The First 30 Days: A Zombie Novel

by Lora Powell

  Back out in the gym, I found Shawn talking to one of the men who had gone with us to rescue our friends the day before.

  "Bri, this is Mark."

  I said hello and waited while the two guys went back to talking about whatever they had been talking about. I didn't understand everything, working out had never been even a blip on my radar, but was easily able to tell that they were talking about the gym. It reminded me that Shawn had liked to go to the gym regularly before the zombies ended the world.

  I looked around the open room with a little more interest. Being in the gym in the middle of the night was probably what had saved Shawn during the initial outbreak. Wasn't it strange, the reasons why any of us managed to survive those first couple of days. If it hadn't of been for my roommate trapping me in our bathroom, I would have probably been dead, too.

  The testosterone fueled manly bonding session seemed to be winding down. Mark invited Shawn to use the gym whenever he wanted, and Shawn turned to me, "Ready?"

  I nodded my answer and waved goodbye to Mark. The walk back to the main area was every bit as creepy as the first time. Maybe worse, my eyes had adjusted to having more light while standing in the gym. I was definitely glad that I had asked Shawn to wait for me. Walking with him on my one side, and Rex on the other, helped.

  The zombie apocalypse seemed to be making me more scared of the dark than I had been as a kid.

  Back in the main store, we twisted and turned our way through the dark walkways. Whoever had been responsible for moving things around in here into the current configuration deserved some sort of award. I was lost, but luckily my companion seemed to have it figured out. Somehow, we emerged right next to the front door, in the large open space there.

  "Hey, guys. I see you found the showers," Colton nodded to the guy he had been talking to, and walked our way, pushing slightly too long hair out of his face.

  "Yeah. I ran into Charlie earlier and she told me how to find them."

  "Good. Has anyone given you the tour yet?"

  "Not yet. I did explore on my own a bit. Bri hasn't seen anything but the showers yet."

  He grinned at us, "I have about an hour until I need to take my shift on watch. Why don't I show you around?"

  "That would be great," I chimed in. I didn't like feeling so disoriented. Hopefully a tour would solve that problem. And maybe we would find something to eat, now that I was wide awake, I was starving.

  I discovered really quickly that the layout inside the store wasn't too confusing once it was explained. Along with the open area near the door, the quarantine room, and the bunch of cubicle like sleeping spaces, there was an even larger open area at the center of the store. There, everyone tended to gather whenever they weren't sleeping or carrying out their assigned jobs.

  There were about a dozen people hanging around when we arrived, and I was pleased to notice that most of them were starting to look familiar. Likewise, they seemed to be getting used to us, and a variety of greetings came our way.

  Colton was just starting to tell us the schedule to come get something to eat, when a girly squeal shredded the quiet.

  "Doggie!"

  A head full of tangled hair darted towards us. Tensing up, I tried to step in between the little girl and Rex. I had no idea how he would react to an overzealous kid, but I did know that he took some time to warm up to strangers. To my dismay, Rex had wandered further into the space than we had, and there was no way I would reach the dog before the kid did.

  The girl launched herself at him and wrapped thin arms around his neck, burying her face into his fur.

  Rex's tail began to wag.

  I reached him a second later, but by then I could already see that I needn't have worried. I wasn't great at telling exactly how old a kid was, but my guess put this girl at maybe five or six. Happily, she tugged the dog closer. The lantern light wasn't bright, but it gleamed off of her hair, highlighting her red curls. Pulling slightly away from Rex, the girl smiled up at me with a face full of freckles.

  "What's your dog's name?"

  "Luna, you know better than to run up to a strange animal," Colton lightly chided her, interrupting me before I could answer.

  When I realized that the quiet conversations around us had gone silent, I looked up. Every adult present was watching the little girl hug the big dog with concern. I couldn't blame them, but I did find it strange that no one person seemed to be stepping forward to take charge of the kid.

  Colton answered my unasked question. "Bri and Shawn, this is Luna. She's the only kid we have living here with us. We found her hiding in her school the first week and we all watch out for her now."

  "Mommy didn't make it to my school to pick me up, but that's ok because I'm just going to wait here for her," she gripped the dog's fur tighter and looked up at me with an almost defiant expression.

  I couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for someone so young to comprehend just what had happened. I sunk down to her level and reached to pet Rex with her. "That sounds like a good plan." Her riot of red hair and demeanor reminded me so much of Evie, I had to clear my throat before I could continue. "This is Rex. Is it ok if he and I, and our friends, stay here too?"

  When she realized that I wasn't going to challenge her statement, the tension left her small shoulders. Smiling at me with a missing tooth, she answered. "Yep. But only if I get to pet Rex sometimes."

  "Deal."

  I stood back up. Enough time had passed that I was sure Colton would have to go soon. I was hoping that he could direct me to wherever the rest of my friends were staying. I had a promised visit to keep.

  "Colton, can you tell me where I will find Bill and Devon? I'd like to check up on them."

  "Sure, follow me." He turned to walk back into the sleeping area. "We cleared out a space next to where Alex, the nurse, sleeps. The rest of your group is probably all there."

  FIFTY-TWO-DAY 24

  The guy who I assumed was the resident nurse was standing in the walkway, talking quietly with Maggie. He had a faint accent, almost nonexistent, that reminded me of a woman I used to work with. That woman was likely dead by now. I wondered, not for the first time, if there was anyone left alive from my old life. Colton waved a greeting to the pair and then sauntered off into the darkness, leaving Shawn and I standing there somewhat awkwardly.

  "Hey," I attempted to cover the feeling.

  "Bri, Shawn, this is Alex. He's been working around the clock to try to help your friends."

  I managed a half smile at Maggie before turning to Alex, "How are they doing?"

  "I was just telling Maggie here, there's good news and bad. Bill is already recovering remarkably well. I hear he has you to thank for that."

  I shrugged, uncomfortable with the attention.

  Alex rubbed eyes that were so bleary I could see just how bloodshot they were even in the low light, and continued. "I could sometimes really use some help around here. I'd appreciate it if you'd consider being my backup." When I nodded reluctantly, he went on. "Bill's healing, there's no sign of infection, and he's already asking when he can get out of bed. As long as nothing unexpected happens, I expect him to be back on his feet in another day or two."

  When he stopped there, I shifted from one foot to the other. I was glad to hear that Bill was going to be ok, but from what I had heard, Devon was the one in trouble at the moment. Alex's pause seemed to confirm that. Shawn had shuffled closer while we listened to the nurse talk, and I leaned lightly back into the warmth of his chest, seeking shelter against the bad news.

  Alex sighed, "Devon is the one I'm worried about. That wound has been infected for days, and the infection is spreading. I've been giving him the best antibiotics that we have, but it is getting worse. I'm not sure what exactly to do."

  "What do you mean?"

  "The thing is, I know what the options would be for him if we were in a hospital. As fast and as far as the infection is spreading, they would be talking amputation at this point. But, I'm not su
re that's an option anymore."

  A heavy silence fell between the four of us.

  Amputation. How would we do such a thing safely in these conditions? And even if he survived the procedure, how would Devon make it with only one leg? I wasn't naive enough to think that we would never have to run for our lives again, no matter how nice this place seemed to be.

  "Does he know?" I breathed.

  "No. But it's time that I'm going to have to tell him," Alex sounded like that was the last thing he wanted to do.

  After another pause, we ended up talking for several minutes about just how we should break the news to Devon. In the end, there really was only one way to do it. He deserved to know what was going on and to have a say in any treatment that was attempted.

  We were just about to go talk to him, when Shawn stopped me. "After this, you should have Alex take a look at your back."

  Maggie and Alex turned to look at me, forcing me to reply. "It's fine, really. I hardly even notice the scratches anymore." That was a lie. They pulled unpleasantly whenever I moved wrong, and they had burned like fire during my shower, but I felt like there were more important issues to worry about at the moment.

  Seeing that I was going to be stubborn, Shawn went ahead and told on me. "She cut her back on a fence a few days ago. We cleaned them up, but one in particular was pretty deep."

  I glowered at Shawn, but the three of them ignored me. "I'll check you out when we are done here. Come on over to my bunk whenever you're ready."

  "I grumbled my displeasure at Shawn, "They are just scratches. Yours were way worse, and you're fine."

  "Mine were not worse. You can't see your back, but I have." When he noticed that the attention had shifted to him, Shawn elaborated. "Back towards the beginning, a zombie scratched me." He pulled his shirt aside to show the healed marks. "They're fine."

  "Wait, you were scratched by a zombie?" Alex moved closer to look at Shawn's exposed skin with interest.

  "Yeah."

  "And you didn't get sick at all?"

  "Nope. We were worried there for a while, but I guess scratches aren't dangerous." He released his shirt.

  The look on the nurse's face was starting to make me uncomfortable again.

  "That's just it," Alex looked rapidly back and forth between Shawn and I. "I was in an ER for the start of all of this. I saw plenty of bites and scratches. They all were infected. If blood was drawn, fatality seemed to be 100%." He looked like he was lost in thought, and his tone suggested that he was talking more to himself than anyone else.

  "The scratch itself isn't deadly. Or so we thought. But the zombies are all filthy, covered in blood. Blood from under their nails introduced into an open wound was all it took. You would have to be the luckiest person alive to be scratched and not get infected. Unless you did, and you were somehow immune." Alex looked speculatively at Shawn. "I wish there was some way for us to know. If there were actually a person who was immune, that could maybe be a start to a vaccine."

  The nurse's ramblings were making me uncomfortable. I had watched my share of TV in the past. This was always about the time a crazed scientist would decide to experiment on some unlucky person. I felt myself glaring at the nurse and couldn't seem to stop it. Anyone who messed with my family was going to get on my bad side in a hurry.

  "Well, that's a talk for another day." Maggie was watching me with interest. She appeared to be the only one who had picked up on my body language. "Right now, I think it's time we told Devon the truth. He needs to have some time to decide what he wants to do."

  Her words were the wet blanket I needed to put out the slow anger that had started in my veins at the mere thought of anyone hurting Shawn. Maggie was right. Devon needed us right now. He needed me calm, not freaking out over something that hadn't even actually happened.

  I attempted to shake off my bad mood and turned to Alex, "Lead the way."

  FIFTY-THREE-DAY 24

  He cried.

  Devon tried to hide the tear that slid down his cheek, but I saw it. That tiny bit of moisture dragged an answering tear from my own eye. It wasn't fair. Devon was barely an adult, and he was faced with an impossible decision.

  I held back my gasp when Alex pulled the blanket up to expose his leg. The entire lower part of the limb was swollen grotesquely and the area around the wound was black. Pulling out a sharpie, Alex drew a line where the red of infection met the paler color of healthy flesh. The mark was at least an inch higher than a similar sharpie line already on his leg, and above his knee.

  "The infection is spreading too fast. Whatever you decide, it needs to be soon," Alex pulled the blanket back down to cover his leg.

  I shifted uncomfortably. I didn't know what to say to Devon. Around me, the others seemed to be having the same problem. Maggie hovered just inside the door. Shawn and I had stopped near the end of the bed Devon was laying on. Fallon was sitting cross legged on the cot next to his. Bill and Maya took the other two cots in the room.

  I was glad to see that Bill looked as good as he did, but that had been tempered by the knowledge of what we were about to hear. Now, everyone in the room looked equally grim. We all knew that there was no good solution to this problem.

  "Um, I need some time. Could you guys leave me alone for a while?"

  "I'll just be next door. Call for me when you're ready to talk," Alex flashed a tight smile at Devon before gesturing for me to follow him.

  I spared a backwards look at Devon, more than anything, he looked like he was in shock, before allowing Shawn to lightly direct me after Alex. Over in the next sleeping cubicle, I found the nurse rummaging through the well stocked contents of his shelves.

  There were only two cots in this space, the rest of the floor was taken up by a variety of medical things. One cot was obviously in use, but the other seemed like it hadn't seen a body in a while. Alex pointed to the empty cot.

  "You can have a seat there and pull the back of your shirt up."

  I eyed the cot with distaste but walked to it and plopped down. Shawn was still hovering, I think he was making sure I didn't make a break for it before Alex got a look at my scratches. Making a face at him, I reached back and gingerly worked my shirt up high enough.

  "You hardly even notice them, huh?" Shawn hadn't missed how carefully I was moving my shoulders.

  I wasn't going to win that argument, so I just sighed and kept quiet. Alex was pulling on a pair of latex gloves anyway.

  "Ok, let's see what's going on back here."

  The rubber gloves felt cool as they brushed against my skin. Alex moved my shirt a little higher and I felt him gently poking around the wounds. They were already sore, and whatever he was doing back there wasn't helping any.

  I had never been a great patient, and I knew it, so I grit my teeth and let the nurse do his job. After a minute, he spoke. "Bri, these actually don't look too bad. This one probably should have had a couple of stitches, but it's healing without them. I think, if you keep them clean and take it easy with how you move for a few more days, they should heal up fine."

  "That's great. Thanks," I waited less than patiently while I felt him smear ointment over the scratches and plaster some kind of bandage over the whole mess.

  He stood up and I heard the rubber snap of the gloves coming off, "All finished. Come back tomorrow and I'll check you again, but I think you're fine."

  I jumped to my feet and pulled my shirt back into place. "Will do, thanks." I had no intention of coming back tomorrow.

  I started to make my escape, but Alex stopped me in my tracks.

  "Shawn, would you mind if I looked at your scratches closer?"

  "Sure," Shawn shrugged and moved closer to Alex.

  He didn't seem to mind the interest, but I felt myself getting defensive all over again. I crowded closer to the two of them and watched skeptically. I had no idea what Alex could hope to learn by looking at already healed wounds.

  The nurse pursed his lips in thought and studied the marks on Shawn'
s shoulder with dark eyes. He didn't touch, but he looked like he really wanted to.

  "You are positive that they were caused by the zombie?"

  "Yeah, I mean, I don't think it could have been anything else. I didn't actually feel when it happened, just noticed them after."

  "And they didn't get infected at all. Or you didn't have any symptoms?"

  "No, nothing. But Bri hauled me inside and spent a lot of time cleaning them right away."

  "Interesting." Alex flashed a look my way. "I don't honestly know what to think. Maybe you just lucked out and were scratched by a freakishly clean zombie. Or maybe having the wounds cleaned so quickly made a difference. Or, maybe, you have some sort of immunity."

  Shawn frowned a little. "Is there any way to find out for sure?"

  Alex finally backed up a step, making me feel like I could breathe again. I had half expected him to go all mad scientist on us. "No, I'm afraid not. At least, not here. Some place with a functioning lab would be able to run tests and give you answers, but we aren't capable of anything like that."

  It made me perversely glad to hear those words. If they were less capable here than my overactive imagination had been fearing, then maybe there wouldn't be any reason to worry. Then again, being in any way less capable during the zombie apocalypse was not a great thing.

  Confused by my own inner monologue, I reached down to scratch behind Rex's ears. I needed to get a grip.

  The empty growling from my stomach had turned into an embarrassing snarl by then. Fortunately, it was time to go eat, so Shawn and I worked our way back to the larger community area. Fallon and Maya were already there, having left too when Devon asked for privacy. Bill was the only one still with him, but he wasn't supposed to be getting up just yet.

  I slid onto a bench next to Fallon. "How you holding up?"