Juliet wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. She needed to see this. She needed to see what would happened again and again until she got them out of here. One swift motion was all it took to separate Phil’s hand from his arm. Blood gushed across the hood and Phil passed out, his body limp. The severed hand lay on the hood next to a dent caused by the force of the cleaver. Vinny tied Phil’s arm off to stop the bleeding and bandaged the wound. This wasn’t the first time they’d played this game. Greg picked up the severed hand and admired it like a priceless artifact. It dripped blood into the dirt, creating little pools. Greg folded all the fingers down but the middle one, pointing it at the guys. They erupted in laughter. He looked over to Juliet and she was forced to give him a smile.
When Phil came to, the horror on his face said more than words ever could. He closed in on himself, refusing to look at anyone. Juliet stared at him, hoping for a moment of eye contact. She realized he had given up. I can’t let this happen again. If I see an opportunity, I have to take it, no matter the cost. Phil’s life would forever be changed even if they did make it out alive. At least with one hand, he could live a somewhat normal life. If he lost the other, he would be trapped in a house, dependent on others for all his needs. Juliet held back the tears that threatened to erupt like a geyser.
When an hour had passed, Greg seemed excited to go back to the farm. “Barry, you stay here with Captain Hook. We won’t be needing him for this part.” He swung a plastic bag around with his hand like a kid with a yo-yo. The bag was stained red and Juliet knew what it held inside.
On the way to the farm, a pack of four zombies stumbled across their path. Bill sped towards them. There was a loud thunk as he plowed into one, sending it flying over the roof of the van.
Connor was waiting for them when they arrived, but the gate remained closed. Greg approached the wall confidently, still twirling the bag in his hand. Guns were aimed on him, but he showed no trace of fear. As long as he had Phil, he had the upper hand.
“I’ve got a present for you.” He held up the bag. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t be letting us in just yet, so I went ahead and made myself a man of my word. Because the world can’t function without a little bit of trust, you know? Now, when I toss this up there to you, I know you are going to want to shoot me. But I would strongly advise against that. See, we still have your brother and there is still an opportunity for you to walk away from this.”
He wound up the bag and sent it flying high into the air. It landed on the platform with a splat.
Connor picked the bag up and looked inside. His shoulders tightened and Juliet saw the rage inside of him. Please don’t do anything stupid.
“What have you done?” he snarled.
“We want inside the wall. I have another where that came from, but I’m afraid two is the limit.”
“You are going to pay for this, you son of a bitch!” Connor aimed his gun at Greg. Greg smiled back.
Juliet knew everything inside Connor wanted to pull that trigger. But if he killed Greg, he would certainly never see his brother again.
“I’ll give you some time to think about it. So what do you say? Same time tomorrow?”
Phil refused all food and water that was given him for the rest of the day. When he was offered a change of bandages, he recoiled into a ball, holding his severed stump tight against his body. He will be dead in a matter of days if this goes on, thought Juliet.
Juliet was more desperate than ever to get them out. If a chance is going to present itself, it will be with Greg. Bill was no idiot, but Greg called the shots in the end. As dusk approached, Juliet found Greg sitting on the steps of the camper, drinking from a bottle of Jack Daniels. There bottle was nearly empty. His head bobbled up and down as she approached. His eyes focused on her legs. Juliet tried her best to accentuate each movement.
“What is it, girl? Here to tell me how bad of a man I am?” He slurred the words as he spoke.
“Not at all. I just wanted to talk.” She took a seat beside him on the step. The stench of booze wafted in her direction.
Greg laughed, placing his hand on her leg. “You think I’m stupid? You think I don’t know you are playing us?”
Juliet’s heart stopped and she couldn’t breathe. They had finally figured her out. If she ran, would she make it into the woods before someone shot her?
He continued, “We ain’t much to look at. Especially for a pretty little thing like you. Everyone here is playing somebody. That’s the only way you survive. You want to be as safe as the next person, that’s why you’re here.”
Juliet let out a sigh of relief. He wasn’t on to her true motives. At least not yet, anyways.
“Is that so wrong?” she asked, playing into his line of thought. Greg passed her the bottle and she took a swig. The bourbon burned its way down her throat.
“Hell, ain’t nothing wrong if you can get away with it.” Greg stared at her, looking her up and down. His eyes lingered on her chest. Connor had often talked about following his instincts. Juliet knew this was her shot. She put her hand on Greg’s and stroked his skin.
“Will you let me get away with it?” She moved and sat in his lap. Across the camp, she saw Bill’s jealous glare as Greg kissed her neck. She wasn’t sure yet how this would free her and Phil, but it was the right move. She felt it in her gut.
Bill and Greg were both drunk when it was time for bed. Greg was drunk on happiness and Juliet, and Bill was jealous at having lost his prize. He mumbled something under his breath as he climbed in to bed.
Greg pulled Juliet close in the small bed. She let him kiss her neck and rub his filthy hands across her body. She tried to imagine she was with anyone but the monster before her.
Juliet listened to the part of her that kept her sane. The part that kept her from freaking out and giving the whole thing up. It told her that if she made it through the night, a solution would present itself. She just had to play her part.
Greg was horny. She felt his erection as he drunkenly pressed his body against hers. He was on top of her, thrusting himself against her body as he drunkenly kissed her neck. Juliet was prepared for the worst. If it meant saving Phil, she would do whatever it took and hoped Connor would understand.
After a moment, Greg’s kisses were replaced by heavy breathing. Juliet had never felt as relieved as when she heard Greg’s snore against the pillow when she pushed him over.
Juliet woke to the sound of gunshots. She had drifted off. For how long, she couldn’t say. Men yelled outside the camper. Had Connor come to rescue Phil? Hope and dread simultaneously filled her chest. Greg and Bill both sat up with dazed and confused looks. Another gunshot brought them to action. Greg slipped on his boots and grabbed his gun, not worrying about pants as he ran out into the chilly night. Bill followed behind him, still barefoot. Juliet emerged from the camper after them, searching the darkness for signs of Connor.
A gun battle raged around them, but it was not Connor on the other side. A horde of zombies staggered against the rope barricade. Nearly a dozen zombies pulled the rope tight, almost at its breaking point. Several zombies were piled along the ground, their skulls fractured with bullet holes. Greg and Bill jumped into the action, guns firing into the night. The body of one of Greg’s men lay a few feet away from the mob, one zombie leaned over it, pulling strings of intestines into its mouth.
The rope gave way and the zombies spilled into their small encampment. Vinny was the first to jump on the car, but the others soon joined him. An arm gripped Juliet tightly and lifted her onto the hood of the car.
“You’re gonna get yourself killed if you stay down there,” said Greg.
They were on an island surrounded by a sea of zombies. Guns boomed around Juliet as the undead exploded and fell to the earth. Juliet ignored the destruction. She scanned the area. Where is Phil? She spotted him still tied to the wheel of the tractor. A zombie had left the group and was walking in Phil’s direction. The zombie was missing part of one arm where it
had been severed at the elbow. It was a gaunt reminder of what Phil would become if she didn’t save him. Strands of muscle and skin dangled from its appendage as it reached for Phil. Phil sat there as the zombie approached, accepting his fate. He truly has given up.
Juliet leapt from the car without thinking. Her bare feet ached at the impact with the ground. She could hear Greg protesting in the background, but she ran anyways. She couldn’t sit idly by as Phil was eaten alive. The zombie was a foot away from Phil when she reached it. Its decayed jaws snapped angrily.
Juliet connected her heel to the zombie’s rib cage and felt its bones crunch beneath her foot. The zombie stumbled into the tractor, oblivious to the broken bones. It no longer cared for Phil, it was focused on Juliet. When it lunged, she did exactly as Connor taught her. She pulled it’s arm, sending the zombie falling past her, using its own weight against it. The zombie fell to the ground. She was ready to do the same again as it stood, but its head exploded before her and the zombie fell down with a thud. Vinny stood nearby, shotgun raised in her direction.
“Girl’s got some balls on her. I’ll give her that,” said Vinny, laughing.
“What the hell was that?” asked Greg. He was not amused.
“I—” Juliet struggled for the words. “I thought he wouldn’t be much use to us dead. No way you’ll get the farm if you don’t have him to trade, right?” She hoped she had said the right thing.
Greg gave her a hard kiss on the lips. “That’s my girl. Always thinking ahead.” He put his arm around Juliet. “What’s the body count?”
Barry answered, “We lost Ken. He was out taking a piss when they got him. Stupid son of a bitch should have just pissed off the car like everybody else. Everyone else is accounted for. I counted fifteen zombies. Biggest group we seen in a while.”
“You take care of Ken? We don’t want him coming back as one of them?”
“Already taken care of.” Barry was holding a knife, the blade stained red. He waved it in front of Greg.
“Alright, keep an eye out. The rest of you get some sleep, we got a big day ahead of us.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The living room was crowded. Connor stood in the center, every eye focused on him. They all looked to him for answers. He felt the pressure caving in from all sides, threatening to press him into irrelevance. He hadn’t felt so responsible since things first went to shit. When his dad was sick and the whole world was falling apart. Somehow, things had come full circle.
Connor had held his brother’s hand when Greg tossed it over the wall. It had still felt warm when Connor first picked up the bag. By the time he had the strength to put it down, the hand was cold and dead. He wondered if that would be the last contact they had. Greg had the advantage. He had Phil. He had destroyed the moat. And he had an inside source that could tell him everything he needed to know about the farm.
Something about the last thing Juliet said gnawed at Connor from the inside. ‘This isn’t high school anymore, Connor!’ She had screamed it. He had never seen her so emotional as in that moment. Was it a threat or was it a message? It had been his actions that sent her outside the wall. He was sure of that. What if she had taken it on herself to rescue Phil and had somehow gotten caught? That would have to wait; he had to decide what to do about Phil. One crisis at a time. As Connor surveyed the room, he knew Greg wasn’t the only one waiting for answers.
Marie was outside on guard duty. Cedric had volunteered, but Connor wasn’t sure that in such an emotional state, Cedric wouldn’t try to find his daughter. Since Phil had been taken, someone had kept watch at all hours. Connor knew they were tired, no one had slept the night before and they were unlikely to sleep tonight either. Even when they laid down for a moment’s rest, sleep did not come. There was a new kind of monster in the dark. As Connor looked around the room, they all seemed old. Bags hung underneath all their eyes. They were not that different from the undead monsters as they sat there, waiting for his instructions. Peggy’s cheeks were raw from the tears she had cried. Uncle Allen, the usual source of comic relief, found it hard to smile. He had used all his efforts on Peggy.
Connor looked to Rus for support in what he was about to say. Rus nodded, saying without words that he had his back. Rus and Polly were stuck in a fight they had no part in, but not once had they griped or complained. When Connor needed anything, they were the first to offer assistance. They knew their fates were entwined with his own.
“Tomorrow, we fight.” Connor spoke and they hung on every word. “We didn’t get this far by being knocked around. If they want what we have, then they are going to have to take it by force. When they come, Rich, I want you to have Mom, Allen, and Marie with you. You’re gonna get as far away as you can and not come back until you get the okay from me. I need the Jeep to look like you are leaving. Fill it with as much as you can.” He paused, making eye contact with each person. “Rus, Polly, Cedric…” Connor’s gaze lingered on Cedric. “I need your help to get Phil and Juliet back. I can’t do it alone.” Cedric kept Connor’s gaze, a fierce look of determination on his face. Cedric was not a fighter, but that look told Connor he had finally found something worth fighting for.
The sun began to spill over the horizon, casting back the deep blue of night with beams of orange and yellow. The vehicles were loaded with supplies. Everyone waited for what came next. The air seemed heavier as the seconds ticked by at a snail’s pace. The not knowing was the hard part. Not knowing if this would go as planned, or if Greg could even be trusted. The plan was to act like they were surrendering the farm, and then when Greg’s people least expected it, they would take them out. There was no doubt they would be out-manned, but Connor hoped the surprise factor would work in their favor. A rooster crowed in the distance, breaking the silence. The chickens were further proof of why Connor couldn’t lose the farm. They had put so much blood, sweat, and tears into making it what it was.
Rus stood in the lookout. Connor was grateful for his and Polly’s company. They had been pillars of strength in this otherwise terrible time. When he felt like giving up, they offered the encouragement Connor needed to keep pushing through.
“They’re coming,” Rus shouted down. He hurried down the ladder to join them. There would be no need for a lookout for what happened next.
Cedric rode in the truck with Connor. Rich, Marie, Allen, and Peggy were in the Jeep. They had loaded both vehicles with everything they could fit. If things took a bad turn, at least they would have supplies for the road. They had left just enough room to fit Phil in the backseat of the truck. It was barricaded to provide protection from any stray bullets. Polly and Rus sat astride their motorcycles pulling up the rear.
Connor’s hands were shaking as he unlatched the gate and pushed it open. In a few minutes, they would be face to face with Greg and his people, making a stand that would change the rest of all their lives.
Connor pulled the truck down the driveway. His eyes darted around, taking in the farm in and hoping he was doing the right thing. Outside, his heart sank at what he saw. This was the first time he had been outside the gate since the destruction of the moat. It lay in shambles all around, body parts rotted in the morning sun. A great sadness welled up inside of him. He had built the moat with Phil, each taking turns digging holes and burying zombies. It had been hard work, dangerous work, and it had been torn down so easily. Could there have been better ways to protect us? That was a thought for another day.
The headlights of the approaching cars shone like the eyes of ravenous dogs in the distance. Rich parked the Jeep beside the truck and looked to Connor for guidance. Polly and Rus were armed to the teeth on their motorcycles. Rus had a shotgun, a crossbow and a handgun; Polly carried a rifle and her revolver. They were ready for war. Polly smoked a cigarette, looking as calm as ever.
Connor looked back at everyone. They were his people, his family. It had been his faults that brought this on them. If we make it through this, I will be better. The open gate behind them s
tood like a wound that would never be closed. He checked the ammo in his gun. How many people would have to die for this to be over?
The van came to a stop twenty yards away. Two cars pulled up behind it, coming to an abrupt stop and sending dust floating through the air. Phil stumbled out of the back of the van, a shotgun at his back, followed by Greg and Juliet. Greg had one arm around Juliet, the other held the shotgun steady. Phil’s arms were tied at the forearm, a bloody bandage covering his severed stump. Connor had never seen him look so defeated. Phil seemed to shrink before his eyes. We will make it past this, Phil. I promise you that. Bill stared out from the driver’s seat. The men in the cars were strapped with semi-automatic rifles. Connor felt Juliet’s eyes piercing in to him, but he couldn’t acknowledge her, not yet. His eyes were focused on Greg. Greg had an evil smile when he addressed Connor. Connor wanted nothing more than to wipe it off.
“I see you’ve taken us up on our offer. I think you will find it a wonderful bargain in the end.” He put his arm around Phil. “I’m sorry that it had to come to this, but that’s how these things go sometimes.”
“You’ve got the farm. Now let Phil go,” said Connor through clenched teeth. He had no desire to listen to Greg gloat.
“Well, we are hasty, aren’t we. I guess I would be too. Alright, go on, get.” He gave Phil a push in the back with the shotgun. Rus and Polly had their weapons aimed on Greg. After Connor had helped Phil into the truck, he stood several yards from Greg. He ached to reach for his gun, to put a bullet straight between his eyes. It was too soon for that. Greg’s men had their rifles locked on Connor. “Any last words for your lost lover?” Greg nodded in Juliet’s direction, a smirk on his face.
Connor looked to Juliet for the first time. Her eyes were wide and Connor knew she was trying to signal him. She mouthed the word ‘run.’ Connor turned, for once blindly following orders. He tried to walk faster back to the truck. Connor looked over his shoulder and saw Greg tense for the first time in two days. He lifted the shotgun, pointing it at Connor.
Undead Love: Not Alone Page 11