Nurse Janette was dreaming of her past relationship with Steve. They were exclusively dating when Steve broke up with Janette. It was the time when Steve’s parents and brother died. Loneliness became his friend as he tried to be distant from Janette and other friends. She was so hurt, but half-heartedly accepted Steve’s decision, until one day they accidentally saw each other at Southcrest Community Hospital. Steve was in his first year working, while Nurse Janette just got hired. All of a sudden, the background changed, and there were Marauders behind Steve making shots at him. Steve fell to the ground full of blood then Janette shouted and burst into tears. Janette instantly woke up from her dream and felt Steve’s arms around her waist. Janette thought that it was still a dream when she heard Steve murmured,
“I thought I’d lost you, too,” Steve whispered and kissed her hair. Janette grabbed his hand and entwined it with her. There were unspoken words, but they both knew that the feeling was mutual.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
It was five in the afternoon at the farm, but it was already getting dark. Maxine and Rashida were preparing the ingredients while Grandma Carmichael was getting ready to cook their meal. Victoria had finally healed, so she decided to help other two women of Southcrest Village wash the dishes. Grandpa Carmichael, Tony, Walter, and Joseph were feeding the farm animals while the Nurse and the rest of the Southcrest survivors just finished fixing the exterior of the farmhouse after the shooting incident against the Marauders a few days ago. Denise had also recovered from the trauma, and she’s playing with the children of the farm in the front yard. Captain Ellis and the rest of his Army scattered around the farm as they build higher and sharper barb wires.
Everyone was busy with their assigned tasks when they heard gunshots from the front yard. Without the knowledge of the people in the farm, three Marauders from the previous attack was still alive, and they’ve been spying their every action. It seemed that the farm was too big for the eight-man Army to watch it efficiently. Denise and Vicky shouted when they saw the dead bodies of other children from Southcrest. They immediately ran together with Bobby, his younger brother, and Ross. Joseph and Tony immediately rushed to carry them inside the house.
“Stay here,” Joseph told to Maxine and his kids. Grandpa Carmichael, Tony, Walter, and Joseph ran towards the barn to get some weapons. As Tony opened the oak door, the remaining intruder fired at him. Tony fell to the ground as the Marauder continued shooting the wooden door.
“Come on!” Walter shouted at Joseph.
“No! Tony!” Joseph replied.
“We have to move! We’ll all die if we don’t! Give me a lift, and I’ll climb through the window!” Walter answered.
“Go on! I’ll take care of Tony!” Grandpa Carmichael stated as he quickly lifted, and put Tony’s arm around his neck. They were all shouting because of the gunshots from the intruder inside the barn, and the others.
The Army was quick enough to fire back, as they captured the two Marauders hiding on the grass. However, as soon as the Army carried them, other gunshots were fired near the fence. Two small trucks parked outside, but with more Marauders. Everybody went down, as bullets came everywhere. The Marauders launched a grenade at the farm fencing, and they freely entered the farm spontaneously, and behind the trees. Joseph and Walter paused when they heard the explosion.
“Let’s go. Hurry! On three.” Walter stepped on Joseph’s entwined hand, and he jumped in full strength then grabbed the edge of the window. Walter opened the awning window upward and lifted himself up. The intruder was just below him, so he immediately attacked the Marauder to death. Joseph and Grandpa Carmichael followed inside the barn, but Tony looked pale. He had a gunshot between his left shoulder, and chest.
“Let’s get you inside the house. I’ll remove the bullet.” Joseph said to Tony.
“We’ll cover you,” Walter answered, then they hurried back inside the house. Grandpa Carmichael, Walter, Captain Ellis and the rest of the Army tried to hold their position and protect the farmhouse. However, there were just too many of them trying to invade their house and take away all of their supplies.
Rashida shouted soon as Joseph and Tony entered the house. Tony was still awake, but couldn’t speak because of weakness.
“Why are you here? You should all be upstairs.” Joseph was upset to the ladies because they were all waiting in the kitchen instead of hiding.
“What happened?” Maxine asked.
“There was a Marauder inside the barn. He fired soon as Tony opened the door. Where are the medical supplies?” Joseph asked the nurse.
“Where are you going?!” Joseph suddenly shouted at Rashida who was about to go to the barn.
“Enough of hiding. Just because we’re women doesn’t mean that we can’t fight.” Rashida stated with ignited emotions when she saw her wounded husband.
“I’m coming with you,” Maxine announced and Rashida nodded.
“So am I,” Victoria announced her arrival, too. Joseph couldn’t believe what he heard, but the ladies went to the barn before he can speak.
“Maxine!” Joseph tried to stop her wife, but he can’t just leave Tony behind.
“Women problems?” Tony uttered and smirked at Joseph while Grandma Carmichael took the children inside her room.
Joseph immediately laid down Tony on the sofa, while the nurse gathered the medical supplies from the Southcrest Surgery Center. They were about to start the operation when another gunshot shaken the house then the Nurse dropped down on the floor with blood on his head.
“Hi, Doctor.” A marauder greeted Joseph then aimed a gun at his head. The intruder entered from the kitchen when the ladies left the door unlocked. He walked behind Joseph to see his face, but Tony grabbed the surgical scissors and planted on the Marauder’s thigh. The intruder shouted in pain and Joseph immediately grabbed the gun, but the intruder still had the strength to refuse. They fought over the gun’s possession then Joseph kicked the surgical scissors to penetrate further, but the Marauder kicked his face using the other leg. Joseph fell and got dizzy, but his legs were long enough to boot the gun. He tried to stand up, but the intruder dodged and punched him in all angles. Joseph reached for the surgical scissors, pulled it and the intruder stopped hitting him as he felt the burning discomfort. Joseph hurriedly struck the marauder’s neck, and throat then pushed him away. Joseph was still dizzy and hurt, but he continued the surgery. He checked Tony, and his wound then grabbed the scalpel.
“This will hurt, Tony.” Joseph cut the skin between Tony’s left shoulder and his chest without anesthesia because there was nothing left. Tony cried in pain, but Joseph ignored it. He opened the wound, took the tweezers and searched for the bullet. Joseph had to cut another layer of the skin, but blood was flowing out rapidly. He grasped the longer tweezers and pulled the bolt immediately. The shot was too shallow, so he had to suture the wound.
Walter got surprised to see Rashida firing behind the barn, but it was too late to stop her. The Marauders overpowered the farm men as they penetrated almost half of the front yard. It was already getting dark, but the war continued. Suddenly, a group of bikers headed down the road of the farm. Everyone stopped firing as they looked at the eleven horning motorcycles, they were clueless who was coming. The leader upfront held an RPG on his other hand while maneuvering his big bike. He aimed the two small trucks and fired the shot. Explosion circulated the area as more marauders thrown in the air. Wounded Marauders ran away from the farm, as the bikers parked their motorcycles ten feet from the fence then Walter immediately recognized the Militia flag along with the US colors.