The gentle pattering of rain swept across the SMC’s as they drove into an abandoned gas station. With their fuel low and their nerves high; they still had a little over a hundred miles left to go before reaching No Man’s Land.

The three vehicles pulled up to their respective pumps. Spears, Flores, and Collins climbed out and formed a crescent formation in front of the gas station. Marks and Ito investigated the shop, well aware danger could await them inside.

Miranda unbuckled her harness with hopes to have a chance to stretch her legs. They had been driving for the last three hours since the incident at the convoy with only short breaks to relieve themselves or stop for a bite to eat. This chance seemed as good as any to walk around.

“Collins, is anything out there?” Miranda approached the private. She looked down his line of sight back down the road. “Do you think the Helix would be this far out of the way from civilization?”

Collins adjusted his flack vest to let the cool air into his chest. “I doubt there’s much of anything here, Doc.”

“Corn,” Spears said quietly, “This land used to bear corn. Now its only bears ash and death.” His eyes drifted lazily into the withered fields.

“Did you used to be a farmer, Spears?” asked Miranda.

It never occurred to me that these soldiers had lives before joining the military. That not everyone was sucked into void of war. Fifteen years is a long time to live in destruction and turmoil. It’s hard to remember what life was like sixteen years ago.

Spears paused. Only the sounds of rain hitting the roof of the gas station broke through the silence.

“I was just a kid before the war began. Barely even ten.” Flores mused, adding to the conversation. “My parents owned a diner; not too far from here. Maybe an hour to the south…I-I miss them.”

Miranda nodded to the familiar feeling of losing her loved ones in the war.

Flores continued, “I never wanted to end up like them. Working myself to the bone cooking burgers.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Ended up becoming a cook anyways. Now I’m here. Fuck the Helix!” he cursed, “I could have done so much more with my life!”

“Tramps like us, baby we were born to run.” Collins said, never turning away from the road.

“Shaw?” asked Spears.

“Springsteen.”

A gunshot cracked through the air. Marks and Ito hustled briskly from the shop, their mouths covered by black gas masks.

“Collins, Flores, get those Smokes fueled up,” Marks barked, “Ito and Spears, you’re on point! Chavez stick with me.”

“Masks on, boys! That gun blast is going to attract some unwanted company,” Ito’s voice rang out, a mixture of anxiousness and joy plastered on her face.

Times like these, I wish I was a pencil pusher. I would be in nice, cozy office. Hundreds of miles away from the Helix, soldiers, and the damn war. The only conflict would be my cat attacking my feet. How did Flores put it? “Fuck the Helix”.

Spears and Ito backed up as moaning wails erupted from the field. Zombie-like farm-hands burst from the grass clawing and gnashing their yellow teeth.

A hail of bullets fired into the crowd of hosts, with each finding their mark, splattered blood and guts. Releasing a swarm of dust into the air. Helix after Helix were mowed down by the soldiers’ rifles. Miranda could only clench her camera tightly as she snapped pictures. Fear flushed through her body, but sheer adrenaline ignored her dread by being in her first battle.

“Reloading!” shouted Spears.

“Fall back to the Smokes!” called out Marks.

“They’re getting closer!” cried Ito.

Spears turned to run, but stumbled as a crawling host swiped at his leg.

“Spears is down!” Miranda yelped. She moved to go help, but was pulled by Collins towards her SMC.

“Doc, get into the Smoke, it’s the safest place right now!” Collins shouted raising his rifle, preparing to give Ito cover fire. “Ito will get Spears. The mission is wash if you get yourself killed!”

I felt obligated to help; to do something other than watch as Spears gets mauled. But Collins was right. My job isn’t to fight, it’s to study. In the long run I help everyone win back our world.

Spears roared in pain as a set of jaws crushed down onto his legs. He rattled off half a magazine of rounds, peppering the ghoul’s face until it shredded into a cloud of spores. His bleeding leg ached, but was free.

Ito grabbed and grunted as she hoisted Spears onto her shoulders, running sluggishly to the SMC’s.

“Everyone in your Smokes!” ordered Marks. He pulled Spears into the passenger seat of Scout Three and swung himself behind the steering wheel.

The driving shields locked down and tires screeched as they peeled away from the mob of Helix. The SMC’s mounted machine guns blazed in a fury of muzzle flashes as they cleared their way through the intercepting crowd of hosts.

With wild driving, they made it far enough away from their terrifying ordeal. A berth of freedom and relief welcomed them. Only No Man’s Land stood in their way now.