Patrick D'Orazio - Into the Dark

Cindy screamed in a rage at Jeff’s words and pointed her rifle at him. Michael reacted quickly, batting the barrel skyward just as she pulled the trigger. A shot rang out, and Megan screamed as almost everyone ducked or dropped to their knees.

“You stupid bitch!” Michael’s fist shot out and connected with Cindy’s cheek, knocking her flat on her back. Her head rebounded off the metal roof, and she lay still. Michael wrenched the rifle from her hands.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” he yelled at her, the butt of the rifle pointed at her face. He looked tempted to drive it into her nose, but froze. Cindy, dazed but conscious, stared up at him with raw hatred in her eyes.

Michael took a deep breath and looked around. Everyone was watching him, horrified at what had just happened. Jeff was stunned at Cindy’s reaction to his words, but equally as shocked that Michael had saved him. He watched from his knees as the brooding leader’s expression changed from rage to exasperation.

“So you all want to leave?” he repeated his question from earlier.

Heads rose up, surprise etched on faces as everyone heard the words spat out between clenched teeth. A few of the survivors replied with timid nods. Shaking his head in frustration, Michael moved back toward the edge of the RV and glared angrily at the infected multitude.

“Fine then. Go down below. If we’re leaving, we need to move fast.”

Jeff stood and pulled Megan up next to him, giving her a hug as relief poured over the two of them. He saw Cindy rubbing her cheek where Michael had struck her and his smile faded. She spotted him looking, spat a wad of blood in his direction and smiled, her crimsoned teeth reminding him of the creatures down below.

He watched Michael move next to her and extend his hand. Cindy stared at it, and her eyes narrowed. It looked to Jeff as if she were debating whether to grasp the appendage or tear into it with her teeth. When Cindy sullenly reached up, Michael hoisted her to her feet. They glared at one another until he turned to address the group.

“Move it, people! We’re all getting into my RV. Grab as many supplies as you can. We have to get rolling as quickly as possible.”

As everyone scrambled down the ladder, he shouted after them.

“You have one minute, and I do mean ONE minute!”

Lydia had been watching from below, huddled with the children next to the table on which Ray lay. Jeff smiled at her, and she returned it weakly as Megan ran to explain what they were planning. The gray-haired woman’s eyes widened, and she nodded then rushed to her RV.

She flew past Jeff as he moved toward the children. Megan was talking to them, and he looked at Ray, who was conscious again, his face ghostly pale. Jeff could see the veins beneath his skin, and his irises were almost completely milky white. His breathing was shallow, but he appeared to be cognizant of what was going on.

“So we’re leaving?” he wheezed.

Jeff nodded wordlessly, afraid his voice might crack. Ray was fading, but might have a couple of hours left. The last thing the boy needed to hear was the fear in his voice. When the teen smiled, Jeff tried returning it, but was grateful when Teddy ran up. Ray’s eyes moved to his friend, and his smile widened as they clasped hands.

“We need to get you up and into the RV,” Teddy said to Ray, and Jeff turned away, relieved. Taking a steadying breath, he moved next to Megan and the kids, another false smile painted on his face.

Joey, the sandy-haired boy, was trying to look brave as Megan whispered to them. Nathan, whose flaming red hair stood out like a beacon, mimicked the older boy and did his best to stand tall. They remained close to Sadie, whose bright eyes were glued to Megan as the little girl clung to a ratty baby doll.

As he got close, Jeff could hear Megan’s words. “So head on over to Michael’s trailer, okay? We’re going to take a little trip. Isn’t that exciting?” She looked at them, her eyes glistening. When Sadie nodded shyly, Megan ruffled her fine, silky hair. “That’s a good girl.”

Megan looked at the boys. “Take Sadie inside the RV and get in the back. Just ignore the noise outside the camp; everyone will be in there with you in a minute. Now go!” She shooed them away. Each boy grabbed one of Sadie’s hands, and they ran to the RV. As the children entered the RV, the two adults watched it vibrate from the pounding it was getting from the opposite side. Jeff slipped a comforting arm around Megan’s shoulder.

He looked around the camp. George and Jason had gathered the small amount of supplies from their RV and were back in the courtyard. Frank and Ben had already lugged several large duffel bags full of gear out of their trailers and dumped them in Michael’s. It looked like everyone was about ready to go.

Jeff groaned when he saw Michael and Cindy speaking heatedly near the fire pit. Whatever the argument was about, it seemed to be coming to a close as Michael turned from his girlfriend and whistled to gain everyone’s attention.

Jeff nudged Megan. “Our fearless leader speaks.” She snorted in derision. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned towards Michael.

“It’s time to go. Time to say farewell to this place.” Michael shook his head and looked at the ground, his eyes filled with frustration once again.

“There’s just one more thing that needs to be done before we leave.”

Everyone stood waiting. Jeff could feel the tension in the air; they were all anxious to get moving and were growing tired of Michael’s little speeches. Jeff glanced at Teddy and noticed the boy had managed to get Ray up off the table. They leaned against it, watching their leader like everyone else.

Michael took the M16 off his back and pointed it at the ground. “This place has meant a lot to us. We fought hard to get here, and it was my hope that we would be able to stay a while longer.” He looked up and smiled. “But it wasn’t meant to be. So now we leave, and hopefully we can make a fresh start somewhere else.” He raised the rifle up. “But first, we need to say goodbye to old friends who lost their lives helping us get this far.”

He turned to face Ray and took aim.

“Goodbye, Ray.”

The bullet plowed through Ray’s right eye, blowing shards of his glasses along with globs of brain fragments all over the table on which he had just been lying. The noise exploded around the compound and was swiftly followed by screams and howls of shock.

Teddy stared at his friend as he slipped from his arms and slumped, lifeless, to the ground. Jeff gaped at the corpse and then at the other boy, who could only stare down at Ray’s body, a blank expression on his face.

The smell of cordite and shit permeated the air as Lydia ran over to Teddy, who was now kneeling down trying to speak to Ray. She glanced at Michael for a split second, a look of absolute horror and revulsion on her face.

Michael spun, the rifle pointing at Ben. Jeff had seen a blur of motion out of the corner of his eye, and apparently so had Michael. Ben froze, but the homicidal intent was still in his eyes. Michael held the rifle steady as he glared at everyone. Megan, who was one of the people who had been screaming, shoved her face into Jeff’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her, stunned.

The only sound inside the camp now was of Teddy screaming as Lydia fought to wrestle him away from Ray’s body.

“It’s time to move on, people! Ray was dead already,” Michael shouted. “We couldn’t take him with us, and you know it. Remember the rules! Once bitten, you’re already dead. There is no going back, no cure, no hope, and no prayers that can change things.” He looked at them with contempt. “Did you really think we could take him with us?” He spat on the ground. “WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WEAK, PEOPLE! If you plan on surviving much longer, you better accept that right fucking now.”