Page 152 of Afflicted

Sutton’s eyes widen slightly. “Oh shit.”

“And as I was just telling your men here, they more than likely think there are vamps here. I’d heard there were, they probably have too.”

“Where are they now?” Sutton crosses her arms over her chest, no doubt trying to disguise her trembling hands.

“About 25 miles north of here, or they were when we spotted them. They have tanks so-”

“Tanks?” Sutton cuts Silas off with an exclamation. “They havetanks?”

“Afraid so. But they’re traveling behind Afflicted, so it’s slow going. We have time.”

“Time?” Sutton runs a hand over her head, bracing the other one against her waist. “Jesus Christ, we have 800 people in here. There are old folks, kids, pregnant folks, I mean…” She trails off, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my god.”

“Let us help.” I step forward and take her hands. “I know we’re just two people, but we have a truck, we can take some in the back, and help you get people to safety.”

“How do we know they’re coming here?” She asks, clearly grasping at hope. “Maybe they’re going somewhere else.”

“There’s nothing else around here, boss.” The shorter guard’s words bring Sutton’s hope crashing down. I can see it in her face, as her brow furrows, her teeth clenched.

“No, I guess there isn’t.” She holds on to my hands, leaning on them heavily. “We worked so hard to keep everyone safe.”

“Maybe we can barricade ourselves in?” The taller guard says.

Silas shakes his head. “Listen, I wouldn’t recommend that. The Afflicted, they’re insanely strong.”

“No, he’s right.” Sutton nods her head slowly. “We have a better chance here than out there in the wild.”

“Listen, your systems are good, but this horde is huge.” Silas’s voice rings with urgency. “ You need to get out of here.”

“And then what?” Sutton lets go of my hands, straightening her shoulders. “Then I have 800 people out there, in the woods, with no shelter, no food?”

“Please, you need to get out of here.” I take a step closer to Sutton. “I don’t want that to happen to you. It was awful. Please.”

Her face falls with a look of defeat, and she nods. With a heavy sigh, she gestures sharply for us to follow.

“Bring in your truck, we’ll send up the alarms and get folks moving.”

Silas nods and turns tail, and I follow him back to the truck as Sutton barks commands to the guards.

“Thank god she listened,” he mutters, driving in slowly after the guards. “I thought we were going to have a fight on our hands for a second there.”

“So did I.” I look over my shoulder to see Sutton talking to the gate guards. She gestures to the barrier wall, crossing her arm over her chest and casting a glance at the truck “What is she doing?”

“What do you mean?” Silas looks in the rear view, his eyes widening as the gate begins to close. “What is she doing?” He brings the truck to a stop and we both jump down as the gate rolls shut and the guards begin to chain it up. “Ey! What the hell are you doing? We need to get these people out of here!”

Sutton faces us with pursed lips. “I changed my mind.”

“Youwhat?” Silas holds his hands up.”You have to listen to me, this is-”

“I don’t have to do anything.” Sutton interjects, one of the guards appearing at her side. “I have 800 people to think about here. Pregnant people, old folks, little babies. It’s going to snow tonight. I can’t keep 800 people safe in the woods.”

“The Afflicted are going to tear those people apart!” I shake my head, moving towards her, a movement she mirrors exactly as she takes three steps away from me. “These people are going to die!”

“The National Guard aren’t going to attack a human colony. I’ll make contact with them, and they’ll back down.”

“They aren’t going to give you time to do that!” Silas runs his hands over his head, turning away to brace a hand against his waist. At that moment three little kids run across the road, laughing and chasing a ball. Silas rounds back on Sutton, his expression pained. “Please, we have to get these people to safety. The National Guard will shoot first and ask questions afterwards. You won’t stand a chance.”

“I disagree.” Sutton’s face remains maddeningly calm as she looks at us both. “I appreciate the fact you came to warn us. I don’t forget a favor like that, and I will pay my dues.”

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