Sunrise

by Boye, Kody

  “Here we go,” Kirn groaned.

  “To start,” Jamie said, “we need more than just four men guarding the front gates. Our shifts are too long and it isn’t fair when any of us have to sit out in the cold and rain for twelve hours straight. I am appointing Michael, Dustin, Steve, Ian and Dakota as tower guards until further assistance is provided to us.”

  “CIVILIAN AUTHORITY?” Kirn roared.

  Jamie slammed his fist on the table. “Listen here you motherfucker. I don’t want any more lip from you. If you have a problem with something, please, feel free to speak up, but don’t scream.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Wills said. “They’re civilians!”

  “Unless you would rather continue your twelve-hour shifts, I’d suggest you keep your mouth shut.”

  Dakota grimaced. The hot throb in his chest intensified. Someone’s going to pull a gun if this keeps up.

  “Here’s the thing,” Jamie continued, taking a breath before he continued. “Everyone I just assigned to guard duty knows how to shoot a gun. Right, guys?” Every appointed guard nodded. “Erik previously addressed his concerns to the sergeant about one of us getting sick from exposure to the elements. With nine guards in place, we can alternate eight a day, two-and-a-half hours at a time, with a spare taking the place of another to give them the day off. I’m doing this to give us a break, and I’m doing this because I know it’s hard as hell sitting out there all day watching the world crumble all around us.”

  No one spoke. Such a harsh statement was likely to create the effect, a ripple of emotion across a room of nine men. Even Desmond, usually reserved to such political notions, frowned, despite the fact that he was in no way involved in the guard duty.

  “The other civilians will keep their chores,” Jamie continued, “and their weapons will be returned to them to better protect themselves. Military and law personnel will assist them with the maintenance of the building. Saint David’s will no longer close its doors to those who may need help. We will continue making supply runs on a weekly basis. This is only the beginning. We’re in this for the long haul, guys. We don’t want to start ripping each other apart.”

  Steve placed his hands together and clapped. Most everyone else followed suit.

  In the back of his head, Dakota couldn’t help but feel nervous about their new situation.

  “I don’t like sleeping behind an unlocked door,” Jamie said.

  “Who would?” Erik asked, bracing himself as they settled the mattress over the bare bedspring in the sergeant’s old room. “Especially not after what happened tonight.”

  “Wait a second,” Dakota said, drawing both men’s eyes toward him. “The doors aren’t locked?”

  “They were still renovating this place. I don’t think they ever got around to putting lock-locks on the doors.”

  “There’s chains,” Jamie said.

  “But they won’t do shit if someone wants to break into your room,” Erik said, gesturing Jamie to lift his side of the mattress.

  Dakota turned to look out the windows, then allowed his eyes to travel across the room, toward where an old oak desk and a push-button phone sat in the corner of the room. “What did this used to be?”

  “I’m guessing a warden’s office,” Jamie said.

  “You know where I am if you need to find me,” Erik said, clapping Jamie’s shoulder. “It’ll be ok, J. You can do this.”

  “I know. Thanks, Erik.”

  The two exchanged nods before Erik left the room. Sighing, Jamie stooped to gather a tangle of sheets and blankets off the floor, then sorted them over the footrest. Dakota stepped forward and took the opposite end of a sheet when Jamie lifted it from the row. “Sleep with me tonight?” he asked.

  Dakota paused in place.

  “Not like that,” Jamie continued, pursing his lips when Dakota leaned forward to stretch a sheet corner into place. “I would never ask something like that. I just don’t want to be alone.”

  “It’s ok. I’ll sleep in here with you tonight. It’s no big deal.”

  “Thank you, Dakota.”

  “Don’t thank me.”

  Night offered no solace for the restless. Shrouded by clouds and hidden by rain, no moon would shine tonight.

  Dakota lay in bed, shivering in the dark. Eyes trained on the window in the hopes that even a sliver of light would pierce through the clouds and offer some form of comfort, he listened to the sound of Jamie’s breathing, surprised that no touch had come any time throughout the night.

  I would never ask something like that, Jamie had said.

  “He’d never ask,” Dakota muttered.

  Especially not on a night like this.

  Not once had Jamie moved since they’d lain down over an hour ago. Their backs opposite, their hearts nearly in the same place, Dakota longed to roll over, to press himself against Jamie’s back and wrap his arms around his chest—something, anything to comfort him, but neither his heart nor his mind would allow him to do such a thing, for it was the beast of envy that was said to rest at night, in two lovers’ bed, in one place where, despite everything, all things were supposed to be well, and it would prey on them as though it had all the time in the world, silently waiting but ready to strike.

  The bed shifted.

  Dakota breathed.

  An arm snaked over his back and a hand reached for his fingers. “Are you awake?” Jamie whispered.

  “I’m awake,” Dakota said, joining their fingers together.

  Neither of them spoke for several long moments. Dakota sighed as Jamie pressed half his chest against his back and moved his head to join him on the second pillow. “Is this all right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does this make you uncomfortable?”

  “No.”

  It makes me feel better.

  He didn’t speak his thought. Instead, he allowed his body to loosen under the taller man’s weight and resigned himself to his emotions. Already he felt warmer, though whether or not it was actual physical warmth he couldn’t be sure.

  “Jamie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you.”

  Jamie squeezed his hand.

  A scream tore through the silence of the morning.

  “What the fuck was that?” Jamie asked. They both sat up abruptly. Someone pounded on the door. “Get in the closet.”

  “What?”

  “I said get in the closet.”

  “There’s a girl out here!” Steve called, pounding on the door. “Jamie! Jamie! There’s a girl!”

  Jamie threw the door opened. Steve stumbled forward, jaw dropping when he took notice of Dakota still sitting upright in the bed. “What the—?”

  “Not now,” Dakota said, scrambling out of the bed.

  He pulled his shirt over his head and ran out the door.

  “HELP!” the girl screamed.

  She appeared to have fallen from the barbed wire fence. Palms shredded and face scrunched in anguish, she wrapped her fingers through the chain-link and looked on in horror as Steve, Jamie and Dakota ran to join Erik at the gate. Nearby, Kirn and Wills stood with their guns trained on the infected, fingers drumming against the curve of their triggers.

  “Are you bit?” Jamie asked.

  “No!” she cried.

  “Don’t scream,” Dakota said. “What’s your name?”

  “Alexis.”

  “Alexis. My name’s Dakota.”

  “I didn’t know anyone was here,” she said, sobbing, tears coursing down her face. “I tried to climb the fence and I…I thought I could get over the barbed wire, but then I fell and my baby…”

  She sobbed. Dakota instinctively sought out the obvious swell in her stomach and felt a pang of guilt roll through his gut as he found it. “How did you fall?” he asked.

  “On my back,” she said. “Thank God.”

  “Are you hurt?”

  “It’s just my hands,” the girl said. “I caught myself on the way down. I fell on my butt.”r />
  “Goddammit,” Erik breathed, jamming a key into the padlock around the pull and push mechanism.

  “What’s taking so long?” Jamie asked.

  “I can’t get the fucking key to work!”

  “They’re closing in,” Kirn warned.

  “Don’t fire unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Jamie said.

  A small group of about twenty infected shambled forward, their movements restricted both by the immense amount of decay plaguing some of their bodies and the vehicles situated against one side of the road. Alexis, still crying, looked over her shoulder, but quickly turned her head when she saw the corpses.

  “It’s going to be ok,” Dakota said, wanting to reach forward, but not willing to get blood on his hands. “You’re safe now.”

  “I can’t believe he left me,” the girl whispered.

  “Who?”

  “My boyfriend.”

  A roar went up in the crowd.

  Kirn fired a shot. “Runner,” he said.

  “Were you with other people?” Jamie asked, pushing Erik aside to try and maneuver the key out of the padlock. “Was there anyone else with you?”

  “N-no,” Alexis said. “There wasn’t.”

  “How did you get here?”

  “I jumped out my window and into our swimming pool. I’m not bit, I swear.”

  “Just give us a sec, we’re gonna get you in here.”

  “Hurry up with that gate!” Wills called.

  “We’re working on it!” Erik cried.

  Jamie twisted the key as hard as he could and the lock popped open.

  “Shit,” Steve breathed.

  Three infected came running out of the alley.

  Alexis screamed.

  Jamie and Erik ripped their fingers through the gate and began to pull it open as fast as they could. Above, Kirn and Wills opened fire upon the infected. The first went down as its kneecaps were blown out. The second and third managed to dodge the bullets or avoid fatal shots by taking blows in the chest and shoulders. One ran forward, tripped over the curb, then lashed out at the ground as it propelled itself toward Alexis.

  Steve tore his gun out of its holster and fired.

  Blood and brain matter exploded onto the third infected, stunning it just long enough to allow Kirn and Wills to deal the fatal, killing shots.

  The gate rolled open.

  Alexis ran in.

  A choir of death began to sound in the streets as the zombies shambled out of the shadows.

  “Someone has to check you,” Dakota said, leveling his eyes on the girl as they stepped into the locker room.

  “I have to…strip naked?” she asked.

  “It’s just a precaution. We want to check you for bites.”

  “I didn’t get bit,” Alexis said. “I already told you.”

  “I know.” Dakota sighed. He slid his fingers into his pockets and watched a few tears run down the girl’s face. “I’ll do it.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll do it. I don’t want anyone else to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m gay,” Dakota said. “I don’t know if it’s any help for you to know that.”

  “You’re not saying that just to get me to undress, are you?”

  “No. I’m not. They’re waiting just outside the door if you’re not sure.”

  A sob escaped the girl’s chest. Pulling her shirt over her head, she tossed it into the corner and slid her pants down her legs, shivering as she stood before Dakota in only her underwear. He checked everywhere from her head to her toes, then sighed, gesturing for her to remove the rest. When she did, she stood there with her hands beneath her breasts, trembling in her nudity.

  Dakota concluded his exam. “You’re ok.”

  Alexis reached for a dry towel that sat on a nearby bench.

  “Why don’t you go ahead and take a shower,” Dakota said. “The skinny guy with brown hair and glasses will take care of your hands after you get out.”

  “She’s safe,” Dakota said.

  A collective sigh of relief went up among the group.

  “Good,” Jamie said, running a hand through his hair. “Now all we have to worry about is the infected.”

  “We’ll get rid of them,” Erik said, adjusting his rifle across his back. “All we have to do is use the sound displacement technique.”

  “That’s a load of horseshit,” Kirn said.

  “Then you’ve got the job,” Jamie said, clapping Kirn on the shoulder. “You and Wills get to the roof and start working on it.”

  “You asshole.”

  “I may be an asshole, but I’m the asshole in charge.”

  Kirn and Wills left, the former muttering something under his breath as they did.

  “Everything else ok?” Erik asked, turning to look at Dakota.

  “Her hands are messed up, but other than that, she seems ok. You might want to look at her back though. She said she fell while she was trying to climb the fence.”

  “She’s also pregnant,” Erik said, reaching up to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “That puts us in a predicament.”

  “We don’t even know how far along she is,” Jamie said.

  “Are you kidding?” Erik laughed. “She’s at least five, if not six months in. We’ve got a real problem here, Jamie. We really do.

  “I know.”

  “We don’t have the medical equipment here to deliver a baby.”

  “We’ll worry about that later.” Jamie shook his head. “For now, let’s just welcome the tenth member of our group.”

  Alexis stood in the second floor lobby. Head craned forward, eyes reveling in the sight of the delicate strands of life beneath the plastic domes of the terrariums, she looked to be a child in awe of the world, innocent beyond her sixteen years and the baby growing inside her. Her lips parted into a smile and her hands started shaking, as though excited at the prospect of something great and wonderful. So captivated was she in her own little world that she barely heard Dakota approach.

  “Hey,” he said, sliding up alongside her. “Erik take care of your hands?”

  She lifted them in response. Fresh, if somewhat-dirtied bandages tipped her delicate fingers. “Who made these?” she asked, as if completely oblivious to Dakota’s previous question.

  “I did.”

  “You did?” she asked, looking up at him. The same twinkle remained in her eyes.

  “Uh huh,” he said, leaning forward. “Oooh!”

  “What?”

  “I didn’t know they started to grow.”

  “Yep,” Alexis said, leaning forward so her and Dakota’s head were level with one another. “They look nice.”

  “Thanks.”

  Alexis stood. She started to stretch her arms over her head, but stopped, grunting and dropping a hand to her stomach.

  “Are you ok?” Dakota asked, alarmed.

  “It’s the baby,” Alexis said. “Wanna feel?”

  Dakota shook his head, not wanting to intrude on such a personal moment, but was forced to do so anyway. Alexis pressed his hand against her stomach, holding it steady while she took steady breaths in, then out.

  A pressure kicked against his hand. “Feel?” she asked.

  “I felt it,” he said, though wasn’t sure how to take such a thing emotionally. “How old is it?”

  “Five-and-a-half months.”

  “Do you know what it is?”

  “I was going in to see the day this happened.”

  Dakota pulled his hand away from her stomach, slid it back into his pocket and turned to look out the window, sighing as he saw the slowly-growing wave of zombies advancing upon the asylum.

  “So many,” Alexis said. “What are they going to do?”

  “Lure them away with dummy bullets,” Dakota said, looking up at the roof. He half-expected to hear the sound of the rifle being fired, then remembered they most likely had silencers attached to their guns. “At least, that’s what Jamie said.”r />
  “Is he the one in charge?”

  “He is now.”

  “There was someone else?”

  “Uh huh. The sergeant. He… uh…killed himself…yesterday morning.”

  Alexis grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing, in a way. His cancer was eating him alive.”

  “My grandpa died from cancer,” Alexis said, stepping away from the window. “It doesn’t seem like a nice way to go.”

  “No,” Dakota said. “It doesn’t.”

  The two of them continued to make their way down the hall, occasionally stopping when Alexis took notice of something and wanted to examine it further. Most of these things were cracks in the walls or the occasional scar on a door, but one thing in particular Dakota took note of—a portrait, one of a man seated at a desk with a skull at his side.

  “That’s creepy,” Alexis said.

  I don’t know how she can find a picture creepy these days, Dakota thought. It seems useless to think that a picture’s creepy.

  “Did Jamie assign you a room yet?” he decided to ask, wanting to steer them away from the picture.

  “Not yet,” Alexis said. “Was he supposed to?”

  “He will,” Dakota said. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  By the time night came and dinner had passed, Dakota collapsed into bed, exhausted and almost unable to keep his eyes open. Nearby, Jamie stood rummaging through a wardrobe, combing through rows upon rows of shirts, suits and coats. At one point, it seemed as though he was going to start pulling them out to try them on, but he eventually pulled himself away and tore his shirt off his head.

  “What were you looking for?” Dakota asked.

  “A shirt,” Jamie said. “To wear to bed.”

  “You don’t have to wear a shirt to bed, silly.”

  “It gets cold here,” Jamie said, sliding into bed and under the covers. He leaned forward, braced a hand over the lantern, then blew it out, thrusting the room into darkness. “You ok with this?”

  “I have to be now,” Dakota chuckled.