by M. D. Massey
Perfect. It’s more than I could ask for. Even if it is nasty and murky, I'll still swim in it. In my jeans and boots, sweat coats my body from the heat and the hike to get here.
I’m aware of Kale stripping down to his underwear—boxers with a plaid design. I’m not the modest type, so I do the same, leaving my tank top over my swimsuit.
“Try not to pee, or drink the water. Lots of parasites lurk in there, waiting for hosts,” I tell him, checking to make sure my cut is scabbed over.
He laughs, “You’re worried about germs?”
“Not germs, parasites. I haven’t survived this long without worrying about creepy-crawlies. To jump or not to jump is the question,” I announce and wave my arms.
Face to face, we both say, “Jump!” We run around to the other side, pushing each other out of the way, each trying to be first. My feet feel every stick and stone. They’re sensitive from wearing boots twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. He arrives first and jumps in.
He swims around. “It’s warm! Come on!”
I glance at the bottoms of my feet to make sure I don’t have any open cuts. He notices and laughs. With a glare at him, I cannon ball in. The water isn’t deep enough to tread, but I can swim around. Kale splashes me to get my attention. “Anyone ever told you that you take things too seriously?”
I splash and scoff, “No. I was always told I didn’t take things seriously enough. People change when the survival instinct takes over.”
We have a splash fight, and I jump on his back to dunk him. The water isn’t deep enough, and he keeps his balance.
“Man, my feet are sinking into mud. It feels weird.” He laughs.
I laugh, too. “Well, just let me dunk you already!” I’m not using all my strength. If I remember, the male ego is a fragile thing. His head goes under water, and then his feet come up with mud between his toes. I’m smiling when his head pops out above the water, and he digs the mud out from between his toes.
“This is great,” he says. “I haven’t seen you enjoy yourself. It makes you... prettier.”
I shrug as I let my body float to the top, survey the endless the sky, and relax. Kale takes my hand and I realize he’s floating, too. I close my eyes and let the sun heat my face. My locks float around me. We both float. I can feel myself relaxing enough to fall asleep.
Opening my eyes, I find Kale watching me. His wet hair sticks to his face. The emotion running across it makes my stomach drop. Not wanting to see a look like that, I shift my face so he can’t see the look on it, then raise my other hand and splash him.
“Hey!” he shouts. I grin and he grabs me around the waist. He picks me up and tries to toss me across the water. I don’t go under. He grabs me again. Not wanting to be face to face, I try to swim away. He attempts to put my head under. Eventually, I let him.
That’s how we spend the most glorious afternoon I’ve had since the outbreak. We have water fights, races, jumps, and a snack. Most of all, we laugh all afternoon and don’t talk about what was or what is to be. I’m sad when the sun is in the west, but I want to be back well before sundown. We’re covered in mud. Feet and legs mostly, and my white tank isn’t white anymore.
“Hey Kale, if we put mud on our faces we could pass as swamp things,” I joke, handing him a towel to wipe off with.
He laughs. “I think we already are.” He peers at me. “This was the best, Kan. Thank you.” I shrug.
“We should get going,” he mumbles, looking at the ground.
“You’re right.” I watch him. He’s being mysterious. I can admit it turns me on a little. I can also admit it’s because I haven’t seen a nearly naked male in a long time.
He finishes toweling off, and I dry myself. My tank’s wet and dirty and so is my body. I put my socks and boots on. I’m sure it looks ridiculous, but I’m practical. It’s not for his benefit. When he does the same, I feel a little better. I put our clothes in my pack and start toward home.
We walk most of the way in silence and reach the field before my neighborhood. I’m counting the slaps my hatchet makes against my thigh when Kale grabs my hand.
“Wait, before we get back, I wanted to say I’m sorry. I wish that… I know you want to stay here,” he adds. “Harley didn’t want to say anything, but we think the camp in Clarksville is being run by zombies.” I stare at him a little dazed. His face holds a serious expression.
“Yeah, that’s what I figured when the broadcasts stopped. The zombies infiltrated them. I hope a big research project wasn’t going on there—it was a big army base,” I say and hope someone’s looking for a cure or something.
“Um, that’s not what I meant….”
“Kale? What do you mean?” I ask with sudden uneasiness.
“We figured you didn’t know since you’ve been isolated. I mean the zombies are infiltrating and running the camp. We think they are keeping humans like livestock. We are guessing to conserve food.”
“What? How? Why?” I am on the verge of becoming hysterical. I pull away. “Why keep it from me?” I think out loud.
“Calm down, please. I d-don’t know Harley’s motivation, but he didn’t want to tell you. We don’t know much. We’re trying to figure it out.” His face contorts with panic.
“No, you’re saying this to get me to come with you! I don’t believe you—they’re looking for a cure. I know it. We’re not going down without a fight!” I march through the field. He races to catch up and grabs my shoulder, wrenching me around.
“I never said they weren’t,” he yells at me. “I was saying the zombies are adapting in a weird freaking way!”
“Then you guys shouldn’t go anywhere. What if they are doing the same to the one in Birmingham?” His eyes get wide as he shakes his head.
“It’s too far south for zombies. We came from the East Coast, escaping that fate.” He looks toward the house, then at me. He’s waiting for me to say something.
“If you guys came from the East Coast and were going to Clarksville, then how the hell did you end up here? You know you’re in a rural suburb thirty miles southeast of Nashville, right? Going a little out of your way, are you?” My suspicion weighs heavily.
He shakes his head. “No, we lost our car somewhere in east Tennessee. Zombies. We had to run and left things behind, including my personal things and unfortunately, a map.”
“It doesn’t make any sense. Maps are easy to find.” My eyes narrow.
He swallows. “Just remember, I’m sorry, Kan.” He hurries toward the house.
I’m in shock, and I barely register washing myself at the pump and putting on clothes. I don’t want to think about this new development. It’s unsettling to think zombies can be smart. Maybe there is some truth to it, but I don’t see it.
The past few days prove I don’t know the whole truth. My lack of knowledge could be a reason they don’t trust me. I’m shaky and cold. I should eat something but can’t bring myself to eat. I need to find out what’s going on myself, but I’ll wait for them to leave before I make any concrete plans of my own.
When I get into the bunker, Harley and Bridget lounge on the loveseat. They both look like they had a good day. Bridget jumps up. “Where is Kale? I-we’ve been worried.”
“I don’t know. We went swimming in a pond. He should be back by now. Have you checked the house?”
She glances at Harley. “Go see to him, Bridge,” he tells her before she leaves.
“How’s the hangover?” I ask him with a smile.
“Humph. Wish I had a cheeseburger.” I laugh at this and decide not to bring up what Kale said. I don’t want to end up in a fight with Harley, too.
“Kan, we'll leave tomorrow. We’ll see you in the morning before we leave, though.” He gets up to go. “I’m tired and I need to speak with Kale.” Harley eyes me, studying me. I think I squirm. I nod at him and stare at the fire. It’s getting low. I might not have to put it out. “Well, I’ll leave you to it then,” he says, making his way to the door.
<
br /> “Are you and Bridget okay? You know, with what happened to Nadine?”
He pauses for a second. “You should expect the worst. The world isn’t what it used to be.” He disappears into the house, and I hear the door slam shut.
I’m so shaken, angry, and confused that I’m not going to find sleep. I remember my dream from last night, and tears come to my eyes. I don’t have a problem with them leaving, but I know I can’t go back to the way it was before. It all makes my decision to leave easier. I have plenty of time to plan it all.
I wash my body again, this time using soap. My feet are clean as I put on thick socks. It’s getting cold, so I dress in a hurry. I perform a familiar routine with my pack and crossbow, putting them next to me.
Then I remember the arrow Harley used on Nadine. Last night he told me it was outside by the basin. I hurry to retrieve it. He cleaned it. The fletching doesn’t have anything on it or in between, close to the shaft. Blood likes to cake there. Sometimes it even gets in the nock. Getting blood in the nock depends on how far the arrow goes in. At close range, it’s possible to have the whole thing covered in blood and bits. It doesn’t look like it’s been used. Harley cleaned it well.
After I count all my arrows, making sure they are all there, I slide under the blankets and don’t know how long I lie there before falling asleep.
Someone shakes the bed, attempting to wake me. I’m burrowed in the blankets like a cocoon.
“Wake up, girl!” Harley says, even though it doesn’t sound like him. I lift my head and peek out. Three guns are pointed at my face. What do you know? One of them is Nadine.
7
On a different planet, I would be flattered they feel the need to use three guns. I’m wide awake now and betting the guns are loaded. All of this means I’ve been lied to from the beginning. Not to mention, I don’t like people pointing guns at me, let alone waking me and pointing guns at me. It’s rude.
“What the hell are you doing?” I snap. Looking around, Harley, Bridget, and Nadine hold guns. Kale leans against the wall looking at the floor. I stare at him. He fidgets, feeling my gaze, but keeps staring at the ground. Words flash through my head. You don’t know them. Just remember, I’m sorry. You should expect the worst. My anger turns to rage.
Harley gives me a crooked smile, “We like your place, without you in it.”
“Zombie-free zone, we couldn’t pass it up,” Nadine says with an emotionless expression. I’m regretting every word out of my mouth. I scramble to sit up, which is hard because of all the blankets.
“Stay where you are. We need to have us a little chat,” Harley says. I freeze, not wanting to draw attention to my hands under the blankets, where I want them for gripping my crossbow. They’ve underestimated me.
“What’s going on? I told Kale last night, you guys can stay if you want,” I say, looking over at Kale. He flinches at being reminded of yesterday.
Harley looks at Kale, but Kale doesn’t acknowledge his glare. “Don’t worry about Kale. He did what I expected of him.” Harley glances at me with a lowered gun. “The thing is, Kan, I respect you for what you have done for yourself. For that, I'll let you live.” He shakes his head. “All those reference books—I’m impressed. I was just going to loot them until I found out how many zombies you’ve killed. It looks like you were ready for something to happen.” My outrage got the best of me. The books are not negotiable.
“Those books tore my family apart, jackass!” My free fist clenches under the blankets while I struggle to control myself.
“Now listen, I’m sure that’s a fascinating story, but I don’t care. I’m letting you live and you should be grateful.” His eyes roam, coming to stop on the blanket covering my legs. “I bet those thick and meaty thighs taste good.” My chest and neck heat in simmering anger. I look at Bridget to gauge her reaction. It doesn’t surprise her. I scrunch my nose in disgust.
“I don’t know why you’re looking at her. She wanted you dead the first night. Right, Bridge?” Harley eyes her.
She nods her head at me. “She likes Kale a little too much if you ask me, but he’s ours,” she said.
My body thrums with adrenaline as the simmer becomes a boil. I look over at Kale, but he stares at the floor, hiding behind his hair like a cop-out pansy. I hate him. Bridget smiles at Kale.
“She hates you now, Kale. I told you this would happen.” She rubs his chest. “It’ll be okay, like old times. Now we won’t have to follow anyone’s rules except Pop’s.” Pop? I blink back angry tears—unwilling to let them see another weakness. Harley studies me, guessing my confusion.
“Bridget’s my daughter, and Nadine is my wife. Bridget’s mother died a long time ago,” he says.
I stuff my retorts down. Easy, since dealing with confrontation is another thing I haven’t had to do in a while. Harley continues, “I like you, Kan. If Bridget liked you, well, maybe you could have stayed with us, but she can be a little bratty. She played along so she could get what she wanted.”
“Then why wait? Why pretend Nadine was bitten?” I look at Nadine, and she surprises me by answering.
“We had to see if there was anyone else living here. Though, it’s obvious there isn’t. Kan, you’re honest and good. You’ll find out the world isn’t like that anymore. We don’t trust you, but we needed you to trust us.” She sighs, like she’s ready for this conversation to be over.
“Nadine was going to tell you that first day there wasn’t a bite. I stopped her, glad I did. It distracted you which is what I was hoping. We didn’t even need Kale to show you a little attention.” Harley chuckles, looking at Nadine. I can’t help but feel a wee bit naïve.
Kale was my distraction. I can’t complain because I thought about doing the same thing to him. It doesn’t matter I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I remember Bridget telling me anyone would want Kale. That must have been her way of throwing him at me. I almost laugh. She must have hated saying those words, but she played along. Kale had not warned me. I never trusted him anyway. He told me they escaped zombies infiltrating their camp. Was that a lie, too? I’m staring daggers at him, but he’s too much of a coward to look me in the eye.
I swallow a lump. “Fine. I’ll go. I would like to grab a few things first.” I shift, and hope it looks like I’m getting out of bed.
“You can take the crossbows, your pack, and whatever you can fit into it. Leave the books. Where are the keys to the SUV?” Harley commands. Blood rushes to my face. My heart pounds in my ears from rage. I take stock of Bridget, the only person still holding a gun.
I jerk my crossbow out and point it at her. They aren’t expecting it. They freeze for the second I need to reach behind me and grab the chain on the wall connected to the steel poles on the ceiling. My extra security measures meant for a horde of zombies would work in this situation all the same. I jerk it, but it doesn’t do what I planned. It’s stuck. I spare a quick glance at them and they’re looking up, connecting the dots in their heads. I yank with both hands and the steel poles come loose, along with the cinderblocks the poles hold. I scramble out of the way as a pole hits Bridget in the head. A big crash follows as the room collapses, knocking them down—even Kale. The bastard.
Quickly jumping out of bed, I maneuver around a dust cloud to pull a box from under the counter. I flip the small trap door up and throw some canned goods into the box. Rhonda the Honda is packed for this emergency, but I need to take as much as possible. I knew one day I would need to escape. I thought it would be from zombies, not people. Leaving the books—what I need to know is memorized and written in my notebook—I grab my laptop with my iPod already attached. The laptop charger jerks from the surge protector as I put them in the box before slipping on my pack.
My eyes tear up from the dust, and I know I'll sneeze any second. I put my crossbow on top of the box and heft it over my shoulder. As I’m leaving, Kale stirs. He’s by the steps, so he didn’t get the brunt. I look at Harley and Nadine. They are out. Mother fuckers. I ca
n’t see Bridget. I don’t want to stay around to nurse them.
“Wait,” Kale gasps as I meet the spirals of apologies in his eyes.
“Fuck you!” I shove him with my boot.
Going through the door of the house, I grab a photo from the counter. I’m not going anywhere without it. In the garage, I grab the keys from a spot hidden among garage tools and stuff the box in Rhonda the Honda. It’s been a while since I drove the SUV around the block. I hope it starts.
The white SUV was packed years ago with necessary essentials in case I had to make a quick getaway. Jugs of water, a box of dry food, canned food, several five gallon containers of gasoline, blankets, a pillow, clothing for all kinds of weather, rubbing alcohol, bandages, simple toiletries, and DVDs for the player in the backseat. I don’t need the latter. I doubt I’ll be lounging and watching movies soon, but being twenty when I packed, my priorities were skewed. I don’t discard any non-essentials for lack of time.
After placing my pack and crossbow in the passenger seat, I unlatch the manual garage lock and lift the door with both hands—it doesn’t go all the way up, but enough for me to drive through. I climb in and start her up. She purrs like she was purchased yesterday.
As I’m rolling down the driveway, a hand smacks my window. Kale. “Wait.”
With my crossbow pointed at his face, I hit the button to roll the window down. “Move along, Kale. I don’t want to kill you. I need to get out of here,” I say, not allowing certain thoughts to run through my mind.
“I know you’re angry, I would be, too! They would have killed me, Kan. I know that’s your question, right? Why didn’t I tell you? I wanted to, so bad. I don’t even have a gun. I was with them for safety when we got away. They kill and loot to get what they need.” He’s breathing and blood drips from his face. “I’m not pretending with you. Please, take me with you.”