Paige followed the guys back out to the SUV where they grabbed a jug of water, some beef jerky, and a bag of popcorn.
“At least the rain stopped,” said Bryce, staring up into the sky.
“For now,” said Paige.
“So, we should be back in a couple of hours,” said Billie, getting into passenger side of the SUV. “I would think all of that food would tide you guys over until then.”
“I’d use the bathroom here if I were you two,” said Paige, leaning into the window. “Stillwater is almost an hour away.”
Billie sighed and then got back out of the SUV. “Probably a good idea.”
“She’s right,” said Bryce. He smiled. “For once.”
“You’re a barrel of laughs, Mr. Miyagi,” she said, with a smirk.
Bryce’s eyes narrowed. “Didn’t your mother tell you to go take a nap or something?”
“Yes she did, and for once, I’m not going to argue.”
“Amazing,” he said, getting back out of the SUV.
When they walked back into the house, Paige told Kristie that she was going to lie down in one of the bedrooms.
“Okay, honey. I’ll wake you up if I hear anything.”
She kissed her mom on the cheek. “Love you, mom.”
Kristie smiled. “I love you, too, Paige.”
Fifty minutes later, as Bryce maneuvered the SUV around a group of zombies in downtown Stillwater, Kristie brought a candle into the bedroom Paige had disappeared into, only to find it empty.
“Paige?” she hollered, checking the other rooms in the house. “Paige!”
“What’s wrong?” asked Tiny, chewing on a piece of dried beef.
She rubbed her forehead in frustration. “I think that Paige took off with the boys.”
“Oh shit.”
She sat down on one of the recliners and sighed. “I should have known something was wrong when she gave up so easily earlier when I told her she couldn’t go with them to Stillwater. She’s usually not so compliant. I should have known she was up to something.”
Tiny rubbed her back. “Don’t worry about Paige, hon. I’m sure the boys will take good care of her.”
She looked up at him. “They’d better, because when she gets back, I swear, I’m going to tear into her harder than any freaken’ zombie, dammit.”
***
“Is that the boat?” asked Billie, thirty minutes later.
They’d parked on the Stillwater Bridge overlooking the river and there was an older model fifty-seven foot Jefferson anchored in the water.
Bryce lowered the binoculars. “Yep, that’s the one. Her Escape.”
“You see anyone?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s too dark. They could all be sleeping. It’s after ten.”
“Let’s hope that’s all it is.”
“You should park at the marina over there,” said Paige, over Billie’s shoulder.
“Jesus!” he gasped, turning around.
“Paige!” barked Bryce. “You scared the hell out of us. What are you doing here?”
She smiled. “I’m here to help. Chill out.”
“Did you tell your mom you were coming?” asked Bryce.
She snorted. “Hell no.”
“When did you sneak into the SUV?” asked Bryce.
“When you guys were relieving yourselves in the house.”
“Figures.”
“Kristie must be worried sick,” said Billie. “You shouldn’t have done this.”
“Look, there was no way I was going to stay behind picking my butt while you guys took off to go where the action is. No way.”
“Is that what girls do when they’re bored?” laughed Billie. “Pick their butts?”
She pushed his shoulder. “Oh, shut up, you nerd.”
“Paige, this is dangerous,” said Bryce, motioning to a pack of zombies already moving toward them from across the bridge. “It’s not an adventure or a game. It’s real life and death situations. Now, not only do we have to worry about finding the others, but we have to worry about you.”
Her eyes flashed angrily. “Why does everyone assume that I can’t take care of myself?”
“I’m sure you can, to a point. But when you’re surrounded by zombies and neither of us can get to you, what are you going to do? Swing the bat and hope for the best? I don’t want to sound sexist, but you’re a girl, and not even a very big one,” said Bryce.
“I’m five-ten, so I’m not that small, and definitely not stupid. For God’s sake, I’m not just going to put myself in a dangerous situation.”
Bryce threw up his hands. “What do you think you’re doing now?!”
“Calm down,” said Billie. “What’s done is done and we have to move forward. Let’s find a place to park at that marina. Paige can wait in the SUV while we walk to the river’s edge and try to get their attention.”
“I’m not waiting in the SUV,” said Paige. “I’m coming with you guys.”
“Oh, hell no,” said Bryce.
“I have to agree with Bryce. That’s where we draw the line.”
Paige sighed. “Fine.”
“We’re serious, Paige. Stay in the vehicle,” warned Bryce.
“Heard you the first time,” she yawned.
“Good,” he replied, turning on the engine. “Because I’m not going to save your ass if you disobey. Seriously. I don’t care if Kristie kills me because of it. I have too many other people to worry about these days.”
“I get it.”
Knowing how unruly Paige’s best friend was, Bryce wasn’t so sure.
11
Allie and Kylie
“Shit,” said Justice, tapping on the gas gauge, thirty minutes out of Rockford. “I think we’re running out of gas already.”
Allie leaned over and looked at the gauge. “Why does it say that it’s half-full, then?”
“Must be broken.”
“Are we going to make it to the next town?” asked Kylie, staring into darkness, which held nothing but fields, trees, and the walking dead.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “I think we’re screwed.”
“How far is it to the next town?” asked Allie.
“Janesville is another thirty miles, but we should be able to find an abandoned vehicle along the way. A farmstead or something,” he replied.
“We have to walk?” squeaked Kylie, in horror. “In the darkness, all alone?”
He shrugged. “Well, you can wait in the truck until I come back with something more suitable.”
“Oh no,” she said. “Been there, done that. We’re coming with you.”
Within minutes, the truck began to coast on the fumes alone. When it finally stalled, they got out of the truck and started walking.
“Pace yourself,” he said, staring forward into the darkness. “We probably have a very long walk a head of us.”
“It’s so dark,” said Kylie, biting her lower lip. “And there are so… many trees. Anything could be lurking in there, waiting for the right time to attack us.”
“True, so keep your eyes open,” he replied, “and your voices down.”
“At least it’s not raining anymore,” whispered Allie.
“Yeah, but it left us with the smell of dead fish,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “Hell, the smells on this planet just keep getting better and better every day.”
“And copper,” said Kylie. “It smells like copper, too.”
Justice sighed. “You’re not going to start with that bloody water thing again, are you?”
“Why can’t you open your mind along with your eyes?” she said. “This is only the beginning of what’s going to happen. A beginning to an end.”
“Dun, dun, dun…” chuckled Justice.
“You really think this is the end of the world?” whispered Allie, a knot forming in her stomach. She was exhausted and Kylie’s fanatical predictions were starting to really get to her.
Kylie’s eyes glittered in the darkness. “We
ll, I believe that it’s the end of something and that the zombies are just the prequel. Soon, we’re going to be in the middle of something so profound, something that is going to change the rest of humanity forever. For some, it’s going to be exhilarating and beautiful, for others, it’s going to be devastating.”
Allie stopped in her tracks. “Okay, you’re beginning to really freak me out. I’ve never heard you talk like that. You sound so… prophetic. Is that even a word?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“So, this is all of the stuff you watched on the History Channel?” asked Justice.
“Um, well… a little. But, I know you’re both going to think I’m crazy…”
“What?” asked Allie.
“I’ve been having these dreams,” she said. “Crazy wild dreams, about war and death.”
“War and death?” frowned Allie. “Seriously? That sounds so morbid.”
She nodded. “I know, right? I’ve had several these last couple of weeks. I’ve dreamt about, now don’t laugh, but angels fighting demons. Demons that are being led by Satan.”
Justice’s eyebrows shot up. “Satan? Oh boy. Look, I’m going to be honest with you – I’m an atheist. A firm atheist. So obviously I’m going to tell you that your mind is playing tricks on you. That there is no such thing as the Devil, demons, or even God.”
“Seriously?” asked Allie, turning to him. “You really believe that?”
“Of course. If there was a God, why would he have allowed so many people to die? Innocent people. And don’t tell me that only the really wicked ones were killed, because my little sister was as sweet and virtuous as they come,” he said, his eyes moistening up. “She didn’t deserve to die the way she did, with her throat and insides ripped out.”
“I’m sorry,” said Kylie, touching his arm. “You know that we’ve all lost people we loved. But you have to believe that it was part of a plan. One bigger than all of us.”
“No,” he said, his voice thick. “I’m sorry but I just won’t buy into that. We’re alone, all alone… and when we die, we die. Everything about us dies and those are the facts.”
Kylie frowned. “But –”
“No more talk, please,” he said, moving ahead of them. “Just, please, respect my beliefs by keeping yours to yourself.”
Allie and Kylie stared at each other silently and then began walking again.
“I’m not saying that I don’t believe you had those dreams,” whispered Allie. “But you have to admit, all this talk about the end of the world and a fight between good and evil, it’s just too much.”
She nodded. “I know, but Allie, I swear to you, these dreams are so vivid, so real. I’m not psychic, but I believe that someone is sending me a real message. One that’s very relevant to what’s been happening.”
“A message, from who?” asked Allie.
She looked up at the stars. “Someone up there, who’s looking out for us.”
12
Cassie
“Is that the last of the kids?” asked Henry, bending over and trying to catch his breath.
I stared into the darkness at all of the children, many of them peering back at me with tear-stained faces. “Yes. Everyone’s accounted for. Nora said in a few minutes, we should be able to bring everyone back inside. Are you okay?”
Fortunately, we’d gotten the flames out with hoses and wet blankets before the fire had caused any real damage to the church.
He stood up straight and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “Oh, I’m fine. The real question is – what in the hell happened back there, Wild?”
I shook my head. “I don’t really know, Henry. I’ve already pinched myself several times, to make sure I’m not dreaming. Right now, I almost wish I was.”
“That feller, Travis? He must be some kind of magician or illusionist to pull something like that off.”
“Something. He certainly was a whack-job.”
“Both of them were,” he said.
“At least they’re gone now,” I said.
He took his cowboy hat off, ran a hand through his white hair, then plopped it back in place. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. I think we should all try and get some sleep, then head on out of here before noon. Get back to Minnesota.”
“I agree, but what if those guys come back and cause more trouble for the nuns?” I whispered.
“You know, something tells me that they’re not coming back this way. No, I think they’ve got bigger fish to fry and this was just a little pit-stop.”
“You really think so?”
He nodded.
“What about you, Nora?” I asked, as she walked over to us. “What’d you make of those two guys?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Tell you the truth, that dude, Travis, he seriously gave me the chills.”
I raised my eyebrows. “He even freaked you out, huh?”
“Hell yeah. The way he handled the big dufus, and that ball of fire he somehow conjured up… that was some strange shit.”
“Sister Theresa called him a demon,” I said. “You don’t think there was anything to that?”
Nora burst out laughing. “Seriously, Wild? A freaken’ demon? What funny plants have you been smoking, girl?”
I frowned. “Well, if I would have mentioned zombies three months ago, you would have laughed at me then, too.”
Her smile fell. “Good point.”
Henry waved his hand in disgust. “Okay, enough demon-mumbo-jumbo talk. That guy was some kind of illusionist, just like I told Wild. That’s all it is. Why do you think he had that tattoo under his eye? Been in prison, obviously. If he was a demon, you think he would have ended up in the slammer? Hell no.”
“Maybe you’re right,” I said. “I’m just being paranoid. That stuff the nuns were talking about earlier, it’s been niggling at me all night.”
“Listen, Wild, those two yahoos were just trying to scare the tar out of us. Obviously, they did a good job. Even left me a little miffed. But now we know better, right? It’s just illusion brought on by an evil man. One that is certainly human, but nothing more.”
I nodded.
“Okay,” he said. “Now, I’m tuckered. I’m going to lie down for an hour or two. When I’m refreshed, we’re going to make sure these women have what they need to keep those kids safe for a while. Then, we’re going to get back to our original mission – find your grandparents, Nora’s old man, and then get our butts back to Atlanta.”
Thinking of how much I missed my sister and Bryce, I couldn’t agree more.
He stared off into the darkness, a wistful look on his face. “I tell you what – I sure miss watching Belinda do those Pilates moves, by golly. I don’t even have to exercise – she squats and it’s all that’s needed to get this old man’s blood flowing.”
I bit back a smile as Henry started shuffling toward the church.
13
Bryce
“Do you think she’ll stay put?” asked Billie as they skidded down the mud-covered hill and through the trees.
Fortunately, the boat was anchored in a spot that was accessible, although not easily on foot. Thus, their trek had been more challenging than they’d originally anticipated.
“She’d better or she’s going to have more than the zombies to worry about. If she doesn’t fall going down this hill, then she’ll fall backwards when I rip into her about defying us.”
Billie chuckled. “Somehow, I don’t think you scare her.”
“I must be losing my touch,” said Bryce with a humorless grin. “I can’t keep any of these girls in line.”
“They’re all pretty unruly. I’m surprised they’ve made it this far, being so reckless.”
“If you ask me, they’ve just been really lucky.”
“Well, I don’t know about just being lucky. Nora, Cassie, and Paige are pretty tough chicks. They put a lot of men I’ve met to shame.”
“Yeah, well they’re also overly-confiden
t when it comes to these zombies. I mean, seriously, one false move and that’s it. Tar-tar for the zombies. They all need to start thinking before acting.”
“I hear you.”
When the guys reached the bottom of the hill, they moved to the edge of the water and Bryce took out his flashlight.
“The water,” whispered Billie. “It’s pink again, isn’t it?”
Bryce shined it at the water near their feet and nodded. “Yeah, it kind of looks that way.”
Billie frowned. “I can’t believe this. What in the heck is going on?”
“Just relax, man. Don’t go jumping to conclusions.”
“It’s hard not to after everything that has happened.”
He shook the flashlight several times to charge it. “We have to focus on finding the girls right now. We’ll worry about this other stuff later.”
Billie’s eyes widened and he pointed. “Oh, my God, what in the hell is that?”
Bryce aimed the flashlight toward the moonlit water and felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. “I, um, believe those are a couple of zombies enjoying a midnight swim.”
“That’s pretty creepy,” he said, watching the zombies, who were wading out into deeper water.
“Yeah, a little bit.”
“Wonder if zombies got to the people on the boat?”
“I guess we’ll soon find out. “Hello!” he called, aiming the flashlight toward the dark yacht.
Nobody answered.
“Hello!” he yelled louder, his voice echoing across the water.
“This doesn’t look good,” muttered Billie after a few minutes of silence.
“No, it doesn’t,” he said, handing him the flashlight. “Here, hold this.”
“What are you going to do?”
Bryce lifted his gray T-shirt over his head. “I’m swimming out there.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. Just watch out for zombies for me, okay? Especially those two we just saw. They seem to be ignoring us for now, but that could change in a heartbeat.”
“Yeah. No problem.”
Bryce removed his socks and boots. “Okay, wish me luck.”
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