Z.E.D.S. Series (Book 2): Z.E.D.S. Wayward Son

by Botts, Bradley

  “And that is why I love you,” Lyle said before planting a long kiss onto her.

  “It was nice to meet you Atlas, but I need to steal my Lyle from you because I am in desperate need of some African squats,” Alison said before pulling Lyle away.

  “Duty calls. Enjoy yourself. I’ll catch you tomorrow,” Lyle shouted as he faded into the distance.

  I stepped towards a log with no occupancy. I sat on the edge and watched everyone as they paraded around in no proper form of dance. They were swaying with the tune, jumping around the fire and some were doing explicit things off in the distance with a glimmer of light portraying their shadows.

  Towards the tree line I noticed Debra was waving her arms like leaves in the wind. Her eyes were closed, and she kept pressing her hands together at her chest then going back to swaying. As my eyes wandered around the site, I noticed the one who saved my life. Karmen was sitting on a stack of tires just outside the glare of the flames. Her gaze was set on me with the same intensity as her stature. She looked relaxed but prepared for the unexpected. She moved her hand from her knee, gripped a flashlight from her belt and pointed towards a grassy hill in the distance with a flickering light. More eyes glared towards me as each danced in a ritualistic manner.

  I stood from the log and roamed subtly into the darkness to walk towards the area Karmen pointed to in hopes no one would follow. The music began to die down as I ventured further away from the group. A glare from Karmen’s medallion caused by the revitalization of the flame allowed me to find her in the field.

  “So, you’re Karmen,” I asked as I walked towards her. “I didn’t get to thank you for saving my life.”

  “It was a matter of convenience more than anything. I just happened to walk up to you as you were falling,” Karmen replied.

  “Well none the less, I’m in your debt,” I replied.

  Karmen nodded her head as she placed her finger on the tip of her knife.

  “Is this not your kind of thing? Your entire community galivanting like collegiate sports fans after a big win,” I asked Karmen as she sat at the top of a conformed hill with her legs dangling off the edge.

  “This is not my community. It is my father’s cult. They are all brainwashed by a false end. There is no redemption for any of us. We are long forgotten about,” Karmen replied.

  “If we are forgotten about, then we must make this world our own,” I replied.

  A slight chuckle exited her voice as Karmen said, “This world will never be ours again. It is theirs.”

  Karmen pointed down at the hill she was sitting on before turning on a lantern. The heel of her foot slammed against a metal bar hidden in the shadows. I stared towards a hidden entrance as a wrestling sound sloshed in moist dirt. Karmen lowered the lantern to illuminate the rift of the hill. A growl appeared before mud covered arms stretched from the darkness. A hand gripped Karmen’s boot as it shown their face in the light. The mud cloaked body presented matted hair, broken fingernails, blood stained teeth, a torn silk dress and her eyes that had no soul.

  “This world belongs to them. Our time is done,” Karmen said as she swung her flashlight towards the wrist of the zombie.

  The crackle of the wrist snapping from the impact of the flashlight brought a screech from the rotting corpse and a quick release of her boot.

  “So, you’re ready to just call it quits on the rest of your life? What was the point in you saving me then if it was all for nothing,” I asked.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I want to live. I want to be able to survive this entire apocalypse. But I’m not an optimist. I am a realist. I know what is going to happen in the end. I want to see the end. And even though this world will be overtaken by the flesh eaters, I’m going to take as many of them out as possible. I owe her that,” Karmen said.

  “Owe who,” I asked.

  Karmen dropped from the hill. “There is a reason why I brought you over here. This woman’s name is Janice. She was part of this community, a personal assistant to my father. One word of doubt that exited her mouth to the wrong person landed her here in this cage,” Karmen explained. “She told Debra that what my father does isn’t related to God. It was self-religious. No one should have to endure what they are subjected to. It is by the hands of a self-fulfilling prophecy, not scripture. In term, the word to use is blasphemy.”

  “What did your father do,” I asked.

  “If you could see underneath that entire casing of mud, she has no scratches. She doesn’t have one single bite mark,” Karmen explained. “She was starved to death.”

  I stared closer at the caged woman and saw a more emptiness to her being than a ravaging beast. She was hungry for flesh, but that was one of the last things she felt. Hunger, shame, betrayal, all anger infused.

  “Why would he throw her in here and allow her to starve,” I asked while still staring at Janice.

  “To teach a lesson. He said that her going against him is going against God and we can’t jeopardize our progress with an unfaithful heathen. He threatened the entire community with this intent if anyone were to go against his word or doubt his preaching,” Karmen said. “My father is lost amongst the dead. The man that did this to Janice is not my father.”

  “Why are you telling me all of this,” I asked.

  “I need your help in shutting him down. These people are either frightened, don’t care or are blind. When I saw you struggling after you fell, I was hesitant to help you. I didn’t know who you were or what you were doing, but as annoying as my sister is, I listened to her when she told me to help you. Then when you didn’t fall in trance with Debra’s seductive helpers like all the rest, that clarified you are not easily influenced. You are not a follower. You are a leader. I need a leader to help me dismantle this entire town,” Karmen explained. “My dad believes you are a messiah of the land. That alone gives you access to everything around this town with no questions asked.”

  “You are the Reverend’s daughter, don’t you have that type of access,” I asked.

  “I can only get so far. My dad keeps me at a distance,” Karmen replied.

  “You said you had a sister. What about her,” I asked.

  Karmen stared into the cage where the rotting woman kept clawing through the bars. “My sister is dead. She can’t help us,” Karmen said behind a deep breath. “I need your help.”

  The music became more distant. The laughter and cheers from the crowd scolded the peaceful night. A scouring howl from the wind cursed the skin on my arm. Karmen’s eyes were far more intense than the chill. Karmen found me, saved me, and brought me here. Remembering back to what Farrah once told me. “There are no coincidences, just the grand plan.”

  “Ok. Tell me what you need me to do,” I said.

  “That quickly. You are on board,” Karmen asked.

  “I’m in your debt and I’m taking the advice of a fallen friend,” I replied.

  “Ok then. For now, just play the part. Don’t exceed the role but play subtle to making them believe you are getting into believing you are who they want you to be,” Karmen explained. “Right now, go back to the party before anyone notices you’re gone. We will meet up tomorrow at the town square around three. Dad prays every day at that time. He won’t pay attention to anything outside his office.”

  I nodded to Karmen and began to walk away.

  “Keep that gun hidden on you at all times. You’re going to need it,” Karmen said before I left her sight.

  I stepped closer back to the gathering and was spotted by Serenity. Her half naked body shined amongst the flames as she danced.

  “Atlas,” Serenity yelled. “Come dance with me.”

  I declined her invitation with the wave of my hand. Instead of accepting my decline, she ran to me with her arm extended and gripped my hand.

  “Please come dance with me. The fire is so warm and exciting,” Serenity demanded.

  Gretchen came from behind and forcefully guided me with Serenity pulling my arm closer to the fir
e. I stood in the loose dirt as Gretchen and Serenity danced around me. Their hands caressed my sides as they moved in and away from me. Every time I attempted to step away one of them would block my path and push me into the other.

  “Ladies, I appreciate the affirmation, but I’m not much of a dancer,” I said while inching away.

  “You don’t have to dance. Just stay here with us. We are happy just being here with you,” Gretchen said as her arm wrapped around my waist.

  “I must insist that you find someone who would enjoy this,” I replied.

  “We know you will enjoy this,” Serenity said before she planted her lips on mine with an attempted massage from her tongue. Gretchen ventured her hand into my pants.

  I jerked my head away from Serenity and moved away for Gretchen’s hand to slide out of my pants. I wiped Serenity’s saliva from my mouth and hurriedly stepped away from them.

  “Where are you going,” Serenity asked.

  I just kept walking away from the gathering and to my house. As I stepped down the dark streets’ I thought of Aurora. “What the Hell was that? Not once did I tell them that was okay. They are freaking crazy. Aurora would beat the ever-living shit out of them if she knew that happened.” Constantly repeating my thoughts out loud as I walked down the road the eyes that were set upon me didn’t go unnoticed. Karmen said I would constantly be watched because of my created status by the all mighty Reverend. These eyes seemed piercing. It was a closer watch of my movement than it was infatuation. As I kept traveling a voice so distant echoed to my ears. I turned to see if I could see anyone but only shadows were around me. I started stepping towards my home again and the voice called out once again. I stopped and turned around once more. At the end of the street a figure stood. I tried to focus my eyes to who it may be, but no recognizable appearance was present. Cloaked by a hooded jacket the voice called out.

  “Dad!”

  A shiver traveled up my spine. The hair on my arms stood and became brittle.

  “Dad,” the voice called again.

  It can’t be. The voice was different, deeper even. This figure stood tall.

  “Who are you,” I yelled.

  “Daddy,” once again the voice said.

  I squinted my eyes and wiped the frost away. I thought my guilt for Serenity and Gretchen touching me was causing hallucinations; a farfetched reason for my mind to comprehend that what happened goes against my family. As I opened my eyes, I noticed the figure was running towards me.

  “Daddy,” the female voice yelled again.

  It can’t be I thought. The voice was getting louder, and the figure was getting closer.

  “Daddy, it’s me,” the voice echoed.

  “Could it be true,” I whispered. “Kiere? Kiere!?”

  “Dad,” she called once more.

  “Oh my God! Kiere,” I yelled as I ran towards her.

  I held my breath as I planted my feet to the pavement with a forceful push. My heart raced as the houses on my sides became a blur the faster I ran.

  “Please God, let this be her,” I said behind each breath.

  As we became closer together my arms spread open as did hers. The middle of our distance seemed to be miles apart. Then in the moment as we connected my heart stopped. My mind was lost. I felt the strong beating heart of a teenage girl against my chest. My arms wrapped around her so tight I couldn’t let go.

  “It’s really you. Oh my God I can’t believe it,” I said behind my tears.

  “It is dad. It’s really me,” Kiere said as we stood in the middle of the dark street.

  All this time I searched for her. I never gave up. Every night I hoped I would find her unharmed, untouched, and waiting for me. But I didn’t find her. She found me.

  Chapter 26

  So tall, so grown up. Her hair was cut short, and a scar was on her face. The little girl that disappeared from me years ago was not a little girl anymore. Age defined adulthood when the world was peaceful, but now it’s experience. What I could see in Kiere’s eyes, she had aged faster than I wanted to see.

  The couch never felt so firm. The lights were brighter around the room, and all that stood still was caught in a whirlwind. Dressed in combat boots, a hunters green hooded jacket with a musk of firewood, Kiere sat beside me.

  “I am so sorry I lost you. When you were taken from me, I didn’t stop looking. I never stopped looking. I just want you to know that not once did you leave my mind,” I said as I held her hand.

  Kiere gripped my hand. “I thought you were dead. I thought if you were alive you would have already found me,” Kiere said.

  “I should have already found you. I failed you,” I said.

  “No. No you didn’t fail me,” Kiere said as she gripped my hand tighter. “I’m not going to lie, for a long time I hated you for not rescuing me. I thought maybe I was a burden that you finally got rid of.”

  “No. It was never like that,” I replied. “What made you ever think that?”

  “I know. After I got over being angry, I thought maybe they had killed you that day and that’s why you never found me. So, I got to thinking about mom. If you were dead, then mom would find me, but she never showed,” Kiere said. “Where is mom? Is she not here too?”

  My hand began to perspire as I watched Kiere search the house with her eyes. With a deep inhale I said, “Aurora isn’t here. I haven’t seen her since they took you. I haven’t seen anyone.”

  “No one,” Kiere asked.

  I shook my head and looked down at Kiere’s hand.

  “Why didn’t you go get mom and then y’all come and find me? She could have helped you,” Kiere said.

  “I couldn’t face her after they took you. I failed her as much as I failed you. When they took you, it broke me. I knew if I went back home without you, Aurora would have hated me. I couldn’t do that to her,” I explained.

  Kiere stood from the couch and her knuckles turned white as she clinched her fists. “So instead you made her believe that you and I just vanished without a trace. Did you not care what she would think, or what she would be going through? Did you care about anything at all besides how you felt?”

  “I am…” I was interrupted.

  “Don’t say you are sorry,” Kiere said.

  My head slumped down. I could feel Kiere’s eyes burning a hole in me.

  “Your mother knew what I was doing. Damian showed up where we were, and I sent him to tell her. Not once was I worried about how I felt. I was only worried about you,” I said. “You are my daughter.”

  “And she is my mother. You should have brought her with you,” Kiere yelled.

  Tears streamed from my eyes. “You’re right. Aurora should have been with me. God only knows what I left her behind in. The Z.E.D.S. were breaking a part and I just left her there to defend for herself. Maybe I should have died that day,” I said as I watched the tears fall on the carpet.

  Silence ensued as I couldn’t look at Kiere. All those times I wished to see her face; I couldn’t bear to see the anger in her eyes. Kiere sat back down next to me as she forced my eyes to hers with the palm of her hand on my face.

  “Listen dad, you are an amazing dad. You spent all this time looking for me and never stopped. I’m glad you didn’t die. You should never believe anyone is better off with you dead. We just need to go home,” Kiere said.

  I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked at Kiere. “We can’t leave yet.”

  Kiere’s eyes widened. “What do you mean we can’t leave?”

  “I promised a woman here that I would help her out. There is something completely wrong with this place. It isn’t a safe-haven for anyone,” I explained.

  “This place isn’t. That’s why we can’t stay here. That’s a reason why we need to leave,” Kiere said.

  I saw a dark stare in Kiere’s eyes. “What has happened? What have you seen?”

  Kiere looked around the room. Eyes closed I could see her searching for an answer. “Is your promise to this woman sincere
,” Kiere asked. “Does she really need your help?”

  I grabbed Kiere’s hand. “Karmen saved my life. I must believe it is for a reason. There are no coincidences.”

  “If you feel that you must do this, then I am with you. There is one thing we have to figure out though,” Kiere said.

  “What’s that,” I asked.

  “How to burn this place to the ground.”

  Chapter 27

  Here I am. I am lying in a bed, in an abandoned house, in the middle of a town that I thought was gone. A long search for my daughter has her sleeping next to me. Long hoping for redemption when I failed to keep her safe. Years of not stopping. Years of losing not only faith, but people I love. Kiere ripped from my hands. Aurora left behind because I was scared to face her. Farrah taken in front of me. I was tired of losing. I was tired of failing.

  Kiere rested peacefully next to me. Her head rested on the yellow pillow she found near the bedside nightstand. I stared at the ceiling looking at the mirrors reflecting our image. Who puts mirrors on their ceiling? What is the purpose of anything but perversion when it comes to that type of placement of mirrors? Did I just let my daughter sleep in a bed where the previous hosts conducted pornographic events in said bed underneath the mirrors? Did they only use this bed to watch them perform those acts through a reflection that allowed them to see every muscle tense in their moments of erotica? I am a bad father.

  A loud knock on the door echoed throughout the house. Kiere rose from her sleep with gun in hand that she had hidden under her pillow.

  “Hey, it’s ok. I’ll check it out,” I said as I rose from the bed. “Just stay here.”

  I gripped my gun from under my pillow and walked downstairs. The beating on the door continued. A shadow appeared behind the white curtain that covered the window next to the door. I held my gun towards the door as I cracked it open with my other hand.

  “Good morning Atlas,” Lyle said. “Sorry if I woke you.”

  “Ah, no worries,” I said as I opened the door further and placed the gun behind my back into my waistline. “What can I do for you?”