Chapter 425: Anti-Zombie Militia
Channel 10- "Tonight, we bring you a new story concerning several non profit groups that have popped up all over the country, seemingly overnight, with the same goal as one another. That goal is the equal rights and treatment of the infected and a stop to the systematic hunting down of infected for profit. Although I say infected, these groups are claiming that they are not infected and that calling them that is offensive. If you wish to call them anything, the term Awakened is what they would prefer. But that aside, despite sounding the calls for equality, they have yet to hear anything back from anyone at either the state level or the federal level as those willing to speak to them fear what might happen if they don’t agree. For more on this, we take you to one fearless reporter who has decided to speak to the head of one of the rights groups and a known infected...."
Channel 17- "Protests are again sparking up nationwide as two sides face off in the streets. On one side you have those wanting rights and protections for the awakened individuals who have been, according to their words, ’unfairly targeted and treated like lesser citizens.’ While their claims seem to be generally unfounded, there have been reports of discrimination against those who have become infected including reports of vigilante justice being served when there is even just talk of a crime but no evidence. On the other side, you have those who have spoken at length about the horrible crimes the infected have committed and the danger they pose to the general population. While the protests remain mostly peaceful, there seems to be talk about elevated action if protection and rights can’t be guaranteed.
Channel 21- "A mass body dump has been reported at the headquarters of Fight for Life, the local Chapter of the Awakened Equality Initiative. While details are few at the moment, what we can tell you is that seven bodies have been reported to have been left in a pile at the door of the non-profit center. Even more shocking is that the seven people were all employees of the non-profit that had been reported missing in the past three days. While the police have yet to release any of the names of the victims, the center has announced it will remain closed for the rest of the day while investigators check out the scene and try to come up with some answers. There is a press conference scheduled for later today. Stay tuned as we will be airing it live later on."
Channel 30- "In what looks like a scene from an old west shoot out, seventeen men have been found dead in this mobile home park outside of Billings. Police, national guard and even a squad of Chosen are currently searching the park and surrounding area right now, looking for suspects in this massacre. The seventeen men were each wearing the uniforms of the local Anti-Zombie Militia or AZM for short. According to their website, the groups sole purpose is to hunt down and contain any outbreaks of infected in their area. Ever since a video appeared on the web, supposedly shot by the now missing journalist Ashley June, a zombie is what extremists are calling the infected in an effort to dehumanize them after the video interview with most wanted fugitive Lazarus Crowe ended up sparking a massive movement in favor of those who now want to be called ’Awakened.’ In retaliation to the growing effort for rights, extremist groups have been even more active across the country, rounding up, capturing and even killing infected without due process of law. Although such actions violate agreed upon the emergency enacted civil liberties of infected which clearly states they must be held with all care until they can be sent for medical treatment, police and other authorities haven’t been too willing to bring to justice those who violate this law. We will keep bringing you updates as this story unfolds."
Channel 30- "Breaking news. A survivor from the AZM group was found in a dumpster on site, his eyes having been somehow removed while he himself had been stripped naked with a grotesque message carved into his back. I can now tell you that the message read ’Storm Shelter, Number 13.’ As for what it meant, it appears there was a storm shelter underneath mobile home 13 with the entrance right behind the mobile home itself. In it, the bodies of 26 girls, all under 18 were found dead along with several holding cells that looked to have been built into the walls recently. Somehow, the locks on the cell doors had been broken and they are now empty, leading the emergency workers on scene to wonder if there were additional prisoners who escaped. From what we overheard one chosen say to the questioning officers, only two of the 26 girls were infected when they were alive. FBI have now taken over the case as .... What? Of course we are taping live. Didn’t you say we could as long as we did face to face interviews with at least two deputies and the sheriff? What do you mean shut it down now. Just because you’re fbi...."
The screen went blank as the bar tender turned around to the lone man sitting in there at 4pm.
"Another shot boss?" The man asked, bringing the bottle back on to the counter.
"Just leave it," Laz said, passing the old bartender three twenties and grabbing the bottle of throat burning liquid before taking several gulps from the bottle itself.
While the bartender walked away, Laz glanced out the window to the large cargo van sitting in the parking lot. He knew without using his sense that the five girls were huddled around one another, eating and drinking the various snacks and drinks he had passed to them before walking coming inside.
He had saved them, but in doing so, his rage overtook his rational thoughts and he did something he had just sworn he would never do two months ago... Killed normal humans.
The funny part was that he didn’t feel bad about it in the least. In fact, he wished that there were more people to punish. As for why he had left that one man alive in the end? Well, he had been the first man Laz had caught after catching wind of a local bounty hunting group. After a little bit of persuasion, Laz found out everything he needed to know about them. For example, the guy he caught was only allowed watch the others take advantage of the girls until he recruited someone of his own into their group. It was only then that he would be a full fledged member and allowed the additional benefits. As for why there were so many dead girls? His answer was that it took time to smuggle them out as there was only so much room in the dumpster for all of the mobile homes in the park.
Why were they dead? They could always get more so why not enjoy themselves a little.
How did they keep their operation a secret? By turning over most of the actual infected that they found.
Of the five living girls, one had been an awakened, all be it just barely. When Laz asked the now blind man why she had been kept and not turned over, the man’s response was that infected girls were much more durable than regular ones.
After that, Laz just lost it. He ended up storming out of the shelter and alerting the guards who he had just walked past earlier while bring his prisoner. The guards weren’t actually sitting in front of the door, but on a porch drinking themselves stupid a few houses down. The guards in turn alerted everyone else who then came running with their guns in hand.
After that, they all were killed in quick succession. Despite his rage, Laz knew that there were far more people in the park that would call the police and Laz needed to get away with the still alive girls quickly.
As for why he was waiting in this bar, the answer to that came in the form of a woman who quickly walked in the front door of the bar, spotted Laz and sat next to him.
Laz got the bartender’s attention and ordered her a soda before the bartender walked away, giving them space to themselves while obviously thinking that this was some kind of lovers meeting. While the woman was good looking, it was clear that she was at least fifteen years older than Laz.
’Maybe he thinks I like cougars? Well... I guess it’s not out of the question,’ Laz thought to himself after guessing the bartender’s thoughts.
Laz then turned to look at the woman.
"You’re who they sent?" Laz said, his voice even but cold.
"Yes. I know you requested a woman which set off some red flags, but considering who you professed to be, we couldn’t just write you off," the woman said without a hint of worry in her voice.
"Your associates should stay where they are. If there are too many people who just happen to stroll in here during a time it’s normally dead then we will stand out way too much," Laz commented, taking another big gulp from the bottle.
"You really are you... aren’t you?" The woman now sounded intrigued more than anything.
"Can you help me or not?" Laz asked, getting down to business.
"I can. But..."
"What?"
"When the AZM took these girls, they told their parents that the girls were infected. As a reward for turning them in to them, the parents ended up getting several hundreds of dollars a piece for their service. At least, that’s how it works on the surface. In truth, some of them might have lied just to get their hands on the money. If we show up at their doorsteps with the same girls that either they thought were infected or that they sold off, I have no idea what kind of ending would be waiting for them," the woman explained, sounding uncomfortable for the first time.
"So then, take the girls someplace safe and contact this number. Have them tell this woman their stories as best they can. She will do the rest including getting you some extra funding to ensure the girl’s future," Laz said, passing the woman a card.
"You’re just going to trust me like this?" The woman asked, wondering if this was some sort of trap or anything.
"I can get a feel of your thoughts just by being next to you. I know you are who you say you are and will do what you say you’ll do."
The woman seemed taken aback a bit by this admission from Laz, but she ended up nodding before sending out a text message.
"So it’s five girls?" The woman wanted to confirm.
"Four."
"Did something happen to one of them?"
"She’s... not willing to part from me. Of the five of them, she’s the only awakened."
"I have people I can get in touch with to help her. That’s what we do after all... well. One of the things we do." The woman said, wondering why he decided to keep her with him.
"I know that. And that was the initial plan. But after talking to her for a bit, I decided it would be better to keep her by my side for now," Laz said with a sigh.
Catching his actions, the woman finally understood that while he didn’t want to, for some reason he had to.
"What’s wrong?"
Laz finished the last of the bottle and looked over at the woman,
"She’s almost completely lost it. If she goes with you now and breaks the tiny link I formed with her by saving her... Well, I can’t tell you just how many people she could kill before someone could stop her..."
The woman felt a chill go down her spine and spread to the rest of her body as soon as she saw the darkness within Laz’s eyes.
