Surviving

by Jaron McFall

  Cedric went to the front of the building. Five foot down, there was a metal awning. Cedric slid over the short retaining wall with his sheet metal and dropped to the awning. It shuttered as he landed, but held. Another ten foot down, there was the roof of a truck. Cedric held the sheet metal in his left hand and jumped sideways off of the awning like he was about to fly.

  He turned his body sideways in the air and pulled his body into a cannonball shape. His left side was pressed against the sheet metal. The metal, and by extension, Cedric, crashed into the roof of the truck.

  Glass shattered out of one of the side windows when he landed. The metal had protected him much more than he thought it would. He let go of the metal and rolled into the bed of the truck. Cedric peered through the back window of the truck to see that the keys were in the ignition. He climbed out of the bed and stood by the driver’s seat. He had to take one of his armored sleeves off to scrape the shattered glass from the seat but climbed in within two minutes of landing.

  When Cedric tried to crank the truck, the battery was nearly dead. It had enough juice to power the indicators, which showed it had some fuel in the tank. To Cedric’s great relief, the truck was a manual shift.

  He took the brake off and put it in neutral. Cedric stepped out of the truck and began to roll it down the sloped parking lot. Cedric jumped back into the truck with a great deal of physical pain. Once the truck had gained some momentum, Cedric popped the truck into first gear and released the clutch enough to jumpstart the engine. Cedric floored the accelerator and the truck roared to life.

  Cedric was headed southbound on Highway 66. He knew he would be at his new home within 10 minutes.

  Chapter Seventeen:

  STORYTELLING AND DREAMWEAVING

  As soon as the majority of the looting party had returned, Ben confronted them wanting a meeting. Charlie had immediately pushed Ben aside and went to the roof to watch for Cedric. Nearly two hours after the group’s return, Charlie spotted a partially destroyed truck driving toward the school. The headlights flashed.

  Ben was stalking around the shop when Charlie let Cedric in. Cedric immediately slumped into the chair he had sat in that morning. Sue, who had been in the shop, immediately ran out of the room to get the doctor who had been trapped in the nurse’s break room at the hospital. The doctor, whose name was Dr. Moore, came back with his medical bag that they had assembled. He was a bald man who was, Cedric guessed, in his early forties. He was African American. As he talked, Cedric noticed that he had a very northern accent.

  The nurse that came to help was an extremely nice young girl. Cedric assumed she was twenty-five or younger. She had jet-clack curly hair. Cedric thought she was funny. Everything the doctor said, the nurse had a sarcastic comment to make. He noticed that Ross really seemed to like the sarcasm, too. Or maybe it’s just the nurse, Cedric thought. He made sure to catalogue that information to talk to Ross about later.

  The doctor spent the next thirty minutes bandaging, sowing, and bracing Cedric up. During this time, Cedric told those assembled what had happened to him after he was separated from the group. While he was talking, Cedric kept looking around the group, always keeping a close eye on who was in the room. His brother, mother, and father were all in the shop with him, along with Ross and Jack. Cisco was curled up on Cedric’s feet licking his left ankle repetitively. Cedric was sure the skin would be raw before Cisco stopped.

  Ben had stormed out before the doctor had even arrived.

  Some of the others came in slowly during that time too. He assumed Ron, Sue, and possibly some of the others were on the roof on lookout duty since none of them came in. He also assumed that Karli was watching the kids since that seemed to be where she was put most of the time; or else she was avoiding him like the plague after that morning.

  After Cedric was done with his story, the others were silent. Cedric had given a full account of what he had done, though, admittedly, he played down some of the danger for his parents’ sake. He knew his dad would have been proud of him, but also upset with him for taking those risks. But mom, Cedric thought, would just be mad as Hell.

  It was Ross who spoke first, “What are the badlands, do you think?”

  “Well, all those infected I saw. I think they had been burnt.” Cedric was speculating on the entirety of the events. “I think that the other group…”

  “The arsholes,” Jack interrupted.

  “Yeah. Them. I think they’re luring the infected into the city. They’ve built those walls I saw. They built them very well fortified.” Cedric paused to take a drink of his Mountain Dew. He idly wondered while he swallowed how many were left in the world. “I don’t know,” Cedric said. “I can’t think right now.”

  “That would be the promethazine I gave you. It is going to help you sleep,” Dr. Moore said as he helped Cedric to his feet. “Let’s get you to bed.”

  “We need to check them out,” Cedric said as they walked back to the main room.

  Cedric was nodding off before Charlie and Doc even got him to the door of the living area. The sound of the door opening woke him up slightly and he shambled a few steps through the open door. He could see movement out of the corner of his eye and he heard the unmistakable sound of a dish break. He wanted to turn his head to see what had happened, but he literally could not turn his head. His body wouldn’t listen.

  And then, Karli was kissing him again. He smiled as she pulled back. She was in those nice blue scrub pants and the white spaghetti strap shirt again. Cedric wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tight. Only, when he took a breath in, she wasn’t there. He opened his eyes to see she had taken a few steps away. She had turned toward the door and beckoned him to follow. Cedric obliged. She led him back to the shop. Cedric thought it was weird that it was empty. Weren’t there just people here, he thought.

  “Yeah. There were,” Karli answered. Cedric didn’t even realize she had answered a question he had thought. “But not after they were done.”

  Cedric looked to where Karli was pointing. There, right in the shop, were thirty or forty infected humans with melted, burnt flesh. Cedric tried to scurry backwards and fell. He tried to get back up but the infected were already at him. He started to swing his steel pipe, which he didn’t even realize he had gotten back.

  When Cedric woke, he was sitting upright swinging his fist through the air. He looked around and saw everyone else was asleep. Cedric wiped the sweat from his face and got up again. This time, he quietly walked to the counter where Charlie laid his watch every night. Five a.m., Cedric thought to himself. I slept for about twelve hours. Great.

  He felt great though. And now that he was up, he felt wide awake. He quietly crept from the room. This time, he stopped to get one of the spare pistols from the overhead cabinet. As soon as he was in the hall, he checked the magazine to make sure it was loaded. He racked the slide with the magazine out and a single cartridge flew out to the right. Cedric let it hit the floor.

  After he had it reloaded, Cedric went to the restroom. After he was finished, he made sure to brush his teeth and go ahead and get ready for the day. This time, he wouldn’t be heading back to bed. He then proceeded to the shop.

  Working on the railgun proved to be an extremely difficult job with only one usable hand. He had all the rotational gears greased, the locking joints secured, and everything else that could be done one-handed ready to go already. He was just about to start on another project when he heard the door creak and the click that signaled someone had just come into the shop with him.

  Cedric tried, and failed, not to hope. But it was not for lost.

  “My dad hates you now, Cedric,” Karli said as she walked into the light. She was holding a plate full of food and a bottle of water.

  “Why is that?” Cedric asked slightly bewildered. Though, he was not disappointed that she was wearing the same pajamas as the night before. He thought they looked good on her.

  “I don’t know if it was the drugs that Doc gave you
, or you always do it, but you talk in your freaking sleep. Dad thought it was slightly amusing until you said, ‘Kiss me again, Karli.’”

  “I did not,” Cedric said, his face shooting straight to inferno. “Please, God, tell me I didn’t.”

  “Yeah. You did.” Karli set the plate down on the workbench and commanded, “Eat.”

  Cedric sat back down but didn’t start eating.

  “Cedric, you need to eat. And it’s fine. Mom didn’t care. And dad will get over it. He grilled me about kissing you. I told him it was none of his business but that it must have been your teenaged, drug-induced delirium.”

  “And he said?” Cedric asked as he started to get a spoonful of cold mashed potatoes.

  “Well, the fact that I dropped the salad bowl and shattered it when I saw you come in didn’t help my case,” Karli stated flatly. “Cisco, the rollie-pollie puppy, tried to eat all the tomato hunks that when flying.”

  “Why did you drop the salad bowl?” Cedric asked.

  “You came in looking like you just fought death. The doctor had you all wrapped up. You look like crap. But look, just don’t go hunting with my dad or anything for a while,” Karli said. “I just wanted to make sure you had food,” she added. “But I’m sleepy. And now that you aren’t tossing and turning, I might be able to get some quiet sleep. Goodnight.” Karli started to stand up.

  “Thanks for the food and the warning,” he said.

  “Anytime,” she said as she paused. She took a moment as if she was thinking over something. She sat back down. “Don’t go.”

  “What?” Cedric asked. “Don’t go where? I’m just sitting here.”

  “When you first came into the room earlier…” she started to say but was cut off by Cedric.

  “Right, when you dropped the salad bowl.”

  “Shut it, jerk,” Karli said in a sarcastic tone with a small, embarrassed smile. “When you came in, you said something about finding them or going after them. I didn’t know what you were talking about at first. Then Denise filled me in on what happened to you. Don’t go.”

  “Karli, we have…” Cedric started but it was Karli’s turn to cut him off.

  “You,” she said with emphasis, “don’t have to go anywhere. You have a bad arm now. You are covered in cuts, bruises, and scabs.” Cedric could tell that Karli was getting more and more agitated with each sentence as her tone was getting more and more excited. “You can’t fight. You can’t run. You can’t drive. You’ll die. Don’t be a moron. If it has to be done, someone else can do it this time. You don’t always have to be the hero.”

  “I’m not the hero,” Cedric said. “I couldn’t save Danny.”

  “That wasn’t your fault, Cedric.” Karli paused. Cedric started to speak but Karli held up a hand and shushed him. “Plus,” she continued, “you are the only person here my age. Denise doesn’t count because she’s a few years older and married. You’re only a single year older and kind of smart. So at least you are someone to talk to.”

  “Okay,” Cedric said. “I will think about it. But we need some information. We can’t continue with limited information about this other group.”

  Cedric could tell that Karli was not convinced at all that he would listen.

  “Look…” she started. She took a breath and started to turn red.

  So she can lose the upper hand, Cedric thought to himself.

  “I mean,” she tried again, “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I know I barely know you, but I want to get to know you. Don’t you dare repeat this, even in your sleep,” she paused and waited. Cedric nodded an affirmative. “As stupid as it sounds, you are literally my hero. I mean, you saved my family. And that’s bound to impress a girl, you know. You were literally on the verge of death and you took the time to break open our door and make sure we knew where to go. A girl doesn’t forget something like that.”

  Cedric started to say something again, but Karli stopped him again, “Hush. I’m not done.” Cedric knew this might annoy most guys, but it actually kind of made Cedric think she was even more attractive.

  Karli continued, “I don’t know if you know this or not, but I helped to keep you cool when you were strapped to the table. You were burning up with fever. I would wash your face off while you were asleep and things like that. Granted, so did Sue, but she’s in her sixties. So it’s not exactly romantic for her.” Then she blushed completely. Every inch of her exposed skin turned beet red. “I didn’t mean that I thought me doing it was romantic or anything. Dang it Cedric, stop laughing.”

  Cedric was indeed laughing. Not at the romantic bit, which is why Karli assumed he was laughing, but because she was finally the one who was flustered. He knew this probably took away any points he had with her, but he couldn’t help it. He would blame it on the residual effects of the drugs if he had to.

  “Look, Ced. I just wanted you to know,” Karli said in a hushed tone.

  Cedric noticed that she called him ‘Ced’ this time, not ‘Cedric.’ Only his family did that. And the way she said it was completely different than he had noticed before.

  “I understand,” he told her.

  Karli got up again. This time she put a hand on Cedric’s cheek. This small action sent chills down his spine. Then she kissed him lightly on the other cheek.

  As Karli pulled away and dropped her hand from Cedric’s face, he leaned forward and stood up. Cedric leaned forward and kissed Karli. This kiss was unlike the one they had shared the morning before. This one was unlike any kiss he had ever had before. This one had emotion in it. Cedric felt his face grow warm. He could feel a growing discomfort in his chest; it was like his sternum was tied in knots. As corny and girly as it sounded, Cedric finally knew what it meant to have butterflies.

  The embrace lasted for only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity for Cedric. He wanted it to last longer.

  When Cedric pulled away, he said “I understand, Karli. I understand.”

  Chapter Eighteen:

  EXPEDITION

  After Karli left, Cedric began working on a new project. He ended up collecting parts from the entire vocational building. He just needed one more thing that he could not get to on his own to complete this project. But he had everything else completely ready. However, the last piece was crucial to his plan. It could not be completed without it.

  Right at the moment Cedric was plotting how to retrieve the last item he needed, he heard the shop door burst open and Charlie came in singing the Dukes of Hazzard theme song.

  “What are you up to, little brother?” Charlie said when he got closer.

  “Working. We need to find out about the other group. The one that tried to take me and built those walls.”

  “Well, we don’t even know if it is the same group or not,” Charlie remarked.

  “Exactly,” Cedric said. “We don’t know anything.”

  “Ced, I know. But I don’t think we are ready to go back out.” Charlie looked Cedric up and down appraising his health, “You sure as crap aren’t anywhere near ready”

  “I know. I’m not getting out. Nobody is if we can help it.” Cedric responded.

  “How is that going to work?” Charlie asked.

  Before Cedric could explain, Sherry halfway came into the shop and said, “You are supposed to be getting Cedric for breakfast, Charlie.”

  “Right. Breakfast is ready,” Charlie said.

  The longer Sherry held the door open, the more they could smell the eggs and biscuits wafting in.

  Cedric set his project materials down and walked with Charlie back toward the Culinary Arts room. Cedric and the others were just starting to call it quarters, as in living quarters.

  When Cedric walked through the door, half the people looked up. Of course, Ben was not one of them. Cedric wished that Ron was one of the ones that didn’t look at him though. When Ron looked at him, he looked slightly angry, until his wife put her hand on his arm that is. Cedric and Charlie took their places in line. The first
thing Cedric did was look around the quarters for Karli. Charlie noticed.

  “I think she’s in the bathroom,” Charlie whispered.

  Cedric had hoped Karli was exaggerating or making it up, but it became quickly obvious she wasn’t. “Right,” Cedric replied, his face turning red.

  Charlie and Jack, who had gotten in line behind the brothers, laughed. “We need to talk about today,” Cedric said trying to change the subject.

  “What about it,” Charlie said. “I thought you said we weren’t going. Or something to that effect.”

  “We aren’t. But there is something we need to do.”

  Cedric dropped the conversation as Ben got in line behind Jack. None of the men spoke until after they had gotten their food and went back to their tables.

  “So, listen,” Cedric started. He explained his entire plan to Jack, Charlie, and Ross, who had already been at the table.

  “I don’t see how that could work,” Jack said.

  “I think it’s plausible,” Ross replied. “We just need that last piece Cedric mentioned. And if it’s where he thinks it is, we shouldn’t run into any problems getting it. It should be less dangerous than the hospital.”

  “You weren’t at the hospital,” Charlie corrected.

  “Right, but I know what happened,” Ross said.

  All of the guys stopped talking right at that moment. Ross, who was sitting just to Cedric’s right got up and scooted to the next empty chair over. Cedric’s back had been to the line, so he hadn’t seen the approach, but he guessed by the grin on Charlie’s face who it was. Karli sat down right next to Cedric.

  Cedric immediately turned to try to see if he could see Ron anywhere. He couldn’t. This made him both uneasy and happy.

  “Since you talk in your sleep, everyone already knows, Cedric,” Karli said.

  This comment brought laughter from Charlie and Jack. He could tell very easily now why Charlie and Jack got along so well. Jack and Charlie were practically the same person: same sense of humor, same demeanor, and same actions. Ross, unlike the other two, looked slightly apologetic to Cedric.