Apocalypse: The Dead Lives
Chapter 44: The Art of War

Chapter 44: The Art of War

RONAN

I quietly stood behind a bus in the parking lot. Ender’s men were lined up behind me. We’re the shooters.

Ender and another lineup of men stood across from us. They’ll be on the front line today. Each of them held a weapon in their hands, ready to fight.

I watched as the sun rose behind the clouds, painting it in pink and orange hues.

I was content with the way that things were going. Everything was still going according to plan. Cooper and Ellie have led Ender’s people to safety. Michael joined them against his will; they’ll protect him at all costs.

For Hailey and Oliver.

They’re lying low in the woods behind the hotel. They’ll return once it is safe to do so.

Suddenly an engine outside the gates whirred to life. I snapped out of my thoughts and frowned up at Carter who stood in a makeshift watch tower.

"They’re moving!" He informed us before holding the binoculars in front of his eyes again.

"Never mind, they just parked on the other side of the road!" He added.

"Do you see anything else?" Ender curiously asked and a heavy silence rested on our heads.

"Rotters!" Carter yelled in horror. I ran over to him and climbed the ladder posted against the gate. I was quick to climb up the ladder and made my way into Carter’s watch tower. I grabbed the binoculars from him before searching our surroundings.

"We don’t have enough ammo," I uttered in realization.

My eyes stayed fixated on the wave of rotters that was heading in our direction.

I dropped the binoculars to my side before clenching my jaw.

"What’s your order, Sir?" Shane asked me and I just shot him a blank look. "We’re all waiting on your order." He said and I looked around me only to find everyone expectantly watching me.

"Mr. Ronan King!" I heard an unfamiliar voice coming from behind me. I turned around and found a man wearing a black suit waving at us from where he stood on the ground.

"Who the fuck is this?" Carter asked me in frustration while aiming his gun at the rotters closing in on us.

"My name is Marlon." The man stated before kicking at a pebble. My attention spiked when I heard his name.

"What do you want?" I asked, anger boiling up inside of me.

"I want Watkins Glen, I want your shelter, your supplies, and all of your cars." He uttered. "And I know what you want." He stated with a smug smile on his face.

"And what’s that, asshole?" Carter asked in annoyance.

"You don’t want to die, you don’t want your people to die. And I can give that to you. My men can lead the rotters away from here. On one condition." He uttered, the smile dropping from his face.

"Give me Watkins Glen." He stated.

"On two conditions." I blankly muttered and Marlon frowned at me.

"I’m listening."

"Serene and her mother- will come with me. You will let them go, for good. Do this and I will willingly give you Watkins Glen." I uttered and he frowned at me.

He ran a hand over his face before clenching his jaw in anger.

"Ronan, what’s your order?" Carter asked me in a worried tone.

"Hold your fire," I uttered in frustration.

"You have five seconds to answer me," I told Marlon and he nodded at me.

"Very well." He smiled up at me. "Bring them out." He told one of his men and he did just that.

A few seconds went by before Serene and her mother stepped out of the RV. The woman was wearing the same clothes as her daughter. Raggedy and old.

Her body seemed frail as she held onto Serene for support. He must’ve been starving her because her bones were visible beneath her skin.

Tired, sunken eyes stared up at me. Desperately calling out for me to help her. To keep her daughter safe. Those eyes could tell a million stories.

My anger almost boiled over as I watched the pair approaching the gates.

"Open the gates!" Carter yelled at the guards on the ground.

The guards slowly opened the gates and Serene and her mother picked up their pace a little bit.

Marlon raised his gun and aimed it at the back of Sloane’s head.

Without hesitation, I raised my gun and put a bullet through his head.

His body dropped to the ground and I waited for five seconds.

"Open fire!" I yelled and the guards in the watch towers knew exactly what to do.

This was our plan.

We were going to let Marlon think that he’s won, then we would attack.

The gates closed behind Serene and her mother and the guards opened fire on Marlon’s people.

The art of war.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

Attack him where he is unprepared. Appear where you are not expected.

If it is to your advantage, make a forward move. If not, stay where you are.

As a child, my father forced me to read his favorite book. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Now I know why.

He was trying to show me that a single book could be a mindset. That it could be incorporated into one’s daily life without knowing it.

I made my way out of the watch tower before climbing down the ladder.

I felt two strong arms wrapping around me. I frowned down and found Serene hugging my waist.

"Listen to me, Kid. Stay behind these walls until I come back. Take care of your mom." I told her before grabbing a small knife from my back pocket.

I handed it to Serene and she sighed before looking up at me.

"Thank you, Ronan." She uttered with tears in her eyes.

"You’re welcome," I said before leaving her side to open the gates. Serene ran over to her mom. Our eyes locked, and I gulped down nervously before closing the gates behind me.

I turned around to face the horde of rotters before running over to them. There must’ve been over five hundred of them slowly lurking in my direction.

I frowned to myself as these rotters were moving slower than they usually would. At the beginning of the outbreak rotters used to run. They were rarely ever walking.

They’re still bloodthirsty, though.

How Strange...

I slammed my blade into a rotter’s skull.

My weapon relentlessly sliced heads open at the speed of light. I was careful not to get myself infected as I moved through the rotters.

"Spread out!" Someone yelled from behind me. I briefly glanced over my shoulder and found that Ender and his men had come to help me kill the remaining rotters and I knew that-

Victory would be ours.