The Brother's Creed (Book 2): Battleborn Read online

  “Let’s do it,” James said, going over to the driver’s seat.

  “Everybody buckled?” James asked when Connor and Ana had climbed in.

  “You realize there’s no one else on the road, right?” Ana asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” James said, turning the truck around. “Sorry, old habit.”

  After driving for a minute, James spoke up. “Aren’t we missing something?”

  “You’re right,” Connor responded. A few seconds later Battle Born by Five Finger Death Punch began to play over the speakers. “You know what? That’s exactly what we are, bro. We’re doing our best to fight and survive, to find a place in this new world. No matter the challenges we face, no matter how hard it gets, we aren’t going to give up and we aren’t going to surrender. Do you know why? Because we’re freakin’ battle born.”

  “Hell yeah we are, brother.”

  4

  Déjà Vu

  “This is where we left them,” Connor said as they drove by the spot where the buses had stopped. “I told him to wait ahead.”

  “At the intersection of US-85,” Ana added, looking at the atlas.

  “Hopefully nothing happened,” James said.

  “I wouldn’t worry about them,” Ana said, putting the atlas away. “Emmett and Alexis can take care of themselves.”

  James nodded. “Yeah, I’m beginning to think Alexis was right. Maybe it’ll be good to have you along.”

  “We told ya,” Ana said with a smirk.

  “The verdict’s still out,” Connor said lightheartedly. “I wouldn’t be too smug.”

  “Oh, you’ll see once we save your asses,” Ana said.

  James laughed and Connor smiled. It was good to see his brother smiling again. James was happy with how the night was turning out because it had forced them to open up—which was a rare occasion. He remembered the peace he’d felt when he awakened and was curious about what the dream had been. His ribs still weren’t bothering him. He was conflicted. Had he really hurt himself as bad as he’d originally thought and then been miraculously healed? Or had it never been as bad as he thought and the sleep had been enough to relieve him of the pain? He wanted to believe he’d been healed, but the concept was so at odds with the rest of the world going to hell that he had trouble.

  Arriving at the intersection where Highway 213 ended at US-85, he looked around.

  “No buses and no Emmett,” Connor said.

  “They must’ve gone farther,” James said. “Is there anywhere up ahead they might’ve stopped?”

  “I’ll check,” Ana said.

  James turned north onto US-85 and they continued on their way. The highway was less crowded with abandoned vehicles than the interstate had been.

  Connor picked the radio up off the dash. “Emmett, do you copy?”

  There was only static in response as he tried again, to no avail.

  “Looks like there’s a small town in about ten miles,” Ana said. “The only thing after that is where we turn off for Chugwater.”

  “Let’s get to the town then,” James said. “They might’ve stopped there.”

  “What’s her name?” Ana asked a few minutes later.

  James glanced back at Ana, who was watching Olive, her small chest rising and falling as she slept peacefully.

  “Olivia,” James said, turning back to the road, astonished at the amount of protectiveness he already felt for the little girl. “But she goes by Olive.”

  “Cute nickname,” Ana said. “She tell you much about herself?”

  “A bit,” James replied. “She lost her dad when she was young; he was a California Highway Patrol officer. Then her mom died of cancer a couple years back. She’s been living in Burns with her aunt since.”

  “You weren’t kidding. She’s had it tough,” Ana said.

  James nodded, noticing a light on the east side of the road up ahead.

  “That should be them,” James said.

  “We’d better play it safe and go in ready,” Connor said, rolling down his window and sticking his AR out.

  “Got it,” James said. “I’ll be ready to bolt.”

  Driving across a small bridge over a shallow stream, they approached the distinct lights of three school buses. They pulled off the road into the small town—with ‘town’ being a liberal use of the term. Meriden looked to be more like a collection of five or six buildings than an actual town. The buses were stopped in a line, with the engines still running. Pulling up to the back bus, James stopped as Emmett and Alexis walked up. He put the truck into park but left the engine running and climbed out to greet them.

  “Welcome back,” Emmett said, taking James’s offered hand.

  “I’m glad you’re still alive,” Alexis said, smiling warmly at him.

  “Thanks,” James said. “Me too.”

  “Good place to stop,” Connor said. “Now, we ready to go?”

  Emmett shook his head. “They want to stay here for the night, then head out in the morning.”

  “Of course they do,” Connor said, looking to James. “What’s the plan bro?”

  James appreciated that his brother was giving him the lead on this, although at this moment he didn’t want the responsibility. But he was the one who’d insisted on helping them, so it fell to him.

  “We’re supposed to meet Tank in the morning,” James said, “but we can always catch up to him tomorrow afternoon. If they got out of a large city like Fort Collins, his group must know how to handle themselves. But these people? They’re barely armed and don’t even know what’s going on.”

  Connor didn’t look pleased with the idea. “Okay, I can see that. But if they continue to slow us down or put us in danger, we leave. I’m not abandoning Tank for these people.”

  “I agree,” Ana said. “We owe them nothing.”

  James nodded. “Fair enough. What do you think Emmett?”

  “I think that’s a good plan,” he said and then looked at his daughter. “But if they compromise us, we’re gone. My daughter and Ana come first, period.”

  “Good,” James said. “Then we’ll stay here for the night. I’ll go talk with Peter.”

  James walked toward the buses with Connor at his side.

  “You didn’t have to come along, bro,” James said.

  “Are you kidding me? I ain’t letting you out of my sight again,” Connor said with a smile.

  James chuckled as he stopped at the middle bus.

  “I’m glad you made it out. I’m Peter by the way,” Peter said, sticking out his hand.

  “James,” he said, shaking Peter’s hand. “So your people wanna stay here for the night?”

  “Yeah, they’d feel much better with a good night’s sleep and a little info on what we’re facing,” Peter said.

  “We can give you the info,” James said, “but first we need to clear out these buildings and get people situated. How many armed people do you have?”

  “With guns? Only four. We have a few with some makeshift weapons.”

  “Okay, pull the buses around and have them ready to leave in case another horde comes through. We don’t want to be trapped here. Then have your armed people set up a perimeter around the buses. We’ll clear out the buildings and the surrounding area.”

  “I’ll have them do that,” Peter said. “And thank you, I know you’re taking a risk helping us.”

  “This is a onetime deal,” James said. “After tonight you’ll have to clear them yourselves. We can only risk so much.”

  “That’s understandable,” Peter said, nodding.

  “Good, then get those buses turned around and get the engines shut off.”

  James and his brother walked back to the truck as Peter yelled to the other drivers to get the buses turned around.

  “We need to clear the buildings and the perimeter,” James said to Emmett and the girls.

  “I wouldn’t trust them to clear the buildings anyway,” Emmett said. “They’d likely all end up dead.”

&nbs
p; “That’s what I was thinking,” James said. “But you guys don’t have to help. I only speak for my brother and I.”

  “Of course I’ll help,” Emmett said. “You girls can stay with the trucks—”

  “Not a chance,” Ana said. “I’m not going to sit and wait for you to do all the hard work.”

  “I’m going too,” Alexis said. Emmett gave her a look, but she continued. “Dad, don’t start being overprotective now because of what happened in Haven. I know you feel responsible, but we’re a family and we have to stick together.”

  She touched her dad’s arm, looking into his eyes.

  Those puppy-dog eyes again, James thought. They’ll get ya every time.

  “Fine,” Emmett said sternly. “But you two will be with me and will follow my lead.”

  “Yes, sir,” Alexis said.

  “Roger that,” Ana said, winking at Connor, who shook his head.

  “Gear up,” Emmett said.

  Everyone moved off.

  James followed Connor to the bed of his truck where he opened the tailgate and pulled out an ammo container. They refilled their spent and partial AR magazines, the mindless act soothing them. Once they were done, James went to the backseat to check on Olive. She was still fast asleep. Peter had all the buses turned around and next to each other with the engines shut off. Armed men and some women were getting out of the buses and taking up positions around them.

  Good. Maybe they will adapt.

  Blondie hurried over to James. She looked to be in her mid-twenties and every bit a teacher with her blonde hair cut short, stylish glasses, and that look on her face that said he was in trouble for something he’d done in class.

  “Did you get Olivia?” she asked with urgency.

  “Yes, ma’am, I did,” James responded, stepping aside so she could see into the backseat.

  “Oh, thank God!” she said, pulling him into a relieved hug. She stepped back, smiling at him with tears in her hazel eyes.

  Well, she’s quite enthusiastic, he thought.

  “Thanks for helping me with the kids earlier,” Blondie said.

  “No problem. Are you her aunt?” James asked, slightly uncomfortable.

  “Goodness no. I’m Mila, her teacher,” she said offering him a smile and her hand, which James shook.

  “James. Do you know where her aunt is?” he asked. Connor came over to stand by them, having finished loading his magazines.

  Mila looked pained. “Her Aunt June was in Cheyenne visiting family.”

  “Oh,” James said. “Who was she staying with?”

  “Mary, June’s best friend,” Mila said, looking sad. “She was the one who went into the school after Olivia. She didn’t make it, did she?”

  “No, she turned and I put her down,” James said. “I’m sorry.”

  “So what exactly is going on?” Mila asked as Emmett and the girls walked up, completely decked out and ready to do some exterminating.

  Before James could respond, Connor spoke up. “The world’s goin’ to hell, miss. You’d better prepare yourself now or it’ll eat you up and spit you out—literally.”

  “We’ll explain more later,” James said, “but for now we have to go to work. Will you watch Olive?”

  “Of course,” Mila said. “I’ll take her back to the buses.”

  “No need. Just stay here with her,” James said. “It’s safe and the buses are only a few yards away if you need help.”

  “Okay,” Mila said. “Nice truck, by the way.”

  “Thanks,” James said as he and Connor walked over to Emmett and the girls.

  Emmett had traded in his cowboy hat for a black combat helmet with NVGs attached to the front. He carried his suppressed M4 and wore a black tactical plate-carrier vest complete with body armor and attachments full of magazines. Alexis held her suppressed SCAR-H rifle with a Trijicon VCOG scope, foregrip and flashlight. She wore a dark green tactical vest with extra magazines over her black jacket, and her suppressed Walther handgun rested in its holster on her thigh. Ana had a suppressed AK-74 with a Vortex holographic sight, foregrip and bayonet knife attached on the front. A coyote-tan tactical harness with her handgun and extra magazines was over top of her long-sleeved gray shirt. Both the girls wore black lightweight tactical helmets with NVGs mounted on the front and looked very capable.

  Alexis looks quite attractive, wouldn’t you say? a voice said in his head. He had to admit she did. With her hair pulled into a ponytail and a look of determination in her eyes, she carried her weapon with confidence. She glanced at him and he quickly looked away, realizing he had been staring. Smooth James, real smooth.

  “Looks like you’re ready to do some killin’,” Connor said, eyeing the three of them.

  “Damn right,” Ana said.

  James looked at her.

  “What? Isn’t that something you boys would say before a mission?”

  “Damn right it is,” Emmett said. “Time to move.”

  Emmett led the way past the buses and into what was more than likely the center of town—which was hard to tell because the town was so small.

  “We’ll go south,” Emmett said. “You take north.”

  “Yes, sir,” James said, moving off.

  He took the lead and Connor followed. They backtracked a little toward a large house by the road. Approaching the front door, they flipped down their NVGs and Connor opened the door. James swept into a living room decorated with a couple of couches and a TV. There was a door leading off to the right and one across from the entrance. Checking the room, he saw no zombies, and everything looked relatively normal.

  “Clear,” James whispered as Connor came in behind him.

  Moving with practiced ease, James made his way to the right and the doorway there. As they arrived at the door, they posted up. James swept into the room. It was a small bedroom with no threats inside. He left and they moved through the living room to the other door leading further into the house.

  “Do you know what we need?” James whispered as they posted up at the doorway.

  “What?” Connor asked as he opened the door.

  Inside was a kitchen, with a dining room further in and two doors set on the far wall with a glass door to the right of those. A large pool of liquid covered the floor in the kitchen and two chairs were knocked over. Kneeling down, he examined the liquid. As his fingertips touched it, he abruptly drew them back. It was still wet. He stood up.

  “Blood,” James whispered, “and fresh. Stay frosty.”

  Connor chuckled softly, ruining the seriousness of the moment. “Idiot.”

  “What?”

  “You just wanted to say ‘stay frosty.’”

  James chuckled. “True.”

  “What were you going to say earlier?” Connor asked as they stepped around the pool of blood, moving deeper into the kitchen.

  “Oh, yeah. That we need a couple battery-powered headsets like in all the movies.”

  “That’s not a half bad idea.”

  “You seem surprised. I always have good ideas.”

  “Sometimes . . .” Connor trailed off as they drew near the side-by-side doors on the back wall.

  One of the doors was shut while the other looked like it had been broken down. The glass door on the wall to the right was shattered. The shards of glass were covered in a dark liquid and there was a chunk of flesh hanging off the door to the bedroom. Proceeding with caution, James went to the bedroom while Connor kept an eye on the shattered glass door leading outside. James peeked in and almost lost his lunch. Inside, the remains of two bodies appeared to be gutted and all the entrails and blood had been tossed around the room. Swallowing hard, he made sure there was nothing living and stepped back before taking a deep breath. But even outside the bedroom, the stench of death was almost overwhelming.

  “That bad?” Connor asked, still standing watch.

  James didn’t trust himself to open his mouth and respond, so he just nodded. Going to the closed door, he opened it
quickly and stepped back. Inside was a similar bedroom to the first; however, this one was empty. He walked to his brother and they went out the broken glass door. Outside, James took another deep breath, enjoying the crisp night air in his lungs.

  “Wow, that was bad,” James said.

  “How many are we dealing with?”

  “No idea. All I know is they must’ve tried to get through every wall before they got out because there was blood everywhere.”

  “We need to get back to the buses,” Connor said.

  “Yeah, like now.”

  Turning to the right, they headed back to the buses in a quick but cautious walk. James came around the corner of the house and saw the buses. Everything looked normal. The few men and women were still standing guard. Walking to them, James noticed Peter and waved him over.

  “What’d you find?” Peter asked, baseball bat in his hands.

  “Not good. There are at least a few zombies roaming around,” James said, “We thought they might come here.”

  “We haven’t seen or heard anything,” Peter said.

  “Okay,” James said, “We need to find ‘em and kill ‘em. Then we’ll be back. Keep your eyes and ears open. You may hear ‘em before you see ‘em.”

  Peter nodded. “We will.”

  “Oh, and don’t forget to aim for the head. It’s the only way to put ‘em down for good,” Connor said as they were turning to leave.

  “Got it,” Peter said. “I’ll tell the others.”

  I didn’t even think to tell them that. That could’ve been bad, James thought.

  Walking back down the dirt road to where they’d started, the brothers approached a long white building with five doors facing south. Outside the first door were a couple of post office drop boxes. James went up to the door and Connor opened it. Inside was a small, one-room post office with a counter splitting it in half.

  “Clear,” James said as he exited after checking the whole room.

  They moved to the next door. It looked to be an apartment of sorts but was empty of blood, bodies or zombies. He moved in and checked the bathroom. It was clear as well. They moved down to the next one and repeated the process, clearing all the rooms in the building.