Dying Days 8 Read online

  On either side were abandoned buildings, which made it easy for any one approaching to get too close. Most had never been cleared because at the peak of The Promised Land the wall had blocked them in.

  With the attack by The Lich Lord, the walls in this section had been destroyed in spots, leaving gaping holes for attackers.

  “The goal is to not let them get any closer than the wall breaches. We need to concentrate on them first. These people don’t look like they’ll try to climb or use anything to get to us other than with sheer numbers to push their way in. As long as we create a killing field and drop enough of them to force them to move slower, we’ll be fine,” April said.

  She left out the part where they’d run out of ammo before all of the bad guys were dead.

  “They’re swimming across the gap,” someone shouted.

  April couldn’t believe her eyes.

  There were dozens of men and women in the river. Because of City Island, this point of the river wasn’t as far away. It was still far enough to be a struggle to swim, especially with the strong current.

  And with people shooting at you.

  A few scattered shots were fired at the swimmers but they weren’t close enough to this side to hit the mark.

  “Hey, what did I say?” Carlie pointed at her eyes with two fingers. “Eyes. Whites. Then you shoot.”

  April stared at the water. Were they supposed to sit and wait until the swimmers were in range? What else was there to do?

  “Hold steady. No one fire until I give a signal. Don’t waste bullets,” April said as loud as she could. She could hear shots being fired from other parts of Main Street. It was obvious they were surrounding them and trying to get inside from all angles.

  Carlie tapped her hands on the wall. “This is boring. I say we take the fight to them. Let’s get a group over the wall and kill them before they have a chance to land on our side. What do you say, sis?”

  “I say no. Do you want to know why?” April asked and raised her weapon. “They’re already on our side.”

  She shot a man as he tried to cross between two buildings.

  “Head’s up, people. They’re trying to distract us in the water. We’re about to get into it so look sharp,” Carlie said.

  On both sides, the marauders began shooting as they moved, edging closer to the gaps in the walls. Without enough men to cover every angle, April knew they’d need to pull back or risk being cut off from the rest of Main Street.

  “Forget the ones in the water. It’s the rest that are going to kill us,” Carlie shouted.

  April repeated her sister’s warning, glad at least one of them could think in this mess.

  Carlie was shooting anything that moved but April could see there were too many coming at them and they were using the fallen buildings as shields, moving from one pile of rubble to the next, while getting cover fire from behind.

  Another woman close to April took a bullet in the face and slumped forward.

  Carlie shook her head and took the woman’s weapon.

  “Need help?”

  April turned to see her parents and a few others with weapons coming down the street.

  “Go back. It isn’t safe,” April yelled.

  “Screw that. Get your butt up here and help us or we’re all dead,” Carlie said and winked at April.

  Now April would have to worry about her parents being shot. Great.

  Carlie didn’t seem to mind. She was grinning and moving back and forth, creating a hard target to hit while taking down the marauders at will.

  “Help me up,” her dad said, climbing onto the wall and shaking his head.

  “You need to go back to your home,” April said.

  “No chance. We’re going to die with our daughters on the wall, instead of hiding,” her mom said.

  April’s dad put up a finger. “Actually, if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather live a long and boring life with my daughters instead of dying.”

  Mimzie snorted. “You know what I mean.”

  “Get shooting, people,” Carlie yelled.

  “What’s gotten into her?” Mimzie asked.

  “She’s a natural leader. Who knew? Carlie is taking charge. I’m just sitting back in panic-mode and not doing anything that needs to be done,” April said.

  “Enough chit-chat. We have people to shoot at,” Tom Hand said and took a spot to fire from.

  April looked down to see a group of men inside the compound, running away from the wall.

  “They’re inside, Carlie. They got in somehow,” April yelled and shot one in the back.

  Carlie began firing but more were pouring in through a gap in the wall April hadn’t known was there. Maybe they ripped open the wall while everyone was distracted.

  April saw hands coming up onto the wall on the far side.

  “They’re climbing over,” she yelled.

  Once she saw the first head coming over, she fired and hit but three more sets of hands appeared.

  Carlie threw her weapon down and picked another off of the ground, where one of their fallen comrades had dropped it.

  “We need to fall back. April, give the word. We’re going to be trapped,” Carlie said.

  April hesitated.

  Carlie sighed. “I’m going to take over. You got a problem with that, sis?”

  “Not at all.” April was glad her sister was stepping up to take charge because she couldn’t do it. She’d been given her chance twice and failed both times. She wasn’t made for this.

  Carlie began calling out for groups to start moving back slowly so they didn’t give up the wall all at once.

  It was a smart plan because the enemy, hearing the call to retreat, surged forward. Many of them were cut down before they got close.

  April stood her ground on the wall, firing until her ammo was exhausted. She bent and picked up another weapon as a flurry of bullets shot past where her head had just been.

  This was not going to end well.

  April looked back to see people being shot at close range as her group got into the street and were rushed by the marauders.

  Hand to hand combat was going to replace shooting with rifles.

  April sighed and pulled her knife, knowing she was about to get bloody.

  Chapter Thirty Two

  “I’m out. I’ll be back,” Tosha said, ducking as shots flew past. She’d run out of ammo, had found two weapons on the ground and used them until they were also empty.

  Mitch had been taking his time with shots, each round finding its mark. But he’d be out soon enough, too.

  There were just too many to face like this.

  “We need to draw back. Regroup,” Mitch said.

  Tosha nodded. “I’ll lead the way. Please don’t let me get shot in my ass. It’s still one of my best features.”

  “I can’t argue with that,” Mitch said and gave her a wink before firing again.

  Tosha waved her hands at Jada, who glanced in her direction.

  “Let’s pull back to the next block and go around,” Tosha said.

  Jada shook her head. “They’ll cut us down. We stay and fight.”

  “You’re not the boss of me,” Tosha said.

  Jada shrugged and fired her weapon. “You’re certainly not my leader, so we’re even.”

  “Fuck you then. I’m staying alive a few more minutes.” Tosha stood, fired three quick shots and turned. She started running, hugging the building on her right and hoping no one would shoot her before she got out of range.

  “Right behind you,” Mitch shouted.

  Tosha could see the end of the block and increased her speed. As a teenager, she’d never been interested in running or anything considered a jock thing. She was always the heavy metal chick who listened to Motorhead and Sabbath instead of participating during gym class.

  Since the world had gone to fuck, she’d slimmed down and gained a new appreciation for the track team girls she’d despised in high school.

  A d
ark shadow stepped out from an entryway and Tosha put up her arms, crashing into the person at full force.

  Tosha felt an elbow jammed under her chin and she saw stars, shaking her head to keep from passing out, even as she crashed to the ground, slamming her knees and arms into the pavement.

  She rolled and kicked out, which is what saved her life.

  The man she’d run into had the biggest knife she’d ever seen and his eyes were wild with fury. He was actually licking his lips, preparing to dive upon her and thrust with the blade when Mitch shot the top of his head off.

  Mitch ran past Tosha with a smile. “You coming?”

  “Asshole,” Tosha said and got up, glad nothing felt broken. “I’m supposed to say the funny things. You’re supposed to look dumbfounded.”

  If Mitch had a pithy answer, he didn’t share it, instead turning the next corner and going out of Tosha’s sight.

  What if he keeps running and he’s gone? At any turn we could get separated and never see each other again, Tosha thought. Not that she was in love with Mitch but she liked him around. She liked the upper hand she had, at every turn, with the man. He was a nice, handsome distraction; he didn’t to have run away without saying goodbye.

  Tosha was around the corner and at first didn’t see Mitch or anyone else.

  She stopped short and threw her back against the wall so she wasn’t so exposed.

  “Over here,” Mitch whispered.

  Tosha didn’t see where he was. She put her hands up.

  “Under the truck.”

  Tosha focused on an old pickup truck, which had come to rest against a building wall. Mitch was underneath, waving.

  The grass had grown thick around it and, at first, you couldn’t see the underside. A perfect hiding spot.

  Tosha quickly joined Mitch.

  “How many shots you got left?” Tosha asked.

  “Three.”

  “I’m completely out.” Tosha wiped the sweat off her forehead.

  “You said you were out before but then you fired.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Yes, I think you did,” Mitch said.

  “I would know if I was out.” Tosha shook her head. She was one hundred percent sure she’d been out and didn’t shoot again.

  Definitely ninety percent sure.

  Everything was such a blur right now. She’d changed out weapons and clips with abandon until it was all one big rolled up piled of shit and survival.

  “Here comes Jada,” Mitch said. He crawled forward a few inches to wave her down but stopped.

  Tosha was about to ask what the problem was when he saw it: six men with axes and knives chasing her, only a few feet behind but losing ground.

  Jada didn’t appear to have a rifle or pistol in hand anymore. She ran past the pickup truck and her pursuers lagged behind.

  “She’s really fast,” Mitch said.

  “I think she was even smiling. Clearly enjoying herself.” Tosha rolled onto her side and looked around for a miracle. Maybe someone had stashed weapons or food under the truck.

  With her luck lately, the bed of the pickup inches from her head was filled with fresh candy bars and Coke that wasn’t flat.

  “I say we count to ten and then go out after her. Those guys won’t expect to be pursued themselves, right? We’ll take them out and get their weapons,” Mitch said.

  Tosha nodded and moved an inch to get ready, her legs under her to spring.

  Mitch stared at her.

  “What?” Tosha asked.

  “I didn’t know if you were going to count or me.”

  “Seriously? Just when I’m starting to think you being around isn’t so bad, you say the stupidest shit. Let’s just go.” Tosha pushed up and got her head to the opening when she stopped.

  A dozen men armed with automatic weapons entered her field of vision. They were moving slowly and looking around.

  One of them turned and fired and Tosha heard someone scream out in pain.

  “I want this area searched. Every building. They couldn’t have gotten far. We have them surrounded. We smoke them out if we have to,” one of the men said.

  Tosha didn’t know if he was speaking so loudly because he believed what he was saying or if he was trying to see if anyone was listening and thought their situation was hopeless.

  “Wait. Don’t shoot,” someone said off to Tosha’s right. She couldn’t see who it was and it no longer mattered as two shots rang out.

  Stay down and out of sight, Tosha thought. They’re hunting us like animals.

  She could see another group had joined the original. She couldn’t be sure but it might be as many as three dozen now, all well-armed and angry.

  Mitch was next to her and he looked exhausted. They’d been out in the heat too long before the shooting had begun.

  Tosha leaned close to Mitch and put a hand on his arm.

  “What do we do?” Mitch asked.

  “You said we have three bullets left?”

  Mitch nodded.

  “If we’re spotted, make sure you kill their leader with the first shot. The next two need to be quick so we don’t turn into zombies or get captured. Got it?” Tosha patted his arm.

  “Got it.”

  The men began spreading out.

  It would only be a matter of time before someone decided to take a peek under the pickup truck.

  Chapter Thirty Three

  The momentum of war turned on a dime, Bernie thought.

  A few minutes ago they’d been butchering the enemy, cutting them down a few at a time with swords and blunt instruments. The pile of bodies was growing and the enemy ranks dwindling.

  It had been all a ruse, the cannon fodder thrown at the gates while the real monster reared its head.

  The red shirts had been the distraction, getting everyone tired and weak.

  Bullets ripped through the walls, cutting the sections to pieces. The wall itself was a mish-mash of aluminum siding, brick, cement blocks, wood and anything else thrown together quickly. It was meant to block out mindless zombies, not a concentrated invading army.

  Bernie had to jump down off the wall before she was struck by a dozen bullets.

  “Close the gate,” Profit was yelling, but there were too many bodies in the way. They had found the one simple flaw in their plan: they couldn’t close the gates.

  Those with the machine guns on the other side were killing their own people, shooting them in the back, to secure the gates never closing again.

  They were butchering their own people in order to conquer Main Street.

  Bernie knew these animals would stop at nothing to kill everyone. There would be no surrender. No negotiations. No one allowed to leave.

  This was a slaughter.

  “Pull back to the center of town,” Bernie kept saying over and over, letting anyone nearby know to pass the word. They were in a full retreat.

  Profit had his rifle out and was firing over the heads of those coming through the gate, trying to kill the line of shooters.

  Bernie hoped he was at least killing a few but knew it was in vain.

  “Profit, let’s go. Cover our retreat but you need to give up the gate. We’ve lost this part,” Bernie yelled.

  “Bullshit. I got your back, baby, but you need to worry about everyone else right now.” Profit kicked a man in the face that was crawling on the ground and stepped towards the opened gate. “It’s my fault I opened the door. I’ll close it.”

  “Then I’m staying with you,” Bernie said and searched the ground for a weapon. She knew she’d run out of ammo quickly.

  “Lead them to safety,” Profit said between shots.

  “Stop arguing with me.” Bernie found a rifle but when she pulled the trigger it was empty.

  Profit threw his weapon down and lifted a bloody sword from the ground, swinging it back and forth as men advanced on him.

  Bernie knew he’d be surrounded. The rest of their men had turned and fled and she didn’t blame th
em. The wall was lost and shots still rang out from the other side, holes punched in the thin walls of the compound.

  Profit connected with his first slash, blood spurting from a neck.

  Bernie kept searching for a weapon that had ammo, finding a pistol and aiming at the group of men coming at Profit from his left, non-sword side.

  She pulled the trigger and shot a man in the head.

  If Profit noticed, he didn’t say anything smart, too busy trying to keep his enemies at bay. He’d begun to take small steps backwards but, with all of the bodies on the ground, he’d trip over someone soon.

  Bernie managed to shoot and kill five men before her weapon was out.

  There were dozens streaming through the gate and she saw several of them walking slowly with large weapons. The group of shooters had decided to enter Main Street and finish the job.

  “We really need to go,” Bernie said to Profit. She picked up a baseball bat from the ground and hit a woman in the head with it, knocking her down.

  Profit’s sword arm slumped. “Let’s get out of here before we get shot.”

  Bernie watched as the gate itself was unhinged and fell back, crushing a few enemies but opening the path for dozens to enter at a time in their mad push to attack.

  Profit, breathing heavily, ran past Bernie. He was still holding onto the sword but it was dragging behind. The man was spent and Bernie hoped he had enough strength to get some distance between the marauders and their destination before he dropped.

  Bernie followed, watching over her shoulder and trying to stay between Profit and the gate, hoping when the gunmen entered they wouldn’t simply shoot them in the back and be done with it.

  “Where... are... we... going?” Profit asked. He could barely speak.

  “The bars in the center of the street. Hopefully everyone remembers the old plan to barricade the compound inside the compound,” Bernie said.

  With so many new survivors recently on Main Street, she hoped enough of the old crew remained to guide everyone to safety.

  Safety? We’re no longer safe, Bernie thought. It was over when The Lich Lord started destroying everything, only we were too stupid and gullible to see we were dead men walking.