Infected Life: Outbreak

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I had left the medical tent, leaving the others behind. Riley had warned me that I wasn't supposed to leave it, and that I shouldn't let anyone see me if I was so determined to see Bonsall. I was out for a couple hours, the sky now a dark pink. Only made it easier to hide from anyone walking around. I marched forward up the aisle of tents, being sure to avoid any officers, soldiers, or other people on my way. I eventually made my way to the marquee, peeking through a mesh window to see who was in there.

"Colonel Bonsall, I'm done waiting. My crew has spent this entire day just watching after the school, more or less not watching out for my city. Every one of my crew members are stuck in here, while vulnerable people are out there, trying to find safety for the night, hunted by those 'Infected' things. You allowed that doctor to leave, you allowed that group of soldiers to leave, but you won't let my men go out and help."

"I told you, Chief, we need your men here. You're trained for the defensive, my men trained for the offensive. You're men are perfect for watching over these people." Bonsall stated.

The Chief sat down in a chair, "Huh, bold talk, considering you won't let my men execute Infected, or take claim of detaining any uncivilized delinquants."

"Don't even go there, Gables. That was just an accident. The kid didn't mean to hurt your guy-"

"He knocked down Williams! Sure, he's no Adolfo and built like a brick wall, but still. A child disarmed and dispatched one of my men, and I'm in the doghouse for smacking him with the butt of my rifle." Gables chuckled a little, "Fuck, I mean, if he was older and not responsible for assaulting one of my men, I'd recruit him as a frontline cadet for that alone. You said he was one of your old commrade's kids?"

"Yes, he is." Bonsall sighed, "His father and older brother had taught him to shoot. Didn't know Aaron taught him any self defense tricks like that, or if his brother taught him. Wouldn't take Aaron for teaching him that at such a young age."

"Either way, it doesn't give him that right for making my guys look like pushovers in front of people. What do you expect to do about it?"

"I don't know yet, Gables. There's a lot going on that we need to-"

"Bullshit!"

"Anne, please. This is a touchy situation, and we-"

"What are you doing?" Someone asked. I quickly whipped around to have someone grabbing my arm. As I tried to pull away, someone else ran over, wrapping their arm around my neck. I couldn't hear Bonsall or Gables anymore. I struggled against the pair of people holding me, but couldn't seem to shake them. They started to drag me as I struggled, pulling me through the flaps of the marquee.

The pair of women were startled by the intrusion. "What the-"

"Let me go!" I yelled at my captors.

"Found him eavesdropping on you at the window. Not sure how long he's been there, but we grabbed him as soon as we saw him." the one holding me in a choke hold said.

Bonsall's face was ridden with guilt and disappointment. "Thank you . . . release him, and wait outside please."

The men dropped me, marching out the flap. I rubbed my neck, glaring at the women.

"Why were you eavesdropping on us?" Gables asked, folding her arms. "You should know you aren't supposed to leave that tent after what you did."

I pointed at Bonsall, "She knows why I'm here. Same reason she's not surprised I came."

The Colonel sighed, rubbing her face. "Yes . . . Jacob, Luke-"

"You killed him! You told us you would keep us safe if we didn't tell anyone!" I shouted at the woman. "Then you turned around and shot him!"