The Three of Us: A Novella Read online

  The Three of Us

  a Novella

  By W Tavi Lee

  Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

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  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

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  12

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  14

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  21

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  23

  24

  24.5

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  38

  About the Author

  0

  The hardest thing a father should never have to do is put a bullet in their child's head. I've done it twice. This is my reality. My wife, Emily, was the first to go, shortly after the first wave of them hit the city. Myself and our two kids, Samantha and Ethan, lasted a bit longer.

  When I was forced to put a stop to our last child, everything was gone. Everything I had was taken from me. I have nothing left. Still, I wonder why I'm alive. Why I just didn't end it after I had nobody left.

  I guess because I feel it's my duty to payback the kind ladies and gentlemen who brought this upon us all. The ones still hiding out, cowering in fear from the horror they created. Wiping out 60-70% of the population in America alone. At least that's the numbers survivors are using. Nobody really knows. As for the casualties around the world, I don’t know, or care. We have enough to deal with on our own soil.

  To anyone reading this, It means I buried my dead and I'm about to be on the hunt. If you want to hunt the same monsters as I do, look for the man in grey. I will be waiting on the corner of 7th and Maple tomorrow at first light. Pack lean, we will never be coming back.

  - Sebastian the Determined

  1

  The warm summer days are coming to an end. Though people haven't given that a second thought. More important, life threatening ones fill every waking moment. When are more of them coming? Should I escape town and head to the hills or hunker down and put up a defensive perimeter? Food?

  Sebastian could only think of two things. His family, now gone, buried, and destroying those that started this living nightmare. First they played it off as nothing. Just a few outbreaks here and there from a bad case of tainted water they said. Fertilizer that drove some people mad. Turned some into flesh eaters.

  More outbreaks happened, more people died and more information surfaced. A pharmaceutical company had been working on a new drug to cure life. The god pill. One magic pill that stopped every ailment one could have. Taken once daily with a glass of water, for the rest of your life. That was their claim though.

  It was win-lose. People with means would have the cure for death from disease. Humanetics, the company behind it would make billions, possibly trillions. Everyone else would suffer.

  But it didn't turn out that way. The people with means went crazy, Humanetics hid and everyone else died or went crazy themselves before death. Some think the pill had created a mutated form of itself inside people taking it. Becoming contagious, if bitten or come in contact with bodily fluids. Creating mad zombie like creatures out of people. Stopping them only by a bullet to the head, decapitation or crushing the entire skull.

  Many of the people with means were in the government. They were the first to go mad. Ironic really. Killing, spreading and dying. As fast as a common cold. Maybe faster. It spread through the country like a wildfire does through the plains. It spread through bodily fluid contamination. Blood or saliva would come in contact with non-infected and soon turn them. It took awhile to figure that out. Costing millions of lives. Just like Hollywood predicted.

  He had posted his letter in the center of town, where others with notes of need and missing persons posted for help. Two had joined Sebastian for the hunt. He’d waited at the corner, wondering if he’d be going alone, but just as it was getting light, they showed up. Holly, just out of college, ready to take on the world, although this wasn’t what she’d envisioned. Bennett, long retired, ready to take on the grave, his veteran grit had kept him alive this far. Both had similar stories. Losing everyone they loved and nothing to lose.

  "It looks like it's three against all of them," Sebastian said after their brief introductions at the corner.

  "How many is "them?” Holly asked, not knowing what she really volunteered for. It was a question none of them could answer. Sebastian had a rough idea, but shrugged. The last report was that those responsible for this hell went to the bunker under their laboratory 200 miles from where they stood.

  Bennett looked spry for his age. "I'm not getting any younger and want to see those bastards pay," he said after taking a drink from his canteen.

  "Alright then, I'll lead the way."

  And with that, Sebastian took the lead. No talk of strategy. No provision or gear check. At this point in time, those that survived knew how to take care of themselves and didn’t need hand holding. Holly in stride and Bennett taking up the rear. Three people, Three backpacks full of supplies and Three rifles. Guns ready to be used on infected or ill intentioned alike.

  This was a different world. The rules had changed. No, the rules had been cast aside. Whatever was in your best interest goes. The days of the old wild west were back.

  2

  After hours of walking, the group stopped for the night as the sun kissed the horizon.

  "We'll camp here, if that's OK with you guys".

  "Sounds good to me". Holly said rubbing her thighs.

  "Yes, that thicket should provide good coverage," Bennett replied with a finger pointing to a spot with good cover. They rolled out their sleeping gear and dug through their packs to find something to eat.

  They’d took the first day slow. Sebastian didn't know how much the two could handle, but they both seemed fine. Bennett didn't fall behind and Holly didn't complain. Whiners and frail old men probably wouldn't have joined him, Sebastian thought, or survived the initial mayhem. There was little talk during the walk through quiet side roads. They all agreed that the main roads would attract people. The wrong type of people.

  There were groups, gangs that roamed the land. Pillage and plunder like the old pirate days. True, there was no law, no rules, nobody to really stop them, but decent people were still pretty decent. Unless threatened, most were civilized. As civilized as one can be after a deadly drug wipes out your country.

  "I wish we could have drove," Holly said munching on some saltines. Though she knew that would never work. The gangs controlled the roads and took any vehicle that was drivable to add to their fleet. Would draw unwanted attention too.

  "About a week ago I tried driving out of town," Bennett shared while opening a can of beans to be eaten cold. "I got as far as Spring View before they stopped me, gave me a good beating and took the car.”

  The other two looked at him, surprised.

  “I had to try,” he shrugged.

  "You're a braver man than me. In my mind it wasn’t a chance to take," Sebastian said using a spork to eat tuna out of a foil pouch.

  "Brave? No, more like stupid. But what other options were there? Sometimes you just have to try, no matter the odds. For the dozens of us that have tried to flee town, a couple made it through to a better place, right?"

  "Until they meet gangs roaming
the other towns."

  Holly nibbled more of the cracker. "I wish I had some cheese. Even Cheese Wiz sounds good. How are your food supplies looking? I've got about a week and a half if I really conserve." "Same," both men replied.

  "We should rotate sleep shifts. Watch and listen for people," Sebastian murmured. "I'll take the first shift. Get some sleep you two, Bennett you want next up"?

  "Sure"

  Holly and Bennett settled down for a few hours of rest while Sebastian got into a little more comfortable leaning position, rifle lying across his legs and listening. Wind rustling the tall brown grasses that lined the road, frogs and crickets playing their songs. Those were the normal night sounds. Sebastian was listening for the ones that made his hair stand on end. Those infected human sounds of pain, anguish and savage desire for flesh. Or gangs looking for their next victims to rob, rape and murder. It was a new moon, dark and unforgiving.

  Dawn came and Sebastian still watched. Sleep never played nice with him since he had buried his kids. If not restless sleep, nightmares woke him into cold sweats.

  "Hey, time to pack up," Nudging the two to wake. Both quietly got up and started tearing down camp and eating some breakfast bars.

  "Decided to pull an all nighter, eh Sebastian?” Bennett said like it wasn't a surprise.

  "Don't sleep much these days"

  "Well tonight, Bennett and I will take over. How long since you've last slept a full night?"

  "Days, weeks? I stopped keeping track or caring. Determination is what keeps me going."

  "Is that how you got the name? Sebastian the determined. I've heard some stories about you," Bennett said with admiration in his voice.

  "Gross exaggerations at best I'm guessing. I just do what I have to do. Tried to protect those I love and pay back those I hate. Also helped good people when I could.”

  3

  As they walked, navigating the roads, avoiding abandoned vehicles and debris, each person brooding in their own thoughts. Not knowing if they'd ever reach their destination and if they did, what would be next?

  Passing by a deserted gas station Sebastian was the first to speak, "Should we look inside for food?"

  There was a slim chance there was anything left, but they'd eventually need to resupply and finding even a can would help.

  Bennett nodded and Holly gave a weary "ok".

  Reaching the entrance the three surveyed the mini-quick-stop-mart. Barren save for a few boxes on first look. Mop heads printed on the side of a few. Sebastian flipped open his pocket knife and sliced one open. He dumped the contents out. Mop heads. The same for the box below. The third box wasn’t taped shut, but didn’t look like the others and picking it up it felt a little heavier.

  Opening up proved to be more mops. Throwing the mop heads on the floor, Sebastian grabbed hold of the shoe box at the bottom. Snickers candy bars and a small revolver inside.

  "Huh," he grunted. They turned to look.

  "That's a score right there!" Holly exclaimed. "Only thing a girl needs. Chocolate and protection."

  Indeed, the box contained 9 Snickers bars and the gun still with 6 bullets. Someone never got around to grabbing them again.

  "We'll divide them up and I'll hold the revolver, if there are no objections," declared Sebastian.

  "No objections here," said the older man. "I already have my pistol".

  "I'm cool with that. Now if you had wanted to keep all the snickers, we'd have a problem,” Holly joked.

  Finding nothing else, made their way outside when engines could be heard in the distance.

  "Get to the bushes," Sebastian hissed.

  The vehicles grew closer as they hid in the bushes and gave them some cover. Just as they were settled, a car with every window broken and an old Toyota truck pulled up to the gas station. Men jumped out with fuel canisters and guns. To Sebastian, It looked like they were coming just for a fuel run. Like they'd been here before. They shouldn't come poking around, he hoped.

  The only thing you could tell about the men was the off-putting feeling they gave. All the survivors looked scruffy and dirty, but these guys had something else. They were not nice people. Maybe from the big gang that was rumored to have formed early on, who were slowly taking over large areas nearby. Though they'd tried, they were not yet successful in taking the town yet. They were laughing and joking as they cranked gas up from the holding tank. To them it was just another joyous day. Sebastian picked up a few words here and there. Sounded like they were going to go on a big raid. It may even be the town. There was nothing he could do though. I have no home anymore. My only goal is to look into the eyes of my one true enemy, Humanetics.

  What seemed like forever was only minutes as the men filled the containers and drums. Done, they packed up and left.All Three giving a sigh of relief. The vehicles drove off the same way they came which meant they were not going to run into them on the road, as they walked towards destiny, the alleged bunker 180 miles away.

  4

  Yesterday's encounter left the three on edge. And after setting camp, they’d forced Sebastian to try and sleep. His arguing didn’t help. Holly took the first watch and Bennett the second until dawn.

  Sebastian went in and out of fitful sleep. Often dreaming about the events that took place over the last couple weeks. His wife being attacked and infected while working in the city. Watching the live news broadcast of downtown and see her running towards the camera was unreal. A red blouse that had been white when she left for work that morning, and a mad look in her eyes. There was no doubt that it was Emily. It didn't sink in as she wrestled with the cameraman biting at everything trying to find flesh. Just out of shot of the camera, a shout and a shot from a faceless voice, ending her life. There would be no burial, no grave. Just thrown in a pile with the others to burn.

  He didn't even go and try to see her one last time. He knew he wouldn't make it. All that was left was to hug his children, who had just witnessed their mother in the last moments of her life. Sometimes these nightmares were back to back. He had was the group of infected rushing through their small town. They'd finally made it from the city to the little suburb and ravaged it. Ethan was the first to get infected. A wave struck the town without much notice. Hundreds screaming, wailing and running towards anything that moved. A couple of them found Sebastian and the kids. He’d killed two while a third came from behind and launched itself at Ethan biting his arm as he brought it up in defense. It was too late. Ethan had been bitten, the attacker laid still after a bullet from Sebastian's pistol, but it wasn’t fast enough. He couldn't save his son. And he knew what had to be done. The change comes quickly, within minutes of being bitten, the madness takes over. Not stopping until dead. By the time the sadness washed over Sebastian, Ethan had already turned. "I'm sorry," he said as he pulled the trigger.

  Samantha and Sebastian lasted a little longer together. After Ethan was gone they holed up in their house on the edge of town. Boarding up all the doors and windows, knowing that it was all in vain. Group after group of infected would hit the house because they smelled flesh. Their flesh. Some hit harder than others, most left after a while, finding someone else to feast on. One group, the biggest of them all surrounded the house and were able to finally get to the prize at the bottom of the cereal box.

  Smashing through one of the windows they started to pour in. No amount of preparation could stop the rush. It only caused an inconvenience. Just like before, surrounded, Sebastian could only fight off so many, leaving Samantha to fend for herself. At 12 she'd done pretty well and could fire a pistol as good as anybody these days. Her aim was true. One shot, one kill. Until she ran out of bullets. She'd already gone through 2 clips and was reaching for the ax when they pounced on her. Screaming she tried to fight them off. Sebastian turned and started yelling as he tried to take down her attackers while fending off his own. Fighting back tears he knew it was too late. There was no way to stop it. When it was over, there were none left alive, except one.

 
; Sebastian for the second time, had to do the unthinkable.

  "I'm sorry baby"

  His eyes opened to the dark.

  5

  "I never thought I could experience anything more horrific than the war. But many years later, now that I'm old and one foot’s in the grave and the other is almost there, I can say that I was wrong. This goes beyond anything I did or saw".

  Sebastian could only shake his head at Bennett and give a long grunt. What could you say to a guy that lived and breathed war, to come home alive and think nothing could be worse than that?

  "I had just finished packing up my room and was heading back home to stay with my folks," Holly started to say. "College was done and I was figuring out what was next. You'd think that's what college is for. To prepare for "real life". Really, it's just another way to prolong the freedom of youth." Holly’s words kept them silent for a couple moments, letting it mull in their minds. "I heard the first report on an emergency broadcast alert in my car. I remember being pissed because a song I like was being interrupted,” she continued. "The alert was foreign to me. Hearing words like outbreak, infected and death are unnatural. Some joke by the radio station. It had to be. Something like this? Zombies? This isn't a movie I'm watching. This is real life!" Holly said raising her voice. "I got to my parents before the first wave hit our town. They didn't last long. And now, somehow I'm glad of it. They didn't have to suffer, watching the world around them burn. That's why I'm here, with you guys, to finish burning the world. I don’t think I’ll be around when it gets better. If it ever does."

  Walking along the old road, 35 miles out of town, two of the three people who banded together had put an end to their silence by reliving memories out loud. The good and bad. Of loved ones, of where they were when the outbreak first happened. Nobody tried to coax anyone else into talking or elaborating. They had all the time in the world. What was said was absorbed. Mingling with their own thoughts and experiences.