“Good luck, Ramsey.” He pushes me inside and I stumble into the group of recruits. The door slams behind me. I’m hunched over, looking around, when someone slides over giving me space. Jude pats the seat.
“Thanks,” I say, squeezing in and dropping my bag between my feet.
“No turning back now,” he says as much to himself as anyone listening.
“Nope,” I agree, feeling the bandage on my arm, now aching from the prick. “There’s no turning back.”
Chapter 11
I learn in the first hour that the Fighters have done an even better job clearing the surrounding area of the infected that I realized. I already knew the hoard that attacked the fort when we first arrived had been removed, but even the stragglers from a couple weeks ago are gone, leaving nothing but quiet, empty streets and the hum of our vehicle.
Parker, the African-American woman I stood next to in line, peeks out the window and asks, “This area was slammed when we got here. Where did they go?”
Hayes, the Fighter from the ring, sits watch at the back of the vehicle, weapon ready. Without looking over he says, “A rotating crew comes out every day and eliminates the threat. We’re pushing the perimeter of the fort back--reclaiming ground.” He points up ahead. “That gate just went up last week.”
I crane my neck to get a view out the side flap. We’re queuing up to cross through a second guarded fence line and gate about three miles past the original one.
Jane has a lot more going on than I’ve realized. More capable bodies and grander ideas. It’s all logical. All of it makes so much sense. Cleaning out the infected, making larger and larger swaths clear. Expanding her territory. I guess the uneasiness I feel in my gut is that I’m always one step behind with the enormity of her plans.
“Do all these workers and fighters live at the Fort?” I ask as we pass a group erecting part of a fence.
Hayes glances over at me as though he’s just seeing me for the first time. “No. We’ve been renovating inhabitable space between here and there. We’ve got barracks off-site now for some workers and Fighters and soon we’ll be moving more into outer housing.”
So that’s where everyone has been. I knew the numbers seemed off inside the actual fort. Honestly, I feel a lot better knowing people are being productive and not just lab rats for Jane and my dad.
The vehicles roll to a brief stop as we pass through the gates. We have three trucks packed with people and supplies. As the gate rattles and slides shut behind us I nudge Hayes and ask, “What’s it like where we’re going?”
“The team has gone down to the clinic to secure and prep the area. They’ve cleared out as many Eaters as possible, but there’s no guarantee.” he replies.
“How long will it take to get there?”
“It’s about thirty miles away. So anywhere from an hour to three days.”
“You’re joking, right?” Jude says with a bright smile.
Hayes shakes his head and tenses both hands on his gun. “We’ve cleared the roads out to the clinic but that doesn’t mean we won’t hit a snag.”
The ride is quiet and our view mostly obstructed. If you’ve survived this long, you know keeping a low profile is important, but that doesn’t settle the anxiety building in my chest. Maybe I should have stayed back at the fort. What was I thinking, begging to go on this mission?
“You okay?” Jude whispers in my ear. His eyes are on my hands, which have turned white from gripping my hatchet. I exhale and loosen my fingers.
I nod. “I think reality is sinking in.”
“You’ve been out recently, though.”
“Yeah, but I’m learning that my patrols were in a pretty controlled setting. They’d cleared most everything out of there before letting me go.” He gives me a confused look. “You know the director is my sister, right? She approves everything I do. Those patrols were just a way of keeping me busy.” And from asking too many questions, I don’t add.
His eyes widen and I see they’re a nice shade of green. “Oh, you’re related to The Director?”
“Yep.” I fake smile and cross my fingers over each other. “We’re super close.”
The truck comes to an abrupt stop, causing all of us to crash forward, sliding hard into one another. Bags and weapons clatter to the ground and everyone scrambles to hold on. Before we’re upright, Hayes is ready in an instant, only saying, “Be prepared,” before disappearing out the back opening.
The truck’s motor rumbles loudly, but over the noise I hear the tell-tale screech of an Eater and the pop-pop of gunfire. My gut sinks and Jude’s hands turn white, gripping the base of this weapon.
“Hold on,” I say before popping open the flap and sucking in a breath of not-so-fresh air. Exhaust and smoke coat my lungs, not to mention the rotting scent of flesh.
Crap.