Tainted Reality (The Rememdium Series Book 2) Read online

  The two men froze. Lt. Pack stood next to the seated sergeant, his hulking frame crammed inside an ill-fitting uniform stained with blood. Two rifles sat on the counter out of reach, a Beretta M9 rested snugly on both of their hips.

  Sizing his quarry up, Walt guessed the lieutenant at around 6’2”. With the solid build of a linebacker, a harsh face with a square jawline and dark brown, unreadable eyes, Lt. Pack was a formidable opponent. Maybe forty, judging by the deep lines on his forehead and around his orbital bones. From his periphery, he could see the sergeant was smaller yet lean. Maybe thirty, tops.

  Walt saw Reed and Lamar to his right. They moved past them and stood at the entryway to the cafeteria. Walt gave a slight nod and the two disappeared through the doors.

  The lieutenant’s gaze never left Walt’s. With slow, calculated movements, Lt. Pack raised his arms in compliance with the order. The sergeant next to him was young, scared, and stupid. Like a fool, he reached for his weapon. His arm moved less than two inches before Martha rammed the butt of her rifle into his wimpy face, knocking the bastard off of his perch.

  “That wasn’t necessary. He was just doing his—”

  “Shut up, lieutenant. I ain’t got no time for givin’ orders twice. Here’s a new set: help your buddy to his feet and let’s take this out back. No tricks or sudden movements or we will shoot. Got it?”

  The hatred behind the soldier’s eyes was almost palpable. Walt couldn’t help himself and let out a wide grin. After the smack down of the sergeant, Martha and Turner backed up and moved to the door, opening it wide. The lieutenant finished giving Walt the evil eye, bent down, and yanked the other man to his feet. In seconds, they were back out in the bright daylight.

  Allsop and Bailey were ready. They came up behind the men and cuffed them.

  “Local militia. I knew it. Been begging for years for the higher-ups to wipe you all out. Now, when the world crashes around us, all you bastards swoop in and try to take control when you have no idea what’s really going on!”

  Walt’s right arm shot out and connected with the bulbous nose of the lieutenant. The force of the punch knocked the big man to his knees. “That’s for not keepin’ your hole shut and for givin’ the order to kill innocent people. Fuckin’ pussy! You’re supposed to be helpin’ your fellow man, not killin’ them!”

  “That’s enough! We don’t have time to see who has the bigger dick between the two of you,” Martha said. “Lt. Pack, are you still in communication with HQ?”

  Lt. Pack spit out a mouthful of blood in Walt’s direction. The heavy dollop landed next to his boot. “Like I’m really going to answer that honestly.”

  To Walt’s surprise, Martha stuck the tip of the rifle to the lieutenant’s temple. “There’s a bullet in here with your name on it. If you want it to remain in the barrel and not rip through your head, you’ll comply.”

  “Fuck you,” Lt. Pack grumbled.

  Walt saw anger flash in Martha’s vibrant blue eyes. The electrical current in the air shifted and he knew Martha was about to make good on her word. “Hold up there, honey. Geez, you’re just as antsy as Chief Parker. Let’s see what happens with this,” Walt said. He snatched the radio from Lt. Pack’s waist.

  Before Walt had a chance to test his theory out, Lamar and Reed joined them. In front of them stood a soldier who looked like he was about to piss himself or faint. Walt made a mental bet that a wet stain would appear on the front of his fatigues right before he passed out.

  “Let’s get you tied up real nice so you can join your fellow killers,” Lamar said. From his side pocket, he extracted a short length of nylon rope. In a flash, the third hostage was bound.

  “What’s your call sign, boy?” Walt asked the soldier Martha clocked earlier.

  A pair of defiant green eyes already beginning to swell from the impact of the rifle stared up at Martha. For emphasis, she raised her weapon butt first above her head. “I’ll give you to three, and I’ve already ticked off one and two,” Martha urged.

  “Don’t you say a word!” Lt. Pack yelled.

  Shifting his gaze between the lieutenant and Martha, the boy’s defiance dimmed, replaced by dejection. “Contain 2 Actual. Won’t do you a bit of good, though. Ain’t nobody answerin’ on the other end. Been silent for the past ten minutes.”

  Walt ignored him and pressed the button. “Contain 2 Actual to base.”

  The sounds of static filled the back parking lot. Walt tried three more times, each with the same results.

  “I told you. We’re on our own,” the sergeant muttered.

  “Then there ain’t nobody to miss you,” Walt said. He glanced around and noticed a small area to his right used to store garbage. It was surrounded by a ten-foot chain link fence to keep foraging animals out. The only way in or out was from a door off of the kitchen. Motioning toward the area, Walt addressed the group. “Let’s get them secured in there and get to work. Got a lot of people to rescue.”

  “We can help you know,” Lt. Pack said.

  “Pft! You’ve been so helpful already,” Martha grumbled.

  “I’m serious. You don’t really think we were going to just kill those poor people and leave, do you?”

  Turner stepped forward, the barrel of his rifle inches from Lt. Pack’s head. “Right up until the end government puppets still lie! Move!”

  Walt grinned, proud of his boy for finally seeing the light, yet saddened it took him so long.

  ADVENTURES AT WALMART - Saturday - December 20th – 10:25 a.m.

  Regina Parker was shaking by the time she pulled into the parking lot. Squinting through the bloodied windshield, she silently cursed the fools who’d prepped the Humvee. The first dead corpse she hit after leaving the jail left brain matter and other chunks of gore stuck to the glass. Someone neglected to check the windshield washer fluid levels.

  Then again, who had time to address such a minute task when people were turning into undead cannibals?

  Susie cried the entire, four-minute drive, and no amount of comfort offered by Jesse seemed to help. Regina remained silent, using all her concentration on navigating the clogged roads full of stalled vehicles and the dead. However, the minute the familiar location appeared, the girl’s tears dried up. Regina almost laughed at the absurdity.

  Welcome to Walmart. Get in and hunker down as the world ends! That should be their new motto.

  Regina scanned the area. Very few cars were parked in the spots. Even without all the crazy shit happening, it would still be eerie to see the vast expanse of blacktop so empty. The only other time she’d seen so many available spaces was after the building suffered major damage from an F-3 tornado in 2003.

  “Mom?”

  “Yes?”

  Jesse leaned forward and peered out the window. “I think we’ll need to use the back bay door in automotive.”

  Regina slowed the Humvee down to a crawl. Following Jesse’s gaze, she honed in on the glass doors. Inside the first set were countless bodies in various states of dismemberment. A throng of at least fifteen creatures gathered around the pile, ripping and chomping their way through the bloody mess.

  Susie screamed.

  Regina’s heart skipped two beats when the ghoulish diners turned their attention to the noise. “Hush, Susie!” Regina whispered.

  Jesse climbed into the backseat and cradled the terrified girl in her arms, trying to quell her fears. The gesture didn’t work. Susie continued to scream at the top of her voice until Jesse clamped her hand over the girl’s mouth.

  Regina tromped on the gas pedal and jerked the wheel. Zigzagging through the parking lot, she headed for the back of the store.

  “Hurry, Mom! Look! Only one bay door is open!”

  Seconds later, Regina pulled into the spot, thankful all the other doors were shut and no one was inside. She jumped out of the Humvee and whispered, “Stay put.”

  In a few steps, she was at the bay door. As she grabbed the latch to pull the roll-up metal door down, Regina felt a
cold shiver race up her spine. The sounds of feet running and the disgusting, mewling grumbles grew louder. Refusing to look and see how close the horde was, Regina focused all her attention on securing the bay door. The second it was shut, she stole a peek through the small, dirty window. Her mouth went dry when she saw the mob of dead less than twenty feet from the door.

  Spinning around, Regina eyed all the remaining doors. Though closed, they weren’t locked. She took off, head pounding and heart racing, until all the metal doors were sealed tight. While jogging back to the Humvee, the weird mixture of Jesse cooing gibberish to Susie and the primal gurgling of the dead made her head swim.

  Yanking the side door open, Regina latched onto Susie’s trembling arm. In a low voice, she whispered, “Susie? Susie! Look at me. Stop cryin’, we’re safe. I know this is terrifyin’, and believe me, I’m scared just like you. Now isn’t the time to fall apart. We’ve got to get inside and make sure others who are just as frightened have a safe place to go. Okay?”

  Susie clamped her eyes shut, her frail body shaking. Regina felt the tension in her muscles, the racing pulse. At the same time Susie’s eyes opened, so did her mouth, gulping in a huge intake of air.

  Regina knew what was coming next. She’d witnessed panic attacks happen to Jesse hundreds of times throughout the years. Over the din of the clanging, grunting monsters pounding on the metal doors, and the fear of any inside the building within hearing distance, Regina had no choice. She balled up her fist and caught Susie right under the chin, knocking her unconscious.

  “Glad you never did that to me when I freaked out,” Jesse muttered.

  “Always the comedienne. Stay here with her until I secure the waitin’ area inside.”

  Jesse’s eyes were wide and full of fear, her pale cheeks tinged in red. She nodded once and moved closer to Susie’s limp body, adjusting her head to a comfortable position against the backrest.

  Shutting the door after retrieving the rifle from the passenger seat, Regina mouthed I love you to Jesse then locked the doors. She had to force herself to calm down and control her labored breathing. Blood from the cut on her head skimmed the edge of her eye, making it burn. Blinking to refocus, she stepped over to the door leading inside and peered through the glass.

  Nothing but automotive equipment, an empty register, and spilled coffee in the waiting area.

  Thank God!

  Stepping inside, Regina swept the area, making sure nothing was hiding in the shadows. The sounds from outside were muffled, and new ones caught her attention. The distinct noise of someone sobbing emanated from further inside the store. Assuming the noise was from terrified shoppers, Regina tuned it out. The obnoxious Christmas music over the loudspeakers blared. She honed in on the noise closest to her.

  Light breathing, and the faintest recitation of The Lord’s Prayer.

  Edging past the counter, she peered over. Crumpled into a tight ball, back pressed against the wall leading to the automotive bay, sat a frightened older woman. Dressed in the traditional blue vest worn by all employees, mounds of thick, gray hair stuck up in all directions, her face buried in wrinkled hands.

  Moving closer, Regina stopped when she was about five feet away and whispered, “Ma’am, it’s okay. Shhh, be quiet now. I’m a cop and I’m here to help.”

  For a few seconds, Regina wondered if the elderly woman heard the words. Finally, the lady raised her tear-stained face from her hands. Her terror switched over to relief and she asked, “Chief Parker?”

  Regina forced herself not to gasp. “Mrs. Singleton?”

  “Oh, thank the Lord above!”

  Regina squatted down while motioning for Mrs. Singleton to be quiet. “Where’s the button to release the gate?”

  Mrs. Singleton pointed behind Regina to the right. Without a word, Regina stood and stepped over to the other side of the counter and pushed the button. The metal gate appeared from its hiding spot in the ceiling. Regina cringed at the noise and slowness of the descent. Once closed, she walked over and peeked through the slats. Seeing nothing but racks of shelves, she rushed back over to Mrs. Singleton.

  Keeping her voice low, Regina asked, “Are you injured?”

  Mrs. Singleton shook her head.

  “Good. Okay, I’m bringin’ in Jesse and another young girl named Susie. Are you up to watchin’ over her while Jesse and I secure the rest of the buildin’?”

  Still shaking and gaunt cheeks pale, Mrs. Singleton replied, “Sure thing. What’s it like out there, Chief? It’s been somethin’ straight outta the bowels of Hell itself in here. I done seen awful things worse than any nightmare or scary movie could ever imagine. Been hidin’ here and prayin’ my heart out, just waitin’ on my turn.”

  “Things are…difficult. We’re roundin’ up as many as the place can hold here. For the time bein’, until this mess gets sorted out, we’ll all be safe huddled here.”

  “What happened to them, Chief?”

  Taking a deep breath, Regina leaned closer and patted the frail woman’s hand. “I don’t have an answer to that, Mrs. Singleton. Let’s concentrate on one thing at a time, okay?”

  “Chief?”

  Regina held her breath, knowing what the question would be before even asked. A heavy sense of sorrow made her chest clench. Scanning the old woman’s features, Regina worried additional bad news would cause a heart attack or stroke. She made up her mind to answer with a bald-faced lie. “Yes?”

  “Is Roger with you?”

  Unable to look the sweet woman in the face while she lied, Regina stood and moved toward the side door. “No, he’s helpin’ rescue others, and a group of them will be here any minute. We’ll talk later once we’re all safe. Okay?”

  “Sure thing, Chief.”

  Ignoring the painful interaction, feeling like a huge ass for being so deceitful and the knowledge she killed Mrs. Singleton’s only living relative, Regina opened the door. She helped Jesse gather Susie’s limp body from the Humvee. Their movements and sounds of their footsteps on the concrete riled up the unwanted guests. Their racket from earlier hit a fevered pitch. The noise was enough to drive a crazy person sane.

  Once back inside, they deposited Susie on a cracked, well-worn couch in the waiting room. Mrs. Singleton followed them, a cup of water and a few shop towels clasped in her hands. Jingle Bell Rock thrummed from above.

  Mrs. Singleton said, “Take that door right there. It leads to the second floor. First door on the right comes out in sportin’ goods. That way, you won’t make more racket messin’ with the gate.”

  Jesse reached over and hugged the woman’s neck. “Hey, Mrs. Singleton. Sorry to see you again under such…”

  With a wave of her arm, Mrs. Singleton brushed Jesse’s hug away. “Ain’t got time for pleasantries, Jesse. I’ll tend to this here youngin’. You two get about dispatchin’ the sick. Lord, I prayed for a miracle and He delivered. He surely did. Now scoot!”

  Regina and Jesse exchanged glances, a hint of a smile danced on Jesse’s lips. Without a word, mother and daughter disappeared through the door and headed to the alternate entrance to sporting goods.

  “Grab a machete. We can’t risk shootin’ them. It’ll just draw more to the sound. Use both hands and swing with everythin’ you have toward the head. Pretend you’re carvin’ a watermelon. Don’t scream or make any noise. Can you do that?

  Jesse’s jaw clenched with anger and a hint of annoyance. “If it means makin’ this place safe for all of us—hell yeah. I come from tough stock, remember?”

  Regina let go of the doorknob and pulled Jesse into a bear hug. “If I haven’t mentioned it already today, I’ll say it again: I love you, and I’m so damned proud to call you daughter.”

  Jesse pulled back and let loose one of her trademark smirks. “Yeah, yeah. Say that again when other people are around to hear you, Mom. Let’s get this over with. I know the code to lock the front doors, so let’s make our way to customer service. I’ve gotta get upstairs and get the front doors locked befo
re those things make it inside the store.”

  Nodding, Regina opened the door and the duo stepped out. Regina in front, Jesse right behind. Glancing both ways, ensuring they were alone, they both crouched and ran toward the end of the aisle housing camping equipment. In the knives and tools section sat a freshly stocked display station full of cutlery-grade, stainless steel, molded grip machetes. Regina held in a sigh of relief they weren’t in packages. They hung from strips of leather attached to the handles. She almost laughed at the bright words emblazoned on the front reading “Perfect for use while riding horses, cars, trucks, and boats!”

  Hmm, no mention of how they’ll stand up to slicing through craniums. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

  Regina smiled when Jesse dangled a canvas backpack in front of her. With quiet movements, they each crammed the bags full of blades then put them on. On the shelf to her left, Regina noticed several cans of safety air horns. She didn’t question the reasoning for their placement. Instead, she snatched two up and motioned for Jesse to turn around.

  While stuffing them inside Jesse’s pack, Regina whispered, “I’ve got an idea. They are attracted to noise.”

  “Let’s hope they hate Christmas music,” Jesse muttered.

  “Funny girl. Is there a window facin’ the front of the store from upstairs?”

  Jesse nodded. “Yeah, but it’s really small.”

  “I’ll only need enough room to chunk these suckers out into the parkin’ lot. The noise will draw them away from the door.”

  Blades raised and footsteps quiet, they made their way through the store. The sounds of faint whimpers from before were gone. Being inside the giant space with only holiday music and not bumping into frazzled shoppers was strange. Without the ding of registers, mumbled conversations of others, or even the occasional voice announcing a sale over the loudspeakers, made walking through the place feel foreign.

  With every step, Regina swore the music grew louder. The bright, overhead fluorescent lights shined down on nothing but two scared women and the silent, unmoving stock on the shelves. A fleeting thought of whether the retail giant would ever be full of harried shoppers pushing overstuffed carts around made Regina’s heart sink.