Shattered

Chapter One: Pick Up

     "You think you're invincible but you aren't!" "It's just a limb Mary." She slapped me and I grabbed her wrist gently. Her anger vanished and she started crying. I wrapped my arms around her and sighed. "I'm alive and I'm here to protect you, that's what I care about." 
      I smiled at the memory and looked over at her picture. I took it out of the frame and folded it up. The guys came in just when I put it in my pocket. "She's not here." "Then we need to move now." I nodded and grabbed the guns from the house. I tossed it in the back of the jeep and we moved out. "We need to pick up the package and head to Georgia. There's supposed to be a base camp there." "Supposed to be? This is an important package Serge."
      "We follow orders." Stupid lass. He's lucky I don't kick him out of the damn jeep and leave him for the dead. But of course I'm not that cruel. When we got to the target I was the first out. I directed the rest of my men and we started to push in. I left two of them back to protect the vehicles. I kicked in the door and cleared the room. "Where's the secret service? Are they dead?" "Aye, they're dead." I walked through the White House and kicked in the doors I came across. I took out any of the dead I saw trying to find him. Andrews met me at the end of the hall. We moved with our men up the stairs and split when the stairwell did. One of them kicked in a door and was cornered. We heard his screams and Andrews kneeled with his back to me giving us each some support when they started knocking down the doors. I reloaded and shot one of them right before it got to me. Blood splattered all over me and we both stood up. I walked over and moved our men away from them. We lined them up and took one of their tags to find their families in the end. Andrews and I said a prayer and walked down the hall. Four casualties of military men.
      "Oi! I think I found a panic room." They all walked over and I hit the button. "Mr. President? We're your escorts." "Show me your ID." I held up my ID and he opened the door. "Grace Ellis?" "Yes, sir, Mr. President. Collect your things and we will take you to safety." 
      "Serge! We've got company." I hurried over to the window and saw a few dozen walkers heading for us. "Get him out we're going into the backup plan." I walked by the dead and took one last look. Once they were gone in the vehicles I started shooting through a window. They hit the building and started coming in. Shooting at the ones coming up the stairs I pulled the pin of a grenade and rolled it across the floor before jumping out the window. I hit the ground hard but didn't have enough time to let it phase me. I jumped behind a sandbag shield and the heat hit me. I stood up covered in blood and ash. A hand landed next to me almost making me laugh but the serious situation ahead covered that urge completely. I started walking towards the highway hoping they remembered where to go.
       They sat around the jeeps looking around. I walked up and hit the side of the jeep. "Can't believe you lived from that." "Had to. Who else would keep you idiots at bay?" I got in the jeep and wiped the blood and sweat off my face. "Are you ready to go Mr. President?" "I believe I am. Where is it we're going?" "Atlanta. Our base is supposed to be there."

       I stopped when our other vehicle slowed down. I stepped out and walked back to hear them yelling. "What the hell is going on here?" "He's bit!" I opened the door and pulled him out. "Private Frank Marshall. I'm sorry." I pulled out my gun and pointed it at him. Saying the prayer I did before I killed the living I pulled the trigger. "Everyone out! Now!" They lined up and looked down at Marshall. "Is anyone else bit? Scratched? I don't give a fuck if it is even a nibble! We don't have time or the men to let this happen!" None of them stepped forward so we left. "Andrews go ahead and mark the map."