Caldera | Book 12 | Kingdom Come

by Stallcup, Heath

  “Bad dream,” he hissed as he tried to adjust himself on the thin mattress. He turned and gave her a firm look. “I need to move around.” He tried to push off of the bed and she quickly moved to press him back.

  “You need to stay still. You have a lot of healing to do.”

  He shook his head, sweat beading on his forehead. “I’ve got to move, Vee. I’ve been lying down too long and my entire body aches.”

  “You ache because you got sliced like a Christmas goose.” She thrust a finger into his face. “You need to lay back and rest.”

  He gripped her arm and locked eyes with her. “Just a bit, okay? A few steps. Just to move my limbs.”

  Derek appeared in the doorway. “What’s the hubbub?”

  “He’s trying to get out of bed.”

  “I need to move around.” He stared at the young doctor and grimaced. “My joints are locking up.”

  Derek stepped closer and placed a hand on Veronica’s shoulder. “Let’s help him sit up.” He gave her a knowing look. “I’m sure he won’t want to try to walk after that.”

  She nodded hesitantly and reached for Simon’s shoulder while Derek took the other side. He draped an arm over the doctor’s neck and fought the urge to scream as the two sat him up on the edge of the bed. “Just a—hold on a moment.” He huffed as he tried to catch his breath. “Give me a minute to adjust.”

  The two doctors hovered just inches away as Simon pressed his eyes shut and screwed up the courage to stand. A moment later he edged forward and his legs slid from the side of the mattress, his feet landing shakily under him.

  Veronica shot him an extremely worried look. Simon reached out and grabbed each of them by the shoulders, doing his best to adjust his weight and regain balance.

  “You really shouldn’t be doing this,” Veronica muttered. “You need rest.”

  “I need to move, Vee,” Simon replied through clenched teeth. “My whole body aches from…” His breathing increased to a rapid pant and the two helped him back to bed.

  Simon didn’t fight them as they lifted his legs and slid him back into place. As Veronica fluffed the blanket over him she shot him a dirty look. “I hope you’ve had your fill. You’re going to mess around and rip your sutures.”

  Simon stared at the ceiling as he fought to get his breathing back under control. “My body needed to move.” He turned and stared at her. “My mind needed to know that I could do it.”

  “Why?” Derek asked, honestly curious.

  “I had a bad dream,” Simon replied quietly. He turned and stared at the ceiling again, his eyes watering. “I couldn’t move.” He swallowed hard and glanced at Veronica. “I was trapped inside my own body; couldn’t even talk.”

  “It was just a bad dream, Simon.” She wiped at his brow with the wet rag again and shushed him quietly. “It’s okay now. It was just a dream. You’re going to be right as rain.”

  He nodded slowly and closed his eyes as the pain slowly diminished.

  Lana stood outside the window and watched as Simon tried to come to his feet. She felt a slow smile spread across her face as his legs went out from under him and the two doting minions grabbed him and tucked him back into bed.

  He might as well be dead anyway. He can’t even walk.

  She stepped farther from the window and disappeared completely in the shadows. “But until those two fall asleep or go to the can, I can’t get to him,” she muttered under her breath.

  Lana turned back to the bird shit house, her mind imagining the hundred different ways she could kill him.

  “Hey. You’re not supposed to be out alone.”

  She froze and turned slowly toward the strong voice. “I’m sorry. I just walked my partner home and now I’m headed back,” she lied.

  The man appeared from the shadows, a rifle slung over his shoulder. “Haven’t you heard? There’s some kind of crazy person running around here killing folks and eating them.”

  She mocked surprise and shook her head slowly. “No, I hadn’t heard that.” Her mind raced as she watched him approach. “We were just told to make sure we traveled with a partner.”

  “Well, that’s why.” He stood in front of her and narrowed his gaze. “Say…you one of those cured people?”

  She smiled shyly and slowly removed her hat. “Guilty as charged.” She gave him an innocent stare. “If there’s a crazy running around eating people, odds are he’ll skip me. I look too much like one of them.”

  He studied her carefully for a moment then stepped toward her. “I better walk you back to your house.” He looked down at her, his expression unmoved. “Which house is yours?”

  She grunted a short laugh. “You ever see the ‘bird shit’ house? The one covered in chicken poop?”

  His eyes widened a bit. “You’re kidding.”

  She shook her head. “Personally, I think it’s discrimination. One look at me, and since I was infected, I get the shit house. Literally.”

  He raised a brow at her as he motioned her forward. “There’s quite a few of the cured folks around here. I don’t think any of them were offered the bird…er,…that particular house.” The pair slowly started towards the house with Lana in the lead. “Matter of fact, it was a parrot that made that mess.”

  “You don’t say?”

  He nodded. “They found it the first day, and the way I hear it, the fella that opened the door pissed his pants when the bird flew past him.” He chuckled as he spoke. “Damned thing had torn open a big sack of bird food and drank all the water from the aquarium to stay alive.”

  “Makes sense.” She continuously glanced at the man as they walked, and a thought occurred to her. Nonchalantly, she reached up and unzipped the black hoodie she wore, pulling it open. She let the cool night air take effect on her skin as she pulled the sweater off her shoulders. “Nice night, isn’t it?”

  He nodded absently. “I suppose.” He paused outside of the house and eyed the pickup parked in front. “That yours?”

  She nodded as she reached out and patted the fender. “Horrible gas mileage, but it will go just about anywhere.” She shot him a winning smile.

  She caught him staring at her breasts pressing against the thin material of the wife beater and smiled to herself. “You know, it’s starting to chill a bit out here.” She gave him her best, most seductive smile. “You could come inside and…warm up a bit. Before you have to go back to whatever you were doing.”

  He licked his lips absently and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m uh…supposed to be manning the rear wall.” He swallowed hard and tried not to stare at her in the moonlight. “I should really be getting back to—”

  “Why?” she asked as she stretched her arms slowly back and up, knowing which parts of her would be stressing the thin material. “It wouldn’t take but a few minutes to warm those weary bones of yours.” She all but fluttered her eyes at him. “I’d be willing to bet that you haven’t had your…bone warmed in a long time.”

  She was certain that his face flushed at her comment and he glanced over his shoulder again. “Well, I…uh…” He swallowed hard and turned back to her. “I guess. But just for a minute.”

  She smiled as she turned and swayed her hips walking the short steps up to the door. “That’s all I need.”

  Jedidiah slid from shadow to shadow, doing his best to be invisible. He’d found one of the heathens hidden under a blanket of strings with twigs and leaves in it. He was almost impossible to see, but bushes don’t move, and they definitely don’t sneeze.

  He’d made quick work of killing the man, and the four soldiers he brought with him would make a fast meal of him before they returned from their reconnaissance. He’d sent the other three to check the other sides of the compound the unwashed had holed up in.

  He scratched at his chin as he kicked the ghillie suit away from the body. The four soldiers wasted no time tearing into the cooling flesh.

  Jedidiah knew that while these four might have their hunger satisfied tonight, t
he others were more than hungry enough to make up the difference. Besides, the smell of fresh blood on these four would rile them up even more.

  He watched as guards paced along the border and winced when he realized they had increased their numbers. He was certain that they could no longer approach undetected. Judging by how far the man under the bush was from the compound, he knew that the heathens would have ample time to respond to any attack. Surprise was out of the question.

  Jedidiah groaned to himself as he slowly backed off and made his way to where they’d started. He waited impatiently as his soldiers returned, each reporting what they’d seen. He could barely understand their grunts and croaks, but he got the gist. Each side was as heavily guarded as the front.

  “We may have to adjust our strategy, boys.”

  He turned and stared at the moon. “Tomorrow you will shine with Holy brilliance and we will bring the Lord’s wrath upon the unbelieving.”

  19

  “All I know is that she’s jumpy as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.” Trevor had to clench his fists to keep his hands from shaking. “She wants me to pull up stakes and leave. Again.”

  Hatcher gave Roger a knowing look. “She sensed the last attack. Maybe she’s doing it again?”

  Roger huffed as he came to his feet. “Why risk it then? I say load your family and put some distance between us. Keep your radio handy and check in from time to time.” He placed a reassuring hand on Trevor’s shoulder. “Nobody is forcing you to stay, and nothing says you can’t come back.”

  Trevor looked to both men and slowly shook his head. “If it weren’t for…” He paused and swallowed hard. “I feel like I need to help protect this place. This is our home.”

  “Your family comes first. Always,” Hatcher replied as he came to his feet. “Nobody will judge you.”

  Trevor grunted a quick laugh. “Like I give two shits what anybody thinks of me.” He squared his shoulders. “I’ll have Donna drive her out of town. Maybe find an empty motel to hole up in.”

  “That really isn’t necessary,” Hatcher said as he reached for the door. “One man won’t make the difference here. Not when your family needs you.”

  Trevor slowly shook his head. “My family needs me to protect what’s ours.” He gave Hatcher a solemn look. “I can’t be running off every time Brandy gets an itchy feeling up her back.”

  Roger clapped the man’s shoulder. “You do what you think is best.” He glanced to Hatcher and nodded. “In the meantime, I’m going to warn the sentries. So far, your kid is batting a thousand. I won’t make the mistake of ignoring her intuition.”

  Trevor nodded as he made for the door. “Once they’re gone, I’ll help the gate guards.”

  Hatcher watched him leave and held Roger back. “I tend to agree with you. That little girl has some kind of sixth sense when it comes to danger.” He raised a brow at him. “Make sure they get off safe and reinforce to Donna that they need to come back once the coast is clear. There’s no sense in letting an early warning system like her slip away, unless we have to.”

  “You expecting more trouble from the infected after this?” Roger asked, already knowing the answer.

  Hatcher raised a brow. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s there’s no shortage of ways that shit can go sideways.”

  “Copy that.”

  Hatcher watched him follow after Trevor then turned for Vicky’s house. He hesitated at the steps, having momentarily forgotten that Simon lay stretched out just the other side of the front door. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves then pushed through. “Vic?”

  Derek appeared between the living room and the kitchen, a sandwich still stuffed in his mouth. “She’s back there.” He pointed with a pickle toward the hall.

  Hatcher gave him a curt nod then turned. He tried not to look into the study-turned-recovery room, but his eyes betrayed him. He saw Simon sleeping fitfully, his jaw clenched. Veronica hovered over him, mopping at his brow.

  “What’s wrong? Infection?” Hatcher asked quietly.

  Veronica shook her head. “He’s trying to recover without pain medications.” She turned weary eyes to him. “I’ve been slipping sedatives into his IV but…” She trailed off, her voice threatening to crack.

  “No pain meds?” He took a half step forward, his eyes narrowing on the psychopath in his sister’s house.

  “He used to be an abuser.” Veronica squeezed out the wash rag and mopped at his brow again.

  Hatcher slowly nodded and backed away from the room. He turned and nearly ran into Vicky. “You bellowed?” Her face had that tired and pissy look that made his throat tighten.

  “Yeah, look…” He gently pulled her aside and lowered his voice. “Remember when Brandy flipped out and made Trevor leave? Before the last attack?”

  Vicky nodded at him, her face tensing. “Yeah?”

  Hatcher nodded back. “She’s flipping out again.” He gave her a knowing look. “Trevor’s gonna have Donna take her away until things settle down, but in the meantime, you might want to prep for casualties.”

  “You really think that horde is heading this way?”

  He gave her a slow shrug. “I think that we shouldn’t ignore her intuition. If she’s itching to leave, then there’s probably a reason for it.”

  Vicky sighed heavily and leaned against the wall. “I’ve never been one for the whole precognition, hocus-pocus crap.” She looked to her brother and searched his face. “But then I never would have thought that we’d be facing the world infected with a rage virus either.”

  “Remember what dad used to say. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” He patted her arm as he turned to leave.

  Carol rolled to the edge of the mattress and fumbled for the bottle of water. “I feel like a raisin.”

  “Funny. You don’t feel like one to me.”

  She swatted at Andre’s hand before unscrewing the cap. “Give me a moment to catch my breath, will ya?”

  Andre stretched out and sighed animatedly. “We should argue more often.” He smirked as he ran a hand up her back. “The make-up sessions are invigorating.”

  “You mean ‘make-up sex,’ and I think ‘exhausting’ is a better word.” She fell back onto the sweat-stained sheets and draped an arm over his midsection. “But you’re right. That was pretty awesome.”

  He chuckled as he caressed her arm. “I am happy that you chose a room at the end of the hall. I’d hate to think that the others heard what we just did.”

  Carol’s eyes went wide and she held her breath for a moment. She lifted her head and stared at the wall that was shared with Lieutenant Davis. “Actually…” she whispered, “Davis is just over there.”

  Andre glanced to the dead television mounted to the wall and smiled to himself. “Then I fear we may have kept him from sleeping.”

  Carol groaned and let her head fall back to the pillow. “I’ll apologize tomorrow.”

  “No need, chérie. He is a grown man. I am certain that he is aware of the stamina of the French.”

  She groaned at his attempt at humor and jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. “Don’t sprain your arm patting yourself on the back.”

  “It is at times like these that I wish I smoked.” His smile broadened. “But even I am not that vigorous.”

  “Stop! I wouldn’t think you’d need a cold shower after what we did, but I’m happy to oblige.” She reached for the water bottle again and “accidentally” let some pour onto his exposed skin.

  “Ahh! You are cruel, chérie.” He swiped at the water then pulled her closer to him. He closed his eyes as she snuggled beside him. “Tomorrow is a new day, and it will be glorious.”

  She nuzzled his chest and nodded slowly. “Why’s that?”

  “Because we are right again.” He draped his arm over her and sighed. “Together, we can accomplish anything.”

  “Infection?” Derek asked.

  Veronica shook her head. “Pain.” She sighed as sh
e fell back into her chair and tossed the wet wash rag aside. “I can’t keep giving him sedatives so that he can sleep.”

  Derek stepped around her and picked up the vial of morphine. “Why not sneak a little of this in? What he doesn’t know won’t kill him.”

  “His tolerance is too high.” She sat forward and wiped tired hands over her weary eyes. “He doesn’t even want me to try.”

  “If it takes the edge off…” He trailed off as he reached for the syringe. “Between the sedatives and a normal dose of morphine, he should be able to get some real rest.”

  She watched as he filled the syringe and pulled the needle from the bottle. “Do you want to do it or shall I?”

  She stared at him, her eyes not really focusing. “Go ahead.” Her voice was quiet and dry and he noted the look of total fatigue etched into her features.

  “You should rest as well.” He slipped the needle into the IV and waited for her to object. When she didn’t, he injected it then set the syringe aside. “Once his body calms and he gets some real rest, you should go to one of the bedrooms and get some sleep.” He placed a gently hand on her shoulder and watched as she stared at the monitor.

  Within moments, Simon’s body relaxed. His jaw was no longer clenched, and Veronica noticed that his hands fell away from tugging at the sheets. Derek gave her a soft smile and nodded. “Go. Sleep. I’ll watch over him, and if he wakes, I’ll call for you.”

  She planted her hands on the arms of the chair and slowly pushed up, her body protesting as she came to her feet. Derek placed a guiding hand across her lower back and helped her from the recovery room. “If he opens his eyes or—”

  “Trust me. You’ll be the first to know.” He walked her to the hallway and watched as she rested a hand on the wall and slowly made her way to the back. He waited until the door shut quietly before he turned back to Simon. “Looks like it’s you and me, sir.”

  Derek fell into Veronica’s swivel chair and propped his foot on the middle shelf of the rolling cart. “I’d turn on the TV for you, but the world ate itself.”