Aftermath: Book Two: Jekyll's Drive

By Torri Hansen

After finding Leroy's farm and settling in there after his mother's death, Ryan and Jekyll decide to go to the CDC with Wes, another friend that is living on the farm. They practice their skills until spring, which is their time to go. They think the trip will be fairly mundane but run into problems that lead them to have to escape a commune in order to reach their intended designation. They have to deal with some pretty strict and sadistic people in order to escape and try to free the others that are trapped there.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496915030

Torri Hansen

Torri Hansen has grown up with the need to write. She wrote a lot growing up and one of her wishes was to become an author when she grew up. She took lots of writing courses and still continues to take more. She started off doing well writing short stories for her Creative Writing and English courses. She continued after High School and finally started writing more aggressively when she turned thirty years old. By then she had been through a lot of struggles and life events that she wanted to use as fodder for future writings. She also writes about family struggles and a little bit about mental health because those are two things that she cares the most about. She lives in West Michigan and likes to base the first books of her career in the Michigan area. She lives with her two children and wants to write books that one day they will like to read. Torri is in her mid to late thirties and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as writing.

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© 2014 Torri Hansen. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse    05/22/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1504-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1503-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014909515

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Ryan and Jekyll spent most of their days between practice, hunting and working on Jekyll’s car. Jekyll noticed that Ryan also liked to spend a lot of time hovering over near Leroy, her uncle who ran this commune. Ryan had finally told Jekyll that he wanted to help Leroy as much as he could while learning everything the older man knew. She’d told him that he’d be at that for decades because Uncle Leroy knew something about everything. However, Ryan kept at it with a secret wish that while Leroy studied his mother’s last earthly remains that they had harvested off her before her inevitable final death, that they would stumble onto a cure or some sort of way to make a vaccination.

Jekyll was witnessing Ryan’s progress with shooting and the gun katas that she had been teaching him, so she had started him on parkour and driving. He’d taken right to parkour (the ability to jump on things, off things and do many maneuvers with his body that otherwise would be considered a type of acrobatics); Ryan had told her that he’d learned a lot of things like that from his mother’s constant pushing of emergency preparedness drills. Jekyll had been impressed.

Ryan was shocked that he was allowed to even sit in the driver’s seat of Clyde, Jekyll’s 1986 Black, souped up Camaro. He’d fallen in love with the car the first time he’d helped work on it. There weren’t any problems with it now; they’d worked on all of the basic things. Now, it was just making him (because Jekyll refused the car was an ‘it’, it was a ‘he’.) faster and his handling as tight as they could make it. Jekyll said she had this feeling that Clyde needed to be on a level that no other cars would be. She’d even managed to find a way to make him run on any of the fuel types without it hurting or upsetting the engine. She was smarter that he would have ever guessed. Ryan loved learning more and more about the people that he was living with now.

~

One day in September, Jekyll went up to Ryan and put the keys to Clyde in his hand. Ryan gave Jekyll a shocked look.

No, you have proven that you can handle yourself pretty well. I’d like to see how you handle the beast. Jekyll had smiled at his shocked expression. A moment later she wondered if she’d rendered him immobile because he didn’t even blink. She waved her hand in front of his face to get his attention.

What? I’m not even 16! I’m not allowed to drive! Ryan looked down at the keys and then back up at Jekyll.

She ruffled his blond hair with her right hand, Aww, that’s cute, she said, you still think the rules of the normal world work now. Hon, it’s the Zombie Apocalypse. There are no cops patrolling for underage drivers now. I have a feeling that I’m going to need you to be able to drive, really drive. As much like me as you can.

I doubt I’m good enough to drive like you. You’re a stunt driver! You scared the crap out of me when you took me out the first time! He smiled at the memory of his first ride with Jekyll. He truly had been scared. No one he’d ever known before could have ever maneuvered a vehicle like she had.

It just takes getting used to, and I just have another feeling that you’ll do fine. Don’t worry, I’m not going to be starting you out on anything big. Just the boring basics. She patted him on the back and then gave him a little shove to get his legs working in the direction of the garage.

Are you sure? he asked over his shoulder.

Yeah, we won’t be anywhere near anything that you could hit. Jekyll said as she caught up and walked beside him.

Mom used to say that she would have to get someone else to teach me and Becca how to drive. She said she was nervous about getting taken on what she’d call a ‘white knuckle flight’. He noticed that it was beginning to be easier to think about his late mother and sister, even though in the dead of night the burden of losing them haunted him before he was able to drift off to sleep. He figured that it would probably always be that way, no matter how many times Aunt Emmy said that it would get easier.

Ryan brushed off the thoughts that he knew would lead him into a depressed mood and concentrated on Jekyll’s trust in him. She wasn’t even going to start him off on a beat up piece of junk car first.

He almost jumped as Jekyll spoke up, he’d retreated into his head and his own thoughts quickly. He shook his head to shake off the cobwebs in his mind.

Hmmm, Jekyll started, I don’t really blame her. Kids can drive pretty recklessly. You’re going to be taught how to drive in a way that will look reckless, but you will know how to control a vehicle in a way that most people don’t know how to do. I got taught by an ex-boyfriend of mine. He could drive like a demon. He could maneuver through tight traffic, and he managed to even scare me. Not many people can accomplish that feat. He didn’t think I’d be able to drive like him. She smiled to herself, He was really mad when I out drove him. It’s kind of what ended the relationship. But, that’s ancient history now.

As they neared the garage, Russ, the mechanic and the all around handy man, walked out to meet them. Hands on his hips. You sure you really want the kid to drive Clyde? Russ asked as he smiled mischievously, an obvious twinkle in his eyes.

Yeah, he’s probably going to be a pain, but I need a co-pilot and Leroy won’t even ride in Clyde. Jekyll said throwing her arms up in mock despair.

Pffft. I’m going to be better than Jekyll, herself! Ryan boasted jokingly.

Now that would be a feat of skill and cleverness. I don’t think it can be done by just anyone. You might have a shot at it though. If you’re as good with cars as you are with guns. Russ winked conspiratorially at Ryan. Jekyll, he might give you a run for your money yet.

I’m counting on it. I kind of need an heir, and I don’t see myself having any kids any time soon in our brave new world. she said as they stopped right in front of Russ to talk for a moment.

Russ looked at Jekyll, Well, I guess I could see why. It’s not looking like anything from the Andy Griffith show anymore. Eh, I think this here kid will do great.

It was the second time that day that Ryan had his hair ruffled as the big man messed up this hair. Ryan didn’t mind a bit.

Jekyll thought for a moment and then said, On second thought, kiddo, give me the keys. I’m going to drive us to where we’re going, then you can make with the driving.

Alright. Ryan said as he handed the keys back over to Jekyll.

I remember one of the first mistakes I ever made, and I’d really like for Clyde not to need repainting or body work again because you’re like me and get up close and personal with the sides of the garage. She smiled a little bit at the memory it called up for her of accidentally tearing some of the siding off of her father’s garage. I never did live that one down.

You better be careful, kid. She loves this car, I don’t recommend being careless in any way, shape or form. You might regret it a little bit. Russ told Ryan as the boy got into the car.

Oh, I know! I don’t dare do anything to Clyde! Ryan laughed a little bit. He watched how Jekyll was when working on the car, and she was indeed very protective of ‘him’.

You’ll do fine, my rent to own little brother, you! Jekyll assured him as she sat in the driver’s seat. Buckle up.

But, there aren’t any laws any more right? Ryan asked while he, even though he questioned her, knew it was better to do what she had told him to do.

No, there are no more traffic laws, however, you never know what could happen. A seat belt could still save your life, little man. Safety first. She explained lightly.

Jekyll pulled Clyde easily out of the garage, and Russ waved them goodbye.

Now, we’re going off the farm to a little place I know. We’re going to do a twice-over to make sure that it’s safe. Even if we are going to be in a car, it’s a good idea to check things out first. You don’t need to try and learn how to hit anyone with a car yet or how to avoid obstacles either. Jekyll informed him.

Well, I can’t imagine that we’ll see any people, or zombies. There haven’t been any in a couple of weeks… at least not around the farm. I’ve been helping Leroy with perimeter checks and stuff. He’s teaching me how to spot abnormalities in the environment. Like how mom used to teach us to listen to the animals. It’s really neat to learn how to spot people, even if they’re trying to remain hidden. Ryan was obviously very proud of his learning.

Yeah, Leroy had told me that he had you learning the watches. It’s good, too. We could use every person we can on watch. They may be slower now that the weather’s getting colder, but they’re still out there. We have to get rid of them, for the zombie’s sakes and our own. Jekyll turned down the driveway to head to the front gates.

Once at the gates, the men on guard over the nine feet tall doors opened the gates up for the two to pass through. When they were through the guards closed them up tightly. This was the first time that Ryan had been off the farm since finally making it there.

The thought of his mother and her condition at the time struck him and he had to swallow hard to get rid of the lump that was trying to form in his throat.

Jekyll looked out of the corner of her eyes at him and realized what he must be thinking, so she tried to distract him, We are only going out about six miles. There’s a plain that is about one and a half miles in length and about the same in width. There are no trees or bushes to run into. It’s a pretty sparse area, so if you lose a little bit of control it’s no big deal.

That’s good. To be honest, I’m a little nervous. He confided in her.

You don’t have anything to worry about. You are going to be fine. You pick stuff up pretty quick. Jekyll reached over and patted the boy’s left shoulder reassuringly.

Okay. was his short response.

The rest of the way, they drove in a comfortable silence. Jekyll resigned to concentrating on the dirt road and Ryan committing the way to memory. He didn’t let much pass without committing it to memory. He was eager to file every new bit of information into his memory.

~

They both saw the plain at the same time. Jekyll drove around the large area looking for any zombies that might be staggering around the area and was pleased when she saw that there were none. She drove to the center of the field, parked the car and got out. She and Ryan switched seats and he settled into the driver’s seat. Jekyll got in on the passenger side and asked him what he was supposed to do first.

Seat belts. He answered and Jekyll smiled at him.

Exactly right. She said.

The driving lesson went fairly fast and painlessly. He did retain everything that Jekyll said, and he was able to drive fairly well around the field. He even did some driving in reverse. Jekyll had him try and parallel park, which he wasn’t great at right away. They stayed in the field driving until it was almost dinner time. When Jekyll noticed the sun starting to go down, she looked over at Ryan and called it a day.

You’ve been driving for quite awhile. You’re doing well with it, too. See? I knew you’d catch on pretty quickly. Otherwise, I probably would have to be teaching you on a car I wasn’t attached to. Stop the car, we’ll switch and I’ll drive us home. Jekyll said.

Ryan stopped the car, put it in park and unhooked his seat belt. They switched seats again and Jekyll started them towards home.

On their way back, driving along the dirt road, they noticed two wandering undead.

Well, we know the drill, don’t we? asked Jekyll.

Yup. said Ryan getting out his handgun from it’s holster. Once he acquired the gun, he was instructed to always carry it with him wherever he went. Can I take them both? He asked.

Sure, I’ve got the wheel, so you can take point. She replied.

Ryan aimed, as she drove, and shot them both right between the eyes twice. They fell limply to the ground. Ryan did not see it as anything other than a mercy to relieve them of their terrible affliction and long days of torment.

We’ll send Todd and Dave back to burn them. I don’t have a lighter or anything on me right now. Jekyll said.

Shouldn’t we just come back? I mean, we know right where they are. Ryan asked.

You know, you’re right. And I could use some more time outside the gates. But first, we have to record them in the book. I’m not really sure why Leroy wants us to keep count, but I’m sure he has his reasons. Jekyll replied.

I think after we get everything settled and into a sort of routine, we should start doing sweeps. We should start seeking the zombies out and kill them. It would be a mercy mission really. Free them from their tortured shells. Ryan confided, even though a part of him thought that Jekyll may judge him harshly for his candor.

I agree completely. We really should, but we’re going to have to use something other than guns for a lot of it. We don’t want to run out of ammo just in case we get over-run at some point. Jekyll looked at Ryan, and he could see that she had taken him seriously and agreed with him. He saw that she was looking at him clearly and not judging him one bit.

They got to the gates, and Jekyll honked the car horn twice to get the men guarding the gates on this shift to open them for the duo. The gates opened, and the two men at the gate waved Jekyll in. She pulled passed them slowly and then drove up to the large farm house.

I’ll run in and fill in the book and get a lighter and some fluid, I should also let Emmy know what we’re up to, so she won’t worry. Jekyll said as she put the car into park.

Jekyll hopped out, ran up the stairs and into the house. She walked briskly into the kitchen, grabbed the notebook that was on the dining room table and wrote in it that they had seen two zombies and killed them, along with the date. Then, she went and found the ‘random stuff’ drawer in the kitchen and got a long lighter. She went into the back room and found some kerosene and a small fire extinguisher. Emmy saw her bustling about and asked her what she was doing, and Jekyll told her.

Oh, okay then. We’ll see you later for dinner, right? Emmy asked.

Of course! We would never miss any of your cooking, Emmy! Jekyll exclaimed, and she hugged her aunt quickly.

Drive safely! Emmy called after Jekyll.

Will do, Emmy! Jekyll shouted over her shoulder as the screen door slammed shut.

Jekyll went around to her car’s hatch, popped it open and put the kerosene and the extinguisher