"Sorry," May said, cupping her mouth and squinting, “my ring slipped off.”
I picked it up and tucked it in my pocket. I looked up in time to see the lady in the corner turn her head around slowly, and in an even slower motion, she rotated her visibly rotting body toward us. She knew we were there. Standing at an angle facing us, head lowered down, her face was covered with long, dark, graying hair. She peeped up from the gaps of hair falling on either side, revealing what remained of the face. Two empty holes in the skull; a bug crawled out of the left eye socket. She slanted her head sideways, neck cricking as she stumbled toward us. Shit, we found the mom, or the mom found us. Rakan aimed his gun at Mrs. Zombie heading right for us and emptied a few rounds in her head. I involuntarily squeezed my eyes shut. The sound of the sonic boom rattled my ears. Nothing but ringing. I opened my eyes to see Rakan’s lips moving, but the sound traveled to my ear as static. I couldn’t make out the words. Slowly, I retrieved my hearing ability. Everything happened in a blur of a second, like a lucid dream that I was yanked out of.
“We need to get out of here now," I heard him saying clearly, "right now."
"Go go go," Faisal instructed. We darted to the other stairs down to the main floor. Rakan rushed down, clearing the way. There was still one zombie member that could be here. Was it still in the house with us? I pressed the gun in my hand as we ran down the steps as fast as caution allowed. Halfway down the stairs, hissing and growling followed us. It came from the back. I turned around and let out a small shriek at the view of zombies appearing at the top of the staircase.
“The gunshots drew them out," May said.
The zombies tumbled down the steps in total loss of balance and came at us. Faisal sprung to action, fighting off the two zombies closest to him. In a swift move, he pushed one over the banner and aimed the gun at the other’s jugular. He tilted it upward and planted a bullet in the brains. Rakan rushed past me and lunged for the rest. His reaction was automatic. He shoved the tip of the gun inside a zombie’s wide-open mouth while cupping the back of its skull with his left hand, pushing the gun deeper. He dropped his left hand and fired. A zombie tumbled, knocking Deema down. They both went down the stairs. There are too many of them.
“Deema,” Malak yelled and ran down the stairs. Shots fired. A force pushed my head against the wall, images of Malak kicking and shooting a zombie slashed before my eyes. May’s screams grabbed my attention. A zombie jumped on her, causing her to lose her balance. In a second, May tumbled back, and they both went over the banner.
“May, I’m coming,” I screamed and tried to get up. The blood shot to my head. I took a step backward. My hands were clammy. “I’m coming.” My vision blurry, I shook my head and took a few steps to the banner. I saw her clutched to the edge, fingers slipping away. I extended my hand to hers, my fingers inches away from hers, and our fingers touched before her hand slipped.
“No,” I screamed. Her razor-like scream cut through the air before any of us could get to her. Faisal was behind me. His face went flat, no expression. It happened too quickly. Rakan ran to the banner next to me and leaned over. A loud thud sent May’s scream to a halting stop. I pulled myself up and aimed my phone over the banner, hoping to see something, but darkness consumed my view. The adrenaline rushed through me as it gave way to fear.
"May," I whispered. Faisal jogged toward us and stood next to Rakan. My surroundings rotated. I was dizzy. I sat on the step for what seemed like a lifetime. I was so close. I touched you.
“You were standing right next to her!" Deema yelled at me. “So were you, Faisal. Why didn’t you do anything.”
I said nothing.
“It all happened too fast," Faisal said. “I didn't see her go over.”
"You didn't even try," Deema said.
My breathing got heavier. “May," I repeated in a low tone.
“Sara.” Malak held my hand. “The zombie slammed into you, knocking your head on the wall. Are you okay?”
“Stay with them," Faisal told Rakan and passed us, running to the first floor.
“I’m okay.” I examined my head, my forehead. There was no blood. “May,” I repeated.
"May!" Malak got up and shouted, looking down into the darkness, hoping for a reply, any reply. Please reply, May.
“Can you walk?” Rakan asked me. I nodded. "Let's go. I'll cover you.”
Not saying another word, we hurried down. A gunshot cracked the air. Raw and unmuffled. My breathing faster. We got to the first floor and saw May on the ground, not moving. Faisal stood over her, and the zombie lay next to her, flat on its back, parts of his head blown off. I stepped closer and saw May’s eyes wide open staring at the ceiling. No, no. She's not dead. She can't be.
"No," I cried out.
"Is she?" Malak asked, both her hands over her mouth. “Bring her back," she said hysterically, "bring her back.”
I stood there looking down at her lifeless body. Her bones poked out of her ripped clothes; she broke a leg and an arm, her limbs at awkward angles and head tilted in a usual way, her chest still. It did not rise or fall. A tear ran down my cheek.
"She broke her neck," Rakan said.
"Bring her back," Deema said.
"I can't bring her back. She's gone," Rakan said.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to May.
"I can't do it. I can’t shoot her if she comes back," Malak said, tears running down her cheek. She stood shaking her head.
My blood ran cold. She’s gone? She’s really dead? Will she come back?
“You won't have to. None of you will. I'll do it," Faisal said, regarding her.
“Of course you will," Deema snapped then started to cry silently.
"Deema," Malak said softly and placed her hands over Deema to comfort her, but couldn’t stop her hands from shaking.
“What are you accusing me of?” Faisal asked.
“It was my fault,” I said.
“It’s not your fault.” Malak took a step next to me. May’s body lay inches away. Is she gone? Is she really gone? My legs became weak. I walked away from the body, the back, pacing back and forth. We waited. Waited for her to join the ranks of the undead, so we could grant her final peace. But she didn't turn; she didn’t come back to life. She stayed dead. My knees gave out. I fell to the ground not too far from the body, unable to move away from her fragile body. The cold cry of desperateness filled the room. It got a few degrees colder. Everyone went silent, yet I could hear loud screaming in my head. I could have saved you. My heart shattered to pieces again, still not recovered from the first shock. I wanted to shriek, to yell to make any sound, but only tears came out. I closed my eyes tightly, hands in fists. I opened my eyes and looked at May’s golden eyes that stared up. I gently wiped my hands over them, closing them. I could still feel her warmth. I’m sorry, May. A tear dropped from my eye on her cheek.
"Get away from her, Sara," Faisal said.
"Her eyes," I whispered.
"What?" Malak crouched on the ground next to me.
"Her eyes, they changed just like Rakan's,” I said.
"What do you mean?" Deema asked barely over her sobbing cries.
"Paws. May's dead cat Paws came back to life a few days ago and bit her. I think she was immune,” I said with a tear.
“She was bitten?" Faisal asked. “And you didn’t tell anyone?”
“She was fine,” I insisted. "She didn’t show any symptoms, and we—I wasn’t sure of anything.”
“Do you even know the symptoms? You constantly put everyone at risk," Faisal said.
“This is not the time to discuss this," Rakan said.
“Why are you defending her?” Faisal replied.
“Why don't you shoot her too?” Deema said to Faisal.
“What does this mean?" Malak asked, holding back her tears.
“I suspected she was immune when I saw her eyes. This means she's gone," Rakan said. "She’s not coming back. If she was bitten and she didn't turn, that means s
he won't turn."
"Her arm." Malak pointed out the exposed bite marks. Deema sat next to us, leaned on May, and examined her arm.
"These are at least a few days old," Deema said, the evidence confirming my story.
“Yeah.” I took a deep breath.
"I don’t get it," Deema sniffled. "How and why are they immune?"
"I don’t know," Rakan said, walking to us.
Footsteps raddled the walls; the sound was close to us. It could be from the second floor.
"We have to leave," Faisal said.
“What? No,” Malak objected.
"We're not gonna leave her here,” I said.
"We don’t have a choice," Faisal said. “If we don’t leave, we'll all die.”
“No," Deema said, tears and anger coming through.
"I'll help," Rakan said calmly. “We can move her.”
Faisal sighed. "Fine. It'll be faster to move her if Rakan and I do it. But we can't bury her.”
I got on my feet and aimed my light around, searching for anything we could use. I spotted a white sheet over a sofa close by. I walked toward it and pulled the soft cotton sheets that felt cold to the touch. The chill traveled from my fingertips, inching down my spine. Deema helped me spread the sheet on the floor. Rakan and Faisal carried May gently and laid her on her back over the sheet, feet together, arms straight lined up with her body.
"Wait," I interrupted, "give us a minute, please.”
Rakan and Faisal walked a few steps back and looked away. I leaned in, close to her head, placed my lips on her forehead, and kissed it gently. “I am so sorry,” I said. I felt the warmth of her body escaping. She was going cold, so fast. I brushed my palm softly on her face and closed her eyes then stepped back. Deema and Malak took turns saying their goodbyes and kissing her forehead. We wrapped her body, then allowed the guys to move her. They lifted her onto the sofa and positioned her body to the Qibla—the Qibla is the direction Muslims pray toward—I stood there staring at the body so as to assure myself of any shadow of a doubt that she was gone. I dug my hand in my pocket and pulled out the ring May had dropped earlier, a brassy orange gemstone that matched her amber eyes. I squeezed, pressing the ring hard into my skin. The ring is here, but she is not. The words echoed in my thoughts. She is not.
"It's my fault," I whispered. “I could have saved her.”
“It’s not your fault, Sara," Malak said and slipped her fingers into mine. That always comforted me. I nodded and wiped the tears that were running down my cheeks. I could not help but feel that if I ran faster, she would have been with us now. She never wanted to come here in the first place. It was my fault for bringing her here, but I couldn't leave her behind, couldn't leave her in the car, or in the house, or anywhere. I wiped more tears from running down and caught Deema glaring at Faisal with what I could only describe as anger. She curled her lips and grew more and more tense.
“I’m sorry," Faisal said, walking up to us. "I pray she forever rests in peace," he said with such sincerity.
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything without sobs escaping. Malak thanked him.
“Are you?" Deema accused him.
"Deema!" Malak said.
"Rakan," I said, noticing his arm. "You’re hurt?"
Rakan looked at me "No," he replied.
“There's blood on your arm," I said. Rakan glanced down at the bloody stain.
"I didn’t feel anything. We'll deal with this later. It's time to leave."
We walked toward the door, leaving the house I took one last look at May's body lying there. Helpless. We were deserting her; she was alone. I don't want to leave her alone. We exited the house and closed the door. The sound of the door shutting snapped the logic back into me. We have to move. I peered up at the sky. Darkness had departed and fresh air occupied the growing brightness of the morning. I took a deep breath.
"That’s scary," Malak said, standing next to me.
"What?" I asked, turning to her. What else was coming at us?
"The light is coming out, and I don’t hear any mosques calling out for prayer," Malak said with a trembling voice. The words sent shivers under my skin. Every day like clockwork, prayers were broadcasted from loudspeakers mounted on tall minarets. Even though most areas have more than one mosque present, the prayers were only reinforced by overlapping, floating in harmony and beauty above the country. The first call for prayer was at the break of dawn. But it was no longer heard. I didn't know if the mosques were abandoned or not, but I knew that they couldn’t make a sound if they wanted to live.
"Or birds," Deema said, glancing at the trees. "There are no birds tweeting.”
"Is it the end of the world?" Malak asked, her voice cutting loud and clear in the deathly quiet morning air.
I didn’t reply, but that was what it felt like. We stood there looking at everything that grew clearer in the light of day. Everything stood still and quiet, no birds, no cars, no background sounds, even the wind did not dare make a sound and alert danger of its presence. Nothing in the distance but the muted unknown. If this wasn’t the end of times, then it was definitely the days prior to it. I noticed the leash next to the door, and there was nothing attached to it.
“Where's Bullet?” I asked.
"Who’s Bullet?" Deema asked.
Rakan and Faisal rushed next to us. "Go, go, go," Faisal repeated, "to the car.”
I knew exactly why they rushed us and Malak and Deema did not bother to ask again. We ran toward the car.
Chapter 34
Advanced operations base
Al-Jubail, Eastern Province
Twenty hours earlier
The ground shook beneath them as they stomped their leather boots. Saudi flags raised above their heads, matching the flags patched proudly on their shoulders. Chests pushed out. Proud. United under a single, strong entity. Patriotism and survival. With their rifles in their arms and a smile, they pushed forward, leaving nothing but their written wills behind. Ranks were lost in the wave of men standing shoulder to shoulder. All around them drums of death thundered, not having any effect on them. They not only were expecting death, but they also welcomed it. They competed to see who would die first for their country, for their security.
It’s here, they step forward, the wind blowing with terror as the flags wave.
It’s here, they step forward, answering the call as the field is their only witness.
It’s here, they step forward, killing any doubts of their defeat, roaring victory.
It’s here, they step forward, standing front and center, no fear in their eyes.
It’s here, they step forward, offering only their last breaths to protect these lands.
Over them, a sky showered with missiles. The sound of speeding missiles echoed in the distance. It’s here, they step forward.
It’s here…
Any other army would fall to their fears. But not this army. This army was numb. Stripped of human traits. They were sight oriented with an acute sense of smell. Although they seemed like they were wandering off aimlessly, they were focused on the army that marched toward them. The camouflage uniforms wouldn’t hide the army or allow them to blend in their natural desert habitat, not this time. They couldn’t hide. The zombies gravitated to the sounds the soldiers made and the warmth of their bodies. They were more exposed than ever. The captain in charge underestimated the enemy before him. You never underestimate the enemy, he scolded himself as he looked down at the two armies colliding. The enemy took unsteady, unbalanced steps that encouraged the captain at first. They were sick rebels, he thought. He could beat them. It’s under control, he kept reassuring himself. But what the enemy lacked in coordination they made up in persistent. They kept going, falling and getting right back up. For every one zombie that dropped, one stood in its place. For every one living that dropped, two zombies appeared. The zombies were not only killing the soldiers, but they were killing any chance of those standing soldiers for surviving, which was worse—j
ust another wave of zombie conquests. Soon we will be fighting an army that will emerge from us.
“Sound off!” the captain shouted through the radio. “Sound off!”
Nothing but the sounds of the living dying and the dead moaning back to life. The nation stepped a step closer to the end.
“It’s here,” the captain said, standing in the east tower and stepped forward.
It’s here.
War.
Chapter 35
Fresh scars, open wounds, consumed with guilt and pain. The air was heavy and depressing as I inhaled and exhaled despair. May is dead. An overwhelming desire for isolation grew larger with every passing thought. May is dead. I tried to block my emotions. May’s death triggered another loss. May and Mary are dead. It was not the time to fall apart. I had to convince myself I needed to be strong more than ever. Everything around me was changing, my entire surrounding and purpose had been altered. Yet, everything paled in comparison to losing someone close. I sat in the back seat, in the middle between Malak who had her hand on my knee, and Deema who could not sit still in her seat. She shuffled every few minutes, rubbing her shoulder on mine as if to assure herself she was not alone. No one spoke. Everyone was lost for words. We slipped into a silent state. Even Plumpy sensed the need for some quiet. My gaze fell on the rearview mirror and caught Rakan looking back at me. His deep gray eyes focused. He broke eye contact as soon as mine met his. I turned my attention to the window; buildings rose in the distance from the highway as we made our way to another city, driving up north, further away from Bahrain, further away from Mom and Dad. “Winds blow counter to what ships desire.” The expression popped in my head. My dad always repeated that old saying. There I was on a ship with the wind blowing me to a city I didn't want to go to. Maybe we would be safe and get some answers… Maybe not.
“Welcome to Jubail,” a green sign read on the side of the abandoned highway, a crow standing over the sign, staring back at us with bleak eyes and an open beak.
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