Refuge From The Dead | Book 2 | Dead Summer

by Masters, A. L.

  She glanced in the mirror surreptitiously as she heard Cam finish and walk away with a heavy tread, axe hanging from the makeshift holder on his belt.

  He looked like one of those old-time gunslingers, with a pistol on one leg and an axe on the other.

  Everyone was loading back up and preparing to finish the trip.

  She climbed back over to her side of the car and Jack took the wheel. She avoided looking out her window. She hoped to never see another walking corpse again. She was afraid there wasn’t much chance for that to happen.

  “Sorry about that. Monica obviously needs to learn before we can trust her to take a watch. You’d think she would take it seriously. I guess some people really don’t change,” Jack said as they pulled away.

  “I know how she is,” Jessica said quietly.

  The truth was, Jack made her nervous as well. Even more so now that his wife had died.

  She didn’t know what to say to him. So, she said nothing.

  She watched the scenery change as they joined Ed at the parking lot. At the entrance, there were piles of rotting corpses, baking in the hot sun. Jack had slowed down on the gravel, and she saw maggots spilling out of the mouth of one of dead.

  She covered her mouth and gagged.

  “Look away,” Jack said. He didn’t have to tell her that.

  “Take this. Put it over your nose and breath deeply for a minute.”

  He handed her a bandana. It was clean, and she did what he said. She closed her eyes and felt the car stop. She took deep breaths in.

  She smelled his faint, clean smell. He smelled like sunshine and soap and line dried clothing. He smelled like home. She opened her eyes as her stomach settled a little. He was watching her.

  She blushed and looked at her feet.

  “Thanks,” she said, handing him the bandana.

  “Keep it,” he said shortly.

  He turned away and got out. She exited after making sure they weren’t going to be surprised by one of those walkers and opened Jonah’s door.

  After he got out, she grabbed her bag from the back. She had packed it at the store, grabbing everything she needed and some that she didn’t.

  She felt a little guilty using their supplies without contributing. She would have to find something to do to be useful. Everyone would have to do their part. Back at the station, she had taken watch shifts and prepared the food, which wasn’t hard as it was mostly canned.

  She walked to the shoreline and looked across the water.

  In the distance, she saw a large island in a generously sized lake. There was a lodge and what looked to be smaller cabins to the back, but she could be wrong. Her eyesight wasn’t the best.

  She breathed in deeply, savoring the slightly fishy smell of the shore, and the fresh breeze coming off the water.

  She would be safe here.

  Chapter Two

  Nick’s Burning

  Jim

  Cam was supervising the loading of people, mainly the sick and injured, onto the boats for the first trip across the water.

  It had been decided— by Cam— that Angie, Peggy, Jean, Ed, Nick, Bradley, and Jessica would go over first with Jim. He would help get them settled, then bring back the boat so they could finish loading the supplies for the second trip.

  Cam, Jack, Monica, Jonah, and the cat would stay behind and come later. Jack didn’t want his son out of his sight. He didn’t blame him. He was anxious about leaving Angie over there without one of them to watch her.

  “Let’s get the spare mattress up on deck. Peggy and Angie can share it. The rest will have to crowd into the back,” Jim said.

  “Be sure to take the medicine bag and the water. You can give Angie an Advil before you leave to come back. Give Ed one for Peggy too,” Cam suggested, looking at his watch.

  “I will. Which room is hers?” Jim asked.

  He assumed Cam would take control of the lodging situation as he had everything else recently.

  “We’re taking the right suite. It overlooks the water and this dock here, plus some of the woods in back. It has the best view security-wise,” Cam said.

  Jim nodded and started to walk away, but Cam grabbed his arm.

  “Wait a moment,” Cam said, releasing him.

  “What?”

  “You need to watch Monica from now on. She’s going to be trouble; I can feel it. Don’t let her cause problems or she will be gone,” Cam emphasized.

  It was an unnecessary warning.

  “I know she screwed up back there,” Jim said, pointing toward the road. “She’s just not used to the security side of things. She barely graduated the academy, and then they had her working at the station most of the time. She’ll learn,” Jim assured him.

  “She had better learn fast. Another thing, I won’t have her hurting Angie. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. She wants you and she won’t be happy about not being the center of your attention,” Cam cautioned. “She might act out about it.”

  Jim knew it was true. He didn’t have feelings for her, not anymore. They had something casual going at one time, but she was too jealous and too controlling. It was one of the reasons he asked for a new partner. He was sure she would come around in time. She just had to be made to understand.

  He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “She won’t make trouble. If she tries anything, I’ll let her know where I stand,” he said and stalked away.

  He was angry that Cam thought it was any of his business. He was even angrier that Cam thought he would let anyone hurt Angie, in any way.

  “Nick, come get on the boat. We’ll get you settled over there in the shade while we load everyone else up,” Jim said, taking Nick’s arm.

  “I’ll be glad when I can get somewhere dark and just lay down.”

  Nick feebly walked across the boat. His steps were unsteady, very different from the vigorous man he had been a few short days ago.

  Jim wasn’t sure, but he thought Nick also lost weight. They needed to do something for him, and fast. Anything would be better than waiting for him to turn.

  He didn’t want to lose anyone else.

  Jessica carried a blanket and laid it out over the mattress they put down for Angie and Peggy. Jim watched her glance at Cam nervously as he carried Angie to the boat.

  She really was a skittish little thing.

  Jim went to Monica’s SUV where Peggy sat, her hand in Ed’s, while he told her about the lodge across the water.

  “Sorry to interrupt, Ed, but it’s time to go. Why don’t you grab your stuff and hers, and meet me at the boat. I know she’ll want you close by.”

  He didn’t know any such thing. She hadn’t communicated any preferences at all, to anyone.

  Jim lifted Peggy, feeling her slight weight, and was again furious at the men who messed her up.

  He caught Ed’s anguish and turned away, not wanting to witness his grief and guilt. He had enough of his own.

  He carried her gently to the deck and passed her to Cam, who placed her gently by Angie’s side.

  He saw tears roll down Angie’s face as she grabbed Peggy’s hand and held on tight. He wished he could take away all of their pain. He wished it more than anything.

  He realized he had been clenching his fists, and he relaxed his hands. Blood welled below the skin in dark half-moons.

  “Officer Morrison? I was thinking, maybe when we get over there, I can take over the cooking and cleaning for a while? It would make me feel a lot better…more useful I mean,” Jessica said to him.

  Jim saw her blush and look down. He didn’t know how she ever noticed anything, all the time she spent looking down at her feet.

  “Drop the officer. Just Jim is fine, and I think that would be an excellent idea. Peggy…Peggy was cooking for us before, but I don’t think she’ll be up for it for a while. I’ll tell Cam,” Jim assured her.

  “Great, Just Jim,” she said with a little grin.

  So, she did have some attitude. He t
ossed her a smile and went back to his task.

  She looked relieved that she wouldn’t have to talk to Cam personally. She must think we’re ogres. He guessed Cam hadn’t given her any indication that he wasn’t one.

  She hadn’t met him those first several days.

  He was going to have to try and talk to Cam again. He was worried that he was taking too much on himself.

  Too much responsibility and guilt can change any man for the worse. He didn’t want that to happen to his friend— his brother.

  Ed

  Ed dropped heavily on the deck of the boat, trying to shade Peggy and Angie from the sun bearing down. It felt like July, and they would burn so easily in the midday sun. He took hold of Peggy’s hand and patted it, then lowered it back to the mattress.

  So far, she hadn’t said anything at all since they found her. It hurt him more than he let on.

  “We’ll be there shortly, Peg. You’ll be much more comfortable there. We’ll get you settled into a room and get you some good soup.”

  He stopped and gauged her reaction. Nothing.

  “Jim said there is a whole room full of books. I know how you like to read. There will be enough there to keep you busy for months.”

  Still nothing. He sighed and sipped some water.

  He leaned over and lifted Peggy’s head. He dripped some water in her mouth. Her lips were cracked and dry. He needed to find her some Chapstick.

  It was very difficult getting her to eat or drink anything properly.

  “Come on. One more drink,” he said. She swallowed a bit of water. “Good. See? That wasn’t hard.”

  He laid her back down and thought about his wife, Brenda.

  When she was sick, there at the very end, he had to help her drink and eat too. Most of the time she didn’t eat, but he could get water into her when nobody else could.

  She hadn’t wanted I.V.s and things like that, not until the pain got too bad anyway.

  He couldn’t bear to lose Peg, to see her waste away like Brenda.

  He wouldn’t let her!

  He stood up, feeling the uncomfortable swelling in his ankles and toes. He walked over to Jim, who was driving the boat.

  “Where will Nick sleep?” he asked.

  “I had hoped that you or Bradley would stay in a room with him and keep an eye on him.”

  Jim glanced back and Ed followed suit.

  “He doesn’t look well at all, Jim. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look like that. Not while they were still alive.”

  Jim looked at Ed with a grim nod. “I know. I’m not sure what to do. I think we need to try those other antibiotics when we get to the island. See if they make any difference. We’re just going to have to wait it out.”

  Ed said nothing. There was nothing to say.

  He wished they had a doctor, or even a nurse. Someone was going to need to study up on medicine soon.

  Peggy was the logical choice. She was interested in medical things and even studied it a little for fun.

  If only she would respond.

  Jessica

  Jessica carried her bag to the boat and waited to step on until she was told.

  She hugged her belongings to her chest and thought about her mom. She felt so alone. She missed her parents, her sister, and her friends.

  A tear slipped down her cheek as she confronted the real possibility—probability— of never seeing them again. She couldn’t stand the thought of them becoming one of those dead things. They would stumble around, bodies rotting, or end up in a pile of maggots somewhere. It was enough to question everything she believed.

  A hand on her shoulder startled her. She whirled around, dropping her bags, and stumbled backward.

  “Hey, it’s okay! It’s just me,” Jack said, holding his hands up.

  “Officer Davis, you scared me!” she said, holding a hand over her heart.

  She could feel the frantic pounding and hoped she didn’t pass out. She really needed to get a grip. She couldn’t live in constant fear like this. She had never been very brave, unfortunately.

  “Sorry Jess, I just wanted to make sure you had everything you needed. I won’t be coming back to the island for a while. It’ll take a bit to get that truck unloaded,” he said, gesturing to the rental.

  “Yeah, I have everything. Thanks,” She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced down, unsure what to say.

  “Well, I had better get back to work. Cam wants to get done before dark. I would too, actually.” He laughed a bit nervously and looked out over the water. He didn’t walk away immediately like she thought he would.

  “Officer Morrison said I could do the cooking and cleaning over at the lodge. I’ll be glad to have something to do, especially after all you guys did for me at the station. I don’t want to be dead weight.”

  Officer Davis’s face turned sad, and she realized what she had said.

  Why had she said that?

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say…” she trailed off. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

  “That’s fine. I better go.”

  He walked away and she watched as he started slinging the cargo onto the other boat.

  Jessica felt like such an idiot! An unkind, unthinking idiot!

  She let out a huff of annoyance at herself. Her nerves generally managed to cause her to embarrass herself more often than not. Logically, she should have learned long ago how to not always put her foot in her mouth.

  She would try to be more careful in the future. She would also work hard, and she would show them that she could be a good member of the group and do what was needed. If Cam would kick out Monica for not doing her job, then he would most likely kick her out as well. He didn’t know them or have any ties to them whatsoever.

  She wouldn’t make it out here alone. Probably not even one day.

  She gathered up her things again and walked back toward the boat. Jim had called for everyone that was going on this first trip, and she didn’t want to delay them.

  She boarded, choosing to sit next to Nick.

  He may be extremely ill, but he was a nice man, and she felt sorry for him. Maybe she could make him some soup or something. She looked at the only alternate seat and grimaced.

  Apparently, that guy got seasick as well as carsick.

  ◆◆◆

  The trip across the water was uneventful, except for Brad’s vomiting. He was obviously miserable.

  Nobody said much of anything. Everyone was deep into their own thoughts. Officer Morrison piloted the boat with skill. They got to the shore, and he jumped down with a line.

  “Everyone stay here for the moment. I want to check things out inside before we start going in,” he said.

  “Jean. Ed. You guys pull security,” he commanded.

  Jessica looked back to the opposite shore. She shaded her eyes with her hand and attempted to track the movements of the small people on the beach.

  She located Cam; he was easy.

  Monica was probably that small one facing the other direction. That must be Jack with the big box. She would be happy when they were all over here together.

  Jim came back a short time later and lifted Angie. Jess grabbed the medicine bag and Angie’s stuff and looped them over her right shoulder, while using her left for her things.

  It was heavy, but she managed it. She walked through the door and gasped at the beautiful entryway.

  The lodge was all beautiful, polished wood, plush rugs, and plump sofas. Brass fixtures gleamed in the faint sunlight from the open door. She looked to the right and saw a doorway to the dining room. To the left was a marvelous library and living room. It was stuffed full of books.

  She couldn’t wait to look at them all.

  She went up the stairs and hesitated at the top. She saw no open doors, so she kept going. She reached the end and faced an open area. There were couches, small tables, and a fireplace. She looked to the left and right and saw a door at the end. It was cracked open.

  Sh
e went up to it and peeked in.

  She saw Jim sitting on the bed with Angie. He was cradling her face and speaking to her gently. She saw him kiss her on the forehead and Jessica felt her face heat with embarrassment. She had thought Angie was with Cam.

  She backed away for a minute, then knocked on the open door.

  “Come in,” she heard Jim call out.

  She went in this time and found Jim still on the bed with Angie.

  She looked at the floor, a habit that she couldn’t seem to break herself of. “I brought Angie’s things and the medication. I thought maybe she would be in pain.”

  “Thanks, Jessica. That was thoughtful of you. I know she’ll like having you around.”

  Jim motioned for the bag. “Let me have that for a second,” he said, reaching for a pill bottle. He shook out one and grabbed his own bag. He pulled out a bottle of water and searched in the bottom. Jessica watched as he pulled out an army style cup.

  He leaned over the nightstand and carefully crushed the pill with the back of his knife and mixed it with water. He glanced back at Jessica and explained.

  “She can’t swallow pills. They damaged her throat, and it’s still too swollen…” he trailed off, remembering. “I’m hoping in a few more days she’ll feel better.”

  He turned and supported Angie’s head while she drank the medicine. Jessica heard her gasp in pain, then cry out as she swallowed the bitter water.

  Jim caressed her hair softly until she went back to sleep. Jessica wasn’t aware if she even realized it.

  She left the room, still confused by the sight.

  Jim obviously loved Angie, but she knew Cam did too.

  Which one was she with? Or was she with neither?

  Monica was really going to freak when she found out. Jessica hoped she wouldn’t do anything bad. She had a temper, though she hid it well at the office. She’d seen her go off before and didn’t care to again.

  She didn’t think Cam was bluffing when he said he would throw her out.