Page 136

Kevin rubbed his brow and nodded, pressing his lips tightly together.

“You did a good job, son. Just some of us were a little slow. And a little foolish,” Bruce said with a sigh.

Kevin looked back at Katie and Travis quickly. Travis had Katie’s face tucked into his neck as her body shook with emotion.

“Katie, I love you. Travis, take care of her. I got to say goodbye and that makes this all worth it. ”

“Dad,” Katie called out. “I love you. ”

“I love you, too. Take care, y’all. ” Bruce lifted the gun and pressed it to his temple.

The gunshot made Kevin jump even though he knew it was coming.

“Let’s go,” Bette said softly, her hand resting on his arm.

“One of them is coming back,” a younger soldier named Kabuto said.

“And the other one is eating that first runner. ”

Kevin looked up to see one of the infected running back. She wasn’t human anymore.

A shot rang out, then another. Then silence ruled the world again.

“Let’s go home,” Kevin said at last, wiping his tears away.

3. Home

The sparkling Christmas lights were the first thing many of the evacuees saw as the convoy crested the hill and sped down toward the fort. Despite the gloomy cold, drizzly weather, the lights seemed very bright, twinkling in the grayness of the day.

Amy’s children, huddled together in a metro bus, stared with wide, shellshocked eyes at the lights. Margie leaned over and whispered to her brother and sister, “Maybe Christmas is here. ”

To Guadalupe, the lights were a welcome sight. She broke down crying, her gnarled hand, aching with arthritis cupping her forehead. It was almost too much for the old woman to bear. Those around her reached out to lay comforting hands on her.

On one of the lead trucks, Bette sat in silence, watching the lights with sad, weary eyes. Tired to the core of her being, she just wanted to be somewhere safe and warm. Despite being a nurse, who tried to heal the sick, she had been an executioner. Yet, it made sense to quickly destroy the thing that could infect so many others. She was just so tired.

Exhausted, she rested her head back on the seat and watched the twinkling lights grow blurry through her tears.

As the gates opened to let the trucks in one at a time, the convoy fell into silence. No zombies attacked as they waited. Overhead, the helicopters hovered watchfully.

As Katie and Travis’ truck passed through into the complex, Katie broke down sobbing, her hands covering her face. Travis gently stroked her neck and back, whispering softly to her. But they both felt the emptiness that could never be replaced.

Jenni was gone.

Bruce was gone.

Kevin turned his eyes up toward the wall when his truck entered. He saw the tall, older Israeli woman watching with keen eyes. They shared a moment where their gazes touched and something unspoken passed between them. She nodded, then his truck turned into the garage and she was gone.

As the survivors began to pour into the courtyard, that was once the construction site, the citizens of the fort rushed to greet them.

There were moments of sheer joy as family members were reunited.

Friends who had not seen each other in years wept as they embraced.

The weary soldiers found themselves hugged and kissed by strangers.

The Reverend found lost members of his flock and wept as they greeted him.

Unexpected reunions filled the dreary day with cries of happiness that were mingled with tears of sadness. There was joy and there was heartbreak, but it was human and it was real.