Free The Infected: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller by Matt Cronan Page B

stop. I tell you to run—"
    "We get it," Jordan said.
    "Good," Cole said. "Now let's move."
    Sam's shoulder scraped against the wall as they closed in on the gates. Cole walked in front of her doing the same. She focused on keeping her breaths steady and slow, but inside, her heart pounded against her chest and she wondered how no one else heard it.
    Cole held up a hand. They stopped and hunkered in the tall grass. The two massive steel doors were ahead of them. They reached far into the night sky. Sam wiped a sweaty hand on the leg of her coveralls and almost screamed when Jordan reached out and grabbed it.
    "Sorry," he whispered.
    She nodded. She was too afraid to say anything. Her knees shook under her weight. She wanted to cry. She wanted to go back to the train yard offices or even better, back in time before she had gotten them in this mess.
    Cole pointed at his eye and then to the guard shack sitting a few yards in front of the gates. They focused their attention on it and Sam's heart jumped into her chest. Robertson emerged from the shadows on the opposite side of the guard shack. She sprinted toward it and disappeared into its innards.
    Sam waited, unable to breathe. The light in the window illuminated and then extinguished. They looked to Cole who nodded.
    "This is it," Jordan whispered.
    Before Sam had time to answer, two headlights cut across the horizon. She heard the low rumble of the engine and then saw a box truck trundle down the main road. She couldn't believe it. It had been a decade since she had seen a car or truck in operation. Much longer if what Holden said was true. She stared at it in disbelief.
    "When it pulls to a stop," Cole said, "we go fast. You two head to the rear of the truck, Holden'll be waitin' in the back for ya. Me and Jeanette'll overtake the driver. We'll be outta here before they know what hit 'em."
    "What if things go bad?" Jordan asked.
    Cole pulled a revolver from under his coveralls and cocked the hammer back. "Let's hope it don't come to that."
    Sam nodded.
    The three of them turned back and watched as the truck neared the guard shack. Gears creaked and moaned as the gates opened. Sam marveled at the dark unknown of the outside world.
    "I love you," Jordan whispered.
    Before she had a chance to return the sentiment, the brakes of the truck squeaked and Cole whispered, "Go."
    The three of them raced toward the truck, and Sam's heart jackhammered in her chest as they neared it. Cole broke apart from them and ran toward the cab of the truck and Jordan and Sam sped toward the back.
    They reached the guard shack and Robertson exploded from it. She lunged toward the driver-side door, a pistol clutched in one of her hands. Cole flanked the truck from the other side. Sam lost sight of them as she reached the rear of the truck.
    "We made it," Jordan said and flipped open the door latch. He pulled up on the handle and the door rattled up the tracks.
    Sam's heart caught as the contents of the truck were revealed. Holden Deckard knelt at the edge of the truck—bound and gagged and screaming muted pleas. Prime Minister Troy stood behind him, knife in hand and a sinister sneer coating his face. Two soldiers, armed with assault rifles, stood on either side of them. Moonlight gleamed from the tip of the blade as it pressed against Holden's throat.
    "No!" Sam shouted.
    Without warning, Troy dragged the blade from ear to ear and Holden's eyes widened. A thick, red mist spewed from the gaping wound and doused Sam and Jordan as they watched in shock. The fear in Holden's eyes turned to a vacant stare and then his body lurched forward and crashed into the dirt in front of them.
    Jordan tugged at her arm and she stumbled. Everything seemed far away. Panic engulfed her, and she realized this would be their final day on Earth. Desperation crashed over her as Jordan pulled her from the rear of the truck.
    "Get dem!" the Minister screamed. His words were distorted and Sam tasted his blood in her