Deliverance of the Damned Read online

He considered heading down there in case, by some chance, Hannah was still there. He owed her daddy that much. He mulled the prospect over during the hike back to the bus, while he built a new fire and cleaned himself up in the stream, while he checked his snares and cooked up the rabbits he’d caught. By evening, he made up his mind. He would go at first light. Whether the girl was there or not, he would surely find provisions that tasted a hell of a lot better than unseasoned rabbit. Not to mention weapons. His crew already helped themselves to the base’s armory, but he’d had to leave most of that behind. All he’d escaped with was his hunting knife and the nine millimeter he always kept on him, and a couple hunting rifles stashed at the back of the bus. The vamps confiscated the more heavy-duty weaponry.

  Eddie slept well that night. In the morning, he found cookware in a trunk under one of the bus benches along with a can of coffee. With no reason to hurry, he brewed himself a cup and took time to enjoy it before starting his journey.

  With the coffee drunk, Eddie felt energized and ready to face whatever he might find down there. He would start with the mess hall, maybe grab himself some breakfast.

  He put out the fire, burying the coals until there wasn’t even a hit of smoke. Not that he worried about drawing any walkers this high up. He allowed himself the simple pleasure of whistling a tune as he made his way past the back end of the bus and into the woods to bless the tree roots with a caffeinated shower. It was his favorite song he whistled, an old Willie Nelson ballad. He wondered if he’d ever get to hear it again.

  The song died on his lips when a twig snapped behind him. Before he decided between pulling out one gun or putting the other away, a hand closed around his throat and slammed him against a nearby tree. He reached for his revolver, but another hand seized his wrist, wrenching it hard enough to make him scream. Or he would have if his windpipe wasn’t crushed. Instead, he could only gurgle.

  His attacker wore black from head to toe. Though smaller than Eddie, they were unfazed by his attempts to kick and claw his way free. Releasing his injured and useless wrist, the attacker reached up and pulled off the black cowl, revealing a stunning face framed by white-blonde hair. Her sheer beauty would have frozen Eddie in place if not for her eyes. If her strength hadn’t already given away what she was, the eyes would have done it. Repulsed, Eddie spat at her. “Eat me, bitch,” he croaked.

  The crazed and hungry look on her face gave way to a broad grin. “That’s the idea.” Clamping a hand over his mouth, she wrenched his head to the side and plunged her fangs into his neck.

  FIVE

  “WE HAVE A PROBLEM,” Alek said when Hannah met him at the door.

  She looked over to the living room, where Chris sat on the sofa, staring into space, then back at Alek. “You mean another one?”

  “I went by the old jail. Everything’s destroyed.”

  “How? Did someone find it?”

  “It was Esme.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I just know.”

  He carried the bags of supplies he’d gathered into the kitchen. Hannah followed. “So what do we do?”

  “We get creative.” He set the bags on the counter and went back out to the hall where he picked up a large duffel bag. He brought it inside and carried it over to the coffee table, unzipped it and took out a long cardboard tube. From the tube he pulled a large, rolled-up paper, which he unrolled and spread out on the coffee table, revealing a detailed map.

  Hannah grabbed a small stack of the paperback Westerns that lined Alek’s bookshelves and used them to anchor the corners of the map, which showed the base and the surrounding town. Alek pointed to the center of the map. “We’re here.” With his finger, he traced a line to the nearby town. “There’s a hospital here, and several medical labs. They should have everything we need.”

  “Great. But how do we get there?”

  “I found Ned’s truck. The keys were still in it. There’s enough fuel to get us there and back as long as we conserve it.” He glanced at Chris. “We’ll wait ‘til he’s better and then he and I can go.”

  Hannah refrained from expressing her doubts about Chris’s recovery, mostly because it would feel tacky to do so right in front of him, even if she doubted he could understand a word they said. “You’re not going without me.”

  Alek raised an eyebrow. “You’d rather Chris stay with the baby?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll all go.”

  His other eyebrow crept up to join the first. “You’re suggesting we take an infant into a city that‘s probably infested with shamblers, but I’m the one who’s being ridiculous.”

  Hannah sighed. He was right, but it didn’t matter. None of the choices were good ones. “I don’t like the two of us being here alone any more than I like taking him with us. And I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to split up. We’ll check the store. There’s bound to be a baby carrier, or I can make a sling—”

  “Mmm.”

  That sound came from Chris. Both Hannah and Alek turned toward him. He gazed at the map. “Mmmuh.”

  Hannah sat beside him. “What is it? Are you hungry?”

  “Mma. Mmom.” With jerky motions, he turned his head to face her. His eyes remained unfocused. “Mom.”

  Hannah glanced at Alek, who watched him intently. “Chris, it’s me. Hannah.”

  His gaze shifted and focused on her. “Mom?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I’m—”

  He shook his head violently and pitched himself forward, slamming both fists down on the map. “Mom!”

  Confused, Hannah looked at Alek, but understanding filled his expression. He leaned forward and placed a hand on Chris’s shoulder. “The vampires took her. We couldn’t stop them. But we’ll get her back.”

  Chris slapped the map and looked at Alek.

  “We need to do this first. We need this equipment so we can help your mother and the others. Do you understand?”

  He slumped back on the couch. Whether this meant understanding or defeat, Hannah didn’t know.

  Alek stood up straight. “We’ll go as soon as you’re ready,” he told Chris, then turned to Hannah. “We have plenty to keep us busy in the meantime. We need to clear the roads and patch the fence before more shamblers get in.”

  Hannah stood up. “I’ll fix us all something to eat.”

  “Sounds good.” Alek worked on rolling up the map. “I’ll get Chris cleaned up. I went by his place and picked up some clothes.”

  Leaving them to it, Hannah checked on Noah, still sound asleep in Alek’s bed. She headed to the kitchen where she rummaged through the food Alek had brought, hoping to put together a decent meal.

  She had a powerful urge to do something nice for Chris. Though she didn’t think a yummy sandwich would make up for her readiness to blow his brains out that morning. Hell, if she’d gotten her way they wouldn’t even have gone through with the transfusion.

  Her guilt battled with a sense of relief, but caution tempered them both. What if his labored attempt to speak one word as good as it got? What if instead of one infant to care for they now essentially had two? That would be no life for Chris, and it would make their jobs no easier.

  Then again, there was no reason to believe he wouldn’t continue to improve. And if he didn’t, as Alek liked to say, they’d cross that bridge when they came to it.

  As she assembled their lunch, she prayed they'd never reach that bridge.

  SIX

  ON THE THIRD DAY THE helicopters returned.

  It was Chris who spotted them. “Hey!” he shouted, springing to his feet and pointing. He’d already regained most of his motor control and the ability to form complete sentences, albeit simple ones. But he grew tired easily, so he minded Noah, strapped to his chest in a baby carrier, while Alek and Hannah stacked storm debris where the fence had been torn down.

  Hannah set down the tree limb she was carrying and squinted into the distance, shading her eyes from the sun with her hand. She heard them before she s
aw them, two black dots against the sky, growing bigger.

  “Get in the truck,” said Alek.

  Hannah took the baby before they all piled inside, squeezed across the single bench seat. It was a stifling day, hot and muggy, and she was drenched with sweat. So were Alek and Chris, judging by the smell. If the vampires hunted with their noses, it wouldn’t take long to discover them.

  “Do you think they saw us?” she asked.

  “Hard to say.”

  “We should go,” said Chris. “Hide.”

  “Not yet. If they spot the truck moving, they’ll know we’re here.”

  “What do they want?” asked Hannah.

  “Us, most likely. If they were looking for Esme, they wouldn’t risk coming out in broad daylight. Then again, she might be easier to find if she’s holed up for the day.”

  Hannah grimaced. It didn’t matter who they’d come for. The four of them were still targets. She pulled her tank top up to mop her face. “Do you think we could get some AC going while we wait? This heat isn’t good for Noah.”

  Alek looked as though that should have occurred to him and started the car. A moment later, cold air blasted from the vents. Hannah closed her eyes and drew it into her lungs.

  “We should go after them,” said Chris. “Capture them. Make them tell us where they took my mom.”

  “Something tells me that plan wouldn’t do your mother any favors,” said Alek. “Let’s wait and see what we’re dealing with.”

  Hannah looked at Chris. The anger on his face startled her almost as much as the vacant expression he’d had in the beginning.

  “They’re turning,” said Alek. Sure enough, the helicopters veered off toward the old fort, from where they had last taken off. A moment later, they descended.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Alek started the truck. He drove slowly, careful not to rev the engine.

  “How many do you think there are?”

  “Each chopper holds a crew of six, counting the pilot. So we should expect at least a dozen. They’ll fan out and search the base along a grid.”

  “Where are we going?” asked Chris.

  “Home, if we can get there. Then we can lock ourselves inside.” As if to underscore the sense of urgency, he sped the truck up. At least the roads leading back to Alek’s apartment were clear. The roads in the opposite direction were another story. The vampires would have to contend with roads blocked by fallen trees and littered with storm debris. Not to mention all the dead bodies they’d left behind.

  They made it to the administration building with no surprises. He let Hannah and Chris out in front and parked the truck down the street while they waited inside. Hannah took the baby carrier from Chris and strapped it on, settling Noah in it before drawing her gun. She stood to the side of the glass door, hidden from view, and watched for him.

  Chris stood next to her. “He’s different.”

  Hannah glanced at him. “We’re all different now.”

  “I know. You look like one of them. And I feel...” He trailed off.

  “How do you feel?”

  “I don’t know. Strange.”

  “I’m sure that’ll pass.”

  “What did he do to me?” He stared at Hannah. “To us?”

  “He saved our lives.”

  “Did he?”

  “We wouldn’t be having this conversation if he didn’t.” Just then Alek appeared, hurrying down the sidewalk. “Here he comes.” She opened the door as he jogged up the steps.

  “I saw movement a block over. I don’t think they noticed me, but we should get upstairs.”

  He ushered them further inside. They almost reached the door of the stairwell when a woman called, “Doctor!”

  The three of them spun at once. Hannah aimed her weapon as a figure in black emerged from the clinic, holding a rifle.

  She dropped it, letting it hang from the strap over her shoulder, and held up both hands. “We don’t have time for this.”

  “Show yourself,” said Alek. The vampire peeled back her protective cowl, revealing a curly red mane. It was the vampire who had helped them with Esme, the one who wanted to be cured. “What do you want, Celine?”

  “We’re supposed to bring you in. Esme, too, if we find her. What about the cure? Is it ready?”

  “No. Esme saw to that. She destroyed our equipment.”

  Celine swore. “This is bad. If we don’t bring you back today, they’ll send another search party. And I can’t guarantee I’ll be on the next one.”

  “If you think we’re letting you take us back to that place,” Hannah began, but before she could finish Chris snatched the gun out of her hand. He moved so fast, and so unexpectedly, she couldn’t have stopped him.

  He marched up to Celine and pointed the gun in her face. “I know your kind is hard to kill, but I’m betting a bullet in that pretty face will at least hurt a whole lot.”

  “Christopher,” Alek said, his voice full of warning.

  “I’m on your side, boy.”

  Chris pulled back the hammer. “Tell me what you did with my mother.”

  “I don’t know you, or your mother. But if she was with the other humans we rounded up, she’s at the prison, and she’s fine. She’s probably enjoying a hot meal as we speak.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  As fast as Chris had moved, Celine moved faster. She grabbed Chris’s wrist and wrenched his arm behind his back. She took the gun and released him, pointing it in his face as he’d done to her.

  “Because I’m not killing you right now.” She pointed the gun at the ceiling and then returned it to Hannah. “Whatever this cure has done to you, you’re still no match for a vampire.”

  Hannah holstered the gun. “Then why do you want the cure?”

  “My reasons are my reasons.”

  “Regardless,” said Alek, going to Chris and inspecting his arm, “we need more time to replicate it. Time, and equipment we don’t have.”

  “Time is running out. I delivered a report to Julia this morning. She’s been running the prison since Esme went AWOL.”

  Hannah remembered a Julia from her and Alek’s appearance before the Council. She had been darkly beautiful. She had also struck Hannah as ruthless, but not unreasonable.

  “What did it say?” asked Alek.

  “I shouldn’t have read it. It was for Julia’s eyes only. If she finds out—”

  “She won’t find out from us. What did it say?”

  “You know they’ve been working to produce a blood substitute. A synthetic version to replace human blood.”

  “Yes?”

  “The Florida lab thinks it succeeded.”

  Alek fell silent. Hannah looked from him to Celine and back. “What does that mean?”

  “It means we have no time to spare.”

  “I might buy you another day,” said Celine. “Two at the max. But they will send another team, and someone else might find you.”

  Alek nodded. “Understood. We’ll be ready.”

  “Ready?” Hannah stared at him. “For what?”

  “To return to the prison.”

  “You’re kidding, right? I’m not going back there. I’m not taking Noah—”

  “How else do you propose getting the vaccine to our people?” He turned to Celine. “Can you help us smuggle in what we need?”

  “Yes, if I’m the one to bring you in. But like I said, I can’t promise I’ll be on the next team.”

  “If you want your humanity as much as you claim, you’ll find a way. Give us two days. We’ll be waiting here when you return.”

  Before Celine—or anyone else—could argue, he turned to leave. Hannah watched him disappear into the stairwell before turning to the vampire. “Can you do what he asked?”

  “Ordered, you mean? I’ll think of something. But it’s my head if I’m found out. And I mean that literally.”

  “Why should we care?” asked Chris.

  She shot him a look that lay somewhere b
etween hurt and irritated. “Because right now I’m your only ally. You want to see your mother again, don’t you?”

  He said nothing, but his jaw tightened as he looked away. Celine turned back to Hannah. “They won’t take your baby this time, if that’s what you’re afraid of. Julia returned the children to their families. And that’s not the only change she’s made. What the doctor told the Council about keeping you people happy impressed her.”

  “That doesn’t make it any less a prison.”

  “No. But the best way to get your people out is to go in.” With a glance at Chris, she released her weapon long enough to put her cowl back in place. “I’ll do what I have to to be on the next search team. You do what you have to to get that cure ready.”

  “We’ll do our part. You worry about doing yours.” Hannah turned to go. She made it to the stairwell and opened the door before looking back, only to see that Chris stood rooted to the spot, watching the vampire go. He kept staring after she exited the building and disappeared from view. “Chris.”

  Slowly, he turned to regard her. “I don’t like this plan.”

  “Neither do I. If you’ve got a better one, I’m all ears.”

  But if he did, he kept it to himself as he followed her up the stairs.

  SEVEN

  HANNAH PACED THE LIVING room floor. “We’re crazy to even think about this.”

  Alek watched from the couch while he picked at the contents of an army-issue MRE. He could finally enjoy real food without it making him ill, and their dwindling food supply reduced him to eating this. At least he no longer had to drink blood. He swallowed the bite in his mouth. “Says the woman who injected herself with an untested vaccine. You give new meaning to the word crazy.”

  “I was desperate.”

  “These are desperate times.”

  “Not desperate enough to take Noah back there.” She went to the pallet she’d made for him, where he played happily with his feet. She picked him up snuggled him close. “Last time, we wouldn’t have made it out if not for you.”

  “Last time, we had Esme to contend with. But she’s gone now.”