Page 5 of Marked for Execution

I made my way toward the vehicles and caught the kid in my periphery, following me with a few others.Shit, is he on my team?

Samuel, the asshole, laughed and walked toward one of the other teams. I’d get that fucker when we got back.

Gunner started the first jeep while Reed grabbed the only Humvee we had. Looking at the crew cab truck, I wondered if I should just chuck the kid with Reed for more protection. I unlocked the driver’s side door, rolled my shoulders, and turned to address my group.

“Team A, get your asses in the truck so I can do a headcount!”

A few people followed Samuel with the kid a few paces behind. Seems they made teams of seven. I counted the heads around me and spotted Reed with the other team of seven.

“Alright, are we all strapped up? What kind of weapons are you all carrying?” I asked.

“Everyone’s got at least a pistol on them. I’m strapped with a few extra knives,” Samuel supplied.

At least a pistol…this would be bad.

“Anyone with a quiet, long-range weapon? Silencers? Anything at all?” I looked over the men to see how they would fare in hand-to-hand combat.

The kid cleared his throat but didn't say anything. His baseball cap was tilted down, hiding his face.Damn, let’s just get this outing over with.

“Alright, everyone in the car.”

Samuel snickered again, and I slapped him upside the head. He flinched and scowled at me.It was his fault I got this group. What the hell kind of division was that?He couldn’t get me anyone reliable at all.

“Damn, Eliseo, don’t be such an ass. You still have me.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better whatsoever.” I was lying; it did, but he didn’t need to know that.

The other two teams had already left the garage and headed toward the gates. Once the last man got in and shut the door, I pulled out after them, thinking over all our strategies to make sure we make it back alive.

Let’s hope we don’t run into any other bands of anything.I really didn’t feel like saving another group of humans if I was honest. My mood soured as I thought of the group that’s with me now.

I opened the window, leaned my elbow out, and rubbed my head.

The air already felt different on the other side of the gates. The sound of the wall as it shut us out was ominous as we drove down the desolate streets right outside the community. Rusted out abandoned vehicles littered our view as we slowly made our way toward our destination. This outing would lead us a third of the way north towards the Clan Shaye’s territory.

Looking at the rearview mirror, I cataloged what we wore. It would only get colder up there, but it wouldn't be freezing just yet. The north was known for their ice and winters, but we’d be far enough away.

Gunner drove off the road on the next right and led us towards the last town we’d ransacked. When we crossed into the town’s limits, it still looked desolate and rundown. Windows were shattered and some buildings had been decimated.

My eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Samuel, when was the last time we came this way?”

Samuel looked around and answered me with his face toward the passenger side window. “Two months.”

“The corner store. That’s new,” I pointed out.

Samuel turned his head to look at the location I indicated. “Yeah. That wasn’t there before.”

He grabbed the radio and it crackled. “Keep your eyes peeled. Looks like recent activity.”

“Roger that,” Gunner’s voice came over clear.

An hour on the road, and the scenery went from city buildings to large areas of farmland. There hasn’t been a time I remembered it looking like anything else. I kept eyes peeled on our surroundings as my mind wondered if the world was ever a better place before my existence.Were vampires always here, or did something happen to bring us to this point?

That was a question for old Otis back at home base. That crazy doctor probably knew something. He gave me the creeps most days, but he was all we had.

The truck went over a bump and suddenly we were back on an actual road. Dirt kicked up behind us, sending dust into the air that clouded our rear view. It made me antsy, but I didn't show it. Once it settled, so did my nerves.

Something broke through the side of the building back in the previous town. A fight of some sort–but what creates that much power?