After Zombie Series (Book 1): After

by Samantha Gregory

“Save it,” I said, in disgust. I tossed the ampoule at him.

  “I didn’t take it, Jenna. I poured it out, I swear.”

  “I don’t care, okay? Do whatever you want.”

  Twenty One

  Jenna

  I watched Reilly from across the dining hall. He was laughing with some of the kids. I saw Maddy among them. She waved to me and I waved back. Pamela glanced my way and I dropped my arm. She came towards me.

  “How are you?” she asked.

  “Better. Pamela, I’m really sorry about scaring Maddy like that. Is she okay?”

  Pamela smiled, “Its fine. Maddy has forgotten all about it. In fact she’s been asking when she can play hide and seek with you again.”

  “I’d love to. If you’re okay with it?”

  She put her arm around my shoulders, “It’s okay. If you need anything you can come to me.”

  “Thanks.”

  Reilly waved to me. Since it was clear Dad was going to send me away soon, I thought I should at least say goodbye to him. I wished I could spend more time with him. At least he was someone I could rely on.

  He came loping over to me, “Hey, so I thought we could have dinner somewhere special tonight.”

  “Really? Where?”

  “It’s a surprise, but you’ll love it.”

  I could say goodbye tomorrow. Why spoil the day?

  At seven, I met him outside the dining hall. He had food packed for us already.

  “The cook’s a friend of mine. I convinced him to make us up a picnic.”

  “A picnic? Aren’t they traditionally eaten outside?”

  “Yes, they are.”

  “But we’re not allowed to leave the factory.”

  “I think I may have found a loophole in that.”

  We went up to the main factory floor again, to a set of stairs in the corner. At the top was a hatch to the roof. Reilly laid out a blanket on the concrete for us to sit on. I shivered as I remembered the dream I'd had, when I died.

  “Is it too cold?” Reilly asked.

  “No, it’s perfect.”

  I sat down beside him determined not to let bad memories ruin the moment. He unpacked our food. It was meatloaf, but it was better than the creamed corn any day.

  “You’re being very quiet,” Reilly asked.

  “Just thinking.”

  “What about?”

  “Do you think there will ever be a time when zombies are just a distant memory?”

  “I hope so. That’s not the only thing that’s bothering you though, is it?”

  I sighed, “Dad wants to send me away. Soon. Probably in the next couple of days.”

  “Oh,” he looked disappointed I was pleased to see.

  “I don’t want to go.”

  “I don’t want you to go either,” he said. He leaned in towards me. He’s going to kiss me, I thought. And I wanted him to. His lips were an inch from mine.

  “JENNA!” Dad bellowed from below us. Reilly pulled back.

  “What!” I yelled. Why did he have to spoil everything?

  “I need you in the lab ASAP.”

  I threw my head back and groaned, “I’m sorry, Reilly.”

  “It’s okay, we can talk later.”

  As I walked down the steps, I sincerely hoped that by talk he meant kiss.

  “What were you doing up there?” Dad asked.

  “Eating dinner,” I replied. There were a thousand other responses I wanted to use, but I really didn’t want another fight right now. “What do you need me for?”

  “You’ll see.”

  There was a holo screen up in the lab. When I came in, Wesley hit the play button. One of the camps appeared. I could tell it was a camp from the orange vests, the inmates were made to wear over their own clothes.

  “What is this? Is this where Mom is?”

  The camera zoomed in on a woman standing by a fence. Her back was to the camera, but I recognized the hair and her clothes.

  “She’s okay?” I said, tears pricking my eyes. It had been so long since I had seen her.

  “This was taken a few hours ago. She’s in a camp about three hundred miles away,” Wesley said. I put my hand up to the image, as if I could reach through and touch her. It flickered when I touched it.

  “Once you are secure, we’ll get her out and take her to you,” Dad said.

  “Why don’t you just let me help?”

  “No, it’s too dangerous.”

  “Dad, I’m not a child. I took on an army of the undead.”

  “Did the undead have automatic weapons?”

  “No, but-”

  “Well, then. We’ll get it done.”

  I guess I had no choice. At least now I knew she was alive.

  “Jenna?” Wesley said, when Dad left.

  I ignored him and walked out of the room. He followed me, but couldn’t keep up. I ducked into Dad’s office. Gil was in the room. A tray of uneaten food sat on the desk.

  “Oh, I didn’t know anyone was in here,” I said.

  “I’ll be going in a minute. Just sorting some paperwork.”

  I lingered, not wanting to go back out and face Wesley.

  “Is something wrong?” Gil asked.

  “No, I’m just...”

  “Avoiding someone?”

  I nodded, “How did you know?”

  “I like to keep an eye on things around here. I assume it’s Mr. Anderson you are avoiding.”

  “You are good,” I said.

  He grinned, “I wouldn’t worry about him. I’m sure he’ll be moving on soon.”

  He picked up the tray and headed out the door. A young guy appeared and he handed it to him, “Take this to Mr. Anderson.”

  He’s bringing Wesley dinner now? He probably spit in it first. I took a seat at the desk and put my feet up on it. I dislodged some folders in the process.

  A sheet of paper fluttered free and I scooped it up.

  It was a handwritten note. All it said was, I’m sorry, Wesley.

  At first I thought it was a note to Wesley, then I realised it was supposed to be written by him. Was it an apology to Dad?

  My eyes landed on the jar of poison on the shelf that I had lifted earlier. Half of it was gone.

  He’ll be moving on soon.

  He wouldn’t? Would he?

  Wesley

  I sat in my room, seething over what had happened with Jenna. She was never going to talk to me again. She thought I took it. But I hadn’t. I was tempted, very tempted, but I poured it down the sink. It took every ounce of willpower to do it but I had.

  She was never going to believe me though. Probably ran back to Reilly. Why the hell was I still here? We found her mom and Tom was sure that Jenna was going to be okay. He was smarter than me; he certainly didn’t need my help here. I should just leave.

  There was a knock on the door; it was one of Gil’s lackeys with dinner. He set the tray on my desk.

  “Thanks,” I muttered.

  I hobbled on my crutches to the desk and sat down. I picked up the fork and poked at the food on my plate. It didn’t look too appetising. Maybe it tasted better than it looked.

  Twenty Two

  Jenna

  I sat on Wesley’s bed, staring at his body which was slumped across his desk. A tray of half eaten food sat beside him. I had been sitting here for half an hour. Waiting. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

  The door opened and I waited to see who it was. Sure enough, Gil stepped into the room. He was focused on Wesley and didn’t see me. He moved closer to check him.

  “Nice and neat,” he murmured, “No one will miss you, boy.”

  He turned around and finally spotted me. His eyes widened, “Jenna? Something’s wrong with Wesley, go get the doctor, quickly.”

  “There’s no point,” I said.

  Wesley sat up behind him.

  “He’s fine.”

  Gil spun around, “What the hell?”

  “Jenna got here first. Before I ate your surpri
se dinner.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  I got up off the bed, “You tried to poison him. Why?”

  “He’s been trying to get rid of me for a while now.”

  Gil snorted, “You two think you’re so smart, don’t you.”

  “Well, he’s a genius apparently,” I said.

  “It’s over Gil,” Wesley said.

  He moved fast and before I could react he had a knife at my throat. The blade nicked the flesh and I let out a hiss.

  “Let her go,” Wesley said, getting to his feet.

  “No, I’m getting out of here and if you try and stop me, I’ll kill her.”

  Wesley raised his hands in surrender, “What could I do? Jenna, on the other hand...”

  I swung my head back into Gils face. He staggered and I twisted the knife out of his hand. When he lunged at me, I punched him in the face. He fell on his ass.

  “What are you?” he snarled.

  “Me? I’m a genetically engineered freak, who doesn’t like it when people threaten her with knives.”

  Wesley called through to Dad who arrived a few minutes later, flanked by two guards, “What’s going on?”

  “He attacked me,” I said, “And he tried to poison Wesley.”

  “Get him out of here,” Dad ordered. Gil was dragged away to the cell on the far side of the building.

  Dad looked at us waiting for more info.

  “Wesley can fill you in. I’m going to check on Reilly. Someone should tell him about Gil.

  “That can wait. Jenna!” Dad yelled after me. Maybe it could for him but Reilly needed to know.

  Wesley

  Once Gil was locked up securely, Tom started going through all his research to see if anything was missing. I resisted the urge to say I told you so.

  “What was he up to? Do you think he was a spy?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. What are you going to do with him?”

  “Keep him locked up for now. We need to find out what he knows. Does he know about Jenna?”

  I hesitated, “She told him she was genetically engineered.”

  “For God’s sake. We are the only ones who need to know about her. If they find out she’s part zombie, there’ll be a riot.”

  “She’s not part zombie,” I snapped.

  He sighed and dropped into his chair, “I know, I didn’t mean it like that, but that’s how others would see it.”

  There was a bump at the office door. I looked back expecting someone to come in. No one did. Tom didn’t seem to have heard it. I must have imagined it.

  “Then we get her out of here and keep Gil away from everyone. What about Reilly? If Gil was a spy, then Reilly could be his partner.”

  “I don’t know. He’s just a kid; I think he’s on the level.”

  “You don’t know him. Yet you were willing to get rid of me.”

  “Gil told me you were still using.”

  “Well I’m not! He even left Morphinal in my room, but I threw it away.”

  “Why does he have it in for you?”

  “Let’s go ask him.”

  Gil was pacing the tiny cell, his face set in a scowl. He cracked his knuckles when he saw us approach.

  “Oh no, I’m in trouble now,” he said mockingly.

  “Who are you working for?” Tom asked.

  “I don’t work for anyone. We are fighting for a world free of the Alliance. I am a soldier.”

  “Then why were you trying to kill me?”

  Gil sneered at me, “You’re not the only hacker around. I know all about your history. Your father disappeared; your mother is a nut job. Oh and your brother was a zombie. You were quarantined for three months after he was eliminated. Then the Alliance takes you on to work on their zombie formula? You can’t be trusted.”

  “I was quarantined years ago, so clearly I didn’t turn. And I wasn’t working for the Alliance, they were holding me hostage!”

  Tom was silent, I noticed. If Gil was this pissed over me, how would he react to finding out that Tom not only worked on, but perfected the zombie serum?

  “What about Reilly? Is he in on this?”

  Gil snorted, and then thought better of it, “Maybe he is.”

  “He’s not,” Tom said, “Maybe because he isn’t crazy.”

  “Are you just planning on keeping me in here?” Gil asked.

  “For now,” he turned to walk away, then stopped, “Oh and if you ever try to hurt my daughter again, I’ll kill you.”

  “Little Jenna. Tell me, what did she mean when she said she was a ‘genetically engineered freak?’ Those were some wicked moves she pulled on me.”

  “If I were you I wouldn’t keep talking about the fact that you were beaten up by a ‘little girl,’” I sneered.

  We left the cell area.

  “We need to keep him isolated. I don’t want him repeating anything about Jenna,” Tom said.

  “I think it’s time to get her out of here.”

  “I want you to check the computers to see if he downloaded anything else or sent anything,” Tom said. I could see his mind was already spinning as he planned what to do next.

  “How did he know all that stuff about me? I know he could pull quarantine records, but what about the rest of it?”

  “The information was in my personal files.”

  I sighed, “Why do you keep all this stuff? Anyone could hack it.”

  “Because if the Alliance does kill me at least I know that the evidence of their work still exists out there. That there is still a way they can be brought down.”

  “So why not flip the switch? Send the evidence out into the world. When everyone knows that they were responsible, it’s game over. They’ll fall.”

  “And how many people will end up dead in the process? It will start a war. I’m not going to be responsible for any more deaths.”

  “Any more?”

  “Check the computers,” he said, walking away.

  I returned to my work station and pulled up the files. Tom was a fool. He could change everything. I began flicking through the files.

  God, my whole life was on here. There was a picture of my mom and dad. I paused to look at it. Gil said that Mom was a nut job but the truth was both of them had lost it over Freddie’s death. Mom turned to meds and Dad just wandered off one day. I had no idea where he went or if he was even still alive. I deleted the photo.

  Quarantine had been horrific. Long nights spent lying on a camp bed, listening to the others around me, crying and wailing. I was too terrified of turning to pay much attention to them. All I could see every time I closed my eyes was Freddie’s face.

  On the third night, I was awoken by screams. The woman three cots down had turned. I had hidden under my blanket as she rampaged through the quarantine. I waited for her to come for me, to bite me, but she didn’t. Instead, she stumbled out of the tent where the AS opened fire on her.

  Not many people made it out of quarantine. Either they turned or they were attacked by those that did. Ninety one days I spent in that tent. Finally one of the AS noticed me and put me back in the camp. By that time, Mom was catatonic.

  I was distracted by the sound ofseveral people running past the door. What was all the commotion about?

  Twenty Three

  Jenna

  “Reilly, I’ve been looking for you. Do you want to take a walk?” I asked.

  He was sitting in the dining hall, with his chin resting in his hands, staring at the wall. He seemed really bummed. Had he heard about Gil already?

  “You okay?”

  “Sometimes you think you know someone. Then you find out the truth.”

  “Look, Gil was-”

  “I’m not talking about Gil,” his brown eyes met mine; “I know what you are.”

  I felt the color drain from my face. He knew. How? “It’s not what you think,” I said.

  “No wonder your dad was so desperate to get you back. We came here for sanctuary and
the whole time we’ve had a zombie living here with us.”

  “I’m not a zombie,” I snapped.

  “I’ve seen what the smart ones can do. I’m not going to let you hurt innocent people.”

  “Please, Reilly, it’s not what you think.”

  He rose from his seat and raised his arm. He was holding a gun. I gasped and backed away from him, hands raised. He wouldn’t shoot me. Would he?

  “Sorry, Jenna.”

  I didn’t hear the shot, but I felt the bullet strike me in the head. Then darkness.

  ​

  *

  The darkness was interrupted by flashes of my father and Wesley standing over me.

  “Hurry up,” my dad snapped.

  “I’m trying,” Wesley replied.

  I felt something sharp cutting into my head. It went dark again.

  When I opened my eyes again, Dad and Wesley were arguing in the corner of the room.

  Everything was kind of hazy. Where was I? I struggled to sit up.

  “Jenna? Don’t move,” Dad said, rushing towards me.

  “I’m fine,” I muttered. I could feel something trickling down my face. I wiped at my face. It was blood. “Why am I bleeding?” I asked.

  “You don’t remember?” Wesley said, hobbling on his crutches.

  I shook my head. I think I was on my way to speak to Reilly and then he…

  “He shot me!” I screeched.

  Oh my God, he had just shot me. That total dick. I felt rage flood through me.

  “Jenna, just calm down. We‘ve locked Reilly away, he can‘t hurt you,” Dad said.

  “No!” I screamed. I grabbed the gurney and flipped it over. Then I lost it completely and started trashing the room.

  “We need to calm her down or she’s going to do some real damage,” Dad yelled to Wesley. While Dad hunted for something in the medical kit, Wesley approached me with his hands raised.

  “Jenna, stop please. It’s the x01 flooding your system,” he said. I lifted a microscope and smashed it against the wall above his head. Dad was trying to fill a syringe.

  “For God’s sake Wesley, do something,” he said.

  Wesley cupped my face in his hands, leaned in and kissed me. I was so shocked that I felt all the anger leave me.