by M. D. Massey
“Well…” Then he whispered, “Fuck me.”
He did know how to formulate intellectual sentences, I had heard them before, but he seemed at a loss.
“I must have forgotten to take them out after I found them.” It was a plausible answer, but I had a feeling he was feeding me yet another line of bullshit.
Goddamn it, I wished he would just tell me the truth. He wouldn’t even look at me. Couldn’t he see how much all his deception was tearing us apart? What the fuck was wrong with him?
“There is so much you don’t know, or would not understand. And now is not the time to discuss all of this.”
I was pissed, my attitude about to come to the forefront and stomp all over the conversation.
“When will it be time? You keep saying shit like that, but you never give the information. How do you know that I wouldn’t understand? Do you think you are so far above me intellectually that little old dumb Elaina couldn’t get it?”
“No! That’s not what I’m saying.” He growled in frustration. “Because, Elaina…just fucking because!” He grabbed his head. I recoiled toward the window. “I’m sorry,” he whimpered. “It’s a lot more complicated than you think. I can’t just blurt out whatever it is you are looking for. There is so much to it. It needs a lot of detailed explanation and background information.” He inhaled sharply, then rubbed his temples. His movements were stiffening, his muscles seemed tight, and life had started to fade from his face.
“Henry, please tell me what’s wrong. You’re hurting or sick or something. There is something wrong with you! You’re scaring me!”
“Shit,” he whispered to himself. His struggle, the pain in keeping whatever it was from me. I felt sorry for him.
“Complicated or not, Henry, I deserve to know what is going on with you!”
He cringed. “You do, and I understand that you do. But…”
“But what?”
He began rambling. “If I confide in you, I will break the trust of many people. Many will get hurt or killed, including us and everyone around us. I can’t risk that.”
“The trust of others? Who gives two shits about the trust of others, Henry? And you can’t tell me?” I threw my hands into the air. “What the hell?”
“Ugh! Damn it!” He slammed his fist on the steering wheel again. “Please, just give me some time to figure this out, okay? Just drop it for now.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Please, I beg you…” He paused again. “Let’s just concentrate on devising a plan to get to your parents’ house.”
“I’m so fucking worried about you.”
“I know. I’m sorry I’m doing this to you.” Then he choked out, “To us.”
I was incensed that other people knew of his health circumstances, but he couldn’t tell me? I would bet my last sheet of quilted toilet paper that Sophie knew. I didn’t respond to him. I just stared out the windshield.
Henry drove us down the off-ramp, seeing a gas station across from it. He looked around, pulling straight across into the lot. Sophie pulled up next to us. He turned to me after he turned off the truck.
“We will discuss this soon. I promise you. Just know that I love you with everything I have, and I have your best interests at heart right now. I want to tell you, believe me. This is tearing me up.” His voice cracked. “It’s tearing us up.” He looked up and exhaled, trying to hold back his emotions. He wiped his cheeks with his sleeve. “I can only hope that, someday, you will take me back and wear your ring again.” He paused. I knew he wanted to curl up into a ball and cry like a baby because I did, as well. “Please, just stay put for now.” Back to business, I supposed.
“Aye, aye, captain,” I mumbled. I didn’t even look at him. He grumbled something unintelligible, made sure his Sig was loaded, then he jumped out and walked to the driver’s side of Sophie’s truck.
I decided to stay put, doing what I was told to do for a change. I got out my Sig and checked to see how many rounds were left. I looked around, scanning the area for anything living or undead that could possibly be roaming out there.
Chapter 15
Sophie got out and slammed the door. She put her hand on Henry’s back, giving him a quick rub, guiding him away from the trucks. They stepped several feet away, scanning the area while they talked.
“So what’s the plan, Stan?” Sophie narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you all right?”
Henry shook his head. “I’m hurting big time, and we just had another major fucking fight.” His jaw trembled, and he jammed his thumb and forefinger under his aviators and into his eyes to stop the tears from pouring out. “It’s not looking good for us. It’s bad, Sophie. I’m feeling hopeless at this point. It’s killing me, but I’ll still do anything I can to protect her.” After several deep breaths, he looked back at Sophie.
“Henry…I’m so sorry. I can see how much this is hurting you.” In actuality, it thrilled her, but she didn’t like seeing him so upset.
“I love her so fucking much.” He groaned in pain as he spoke.
“Is it your joints? You look like you’re stiff.”
“Yeah. I think every single one is screaming.”
She lifted up his aviators, not liking what she saw. “Shit.”
“Tell me about it. I almost feel like I’m going to fade out soon. It’s becoming unbearable.”
“We need to find you a fix or we are going to be in some serious trouble.”
“Yeah, sooner rather than later would be great. I’d prefer to stay on this side of the earth.”
“Maybe we should tell them. One might volunteer for a draw.”
He shook his head. “No. Absolutely not. You were right before. It’s not the right time yet. Elaina is really pissed and is barely talking to me. Once we get to her parents’ place, I can pull her aside and talk to her about it, get her to understand. Then we can go from there.”
“Well, how do we get to there?”
“About a mile up the road, we’ll come to the middle of the village. The first light is a four-way. We have to turn right and go down about a block. It’s on the right.”
“All right then. I’ll follow.” Sophie looked at the gas station with a rather decent-sized convenient store, as well. “You want to hit up this place first?”
“Sure.”
“Maybe there’s someone inside you can drain.” She let out an evil chuckle.
“Yeah, I can only hope. Sadly, if there is, I’m sure Elaina will refuse to have sex with me later. Christ, it feels like it has been an eternity since we’ve been together.”
“I’m always available.” She winked at Henry.
“You know I won’t do that to her. She’s it for me. It’s Elaina or no one. I don’t want anyone else.”
“Right. Well, I was just kidding anyway.” She wasn’t, but he didn’t need to know that. “Let’s tell them what our plans are.” Sophie walked to the front of the trucks and waved everybody out.
Henry walked gingerly behind Sophie, looking to be in a considerable amount of pain, each step causing him more and more distress. I didn’t want to care, so I didn’t show him I was concerned. I was just so angry.
It was pretty quiet outside. I glanced at Claire, knowing she was probably disgusted with me for choosing to ride with Henry. Quite frankly, I was disgusted with myself. All it did was set us back further. The black hole in my chest seemed to get larger by the second.
Stupid fucking love. It’s going to kill me.
I looked down when Claire wrapped her warm, slight hand around mine. Maybe she forgave my momentary lapse of stupidity. I hadn’t forgiven myself yet, though. I shouldn’t have ridden with Henry because it just solidified that our relationship was hopeless. We weren’t ever going to see eye-to-eye on this whole thing. I was going to be lost watching him for the rest of our lives…unless he decided to leave me. He and his girl, Sophie, would probably run off into the sunset together.
“All right, folks,” Sophie said. “We
’re going to check this store out before we take off again. Two of us will stand guard outside while the rest of us go in. Then we’ll head to your mum’s.” She looked at both Nick and me. “Volunteers?”
“I’ll go in.” I was still pissed at Henry, so I knew I could take my anger out on any undeads inside.
“In,” Nick said curtly, looking at me and nodding.
“Claire and I will stand guard.” Claire nodded at Sophie.
I glanced at Henry, who leaned against the push bar of his truck, rubbing his temples. Okay, I did care. It killed me to see him in so much pain. I was such a damn softie.
“Henry’s not feeling well.” He gazed at me. “Maybe he should stay in the truck and let us handle this.” The tension in the air was thick. Sophie looked between the both of us.
Henry shook his head. “Sorry, love. Not going to happen.”
I sighed. Always trying to be the hero. I couldn’t tell if he were trying to prove his manliness or if he were just barking mad. I decided to go with the latter.
“Whatever. I was just trying to help you out. You’re obviously in no shape to fight.” I rolled my eyes. They would end up in a permanent roll if I kept it up.
“I understand that, and appreciate your efforts.” Short and precise, he spoke more to be polite than anything else. The entire group looked back and forth between us, like they were waiting for two trains to hit head-on.
Sophie clapped her hands together. “Then it’s settled. Henry, Elaina, and Nick inside. Claire and I will be outside. Let’s do this, bitches.”
Even though I was upset with Henry, we used our usual entering routine. He counted to three, I pulled open the door, and he entered first, hobbling with every step. We each went up and down the aisles separately. I found nothing.
Nada. Zero. Fucking zilch.
Literally. All the shelves had been cleaned out, random empty boxes lying around. There wasn’t even a single stick of gum left. Of course, since I didn’t see any gum, I craved it.
I salivated, daydreaming of that minty flavor in my mouth. I closed my eyes. I could almost feel myself chewing it.
“Elaina!” Nick yelled.
I jumped, my eyes popping open. “What?!”
“Nine o’clock! Nine o’clock!”
I whipped my head to the left, seeing an undead woman about five feet from me. How the hell did I miss her? I panicked. I didn’t even have my Sig out and ready.
“Shit! Shit! Shit!” I looked to my right and, luckily for me, I was in an aisle that ended at the wall. I screamed like the sissy girl I was and ran toward the wall. Thinking fast, I grabbed the shelving unit and pulled, sending it crashing to the floor, taking the undead woman with it.
She growled and struggled, trying to get out from underneath the twisted pile of metal. I looked around… The side door was open. She must have wandered in from there. I heard another moan, then saw Nick lying on the floor.
“Oh, my god! Nick!” I screamed as I ran toward him. He reached up for me when I got to him. The life faded from his eyes. I collapsed next to him, trying to figure out what had happened. Then I saw a nasty bite wound on his arm. Blood oozed out, forming a small pool on the grimy floor.
“Nick, no! No! Please…stay with me.” I looked for something to cover his arm with. He reached his bloody hand to my face, brushing his knuckle against my cheek.
“Elai-na-na…,” he garbled. “Sh-sh-oot m-me.”
“No! Nick, it’s going to be okay. I’ll help you.” I looked around for Henry, but I didn’t see him. “Henry! Henry! Help me! Someone, please…,” I sobbed.
“Elaina!” Claire yelled. “Where are you?!”
“Toward the back! Oh, Nick. Don’t you dare die on me. Do you hear me? You stay with me!” I held my hand over the gaping wound on his arm, applying pressure, trying to slow the bleeding. Claire ran down the main aisle.
“Nick!” Claire knelt next to us in the growing pool of blood. She took his hand, and he smiled weakly at her. His eyes closed, his breathing staggered.
“My Claire…s-s-so…beau…tiful,” he whispered.
“Damn it! Where’s Henry? He can help!” I looked around frantically.
“No, Hen-ry…,” Nick managed to stutter out, then his face went flat.
“It’s too late. It’s too late, Elaina!” Claire said, sobbing on his chest.
“No! Henry can help. Where is he?”
“It’s too late!” she screamed.
“Hold on. Nick, please! I am going to find Henry.”
Claire grabbed my arm just as I tried standing. She pulled me back down to look in her eyes. “Listen to me! It’s. Too. Late.”
“No! No, it’s not!”
“He’s dead! He’s fucking dead! Look at him!” she screamed through her tears, trying to reach me.
I couldn’t look at him. In my heart, I knew he was gone, but I didn’t want to accept it. I couldn’t accept it. I refused to accept it. Claire gazed around.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know,” I cried, resting my head on Nick’s chest.
“You didn’t see what happened?”
“No. We went down the aisles separately. I didn’t even have my gun out. I was in that aisle.” I pointed at the shelving unit lying on the floor. I continued to sob. “This is my fault!”
“Elaina… No, it’s not your fault.” Claire tried to reassure me through her tears. “We have to…you know, since he was bit.”
“No! Leave him be!”
“He’s going to turn! We have to! I’d rather it be us than someone else!”
What was left of my heart felt like it was ripped out and trampled by a herd of elephants.
I was angry that she would even suggest shooting Nick. I closed my eyes, picturing us as kids. He could be my only family member left, and he was gone. My stomach churned when I opened my eyes. The pool of blood grew around Nick’s lifeless body.
“Elaina, please leave. I’ll give him a true death.” She pulled me up.
“Let me say goodbye.” Claire let go of my arm and I knelt back down. I took his limp, cold hand. “I love you, Nick. I promise, I will find Mom. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’m so sorry.” I kissed him on the forehead as my sobs choked out of my throat.
Claire put her hand on my shoulder. I stood, my clothes wet with Nick’s blood. She gazed directly into my eyes, tears running down her face. I nodded and headed toward the front entrance.
Just as I reached for the handle, I heard a muffled yell. I stopped. “Claire, did you hear that?”
“Yes. Shh…” We heard it again. It was coming from the back of the store. I ran toward the sound. “Elaina, I have to take care of Nick before it’s too late. Leave, then we can send Sophie in to check it out.”
“I have to find out who that is. It might be Henry!”
“It’s probably undeads in the back room somewhere. Get out of here!”
I crept closer to the back door, disregarding Claire, who was yelling at me. There was a restroom and an employee breakroom door. I listened at both, barely breathing.
Nick’s death loomed over me like a heavy weight. Trying to put him out of my mind, I heard the muffled yell again. I thought it sounded like Henry, but I wasn’t one hundred percent certain.
Without a doubt, the noises came from the breakroom. I looked back at Claire, waving her to the door. She shook her head. I waved at her again with a little more aggression. She let out a reluctant sigh, kissed Nick on the cheek, and walked to me.
I held up my hand, showing her three fingers, then two, then one. I pulled open the door and was met with the business end of a shotgun to my forehead. Claire screamed.
“One more step an’ I’ll blow your fuckin’ brains out.”
I estimated him to be around fourteen. I towered over him, which made it obvious that he hadn’t gone through puberty yet. Henry was tied up on the floor, blood all over his chin and shirt. The only thing I could think was how the hell did this scrawny, p
unk ass kid get Henry down?
Both Claire and I held our hands up. “Let’s have a chat about this first,” I said.
“There ain’t nothin’ to talk about!”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Have you ever heard that elementary poem ‘Don’t Say Ain’t’?” It probably wasn’t the best time for me to throw out some proper Elaina attitude.
“Shut up! I’ll do it! Maybe I’ll shoot him firs’ and make you watch!”
“Whoa, cowboy. Let’s calm down and chat about this,” Claire said, always the practical one. I thought about kicking the little punk in his little boy tomatoes, ripping the gun out of his hands, and turning the tables on him. But I knew if Claire or I reached for our Sigs, our foreheads would be peppered with pellets.
“Wha’s to chat about?” His skinny little lip curled up into a snarl.
“This, you fucking idiot!” I yelled.
Claire kicked me in the calf. “Shut it, Elaina!”
Henry, a scarf tied around his head like a gag, was scream mumbling on the floor. He yanked his arms, trying to free himself from a rope hog-tying his hands and legs behind his back.
“Let’s just calm down and talk about this. Maybe we can work out some sort of deal.”
Not only was she practical, Claire was diplomatic. I would rather smartass my way out of shit. I couldn’t believe she wanted to make a deal with the prepubescent punk. Then I noticed the offer of a deal got his attention.
“What kind of deal?” he asked, brows lifted.
“We may have something you want. Food or drink?” The kid licked his dry, chapped lips. He was definitely hungry. His shirt hung loose, his collarbones protruded, and his face was sunken in.
“You will trade for tha’ crazy fucker?” He nodded toward Henry, astonished. I wasn’t sure who this kid thought he was, but I was the only one who could call Henry crazy and get away with it.
“Watch your mouth, you hairy-palmed little shit! Don’t you dare speak poorly of him!”
“Screw you! Do you have any idea wha’ he did? Huh? Do you?”
Claire and I looked at each other. “Looking for undeads and supplies?” I cautiously chose my words. The punk started laughing, taking me by surprise. I wasn’t sure what was funny about the situation.