You’d think they were a couple of teenagers who couldn’t keep their hands off of each other, she grumbled inwardly.
The good thing, however, was that Tiny had kept her mom from smoking any more of her beloved cancer sticks.
“Smoking is bad for you,” he’d scolded her mom playfully when she’d asked him to locate more cigarettes after finally running out.
“Oh, I think you’re bad for me, too,” her mother had replied with a pouty face.
“Baby, I’m bad, but I guarantee I taste better than a cigarette,” he chuckled.
“Okay… okay… okay…” Paige snapped, interrupting their banter. “Remember we are still back here, and there aren’t any puke bags in this vehicle. Either you two find an abandoned motel room, or quit with the disgusting innuendos.”
Kristie turned around and frowned at her oldest daughter. “Paige, seriously? We’re just having some fun. You really have to lighten up, honey.”
“Lighten up? All of our friends are still MISSING. They could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere, for all we know. And you two don’t even seem concerned in the least.”
It had happened soon after a devastated Bryce had carried Cassie back to the other SUV. Apparently she’d lost consciousness after being bitten by Eva, who’d turned into the Zombie Bitch from Hell. What was even worse was that Paige didn’t get the chance to take that final swing. She was cheated out of killing the only zombie that Paige would have given her right arm to destroy. Such irony, and it was still eating away at her conscience.
The attack on Bryce had occurred when they’d placed Cassie in the back of the SUV. A big, black Dodge pickup truck had pulled up behind Dave’s, and before anyone knew what was happening, there’d been guns pulled. As soon as the first shots were fired, Tiny had taken off like a bat out of Hell. Unfortunately, Dave’s SUV hadn’t followed as they’d expected. When Tiny had finally turned back around to see if Dave and Bryce needed any help, everyone was missing.
“Hey, we are worried,” said Tiny, tightening his hands on the wheel. “In fact, I feel like a total shit that I left those guys so quickly. It’s just that I didn’t want anything happening to you girls. And you too, gramps.”
Wanting to comfort her daughter, Kristie reached back, squeezing her lightly on the shoulder. “I know you’re scared, but you have to remember, they’re a tough group of people. In my heart I truly believe that we’ve just been separated for a little while. Before you know it, we’ll be in Atlanta and you’ll realize that everyone is doing just fine. Have some faith, sweetheart.”
Paige turned away and looked out the window, trying not to cry. “I hope you’re right,” she said.
“Your mom is right,” said Tiny. “And we should be in Georgia soon anyway, so you can see it for yourself.”
Paige straightened up. “About that – Tiny, you keep repeating how we’ll be in Georgia every so often, and yet, we’re still not seeing any road signs confirming it. You’re not lost, are you?”
Henry, who’d been sleeping up until that point, cleared his throat and chuckled. “Of course he isn’t lost. He’s traveled the country and has probably been to Georgia a dozen times; right, boy?”
Tiny, who was a pro wrestler and would have probably pounded anyone else in the face that referred to him as “boy”, only nodded back toward old Henry. “Uh, yeah, gramps. I’ve been to Atlanta quite a few times.”
“And you’ve actually driven there?” asked Paige, crossing her arms under her chest.
“Well,” he answered in his high-pitched voice – one that sounded more like Michael Jackson and nothing like the Herculean giant driving the van. “I’ve flown, mostly, but it can’t be that hard when you follow the road signs.”
And that was the problem. The last road sign indicating Georgia that Paige could even remember had been a couple of hours ago, and yet they still hadn’t reached the state. Apparently, Tiny hadn’t thought that was odd.
“Hon… did you take a wrong turn or something?” asked Kristie as they entered the small town of Deer Ridge.
Paige felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up as they slowed down. Deer Ridge appeared to be nothing more than another zombie wasteland on the outside, but she sensed there was something even more sinister to it. In fact, it was almost like driving through an old ghost town where tumbleweeds rolled by and eyes peeked at you from behind dark windows. Right now she’d bet anything the undead were stumbling around somewhere, maybe on the verge of an attack.
Tiny snorted. “Wrong turn? I don’t think so.”
“We could really use a new map,” said Paige. “Then we’d know for sure.”
The last time he filled the tank, he’d lost the old one by swatting a fly with it and absently tossing it away somewhere.
“Yeah, good idea. Let’s fill up at the next gas station and grab one,” replied Kristie.
“Just be on the lookout for thieves,” said Henry. “They’re going to be crawling out of the woodwork now, by golly.”
“By the way, Henry,” said Kristie. “How’s your back? You gonna make it?”
About an hour ago, they’d pulled over to the side of the road so the guys could relieve themselves. Henry had stumbled backwards over a rock and complained about his back hurting.
He shook his head. “It’s a little tender but I tell you what… this stallion isn’t ready for the glue factory just yet. I’ve got a lot of ride left in me.”
Kristie smiled politely. “I’m sure you do, Henry.”
With a gleam in his eyes, he added, “You want to brush off my saddle, purdy lady, you just give the word.”
Paige groaned. She liked Henry, but they’d been driving together for hours and hours and he really needed to shut the hell up about his riding skills.
“Oh, grandpa,” chuckled Tiny.
“Henry,” said Paige, “I think you need to forget about your saddle and help us figure out where the heck we are.”
“We’re definitely lost, that’s where we are,” he said, pulling out his tin of chew. “It ain’t rocket science, honey.”
“You really think we’re lost?” asked Kristie, looking concerned.
Tiny didn’t answer this time and Paige wanted to scream.
3
Kris
Kris sat across from the doctor, whose face became a blur after his impartial speech. She brushed the tears from her face and shook her head. “I just don’t understand. I mean, you told me that she was getting better. She even regained consciousness a few times.”
He handed her a tissue. “I know this is hard.”
“I want to see her,” she demanded.
“I’m sorry, we can’t allow that. She’s been quarantined and we’ll be doing an autopsy. Listen, I understand your grief, I have lost most of my family, too. It’s tragic; horrible. But you have to remain strong for the rest of your family.”
His eyes were flat and showed no real signs of compassion. It was hard to believe he’d lost anybody.
“No, I want to see my daughter!” she cried, her voice getting shrill. “You told me she was getting better! And I’ve been at her side continuously until this morning when you took her away from me. I’ve been exposed to the damn virus from day one, so as you can see, Doctor, it doesn’t matter if I go near her again!”
As if on cue, two young soldiers stepped into the room. “Everything okay, Doctor Hill?”
She ignored the soldiers but pleaded in a much softer voice, “Doctor, let me see my baby. Please?”
The doctor sighed. “I’m very sorry for your loss. If there was anything else I could do, I’d do it. Unfortunately, the government is making these calls and my hands are tied.”
It was obvious that he wasn’t really on her side, and it made her furious.
The gloves were coming off.
She was tired of the bullshit.
Kris stood up and leaned over his desk, getting right in his face. “Okay, fine, I want to talk to whoever is making ‘the calls’, Doctor!
I demand to talk to your superiors. Right now, dammit!”
The taller soldier took a step toward her but Doctor Hill raised his hand, halting him.
“It’s… its fine,” he said and then turned back to Kris. “Please sit down. This isn’t necessary.”
She moved back, but didn’t sit down. “Well?” she asked tightly, trying to keep her composure.
Doctor Hill rubbed a hand over his face and then finally nodded. “I’ll see what I can do, Mrs. Wild. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try. For now, why don’t you try and get some rest?”
She snorted. “Rest? I’ve rested quite enough. If I can’t see my daughter right this minute, then I want to try and call my husband again,” she said. “Can you please find me a cell phone to use?”
He stood up and grabbed the paperwork from his desk. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said without looking at her.
His favorite line, she thought bitterly. He wasn’t very efficient in anything he’d promised, and now he claimed her youngest had died from the zombie virus. But it didn’t make sense, and something in her gut was convinced he was deceiving her. He had to be lying. She’d have a nervous breakdown if it were really true.
The two soldiers chaperoned her back to her room, which she’d been sharing with a couple other survivors. They were staying in a hospital where the remaining scientists from the CDC, the ones who hadn’t taken the vaccine, curiously enough, had set up a new research lab. The zombies had overrun the old facility so they’d all been transferred to the hospital. There were over one hundred survivors and almost fifty soldiers helping to secure the site.
“What happened?” asked Carly, who was alone in the room, reading a book. She was another survivor who’d wandered into the hospital alone and frightened just two days before. Her entire family had been killed and she’d almost been raped by a band of marauders. The young woman was in her twenties and certainly had a strong will to survive. In fact, she reminded Kris a lot of her oldest daughter, Cassie.
Kris sat down on her cot and put her head in her hands. “They told me that Allie is dead. But I don’t believe it. Carly, she just can’t be!”
Carly’s jaw dropped. “They actually told you she died?”
Kris looked up at her, fresh tears glistened her eyes. “Yes,” she choked. “They said Allie… my baby… died!”
“Oh, Kris,” said Carly, kneeling down next to her, “I’m so sorry. This doesn’t make sense, though. They… are they trying to pull some kind of bullshit? You told me she was getting better.”
She wiped her tears. “Well, I really think they’re lying. It just doesn’t make sense to me, either. Yesterday morning Allie had opened her eyes and she’d recognized me! Even smiled before she fell back to sleep. Then, last night she squeezed my hand and her face looked so much healthier, it was like a miracle. Now, they tell me that she’d died in her sleep, and yet, they won’t even let me see her!”
Carly’s face darkened. “That seriously sounds like a crock of shit. They really won’t let you see her?”
Kris stood up and began pacing. “I demanded they let me see her, and Dr. Hill refused, saying it wasn’t his call. I don’t know what else to do, dammit!”
“Have you spoken to your husband?”
She shook her head. “No, I can’t get ahold of him. His cell phone must have died. At least that’s what I’m hoping and it isn’t something else.”
Carly’s lips tightened. “If they are refusing to let you see her, then you have to take matters into your own hands. Shoot, I’ll even help you.”
Kris stared at her. “Really?”
She nodded. “Of course. Let’s start right now by sneaking into her room.”
Kris sighed. “If it were only that easy, she isn’t there. They’ve moved her.”
Carly bit the side of her lip. “What about the research lab? I hate to even say this, but maybe they’re experimenting on her?”
She clenched her jaw. “They’d better not be, or I’ll kill every last one of them. I swear to God…”
***
They needed a plan, and by the end of the day, they had one. Carly, with her voluptuous curves, blond hair, and bright blue eyes, had gotten the attention of one of the soldiers. It was obvious he liked her, and she was going to use her all of her feminine wiles to help locate Allie.
“So, I’m going to talk him into giving me a tour of this place. He’s been trying to get me alone and I’m going to give him the opportunity this time, so we can find your daughter.”
“Oh, Carly, you don’t have to go that extreme. It just wouldn’t be right,” said Kris.
She smiled. “I’m not going to jump in the sack with the guy. I’m just going to sweet-talk him into giving me a private tour. I might let him kiss me, cop a feel, but nothing more. Don’t worry,” she said, shaking Kris’s shoulders playfully. “I know what I’m doing. I’m a grown woman.”
Kris sighed. “Just be careful.”
“If I can help you find your daughter, it’s worth being a little friendly to one of the soldiers. You’ve been so kind to me, and I want to return the favor. I mean, the fact that they’re keeping your daughter from you – actually lying to your face – is really pissing me off.”
She nodded. “It’s infuriating, isn’t it?”
“Damn right it is! But don’t you worry, hon; we’ll find Allie and then get the hell out of here. I’m not going to sit around and let them do this shit to you.”
Kris’s eyes filled with tears again. “I don’t know what to say, you’re amazing.”
She smiled and then looked over Kris’s head toward the door. “Showtime – here comes stud-muffin,” she said under her breath.
Kris turned around and sure enough, Lieutenant Michael Smith stood just outside of the door, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw Carly.
Carly flipped her long blond curls and batted her eyelashes. “Well hello there, Lieutenant. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
He grinned. “Now, I told you to just call me Mike,” he said, swaggering into the room. He was younger than Carly, maybe early twenties. From the love-struck look in his blue eyes, he was already putty in her hands.
“Can I talk to you for a minute, Mike? Alone?” asked Carly, walking toward him, her hips swaying seductively.
“Of course.”
She looped her arm through his and guided him out of the room. “Your forearms are so large and firm. Do you work out?”
Kris chuckled and then sprawled out on top of her cot. She closed her eyes, and as usual, her thoughts went to her family. She missed them terribly and prayed silently they were all safe. It had been almost a week since she’d spoken to Dave, and even longer to Cassie. The last she’d heard, Cassie had escaped the clutches of the soldier, Austin, from Texas, who she herself had actually saved the night the zombies showed up. She’d been very upset with the news, but Dave had assured her that Cassie was doing well and that they were all on their way to Atlanta. But that was a while ago and they had yet to arrive. Now that Allie had been moved to a different facility, the chance of them meeting up seemed to be getting slimmer every day. She tried not to think about that and concentrated on rescuing Allie.
4
John Doe?
He made it to Atlanta in record time. The motorcycle had been a good choice when it came to weaving through the crowds of zombies and the countless abandoned cars. The problem was that he didn’t know where to start once he crossed into the city, so he decided to wing it. He’d drive until it felt right to stop.
He found many of the tourist attractions in Atlanta right away, including a very popular one, the Georgia Aquarium, but unfortunately, it did nothing for him. There was no pull, nothing. It was, however, crawling with zombies who were a little too excited about his arrival. He kicked it down as they approached the bike and drove further, until he was in an area of the city that appeared to have less walking dead traffic. As he began to relax, he noticed an abandoned mini mall in the midd
le of nowhere that looked inviting. He was thirsty and needed something to keep him going. It seemed to be less volatile than most other places he’d driven past.
He parked the bike off to the side of the building and grabbed his ax. He then headed toward a small health food store in the center of the mall that caught his eye. As he walked into the entrance, he stepped over a couple of dead zombies that appeared to have been shot in the head. He tightened his grip on the ax and made a mental note to start looking for a gun, too.
It was quiet and appeared to be void of people, living or dead. Fortunately, there was also plenty of nonperishable food. He grabbed a canvas bag and started filling it with protein bars, energy drinks, and water. As it started to get heavier, he thought about trading in his motorcycle for a truck or SUV. He could carry more and have a place to sleep, if needed. The question was gasoline; could he still acquire it, and how long would that last?
He clenched his jaw as his head started to throb again. He then sat down behind the store’s counter and took more acetaminophen, hoping the pain would subside quickly so he could get moving again. As he began to feel better, more images of unknown people flashed through his mind; this time of two men aiming guns at him and shouting furiously. Quickly, the images faded and he couldn’t recall anything more.
The memory lapse was really starting to piss him off.
He grunted and then stood up, stretching his arms. It was definitely time to move on.
He grabbed his bag of supplies and headed for the exit, halting in his tracks when he noticed the van in the parking lot.
Shit.
He ducked down as a man got out – a man who was built like a brick shithouse. Something about him looked vaguely familiar, but also very dangerous, so he decided not to approach. Especially after his recent memories of being shot at.
He could hear laughter coming from somewhere in the van. He crawled closer to one of the store’s broken windows and watched as the man walked around to the passenger window and kissed a woman with long, dark hair. She smiled and pointed toward the store next to his, which was a tobacco shop. Something about her also niggled at his brain, but he just couldn’t place it. It didn’t matter, though; after what he’d been through, he wasn’t about to approach them, especially with the Incredible Hulk holding such a large, powerful rifle.
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