Page 1 of Burning Love (The Lost World #5)

1

ALEX

T he compound stirred as the first light of dawn shone through the perimeter fence, which wasn’t as solid as Major Alex Bebbington would have liked.

Here we go again. How much longer can I do this?

Alex liked to take a couple of moments for herself in the mornings to collect her thoughts and prepare for another day in what she had come to understand was an increasingly unforgiving world. There was no coffee to be had for miles around. She knew this. And the reason she knew this is that she’d spent many hours looking for it over the last few weeks—time that could have perhaps been better spent. So, chicory it was. It was just about as grim as it got, but she would have to make do.

Major Bebbington would also have given her right arm for a cigarette, but she’d smoked her last one a couple of days earlier. At the ripe old age of thirty-five, she had seenmore than her fair share of chaos, especially recently, but nothing felt so harrowing as being out of tobacco.

Alex had grown up in a military family. Her upbringing had taught her the value of discipline and duty, and her father had instilled in her a sense of responsibility and obligation, but what she was currently experiencing felt like a big ask.

Would he be proud of me? Not likely. Look at the state I’m in. I’m a goddamn wreck.

The lessons her father had taught her were valuable but had come with a price. Frequent relocations all over the States and abroad meant shehad attended countless schools, never staying long enough to plant roots or make lasting friendships. Not really. Instead, she had become a real pro at adapting, at putting on a brave face while feeling the ache of loneliness in just about every fiber of her being. All she had ever craved was someone to talk to… just one person to confide in.

As a child, she had watched other kids and the way they behaved with each other. It all seemed so foreign to her. They shared secrets and supported each other during the trials of their teenage years. She’d watched as the girls in the various schools she’d attended organized sleepovers, proms, and trips to the mall. But for her, such activities had always remained just out of reach. Instead, she learned to rely on herself. And against all the odds, she had found strength in her solitude.

Her father’s voice still loomed large in her life to this day. She could hear it almost continuously, like an inner monologue. His advice, habits, and strength of character had helped shape her into a soldier. Well, a soldier of sorts.

I’m not a real soldier, though. Am I? No, not anymore. This is all total bullshit. This isn’t what being a soldier is about.

The truth was, Alex felt emotionally stranded. She knew what the life of a soldier was meant to look like. She had excelled at the military academy when making her way through the ranks but had only just made it to major when the virus struck. She didn’t ever think she’d be thrown in the deep end like this. A major? Really? The title sounded pretty impressive, of course, and she certainly possessed the qualification on paper, but she hadn’t had real-life experience in the role. And anyway… Was there even an Army these days? Did the Army actually still exist?

Dressed in her standard-issue cargo pants and a faded shirt, Alex laced up her combat boots, her fingers working automatically as she continued to ponder her predicament. The leather was cracked from so much walking over the last month or so, but itstill held the familiar shape of her foot. They were comfortable. They made her feel safe and somewhat in control.

“Major! You’re up early! How are you?”

The deep, guttural voice interrupted her focus. She turned to see Dorian Tromer, one of the newer members of the group. He had an uncertain expression on his face, and his brows furrowed slightly as if whatever he was about to say was on the tip of his tongue. The uniform she had found for him was a little on the large side, and his rifle lay slung low against his side. Alex studied him with interest, noting the nervousness in his stance.

What’s his deal? What’s the problem now?

She could tell that Dorian was eager to impress her but was still finding his place in this new world.

“How am I? As well as can be expected, I guess, Dorian. And being up early means more time to prepare, right?” she replied, her tone clipped but not unkind. “You know the drill, Tromer. How many years were you in service?”

“Right, of course. What are we p-p-preparing for again? What’s the p-plan?” he stammered, attempting a smile that fell short. “I’ll get right on it.”

“Tromer? Where were you stationed again?”

“I was never stationed anywhere, sir. Ma’am, I mean. I’m not Army. I never was. You told me you wanted me to be a, uh… like a, um… a guard? Um… because… well?—”

“Because you’re young and fit? Well, fit-ish. That’s right, Tromer. You’re a guard now. I forgot. You haven’t been here all that long. It’s hard to keep up.”

“Yep. I, uh…”

“Listen up, Tromer. It’s no biggie, okay? You got this. I spent years in military school. Years! Hell, it feels like I’ve been in the Army my entire life. I’ve got all the credentials, but I’d only just made the grade when… when it happened. I’m not a real major, okay? At least, I don’t feel like one. I’m just all we’ve got right now. This isn’t the Army. I don’t know what it is. But don’t sweat it. Let’s take things a day at a time.”

“You’re not in the Army? What do you mean? We’re on an Army base, right? Of course, it’s the Army, isn’t it? You’re Major Beb?—”

“No. There’s nobody in charge. I have no superiors. I don’t know where they are. No commands are coming through. Communications aredown and have been for weeks. Fuck knows what’s going on. It’s just me and Major Miller. So, yes, I guess we’re in charge now. But don’t look so worried. You’re a guard now. You’re armed. Just go with it.”

“Yes, Si—Ma’am.”

“Is there something else you wanted to say, Tromer?”

“I, uh… I can’t remember. Um… Oh, yes! Sergeant Henry said he wants to see you.”

“Thank you,” she waved him off with a hint of amusement as he hurried away. As she made her way across the compound, the distant clanging of metal gates and the buzzing of the generators were already bringing on a migraine. Life had been so comfortable back at the barracks in Atlanta. But this? Growing up, the army housing had always been more than comfortable. But now? This was something else—afew hangars, a shoddy perimeter fence that looked like it was about to collapse, and a crappy makeshift mess hall.

What a shithole.

Once a soldier on the front lines, slowly but steadily following in her father’s footsteps and getting promoted faster than she ever thought possible, she had traded the relative safety of organized war for… What would she even call this? Community defense? Is that what it was? Were they even a community? After the virus had started to take hold, and people were dropping like flies, it took time for her to adjust and find her footing in her current role, which required not only strength but a deep understanding of human nature. And she just wasn’t sure she understood people anymore. She was supposed to be equipped to deal with whatever came her way. But she wasn’t all that sure she could deal with much at all.

As she climbed the steps to Hangar 2 with its view over the eastern fence, a strategic vantage point that allowed her to scan the surrounding landscape for potential threats, Alex took a deep breath before letting out a long sigh. From here, she could see beyond the perimeter of the army training ground—a desolate expanse dotted with abandoned vehicles and gnarly-looking trees. The view felt daunting. It always did. But at least in here she was in control. Kind of.

“Major Bebbington.” Sergeant Henry approached, his familiar grizzled features breaking into a wide grin. They had been through enough together recently to trust each other implicitly.

“Morning, Sergeant. Wow. Does it not sound odd to you? Calling ourselves sergeant and major like this? I can’t get used to it. It sounds weird, right?”

“I know, but it makes people feel safe. We need to maintain some sense of hierarchy. So, that’s what we’re doing. You were a major. I was a sergeant. And that’s all there is to it. We’re it, kid.”

“I hate being it. Anything to report?” Alex asked, studying the horizon for any unusual movements.

“Nah. We’ve had a quiet night,” Henry said as he folded his arms across his chest. “There were a couple of deadies we had to take care of, but I’m only talking a couple. Four, tops. Some of the kids in Hangar 4 are getting restless. Bored. Hungry. Agitated. We might need to think about organizing some training drills. What do you think? I reckon it might be a good way to keep morale up?”

His suggestion made Alex feel momentarily hopeful—something she hadn’t felt in some time. Training the younger residents would maybe create the sense of community and purpose that was missing from the compound. “I think that’s an amazing idea, Henry. Where do you come up with them? Hell, I’ve been so depressed recentlyI haven’t been able to think straight. But you’re so right. We should set something up this week. What day is it again? Not that it matters, but I’d like to know what day it is. I want to help you to coordinate it. Yes, Henry! Let’s train these youngsters to defend themselves. I’m sick of popping zombies.”

“Get out of here! I’ll never get sick of popping zombies,” Henry laughed as he gave Alex a wink.

As they continued to speak, Alex’s mind flickered back to her days in the military academy. The rigid structure, the enforced hardship, and the knowledge that everyone had each other’s backs were what she missed more than anything. Those memories were bittersweet now, tainted by the isolation that had come to define her life post-virus. She had witnessed the collapse of society firsthandandwatched as the military struggled to contain the chaos. Well, struggled wasn’t exactly the word. They failed. Miserably.

Now, what was left of her colleagues had banded together to keep control of the compound and to save as many survivors as they could. But things were hanging by a thread.

“How are the supplies looking?” she asked, changing the subject and snapping back to the present. “I noticed that we were running low on canned veggies and fruit. We need to head out and stock up. Who can we send? We’ll all end up with scurvy at this rate.”

“Miller is heading out. I’ve got a couple of guys who’ve been helping me out on the allotment who’d be happy to follow him on a mission—three or four young, healthy fellas. So, we’ll see to it. You can leave it with us, Major,” Henry replied, his respect for her palpable.

As she opened the door and walked into the hangar, Alex sensed the weight of her responsibility settling on her shoulders. And it felt heavy. The compound had become a refuge, and people were arriving by the day, but they didn’t have what they needed to make the place run as smoothly as Alex would have liked. Their supplies and equipment were sorely lacking and as far as Alex could see, there was no end in sight to this crisis. Refugees would continue to come, as would the dead—or undead or whatever they were. It was possible, just maybe, that they could make something of this place—a community, but Alex had her doubts. It would be no easy task.

The clamor of morning began to swell as groups of people started to emerge from their makeshift shelters. The faint smell of burning wood mixed with the aroma of that godawful chicory people were insisting on calling coffee filled the air, reminding her of home, of simpler times spent around dinner tables, laughing and sharing stories with her family. Those memories felt far away, replaced now by the pressing reality of survival.

“Major Bebbington!” Alex jumped with fright as one of the older women, Laura, who had been settled in the compound for just over a week,rushed over, her face flushed with what was clearly panic.

“What is it?” Alex asked, her heart rate quickening. She was bracing herself for yet another emergency, for they’d been coming in thick and fast over the last few days.

“There’s an injured man at the main gate. He’s saying something about being attacked. There’s blood everywhere. We need you to come and look at him,” Laura said, her voice shaky but insistent.

“Sure. Give me a sec, and I’ll find my medical bag,” Alex replied, shifting her focus to the task at hand. As they hurried to the entrance, a pang of protectiveness swelled within her. Every person mattered here. Every life was precious. This was a living hell, but she could make a difference if she put her best foot forward.

They reached the gate, where a group had gathered around a man slumped against the wall, his face pale and gaunt. Alex knelt beside him and assessed his condition. His clothes were filthy, blood seeping through the fabric at his side.

“Get him inside,” Alex ordered. “What’s your name?” she asked the man, trying her best not to bark in too commanding a voice.

“Marco,” he gasped. Alex noted his pain. It was etched in deep lines across his brow. “I came from… I don’t know… about ten miles south. Near Lake Trent. They took everything I had. I just thought I’d maybe find help here. They killed my buddies. Humans. Humans did this to me. Not, you know, them .”

Alex felt almost sick to witness the desperation in his eyes. The world was clearly growing more brutal by the day if people were prepared to turn on each other like this. “You’re safe for now,” she assured him as she met his gaze. “We’ll do what we can to take care of you, okay?”

As Laura helped Marco to his feet, Alex saw that a small group of onlookers had gathered around to watch what was going on. These people had all lost so much already, and every time someone new arrived, the fear of dwindling resources increased.

“Let’s just calm it, everyone. There’s plenty to do around here,” she called out, her voice echoing with authority. “We need to keep working. Come on. Leave it to Laura and me to get this man stabilized. We can deal. Go find something to do.”

Once the crowd began to disperse, Alex took a moment to collect her thoughts.

Maybe we need to establish a schedule and lay down some ground rules. These people are panicked… lost…

Her mind raced with the implications of Marco’s arrival. Would he bring trouble? It was so hard to tell, and she’d been fooled more than once over recent weeks. She used to think of herself as a great judge of character, but these days, it was a dog-eat-dog world out there, and her radar was way off. The question of how to make things work better at the compound lingered as she made her way back to Hangar 2 to find some medical supplies.

As she began to sift through the handwritten supplies list to see what she could afford to give Laura to start work on Marco, memories of her career, of the friendships she’d forged, and of the losses she’d endured flooded her mind. These experiences were now a part of her, a mosaic of ups and downs that defined who she had become—a leader, sure, but a leader with an instinct to be a lone she-wolf.

Should I get out of here? Do this on my own? I’d make it. I know I would.

Just then, the sound of laughter interrupted her thought process. A group of children raced past the dirty window, their voices bright and almost happy-sounding. She felt a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She couldn’t leave them. They were so young, so innocent. Their futures actually meant something to her. She had the skills and experience to turn this place around. Abandoning them to their fate would be an act of cruelty, and she knew she couldn’t do it.

The children chased each other around a couple of empty crates, the sunlight catching the glint of their eyes. Alex felt a warmth spread through her abdomen. Despite everything that had happened to them, these kids had somehow found a way to have fun, to entertain themselves, to forget what was really happening out there beyond the compound gates. Maybe she could learn something from them? Sure, she wouldn’t be able to ignore the threat of the world outside—but she could certainly learn to deal with it a whole lot better.

Major Alex Bebbington had a mission. And her mission was clear enough: to keep the compound safe, protect those unable to defend themselves, and find a way forward through this crisis.

She took a deep breath. She had to remember that she was supposed to be trained for events like these. But no, that wasn’t true. Nobody could have foreseen an event like this one. She gathered some bandages and antiseptic lotion, hoping it would be enough, and shoved them into a cloth bag. She then stepped outside, feeling the cool air against her skin. The sensation helped calm her.

“Major, over here!” called Henry, waving her over to the makeshift supply tent. “We need to discuss the supplies.”

“Really? Right now? I need to get this stuff to Laura.”

“Major, I’m sorry, but we’ve got more problems than we thought,” Henry said as he made his way toward her with giant strides and a concerned look in his eyes. “We’re really running short on stuff. Not just fruit and veggies. I’m talking abouteverything. I’m wondering if someone’s been stealing it. It’s bad. I’m going to send out that scouting team today.”

“Agreed,” Alex said, her mind already churning with the possibilities of who might be stealing. Who had access to the food? Everyone, she guessed. It was just another example of how disorganized things were and how they needed to get their act together if they were going to survive. “Do you know who you’re taking? Have you got water, bags, maps, and flashlightsready to go? We can’t afford to wait.”

As they quickly discussed logistics, her resolve grew. She knew she could not falter. She was going to have to build this community from the ground up. What other option did she have?

Later that day, once Marco had been stabilized, Alex gathered as many residents as she could in the mess hall. It was time to address them, to remind them of their purpose and the strength they could possess if they chose to work together.

“Listen up, everyone!” she called, her voice cutting through the chatter. “It’s been a tough day. We have a new resident, Marco, who came to us this morning. He’s stable, warm, hydrated… and we expect him to make a full recovery. He got lucky. But it’s one more mouth to feed, right? We don’t all get together like this often, but with more and more people arriving, we’re going to need to have regular meetings. None of us has got much left. We’re spent. I get that. We’re all grieving. We’ve lost loved ones. It’s been nothing short of a nightmare. But we’re stronger than any threat out there, and I need you all to believe that.”

As she spoke, she watched their faces transform. Not everyone’s, but the majority. Their uncertainty faded as they nodded their heads in agreement.

“We’re all fighting for the same thing. So, I want us all here, in this hall, every Monday at seventeen hundred hours. Sorry, five o’clock, okay?”

She watched on as a crowd of worn-out faces nodded softly.

After the meeting, Alex decided to run around the compound’s training ground. Above her, glittering in shades of purple and pink, twilight made its way across the sky. She could hear the faint echoes of chatter coming from the hangars, a reminder of the lives that she and her colleagues were now responsible for.

But the quietness of the outside world sent a chill down her spine. Her thoughts turned to Miller and the scouting group. She hoped that they would find food, but more importantly, she prayed that they would make it back unscathed.