“You shot my brother!” he yelled, face red and tears streaking down his cheeks.
He looked so young, even though he was probably only a year younger than her. Swallowing, Indie pulled her wrist from his grip.
“That wasn't your brother anymore.”
Ryan took Earl by the shoulders and moved him over to sit on the wheel well. Indie still couldn't hear what they were saying, although the ringing was decreasing. She hoped she didn't have permanent hearing damage. Shaking her head, she added another shell to the shotgun and moved to the side of the truck.
“Where are you going?” Ryan asked.
“Fred needs help. He's in shock, and if there are more things they'll be coming this way. We need to get the hell out of dodge.”
Indie walked as far from the bodies as she could, keeping an eye on them just in case. “Fred?” Cautiously she approached him, unsure what he might do. She had just shot his son, even if it was to save his life and his son was already dead. “We have to go...”
He shook his head. “Evie...” Finally he looked at her as if coming out of a trace. “My wife…she was here too.”
“Okay, could she still be in the house?”
“I don't know.”
Puffing out a sigh, Indie looked at the house, then at Fred. His hands shook, eyes glassy, and sweat beaded his forehead. There was no way she was giving him a gun. Poor guy would probably shoot himself, if he didn't have a heart attack first. “Come on.”
Slowly they walked to the farm house, and up the steps. Indie peeked inside. Thankfully her hearing was returning to normal. It was quiet, no shuffling. She wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not. Pushing the door open wider, she stepped inside and looked around. The large living room was decorated in whites and tans, making the blood splatter stand out. There was a soft moan from the couch. Inching forward on guard in case something jumped out, Indie peered over the back of the coach and gasped.
Fred groaned from behind her. “Evie, honey.” He rushed around the furniture to kneel by his wife’s side.
Indie couldn't take her eyes off the poor woman, she'd never seen anything like it. It looked like she'd been bit repeatedly before trying to commit suicide. A twenty two revolver with a pink handle lay on the floor next to Evie's hand. The absent thought that she had the identical model floated through Indie's head as she tried to process.
“She's alive, but...” Fred trailed off, staring at his wife’s mutilated body.
Indie blinked away tears. “Fred, we need to go. If one got in then others can too, it's not safe. Think about Eugene and Earl, they need their dad.”
He nodded, wiping his face. “You're right.” Reaching up he pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and covered Evie. “Supplies. We're going to need more supplies.”
“Okay, where?”
“There should be a box by the kitchen door.”
“Got it.” Leaving Fred in the living room, Indie found the kitchen and the box, by the back door. Shouldering the gun, she hefted the box and carried it out to the truck.
Earl was a sobbing mess curled up in a sleeping bag in the truck bed. Susie looked like she might throw up and turned her head avoid eye contact when Indie looked at her. Ryan lifted the box from her hands, setting it next to the camping gear already in the truck.
Eugene clutched the wheel like a life line. “Is my mom...?”
Indie found the words stuck in her throat. How do you tell someone their parent's dead? Closing her eyes, she settled for shaking her head. A sob escaped Eugene, then there was a pop from the house.
“Dad!” Eugene was half out of the truck when Fred exited the house weighed down by several guns.
Fred set the guns in the truck. He wouldn't look at anyone as he said, “I couldn't leave her like that.”
There was a moment of silence, only disturbed by sobs from the boys and a sniffle from Susie. Fred looked up at them. Indie didn't like the glint in his eye as he said, “Now let’s go get your Jeep.”
****
At the gate, Ryan hopped down and opened the lock, pushing the rusted metal out of the way. Fred rolled through and Ryan shut and relocked the gate. Not that it would really keep anything out. Indie noticed immediately that several of the vehicles were missing. Others had gotten away, a wave of relief passed over her only to tense back up. Her mom and dad wouldn't have abandoned her or the school, not unless they absolutely had to and then they would've let her know where they went. Somehow. Before Fred had fully stopped, she jumped out and ran over to her jeep. Peering in the window first, she yanked open the driver side door.
On the backseat sat a bag of guns and a box of MREs. Canned goods and various supplies sat on the floor boards. A white sheet of folded paper lay on the bag. Shakily Indie picked it up and unfolded it. Her father’s scratchy handwriting filled the page.
Indiana,
I'm sure you doubled back probably hoping to find a safe haven. It's not here! Nowhere is safe, sweetheart. I sent the others away. We quarantined those who were sick, but supplies dwindled and things began to fail. Those creatures began to wander in, they managed to find us somehow...It was no longer safe and probably still isn't. I'm sorry to say that mom got bit saving one of the kids from a sick individual. The scratch I received from Ted led to my own illness. Don't worry, we won't become those things... I won't let that happen. I've stocked your jeep with the tools to keep you alive for a while and I've given you the knowledge to survive when that has gone. You were right, you do have the know-how to do the right thing and do what's right for you. I'm proud of you.
Love
Dad
PS If Ryan is still with you tell him his mom left with the others. She's okay.
Tears blurred her vision causing the words to swim. Wet drops rolled over her cheeks and down her nose. Ryan wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her against him.
Taking the note, Susie read it then said, “Indie, I'm so sorry. I know you were hoping...” She trailed off as Indie sobbed.
It wasn't fair. One of the things that had kept her going out in the woods had been the thought she'd see her folks again. Now what did she have?
Two people who were relying on her to keep it together. Drawing a deep breath, Indie wiped her face on her shirtsleeve. Pushing Ryan away, she turned to Fred who leaned against his truck patiently waiting. “Got a map?” she croaked, her voice rough with tears.
His eyebrows shot up, but he just nodded. “Eugene, get the map from the glove box.”
As Indie walked back over to the truck, Eugene got out holding a road map. Taking it from him she spread it out on the hood of the truck. Her eyes traced the roads and towns. “I think we should check Fort Drum, they might have something set up there,” she mused, tapping the map. “If this was just the US then maybe we could cross into Canada. I don't know, maybe they have something set up for survivors.”
“It's a plan. What worries me is going near places that had a large or at least decent size population.”
Indie nodded, studying the map. “We should stick to back roads and smaller towns.”
“What do we do if the border’s closed?” Susie asked.
Even though her devil's advocate shtick was getting annoying, Susie had a point. Indie chewed on the inside of her lip as she looked over the map. If they couldn't get into Canada, going north wasn't going to help.
“Head south?” Earl piped up.
“If we do, we'll have to avoid big cities.”
Fred nodded in agreement. “Anywhere there were a lot of people, there will be a lot of zombies.”
Indie cringed. Even if it was an apt description, she didn't like that word. “Even though it's still early in the year, we should think about where we want to be for winter.”
Fred laid his hand on her shoulder. “Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Missy.” He glanced skyward and Indie followed his line of sight. “We should probably think about where we will stay tonight.”
“Easy.” Ryan piped up. “Let’s go to my place. It's outside town, we can use the bunker. We have solar power and there should still be leftover supplies we can take.”
Indie shivered, just the thought of spending the night in an underground bunker made her claustrophobic. She looked up at Fred. “What do you think?”
“You're running this show, little girl. Me and the boys are just along for the ride.”
Great, just what she hadn't wanted to hear—the only adult in the group was looking to her as the leader. “Fine.” She folded the map as best she could. No one on earth could refold a map right and if they could they were gifted. Handing it back to Fred, she added, “Ryan will drive the Jeep, you follow.”
“Dad, can I ride with Indie and Ryan?” Eugene asked, slipping out of the truck.
Fred looked at Indie and she shrugged. He nodded, slowly. “Yeah, just be careful.”
Indie glanced at Susie. “Who are you riding with?”
Her eyes darted toward Eugene, then back to Indie. “You guys.”
Indie nodded as she started toward her Jeep. Yanking open the door, she pulled the bag of guns out and moved them to the back. Susie climbed into the back seat and Eugene followed. Indie walked around to the passenger seat, getting in.
Ryan stood waiting for the two in the back to get settled, When he finally got in, Indie said, “Keys under the seat.”
He reached under and pulled out her keys. Indie closed her eyes as Ryan started the Jeep and turned it around. The thought to tell someone to shut the gate flashed through her mind but what was the point. She opened the glove box and pulled out a small notebook and pen. Flipping it open to a blank page, she began jotting down what she knew about the zombies.
Chapter 9
Indie jolted awake when the jeep turned off. She sat up and looked around blearily. “We here?” She rubbed her hand over her eyes to clear them.
“Yeah.” Ryan peered out the windshield.
“Kay, you and I will get out, make sure it's safe.” She twisted in her seat to look at Eugene and Susie. “Just stay here until we give you the all's clear.”
Eugene nodded, and Susie shrugged. Puffing out a sigh, Indie rolled her eyes and took her gun. She cautiously got out of the Jeep. The farm was quiet. Chickens, geese and ducks wandered the yard like usual. From the barn came several soft moos and a neigh. The house still looked closed up. Everything seemed normal. Ryan exchanged a glance with Indie over the Jeep, then went to the back and pulled out a rifle. Together they walked toward and then around the house. The windows were boarded up and the doors still locked. It didn't look like anyone had tried to get in. Ryan jerked his head toward the barn and Indie nodded. The doors were open. The smell of hay, animal and manure hit her as soon as they entered. Upon seeing them, the animals began to stir, cows mooed to either be fed or milked. The horses moved forward to the stall doors. One nudged Indie's arm as she walked by. Ryan peered behind the hay bales as Indie checked the stalls. Finding nothing, they moved on to the other out buildings. The shed door hung open. Indie moved forward to grab the door, holding it open so Ryan could look inside. He shook his head and Indie let out the breath she was holding. Shutting the door, she latched it. The garage and equipment shed turned up empty as well. Breathing easier, they went back to the vehicles.
Fred leaned against his truck holding his shotgun. “Anything?”
“Nope,” Indie replied. “But I'd still like to leave what we have in the vehicles in case we need to make a speedy getaway."
Fred nodded. Looking over his shoulder, he gave Earl a wave. Earl climbed out of the truck, and Ryan opened the jeep door letting Eugene and Susie know it was okay. Indie looked around the farm as they got out, then up at the sun. It was probably close to four, maybe five. They'd still have a couple hours of sunlight left.
“Susie, would you mind checking out the kitchen and making dinner?”
“I can do that, but it'd go faster with help.”
“Eugene, Earl, one of you help Susie.”
Earl glared at her, and Eugene stepped forward. “I'll do it.”
Indie nodded, ignoring Earl. He was angry with her and she didn't blame him one bit. More than likely she'd never be his favorite person. She still felt she had done the right thing. “Fred, do you think you and Earl could scope out the land around the house, make sure there aren't any roaming…well anything that'll want to eat us period?” Indie asked, recalling the bear attack with a shiver.
“You got it, little Miss.” Fred shouldered his shotgun with a grin. Grabbing Earl by his collar, he added, “Let's go, son.”
“Okay boss, what do you want me to do?” Ryan looked at her with a smile.
Indie crooked her finger at him and started toward the barn. “I want you to help me saddle Nellie.”
“Why?”
Drawing in a breath she knew he wasn't going to like what she was going to do. None of them would which is why she put them to work. “I'm taking her into town...”
He stopped mid-stride. “No, it's too dangerous.”
“We have no idea what it is, because we've been hiding in the woods for the last few months. We need to know what it's like before we head out of here.” She kept walking and Ryan trotted to catch up. She paused at the barn door, looking back at him, then the house. “I need to know what we up against.”
“And I'm supposed to sit here on my hands while you do all the dangerous stuff?”
Looking up at him she smirked. “So you want to be my big bad protector, now?”
He leaned in close. “I think I did a pretty damn good job with that bear.” Ryan pressed his lips against hers before she could reply. Indie pressed her hands to his chest, fisting his shirt. His tongue teased and toyed with hers. Pulling away, he looked down at her. “You're going to be careful, right?”
She nodded, collecting her thoughts. “I want you to try and see if there is any information floating around. Radio, TV, two-way, hell, even try the internet.” Indie headed into the barn. Ryan strode passed her to the far wall and got down a saddle and some other riding gear.
“You don't really expect to hear anything, though, do you?”
“I'm not getting my hopes up.” She led a black mare out of her stall. “But it's worth a try.”
Ryan shrugged, saddling the horse. “So what exactly are you expecting to accomplish?”
Indie peered over the horse’s back. “Know thy enemy, and all that jazz.”
****
The clip clop of Nellie's hooves on the road broke the silence. Indie let the horse go at her own pace. She'd chosen the mare due to her calm temperament. On high alert, Indie kept her eyes peeled, not only watching for undead but also animals. So she saw the shambling form in the distance before she heard it shuffle. Strangely the horse didn't seem fazed by the appearance. Indie frowned and decided to test a theory. If things went bad she could either shoot the zombie or kick Nellie into a faster pace and out run the thing. Flattening herself against the horse’s back, Indie let her amble along. As they grew closer, she watched the zombie pause. It was pretty decayed and the smell triggered Nellie to trot, then run as they went by. The zombie, which at one time might have been a woman, gazed at the horse with blank eyes, but it didn't freak out or grab at them. Once they were passed, Indie turned her head to watch the undead. It stopped in the road, weaving back and forth like a drunk, then slowly began moving forward.
Nellie nickered when Indie pulled her to a stop. As Indie debated if she should shoot the poor creature, Nellie danced to the side trying to put more distance between them. Suddenly a flash of yellow darted forward. Nellie neighed and reared as a mountain lion took the zombie down and dragged the struggling thing off the road. Shocked, Indie could only hold on as Nellie bolted. When the horse finally slowed, Indie shook her head, letting out a small laugh to relieve the tension in her chest. Reaching down she patted the horse’s neck. “Guess the DEC was wrong, huh girl?”
Surprisingly she didn't
see any more zombies as she got closer to town.
At least moving ones. She saw several piles of what might have been human remains. Each time it sent a shiver over her skin and she forced Nellie to pick up the pace. As houses became more frequent, Indie shifted the rifle across her lap so it was easier to grab.
The sound of a shotgun blast then another in rapid secession startled her. Gun shots meant people, probably people in trouble. She wavered for a moment, unsure if she should ride to the rescue or bolt back the way she came. Her ingrained sense to do what was right won out and she turned Nellie toward the shots. As she turned the corner, Indie came upon a weird sight. Three zombies stood around a truck trying to grab a man who stood on the top of the cab. He swung his shotgun like a baseball bat, trying to hit the zombie on the driver side with the stock.
Several more putrid bodies lay on the ground, skulls destroyed. Stopping Nellie, Indie swung her rifle around and trained the sight on the driver side zombie. Pulling the trigger, she watched gore splatter over the truck as it fell to the ground. The guy looked over and gave a grateful wave as she turned to the other two. Dropping one, then sighting in the other, it turned toward her and she almost dropped the gun. Todd snarled, his face contorted with rage, and made another swipe for the man on the roof. Sweet, fun loving Todd, the guy who called her Baby and who she'd broken up with, was now one of those things.
“It's not whoever you think it is!”
Indie snapped back, swallowing the lump in her throat she pulled the trigger. His head snapped to the side, smashing into the side mirror as he fell to the ground. She drew a deep breath, willing herself not to cry. She could do that later.
“Thanks for your help.” The guy climbed down off the roof into the bed of the truck. “I see you got over your aversion to killing them.”
Indie shook her head. “I'm sorry, do I know you?”
“I ran into you and your boyfriend looting the grocery store.”
Bring Nellie closer, she recognized the guy. “Right. The computer virus guy.”
He chuckled. “Been called worst. Names Regis Hunter. Doctor Hunter.”
Indie held up her hand. “You are totally messing up my stereotypes. Anyway, my name’s Indie, Indiana.”
“So Indie, where's your boyfriend? It's kind of dangerous for anyone to be alone out here.”