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Chapter Two
We sleptin shifts of two hours. My first shift wasn’t pleasant. The infected carried pigs through the barn and out the back. I didn’t know what that meant, other than they’d noticed the hallway leading down to the bunker. One of the smarter infected stationed a few of the slower, new ones there. Before it left, though, it studied the door and tried the latch. It was locked tight, but I didn’t like that the infected knew to try it. Or the way it had looked around afterward. I’d nearly peed myself when it angled its head up and gazed straight at the camera.
Adam cursed a blue streak after I woke him for his shift and told him what I’d observed. Then he’d kissed my forehead and told me to sleep.
My second shift wasn’t as bad as the first. The infected had settled down, hiding in various spots in the main area of the barn. If they were waiting for us to emerge, they were going to be sorely disappointed. The cattle were our future, but we weren’t dumb enough to sacrifice ourselves for them. We had the supplies necessary to hole up in the bunker and wait them out for months if needed.
They’d get bored and wander away.
However, when Adam woke me up at first light, he was still determined to leave.
“I’ll clear them out then come back for you.”
“That isn’t going to work,” I said, watching the monitors with him. “There are four right outside the door. Three in the silo. Seven just standing in the middle aisle of the barn, and who knows how many out back or in the yard.”
“They were carrying pigs out there, June. Why? And the horses. My gut’s telling me this isn’t something we can wait out. You said one of them looked right at the camera. The one in the blue coat came back in and looked at each of the cameras during my shift. Then, they slowly killed more cows right where I’d see them. They’re too smart. We need to go.”
“How? If you go out there, you’ll die, and I’ll be alone. Our chance of surviving improves if I go with you.” But we both knew he didn’t want that any more than I wanted him to go without me. “There’s two of us and more than a dozen of them. We need help, Adam.”
“From who?”
We both looked at the radio. The static crackled like it always did, but we knew there were people out there, listening. Good and bad people.
“Your plan is just as dangerous, June.”
“Is it? We know what those dogs with the glowing red eyes can do. That’s why you wanted to leave at first light, right?”
With a sigh, he turned to check frequencies.
“I’ll make us something light to eat.”
He nodded, and I went to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, I was scooping the oatmeal into bowls when the static disappeared.
“End message.”
The words filled the bunker, followed by Adam shouting my name.
“Begin message.”
Grabbing the bowls, I hurried down the hall as I listened.
“This message needs to make it to the east coast. I repeat, this message needs to make it to the east coast. I’m broadcasting this message on all frequencies for twenty-four hours. The western barrier has been compromised. I repeat, the western barrier has been compromised. I’m relaying the message word for word as it was broadcast. End message.”
Adam’s shocked expression met mine as only silence came from the radio. Then, the man started talking again.
“Is it a recording?” I asked.
Adam spun in his chair, waited for the break, then responded.
“We hear you. What’s the western barrier?”
We waited, both of us barely breathing.
“I don’t know,” the man said. “I was told to pass it on by someone else who didn’t know. Honestly, I’m just doing it because I thought I was alone until I heard the message. We’re not the last ones. At least, not yet. And before you ask…no, I’m not telling you where I am. Stay safe and pass the message on. You’re the only one who’s answered on this frequency.”
“Has anyone answered on any of the others?”
“Two. They didn’t give locations, and I didn’t ask. Make sure you do the same if anyone answers you.”
