Free Fractured: Outbreak ZOM-813 by Marie Lanza

infected – or worse yet, the infection. My gut hurt from being twisted up with anxiety. I concentrated on what was behind us while Dan and Jaxon focused on the door.
    “Ethan, it’s Daddy,” Jaxon called out again.
    “Daddy?” a tiny voice whispered through the door.

 
    CHAPTER 6
     
    The door handle clicked and slowly turned. Jaxon kneeled down, and Ethan wrapped his arms around his father’s neck. Ethan didn’t look over seven years old.
    “Where’s Mommy?’ Ethan looked at us a little disappointed that we weren’t his mother.
    “Mommy…” Jaxon was lost for words.
    “She’s dead, isn’t she?” Ethan didn’t need an explanation. “Mommy told me to stay here when the alarms went off.”
    “You did good, really good.” Jaxon gave his son another tight squeeze. He didn’t need to acknowledge Ethan was correct on her death.
    The reunion was cut short by the sound of a shattering window from another room.
    “Ethan, this is Harmony, Dan, and that’s Mayhem, their dog. Stay right here with them while Daddy checks on this.” Jaxon moved swiftly past us into another room but quickly reappeared.
    “Is it bad?” I asked.
    “They broke the windows in the front lobby. It’s a big group. We’ll retreat out the back the way we came in and make a run for the truck.” Jaxon kneeled down to Ethan. “Ethan, I want you to hold Harmony’s hand. Daddy needs to lead us out of here. OK?”
    Ethan reached up for my hand, and I pulled him in close. I wasn’t sure how I felt about taking on this responsibility as I took his tiny hand into mine. But as I reflected on the situation, I knew that I’d hope someone would protect my niece if she needed it.
    We moved fast. As we passed the door that led off to the front area we could see the infected banging the doors and breaking windows. It was obvious they heard the gunshot, and they were eager to get it. As we ran through the building, I think we were all thankful the infected didn’t seem to remember how to open doors.
    We made it back to the storage room that would take us to the back alley. Jaxon took a quick look outside before diving through the window. We filed down the alley until we reached the parking lot. Jaxon paused at the building on the edge of the lot and looked around the corner, scanning the area.
    “Clear.” Jaxon looked back at us.
    We ran for wreckage of the main gate and headed for the truck. Running through the parking lot caught the attention of some of the infected on the outside of the medical ward. The infected began moving in our direction.
    “They’re coming!” I shouted out.
    “Keep moving!” Jaxon yelled over his shoulder.
    Mayhem pulled towards the infected with a vicious growl.
    “Leave it!” Dan yanked at his leash.
    One by one, we wedged past the wrecked pickup and high tailed it to our own truck still parked against the security wall.
    Dan opened the door for Mayhem, letting him hop in while Jaxon helped Ethan into the back. Dan fired up the engine and put the truck in drive.
    “Wait!” I held my hands out like it would magically prevent the truck from moving. “What about the other building we were supposed to look in? What if my family’s in there?”
    “I think we can agree that even if they were here, they aren’t anymore.” Dan brought my hand down and held it.
    “Ethan, can you tell me if you saw any new groups of survivors come in the last few days?” Jaxon asked his son.
    Ethan pursed his lips as he thought about it. “No. Mommy said no new people were allowed in.”
    “That’s our answer. We need to get moving.” Dan cocked his head to the direction of the entrance.
    Infected were piling out of the gate with their sights set on us. Dan didn’t think about it another second. He began to drive down the dirt road away from Fort Mesa.
    “We’ll head towards Camp Glen. Turn right back onto 59,” Jaxon directed.
    I watched the infected behind us following the truck and become smaller by the second as