They race down the cobbled tar roads. Years of neglect has riddled the roads with holes. Milo wipes a few stray tears from her face, her lips trembling. She would have to tell Mary about Lila, watch as she absorbs the news. First denial, then anger, and then the inevitable acceptance. Milo was heartbroken, over the years they've lost so many good people, watching from a distance as their bodies twitched and convulsed, finally standing up and walking around.
Jed was painfully silent. His usual banter locked away with his far away stare. Milo squints, hope filling her as she sees the trees in the distance. Home. She snorts. Yeah, home. Jed looks over to her, frowns but remains silent resuming his stare. Fields lined the sides of the road, flowers blooming in mock. Looking at the world you would not imagine the horror within. Nature also suffered from the virus. Animals didn't turn more aggressive, a trait only humans seem to have, no nature suffered in other ways.
Animals were carries of the virus but did not become infected themselves. Mammals started giving birth to 'undead' creatures. Reptiles were warm blooded now and don't need to have a mate to breed. Birds have gotten larger and more predatory looking, but by luck or divine intervention, have not turned their eyes to the few humans left. Flash floods, electric thunderstorms and scorching days seemed to be the only weather the world had. Milo wanted to get out of the buggy, take a long-awaited shower and curl into a ball and weep. Sure, she was all business when they were out and about, but in her solitude, she would relive everything.
Long shadows swallow the buggies, helping to mask them. They drive into the thick of the forest, alive with sounds, chirps and screeches. Milo hops out of the driver seat, scans the area for immediate treats, but doesn't see anything. She looks up, aware that up there someone was watching, waiting for something. She lifts both hands into the air and motions the signal. A shout rings out from the tree tops.
Milo turns around and moves to her buggy. Purple Rain, that's what she called it. Big blobs of purple drops decorated the otherwise bleak looking vehicle. Purple Rain has saved them on many occasions, and for Milo that warranted a name. Well, to be fair, most of the team members named theirs. A small act of defiance, clinging to life. Rotters were color blind, so even if you painted yourself the colors of the rainbow, it wouldn't matter in the least.
A sever looking man emerges from the thick of the forest, flanked by two equally severe looking men. Bastien, Riker, and Wolfe. The Madness Reigns trio, as the community has come to call them. Bastien stops a few feet from the group, his steel grey eyes observing all.
"Welcome back." Is all he utters, his eyes scanning the worn and exhausted faces. "Report." Bastien commands. Milo moves forward, making eye contact.
"Two casualties. Lila and Mike. Hoarder sighted along with a Mole." Milo monotones. She sees the fear flicker in the mercury depths.
"Shit. Established?" Bastien asks. Milo nods yes, closing her eyes. She hoped to purge the horror from her mind, but that only seemed to enrage them.
"You all now the drill. Week in confinement." Bastien says. He looks over his shoulder, speaks to Riker and Wolfe and turns back. The men move without sound, herding the teams into the thick of the forest.
"Supplies?" Bastien asks. Milo turns back to the buggies and starts to point at four of them.
"Lady Bug, Prowler, Shades, and Orange Tart have the bulk of the food. Purple Rain, Big Bertha have the ammo and some trinkets. Peach Cobbler was lost at the village." Milo dutifully reported.
She understood the necessity of it all but hated how robotic they've become. Bastien nods. He pats Milo on the back.
"Sorry about your loss. I'm sorry to ask this, but I need you to draw what you saw. Unfortunately, you need to do it while everything..."
"Yeah, I get it. Just get Mary for me." Milo interjects, her heart heavy with sorrow. Bastien nods, turns and leaves Milo to her thoughts.
"What's the story." Jed asks. Milo frowns, looks over to Jed.
"You know, confinement for a week, then we can rejoin the living." Milo answers.
"Yes, thank you mommy. No idiot, what's the story with him?" Jed asks with a tilt of his head.
Milo follows his motion, Bastien moving over to the buggies.
"You know, same old, same old. Report this, report that. Sorry for the loss. Same bullshit." Milo says. Jed looks startled. He's never heard Milo sounding so menacing before but can only chalk it off to one hell of a bad day.
Milo takes a step back, a gasp falling from her lips. Mary, sweet kind, Mary was making her way over to her. Mary was crying, but her shoulders were pulled back. Mary stops in front of Milo, tears streaming down her face.
"D-d-did she, was it q-quick?" Mary utters.
Milo nods and looks down, hating the haunted look of defeat she saw there. It mirrored her own desolate emotions, bringing them closer to the surface.
"I'm so sorry Mary. We had no idea a Hoarder had claimed the town." Is all Milo can say.
Mary nods, smiles and turns around. Like so many before her, she would not receive any trinket of solace, any reminder that Lila and Mike had ever been alive, only memories.
Bastien walks over, watching as Mary disappears into the forest. He looks at Milo, his lips pressed into a thin line. He stops a few feet away from Milo and Jed, looking them up and down.
"Go take a shower, get something to eat. I'll be with you shortly." Bastien says.
Milo and Jed nod, turn and walk into the forest. Bastien stays behind, watching the two as they melted into the darkness. Bastien sighs, closing his eyes. Milo and Jed were two of his best soldiers. Driven, calm, deadly, but years of fighting and losing loved ones were slowly taking its toll. Wolfe appears next to him, following his line of site.
"She seems unsettled, emotional. Did something happen?" Wolfe asks.
He was another of Bastien's best, but a little to detached from his emotions.
"Life happened. We should leave them to rest for a few months. We have enough food and ammo. I fear another trip could send them over the edge." Bastien says with conviction.
Wolfe nods. "I believe you're correct. I shall personally make sure they all receive some enjoyment." Wolfe states.
Bastien looks at him and frowns.
"I may be a cold-hearted bastard, but even I can see death shadowing their steps. Here comes the asshole part. We cannot afford to lose Milo and her team. They are the best and most experienced." Wolfe says watching Bastien.
"Yes, that's the unfortunate truth." Bastien acknowledges.
They both stand staring at the edge of the woods, both praying that they will have a peaceful night.