Infestation: Outbreak

Chapter 2

Vanessa was still sleeping as we drove for a almost an hour. We should have been to the city by now, but I had to go slower to navigate through the maze of cars. This whole thing really was chaos. I mean, it hasn't even been 24 hours since the outbreak and there are already people turning into murderers. What if the United States ceases to exist? What would happen to us?

Vanessa started to wake up. "What's goin on?" She asked, still groggy.

"Well, you passed out after you shot that guy." And that's when I saw it. The look on her face when she realized she just killed a man. She was in terror, disbelief, and denial.

"I killed him? I can't believe I did that... How could I...?" She said about to burst into tears.

I stopped the car and turned off the cassette player. "Vanessa, I want you to look at me." She turned and looked at me. "That person you killed back there, wasn't human. He was a monster, something that will rot in hell for what he did. If you didn't kill him, he would have killed you, and I don't know if I could make it through this without you... without a friend."

She dried her tears and smiled. "Yeah I guess you're right. He wasn't a very good guy was he?" She giggled.

"Look Vanessa, you're all I've got, and we have to do what we have too to survive. It's kill or be killed now." I said starting to drive the car again. She relaxed and slumped back down into her seat.

The whole time I've been driving I've been watching the tree line, watching for any sign of movement. We have a working car, and that's really valuable. If anyone sees us they'll want the car.

Another thing I've been worrying about is the possibility that those men weren't our biggest problem. The infected are dangerous in large groups but they aren't like humans. What if there are people out there that are killing for fun, and not survival. Then at that moment I saw movement in the woods and stopped the car.

I grabbed my binoculars and looked at the location. I saw a man in a gillie suit, Laying down beside a bush. He was trained to do this. I knew he was a soldier. He had a long range rifle, and it was aimed at the car. I slowly opened the door and got out of the car. I waved my arms to show him I saw him.

I heard a series of whistles and a couple more men walked out of the tree line. All with their guns aimed at me and the car. "I'm unarmed." I shouted. "You guys don't have to worry about me fighting you."

They reached the highway and told me to get on the ground. All of the men had their entire bodies concealed, showing no skin whatsoever. These guys were professional killers.

"Alright." One man said, taking off his helmet. "I'm the leader of this squad. We are not ordinary soldiers. You probably know that. So tell us sir, who are you?"

"Permission to stand sir?" He nodded at me and I stood. "I'm Alex Smith. Lieutenant in the United States military and ex special ops member. I was one of the first to drop in the Middle East and one of the last to leave. I have over 300 confirmed kills and commanded a squad after my commander was killed in combat."

He grinned. "Well if I'll be damned. I it isn't Alex Smith himself. I have to say, I expected you to be a little... Taller." I smiled and laughed.

"Sarge we gotta move, we're sitting ducks out here in the open." One of the men said while scanning the car. Vanessa was awake by now and she was puzzled. I saw the look of confusion on her face. I walked to the window and she rolled it down.

"What's going on? Who are these guys?"

"They're friends Vanessa, don't worry. They're military." I said.

"Alright Alex, but I'm still gonna watch out for them." And she had a point. Even though they were military I couldn't trust them.

I turned to the soldiers. "So what are your orders? Why were you out here?"

The boss looked at me like I was stupid. "Boy that is out of your clearance."

"No, it isn't. If I wasn't needed in this operation then you would be gone already. So go ahead and tell me what you want."

"We need you for an operation. Our survivor camp. They need supplies and we can't help."

"So what makes you think I will?"

"We know that you're a trained soldier, who's not afraid to kill and knows how to survive alone."

"I can try. But I'm not making a promise to protect all of those people."

"I understand that. That's where we come in. We all have post to watch for bandits and hunters."

"Hunters?" I asked in a surprised tone.

"People who kill for the thrill, not for survival. They are ruthless and savage, and only getting worse." That's when it hit me, those men I killed on the highway weren't just looters, they were hunters.

"Alright I'll do it. The girl comes too." I said nodding towards the car.

"Alright follow us. We'll lead you to the camp." The leader said, walking over to an old church van and opening the door. Revealing an entire arsenal of weapons.

I walked to the car and opened the door. I sat down and huffed. I was shaking with nerves. Those men obviously didn't want me killed or they wouldn't be showing me where they live. I think we may have met actual allies.

I started the car and revved the engine. The bus in front of us started to move and I followed. Vanessa knew I was uneasy. She was silent. Watching me to see how I really felt. I could feel her staring at me. "What is it? Why are you staring like that?"

"It's nothing, just that you seem kinda bothered." She said hesitantly.

"You're right, I am bothered. I'm taking a chance on these people and I don't know if I can trust them."

"Well, you have to take a chance to find what you really want Alex."

She was smart. "You're right. Thanks."

I sat back into my seat and we returned to silence. The van suddenly took a turn off into a clearing in the woods. My car wasn't really made for off-roading so I was a little worried. We drove on the dirt road for a few miles. The van stopped at a large rock. Probably a marker they use to find the camp. We got and walked for about 10 minutes just to find a few tents. People here are happy. I looked around and saw kids playing and laughing, families together and enjoying themselves. I don't know how they could be happy at a time like this, but I think me and Vanessa are safe here.