their backs on the hatch.
Right… now—
Mercy gave the signal to the others then climbed out of the hatch. She led the way in a half crouch, to the hole in the fence and pushed her way through. The others followed her. Mercy held the chain link flap open. Two minutes later Barnes was the last to climb through.
We made it—
Mercy lowered the chain link and looked at the six Hazmat-suited figures in the distance, still gathered around the bright flare.
I don’t want them getting out—
Mercy turned to the others, “Anyone got rope? Wire? Anything to seal the fence?”
Barnes pulled a few cable ties from his webbing, stepped up to the fence and secured the hole. They turned away from the silo compound and began hiking up the hillside. Twenty minutes later they found their stashed back packs.
Mercy sat down, her back against a tree. Barnes rummaged in his pack and pulled out some tins and MREs. He handed them to the others. Mercy took a swig of water and looked at the faces of the people around her. The light was fading fast.
They’re wasted, they’ve nothing left. I’m wasted, I’ve got nothing left. This is where mistakes are made. This is my call—
Mercy raised a hand, “OK everyone, listen up. Skyline Drive and the horses are just over a kilometre away. We could make it tonight but it’d be risky in the dark and this is ankle breaking territory. I suggest we stay here for the night and move out at first light. I know that’s not ideal but does it work for you guys?”
Exhausted, blank faces stared back at Mercy.
“No objections then,” Mercy said. “I’ll take that as a yes. We’ll stay here for the night. Eat and rest. I’ll take first watch—”
Mercy caught Barnes’s eye. He nodded and returned to his MRE.
Flynn scrambled up the slope to sit with Mercy, he handed her a tin. “Ham and beans, it just don’t get any better,” he said.
“You sure know how to treat a girl,” Mercy replied.
“Living the dream… we’re all living the dream, this is the stuff memories are made from,” Flynn said, he smiled but his eyes were dead.
Mercy stared at the others’ faces as they ate their cold food in silence.
They’re empty, used up, this is not the kind of memory anyone of us wants. They look… dazed, that’s the thousand-yard stare right there. PTSD city—
Mercy opened her tin and scooped out some beans with her fingers. She chewed her food, staring into the darkness between the trees. When she had finished she turned to Flynn. He was on his back, his eyes closed, his breathing deep and regular.
She touched his hair, the ghost of a smile on her lips.
We’re still alive, we’re still here… against all the odds—
Somewhere deep in the forest an owl hooted.
Mercy shivered and lay down beside Flynn. She closed her eyes.
“Wake up, it’s that time again—” Tawny said.
Mercy’s eyes snapped open. She stared up at Tawny’s drawn face.
“OK… just give me a few minutes,” Mercy replied. She looked at the others readying themselves around her. She checked her watch; 5:37 am.
Shit, I feel like twenty kilos of shit in a ten kilo bag. Nothing good ever happens at 5:37 am—
Flynn reached
