Free Deadlocked 7 by A.R. Wise Page A

on film spreading the disease were indistinguishable from everyone else. Police officers, firefighters, and other authorities , appearing no different than anyone else, were caught on camera stabbing infected needles into people on the street.
    Panic swept through the populace, and the new military came to the rescue. They provided food, shelter, safety, and were the only reasonable recourse for millions of survivors. Video and pictures were provided of the safe zones, ideal paradises devoid of the flesh-hungry demons that wandered the countryside.
    Then all communication from the safe zones ceased.
    The world went dark. Electricity stopped flowing, the internet was no longer accessible, and no one knew what was happening in the safe zones. It wasn’t until much later that they would learn the truth. The survivors that had retreated to the military’s safe zones were infected with the disease from within. When the camps were filled, the final extermination was enacted, and then the horde was set free.
    Reagan said that he knew of an area in Colorado that was safe, and that some of the people responsible for the apocalypse had retreated there. He had a cabin in the area, near a piece of land that General Covington owned, and had learned that the general was going to retreat there. It was a long trip, but the group finally arrived only to discover the area was overrun with the military. Not only was it a safe zone for a few of the people involved with the outbreak, it seemed to be a gathering place for them.
    “Where are we supposed to go if you don’t come back?” asked Laura.
    Billy, Hero, and Clyde were in the room with Laura as they discussed the plan to sabotage one of the military’s transport vehicles. The three of them were wearing the blue fatigues that the new military wore, while Laura was still in civilian clothes. They had taken up camp inside of an apartment complex in an infected area outside of the military safe zone. The first floor was demolished, and the only way up was by using rope ladders, which gave them a sense of safety; at least from the undead.
    “Don’t worry, we’ll be back. Just lay low for a few weeks,” said Billy. He was sitting rigid because of the brace that supported his back. “If we don’t, then head back to Boulder. You can look for the family we met there. I’m sure they’d take you in.”
    “This is such a bad idea,” said Laura. “I can’t believe you three are going with him. I can’t believe you’re going to leave us.”
    “We’re not leaving,” said Clyde. “We’ll be back in a few weeks at most.”
    “Why do you have to do this?” asked Laura. “All you’re going to do is piss them off. What do you think you’re going to accomplish?”
    “We’re going to kill a few people that deserve it,” said Reagan from behind Laura.
    Hero looked over to the old captain as he stood in the doorway, a silhouette except for the red tip of his cigar. “You ready?” asked Hero.
    Reagan walked into the room and put his hand on Laura’s shoulder. “All set. The van’s loaded, and the entrances to the complex are wired up. If someone tries to get in, you’ll know it, Laura. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
    “Yeah,” said Laura. “Except that my girls and I might be left to fend for ourselves after you four go out and get yourselves killed.”
    “I’ve known you long enough to know you’d do just fine without us,” said Reagan.
    “Why?” asked Laura. “Why do you have to do this? Why does it have to be you four that fight back?”
    Reagan took a long puff of his cigar and then let the smoke drift away from his lips as he spoke, “Because no one else will, darling.”
    “You’re risking our lives too,” said Laura. “My girls and I need you guys.”
    Reagan flicked his cigar and a hunk of ash fell to the carpet. “Laura, I know this seems like a pointless fight. I know it seems like there’s no way we can fight back against the people