Page 27 of Redemption (Devil Dogs of the Apocalypse #4)

I focus back on that day and what might have been different.

How I defended myself against the Infected.

How they seemed to be coming for me, but.

.. were they actually drawn to the guys in our group not dripping in blood?

The ones we protected in the middle that carried all the gear?

Now that I think of it, they weren’t covered in entrails like the rest of us.

They were clean. Untouched. Exposed. Holy shit, that must be it. Their scents overpowered ours.

Fuck, if only we’d known this earlier.

Baylor. Fitz. All those guys. We could have saved all of them.

Sliding down the wall, I take a seat on the concrete path and slam the back of my head into the brick.

Son of a fucking bitch.

Sweat drips down my forehead. I go to wipe it away but stop myself when I see my hands caked with filth, reminding me I still need to clean up, eat, and find shelter.

While I could stay in town and hope to find a building not already occupied by bloodthirsty zombies, I’ve tried my luck too many times today.

It’s just too risky. With the way they’re pouring out from the base, staying here isn’t an option anymore.

The city’s population is simply too much for me to handle.

I need to get out of here. Head for a rural area.

Fuck everything that I thought I could’ve gotten so easily.

I’ll find my provisions elsewhere. Staying alive is more important.

I just need to rest, regroup, and then make my way south.

There’s a place down there I know I can go.

My best friend owns it. If anyone could survive this shit, it’s him.

But I can’t get there when I feel like death rolled over.

After fighting for my life all fucking day, I need to rest, and I think I might know of another place that’s closer.

Abandoning the mall, I head in the direction of the country club a few miles away.

I pass the business sign and stumble onto one of the overgrown paths, almost collapsing into one of the bushes as fatigue takes over, but I force myself to continue on, knowing I’m almost there.

The golf course is huge and has a large water feature I plan to jump into as soon as I get there. Not only will it help rid myself of this rancid stench, but it’ll wake me up too.

Exhausted and dehydrated, I stagger alongside the clubhouse and, when I see the pond in the distance, pick up my pace, eager to rid myself of the infected sludge covering my body. I make it about fifteen steps onto the greens before bullets start whizzing past me.

Son of a FUCK!

Startled, I race and dive behind a tree, taking cover as they continue sending bullets at me.

“GET OFF MY LAND!” a man yells from the clubhouse, pointing a rifle at me along with a few other people, their sights set directly on me, ready to take my ass out.

Ok... at least they don’t think I’m dead, or else they wouldn’t be talking to me.

Maybe if I just explain myself, they’ll lower their weapons.

Maybe offer some shelter. A piece of food, at least. Southern hospitality is a staple in these parts.

I can only hope decent humanity hasn’t been completely lost.

I ease the top half of my body out from behind the tree, throwing an arm up and pointing in the direction I just came from.

“Hi, uh, good evening! I’m a Marine stationed on base.

.. just escaped a horde of infected people.

” I take a step toward them, lifting my outstretched palms in front of me and trying to make myself not look like a threat.

“The sun is setting, and I’ve been on the run for hours.

Do you happen to have room for one more for the night?

I swear I’ll be out of your hair in the morning. ”

The man tilts his head as he cocks his gun.

“YOU MUST BE OUTTA YOUR GODDAMN MIND IF YOU THINK I’M GOING TO LET YOU ANYWHERE NEAR MY FAMILY.

NOW, I DON’T GIVE A FLYING FUCK IF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, WAS RIGHT BEHIND YOU AND ASKED FOR ROOM AT THE INN!

YOU BEST GET OFF MY LAND BEFORE I GIVE YOU ANOTHER USELESS HOLE TO JABBER OUT OF! ”

I must not move fast enough, because they don’t wait for me to react.

They just start shooting again.

Fuck. This. Shit.

Knowing they’re not going to stop until I leave, I turn as fast as I can and race in the opposite direction towards the golf course.

Barely a second later, an agonizing jolt of pain hits the back of my thigh, forcing me to fall to the ground.

Bullets hit left and right, but my adrenaline spikes for what must be the eightieth time today, and I force myself to get back up and run.

Fucking assholes. Tried to ask for sanctuary. Got a bullet instead.

An hour later, I manage to limp up to a decrepit cabin deep in the woods, barely making it past the doorway just as the sun begins to set. Thankfully, the one room building is empty. I don’t think I have the energy to fend off anyone else today, dead or alive.

But, looking at the state of my leg, I really could use someone else’s assistance right about now.

The bullet went in, but it didn’t come out.

And I don’t have the tools, let alone the willpower, to dig the fucker out.

A cold sweat covers my brow as I lean back against the wall, the wound still slowly bleeding out all over the floor.

I tear a piece of my t-shirt and make a makeshift bandage out of it, binding the damage and containing as much of the blood as I can, but, within seconds, it’s covered the cotton fabric and is dripping through.

“Well, Baylor... I tried.” I gasp out, knowing I’m absolutely fucked now.

At least I can die here in peace rather than get eaten or turn into one of those things.

Resigned to my fate, I settle in, gritting my teeth as I fill my mind with the one thing in this world that means more to me than anything else.

Mi Alma.

A harsh breath exits my lungs, but I smile as I think of her. Alive and beautiful. Far away from this bullshit.

If only I had one more chance...

A moment later, as if the miracle was just waiting for me, the front door swings open. Three men enter like they own the place and, instead of ending my suffering right then and there, take me in and give me the shelter and protection I’d been searching for all along.

∞∞∞

Present day...

Silence surrounds us as my story comes to an end. Or at least, the first part of it has. It’s far from everything that happened, and I left out a few of the names and some of the more... detailed bits of information in my retelling for simplicity’s sake, but it’s enough for now.

My past lingers in the silence between us while my hands clench into fists at my sides. Reliving that time is something I never wanted to do, the loss still fresh even after a year had gone by. All those guys. All those faces I was put in charge of... gone. And I can’t help but blame myself.

Alessandra’s been eerily still the entire time I recounted what went down last year. Not even the quiet nudges from her dog have captured her attention away from my story. And it was the truth. Every terrifying, heartbreaking moment.

And now she knows.

“Dare...” she whispers shakily to me. I can hear the heartbreak and pity emanating from her voice, and it’s enough to break me if I let it.

She stands for the first time in what seems like hours and takes a step towards me.

While all I’ve wanted to do since I found her, alive and within reach, is hold her in my arms, I shake my head stiffly in return, stopping her open show of sympathy in its tracks as I force myself to breathe through the memories.

I’m a powder keg ready to blow, but her soft voice helps tame the bitter emotions, dousing my traumatic response a little when she disobeys and steps closer, taking my hand in hers.

She doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t announce her condolences or offer to tell her story. She just sits with me and lets my story linger in the silence.

I haven’t told my version of the invasion to anyone.

At least, not in its entirety. No one else knew of the men I fought beside; their names, lost to history.

But now that I was able to talk of what happened, to say their names again and what they did all those months ago, it feels as if a weight has been lifted.

The heavy loss I had been harboring for months now suddenly feels lighter as I’m able to finally honor my brothers in a way they should be—to have their stories told, and to have them heard by a captivated audience who actually cares.

I’m reminded, once again, as I sit next to the woman I’ve always loved, just how amazing she is. As I turn to her to say as much, she smiles softly, tears in her eyes as she stops me with a pat to the hand she’s holding and a knowing nod.

This woman.

Without a doubt, it was Alessandra who helped me outlast the invasion.

The love I have for her and the promise I made to Baylor and myself to find her kept me alive.

The same love that, unfortunately, will have to remain within me for the rest of my life. Because tomorrow, we set out to reunite her with the rest of her group. And afterward? I don’t know where I’ll go, to be honest.

I survived to be with her.

But she’s living for them now.

A resigned sigh breaks through my lips at the thought. But I’ll save that problem for another day. Because tonight? She’s with me. And I don’t want to take the short amount of time I have with her to relive the past. I’d rather make the girl of my dreams smile. At least one last time.

I stand with a groan, placing my hands on my hips. “I think this calls for a good old-fashioned dose of chocolate. What do you think?”

Her eyes widen, lips stretching into an eager grin. Just as I’d hoped. “Wait... you have chocolate?”

“Of course. Who do you think I am?”

A mirroring smirk stretches upon my face, happy and content to learn not everything has changed since I left all those years ago and that her perpetual love for sugar is still rampant.

I reach for my pack and pull out two of her favorites.

The ones I make sure to stow away every time I find one when I’m out and about.

Not only because they’re delicious.

But because they remind me of her.

And I like to keep her with me.

Forever and always.