“That’s okay. I took the liberty of packing you some food and water for the road too, and I topped up your gas tank,” Ethan said with a smile that reached his eyes. A genuine smile.
Surprised, Dylan stared at him. “You did? Why?”
“Why not? I’m a doctor. It’s my job to look after people, and you need it,” Ethan replied.
“Yeah, but still. It’s every man for himself nowadays,” Dylan said. “Actually, scratch that. It’s always been every man for himself.”
He regarded her with somber eyes. “You’ve had a tough life, haven’t you?”
Dylan shrugged. “I guess so. It doesn’t help to whine about it, though.”
“No, but you can talk to me if you want to,” he said.
“Thanks for the offer, but the past is best left in the past.”
“And now, what are your plans for the future?” he asked.
Dylan hesitated before deciding to come clean. “If I even have a future.”
“What do you mean?”
Rolling back her sleeve, she showed him the bite mark on her arm. “I’m living on borrowed time, doctor.”
He stared at the wound with a strange mixture of loss and sadness. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? It’s not your fault.”
“Because losing you would be a tragedy for this world. You’re an extraordinary woman, Dylan.”
She laughed disbelievingly. “Yeah? You think so?”
He nodded, not smiling back. “I know so. You’re strong. A fighter.”
His words evoked warmth in her chest that she hadn’t felt in ages. Attraction. Not that she could afford any complications. Shrugging it off, she said, “Anyway, it’s why I need passage. There’s a cure at Fort Knox, but I have to get there before I turn. Once I die, it’s game over.”
“I see. Do you have enough time?” he asked, leaning forward.
“Just under two days. I can make it if nothing else goes wrong,” she said with a quick glance at her watch.
“I can’t believe it. A cure.” Ethan jumped up. “We’d better hurry then. Can’t have you missing your deadline, can we?”
Dylan placed her empty cup on his desk. “Indeed not.”
He made her sit on the bed while he gathered a few supplies from the closet. She swung her legs back and forth, feeling relaxed after the hot bath. She yawned. “Do you have anything to keep me awake? I’m dead tired.”
Ethan shook his head. “I’ll give you a shot of vitamins to boost your immune system and another of antibiotics, but what you really need is rest.”
“The one thing I don’t have time for.”
He shot her a distressed look but remained silent. After snapping on a set of gloves, he said, “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”
Dylan nodded and began pointing out her various aches and pains. Most of it was bruising with a few abrasions that needed disinfecting, but the cut on her hand required more care.
“It’s too late for stitches, I’m afraid, but I’ve wrapped it up as best as I can,” Ethan said, securing a bandage firmly in place with tape. “Can you tell me what happened to you? It must be quite a story.”
“I suppose.” Dylan told him about her trip to the supermarket, getting bitten, leaving town, finding Frankie, and even Maddie and Kyle. It took her mind off the pain while he worked.
“They burned people alive?” he asked, shocked by that part of her story. “I knew things were going to hell, but that’s murder!”
“I know. It’s crazy out there. They’d burn me too if they could. So would Maddie,” Dylan said.
Ethan shook his head as he examined the cut on her head. “She tried to kill you, that’s for sure. That is one nasty wound. You’re lucky she didn’t fracture your skull.”
“I wouldn’t call it luck.” Dylan went on to tell him about Kyle saving her and spending the night with a dead zombie in the car.
“No wonder it smells like death in there. Should I add a can of air freshener to your supplies?” Ethan asked with a grin.
Dylan laughed, appreciating his attempt at levity as he injected the area around the gash. “Anything but roses, please.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Not a fan?”
“Nope, I’m an amber and musk kind of girl.” She gasped as the anesthetic burned away all feeling until her eyes watered. “Holy crap, that hurts.”
“This will only take a minute.” With smooth efficiency, he disinfected her scalp and stitched up the wound. Afterward, he cleaned the other, smaller cut that Frankie’s boyfriend had given her before stepping back. “Right. I put four stitches in there. Have someone take a look at it as soon as you reach Fort Knox, and for God’s sake, try not to get injured again.”
“I can’t make any promises,” Dylan said with a rueful smile. “Trouble seems to find me.”
“Yes, that’s what worries me,” Ethan said, as he slid back the sleeve on her arm. “Now, let’s take a look at this zombie bite of yours.”
Dylan swallowed when she caught a whiff of rotting flesh and quickly looked away. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“The flesh around the edges is decomposing, and the infection seems quite advanced. I’d say you’re almost at the halfway point now,” Ethan said in somber tones as he swabbed the area with alcohol before wrapping it up.
Dylan looked at the timer on her wrist. “Sounds about right. I’ve got about forty-five hours left.”
He injected her with a cocktail of antibiotics and handed over a bottle of pills with strict instructions. “Here, take these. It will help to control the fever. You’re burning up. There’s not much more I can do for you, though. I wish there were.”
Dylan stared at the pills before meeting his gaze. “You’ve done more than enough, thank you.”
A long moment of silence passed as they stared into each other’s eyes. Dylan was the first to look away, uncomfortable with the energy flowing between them. She couldn’t afford to care. Not now. Like this.
“I’ve got to go,” she whispered.
“I know. I’ll drive,” he answered.
As they walked outside, Dylan couldn’t help but reflect on the unfortunate timing of their meeting. If only it had been before the outbreak. Things might have been so different then. But it wasn’t, and she was running out of time.
Tick, tock.
Tick, tock.
Chapter 19 - Dylan
Ethan drove her through town, and she couldn’t help but notice the ongoing activity. Houses were being torn down, and the material was driven away while people rushed along the sidewalks with hunched shoulders. Others queued at shops for groceries doled out in brown paper bags.
Trucks with armed men policed the street, and they were stopped more than once and questioned. Luckily, Ethan was well-known and held in high esteem, so they got no trouble.
“It’s like a concentration camp,” Dylan said after a while.
“Really?” Ethan asked. “Why do you say that? We’re securing the town against zombie attacks.”
“Maybe, but I’ve seen how quickly things can go wrong. Ray is your first example. He’s driving around with a gun and feeling important. He’s the man, in charge of the safety of other citizens. Soon, he starts feeling like they owe him, while outsiders are nothing but trash. In no time at all, girls are forced to give it up to Ray and his cronies while the best supplies go to feed and house them.”
“That’s just Ray. Maybe one or two others. The rest of us aren’t like that,” Ethan protested. “We just want to keep people safe, fed, and healthy.”
“I know. You’re a good guy, but how long will it take before you’re outvoted? Ray’s dad wasn’t thrilled with my actions despite having good cause. That means he leans toward his son’s ideals. Hell, he probably taught them to Ray. And Maddie. How long do you think it’ll take before her dogma spreads through the rest of the town?”
Ethan was silent for a long time after she spoke. Finally, he said, “I hope you’re wrong. I grew u
p in this town. I’m their doctor. I’ve nursed these people through sickness and health, caught countless babies, seen others pass away. Your vision of the future is a nightmare.”
“For your sake, I hope I’m wrong. But I just drove through a town who burned an innocent girl on the stake. These are terrible times, Ethan. And people are capable of terrible things.”
“I guess you’re right. I’ll have to make sure it doesn’t come to that,” Ethan said.
“I hope you succeed.” Dylan stared ahead as they neared another roadblock. “Is this it?”
“Yup. This is where we part ways,” Ethan said. He stopped in front of the barrier and spoke to the guards, telling them to let her pass.
The guards seemed kind enough and even greeted her while Ray and his friends were nowhere to be seen. A decided relief. “Thank you for everything, Ethan.”
“It was my pleasure, Dylan. Your supplies are in the trunk, and you’ve got a full tank of gas. I hope you make it to Fort Knox on time,” Ethan said, gazing at her with his earnest blue eyes.
A few seconds passed in awkward silence as each of them searched for the right thing to say. Secretly, Dylan wished Ethan could’ve gone with her to Fort Knox, and he didn’t look eager to see her go either. But, they each had their road to travel, and it wasn’t together. Not now.
“If you ever need to, you’ll know where to find me,” Dylan said.
“Likewise,” Ethan replied, before getting out so she could scoot over. Once settled behind the wheel, the guards opened the barricade, and she had little option but to drive through.
A final wave and then Ethan was gone, retreating to a distant figure in her rearview mirror. The roadblock closed, completely cutting him off from view. Dylan swallowed on a sudden lump in her throat as tears threatened to undo her fragile composure. For the first time, she felt truly alone. Not just alone, but lonely too.
Several miles passed without incident, and she was beginning to grow thirsty again. Hot too. Her fever was growing worse. With the supplies in the trunk, that would mean a quick stop to get water. Before she could pull over, however, a truck appeared on the horizon behind her. It was moving fast, its silhouette growing larger by the second.
Dylan stared at it with narrowed eyes. It could only come from one place. Vandalia. And she could think of only two people who might want to see her again. Ethan and Ray. She strongly doubted it was Ethan racing after her at such breakneck speed. So, it had to be Ray, and he wasn’t about to bring her flowers.
“Son of a…” She pulled her gun from its holster and placed it on the seat next to her. “If it’s Ray, I’m going to kill him this time.”
She cast her eyes around to see if there was anywhere she could take shelter, someplace safe where she could fight Ray off, but there was nothing. Nothing but open fields filled with patches of scraggly brush and trees.
Dylan tried going faster, pushing the car to its limits, but the truck kept getting closer by the minute. It was faster than her. Much faster.
“Running isn’t an option, it seems. Neither is hiding. I’ll have to fight them off,” she muttered as fear stirred in the pit of her stomach. She thought of them because she couldn’t imagine the sniveling Ray coming after her alone. Nope. He’d bring his buddies with him for back-up.
A minute ticked by as the two vehicles raced across the asphalt. The truck slowly gained while Dylan braced herself for the worst. She was scared, her stomach churning at the thought of what was to come. A fight to the death in which she was outnumbered and outgunned in every way. If she hoped to survive, she’d have to use her wits.
Dylan licked her dry lips as she cast around for a way out, a trick, anything that could save her. All the while, Ray kept gaining until she could make out his face in the mirror. He grinned, sensing her gaze.
Just as she’d thought, he’d brought along two of his buddies as well. The same two who’d stared at her before. That complicated matters. She didn’t know what she was going to do. All she did know was that she wouldn’t give up. Not a chance. “Come and get it, asshole. I’ll make you regret chasing after me. That’s a promise.”
Chapter 20 - Dylan
Dylan swallowed hard as Ray’s truck drew level with her car. Her hands shook on the wheel, and she flexed her fingers to get a better grip. Her gut churned, and she regretted stuffing herself with cookies in Ethan’s office earlier. She’d have been better off with an empty stomach.
Ray waved at her to pull over, a wide grin splitting his face from ear to ear. His buddies were laughing too. They were confident they had her. Sure there was no escape, and they were probably right.
Dylan refused to look at them. Instead, she focused on the road, looking for anything that might help her. There was nothing. The highway stretched ahead as straight as an arrow, a smooth gray snake that cut through the landscape. On either side, spread a barren world. It was as if they’d fallen off the face of the earth. There wasn’t a single farmhouse to offer hope. No one to help. No other cars. And the nearest town too far to be of any assistance. She was on her own.
Ray’s buddies wound down their window and shouted at her to stop. When she didn’t comply, they resorted to yelling obscenities and threats, joined by Ray. Peas in a pod. The scum of the earth. Undeterred, Dylan kept her gaze fixed ahead, though she covertly watched them from the corner of her eyes.
Anger washed across Ray’s face, and he swerved toward her. Panic flared in Dylan’s breast, and she jerked the wheel to the side. The tires squealed as she fought for control, the truck looming large beside her. Despite her best efforts to be brave, she was deathly afraid.
Ray pulled back just before he hit her vehicle, a smirk adorning his face. “Pull over. It’s your only chance!”
Dylan squeezed her eyes shut, her knuckles turning white on the wheel. “Please, God. Don’t let them get me.”
“Come on now. Don’t be like that. All we want is a little bit of fun.”
Bile stung the back of Dylan’s throat. She hated feeling helpless. It reminded her of the system, of everyone who’d wielded the power of life and death over her, and the foster dad who thought he could take what he wanted when he wanted. “Not again. Never again.”
Anger flared in her gut, washing away the fear she felt. A sense of recklessness overtook her. She’d be damned if she gave in to these assholes. She’d never let them have the pleasure of taking her alive. She’d rather die. What have I got to lose anyway? I’m dead already — a zombie.
“Pull over, bitch,” Ray yelled, growing impatient.
“Fuck off,” she yelled back, giving him the middle finger.
“You’ll pay for that,” Ray screamed, his face turning purple with rage.
He swerved at her again, cutting it much closer this time.
Dylan jerked the wheel to the side. Her front tire hit a patch of gravel and skidded off the road. The car zigzagged wildly, bouncing over tussocks of grass and stones the size of her fists. A cloud of dust enveloped her and Ray’s truck, obscuring the way ahead.
Dylan fought with the wheel, trying to get back onto the road. She narrowly missed hitting a tree, skidding sideways on the loose sand. She managed to regain control and jammed her foot onto the accelerator. The engine whined as she shot ahead of Ray and back onto the tar.
He followed, filling her rear window with the hulking silhouette of his truck. Dylan cried out when he nudged her with his bumper. The car jolted forward and almost careened into a deep ditch formed by run-off from the rains.
He came at her again, intent on ramming her. She swung to the opposite side of the road, narrowly escaping getting clipped. Ray increased his speed, once more drawing level with her. His friends hooted at her through their open window, and one let off a wild shot that narrowly missed.
Dylan was fast running out of options when she spotted a bend in the road ahead. A plan formed in her mind, and she prayed it would work. If it didn’t, she was doomed. Honking the horn, she sought to grab the attention of
all three her attackers.
Their heads turned toward her as one, eyebrows raised, and she yelled as loudly as she could. “Come and get me, you pieces of shit. I dare you!”
Ray’s eyes narrowed to slits. “If you say so, bitch!”
For the third time, he came at her, yanking the wheel to the side. At the same time, Dylan slammed her foot on the brakes as hard as she could. The tires screamed, and the smell of burning rubber filled the air as the car squealed to a stop. Her body flew forward with the momentum, and her forehead connected with the steering wheel. Stars filled her eyes, and she blinked furiously to clear her vision.
Ray’s truck shot past her and swung into the space where she used to be. Taken by surprise, he lost control, weaving drunkenly from side to side. Within seconds, they’d reached the bend. Unable to turn in time, Ray’s truck shot straight across and into a clump of thick vegetation on the other side.
With a loud crash, the truck’s nose hit a tree dead-on. The screech of twisting metal and shattering glass filled the air as the engine and radiator imploded. A cloud of dust enveloped the scene, and steam rose from the hood, curling upwards in lazy swirls.
Dylan stared at the scene. One hand felt for the gun on the seat next to her. It was gone. It shot forward when she slammed on the brakes. She searched for it with frantic haste. She doubted the accident had taken care of Ray and his buddies for good. That lucky she hadn’t been in a long time.
She spotted the weapon in the footwell and scooped it up before jumping out of the car. Her head swam, and her ears buzzed, but she forced herself to walk toward Ray’s truck. With the gun at her side, and one hand pressed to her throbbing forehead, she stumbled forward. As she drew closer, the passenger side door opened, and one of Ray’s friends fell out of the cab. He landed with a grunt, clearly disorientated.
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