Chapter 20

Chapter 20

“That was pretty intense back there.” Cindy laughed as Barnes walked with her back to the hangar. Tom and Katharina trailed slowly behind as everybody else went on with their business. Barnes turned around and waved over his new best bud.

“You like that, Williams?” Barnes grinned. Tom looked up and just sort of nodded, pulling his woman closer to him. Rex looked Katharina up and down, she noticed him doing so and looked away. He bit down on his lower lip, she reminded him of a Victoria’s Secret model. He would definitely need to try her out sometime.

“Ya know, I created that little contraption myself.” He bragged. “At first, it was just for the soldiers to have some fun. But after we had an accident with one of those running fucks, it became one of our new ways of order.”

“That’s really interesting, Barnes.” Tom said. Rex narrowed his eyes. He could tell the Private had potential. He’d heard what went down in New York, and anybody that escaped from that slaughterhouse truly had some badass survival instinct, or just pure luck on their side.

“Tell ya what, Williams. Me and a few of the boys are raiding a gun shop tomorrow. How about you come along.” He said it as more of a statement then a question; Williams was coming whether he liked it or not.

“Taft said I had guard duty tomorrow.” Barnes laughed and shook his head as they entered the hangar. The women inside all glared at them as they walked through.

“Don’t mind what that crazy bastard says, I’ll have someone else take your shift.” Tom sort of chuckled.

“That’s alright Barnes, but I’d prefer guard duty anyways. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.” Rex turned around and placed his hand on the Private’s shoulder, giving it a nice firm squeeze.

“No, really Williams, I insist.” He stressed his last word, looking the young soldier straight in the eyes. Williams sighed.

“Fine.” Tom said grudgingly. Barnes smiled a sheepish grin.

“Good.” He looked back over at Katharina, who was glaring at him. “Tell ya what. There’s a few empty offices back here. Why don’t you two move a cot in, get comfortable.” Cindy nudged him in the back, but her ignored it. “Make yourselves at home.” Tom finally let out a small smile.

“Thanks Barnes.” He nodded.

“Meet me at the control tower around 600 hours. We’re getting an early start tomorrow.” Tom nodded, and with that went over to one of the cots and began folding it up. Rex turned back towards Cindy as they began walking back to her room.

“What the hell was that?” She asked. He raised his eyebrows.

“The hell you talkin’ about?” She pulled away from his arm as they entered her room, he closed the door behind him.

“Why does she get a room? I thought that was my right, and mine only.” Barnes sat down on the cot, unclipping his utility belt and unzipping his vest. He sighed as he placed his M9 on the desk.

“Come here.” He said. She leaned against the wall with her arms folded, looking away. “Come on…” Rex persisted. A slight smile formed on her face as she began to give in. Cindy unfolded her arms, and began slowly walking towards him.

“Tell me,” She began as she slowly took her shirt off. “that soldier, how was it? Give me every juicy detail.” Her shirt was off, she tossed it aside, swaying her hips as she unhooked her bra. Rex grinned, adjusting himself on the cot.

“He fucking begged for his life.” Barnes said slowly as Cindy slipped down one of her straps.

“More.” Cindy said, still slowly swaying in place.

“I made him suffer. He cried like a child as I threw him out.” Cindy moaned as she pulled her other strap down and turned around, slipping out of her bra. She turned back around, holding her hands over her breasts; teasing him.

“Come here.” She purred. Barnes approached her, she lowered her hands and backed away, stopping as she hit the desk. Cindy leaned back, arching her back high and extending and arm. She grabbed the back of his head as he reached her and pulled him in for a kiss.

Life was good.





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BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Tom groaned, turning his head and yawning. The sweet scent of Katharina’s hair made his mouth water.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Tom rolled over- right off the cot. His body thumped to the floor, which caused him to groan again. He open and closed his mouth a few times, his mouth was dry.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

“Alright already, gee…” Tom sat up, yawning again and rubbing his head. He blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting to the light. Looking around for his digital watch, he spotted it on the desk.

BEEP! BEEP- beep.

He pressed the off button on the watch, silencing the alarm.

“Where the hell’s my- there.” He grabbed his t-shirt and slipped it on, and buckled up his utility belt. Throwing his vest on quickly, he grabbed his .357 off the small desk. Katharina moaned as he opened up the cylinder, he needed to be more quite.

Click. Click.

He slid two rounds into the magnum, and reached into his vest pocket to fish out some more. Katharina took in a deep breath and stretched out across the cot.

Click. Click.

Another yawn struck Tom by surprise as he loaded two more rounds into his .357. He was damn tired, and wished that he and Kath had gotten more sleep last night. Checking his watch, he saw that he still had about five minutes to spare.

Click. Click. Snap.

He finished loading the magnum and snapped the cylinder shut. Taking a deep breath, he slid the gun in his hip holster. Tom looked over at Katharina and smiled. He walked over and grabbed the thin blanket and covered her up. As he pulled the blanket up to her neck, he gave her a soft kiss on the forehead. Satisfied, he turned around and left the office, closing the door as softly as he could behind him.

The Private hurried across the hangar, not being as graceful anymore. Most of the women were asleep, and those that weren’t were just getting up. He stepped between cots, and was almost out of the hangar when a hand grabbed his shoulder and a gun was placed in his back.

“We need to talk, now.” It was Kingston.

“I’m have to be-” He started, but Jack cut him off.

“I know. I’m going too. We have three and a half minutes, and I have no problem killing you right here and right now if you don’t give me the chance to talk.” Tom hesitantly held his hands up, but Jack slapped them down.

“Don’t draw any attention towards yourself.” Jack nudged him back towards his room. Tom stepped forward, a bit pissed off. He noticed an older woman looking at them with questionable eyes.

“You talk and you’re fucking dead.” Jack pointed at her, she shook her head.

“I saw nothin’, hun.” The woman said. Jack stopped when they reached Katharina’s room. Tom turned around.

“She’s sleep, we’re not going in there.”

“Oh yes we are.” Jack opened the door and pushed Tom inside, closing the door behind him. Tom looked over at Katharina who was still sleeping peacefully… for now.

“Gun.” Jack ordered. Tom rolled his eyes, and pulled out his .357 and handed it over, butt first. Jack spun it around and placed it down on the desk.

“What the hell do you want?” Tom asked, keeping his voice hushed. Jack opened his mouth, as if deciding what he wanted to say. After taking a deep breath, he spoke.

“These people here… they aren’t the same people I used to know.” Jack began, choosing his words carefully. “This outbreak has changed them… turned them into animals. I can see some good in you, and I want to know if you’re on my side. I’m not like them, and I have no intention on staying here any longer then I have to.” Tom raised his eyebrows, surprised.

“And if I’m not?” He asked. Jack raised his USP to Tom’s head.

“Then I have no problem killing you. You’re still new here, I’ve been here since the beginning. They’ll believe me over-”

Click.

“And I have no problem killing you.” Katharina said. Tom saw she had his magnum placed against the back of his head. Tom grinned, and couldn’t help but laugh. He could see the worry in Jack’s eyes as he walked over and plucked the USP out of his hands, and walked over to Katharina.

“Thanks babe.” He kissed her on the cheek and retrieved his own weapon, and placed it in his own holster. Kingston stood motionless, a look of disbelief in his eyes. Tom tossed the soldier his USP. Jack snatched it out of the air.

“Don’t worry, I’m on your side.” Jack grinned.

“Good. Sadly though, I’m the only one left that feels this way. We were so close to getting out yesterday, but Peters got caught. We had one other guy with us, Private Kulp. He managed to escape with two other men the other day, but not before Taft unloaded on their vehicle. That’s why security has been so tight lately.” Tom swallowed a lump in his throat, and Katharina spoke up before he could.

“Were they driving an old truck?” She asked. Jack’s eyes went wide.

“Yes…” Damn.

“They’re all dead… they crashed outside where we were all holed up before we got here.” Tom said, checking his watch again. One minute.

“Shit…” Jack cursed. “Well, before Peters got caught, I managed to store some weapons away on the other side of the compound… with you now we have a better chance of getting out.” Tom nodded.

“That’s great and all, but I can’t leave without my friends.” Jack grimaced, shaking his head.

“Look, we’re only going to get one chance to do this, and you’ll be able to save your girl too. If you want to get out, we have to leave them behind…” Tom looked at Katharina, her eyes said it all.

“No.” Jack shook his head and cursed- just as Tom’s watch beeped; 6am.

“We gotta go.” He said, Jack nodded and stood up. Tom turned over to Katharina, holding her close.

“Be safe.” She said. He wiped a strand of hair out of her face and kissed her.

“I will, don’t-”

“Come on, we’re fucking late!” Jack yelled. Tom backed out of the room, keeping his eyes on the girl.

“Get some rest!” He called out as Jack closed the door. As soon as it was closed, they  began jogging towards thee control tower. Tom check his watch; 2 minutes late.





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Cindy Ashcroft paced around her room, still steaming from the night before.

“That slut.” She hissed, throwing some papers off of the desk. All throughout her life, she’d never gotten the kind of respect she’d deserved. All men treated her the same, coming up with an excuse the next morning on why they had to leave, then never calling her back. She’d found that all of her friends had been back stabbing bitches, and ended up alienating them even before the outbreak started.

When the outbreak first hit, she’d been in her dorm, eating cold pizza and filling out small slips of paper to cheat on her next test. She’d never been the one to really study, and found that cheating had been much easier. That was when her roommate stumbled in the room, bleeding profusely from the neck. She’d been hysterical by that point; her professor had gone crazy and bitten her. After listening to the school radio, they’d figured out that the professor hadn’t been crazy at all. He’d been infected.

Cindy had calmly stood up during this, she remembered. While her roommate sat on the couch listening to the radio, she’d grabbed  her field hockey stick. Without even so much as a goodbye, she’d bludgeoned the bitch to death. Thing is, she didn’t feel a thing. Not even so much as a morsel or remorse or guilt. In fact, she’d felt a rush of sorts from doing it.

Cindy had spent the rest of that day boarding up her dorm, and stealing shit from the others. It wasn’t long before Barnes and his team found her.

Barnes… Rex Barnes was her ideal man. So big and strong… and he actually treated her good, he listened to her when she talked.

“He’s mine you whore.” She screamed as she kicked over a chair. She’d seen the way he’d looked at the new girl. For once in Cindy’s life, she’d felt important, maybe even loved. And she was not about to lose her man. She recollected herself, taking in a deep breath, and knowing what had to be done.

Looking around the room, she found her field hockey stick. Nobody else was allowed to have much of anything here, but Barnes had allowed her to keep it. He treated her like a queen, and she loved him for that. Cindy picked it up in her hands, slowly hitting it against her left palm.

She slipped her shirt on and walked over to the door.

“This is for you, baby.” She said to herself, thinking of Barnes. Opening the door, she stepped out into the hangar and quickly made her way over to Katharina’s room. Cindy stopped outside of it, considering whether or not to knock. After a brief second, she pounded her fist on the door. After a few seconds, Katharina opened up, a confused look on her face.

“Yes?” The whore asked. Cindy did her best to put on a fake smile, holding the field hockey stick to her side, out of Katharina’s vision.

“Mind if I come in?” She slowly nodded.

“Yeah, sure.” She stepped aside, letting her walk in. Cindy held her stick behind her and leaned against the wall as Katharina closed the door.

“What’s up-” Cindy swung her field hockey stick at Katharina, smacking her in the back. She cried out, falling to the floor and whimpering. Cindy stood over her, ready to swing again.

“You stay the fuck away from my man!” She yelled, hitting the girl in the side. Katharina cried out again as she crawled backwards, tears of pain in her eyes. Cindy began to laugh at this, feeling that rush all over again.

“Slut!” She swung again- and missed. Katharina jumped up and wrapped her arms around her, slamming her into the concrete wall. Her head bounced off it, little black dots appeared in her vision.

“Stop it!” Katharina cried. Cindy groaned as she swung again, cocking the girl in the arm.

“Bitch!” She screamed, going in for another swing. Katharina ducked, her field hockey stick dented into the desk. Katharina’s nails scraped across her face as she slapped her. Hot pain shot up through her cheek as small trickles of blood began flowing out. Before she could swing her stick again, Katharina was biting down on her wrist, hard.

Cindy howled as the stick fell from her hands. She grabbed the bitch by the hair and slammed her head against the desk. Once, twice, three times. Katharina pulled back, and Cindy ended up with a clump of long brown hair in her hands.

“Stop it!” Katharina begged. Through her immense pain she was starting to feel, she couldn’t help but feel the rush again as she begged. Cindy stumbled back as Katharina punched her in the face, and slammed against the wall. Ducking down, she tackled Katharina down against the desk, knocking over a cup of office supplies. She quickly bent over and retrieved her field hockey stick, and held it over the whore’s head.

“He.. is.. mine!” As she prepared to swing, something shiny caught her attention. Katharina was now holding a pair of scissors from the-

“Ugh!” Cindy stumbled backwards, her grip loosening on the stick. It clattered to the ground as she fell back and tripped over a downed chair. A pair of long metal scissors were lodged deep in her chest. She tried talking, but instead coughed up blood.

“Oh my god…” Katharina rushed to her side as Cindy bled profusely. She began breathing faster and faster, her vision clouding over. That was when her radio beeped to life.

“Baby? You there?” It was Barnes. Cindy howled in pain as she unclipped it from her shorts. Katharina’s eyes went wide when she saw. Cindy held down the talk button, the small yellow radio now drenched with her own blood.

“No!” Katharina pulled the scissors out of her stomach, which caused Cindy to scream even louder. The radio slipped from her grasp as a small fountain of blood shot upwards.

“Rexxx….” She wheezed, barely able to see. She reached around until she found the radio. Katharina cried out as she plunged the scissors deep into her chest. Cindy cried as they were pulled out and she was stabbed again. He stomach was numb now, and she was blind. Everything was dark now.

Her last thought was how people always said they saw a light when they died. Well, they lied, because she didn’t see shit. As she took her last breath, the radio crackled to life again, the voice on the other end flowing into dead ears.

“Honey, are you there?”