The stitch that had been forming in my side pops instantly into place and I let go of Cassie’s hand so she can run faster. At the last moment, I swerve to the side and swoop up her tennis shoes. I look behind me, and there’s a young male zombie, in fatigues and without a shirt, running toward me like he’s in an official race. He’s not even moaning; it’s just his fierce, determined eyes burning into me.
“Delilah!” Cassie shouts as I hear the Jeep roar to life.
I spin on my heel and sprint to the vehicle. Cassie and Sunshine make it in, and Cassie holds the door open for me. I throw the shoes behind her, grab the side to lift myself in and then slam the door shut. There’s a thud against the back window; the male zombie’s slammed full-throttle against the back, his hands flat against the glass.
“Go!” I shout.
The male’s brown eyes stare right into mine, his eyes so focused, everything in him tense, alert and fierce. My throat goes dry as I realize I see no sign of biting. He’s just like the babies: cracked skin but no wounds.
Then we take off, leaving him in our dust.
#
As we race back to the base, bumping along the way, I find myself staring out the window. Was that soldier – because that was what he was – deliberately infected? Thinking about his lack of injuries, I bet he was.
Someone deliberately infected him, deliberately pushed and mutilated the work of Cassie’s dad. Should I tell her? Should I tell her that everything he tried to do in his last days was changed and perverted just for one person’s selfish goal?
Would it make her more determined to find a cure, or would it make her feel like crap? Would it hurt her?
The Jeep swerves around a corner and I grab one of the seats.
What about the person who did that? Is that executive out there somewhere infected? Is he still human, or did he reach his goal? Did he attain sustainable immortality, whatever that was?
Such an odd phrase, sustainable immortality. Wasn’t that the point of immortality? Wasn’t that the whole meaning?
Although, look at vampires. They were supposedly immortal, but they could still be killed with sunlight or a stake to the heart, right?
“That was a close call, wasn’t it?”
“What?” I ask, jolted out of my thoughts.
“I said that was a close call, wasn’t it?” Sam repeats.
“Definitely.”
“Hey, how about when we get back we play video games?”
“Sure,” I say. With effort, I shift my mind to the present. I forget about sustainable immortality, I forget about the soldier, and I ignore the fact that we almost died. I make the decision to focus on the two people in the car with me.
“How about a racing game?” I ask.
They both groan.
“You suck at those!” Cassie says.
“Yeah, but they’re fun. And you don’t have to kill anything.”
“Okay.” Sam shrugs.
“Okay.” Cassie chimes in.
“Cool!” I say then bounce around like a bunny on the way in until Cassie dissolves into giggles and Sam looks at me like I’m crazy.
What the hey – I’ll do anything for a laugh. And then I won’t have to think.
Chapter 73
Later that night, I go into Cassie’s bedroom. She likes to spend about half an hour playing PSP before she goes to sleep. I wave as I come in and shut the door, and she holds up a finger. I sit silently on the bed until she shuts it down.
“What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about something Sam brought up today.”
“Okay.” She raises her eyebrows and scoots back against the headboard.
“Sam asked if we want to stay here with him,” I tell her and then just about hold my breath waiting for her response.
“But there aren’t any adults here.” She frowns.
“No, but we’re safe here. We have plenty of food and we’re not constantly running from zombies. Plus, there’s a lab. Lots of labs.”
Cassie crosses her arms. “Delilah, it’s more than being safe from zombies. I’m a kid. I’m supposed to have a mom and a dad.”
“They’re both gone, sweetie,” I say as gently as I can.
“I know, but kids used to get adopted all the time. I know I won’t ever get my real mom and dad back, but I still want parents. Somebody to take care of me.”
“I thought we were doing that.” I swallow.
“You’re not a grown-up. What do you know how to cook? You don’t read me stories. You left me alone for an entire morning. There isn’t anybody to play with. You're off with Sam and it's just me.”
“I can play with you more often.”
“It’s not just that. I want a mom.”
“I thought we were taking care of you okay,” I respond, as tears slip down my face even though I don’t want them to. I wipe them roughly and quickly away.
Cassie hugs me. “I know you’re trying real hard, but you’re not a mom. You’re not a little kid, but you’re still a kid, too. It’s okay.” She pats my back.
I hug her, too. I didn’t realize she felt this way, but it makes sense. I’m older than her. I miss my mom, but really I’ve enjoyed the freedom and I’ve enjoyed making decisions on my own.
“I didn’t know,” I say over Cassie’s shoulder. “We’ll find you someone.”
“Thanks, Delilah.” She pats my back again.
We both calm down, and I tuck her in and shut the door behind me. It’s at that point that I realize I told her we would find her someone, not that we would find us someone.
#
I go into the living room and find Sam still playing video games. He pauses the game when I sit down on the couch.
“What’d she say?”
“How did you know I talked to her?” I smile.
He shrugs. “Just assumed. So?”
My smile slips away. “She really wants a mom and dad.”
He looks at the TV. “We’re all orphans now. We’re on our own.”
“She really wants adults,” I say quietly.
“Yeah, okay.” He shrugs again, but this time it’s a quick up and down movement, as if tossing something off his back. He avoids my gaze. “And you?”
“What do you mean, and me?”
Sam puts down the controller and looks right at me. “Do you want to stay?”
Chapter 74
“Yes, of course, but Cassie doesn’t.”
“No, I mean, will you stay without Cassie?”
“Oh,” I say as I realize what he’s asking. And a weird thing happens: I feel warm all over, but a lump forms in my throat, too. “I don’t know,” I reply, just surprised and thrilled all at the same time.
“It’s okay. Just forget it.” He puts the controller on the floor and I touch his arm.
“No. You asked. Just let me think for a bit. I promised some things to Cassie before you and I even met.”
He stops getting up and just looks at me really intensely, like he’s trying to figure out something from my expression.
“I like Cassie, but I like you, too.” I raise my hands, not sure what to do or say to get him to believe me, to get him to understand that I’m hesitating because of my friendship with Cassie, not because I don’t like him. Crap, this stuff is confusing. I quickly hug him and pat him on the back then go get a Coke.
The next morning, I find Sam sitting at the table with printouts spread before him. He looks bleak.
“Is Cassie awake?” he asks.
“I think so. I’ll go get her,” I say, concerned by Sam’s behavior. I return with Cassie and we both sit down as he gives us each a piece of paper.
“I’ve found the compound that’s north of Denver.”
I look down at my paper. It’s a picture taken from the air of a small town that’s been walled in.
“They must have started building the wall as soon as the virus hit American shores,” Sam states.
“That was quite a leap,” I say. “A
lot of people thought we could stop it.”
“Maybe they were playing it safe.” He shrugs.
“Any sign of any kids?” Cassie’s on her knees in her chair so she can lean over the table.
“No.” Sam shakes his head. “But they could still be there.”
“Sign of adults? Sign of healthy people?” I ask.
“Yes. Also some signs of gardens and livestock.”
“Almost like they were ready?”
“More like they’re getting ready for winter. There were farms in the area before, so I’m guessing they just nabbed some dairy cows.”
I lean back, watching Sam. It’s like he’s just shut himself off. I glance at Cassie and she’s so immersed in the picture she doesn’t even notice.
I know why he’s closed himself off. To find this so soon after we found out how Cassie felt...
I’m sad, too. I want to stay. I want to stay with Sam and with Cassie. I don’t understand why this has to change, but seeing the excitement on Cassie’s face I’m pretty sure she's not changing her mind about leaving.
This means I’m going to have to choose.
Crap.
Abandon my best friend with strangers, or leave my new, hot friend alone? Somebody I care about, too. This really sucks.
“How far away is it?” I ask.
“In the old days, about three to four hours depending on traffic. Now? I’m not sure. Probably one to three days.”
“Well?” I turn to Cassie.
She grins at me. “When can we go?”
“How about we pack the Jeep today and head out tomorrow?” Sam says.
I feel like someone hit me in the chest with a hammer.
“Great!” Cassie jumps up. “Woo-hoo!” she exclaims, and then bounces out of the room headed toward her stuff.
I reach across the table and grab his hand. I love the slightly rough texture and I love the warmth.
“Stay,” he says.
“Come with us,” I tell him at about the same time.
“I’ll come with you during the trip. I’ll take you guys there.” His thumb rubs the top of my hand. “But Delilah…” He leans over the table and kisses me. “Please come back with me.”
“We’ll think of something,” I placate him. And then for once, I do something physical I actually want to do, without hesitating. I crawl into his lap, put my head on his shoulder and hug him, and I let him hold me.
Chapter 75
We have Sam’s Jeep packed by that afternoon. We’re taking just his vehicle because if we stay then we won’t need one anymore. I don’t like it – I really like having my own car – but I want to spend more time with Sam. And I figure I can take another one any time I want.
Sam gives Cassie a laptop and a solar charger, which is really nice of him. We spend the afternoon playing video games. I go off for a bit to try and take a nap, but wind up just tossing and turning, thinking about the whole Cassie-Sam problem. I’m in bed, just about to give up when there’s a knock on the door.
“Yeah?” I open it and sit on the bed. Cassie’s standing in the doorway with something hidden behind her back and she has a huge smile on her face.
“What?” I ask.
She swishes back and forth, and then finally brings my long, black skirt from behind her, only now it’s decorated with flowers.
I’m torn because she took a skirt I really like, but on the other hand the flowers look pretty.
“Thank you, Cassie! Where did you get the flowers?”
“They were growing between this building and the next.”
Did I mention they’re all sunflowers? I’m not fond of sunflowers, but heck, real flowers are nothing to sneeze at these days.
“You’re not supposed to go out there alone!”
“I wasn’t alone. Sam came with me.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see. Now, put on your skirt!” She jumps up and down. “And a white top!”
I comply, even though I’m a bit suspicious. Cassie climbs on the bed and fixes my hair.
“Wait there!” she says and runs off. She comes back a few seconds later, taking a running leap onto the bed.
“Okay,” she says breathlessly, and puts some sort of yellow paper on my head.
“What is it?” I take it off.
“Ohh, now you messed up your hair,” she pouts.
It’s a paper crown; basically a strip of paper stapled together. It’s been colored with yellow highlighter so it looks gold and there’s a butterfly sticker, a gold star and a strawberry sticker.
“Do you like the stickers? I found them in my bag.” Cassie fixes my hair and puts the crown back on.
“I do. The butterfly’s very pretty. Are we playing princess or something?”
“Nope.” She grins.
“You’re up to something.” I squint and point at her, trying not to laugh.
“Uh-huh.” She takes my hand and leads me out to the elevator and up to the roof. We go through the door and I just stop.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.
There are white emergency candles lit everywhere. Paper chains, colored with yellow highlighter, are strung up. Ahead of me is what used to be the picnic table, only now it’s covered in a sheet, with two plates and sunflowers in a glass on top.
“Oh, very cool, Cassie,” I say. Then Sam steps from the side with a sunflower in his hand. He’s wearing black jeans, a black t-shirt, and a paper crown colored with yellow highlighter. He smiles at me, and then I hear Cassie behind me start some music.
“Welcome to the Zombie Base Dance,” she says, and then closes the door behind her, leaving me alone with Sam.
Chapter 76
“Hi,” I say.
“Hey.” He hands me the sunflower and kisses me. He leads me over to the table, has me sit, and then changes the music.
“Hey, I recognize that!” I say as Lady Gaga starts singing.
“Yep.” He grins. “We grabbed it from your phone.”
“Thanks.”
Sam piles chicken nuggets and mac’n’cheese on my plate.
“Sorry, it’s not exactly a steak dinner. I wanted spaghetti – like that Disney movie – but we didn’t have any.” He sits down after filling his plate.
“It’s perfect,” I remark.
We crack open sodas and start eating. We talk about lighter things, happier things while we eat, and we smile and laugh together. We finish around the same time, and Sam changes the music to “Umbrella”. He walks back to me and extends his hand.
“Can I have this dance?”
“Sure.” I slip my arms around my neck, he puts his arms around my waist, and we do that shuffle-shuffle thing that is slow-dancing.
Sam pulls back from me a bit. “You’re really amazing, you know that? You’re fun and you’re beautiful.” He strokes my hair.
“Thank you. You, too,” I reply.
“I’m serious,” he says, and then he kisses me again. I feel warm all over, and then he hugs me to him.
I close my eyes and breathe in his scent, feel the warm air, and listen to the music as we do that soft, slow turn.
I want to remember every moment.
I have this feeling, this tickling feeling deep in my stomach, that this might be my last moment of peace for a while.
#
The next morning, we head out with me in the front passenger seat and Cassie and Sunshine in the back. As we leave the parking area, though, Sam makes a turn instead of going straight.
“Hey, we’re not going out?”
“We are. But this way puts us right on the valley and then it’s a straight shot to the road we need.”
“Oh, okay.” I shrug. We race through a dimly lit tunnel made of concrete. Every few feet, yellow lights high on the wall flash by. Eventually Sam jolts to a stop, but fortunately the seat belt holds me in place. The gate opens and we drive through into the bright, sunlit world.
The door shuts behind us just as something hits the car, which is qu
ickly followed by another hit, and then another. A scream starts to build and leaks out a bit before I clamp a hand over my mouth.
We’re surrounded by zombies.
Chapter 77
Sam honks the horn and I look at him incredulously.
“That’s not going to work. They don’t care about noise.”
“Some of the fast ones do,” he clarifies.
“Huh.”
And he’s right; some of them step out of the way, as if out of habit. Unfortunately, some of the slow ones amble in.
“Oh, well.” Sam shrugs and revs the engine. “We’ll have to do it the fun way, I guess.”
He grins and the Jeep leaps forward as I grab the bar near my head. Bodies fall from sight, and the vehicle climbs. We’re still walled in on the sides, though, and unfortunately I left my window partially unrolled. I don’t notice that fact until I feel something in my hair. I reach up absentmindedly to bat at it, and I touch something cold. I look up at that point to see a zombie staring at me through the glass, its hand over the windows and its fingers digging into my scalp.
I scream as those cold fingers wrap around my hair and yank.
“Shit,” Sam swears. The Jeep swings wildly in a circle but the damn zombie still hangs on, ripping out my hair as we go.
Desperately I dig into the bag at my feet, trying to ignore the pain from my head as my hands touch metal. I grab the gun, brace as Sam takes another turn, click the safety off and position the gun point-blank where the zombie’s head is.
“Look away!” I shout.
“Don’t shoot!” Sam says.
“What?!”
“Don’t shoot! We need that window!” Sam says.
“What the fuck do you want me to do then?” I screech as the zombie’s icky wet hands curl in my hair.
“Roll up the window!” he shouts.
Dammit. I drop the gun and grab the thing’s fingers. God, touching them is even worse than them touching me. They’re wet, and I really hope I don’t have any cuts that its blood can seep into.
On Our Own Page 18