Run: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller by Rich Restucci Page A

middle of the room. Mike asked Sam to go sit with her grandfather for a few minutes and shook his head in response to Rick’s questioning expression. The two men ducked back out the entrance to the dining hall and Rick waited until the door was closed to finally ask, “Ok, what the hell is going on?” 
    “That guy Billy, where did you pick him up?” Meara asked. 
    “I didn’t, Dallas found him in the city when we got separated.” 
    “And he’s been no trouble?” 
    “No dammit, he actually saved our asses a couple of times. He’s, I don’t know, a little off I guess, but what is this about?” 
    “That kid,” Meara said thumbing over his shoulder behind him, “is a Grade A psychopath. A murderer and torturer. Nasty stuff.” 
    “What are you talking about? He’s a little weird, but he absolutely loves Sam!” 
    “That guy,” Mike continued, “is Bill the Butcher.” 
    Rick’s face paled. “The dentist guy?”
    “He wasn’t a dentist, he murdered a dentist. I don’t think he knows I made him, but we need to do something now.” 
    “I don’t want to take him down in front of Sam, and Mike, we can’t kill him, no matter what.” 
    “Rick, this guy is fucking insane. Past that, he’s damn dangerous. I will do what I have to in order to make this island safe,” Mike stabbed a finger at Rick, “and dammit so will you.”
    “You don’t get it, this guy can walk with the dead, and they don’t attack him!” 
    It was Mike’s turn to look pale. “What the hell are you talking about?” 
    “Like I said, the dead won’t touch him, we all saw him walk right past the infected and they ignored him. Dallas said it happened when he picked him up too. He’s important, and we need him. Some scientist somewhere will need to at least talk to him. This is a prison for Christ’s sake, let’s get him to come peacefully to a cell.” 
    “Ok, but if he tries anything, I’ll drop him like a bad habit.”
    “He won’t. He really loves Sam, and I think he would protect her.” 
    “We’ll see. Let’s go get him and find out.” 
    The two men strode back into the dining area. 
    Billy was gone.

 
    Book Two: The Rock
     
    1
     
    Billy had never been to Alcatraz before. He had lived in San Francisco his entire life, but had never gotten the chance to go on a tour. It was unfortunate that the end of the world was what finally got him to pay a visit.
    Pity he couldn’t stay. He really liked this group of people. An odd assortment of folks, brought to an island refuge through the efforts of some of San Francisco’s finest. All were migrants from a city crawling with monsters.
    There was a secret that Billy didn’t want to tell his new friends, but it looked like the cat was out of the bag.
    The cop in charge had made him for sure, there was no denying it. Billy was famous! Next would come the inevitable. They would do what all authority figures did, either lock him up, or torture him with probes and questions and drugs, and then lock him up. Did they have probes or drugs? Either way he wasn’t sticking around. Then there was the little girl to consider. He couldn’t hurt Sam.
    At least he didn’t think he could, and that was why he had to leave. He was willing to bet his own life on himself, but not her life. He was out of medication, which made him a danger to everybody. Where could he get his Clozapine now? He would have to raid an institution, someplace he really didn’t want to go. Too many memories, albeit mostly repressed, or hidden through drug therapy.
    As soon as the boss cop had looked in his eyes, Billy knew he had to run. He wasted no time.
    Billy made his escape quickly and quietly. He took off while the two cops were talking, slinking down the main cafeteria bay as the small band of refugees ate their beans and soup. He stuck close to the wall, and walked quickly, but not hurriedly. He was out the door and running for the beach in the opposite direction of the dock as fast as