The Reckoning - 02 by D. A. Roberts

Author:D. A. Roberts [Roberts, D. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-12-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The Enemy of My Enemy

“The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it. The way is shut."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

-

I took a moment to reload all of my weapons and grab myself an assault rifle from the rack on the wall. I selected one I was familiar with and lifted it out of the rack. It was a vintage HK 91 in 7.62mm NATO. I did a quick check over to make sure it was in good working order. Then I grabbed a stack of magazines from the table and started loading them with ammo from the shelf. I loaded six magazines and then slid one into the weapon, then chambered a round.

I found a tactical sling in a package under the counter and hooked it to the weapon. Next, I scrounged an ACOG from a badly banged up AR-15 and connected it to the mounting bracket. It was an old style optic without the battery powered red-dot sight. That suited me just fine since finding batteries was going to get harder and harder. Without the need for the battery, the ACOG would be good indefinitely. I was going to have to adjust the sights, but I could do that later.

Slinging the weapon over my shoulder, I started to head for the stairs. Before I made it to the end of the counter, I heard a pounding on the door. I spun around and brought the weapon to my shoulder, aiming at the door. It wasn’t the rhythmic slap of the dead. This frantic pounding could only be from the living.

“For God’s sake,” pleaded the voice, “Help me!”

I headed over to the door and checked through the peephole. It was a young man in his early twenties. I didn’t recognize him, but he was dressed like one of the Freemen. He was armed with a shotgun and had a pistol on his belt. I could see several zombies coming close behind him. He didn’t have long before they’d be on top of him. I could see his face. It was covered in blood, but I couldn’t tell if he’d been bitten. The rain made it difficult to tell how badly he was hurt.

“Please!” he screamed. “I saw you go in there! You’ve gotta help me!”

I hesitated a moment, indecision wracking my mind.

“Have you been bitten?” I demanded.

“No, I swear!” he answered. “Please! They’re right behind me!”

I knew I couldn’t let him die like that. Even though they ambushed us, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least try to save this man. Quickly, I unbolted the door and swung it open. He stumbled inside and fell to the floor. Slamming the door shut, I locked the bolt and dropped the metal crossbar across the door. Turning quickly, I brought up my weapon and aimed it at the Freeman on the floor. I was willing to help him, but not trust him. He was going to have to earn that.

Just then, the undead arrived at the door and began slapping their hands against it.

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