The truck bounced across the vegetation like a jackrabbit, and it took quite some time for Dylan and Alex to extricate themselves from the footwell. Finally, Dylan sank into the seat with a disgruntled huff while Alex clambered into the back.
Minutes later, they reached the road, and Saul turned onto it, heading for the nearest town. Radcliff.
As the ride smoothed out, Saul glanced around. “Everyone okay?”
“Yeah, no thanks to you,” Dylan said, folding her arms.
“You’re alive, aren’t you?” Saul raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, fine. You saved our asses back there. Thanks,” Dylan replied though she still didn’t look pleased about it.
“We all owe you one,” Alex said, shooting Dylan an annoyed look.
Tara didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to. Her shining eyes said it all, and a look of understanding passed between them.
“Thanks, Saul,” Amy said, her smile wide and genuine. She leaned forward, her blond ponytail hanging over one shoulder.
Saul grinned at her. It was impossible not to respond to her sweet innocence. “My pleasure, young miss.”
“Call me Amy. And this is my brother Alex.”
“I know,” Saul said. “I’ve seen you at the hospital visiting Dylan. My name is Saul. I’m a friend of Tara’s.”
“Now that we’re all acquainted, can anyone tell me what happened back there?” Alex asked.
“A couple of thousand infected stormed the fence. The soldiers tried to stop them, but there were too many, and they were too spread out.”
“Thousands?” Alex said. “Where did they come from?”
“My guess is all over. They were probably drawn here by the constant activity,” Saul answered.
“I’ve heard reports that they’re swarming, forming groups,” Tara said. “That must be what happened here.”
“Why?” Alex asked with a frown.
“Pack mentality. They stand a better chance of taking down prey together than alone. They’re learning,” Tara said in a grim tone of voice.
“Then what chance do we stand on our own?” Amy asked, her cheeks pale. “If Fort Knox couldn’t make it, nothing can.”
Saul shrugged. “They’re drawn to noise and movement. The more people you have in one place, the more zombies you’ll draw.”
“So, what are you saying?” Alex said.
“If we can find an isolated spot, somewhere away from the cities, preferably high up, we might be able to escape their notice,” Saul said. “Note that I said, might. Nothing is guaranteed.”
“Where are we going now?” Alex asked.
“I planned for something like this a few weeks ago,” Saul replied. “I scouted the nearest town, Radcliff, and found an abandoned house on the outskirts. I’ve been fortifying and supplying it every chance I got. It’s our only option.”
“Is it safe?” Amy asked.
“Nowhere is safe, but it’s the best I can do right now. Besides, most of the zombies are at Fort Knox. We’ve got time to figure out our next move.”
“Okay,” Amy said, leaning against Alex, who placed his arm around her shoulders.
They drove in silence until Saul glanced at Dylan. “What the hell happened to you? It looks like you got dunked in blood and guts. And what’s that smell?”
Dylan shook her head and looked away. “You don’t want to know.”
Saul shrugged. “If you say so.”
“I want to know,” Tara said.
Dylan sighed. “Fine. I got attacked by zombies, and I kind of lost it.”
“Lost it?” Tara asked. “Define that term for me.”
“I hacked them apart with an ax. I didn’t even know what I was doing. It was all a blur,” Dylan admitted.
“You had an episode,” Tara said. “Exactly like I warned you. Saul’s had a couple, and Mary too.”
“Mary?”
“The little girl I cured. She didn’t go nuts like you, but her mother reported a few extreme tantrums that weren’t usual for Mary.”
“Why do we get them?” Dylan asked.
“I believe the virus had an effect on your brains, heightening aggression. Times of extreme stress appear to bring them on. My theory is that adrenaline has something to do with it,” Tara explained. “It’s just a theory, however. I can’t prove it.”
“I see,” Dylan said, not thrilled with Tara’s explanation.
“Did you have any control at all during the episode?” Saul asked.
“No. I killed one, and I was still me. Then two more came at me, and I blanked out completely.”
“Extreme stress,” Tara affirmed.
“I once killed two with my bare hands. Smashed their heads into the ground,” Saul said. “But I knew what I was doing. I was angry, but I had a modicum of control.”
“I chopped them into little bits,” Dylan said. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“Gross,” Amy said with a shudder.
“Come on, guys. Easy on the gore factor,” Alex said. “She’s just a kid.”
“Sorry,” Saul replied.
“Me too,” Dylan said.
“Maybe you’re worse off because the infection was more advanced when I cured you, Dylan,” Tara said.
“What do you mean?”
“Both Saul and Mary were on day one when I administered the cure. You were only a few hours away from the limit. It stands to reason that the virus did more damage to your brain.”
Dylan groaned. “Great. That’s just great.”
“Anyway, we’re here,” Saul said, ending the conversation.
He turned the Humvee into the driveway of a country house. The headlights shone onto a solid metal gate set into concrete walls at least eight feet high and topped with iron spikes.
“This is it?” Dylan asked.
“Home sweet home.”
Chapter 6 - Dylan
Dylan stared at the two-story house in front of them. It was cast in darkness. Neither the moon nor the stars were shining, their glory masked by cloud cover. She felt like she was part of that shadow. Shapeless, amorphous, and without any hope to light the way. For a few precious days, she’d felt safe tucked inside her hospital bed and looked after by the competent staff, however grumpy. The virus that had threatened to turn her into a monster was a thing of the past. She could look forward to an actual future, however uncertain.
In an instant, all of that was swept away.
