Page 38 of Redemption
I just need to rest, regroup, and then make my way south. There’s a place down there I know I can go. My best friend owns it. If anyone could survive this shit, it’s him. But I can’t get there when I feel like death rolled over. After fighting for my life all fucking day, I need to rest, and I think I might know of another place that’s closer.
Abandoning the mall, I head in the direction of the country club a few miles away.
I pass the business sign and stumble onto one of the overgrown paths, almost collapsing into one of the bushes as fatigue takes over, but I force myself to continue on, knowing I’m almost there.
The golf course is huge and has a large water feature I plan to jump into as soon as I get there. Not only will it help rid myself of this rancid stench, but it’ll wake me up too.
Exhausted and dehydrated, I stagger alongside the clubhouse and, when I see the pond in the distance, pick up my pace, eager to rid myself of the infected sludge covering my body. I make it about fifteen steps onto the greens before bullets start whizzing past me.
Son of a FUCK!
Startled, I race and dive behind a tree, taking cover as they continue sending bullets at me.
“GET OFF MY LAND!” a man yells from the clubhouse, pointing a rifle at me along with a few other people, their sights set directly on me, ready to take my ass out.
Ok... at least they don’t think I’m dead, or else they wouldn’t be talking to me. Maybe if I just explain myself, they’ll lower their weapons. Maybe offer some shelter. A piece of food, at least. Southern hospitality is a staple in these parts. I can only hope decent humanity hasn’t been completely lost.
I ease the top half of my body out from behind the tree, throwing an arm up and pointing in the direction I just came from. “Hi, uh, good evening! I’m a Marine stationed on base... just escaped a horde of infected people.” I take a step toward them, lifting my outstretched palms in front of me and trying to make myself not look like a threat. “The sun is setting, and I’ve been on the run for hours. Do you happen to have room for one more for the night? I swear I’ll be out of your hair in the morning.”
The man tilts his head as he cocks his gun. “YOU MUST BE OUTTA YOUR GODDAMN MIND IF YOU THINK I’M GOING TO LET YOU ANYWHERE NEAR MY FAMILY. NOW, I DON’T GIVE A FLYING FUCK IF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, WAS RIGHT BEHIND YOU AND ASKED FOR ROOM AT THE INN! YOU BEST GET OFF MY LAND BEFORE I GIVE YOU ANOTHER USELESS HOLE TO JABBER OUT OF!”
I must not move fast enough, because they don’t wait for me to react.
They just start shooting again.
Fuck. This. Shit.
Knowing they’re not going to stop until I leave, I turn as fast as I can and race in the opposite direction towards the golf course. Barely a second later, an agonizing jolt of pain hits the back of my thigh, forcing me to fall to the ground. Bullets hit left and right, but my adrenaline spikes for what must be the eightieth time today, and I force myself to get back up and run.
Fucking assholes. Tried to ask for sanctuary. Got a bullet instead.
An hour later, I manage to limp up to a decrepit cabin deep in the woods, barely making it past the doorway just as the sun begins to set. Thankfully, the one room building is empty. I don’t think I have the energy to fend off anyone else today, dead or alive.
But, looking at the state of my leg, I really could use someone else’s assistance right about now. The bullet went in, but it didn’t come out. And I don’t have the tools, let alone the willpower, to dig the fucker out. A cold sweat covers my brow as I lean back against the wall, the wound still slowly bleeding out all over the floor. I tear a piece of my t-shirt and make a makeshift bandage out of it, binding the damage and containing as much of the blood as I can, but, within seconds, it’s covered the cotton fabric and is dripping through.
“Well, Baylor... I tried.” I gasp out, knowing I’m absolutely fucked now. At least I can die here in peace rather than get eaten or turn into one of those things. Resigned to my fate, I settle in, gritting my teeth as I fill my mind with the one thing in this world that means more to me than anything else.
Mi Alma.
A harsh breath exits my lungs, but I smile as I think of her. Alive and beautiful. Far away from this bullshit.
If only I had one more chance...
A moment later, as if the miracle was just waiting for me, the front door swings open. Three men enter like they own the place and, instead of ending my suffering right then and there, take me in and give me the shelter and protection I’d been searching for all along.
∞∞∞
Present day...
Silence surrounds us as my story comes to an end. Or at least, the first part of it has. It’s far from everything that happened, and I left out a few of the names and some of the more...detailedbits of information in my retelling for simplicity’s sake, but it’s enough for now.
My past lingers in the silence between us while my hands clench into fists at my sides. Reliving that time is something I never wanted to do, the loss still fresh even after a year had gone by. All those guys. All those faces I was put in charge of... gone. And I can’t help but blame myself.
Alessandra’s been eerily still the entire time I recounted what went down last year. Not even the quiet nudges from her dog have captured her attention away from my story. And it was the truth. Every terrifying, heartbreaking moment.
And now she knows.
“Dare...” she whispers shakily to me. I can hear the heartbreak and pity emanating from her voice, and it’s enough to break me if I let it. She stands for the first time in what seemslike hours and takes a step towards me. While all I’ve wanted to do since I found her, alive and within reach, is hold her in my arms, I shake my head stiffly in return, stopping her open show of sympathy in its tracks as I force myself to breathe through the memories. I’m a powder keg ready to blow, but her soft voice helps tame the bitter emotions, dousing my traumatic response a little when she disobeys and steps closer, taking my hand in hers.
