Apocalyptic Beginnings Box Set

by M. D. Massey

  “What happened?”

  “They were gone. My parents, my grandparents, my brother and his family. All dead before we even got there.” He turns and tilts his head toward a teenage boy across the room. He’s tall and thin, and Asian. Clearly not related to Trey. He looks like he’s around seventeen. “Found my neighbor’s son, though.”

  The kid waves and smiles. It looks genuine. Guess he’s happy to be with other survivors. “I’m Al. Nice to meet everyone!”

  “Great,” Angus mutters. “More diversity.”

  My jaw clenches. So does my fist. I want to punch him, but Trey catches my eye and shakes his head. He handles Angus’s bigotry better than I do, and it isn’t even directed toward me.

  I put my back to Angus. “I’m sorry, Trey.” I pause. I’m hesitant to ask the next question. “Had they turned yet?”

  “No, thank God. Although I wish I had known before we left so I could have put them out of their misery. I hate the idea of them walking around like that…” He clears his throat and looks away. “We didn’t know about the zombies until we got to the city. We saw a few people walking around and stopped to see if we could help them. Al told us not to, that they could be zombies. We thought he was nuts of course.”

  Axl raises an eyebrow at Al, who just shrugs. “I was a huge fan of The Walking Dead graphic novels. Living it isn’t quite as exciting.”

  There are a few nervous and strained chuckles throughout the room. His face turns red, but he smiles.

  “I’m just glad Vivian suggested meeting. I don’t know what we’d do if Parv and I were on our own.” Trey puts his arm around Parvarti, who leans into him. “Although, meeting in the city may not have been the best idea I ever had.”

  “No shit, Sherlock,” Angus grunts.

  “We didn’t know there were going to be zombies,” I say, rolling my eyes. “How the hell could we have guessed that?”

  Axl throws himself on the couch and closes his eyes. He looks exhausted. “If it weren’t for the dead walkin’ around, this place would be ideal to hang out in for a while.”

  I move closer to him without thinking, then stop when I remember our argument. He doesn’t want me around. “You should get some sleep, Axl.”

  He snorts and shakes his head. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Long as one of them bastards don’t get me.”

  “Is it just like the movies, then?” Al asks. “Do you turn if you get bitten?”

  “We don’t know anything really,” Winston says. “We’re just guessing at this point.”

  “I ain’t takin’ no risks.” Angus spits into his can. I’m not the only one in the room who cringes. “One of them bastards gets near me and I’ll bash his brains in.”

  He spits into the can again and I look away. My eyes land on Ava, who sits on her mom’s lap. Where’s Emily?

  My insides constrict. I’m not sure why. A gut feeling maybe, but something just doesn’t feel right. “Emily?”

  Sophia looks up. “I haven’t seen her for a while, but she’s around here somewhere. The girls were playing but Ava looked tired, so I made her sit down. Emily was coloring just a little bit ago.”

  I head back toward the master bedroom. “Maybe she got tired too.”

  She isn’t in bed, and the room is empty. The bathroom door is shut and I knock lightly, but there’s no response. I push the door open. Empty too.

  “She back here?” Axl comes in the room behind me.

  “No. Maybe she’s in the other bedroom.”

  “She ain’t,” he says, turning around.

  “What do you mean she isn’t?” I call, running after him.

  “I mean, ‘she ain’t.’”

  My heart pounds and my stomach twists into knots. Where could she be? How could she have disappeared?

  “Where’s Emily?” Axl yells at Sophia when we get in the other room.

  Sophia’s eyebrows shoot up and her eyes get huge. “She’s not back there?”

  “If she was back there would I be askin’?” Axl snaps. “When’d you see her last?”

  “I—I don’t know. She was coloring at the table—”

  “She couldn’t have gone anywhere,” Joshua says. “The deadbolt was on the whole time you were gone.”

  “Except when we went down to the car,” Trey says.

  The room spins. I grab onto the back of a chair, trying to steady myself. “What do you mean?”

  Trey clears his throat and looks down. He won’t meet my eyes. Why won’t he meet my eyes? “Joshua and I went out to the car to get an atlas. We left the deadbolt off while we were gone.”

  “You went out and just left the door open?” Axl yells. “What the hell was you thinkin’?” Axl gets in Trey’s face.

  Trey chews on his lip. Parvarti steps to his side and rubs his arm. She tries to comfort him. Him. Emily is the one missing and Parvarti is checking to see if Trey’s okay.

  I want to throw up. She could be out there. Alone.

  Joshua’s face is white, but he steps forward. “We weren’t thinking.” His body shakes, like he’s afraid Axl may deck him. Maybe he will.

  The severity of the situation hits hard and the room roars to life. Everyone talks at once, Sophia’s crying. I’m frozen, squeezing the back of the chair like it’s her neck. No. This isn’t her fault. It’s mine. I should have been here. I should have been watching Emily. But I was out running around, trying to prove I’m some kind of hero.

  Jessica pats the sobbing Sophia on the back, whispering that it’s okay. That we’ll find her. Then reality slams into me like a baseball bat to the head and I start to shake. Emily’s gone and she’s alone. And there are zombies.

  Tears come to my eyes and the knot in my stomach twists even tighter. Crying isn’t like me. I guess this world has changed me into a blubbering fool. “Where could she have gone?”

  “Maybe she went lookin’ for her parents,” Axl says.

  Jessica’s head snaps up and her eyes narrow on me. “I thought you were her mom.”

  My face gets warm. “I am. I mean, I’m not but—It’s complicated.”

  “You done yappin’?” Axl snaps. “‘Cause we got a little girl to find.”

  Arthur gets to his feet slowly, like the movement hurts. But his face is determined. “What’s the plan?”

  Axl grabs a few more guns out of a bag, not even looking up. “You comin’?”

  He nods and Axl thrusts a gun at him. Arthur puts his hands up. “Never shot one before, doubt I’d be able to hit anything. Give me a knife.”

  Axl practically throws a knife his way. He straightens up and surveys the room. “We’ll split into groups of three. Winston takes the old man here and Trey. Hit the middle floors. Angus, take Mike and the Chinese kid down to the lobby.”

  “I’m Korean,” Al says, taking the gun Axl holds out to him.

  “Whatever. Vivian, the Doc, and me’ll go on up to the restaurant and work our way down. Chances are she’s there. Probably got hungry or somethin’.” He looks everyone over. “Let’s go! Time’s a wastin’!”

  We head out, and I try to keep it together. She couldn’t have gotten far. There’s no way she would have left the hotel. She’ll be fine. She has to be. But I’m still trembling. I put my gun away and pull out the knife instead. With the way my hands are shaking, there’s no way I’d be able to hit a thing.

  Joshua and I follow Axl up the stairs, calling Emily’s name as we go. Axl’s back is to me, but I can tell he’s pissed by how stiff his shoulders are. I’m not sure if it’s at me or the situation, but it doesn’t matter. I’m plenty pissed at myself.

  When we get to the restaurant, Axl says, “Check out the eatin’ area. The Doc and me’ll check out the kitchen.”

  I nod and head toward the dining room. It’s big and has a raised area in the center where the grand piano sits at the back. The bar’s off to the right. Other than tables, there isn’t much around. I can tell right away she isn’t here, but I walk through the room anyway, checking under
tables and behind the bar. Nothing.

  Axl and Joshua come out of the kitchen after only a few minutes. Axl’s face is hard and his eyes are even stormier than usual.

  “She ain’t up here,” he says. “Let’s head to the next floor, check that out.”

  Joshua and I follow him once again. He pats me on the back as we head down the stairs and gives me a tense smile. “We’ll find her. This is isn’t your fault.”

  “Damn right,” Axl mumbles. “It’s your fault, you moron.”

  Joshua stiffens and glares at Axl, but doesn’t say anything.

  “It’s not,” I say. But Joshua doesn’t look at me.

  We sweep the next two floors, calling her name and checking every unlocked door we find. There aren’t many. But there isn’t a sign of her anywhere, so we head down to the next floor. The second we leave the stairwell I hear movement.

  “You hear that?” Axl asks.

  Joshua and I nod, but stay quiet. I strain my ears, hoping to hear something to indicate it’s Emily and not a body wandering the halls. It’s quiet, though.

  “Emily?” I call hesitantly. My voice shakes down the empty hall and my heart beats even faster than before. We wait, but there’s no response, so I call out again, “Emily?”

  This time there’s definite movement down the hall. I start to take off, but Axl grabs my arm and pulls me back.

  “Easy,” he whispers.

  He inches forward with his gun raised. Joshua and I fall in behind him. More movement greets us, this time footsteps. My heart leaps in my chest. It has to be her.

  We turn the corner and almost bump into the well-dressed body of a woman staggering toward us. Her face is gray and gaunt, and the stench of decay floats around her. I cover my nose and step back automatically.

  “Shit,” Axl says.

  He’s too close to get a good shot and before he can move the woman grabs him by the arm. Her mouth opens and she moans as she pulls him toward her. Thick, milky saliva drips off her teeth and her tongue juts out. It’s dark purple, almost black, and swollen. Axl jerks out of her grasp and stumbles back. She reaches out to him again, but I step in front of him. I jam my knife into the side of her head. The thick black ooze that runs through her body leaks out as she falls to the floor, covering my knife and getting on my hand.

  I quickly wipe it on her clothes, terrified it will somehow seep through my skin and get in my bloodstream. That it will turn me into one of these walking nightmares.

  “Nice work,” Axl says.

  I’m breathing so hard I can’t catch my breath.

  “Holy crap,” Joshua says, waving his hand in front of his face. “They stink!”

  “Yeah, it’s whatever that black liquid is.”

  “Well there ain’t nothin’ else on this floor,” Axl says. “Let’s go down one more.”

  We’re heading down the stairs when a child’s scream pierces the air.

  22

  My feet move automatically. Axl’s right in front of me, taking the steps so fast I’m sure he’s going to fall. He jumps down, pausing at each landing for a split second to look through the windows. It isn’t until he reaches the tenth floor that he pushes the door open and rushes in.

  I follow him with Joshua right behind me. The first thing my mind registers is Winston. He’s busy pounding in the skull of one of the dead. Emily crouches on the floor at his feet, crying. Arthur and Trey are at her side. Arthur whispers in her ear and Trey pats her back like he doesn’t know what else to do. She’s shaking and hysterical, and tears stream down her little face as she clutches her arm to her chest. There’s blood everywhere.

  My feet stick to the floor. I gasp, desperately trying to fill my lungs. All I can focus on is the blood. There’s so much blood.

  Emily’s whimper moves me forward. I suck in a deep breath, thankful for air even though it’s thick with rot and death. Axl rushes to Winston’s aid and I throw myself on the ground next to my daughter. “What happened?”

  “We heard her screaming and came running,” Arthur says. “That thing had her…”

  His eyes meet mine. They shimmer. He shakes his head and I almost choke on the lump in my throat. She’s been bitten.

  “Let me see,” I say with a shaky voice.

  Joshua kneels next to me and we pry Emily’s arm away from her chest.

  “Mommy.” Her tiny voice is like a knife through my heart. She isn’t asking for me.

  Tears fill my eyes and I can hardly focus on the injury. There’s so much blood, and the gash in her arm is huge. I had no idea human teeth could do something like this.

  “Get the elevator.” Axl pushes his way through and sweeps Emily into his arms.

  We jump to our feet and scramble toward the elevator. Trey reaches it first and pushes the button. Emily’s sobs dig the knife deeper into my heart. All I want to do is hold her. Comfort her. But Axl is doing it. And doing a damn good job. Her face is buried in his chest as he whispers soft words in her ear.

  He runs inside the second the door slides open, but there’s no way we can all fit. It’s an old building and the elevator is small.

  “Come on, Doc,” Axl says. “She needs you.”

  He doesn’t ask for me. Doesn’t look my way. Why would he? The guilt threatens to crush me. I step in, anyway. All I want to do is touch Emily. Comfort her. I can’t get close enough to her, not with her in Axl’s arms. I have to satisfy myself by clinging to her hand as the elevator goes up.

  “Tell me you can do something,” I mumble without looking at Joshua. I can’t look at anything but Emily. At this moment, she’s the only thing that exists.

  “I don’t know.” He doesn’t say anything else, but he doesn’t have to. I can hear it in his voice. There’s a pretty good chance this is the end for Emily.

  The doors open on the eighteenth floor and Axl starts yelling as he runs for the room, “Open the damn door!”

  Jessica flings it open. Her face pales when her eyes land on Emily. “Is she bit?”

  “Yeah,” Axl snaps.

  He runs into the room and lays her on the couch, then steps out of the way so Joshua can look her over.

  “Get that bag with the medical supplies,” Joshua says.

  I grab the bag and drop it on the floor at his feet, then kneel down next to him. “What do you need?”

  “Alcohol and gauze. We need to get it cleaned off and get the bleeding to stop.”

  I dig through the bag. Thank God we stopped at Walmart. Thank God we have a doctor.

  Joshua cleans the wound and I sit next to Emily on the floor, rubbing her head and whispering soothing words. She’s still crying, but only faintly. What if she’s turning already? We have no idea how long it might take. If it happens at all.

  When he’s done, Joshua sits back and just stares at her. Everyone is frozen. No talking. The room is as silent as the outside world. This has to be a dream. It’s all too surreal to actually be happening.

  “What now?” I ask.

  Joshua shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Give her some acetaminophen for the pain. Maybe some antibiotics to help fight off infection. Otherwise, all we can do is wait. I’m totally ill-equipped for this.”

  “You did a good job,” I say. “Thank you.”

  The door opens and the others walk in. Winston, Arthur, and Trey must have gone down to get Angus and the others, because they’re with them. Every single one of them looks shaken and pale, but still no one talks.

  I turn back to Emily and continue rubbing her face.

  “Looks like we’re gonna find out ‘bout that bite soon ‘nough,” Angus says.

  I sit up straight, ready to tell him to shut his stupid mouth, but his expression is twisted and miserable. He’s just as upset as the rest of us.

  “Least we know we got two days before she turns, if she don’t make it. Damn.” Angus shakes his head and walks away.

  “We got to git outta this city.” Axl jumps up and grabs his bag. “
Everybody start packin’, I want to be on the road as soon as we can load them cars!”

  I ignore the bustle in the room while everyone gets their things together. I can’t take my eyes off Emily’s pale face. She’s drifted off to sleep. The possibility of what might happen to her is almost too much for me. My hands shake. I have to think about something else.

  Arthur sits next to me, groaning as he lowers himself to the floor. “Are you doing okay?”

  I try not to let the tears in my eyes spill over, but it’s hopeless. They run down my cheeks, burning me with their intensity.

  “This isn’t your fault. You know that, right?” Arthur says calmly.

  “I should have been with her,” I whisper.

  “You were out trying to get a car so we could be safe. That’s just as important.” He sighs and looks around. “No, this isn’t your fault. It’s everyone’s. Mine included. We all should have been paying closer attention.” I start to argue with him, but he shakes his head. “Things are different now. We can’t just keep looking out for ourselves and hoping for the best if we’re going to survive this thing. We’re going to have to adjust our selfish, American way of thinking and include others in our concerns. That goes for me, too. We’re going to have to learn how to work together.”

  Some of the guilt slips away. I’m still to blame, but Arthur’s right too. We need to adjust, to think of the group as a whole and not just ourselves. It’s the only way we’ll survive this catastrophe.

  “Thank you, Arthur.” I put my hand on his.

  He smiles and climbs to his feet. “Sixty-six is too old to be sitting on the floor. I’m going to go help pack.”

  “Crap,” Joshua says from across the room. He’s digging through the bag of medical supplies, shaking his head.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s a bag missing. Looks like I must have left the antibiotics in the car.”

  I jump to my feet. “I’ll go get them.”

  “Wait a minute there, Blondie,” Angus says. “You ain’t goin’ alone. Give us two minutes to pack up some of this shit. Axl an’ me’ll walk out with ya.”

  I cross my arms over my chest and stare at Emily’s face while I wait. Her expression looks pained, even in her sleep. It only takes a few minutes for the men to be ready, but it feels like forever. When they’re finally set, Angus hands me a bag and we head out.