DEAD FACTIONS - the Zombie War Narratives - a Novella by Michael Carr Page A

intuition tells him to go east because any oncoming attackers would want to have the light to their backs. Still impressed with his sudden ability to process information quickly, he turns around to walk forward. "Damn it!”
    With celebration of his new talent comes another lesson, he must act quickly after a decision has been reached. He was right...he walks right into a pack of infected soldiers waiting to be called in. Corey looks at the armband placed by Dr. Richards, remembering what he instructed about finding yourself against the odds.
    Tonya begins to worry. She leaps off the tank and runs to the jeep, “Corey has been gone for awhile…I really think we should go check on him.”
    Patrick seems uncertain, “He told me to stay here and watch you guys' backs.”
    Tonya’s concern turns to frustration. “If Corey isn't here and I go after him...whose back are you going to be watching? You really are a jock aren't you Patrick? BOTH OF YOU! GET IN THE FRICKIN’ JEEP!” They pull away headed off in Corey’s direction.
    Shortly, they pull up to see Corey, standing with his arms spread out holding his drill. He stands looking down at several zombie soldiers he had just annihilated.
    Tonya stops the jeep and runs to Corey, “Are you OK?”
    Corey with a blood-splattered face looks at Tonya echoing the reply the last time he had been asked, “I’m always OK.”
    Tonya says, “Impressive kill, Corey, but WE are not going to be ok if we don’t get some damn gas!”
    In the jeep, Patrick looks out of the corner of his eye at the Doctor. He has noticed that Richards has been very receptive and put up little resistance lately, but now he just seems creepy. He notices the Doctor looking ahead and sneering. Patrick shoves the gun into the Doctor’s side, “What are YOU smiling at?!”
    Richards continues to stare ahead with a look of satisfaction. “Can't a person be happy that another has been successful? Corey is amazing, isn't he?”
    Patrick's face curls and replies like a typical teenager, “Dude! Are you being weird right now?”
    Richards' smirk becomes larger, “No you Neanderthal! His abilities are desirable.  You must admit, he is impressive!”
    Patrick is confused, but he is more certain now than ever…the doc is nuts!
    Patrick moves further away from the Doctor as Tonya and Corey return to the jeep. They climb inside and make their way back to camp. On the way back, Tonya realizes her fondness for Corey has grown. She has never felt love for another, not in the way one feels for a boyfriend. Sadly, as a child Tonya only held Arnie (her stuffed toy cat) for emotional support since adult hugs were rare. Arnie was a small symbol of normalcy for Tonya…no matter how dysfunctional normalcy was for her before the infection.
    Tonya's thoughts rapidly disappear to the sound of gunfire. The four return to the battle between the survivors and the attacking zombie pack. “Let’s show them how it's done! Drop me off here! Since I eliminated their sneak attack, we will do one of our own. Andrew’s group has them from the front; we will hit them from the sides. Tonya, circle around the back of the city and park on the other side of this street across from me. Once there I will signal you when to move.”
    Tonya, with a blank stare, “Corey!  Gas…!”
    Not waiting for the jeep to stop completely, Corey jumps out yelling, “GO! GO! GO!”
    “DAMN IT!” Tonya immediately heads around the back of the city as Corey directed, eyes plastered to the fuel gauge. 
    She reaches her post on fumes and the gas needle well below “E”…“MEN! They NEVER listen!” She jumps from the jeep grabbing her handguns, “Patrick you know the drill...stay here and watch this one.”
    Patrick grows tired of being the Doctor’s baby sitter, “Why don't YOU stay here with him?  He's a freaking whack job!”
    Tonya looks across to Corey and gets the signal to move. “You are 17 Patrick...Deal with it!”
    She immediately