Far Series | Book 2 | Far From Safe

by Mary, Kate L.

  Several minutes passed before all the zombies were out of sight, and only a few minutes later, the car pulled out of the driveway and headed toward my house.

  “Garage door!” Devon called, already charging that way.

  Buck and Miller headed after him while Lisa moved to the kitchen.

  “I’ll grab the rest of our things.”

  “I’ll make sure Lexi has her shoes on,” Kiaya called, already rushing into the living room.

  I moved, too, but not after the two women. The door to the garage was open, and light streamed in as the men worked together to get the larger outer door up. Footsteps followed, but no words, and a few seconds later the door banged against the ground and the garage was once again dark.

  “Good to see you,” Devon said.

  “Glad to be here,” a voice I recognized replied.

  Doug.

  It was so strange to think of him being in my house again after all these years.

  “You have everything together?” another man asked.

  Since we’d only met once and it had been brief, I wasn’t positive, but I was pretty sure it was Gabe.

  Footfalls scraped against the floor as the men headed my way, talking as they did.

  “Got the cars loaded up last night,” Devon replied. “We picked the house clean.”

  “Good.” The men came into view, confirming that it was, in fact, Gabe who was talking, and I moved out of the way. “Eventually, we’ll go through all these houses, but I’m working on the stores first. Thankfully, the school has some pretty good storage.”

  The five of them stopped in front of me.

  “Rowan.” Doug’s smile was big and genuine.

  I didn’t return it. “Doug.”

  His smile faded a little and his brows pulled together, but he didn’t say anything else.

  “The truck will keep the dead busy for a while, but I’d still prefer to get out of here as soon as possible,” Gabe said. “We have some other things to do today.”

  “No problem.” Devon jerked his head, indicating that Gabe should follow, then headed into the house. “Everyone should be ready.”

  They passed me, Devon glancing my way but not saying anything, but Doug stayed where he was.

  When we were alone, he said, “You’re still mad at me.”

  “I don’t know if mad is the right word, but yeah.”

  “It’s been three years, Rowan.”

  “How’s Jessie?”

  Doug jerked. “That’s a shitty thing to ask.”

  “It’s a legitimate question. You did dump me for her. After you slept with me, by the way.”

  My ex shoved his hand through his dark hair, mussing it, and looked down. “She’s dead.”

  My throat tightened. Of course she was dead. Most people were. Still, I hadn’t thought about her not being alive. Somehow, I’d pictured the two of them together and happy.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling like an asshole.

  Doug lifted his gaze from the floor. “We broke up over the summer, but I still went to check on her when I got back in town. She was dead. So was the rest of her family.”

  “I’m sorry,” I repeated, unsure of what else to say.

  “So am I,” he replied. “And not just for that. For how things went between us. I know I hurt you, but believe me when I say that I really did think I was in love with you. I wasn’t just saying it to get in your pants. I’m not a dick. I thought you knew that.”

  “What changed?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking the question that had plagued me for the last three years. It no longer mattered, but I still needed to know.

  “Jessie,” he said. “We were lab partners, and I just fell for her. Hard. I hated hurting you, but I couldn’t keep dating you when I had feelings for someone else.” His frown deepened. “I think we would have gotten back together eventually. If this hadn’t all happened, I mean. I wanted to marry her.”

  Some of my bitterness melted away, and for the first time since he broke up with me, I was able to see Doug in a different light. Able to remember a time when thinking about him hadn’t hurt, and it brought a genuine smile to my lips.

  “Thanks for telling me. Really.” My smile faded, and the corners of my mouth pulled down. “And I’m so sorry about Jessie.”

  “You already said that,” he replied, giving me a pained half smile.

  “I know, but it’s true,” I said, returning his grin.

  We stared at each other for a moment in silence, each of us wearing our pain on our sleeves. I was thinking about how much I’d loved him back then, or at least how much I’d thought I loved him. Now, though, I found myself wondering if any of it had been real. We’d been so young, and Doug had been my first real boyfriend. Was it possible to fall in love that quickly?

  Footsteps headed our way, breaking the spell, and I took a step back, putting more space between us.

  “Ready for this?” Devon asked when he stepped into the hall.

  I hadn’t dropped my bomb on him yet, and I knew it was now or never, so I shook my head. “I’m going to meet you guys there in a few hours. I have something to do.”

  Devon froze. “Rowan, what the hell are you talking about? I thought we settled this. You’re not staying here by yourself. You can’t.”

  “She isn’t,” Kiaya said. “I’m staying with her.”

  Lexi was at her side, clinging to her hand, and the little girl whimpered and moved closer. Behind them, Zara didn’t look much better.

  Kiaya knelt in front of Lexi. “It’s okay. You go with Randall and Mike, and I’ll be right behind.”

  Devon was still staring at me. Waiting.

  “I have to take care of my mom before I can leave my house for good, Devon. I told you that.”

  “This is crazy, Rowan. And too dangerous.”

  “She deserves to be buried,” I snapped. “And I’m going to do that for her. There’s nothing you can say to make me change my mind.”

  No one else had said a word, and Gabe’s frown had deepened with each word out of my mouth, so I wasn’t really expecting anyone but Kiaya to jump to my defense, but to my utter shock Doug said, “She’s right.”

  My head snapped his way, and my mouth dropped open.

  He was looking at Gabe. “I’ll stay and help out, and once we’re done, we’ll head over to the school. Shouldn’t take that long.”

  Gabe’s frown deepened, but he nodded. “Watch your ass out there, Phillips.”

  “I will,” Doug assured him.

  Devon was staring at him, frowning and pissed off. But not just at me, at my ex as well. Already I could see the wheels in his brain turning, and I knew what he was thinking.

  “The rest of us can move out,” Gabe said, waving toward the door. “We have things to do.”

  Kiaya headed into the garage with Lexi and Zara, talking quietly to her sister, who was nodding, and Randall followed. Mike simply nodded when he walked by.

  Lisa stopped at my side. “You sure you want to do this?”

  “I have to.”

  She pulled me in for a hug. “Be careful out there.”

  “I will.”

  Lisa stepped back, nodding, then moved after the others.

  Buck gave me a little pat on the arm. “You promised we’d have another drink tonight, and I’m gonna hold you to it.”

  “And we will,” I said, forcing out a smile. “Just not scotch.”

  He chuckled. “We’ll find some more of that wine. I promise.”

  One by one everyone filed out, but Devon didn’t follow. Kiaya had come back, and she and Doug stood by the door, waiting, but I couldn’t focus on them. Not when Devon was looking at me like I’d just betrayed him.

  “I wish you’d listen to me,” he said, his voice quiet like he was hoping to keep the conversation between the two of us.

  “I did. The problem is, you didn’t listen to me.” I kept my words gentle, hoping it would help him calm down.

  His frown deep
ened when his gaze darted to Doug then back to me. When he spoke again, his voice was even lower. “Is this about him?”

  It felt like he’d hit me.

  “Don’t do that,” I said, lifting my hand to stop him from saying anything else he’d regret. “You know exactly what this is about, so don’t make it into something it isn’t. Please.”

  “You’re right. I know.” He sighed and shook his head. “Maybe I should be the one to go with you, though.”

  “No,” I said. “You need to go to the school. What if we were wrong? What if it isn’t safe? You should be there, Devon, and you know it.”

  He exhaled, nodding, but he still didn’t look thrilled. “I know.”

  “Then you also know I’m right.” I forced myself to smile, hoping to coax some of his usual teasing out of him.

  He grunted but smiled too. “And you’re just loving it.”

  My smile grew, becoming more sincere. “Just like you would if you were the one—”

  Devon cut me off by grabbing my hips and pulling me against him. His lips covered mine, and I melted into him, kissing him back. Not caring that people were watching or that we were living in a nightmarish world where I was headed out to kill my zombie mom.

  He broke the kiss after only a few seconds but didn’t pull away. “Promise you’ll be careful.”

  His lips were inches from mine when he spoke, his eyes focused on me in a way that made me dizzy.

  “I promise,” I said, feeling like I was in a daze.

  Up to this point, his hands had been on my hips, his grip firm and almost possessive. But when he swept his right hand up, running it over my side to my shoulder, then to my cheek, the touch was gentle. It was so Devon, too. Somehow tender and firm at the same time.

  His thumb brushed my bottom lip, and I shivered. Then he let me go and stepped back.

  Kiaya had moved at some point during the exchange and must have now been waiting in the garage, but Doug was still standing in the same place, a curious expression on his face.

  “Watch out for her,” Devon said when he turned to face my ex.

  Doug nodded. “Of course.”

  Devon let out a little grunt that I took for doubt.

  The three of us headed into the garage where we found Kiaya waiting by the door with Gabe. At the other door, Buck stood waiting for Devon, who jogged over, but everyone else was in the cars. Lisa behind the wheel of my mom’s SUV, and Miller in the driver’s seat of the other vehicle.

  “Ready?” Gabe called.

  Nods and murmurs followed, but they were drowned out as the garage doors were pulled up. The sound seemed louder than ever before, making my heart thud harder, but the street was empty when it came into view.

  “Looks like Brian did his job,” Doug said.

  “Always does.” Gabe turned and held his hand out, which the other man took. “Be careful, and get back in one piece.”

  “These bastards aren’t going to get a piece of me.”

  Devon was still standing by the open garage door, watching the exchange. He clenched his jaw.

  Gabe and Doug parted ways. The former ran for the SUV while Doug headed for the car parked in the driveway. Kiaya and I followed, but on my way out, I shot a look toward Devon. He hadn’t moved from his spot. The car he was getting into couldn’t move until Doug got his out of the way, but I knew his reason for standing there had nothing to do with that.

  “It’s unlocked,” Doug called from the driver’s side.

  Kiaya climbed in the back, leaving the front for me, and just like I’d thought, Devon headed for his car the second I was inside and the door was shut.

  Doug started the engine and backed out, shooting a glance at me as he did. “It feels a little surreal to have you sitting next to me.”

  “Doesn’t everything feel surreal anymore?” I said.

  He shrugged. “Yeah, but this is different somehow.”

  He pulled to the side of the road and put the car in park. I watched the other vehicles drive away, my insides heavy. This was something I needed to do, but that didn’t mean seeing them turn and disappear from sight didn’t feel horribly final.

  Kiaya stuck her head between the seats. “What’s the plan?”

  “Gonna radio Brian and see where he led them.” Doug pulled a walkie-talkie from the center console and pushed a button. “You there, Brian? Over.”

  A few seconds passed before static broke the silence. “I’m here.”

  He didn’t say over, but Doug must not have expected it, because he lifted the walkie back to his mouth. “Where’d you lead the horde?”

  The next bout of silence was longer. “You want to know where I led the horde?”

  “That’s what I said.” Doug smiled and I had a sudden flashback from when we were dating. All these years and everything that had happened, but some things about him hadn’t changed at all.

  “Okay… They’re three streets over. Foxtail, I think, was the name of the road.”

  “I know where that is,” I said.

  Doug nodded as he pushed the button again. “Thanks. Over and out.”

  He slipped the walkie back into the console and put the car in drive. I expected Brian to radio again and ask what was going on, but he must not have been the curious type, because the walkie remained silent.

  “Which way?” Doug asked as we approached the intersection.

  “Right here, then left at the next stop sign.”

  The silence in the car was tense as we drove. We didn’t have a plan, mainly because we had no clue what we were going to find once we got over there. There were dozens of zombies in the neighborhood, and if the truck had managed to corral them all into one location, this wasn’t going to be easy. Hopefully, some had wandered after either it or the other two vehicles when they headed out of the neighborhood.

  Doug slowed to make the turn but didn’t stop, and the horde came into view. They were at the end of the street, and like I’d hoped, the mob was decently spread out.

  The car stopped, and Doug patted the wheel like he was beating a drum to a song only he could hear. “I’m going to sit here and see if they break up a little more. Keep an eye out and let me know the second you see her.”

  “Will do.”

  I leaned forward so I could get a better look at the dead headed our way, searching the sea of decaying bodies and filthy clothes for the familiar red sweatshirt. With each second that I didn’t see her, the dread in my stomach seemed to build. What if she wasn’t here? What if I’d missed my chance to do the right thing?

  My leg began to shake, my foot tapping on the floor. I was so focused on the dead I barely noticed it until Doug put a gentle hand on my knee.

  “Calm down,” he said, his voice soothing. “We’ll find her.”

  My gaze snapped to him, but he wasn’t looking at me, he was staring at the street.

  I went back to searching for my mom, and only a few more seconds passed before I finally spotted her. She was toward the middle of the group, but off to the right and on the edge, and there was just enough space beside her that Doug would be able to drive by.

  Then what?

  I had no idea, so I pointed her out, hoping he would have an answer. “There she is. Red sweatshirt.”

  “I see her,” he said, his mouth scrunching up in thought. It was an expression I’d seen on his face many times in the past. “We could drive by, but I don’t know what good that will do.”

  “I can shoot her when we pass,” Kiaya said from the back seat.

  I twisted to face her. “Shoot her?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded, and her hair, which was down today, bobbed around her face. “I can roll my window down a little and shoot her in the head. Once she’s down, we can draw the rest of the horde to the other side of the neighborhood, then drive back and get her.”

  “It could work,” Doug said, his tone thoughtful as he looked at Kiaya in the rearview mirror. “Are you a good shot?”

  “Not particularly, b
ut she’s on the edge. If you get close, I should be able to get her.”

  “It’s a better idea than anything I can come up with,” Doug said, putting the car in gear. “Just don’t roll your window down too much. We don’t want to risk one of them getting their teeth on you. The last thing I want is to have to put a bullet in your head.”

  He accelerated but kept his speed slow, under twenty.

  “I have no intention of getting bitten,” Kiaya said, “but at least if I do, we know there’s a chance I’ll be okay.”

  Doug looked at her again, but this time he turned his head. “What do you mean? If you get bitten, you turn. We’ve seen it.”

  “The teenager with us,” I explained, “Hank. He was bitten, and he’s okay.”

  My ex’s expression was dubious. “I don’t believe it.”

  “You think I’d lie about that?” I snapped.

  His frown deepened as his gaze flipped from me to the road, then back. That happened a few times before he shook his head, but he didn’t argue or say anything else about it. Which was fine with me. We were coming up on the horde, and my focus had already switched to my mother.

  There was an electric whine as the window in the back rolled down, but I couldn’t look away from the woman in front of me. I’d seen her over and over again since arriving in Troy, but the shock of looking at her now was as fresh as it had been the first time. Her skin was grayer, and her clothes dirtier than before, and the bottoms of her jeans were frayed. It was her feet I focused on as we got closer, though. Bare and nearly black from dirt, they were ripped in places like she’d cut them as she stumbled down the street, and the blood that oozed from the injuries was deep black.

  “Ready?” Doug asked.

  I jumped, and my gaze flipped to him, then I looked over my shoulder at Kiaya, who had her gun up and aimed through the cracked window. My focus returned to my mom, my heart pounding. Her milky eyes had zeroed in on me, and even though they looked so different, I could still see her in them. Did she recognize me? Was she focused on me because she knew I was her daughter, and somewhere deep inside, she still loved me? I wasn’t sure which was worse, thinking she had no idea who I was, or thinking she was trapped inside this hideous creature.

  We rolled past her just as she lunged, her body slamming against the car, and I jerked away, biting back a scream. When she’d moved out of sight, I twisted in my seat so I was facing the back, wanting to see her. Doug slowed to a stop, and Kiaya shifted, taking aim.