As The World Dies | Book 4 | After Siege

by Frater, Rhiannon

  The door yawed open, sunlight flooding in and briefly blinding her, and two men entered. In the forefront was a tall, handsome guy with curly brown hair followed closely by another dressed in a white shirt and khakis. Though both were white, the first man had a tan that indicated he spent a lot of time in the sun while the other was pasty and looked like he was taking a break from a boring desk job.

  “That’s Travis,” Monica whispered, indicating the man who’d entered first. “He’s the mayor. The second guy is Eric. He helps with a lot of the Fort planning since he used to be an engineer.”

  The door swung open again, letting Juan inside. Emma expected Arnold to follow, but the door slammed shut. The three men walked toward Nerit, who broke off her conversation with Ted to join them. They huddled together, speaking in lowered tones.

  Emma examined her wrist and saw that she was going to have a pretty florid bruise. Luckily it wasn’t broken.

  Once again, she was blinded by the sunlight flooding through the open doorway when another man entered. He was tall, black, middle-aged, and ruggedly good-looking in his camouflage.

  “Kevin, just in time for the debrief!” Nerit called out.

  “Is Katie coming?” Kevin asked.

  “No, she’s gonna be resting for a while. Maternity leave,” Travis responded with what Emma suspected was the grin of a proud father. “Yolanda should be here shortly.”

  “This is where leave,” Monica whispered.

  A little bewildered by their abrupt exit, Emma followed her out the door into the hot afternoon, cradling the icepack around her wrist.

  “Those are the bigwigs of the Fort. They handle most of the planning of what goes down. They’re gonna want to talk to Belinda and the others about what happened to Ed’s group when they left here. It’s best to make ourselves scarce.”

  “They could use a few more women on that council,” Emma replied.

  “They had more, but shit happens. It is the zombie apocalypse.”

  Emma didn’t want to pry. She remembered Yolanda’s sad expression when discussing the former city secretary’s demise.

  “That it is.”

  Monica gestured to Bette talking to a group of people near the gate. “But sometimes good things happen too.”

  “Will we be told about Ed’s group? Or is that something that will be top-secret?”

  “Travis is pretty transparent with what’s going on, but there may be a delay between when they find out what’s up and when they tell us. They usually like to have some sort of plan in place before they spring anything on the general population. Sometimes I can get Juan to tell me, but he can be an asshole and hold out just to annoy me.”

  The popping sound of gunfire startled Emma. A truck heavily laden with supplies was being offloaded a few feet away and no one appeared bothered by the racket. On the walls, guards were speaking into walkie-talkies. Monica didn’t appear concerned about the commotion either.

  Noticing Emma’s worried expression, Monica said, “The guards will take care of the zombies. If they need help the siren will go off. It’s fine, really. Don’t worry about it.” Monica patted Emma on the shoulder and strolled toward the stairs that led over the wall to the main enclosure.

  Emma followed. Life really was different at the Fort. It would take some getting used to.

  But first she needed a bathroom.

  26

  The Legend Known As Katie

  The rest of Emma’s day was spent resting. With her wrist injured, she was excused from kitchen duty. So instead of working in the kitchen all afternoon, she took a long, hot shower and fell asleep for several hours. Nightmares haunted her, waking her up abruptly. Each time she fell asleep, she dreamed again and again about being trapped in the restroom with the zombies slowly advancing on her. Among the dead, as usual in her dreams, were Billy and Stan, but this time they were joined by Macy and Julian, reunited in death and decay. As they closed in on her, she pulled the trigger on her pistol only to hear it click empty, and that was when she woke up every time.

  When Emma stirred, groggy and sore, it was close to dinner time, so she dressed in a blue t-shirt and jeans and headed downstairs. Hungry, she needed some food, and maybe a drink to alleviate her anxiety.

  The second the elevator doors opened, she knew something big was going on. The lobby was filled with people, most of them clustered around one focal point. Emma caught snippets of the conversations around her and understood what the excitement was about. Fort legend, Katie, was making an appearance. Joyful laughter and the hum of excited discussions flowed over Emma in one big wave, overpowering her senses. Her surroundings were too loud, too bright, and too crowded. Unanticipated claustrophobia swept over her and the panic attack that followed hit hard, stealing her breath away. The need to get out of the packed lobby boiled in her gut.

  Pushing her way through the gathering, she caught a glimpse of the back of the blonde woman’s head at the center of the attention. Travis stood next to her, beaming with pride. From the way Katie’s head was tilted downward, she was most likely showing off her newborn daughter. That was even more cause for Emma to slip out and find a quiet space to recover. After her nightmares, it was hard to see a mother and child, safe and happy together.

  Emma rapidly walked along the edges of the lobby to the hallway that would take her to the hotel exit. Heart thudding, she struggled not to break into a sprint. It wasn’t until she reached the memorial area outside the hotel that she realized where she was going. Sitting down on the bench facing the photos of the deceased, she set her trembling hands on her knees and took several deep breaths.

  The panic attack made it feel like her chest was being pinched tight. Wiping unexpected tears away with the back of her hand, she fought to regain her composure. It would take time to get used to the sights, sounds, and aroma of so many people being around and reprogram herself not to identify unexpected movement, noise, and smells as a threat. But it wasn’t just the presence of so many people that had sent her fleeing. It was the absolute joy of the people celebrating a new life. She remembered being that mother at the center of attention, holding her newborn son, showing off the tiny being who’d grown inside her for so long, and entered the world holding her heart and dreams in his eyes.

  “It’s not going to get easier for us,” Macy said.

  Emma hadn’t noticed the other woman’s approach and started in surprise. Macy stood a few feet away with a sad, haunted look in her eyes. Dressed in a blue button down shirt, beige chinos, and Mexican sandals, Macy looked more like someone who worked in an office than a woman who fought across several states to save her zombie son. Macy blinked back tears of her own.

  Macy hesitantly approached her. “I saw the woman with the baby.”

  Clearing her throat so she could talk, Emma tried very hard to remain composed. “That’s Katie. The mayor’s wife.”

  Emma scooted over to let Macy join her if she wanted to and was pleased when she took up the silent offer.

  “Ah. I guess that explains the celebrity status.”

  “She’s also the mom of the first baby in the Fort. That’s what Monica told me.”

  “Having babies in this world...” Macy sighed.

  “Life has to go on if humanity is to survive.”

  The two women lapsed into silence for a minute or two. Emma rubbed her pounding head while Macy plucked at the skin around her fingernails. They were both trembling. Macy raised her eyes. Staring at the photos beneath their plastic protective covering, she gestured at the memorial.

  “Who are they?”

  “Those who died.” Emma tried hard not to focus on the photo of the woman with the black hair and eyes wearing a red sweater.

  “Oh, I see. There’s a lot.”

  “I’m not sure if it’s only for the people who died in defense of the Fort, or just those who were lost when the apocalypse started.”

  “There are a few kids on there.” Macy pointed to a photo of a teenager. “But in this wor
ld, children have to fight as well, I suppose.”

  Pressing a hand to her chest, Emma tried to even out her breathing. She hated having anxiety attacks. It was so ridiculous to have one now that she was in a safe place. “It’s such a fucked up world.”

  “Bad things were always happening, but we were usually safe from the worst of it here in the States. I spent most my time worrying about making sure my son had a good home, food, clothes, a solid education, learned his manners, understood the obstacles that were going to affect him because he was black, and have the ambition to achieve all his dreams in spite of them. When I saw that first zombie, all those fears were replaced with something so much more primal. My sole purpose became his survival. And then that little girl bit him and...” Macy pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Does it get easier, Emma?”

  “No,” Emma answered honestly. “The pain doesn’t go away. You just learn to live with it. Now I’m trying to figure out how to let all of this-” she waved at their surroundings “-into my life.”

  “I doubt you can ever fill the empty spot where your son once lived.”

  “No, we can’t. Maybe we can fill in the area around it, but I don’t know. I’m trying to figure it out.”

  Macy took Emma’s hand in hers and squeezed it gently. “Me too. But thank you for convincing me to try. You’re right. Every life is precious. Including our own.”

  Without pride, and almost as a confession, Emma said, “I nearly died today, but I saved three people.”

  “Did you? See! People need you, Emma. You got the skills to bring us home safely.”

  That brought a wide smile to Emma’s face. “Thank you for saying that. That’s the role I’ve chosen for myself here. I plan to save everyone I can.”

  “That’s a good role to have. As for me, I’m still sorting out how I can help around here. Yolanda is giving me a few days to get my head together, which I definitely need. In the interim, I’m going to spend time with my nephew. I didn’t realize how much Lewis needed me. He’s a grown man, but he’s got a tender spirit.”

  As if on cue, the skinny young man emerged from the hotel, looking around in a desperate way.

  “Speaking of Lewis, I best let him know I’m okay. I suspect he’s halfway convinced I’ll disappear over the wall.” Glancing at Emma and noticing her questioning look, she added, “I won’t. I’m here to stay.”

  “I’m glad, Macy.”

  “Me too, Emma.”

  Emma watched Macy walk away then lowered her head into her hands. Beneath her fingers, she could feel her pulse in her temples thudding harder than normal.

  With the workday over, the Fort was at peace for a little while. The sounds of the big Texas flag in front of city hall flapping in the wind and the grackles calling out to each other as the sunlight started to wane were soothing. The breeze was warm, but pushed away the heat of the day.

  The scuff of a heel pulled Emma out of her reverie. Looking up through her long tresses falling over her face, she saw Katie laying a wildflower bouquet at the base of the memorial. It was her first good look at the woman the Fort occupants revered. Her shoulder length blonde hair was wavy with a slight curl at the end and it framed a face with Nordic features. Tall and slender-limbed, she had the aura of someone who had their shit together. The plaid button down shirt she wore tented over her post-pregnancy bump and hung over her hips. Instead of wearing jeans and boots like most of the Fort inhabitants, she wore compression leggings and chucks.

  Katie turned her gaze in Emma’s direction, catching her in the act of looking her over. Her eyes were a much brighter shade of green than Juan’s and she had a slight tilt at the corners of her eyes.

  “Hi, Emma,” Katie said in a warm voice.

  For some reason, Emma’s throat tightened and it took her a second to answer. “Hello, Katie.”

  “Mind if I sit down? I’m a little wiped out.”

  “Of course! Sit down, I mean. I don’t mind.”

  Settling down beside Emma, Katie exhaled with relief. “No one tells you how damn painful it is after you have a kid.”

  “It sucks,” Emma said, commiserating. “I remember it well.”

  “I’m definitely going to give it some time before having a brother or sister for Bryce.”

  “I don’t blame you one bit.” Emma sat up straighter, pushing her hair back over her shoulders. “By the way, Bryce is a great name.”

  “Thank you. I named her after my dad. His name was Bruce.” Katie’s gaze returned to the memorial. “Sadly, I don’t have a picture of him.”

  Unsure of what to say, Emma remained silent. Her panic attack was subsiding, the rough waves of emotion ebbing away and gradually calming. Katie had a comforting and eerily familiar presence. It was as if Emma had met her previously, but had forgotten the exact time and location. But that wasn’t possible, so maybe Jenni had imparted more to Emma in the dream than she’d realized.

  A long, but comfortable silence stretched between them. Katie leaned slightly forward, her fingers reverently brushing Jenni’s picture.

  “Rune told me,” Katie said. “Before he left.”

  Emma gulped. “That Jenni sent me?”

  With a sad smile, Katie nodded. “She’s good at saving people. She saved me, you know, on that first day. My wife was dead, I was in shock and lost in a neighborhood I didn’t know, and then I saw her standing outside of her front door in a pink bathrobe. My instantaneous instinct was to save her, so I pulled over. At first I thought I saved her, but looking back, I know she saved me too. She gave me a purpose that day. Otherwise, I’m not sure what would have happened to me. But now I’m here helping to rebuild the world.”

  “And a mom to the next generation.” She’d caught Katie’s reference to a wife, but wasn’t about to ask about something so personal.

  “Which I thought I’d never be.” Katie laughed with delight. “I blame Jenni.”

  “It’s good though, right?” Emma attempted not to sound annoyed, but her own loss pinched at her insides.

  Katie’s bittersweet smile and gentle expression said much about her as a person. “It’s very good. It’s a blessing that I am grateful for especially knowing how much has been lost. I am sad for your loss, but I am glad you came here for a new start.”

  Emma sensed her sincerity. It was evident Katie had realized she’d bumped a wound and was trying to soothe the smarting. Everyone was walking around with trauma triggers that could go off at the most innocuous comment. It wasn’t Katie’s fault that she was a new mother with a living child while Emma and Macy were mourning theirs.

  “It’s intense starting over after being alone for a year,” Emma said, gazing at the hotel. “There are so many people...”

  “It wasn’t just you getting claustrophobic earlier. I got overwhelmed in the lobby too. Everyone wanted to see Bryce, so Travis took over showing her off so I could come here to see Jenni.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have left when you got here.”

  “No, no. I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to meet you. I like getting to know all the new people who arrive. I completely understand how it feels to arrive here and finally be safe enough to mourn and heal from all the shit we went through.” Katie glanced toward City Hall where Travis now stood on the doorstep with Yolanda. She was holding the baby, cooing with delight over the newborn. “I expected to fight to survive, but I didn’t expect to fall in love and create a new family. That was a surprise.”

  Emma mulled over Katie’s comment, remembering Rune’s words. She had time to discover what the Fort could offer her. Whether that included finding love again was another matter, but she had time to find her way.

  “Is it worth it? To start over? To love again? Even with the risks?” she asked.

  With a wistful smile, Katie said simply, “Yes. As terrifying as this world is, it is worth it.”

  27

  The Risks

  When Katie left after a few more minutes of small talk, Emma’s panic at
tack had diminished to the point where she was starting to feel like herself again. The shakiness in her hands and her rapidly beating heart had returned to normal during her conversation with Katie. Feeling calmer, Emma watched Katie and her husband retreat back into the hotel with Yolanda in their wake.

  It was dinner time, but despite her hunger, she couldn’t quite bring herself to go inside the hotel. She watched the sunset while the breeze ruffled her hair and dried the remains of her tears.

  The sun was just vanishing behind the horizon when Juan appeared carrying a covered tray and holding a bottle of water under his arm. She expected him to keep walking past the memorial, but he joined her.

  “Hey,” he said, sounding awkward.

  “Hi.”

  Holding out the food and bottled water, he gave her a sheepish look. “You didn’t make it to dinner, so I brought you a tray. It’s a hamburger and fries.”

  Emma arched her eyebrows while taking the tray. “A real hamburger?”

  “We watch over a herd of cattle on a nearby ranch, so yes, it’s a real hamburger.”

  Pulling the foil off, Emma squealed with delight. “Oh my God! Thank you so much for bringing me this. It looks and smells amazing!”

  Sitting beside her, Juan squared his shoulders beneath his clean white shirt. He had scrubbed up for dinner and smelled of soap and shampoo. “Katie said she saw you out here, so I thought I’d see if you were still here after you didn’t show up in the dining hall.”

  “Well, I do appreciate it.”

  “I had some time on my hands, so it’s no big deal.”

  Juan’s tone implied that it was a bigger deal than he was admitting. He’d come here with a purpose and that made her a little uneasy. Emma set the water bottle between them, a small barrier.

  “Where are your kids?”

  “With my mom. Her assistant handles the night cleanup so she can spend time with them. She loves them with all her heart and they love her. Adopting them was the best thing I ever did.”