When he had returned to the military base for gear before arriving at the warehouse as Alex, he was pleased to find everything he needed in black. Wearing military camouflage would have roused suspicion. He snagged tactical pants with reinforced knees and tucked them into his combat boots. They were battered and scuffed but held emotional value, having traveled with him since zero day. A lightweight, long-sleeve lay beneath the level three vest he acquired from the hospital. While he would have preferred short sleeves, he had to guarantee his tattoos were covered. The loops of webbing around the vest carried loaded magazines snug against his chest along with his hunting knife and a compact med kit.
Malik rejoined Nick with a small backpack across his shoulders. He gestured for Nick to lead the way. Sure, Nick could have spent the intermission formulating a plan to ditch Malik. Instead, he was admiring his cool gear.
“Ready to head out?” Nick asked.
“Sure thing. Let’s go,” Malik answered, and the two men entered the truck.
Nick pulled onto the main road and headed in the direction of Fort Vanguard. He had no idea where the ‘usual haunts’ were, so it was time to improvise.
“I don’t know why Luke wants us to look for them. They’re grown men. They probably just found a better gig. Or a woman to hole up with. Or they’re dead.” Malik stared out the window without concentration.
A panic rippled through Nick at the mention of the guards’ demise. Why would Malik think that?
Because you’re in an apocalypse, dipshit.
After driving a couple of miles, a town emerged. Nick pulled into a gas station’s parking lot and killed the engine.
“Stopping for gas?” Malik chuckled, knowing the fuel was long stolen from this place. “I can’t even count the number of times I stopped in here. I lived nearby with my family. Right before a long trip, we’d gas up, grab way too many snacks, and head out on the road.”
Nick shut his eyes in exasperation.
“There used to be this odd, old man that sat outside. He wasn’t a beggar or anything. Maybe he owned the gas station. I don’t know. But he had this lab that always laid at his feet. My little girl loved to say hi and pet the dog,” Malik said.
For the love of God, please stop,Nick groaned but kept the words to himself. Nick was at the crossroads of a decision. Malik was making it torturous.
“Are we going in or what? You think those guys stopped in for a bathroom break or something?” Malik snorted at his own joke. Nick had not interacted much with this guard before today. If he had, he would have requested someone else. Without being sure of his true nature, Nick found Malik to be endearing in a naive sort of way.
“Malik, why do you work for Luke?” Nick blurted the question. There was no time for questions.
Malik sighed and looked down at the floor mat. “After I lost my family, Luke found me wandering around the town. I was hungry. And just really lost. He brought me back to the warehouse and fed me. I know the work isn’t right. I just don’t know any other way out.”
Nick guessed “because I’m an evil man who enjoys doing evil things” was too convenient an answer.
“Why do you work for Luke?” Malik asked. The pep in Malik’s voice made Nick nauseous. Nick only shook his head. Plans and scenarios and options and consequences were twisting his thoughts and strangling his brain. His fingers found their way to his hunting knife and twitched against the rough wooden handle.
Nick turned the key and brought the truck to life. He pulled back onto the road and headed toward his original destination.
“What are you doing? I thought we were going to scout the area?” Malik asked, looking worried.
“Malik, what if I told you there was a place with plenty of food and kind people? And you could stay there without having to watch over innocent prisoners?”
“Well, that sounds too good to be true,” Malik said, followed by a nervous chuckle.
“Yeah, I thought so too. But then I lived there for a bit and realized it’s everything a survivor could want or need in times like these.”
“But I thought you’ve been working the warehouse for a while. You were brought in shortly after I was.” Malik’s voice increased an octave as fear crept in. Nick shook his head.
“I need you to listen to every word I am about to say. I have something very important I need to do. You’re in my way. But I’m so tired of killing people, and I’m probably about to kill a lot more. You seem like a decent guy, Malik. So, I’m going to take you to where I live. You’ll be confined until I’m done with my very important thing. You’ll be locked away and watched, and you’ll undergo an intake process until I get back. I just can’t trust you yet. You’re going to shut your mouth and comply because, in the end, it really will be the best thing for you. But if you try and fight this, I’ll do what I have to.”
Nick glanced over to find Malik staring straight ahead, eyes wide with terror. His chest heaved with panicked breaths.
“What’s it gonna be, Malik?”
Malik nodded his head furiously. “Whatever you say, Alex. I just don’t want to die.”
“You can call me Nick. Alex is dead.”
Chapter 49
