Someone slapped me. Renee. I snapped out of my misery enough to help her apply pressure to Jude’s wound and load him into the back of the semi. It seemed the young woman soldier, Renee, was also a medic. Thank God.
I had planned to join Tex in the front of the truck, wanting to be useful, but one look at Jude and I realized he could be dead by the time we stopped somewhere safely. I opted to ride in the back with him. Tex never questioned me, he just handed me an automatic rifle before walking off to jump in the front.
A soldier I didn’t know drove the tank.
The explosions and non-stop rapid fire of the machine-gun wiped out swaths of zombies.
We cut a path of utter and total destruction through Charlotte, zombies falling before us en masse and blood and carnage raining down in sheets all around us. The only thing we had to worry about was following slowly behind the tank and avoiding the larger piles of bodies and abandoned vehicles. The journey was slow going, making the ache of worry in my chest grow with every passing minute.
The longer we drove, the more ashen Jude’s face became. He grunted every time the truck we rode in bumped along the path or came to a sharp stop. I felt utterly helpless. A sharp pain stabbed my chest every time I thought Jude might have been quiet for too long.
More than once I put my face next to his to see if he was still breathing.
More than once I kissed his cheek.
More than once I begged him to hold on so I could tell him how much I loved him.
“I love you, Jude.”
I whispered it all into his ear promising to say it to his face if he’d only come back to me.
What felt like an eternity later—but was more like two hours of non-stop driving—we pulled into the parking lot of the Toys-R-Us that Jude and I had stopped at a few days before.
“We’ll stop here for the afternoon and night, ditch the semi for something a bit smaller, and then head back to your base in the morning,” Tex said when I’d jumped out of the back of the truck, my eyes on Jude as they moved him.
I smiled but didn’t face him.
“You love him,” Tex said softly. It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t answer. “He’ll be alright.” If I hadn’t trusted him before, I would have after hearing the gentleness in his voice.
I nodded and exited the cab after I saw the final zombie in the area, who seemed to nearly slush as he shuffled, meet its end by a soldier I’d yet to meet.
“How is he?” I asked Renee.
Her huge blue eyes looked up at me as I approached. Her mouth thinned into a line and she glanced back down at Jude’s pale face. “He’s alright for now. The bleeding has stopped and there’s an exit wound on his back, so no bullet to dig out. It looks like he was lucky and the bullet missed his heart.”
Yeah, lucky.
“The sooner we get him antibiotics and clean bandages though, the better,” she said.
I nodded and began walking with the two guys who came over to help move Jude inside the toy shop. I felt entirely and completely helpless.
“Let’s set up shop inside,” I said.
The soldiers inside were already making preparations to hunker down for the night. Kiddie blankets pilfered from the toy store and mini pillows formed makeshift sleeping areas and shelves were being moved to block the front, glass windows, and doors for extra security.
I marched over to Jude’s side and hunkered down, taking his hand in mine. I wouldn’t be leaving his side until his eyes opened and told me he was going to be alright himself.
Tex took charge of all the evening’s preparations. With some cajoling, I allowed the female medic to clean and dress my wounds while I sat by Jude’s side. Jude was on one of those mats preschool kids use for naps, with a second one propped under his head. I snagged a SpongeBob fleece blanket to cover him with.
I thought back over the last few days.
Had I really killed Jess?
A small sob worked its way past my lips, and I buried my face into my arm, sucking back the flood of emotions I’d bottled up behind an impenetrable wall. I’d have to visit those later.
Jude needs me right now.
Jude’s eyes were closed, his thick lashes laying softly against his pale cheeks.
He was probably an adorable little boy, I thought vaguely.
I ran a hand across his brow, noting the fine sheen of sweat there. At least he wasn’t fevered.
“Wake up, Jude.” I whispered softly in his ear.
I snuggled close by his side, careful not to jostle him, shoved a stuffed animal under my head, and promptly fell into a restless sleep.
Zombie Bait Ooh Ha Ha
My neck was horribly kinked, and my arm was throbbing with pain when I woke up the next morning on the floor of the toy store. I wiggled my shoulders and rolled onto my back, blinking away the sleep and fuzziness from eyes.
“Thank goodness. I was beginning to think I was going to have to listen to you snore all day.” A cracked voice came from nearby.
A pair of brown eyes, slightly bloodshot, stared down at me, and I reached up to run a hand along Jude’s tired face, his beard now three days thick and rough beneath my palm.
With a tiny sob, a tear escaped to roll down my cheek.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I said.
Jude smiled and then grimaced in pain. He rolled off of his side and back onto his back to get more comfortable. I sat up and placed a palm on his forehead. He didn’t have a fever. I sighed in relief.
“I feel like I’ve been run over by a herd of angry elephants,” he said gruffly.
I smiled and ran a hand along his bare chest, and around the covered wound there where blood was seeping through the bandage.
Someone cleared their throat. I turned and saw Tex standing a few feet away, his large hands thrust into his black jeans and his long hair mussed.
“We should probably get going. The sooner we get to the base, the better. Everyone’s exhausted and a few people still need some medical attention,” he said.
I nodded and got up from the spot next to Jude.
The room spun slightly and Tex grabbed my arm to keep me steady. “Whoa there. You do remember that you were shot yesterday too, right?” I scowled at him and he laughed, then sobered as he looked at Jude. “You’re going to have your hands full with this one,” he said with a small smile. Jude blinked and then a small smile stretched across his face.
“Indeed, I am,” he said softly, gazing at me.
I cleared my throat suddenly wondering if he remembered anything from the day before.
“We’re ready to go when you two are.” And with that, Tex turned on his heel and left.
I sat back down next to Jude. I wanted to launch myself into his arms, but I knew that was likely a no-no in his current condition. His eyes searched mine and I again got the feeling he might have heard me the day before. I didn’t know if I would be relieved or mortified.
“How’s my patient today?”
I looked up and found Renee staring down at us. She had the kind of orange-red hair that made people take note. It was kinky curly and stood in every which direction giving her just a slight mad scientist look. Her large plastic framed glasses didn’t help.
I smiled at her.
“I’m ready to take on the undead hordes. Where’s my knife?” Jude said and she smiled. Jude smiled back widely at her and I found myself wishing the woman was a little on the ugly side.
A soldier came in to help Jude to his feet so we could get to the RV that Tex had secured for us the night before. When I got outside and made sure Jude was safely in the RV, much to his amusement, I walked over to Tex. He watched me approach as he finished giving instructions to a Hispanic man who had been riding the tank the day before.
“How’s everything looking?” I asked when I joined him.
“The guys were going to drive the tank to the base, but it’s out of ammunition and only has fumes for gas. We can always come back for it later.” He pointed to th
e tank where three guys were standing lookout for zombies.
“We lost one guy on the supply run last night, a really young guy named Michael.”
I frowned at him. I hadn’t known we lost anyone last night. Of course, I’d been out cold until this morning. “I’m sorry,” I murmured.
Tex waved away the sentiment. “We have Major Parsons driving the SUV with six passengers, and I’ll drive the RV with you, Jude, the medic, and four of the others. We should be able to make it back in a little over two hours.”
I nodded. Sounded about right.
Major Parsons let out an ear-splitting whistle and we all jumped into our awaiting vehicles, anxious to be on the move.
Our trek home went without a hitch.
*****
“I thought you two were zombie bait for sure.”
Before I could respond, I was pulled forward by two spindly arms until I was completely enfolded in Thomas’s embrace. I only flinched a little at the pain in my arm.
Thomas still thought of me as his savior since that day in Light Oak, and he looked up to Jude like a big brother. The kid had grown on me.
“Thanks for bringing him back to us alive,” Major Tillman said at my elbow.
I turned to face him. “I did my best, sir, but I sure wish I could have brought him back without a bullet wound,” I answered wearily.
Major Tillman lifted my chin with one rough finger and made me meet his eyes. “You can’t control everything, Melody. Jude’s a big boy and he was lucky to have you with him on that suicide mission.”
I smiled at him as Jude entered the room with a limp. His arm was held to his chest to protect his wound.
“I’ve been commanded to go straight to bed,” he said grouchily as he joined us.
I laughed and put an arm around his waist. Major Tillman raised a brow but didn’t comment.
“Well, let’s get you tucked in, shall we?”
“Man, I’d take her up on that offer if I were you. A lot of guys would love to hear those words from her lips,” Manuel teased from behind us.
Jude scowled over at him as I pulled Jude toward the exit.
“Wait, what did he mean a lot of guys?” Jude grumbled.
I sighed and threw Manuel a dirty look over my shoulder as we left the room.
His laughter followed us all the way down the hallway.
I was tucking the blanket around Jude when his good arm came out to pull me closer, my nose just inches from his.
“Did you mean it?’ He asked, his eyes searching mine. I saw a sparkle of hope there. I gulped.
Oh shit.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I lied, trying to shrug him off. His hand was an iron band around me, not letting me move an inch. I didn’t push it. He was wounded after all.
“Mel,” Jude inquired softly.
“So, what if I did?” I asked with a sniff, turning my face away from his searing gaze.
“Then, I’d have to do this,” Jude said huskily before capturing my lips with his hungrily. I only froze for a second. Then I matched his fervor, only pulling back when he grunted once in pain. I chuckled lightly.
“Whoa there, soldier,” I teased. Jude’s penetrating gaze nearly melted my panties right off me. “Jude?” I asked hesitantly.
“I love you too, Melody Carter.” He said seriously.
I sucked in a breath, searching his serious face.
“I should have said it before,” he added.
I shook my head. Both of us had held out and with both of us getting hurt, it had put an exclamation point on the stupidity of holding back when you could lose everything in a single moment in our new, terrifying world.
“Let’s not lose any more time being stupid,” I said.
“Don’t plan on it.” Jude said. I
smiled and leaned back into Agent Jude Harrison making sure I didn’t put any weight on his wound.
I took my time kissing Jude this time. I left no doubt as to what that kiss meant. I was in love with him. He let me know that he felt the same with a kiss that couldn’t have been mistaken for anything other than an “I love you too” in any world.
Hope. It’s What’s for Dinner.
I was squatting outside in overgrown weeds on the outskirts of the base a week later, taking my anger and frustrations out on every single zombie I could find. It wasn’t a difficult task and I’d convinced myself that we would be just that much safer if I thinned out the area several times a week, so that when we went out for a supply run, we’d have an easier time of it.
Jude had stopped trying to convince me to stay inside. Everyone had.
I stood up from my hiding spot and rubbed the back of my neck, glancing around the area in the fading light. I squinted my eyes to scan the distant field. There weren’t near as many zombies in the area as there had once been. Usually on any given day, even after I’d cleared them out a day or two before, I’d easily find a dozen or more zombies in our backyard.
This time I had probably only taken out around six. And now that I thought about it, a couple of the zombies I’d taken down in the past week had been a bit too easy. Maybe I was getting better at the killing. I wasn’t sure if that was such a good thing, but one thing I did know was that it would keep me alive longer. There was that.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready to call it a day.”
The voice came from close by and belonged to the young female medic, Renee, who we’d brought with us from Charlotte. I’d put my jealousy of her gorgeousness aside when I was sure she didn’t have her eyes on Jude as anything other than a patient.
We’d become pretty close since then. It helped that she didn’t ask questions and was an amazing shot. I hadn’t had anyone of the same sex to talk to since . . . well, in a very long time.
“Yeah, my shoulders are killing me. I could use some grub and a shower,” I answered grudgingly. “You go ahead, I’ll follow behind you in a few.”
She nodded and accepted what I said without blinking. She knew I needed my time alone and that I could handle myself out here.
“Okay, I’ll see you inside. Be careful.”
I smiled at her and started a final lap around the perimeter of the base. I took it slow, letting myself really enjoy the outdoors. I wasn’t stupid. I knew the base, the underground safe house, was the safest place for anyone to be, but sometimes I missed the fresh air. I missed the outdoors, the open sky, and the sounds of nature.
Because even though there were now unnatural sounds echoing all around the world, sounds that had no business haunting people’s nightmares, I still missed the sound of a bird singing, the sound of the small river out in the woods trickling its way through the forest. Even in our most fucked up world, the good could still be seen and heard, if you were willing to look hard enough. I sighed deeply and slung my gun onto my back.
I sprinted across the property and skirted around a few buildings until I spotted a solitary zombie in between me and the door to the main office building. I slowed my pace to a brisk walk as I made my way toward the undead man. About the time he noticed me, I was within ten feet of him.
Instead of closing the distance between us and dispatching the corpse like I normally would have, I stood and waited for him to come to me. The zombie opened its mouth to groan and gnash its teeth, but the sound that came from its throat was off.
I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it definitely didn’t sound the same, it sounded . . . juicier.
The zombie’s head also looked abnormally large, the cranium nearly double the size of what it should have been. Besides all that, an eyeball was hanging from one of its eye sockets and dangled back and forth as it stumbled forward.
How attractive.
I shuddered as the mutant zombie made an effort to come after me. He was slow. Very slow. Maybe it was because of the shape the corpse was in. Maybe I was overthinking it. Maybe.
When he finally made it close enough to me, I didn’t have to dodge him. I struck him once, r
ight in the forehead. He didn’t have a chance, and neither did my clothing. The zombie’s head popped like a balloon that had been overstuffed with rank, rotten innards.
When the zombie-head-piñata burst, all its glorious prizes spewed forth in one huge splash all over me. I gagged and wiped some unknown substance off of my cheek and stumbled toward the door.
I was never going to live this down.
I was scarfing down a protein bar and some nuts when Jude entered the mess hall and sat down at my table later that morning.
“So, I heard you were quite the sight when you came in earlier.” His lip twitched with the effort it took to keep from smiling.
I scowled and popped the last bit of protein bar into my mouth and watched him from beneath lowered lashes. “The freaking zombie just burst like I’d stuck a pin in an over inflated balloon. Blood, guts, and crap spewed all over me,” I answered grumpily.
The guys were still giving me crap about it all day.
My one-finger-salute and my very colorful vocabulary didn’t sway their hilarity.
I opted to ignore them from this point on. Jude, very wisely, kept his wisecracks in check.
I was headed back to my room when Major Parsons stepped in my path.
“Melody, may I speak with you a moment, please?” he asked. He looked serious.
“Of course, Major. What can I do for you?” I asked.
He smiled at that and I marveled at how much he reminded me of an older version of my dad. I blinked rapidly and turned away from his gaze, not wanting him to see me get all teary-eyed and emotional.
He cleared his throat. “You have done so much for me, so much for my men already.” He looked down at his hands and then back up again at me, his warm brown gaze sincere. “I hope I can help you some day, to pay you back for what you did for us.”
I was shaking my head the whole time he spoke. As if we would expect anything in return. He was not only a soldier, but also Jude’s uncle. We did what anyone would have done.
“But right now, I have to ask you for a small favor. Not for me, but for one of my men,” he said uneasily.
State of (Book 1): State of Decay Page 23