THEM (Season 1): Episode 3 Read Free Page A

left down there.
    I sacked out and was awakened a few hours later by Gabby’s voice, whispering in my ear in frantic tones. “Scratch, we got Zs outside the door!” I was up in an instant and grabbing for my gear in the dim light of an oil lamp.
    “What’s the situation?”
    “I couldn’t sleep, so I got geared up and decided to listen by the door—I figured that way we could leave just as soon as you guys woke up. About twenty minutes ago I started hearing moaning outside, and it sounds like there’re a ton of deaders walking around on top of us. I think I even heard one walking on top of the hatch!” Gabby looked a little freaked, and I could understand how she felt. A herd of zombies could just ramble around for a bit and move on, or they could decide to camp out for days; you just could never tell with the damned things. Moreover, if one of them found a way inside the barn, they’d likely get to the horses, which I was sure were already starting to get spooked. Once the Zs caught wind of them, they’d never leave.
    On the other hand, Bobby looked like he could care less about the zombies. Remembering how nonchalant he was back at the punter safe house, I decided to ask him something I’d been wondering about since I’d met him. “Bobby, just curious—are you immune to deadhead bites?”
    He scratched his head. “Well, I dunno—one of the pack got pulled down by a herd once, and he got really sick. Our alpha killed him right after, so I never really found out what would have happened if he hadn’t, you know? But I’ve never had to find out myself—they’re so slow I can pretty much run circles around them.”
    Well, at least I wouldn’t have to worry about Bobby. “Alright, good to know. Look, we may have to fight our way out of here, if we can’t get the horses out of the barn on a safe escape route that’s free from Zs. If so, Bobby will create a distraction and pull as many deaders off as possible, while Gabby and I take the horses and head in the opposite direction.” I glanced at Bobby, who wasn’t looking too keen on the plan. “Once you lose them, meet us here at this airstrip on the north side of the military preserve.” I pointed to an area on my map, and Bobby nodded with reluctance in his eyes.
    I moved the shelving along the back wall so I could open the escape hatch, and then pointed into the tunnel. “Alright, we’re heading out the back way—Gabby, climb through there and tell me if the horses seem riled up.”
    She headed into the short tunnel, and then whispered back, “All clear.”
    “Then let’s head out and hope that Bobby’s as fast as he says.”
    Bobby looked over at me with indignation on his face, and I could hear him mumbling under his breath as he exited into the escape tunnel. “Oh, I’m fast alright. Doesn’t mean I appreciate being treated like a redshirt. But hey, let the werewolf take the heat, sure, that’s a great plan...”
    - - -

[3 ]

CORPSES
    T he barn was all clear, so we saddled the animals as quietly as possible, keeping them stabled while I did some recon on our possible escape routes. It was dark and overcast outside, and I hoped we’d get some rain to cover the sounds of our escape. I also saw that there were Zs everywhere, at least a few dozen around the area. I ducked back down before one spotted me, and crept back over to Bobby and Gabby to hash out our escape plan.
    “Bobby, there are more Zs on the north side of the building—”
    He cut me off in mid sentence. “So, I’ll head out the south exit—right.” He then nodded to me in a self-satisfied fashion.
    “—as I was saying, Bobby will head out the north exit, and make a crap load of noise to draw off as many deaders as possible.”
    Bobby did a double take and his eyes swiveled back around to gape at me. “What the hell, man? Why do I get the suicide mission?”
    “Well, since the horses are carrying the munitions we’re going to need to blow the Corridor pack