Free Whatever It Takes by Mike Staton

barricade.
    Percival listened to the growls echo down the stairwell as he climbed down on the other side of the barricade. Sarah followed suite slowly.
    “Come on, Karl,” Percival shouted.
    Karl came crawling over the barricade. He turned at the peak and fired a shot from the rifle before jumping down. He slung the rifle and held Evan’s bag out to Percival.
    “I’ll carry him. No questions, I’ve done it before.” Karl bent and picked Evan up. Percival took Evan’s bag as Karl adjusted the youth across his shoulders. “Reload your pistol, Percival.”
    Percival silently did as he was told, ejecting the spent magazine and dropping it into his pocket before slapping in a fresh one. He racked the slide and led the way out of the building. He moved along a concrete wall, clicking his flashlight off as it wasn’t needed in the sunlight.
    *
    It didn’t take long to make their way back to the car. Evan was still unresponsive, and the stalkers seemed to have given up their pursuit.
    Percival and Sarah stood watch as Karl tried keys. The eerie silence and the feeling of being watched crept up over Percival. He was certain that the stalkers were just laying in wait for them to go somewhere dangerous where they’d have the advantage of confined space.
    “We’re in luck,” Karl said over his shoulder. He opened the car door and slid into the driver’s seat.
    “First time today.” Percival cast a dismal glance down at Evan. They were putting off checking him for wounds until after they got back to the safe-house.
    “The lack of zombies was lucky,” Sarah said.
    “I think the stalkers killed ‘em all.” Percival broke his gaze from Evan and resumed watching for stalkers to appear.
    “You don’t know that.”
    “Stop bickering, children. I have more good news.” Karl turned the key and the car started. “We have three-fourths of a tank a working engine, and four tires that aren’t flat.”
    “Does the radio work?” Sarah asked. Her tone was sarcastic as she opened one of the backdoors and helped Percival move Evan onto the backseat.
    “Let’s find out.” Karl reached out and twisted a knob on the console. A click marked the radio turning on, and after a moment of static, a voice piped out through the speakers.
    “’Ear this, there are other survivors. We’ve got guns and provisions and can protect you. Come find us at the military depot south of Hankersville, Tennessee. Take the third exit off of I-24. We’re the only building with power. If you get to Nashville, stay out of the city and turn back. Only the dead walk there.” There was a five second delay before the man’s voice began again. “If anyone is out there and can hear this…”
    Percival stared at the radio. “There’s more people alive out there.”

Chapter 5
     
    Percival rode in the passenger seat while Karl drove. Sarah cradled Evan’s head in the backseat.
    “That could be a very old message from the start of the outbreak.” Karl pulled into the parking lot of the gun shop. The front windows were boarded up and the security gate was drawn in front of the smashed glass front doors. “Looks like someone might be home.”
    “They have power still. Otherwise the message wouldn’t still be going out.” Percival climbed out of the car. “Sarah, stay here and watch over Evan, please.”
    She nodded and just smoothed some of the boy’s hair.
    “If they had the generator hooked up to just the radio—“ Karl was cut off by Percival.
    “Part of my job on campus was to listen to the techheads blather. Hell, I had them help me justify raids on the local gas pumps initially and to convince the council to let me take a group further out.” Percival checked the ammunition in his pistol. It was a full ten round magazine. “Unless they have a miracle generator, someone’s been feedin’ it fuel at least up ‘til a week ago. It’s just simple logistics, Karl.”
    “I don’t think it’s a good idea to go running to these