“Thanks, Val.”
When she was finished, I handed her a big, thick towel for her body and a smaller blue one for her hair.
She quickly dried off and dressed in some black shorts and a red-tank top, then switched her combat boots out for some more comfortable blue tennis shoes. She expertly put her hair in a long, blue French braid that traveled down her back. “I feel great!” she said.
“Just hurry up.”
“Your turn,” she said. “I’ll play lookout.”
I slipped out of my slimy pants and shirt and washed off. I even took time to wash my hair. It wasn’t the cleanest I’d ever been, but it was better than being caked in zombie remains, and we’d both stunk to high Heaven from all that battling. When Sammy handed me a hunter-green towel, I wrapped it around me, then hurried into the house. I slipped into a black tank-top and some white sneakers, since my boots were killing my feet. I threw my hair into a ponytail, not quite as stylish as Sammy’s do but still out of my face.
“Isn’t that much better?” Sammy asked. “And we didn’t even see a zombie.”
“We were lucky.”
“Well, I feel a whole lot better. I just wish I had a Pepsi.”
“Right. Surviving in a world without Pepsi is just…unconscionable,” I retorted.
She laughed. “Sure is! It’s a crime.”
I glanced out at the pool. “You think they’ll notice all the bubbles in that pool?”
“Like you said, what are the chances that they’ll come to this exact house anytime soon? Besides, any survivor could’ve cleaned up in there.”
“True. I guess my nerves are just on edge.”
“I’m so thirsty, and I used that whole gallon of water before I spotted the pool,” Sammy said.
“I know. We can’t stay here for long.”
“Let’s get some sleep. We’ll be no good tired. We’ll be just like the zombies.”
“I’ll take first shift,” I said. “Get some rest.”
“Thanks.”
“And one more thing.”
“Yeah?”
“Change your shirt. You know you shouldn’t be wearing bright colors.”
She laughed. “Really? I thought I was going all patriotic, with the red shirt and my blue hair and my perfectly bright, white smile,” she said, grinning at me.
“It’s better to blend in with the debris, Sammy, like Army rangers. Red sticks out like a sore thumb.”
“I couldn’t find anything else that fits me,” she said.
“You ever watch Project Runway before all this?”
“Of course. Why?”
“Then do as Tim Gunn used to say and make something else work, okay?”
She smiled. “Fine. I’m sure I can still be fashionable.”
“Yeah, well, in a zombie apocalypse, olive drab is the new fuchsia. As a matter of fact, I saw a t-shirt that color. I’ll go get it for you.”
She got up, and I helped her to the couch. I found a blanket and covered her up, then propped her swollen foot up on a pillow.
I left the room and returned a few minutes later. “Here ya go,” I said, tossing the shirt at her.
“Gee, thanks.” She put the way-too-big shirt on over her tank-top, then yawned and stretched. “G’night, Val. Wake me if you need me,” she said, then drifted off to sleep in no time.
I paced back and forth, thinking about all our close encounters with death. It had taken us far too long to escape, and Marvin’s men had only slowed us down. Still, I knew things could have been much worse. Dying in a jailhouse was not on my bucket list, so I was glad we had found our way out.
Chapter 24
I debated whether or not we should try to meet up with Kyle or just find our own transportation to Ohio. For some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I knew the old adage was true: There was safety in numbers. Besides that, Kyle had plenty of supplies and arms, as well as a vehicle that could mean the difference between life and death on that road trip.
After I got some sleep, we talked about it and agreed to go find Kyle and Jenny. Sammy packed our boots since we both found tennis shoes. I knew how valuable the boots were and we weren’t leaving them behind. Working off of memory to find his place, we hiked up the steep hill to the white house with a little yard.
Sammy knocked and took a deep breath, hoping he was home.
Kyle came out and greeted us. “Hey, you two!” he said.
“Kyle,” I said.
He was dressed casually, in nice-fitting jeans and a t-shirt that clung to his muscular chest. My eyes slid up his towering body, gliding over his high cheekbones and the dark stubble that shaded his sharp jawline. His white shirt only made his black, shoulder-length hair stand out even more.
“I see you ditched the hospital gown,” I said.
His green eyes glittered. “You too.”
“Well, you know how quick fads go in and out.” I laughed. “I burned mine.”
“What happened?” he asked, concerned. “Y’all storm the castle without me?”
“We just got caught up in…a real-life horror movie marathon,” Sammy said. “I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ll probably have nightmares for weeks.”
I looked at Sammy, then back at Kyle. “Actually, the worst horror happened after the rescue mission,” I said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t convince them to come pick you up.”
“That’s okay,” he said, motioning to the door. “But hurry up and get inside.”
After we walked in, he dead-bolted the door behind us. He motioned us over to an arsenal of supplies on a table. “Take your pick, ladies,” he said.
I picked up a Glock and thanked him incessantly.
Sammy picked up a rifle and looked through the scope.
Kyle ran a hand over his jaw. “So…how’d the rescue mission turn out? Did you get any of those poor people out of there?”
“All of them,” I said.
His entire face lit up, and he was happy to hear it. “That’s fantastic news! I couldn’t be more thrilled. You’ve given them a second chance, and I know firsthand how wonderful that is these days. Because of you, Jenny and I have a new lease on life.”
“I know how you feel,” I said. “We almost cashed in last night, but we’re still here today.”
“Second chances? Pssh,” Sammy chimed in. “How many times have we escaped the Grim Reaper now?”
“What happened?” Kyle asked.
Anger shuddered through me. “Marvin, Rob’s brother, tried to kill us,” I said.
His jaw dropped. “He what?”
“He put us in a jail cell last night and left the door open so zombies could storm in. We were safe inside the locked cell, but they reached their rotting hands in all night and wouldn’t stop with that godforsaken moaning. It was a living nightmare.”
“I can only imagine,” he said.
“Marvin promised to kill us in the morning.”
“Why?”
“He blames me for Rob.”
“Rob? What happened to him?” he asked, emotion pouring from his voice.
“That nurse back at the hospital killed Rob by stabbing him with a scalpel. He killed her and she turned into a zombie, but I took her down. Marvin blames me because I was too busy getting people out, and I wasn’t there to protect Rob.”
Sammy cut in, “But we escaped. We saw the warden shuffling around among the zombies, lured him over, knocked him out, and took his keys, and…well, I guess the rest is history.”
“Can we talk about this later?” I asked. “I’m tired of thinking about it. The important thing is that we survived. How’s Jenny?” I asked.
“She’s doing better. I wanna stay here until she’s well, and then we can leave.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said. “Sammy twisted her ankle, so she needs a little time too.”
“There are an elastic bandage and some other medical supplies upstairs in the bathroom,” he said.
“All right. I’ll help her wrap her ankl
e,” I said. “Is it safe here? Any zombie activity?”
“I haven’t seen any zombies, but I’m not too worried.”
“How’s come?”
“Because I’ve got my wits, my faithful rifle, my handy-dandy Glock, and my lethal roundhouse kick,” he said with a laugh.
I smiled, then said, “That’s nice, but now that I think about it, you might not have to use them. That hill is pretty steep. I’m not sure they can even climb it.”
“Yeah. I woulda loved to be a kid here in the winter, with a suitable trashcan lid for sledding. Besides, the place is chockfull of food and drinks.”
“And there’s even electricity!” Sammy cried, flicking a lamp off and on in amazement, as if she’d never seen one before. “How is that possible?”
Kyle smiled proudly. “I got the generator up and running.”
I smiled. “Sounds like a post-apocalyptic dream.”
“Well, it ain’t the Hilton, but it’ll do.”
Once Sammy and I got settled and decided where we’d sleep, I helped her wrap her ankle and gave her strict orders to stay off of it.
While Jenny was upstairs, sleeping, Kyle made dinner for us, but my stomach was in far too many nervous knots for me to have much of an appetite. I did drink several glasses of water; dehydration would be some added drama that I simply did not need. My only complaint was that the house was hot and humid, and the generator couldn’t support the power-hungry air conditioner.
Sammy’s face lit up when she found a guitar. “May I?” she asked.
“Go ahead,” Kyle said.
She immediately began strumming her fingers over the strings.
“You’re pretty good,” Kyle said.
She smiled. “Thanks.”
“So…any idea when we’ll leave?” I asked.
“I figure we’ll stay here a few more days before we hit the road. I just want to make sure Jenny is well enough for the trip, and she really likes this place.”
“It’s nice,” I agreed, “but I’d like to get on the road ASAP. There’s a bed in the EarthRoamer, so she can sleep on the way, right? I figure we’re only about five hours away, especially since that thing can travel over any terrain.”
“Cleveland’s a little farther than Sandusky,” he said.
“Cleveland? What would you wanna go there for?” Sammy asked. “I just left the big city, and it wasn’t pretty at all. The only thing that would make me want to go to Cleveland is The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I’m pretty sure it’s closed.”
I blinked as I thought back on my memories of Philadelphia. A shudder washed over me as I pondered what we’d been through for the last year. “Sammy’s right. It’s not a good idea. I’m sure Cleveland’s a breeding ground for all kinds of herds. All big cities are. I bet there are enough extras there to make a sequel to Resident Evil.”
“I know it’s bad, but—”
“Listen, in Philly, it was like somebody opened the doorway to Hell, Kyle,” I said. “My best advice is to stay as far away as you can.”
“You’re eventually gonna run out of ammo, ya know,” Sammy said.
He let out a low laugh.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“This is America, Sammy. There are plenty of orphaned guns and ammo out there, just waiting to be found and loved again.”
“Listen,” Sammy said, “I like you. I don’t want you to die. You’ve got brains, and they should stay in your head.”
“I know, but I have to find my friends and family,” he breathed out. “They mean everything to me.”
“I get that. I really do, but taking Jenny there is…” I trailed off, unable to say the words. “Look, if you insist on going to Cleveland, why don’t you leave her with me and Sammy on Kelly’s Island? We’ll keep her safe while you look for…answers.”
“An island? That does sound a whole lot safer,” he said.
“I hope so. I’m counting on it,” I said.
“I just might take you up on your offer, but let me think about it. I am worried about leaving her. It’s hard to walk away from anyone nowadays, because you never know if you will see them again. But still, I have to make one last-ditch effort to see if I can find any of the others.”
“How will you find them?” Sammy asked. “They could be anywhere, if they’re even still alive.”
“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s just something I have to do. I’d feel better if I knew Jenny was safe. If you’re willing to babysit for me, I won’t drag her to Cleveland.”
“And what if you don’t come back?” Sammy asked. “There’s a good chance you won’t.”
He didn’t speak, and I knew her words hit him hard. Although it was a painful question, it was a valid one. After a moment, he stood. “I’m gonna go check on Jenny.”
“I’m sorry,” Sammy said. “I’m a little too blunt sometimes. It’s just that…well, I think you’re a great guy, and we stopped a crazy doctor from pumping your heart full of poison. That’s why you’re here. How many people even get a second shot? And now you wanna throw that precious chance away by going to a huge city infested with zombies? A horde can box you in an alley or building in a heartbeat. If you don’t come back, poor Jenny won’t have a father.”
He stormed off without another word.
“Kyle!” I called after him, but he just kept going up the stairs. I turned to Sammy. “What were you thinking?” I snapped.
“What? You know it’s the truth.”
I let out a long breath. “Maybe, but you coulda said it a little more gently.”
“You can’t sugarcoat it for him. He needs to know that if he sets one foot in Cleveland, it’ll be bitten off, and he’ll be dead. Did you risk your life—our lives—to save him just so he could die a week later?”
“No,” I said.
“He needs a reality check,” she said.
“Well, you sure gave him one.”
“I’m tired,” she said, yawning.
“All right. I’ll take the first shift.”
Sammy stomped off to bed.
Agitated, Kyle couldn’t sleep, so he decided to keep me company. We sat on the couch and opened the window to feel the cool breeze on our faces. I knew we couldn’t leave the window open all night, but the fresh air felt wonderful while it lasted.
“We never finished discussing a plan.”
“I’m so sorry about Sammy,” I said. “She just…speaks her mind.”
“I didn’t mean to storm off like that. Her words just hit me kind of hard, but I know she’s right.”
“I know you want to stay a while, Kyle, but I’d really like to leave tomorrow morning,” I said. “I know Jenny is still very sick, but she won’t even know she’s moving in the back seat of that thing. I’ve seen pictures of it in magazines. It looks like a hotel suite.”
“Want a tour?”
“Tomorrow,” I said.
“All right. I’ll pack everything up, and we can leave in the morning,” he said.
“Thanks,” I replied. “If we do, we’ll be on the island by tomorrow night, all safe and sound.”
“Val, I’m happy that you’ll have your family reunion—”
“No re- about it,” I interrupted. “I’ve never met them before.”
“I bet you’re excited.”
I smiled. “Yeah. I’m super excited.”
“I have to go look for my family too, dangerous or not.”
“I know,” I whispered. “If that’s your choice, I completely understand. I don’t advise it, but I won’t harp on it either.”
“I can’t thank you enough for volunteering to look after Jenny. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about how I ended up with those cannibals. My daughter almost died. What kind of protector, what kind of father does that make me?”
“Kyle, you’re a great father. It isn’t your fault that the two of you were captured. You bro
ught her here, to a safe place, and you made sure she has the antibiotics she needs for her pneumonia.”
He gazed at the ground. “I just can’t figure it out. What did I do wrong to end up in that horrible place?”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“We were resting here for a few nights because Jenny was sick. I’d pillaged a pharmacy and got her antibiotics for her Pneumonia. Jenny collapsed in the living room. I thought the antibiotics weren’t working or maybe I misdiagnosed her. I went to look for a doctor or nurse or anybody that could help me. This nice woman took us to a so-called hospital, and I thought we’d get help there.”
“Me too.”
“I shouldn’t have trusted them.”
“They made us feel at ease, and they were so friendly. They were like spiders, spinning lies to lead us right into their trap.”
“I came so close to death. I mean, you eventually rescued the others, but it would have been too late for Jenny and me. We would have already been cut up or devoured. I still don’t understand why you risked your life to get me off that operating table?”
“When I walked by, your face was turned toward the door. You just seemed…well, I thought you had something to live for, a daughter. I couldn’t just stand by and watch them snuff out your life. I heard them prepping the room and instruments clanging, and the doctor squirted some liquid out of a syringe. I knew if I didn’t do something, you’d be dead, and I just…well, I made the split-second decision to get you and Jenny out of there.”
“Bringing two unconscious strangers with you had to slow you down and hinder your escape, but you didn’t care.” He shook his head and looked at the floor. “That was amazingly selfless and kind, and you don’t run into that much these days. Most people only care about themselves and will trample anyone in their path if they have to just so they can save their own skins.”
“Everything worked out in our favor,” I said.
“Luckily.”
“How can those people live with themselves, knowing they are murdering innocent people?”
A sick feeling crept over me as I thought about it. “They don’t care. They just want to live, and it doesn’t matter who they hurt in the process, as long as they survive.”
“It’s bad enough that the zombies want to feed on us, but humans? Truly, the thought of them doing that to my precious little girl sickens me. What has society come to?”
Val: Prequel to The Zombie Chronicles Page 19