by Megan Berry
“I could’ve sworn that I saw you at dinner,” he tells her succinctly. I watch as Daphne’s face turns about six shades of red before she manages to get a grip on her temper. She turns towards us with the practiced smile of a perfect hostess.
A knock on the door interrupts what is heating up to be the apocalyptic version of Jerry Springer. A small woman with shiny dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail pokes her head in the door. “You asked to see me?” she asks.
Daphne manages to pull her eyes away from her son and paste a big smile on her face. It looks a little strained, but it’s more than I can manage right now as I watch Raddison refill his drink.
“Dr. Ruppert,” Daphne exclaims, and my attention snaps back to the young woman. She looks far too young and pretty to be a doctor. Though now that I’m paying more attention, she is wearing one of those white doctor coats.
“Hello, please call me Helena,” the doctor says timidly, and Daphne waives her suggestion away with the sweep of her hand.
“Dr. Ruppert, I have the most interesting case for you to examine,” she tells the young woman, barely able to suppress her delight. “This young man here—” she points to Jack, which I find funny because in my books Jack is not a young man, and he certainly isn’t young compared to Dr. Ruppert either, “claims to have immunity.”
Raddison lets out a choking noise and turns beet red as he accidentally sucks whiskey up his nose. Daphne ignores him.
“He has shown me the scars, and they are quite real looking,” Daphne continues, and I watch Dr. Ruppert’s face turn sharp with intrigue.
“Do you mind if I take a look?” she asks quietly as she approaches Jack. Jack shrugs and takes his shirt off again. Dr. Ruppert almost completely mimics Daphne’s motions from earlier, running her hand over the rough pieces of jagged scar tissue. “This is incredible,” she murmurs to herself as she places her two fingertips on Jack’s neck in an obvious effort to check his pulse.
“Your hands are cold,” Jack complains good naturedly, but Dr. Ruppert doesn’t break her concentration. There is something disturbingly clinical about her while she works.
“Would you mind coming to the lab with me?” Helena asks as she takes her hands off his neck.
Jack nods, “I don’t mind.”
“That is great. I’d really like to get started with a blood test and perhaps even a tissue biopsy,” Dr. Ruppert says excitedly, not noticing when everyone in the room, including Jack, winces at her blunt description of the process.
I watch Jack swallow visibly and then nod gamely. “Sure doc, sounds good,” he agrees, giving us all a small wave as he heads out the door with the petite doctor fluttering around him excitedly.
Daphne turns and smiles at the rest of us. “You have brought us all such a wonderful gift,” she tells us. “Why don’t I set you up with somewhere to stay?” she offers, and we all nod our thanks. Daphne picks up the bell again and rings it. This time another person pops their head into the room
“Would you please find these fine folks somewhere to stay?” she asks, and the man nods his head.
“Sure thing, come with me,” he tells us, and we silently follow him out. I’m not sure what I was expecting, maybe a room in the house, but the guy keeps walking right out the front door and climbs into a golf cart. He motions to our trucks parked in the driveway. “If you want you can ride with me, or bring your own vehicles.”
“We’ll take ours,” Silas says right away, and I see his point. We are in the middle of a strange place. The last thing we want is for our trucks to be locked in behind a gated yard.
The guy nods and doesn’t seem like he cares one way or the other. We get in the truck and follow him down city streets that are actually bustling with people. “This is really weird,” I say, finally voicing what we are all thinking.” Silas grunts his agreement, and my dad stays silent.
After five minutes, the guy pulls up in front of a house and we all get out. “This house is for you,” he says, and we all just stare at him.
“You’re giving us a house?” I ask in confusion, and he nods.
“It’s abandoned, but it’s been cleaned and left fully stocked,” he shrugs. “Not everyone decided to stay. They’re probably dead now,” he says without even a hint of emotion. I look at Ryan out of the corner of my eye and see that he’s frowning.
“The doors aren’t locked,” the guys says before he gets back into his golf cart and drives away.
“What the hell,” Ryan says.
Silas ignores him and starts walking towards the house.
“What are you doing?” I ask, and Silas shrugs.
“Checking out the house,” he tells me like it should be obvious, which it kind of is. I’m just not sure what we’re doing here.
When Dad starts following Silas, I do too, and finally Ryan moves as well.
The house is pretty nice and seems to be untouched by the zombies, just like everything else in Louisville. Silas goes room to room, making sure it’s safe, and then we finally sit down at the massive oak dining room table that’s just off the kitchen.
“So what happens now?” I ask, even though I’m pretty sure no one else really knows anything more than I do at this point.
Dad pulls a Silas and shrugs. “It’s hard to say, we can’t just leave Jack, so I guess we have to stay until they’re done with him.” He makes sense, but this is the part of the story that I never got to when I was imagining what would happen when we showed up at the CDC with Jack, ready to save the world.
I guess I thought they would take some blood samples and we would be on our way. “Maybe it won’t take very long,” I say hopefully. It’s kind of nice being away from the cabin, but I’m not happy about leaving Abby for too long, especially because they have no way of knowing where we are, or if we are okay. She’s probably a nervous wreck.
A knock on the front door has us all standing up. Silas automatically reaches for his gun but stops himself before he pulls it all the way out. As one we all head to the door, and Silas pulls it open.
A slim woman with red hair is smiling up at us. She’s holding a gift basket in her hands. “Welcome! Daphne sent me to show you guys the ropes,” she says, handing me the basket. It looks like it contains mostly food and toiletries; there are even a couple cans of pop. I turn and set it on the washing machine that is located right inside the door, and the woman motions for us to step outside with her. “Do you mind going for a little walk?” she asks, and we all nod automatically—it looks like some of our questions are about to be answered.
“I’m Selena,” she tells us, and we awkwardly introduce ourselves. It’s strange, it’s only been a few months since the collapse of society, but it already feels weird to go back to the niceties of the past.
Selena laughs at our discomfort. “It’s always tough for the people that join us after they’ve been living on their own in isolation,” she confides, and it’s kind of creepy how she just pretty much read my mind.
“We aren’t staying,” Silas tells her bluntly, and she looks kind of taken aback.
“I haven’t been out of the city since the zombies, but I hear it’s bad out there.” I stare at her in surprise. She’s never left Louisville?
“Never?” I can’t help but ask in surprise, and she shakes her head.
She must see the look on my face because she rambles on as we walk leisurely down the sidewalk. “We’ve had our share of problems in Louisville, but most of the population managed to avoid infection. I’ve seen the zombies, of course, for a while before they blew the bridge, a couple of them got in…” She trails off, probably remembering a fallen friend or loved one—I know that look.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, and she gives me a small smile.
“Thanks.” She stops and takes a deep breath. “Anyways, we are pretty lucky here. Everybody has a job and rations are awarded based on your skill level and production. Everybody gets the basics, but those that take the more dangerous jobs, or who have a certain
skill level, get the best.” Her words remind me of Daphne and her son, and I frown. Being the mayor is all well and good, but I wonder if it pays better than the scientist who is working to find the cure to zombies?” Raddison didn’t seem very useful at all.
“What’s that?” Ryan asks, pointing out the community center where a line of people are pouring inside.
“I’m glad you asked,” she says, motioning for us to follow her across the street towards the building. “The community center serves two meal a day, breakfast and supper. It’s pretty basic stuff, but if you have nowhere else to go, it’s a perk of being a part of the community,” she explains as she leads us through the doors.
I feel conspicuous, like everyone is staring at us, but in reality it can’t be more than a couple people that glance up in curiosity. This place is so populated that it’s probably difficult to know everyone, which is also why it’s so dangerous.
The crowd makes me break out in an instant sweat. I was never claustrophobic before, but lately the only time I’ve seen this many people gathered together, they’ve all been flesh-eating monsters. It also reminds me of Camp Freedom, and that didn’t end well either. I suck in a deep breath to steady my nerves and stop the shake that’s rocking through my body.
“You okay?” Ryan leans in and asks me, and I nod my head even though I’m not.
“Yeah,” I manage to say, trying to shrug him off, but he’s like a dog with a bone.
“You’re really pale,” he tells me, raising his hand to try and check my forehead, but I pull away. I know I’ll be all clammy, and I have no explanation that won’t have him thinking I’m weak.
“It’s just hot in here,” I fib, which isn’t a bald-faced lie. There has to be at least two hundred people in this building. The crowd and the smell of their unwashed bodies, plus the odor of whatever they’re serving for supper, combines and mixes with the heat. It’s a bit much.
Ryan looks like he wants to grill me until I admit the truth, but he takes a step back instead, obviously remembering that we are just friends. I’m grateful for the change of heart.
I glance over at Silas and see that he’s scanning the room with a critical eye. Thankfully, he has no time to worry about the fact that I might be on the verge of a panic attack.
“We line up here and it’s served cafeteria style,” Selena tells us, and we join the line. I haven’t eaten very much today, but the last thing I want right now is food. I stay in line though because I don’t want to be rude.
The line moves quickly and a plastic tray is shoved into my hand, along with a plastic plate. I get a mound of mashed potatoes, gravy, and a scoop of canned vegetables. Further down the line, I’m given a slice of chocolate cake. My eyes go wide, and I glance over at my dad to see that he’s grinning from ear to ear. He loves chocolate cake. Mom used to make it for him all the time. I watch as he remembers that too, and his face falls. I balance my tray in one arm and reach out and squeeze his elbow, and he pastes a smile on his face for my sake.
We find a place at a row of tables. There are a bunch of other people sitting there already, but they don’t even glance up at us as we sit across from them. I don’t feel hungry, but my brain has other ideas. I wolf the food down so quickly that I’m the first one done and then I have to sit around and wait for everyone else.
I use the time to scan the room and all the people. “Do you guys think Jack’s in here?” I ask, and everyone glances up to scan the room too.
“He’s probably still busy,” Dad says at last, and I let it go.
After supper, Selena introduces us to a woman with a perma-frown on her face. “This is Winnie,” she tells us.
Winnie grunts in acknowledgement, which kind of reminds me of Silas and makes me crack a small grin.
“I understand you folks need jobs,” Winnie says, eyeballing the clipboard in her hand. Silas steps forward and shakes his hands.
“No offense intended, ma’am, but we aren’t staying,” he tells the woman, and she glances up at him sharply.
“Are you leaving tonight?” she asks, and we all look at each other. The truth is, we have no idea how long Jack is going to be.
“We don’t know. Our friend is helping Dr. Ruppert, we are just waiting for him,” my dad answers, and Winnie nods.
“Then you will need jobs. Nothing in Louisville is free, children ages ten and up have jobs and help pay for their livelihood,” she explains, and I wince. I’m all for kids doing chores, but her words make me wonder what exactly the kids are doing. “I will issue you temporary duties that must be performed up until you leave us,” she says, scanning her clipboard again. She looks up and stares at us all one by one.
“What was your job before the outbreak?” she asks my dad.
“I was an investment banker,” he tells her, and I watch her lip curl up. I have to resist the urge to say something nasty about her attitude. I see her point, there probably isn’t a lot of use for a skilled investor these days, but that isn’t my dad’s fault.
She points to Silas and Ryan. “You two can join scavenging team F,” she tells them, and we all just stare at her blankly. “We have teams that go out every day and look for supplies. They meet at the gate at 6:00 a.m. sharp, don’t be late,” she tells them.
Then she turns her beady eyes on me. “Kitchen,” she decides and scribbles it down in her clipboard. “Report back here tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m. for the first shift,” she says, and my dad steps forward.
“Wait one minute,” he tells her, “my daughter isn’t going anywhere alone.” Winnie stares at my dad blankly for a minute, and then a small grin twists her lips.
“That’s fine, Poppa Bear,” she tells him, scribbling furiously on her clipboard again. “You can be on kitchen duty too—5:00 a.m.,” she punctuates her words with a stab of her pencil and then turns and walks away.
“Winnie can seem a little abrasive,” Selena apologizes, and I just stare at her with my mouth open. A little?
“You think?” Silas scoffs, having no problem voicing his dislike, and Selena blushes.
“I can take you folks back to your house now, if you’d like?” she offers, but again Silas steps up and shakes his head.
“That’s alright,” he tells her. “We can find our own way back.” Selena blushes again at his obvious attitude, and I actually feel a little bad for her. I was once on the receiving end of Silas’s scorn, and it wasn’t fun.
“Alright,” she agrees “And just so you know, no lights on after dark.” We all stare at her blankly. “So the zombies won’t be attracted to them,” she explains, and Silas frowns at her.
“Thank you for everything,” I tell her, drawing her attention away from Silas, and the woman gives me a small smile.
Silas takes off across the crowded room, and we all have to hurry to keep up with him. Once we get outside, I jog beside him and pull his arm.
“Can we slow down a little?” I ask, and thankfully he does slow his long-legged stride a little. “What’s wrong?” I ask, and Silas shrugs.
“Just don’t like crowds, is all,” he answers evasively.
I know I’m not going to get anything else out of Silas while he’s in such a dark mood, so I just fall in step beside him. It’s getting dark outside, but the street lights are on, of all the crazy things. They’re probably something solar powered, I decide. Though as it gets darker, they flick off. Everything looks the same to me, unfamiliar and new, so I really hope Silas wasn’t just blowing smoke when he told Selena he could find his own way back.
Of course, I should never have doubted him. Ten minutes later, we are walking up the pathway to the house we were assigned. When we get inside, Silas once again goes room to room and clears it. Then he locks all the doors.
“What about Jack?” I ask, stifling a yawn, and Silas shrugs.
“Jack can knock.”
There are only two bedrooms in the bungalow, but each bedroom has two sets of homemade bunk beds built in them—so they sleep four per room—p
robably something they did after the zombies. “You’ll finally get your own room,” Dad tells me with a smile as he moves his gear into the room across the hall where he’ll be sharing with Ryan and Silas. I nod, thinking about finally being able to stretch out on a mattress without Abby and Megan pressing in on me.
We turn in early, even though it’s only eight o’clock. We all apparently have to be up early in the morning, and it’s so dark we can’t do much anyway without using up all of our batteries, which we don’t want to waste.
I walk into the room, and it’s pitch dark. My hand automatically finds the light switch and I flip it on—a force of habit. The room lights up like a Christmas tree and I give a shout of surprise.
Silas, Ryan, and my dad come running across the hall and stop in wonder outside my door, staring at the light. “They have electricity!” I yell, making them all wince at the pitch of my voice. Something Selena said to me suddenly makes sense. No lights after dark. I lunge forward and slap it off.
“Selena said no lights after dark,” I tell them, and we all freeze. I have to resist the urge to go to the window and peek out.
A knock sounds on the door and we all jump. “Jack?” I ask the room, and none of us know. We all make our way to the door. Silas has his gun out when he opens the door, but he keeps it out of sight. I’m a bundle of nerves, which I know is crazy because a zombie wouldn’t knock.
It isn’t Jack. Two men are standing on the step wearing security guard outfits. “We just saw a light on in this residence,” the first one says with a deep frown, and my dad steps forward.
“Yes, we are really sorry about that. We’re new and we didn’t realize you had electricity here. It was an accident, and it won’t happen again,” he tells them, and they look at each other.
“Which one of you turned on the light?” the second man asks, and Silas steps forward.
“I did,” he admits, even as I start to step forward. My way is blocked by Dad and Ryan, who both reach out and grab me by my arm, warning me to keep my mouth shut. I do, but it’s killing me. If something happens to Silas because of me, I will never forgive myself.