“Sir, yes, Sir!” his team and Sergeant Nick yelled, their bodies at attention.
Saul looked just as eager as they did, and none of them betrayed the nervous tension and fear they must’ve felt. At least, Dylan hoped they did because she was scared shitless. Please, don’t let me be the only scaredy-cat around here.
Yet, underneath the terror, there was growing excitement. It bubbled through her veins, and when two of the men approached the entrance, she found herself ready and eager for battle.
The doors to the lab swung open, a yawning cavern to unknown horrors. Everyone tensed, fingers hovering above the triggers of their guns, but nothing came howling out. Only silence and a waft of putrid air emanated from the inner confines.
Dylan gagged and turned her head away. The smell was like something out of this world. Thick, cloying, and pervasive. Saul glanced at her and must have felt pity. The next moment he handed her a bandanna.
“Try this,” he whispered.
“Thanks,” she replied, tying it on over the lower half of her face. The material reeked of cologne and helped to mask the stench of death. Once again, Saul proved to be a lifesaver.
Lieutenant King signaled to his team, and they moved forward, scanning the entrance with their rifles at the ready. Saul followed them inside with Dylan right on his tail. She swallowed hard on the knot in her throat, her fingers sweaty around the handle of her machete. Behind her, the doors swung shut and sealed them inside. This is it. No turning back now.
Chapter 13 - Alex
Two days after Tony’s death, Alex and Amy were ready to hit the road. After a quick shower and breakfast, they gathered around the truck along with Officer Brown, Dr. Williams, and Nurse Simone.
“Thank you for everything, Officer Brown. If you hadn’t taken us in, we wouldn’t be alive today,” Alex said, shaking the man’s hand.
“It was a pleasure. It’s not often that one meets decent folk in the apocalypse,” Officer Brown replied. “If you ever need a home, you’ll find it here.”
“We’ll remember that,” Alex replied.
Amy said her goodbyes, giving Dr. Williams and Simone each a warm hug.
Dr. Williams wagged a finger at Amy. “Look after yourself, dear. Remember, your body is a temple, and you should look after it.”
“This is for you,” Simone said, looping a thick woolen scarf around Amy’s neck. “Just a little something to remember me by.”
With much waving and looking back on Amy’s part, they pulled out of the lot. It took two more blocks before they were completely clear of all the barricades and guards, and another few before they exited Radcliff.
Alex sped up and cracked open his window. The wind felt good on his face even though it was cold, and Amy didn’t seem to mind. Her entire focus lay on the road ahead, and her excitement was palpable.
It didn’t take long to reach the old safe house, and after a careful look around, Alex pulled into the driveway. He idled the engine for a couple of minutes to make sure there weren’t any lost zombies wandering around. “See anything?”
Amy craned her neck to study the yard and look into the broken home. It looked nothing like it had before. Every window on the lower floor was broken, and the front door hung askew on its hinges. The yard was trampled to dust, and the wall had been pushed over in several places. There were plenty of bodies too. The infected they shot during their escape to the basement.
“I don’t see any living zombies,” Amy confirmed. “Jeez, it looks bad. I didn’t know it looked this bad.”
Alex grunted. “It’s even worse inside. Lots of blood and guts. More bodies too.”
Amy wrinkled her nose. “Eeuw. Here, take my scarf. It might help with the smell.”
Alex tied it around his lower face, and its faint perfume invaded his nostrils. Probably Simone’s. Either way, he’d take it if it took the edge of the stench.
He opened the door and gripped his rifle. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
“But, I want to come with you,” Amy protested.
“Not a chance. It’s too dangerous,” Alex said. “Besides, I’m just checking to make sure Dylan isn’t here. That’s it.”
Amy folded her arms and huffed. “Fine, but you’d better hurry, or I’m coming after you.”
“Don’t you dare,” Alex said, wagging his finger at her.
He jogged toward the house but stayed on high alert with his rifle held at the ready. He nudged open the broken door and picked his way through the debris. Room by room, he searched, but found nothing. There was no sign of Dylan. Not a note. Nothing.
He did find their backpacks, however, filled with their clothes and personal belongings. He grabbed both and slung them onto his back. Back at the truck, he filled Amy in on his findings. “Dylan’s not here, and it doesn’t look like she ever was, but I did find this inside the house.”
Amy grinned and grabbed her backpack. “You found my stuff!”
“Indeed, I did. Happy?”
She leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Happy.”
“Then I guess we can go,” he replied.
“What if she does come here later on? Can’t you leave her a message?” Amy asked.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll get right on it.”
Alex returned to the kitchen and scribbled a note to Dylan, which he stuck onto the refrigerator. “We are alive. Amy is fine. We are heading toward Fort Detrick. Alex.”
He stood back and surveyed his handiwork. The red lettering was bright and bold against the white background and couldn’t be missed. “There, that should do it.”
On the way out, he decided to stock up on a few extra things. While the truck was loaded with supplies thanks to Officer Brown, it never hurt to have extra. After squeezing a few cases of water, canned food, and jerry cans of fuel into the back of their vehicle, he remembered the weapons in the basement. “I’ll be right back, Sis. One more trip
