Blaze held out her hands, fingers spread, and opened and closed her fists a half-dozen times.
“Are you serious? That many?” Star glanced over at Dragon. “This isn’t good. They could be coming here. No one sleeps tonight.”
“They didn’t get through,” Dodger said. “We also had to kill the soldiers. A second time. Rafe was the only one not bitten. He left after we finished his crew off. Blaze is right, he’s a coward. You shouldn’t feel sorry for him, Star. Be glad Cadence broke up with him. I am. We all are. He’s bad news.”
“I don’t feel sorry for the jerk. I’m mad at him, too,” Star said. “Honestly, I’ve always disliked Rafe. He’s conceited, unreliable, and a cheater. I’m sorry, Cadence, but it’s true. You never wanted to believe it, though I tried to warn you many times. All Rafe has going for him is good looks. Highbrow is far more your style. Where is he anyway? He wasn’t with you today?”
“No,” said Cadence. “He had a secret mission. Must have been important or he’d have joined us. Then again, maybe it’s a good thing he wasn’t there. Highbrow goes by the book. He wouldn’t have let us have that picnic, and you wouldn’t have any new makeup.” She lowered her voice. “Blaze got you a new bra. It’s on my four-wheeler in the saddle bag. I’ll get it for you later. Luna gets one, too. Pink.”
Star was delighted. “Way to go, Blaze. I appreciate you thinking of me. I’m going to have to do something nice for you, too. Is there a boy in camp you’d like to go out with? Someone special?” She eyed Whisper. Blaze frantically shook her head. “I’ll think of something appropriate, but if you need a messenger, I’d be glad to deliver one to the right guy.”
Blaze was quick to change the subject. “We should find out what’s going on with the scavengers. Dodger said they have a bunch of prisoners in the office. I saw Destry go in there a few minutes ago with a medic. Let’s go ask him what’s going on?”
“I’d rather not. I don’t like Destry,” said Cadence. “Anyway, I know they’ve been picking up scavengers all day, but I’m concerned there’s only a handful being kept in the office. Where are the others?”
“If Sarge found them, he probably shot them on sight,” Blaze said. “You know Sarge doesn’t like to take prisoners. They should have made contact with the Captain and asked for clearance so they could come into the camp. If they get shot, I don’t feel sorry for them. A lot of people could get killed if this thing blows up. We need to know what’s going on.”
Cadence frowned. “People got killed last night, Blaze. I’ll check it out later. Let me relax for a few minutes. I’m worn out.”
“Don’t worry so much, you two,” said Star. “You know we don’t have to stick around here. I’ve told you before, this place sucks. There is supposed to be a safe zone up in Canada. We should go there take anyone who wants to come with us. I don’t trust Destry, Habit, or Sarge, and I still can’t believe Rafe left you behind. When I see him again, I’m going to kick him. Very, very hard.”
“Forget Rafe,” said Cadence. “As for Canada, I don’t think Highbrow would leave the Peak. He’s always hoped his dad will show up one day. I know he can take care of himself, but I could never leave him. Highbrow is my balance. I feel like half a person when he’s not around. It doesn’t mean I’m in love or anything, so don’t get silly on me. He’s a Tiger, we’re family, and we work well together.”
“Highbrow is reliable,” Star said, rising to her feet. “He’s also cute, and it’s okay if you like him. He’s always been there for you and the Tigers. It’s not such a bad thing that he’s a senator’s son. If things ever get back to normal, he might be a politician. His old man was rich. You could be in a good position one day if you two get married.”
Cadence didn’t know if she should laugh or cringe. “Knock it off and let’s go look for Luna,” she said, changing the subject. “Anyone else want to come with us?” No one replied. “We’ll swing back by later, Blaze, in case you want to go with us to talk to Garble. I know you’re worried about Highbrow, too.”
“Not as much are you are,” Blaze sang out. “Besides, I have everything I need right here.” She leaned against Whisper and stretched out her arms. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve a starry sky, a warm campfire, and the company of some very cute boys. Well, not you, Dodger. Later, girls.”
Cadence had to hand it to Blaze. She certainly made flirting with boys look easy.
* * * * *
Chapter Nine
Under the darkness of night, Rafe crouched behind a dumpster. Dumpsters smelled, but for some reason he found the odor irresistible and wrestled with the urge to look inside. He didn’t know where the day had gone, nor did he care. In the main courtyard, a crowd of adults were fussing over a couple of youngsters sitting on a bench. He watched Mother Superior walk out of the Captain’s headquarters with several nurses. All of the younger children were taken to their bunk house, but the two kids on the bench were infected and needed to be dealt with.
Mother Superior was in charge of the Peak. The Captain was rumored to be her ex-husband. Whenever together, they were usually whispering and standing close to one another. To most people, they looked like a normal couple. Rafe liked the Captain. He was a good man. Mother Superior, however, was a stern woman. Rafe found her nagging a bother, though he did like the way she smelled at that moment.
“Hey, Rafe!”
Wizard came out of the shadows. He wore his Army jacket zipped up to the neck with gloves and a stocking cap. Was it cold? Rafe hadn’t noticed. The night air felt the same as the sunlight. Wizard put his hand on Rafe’s shoulder.
“Where have you been all day? I looked around for you earlier, but couldn’t find you. Are you doing okay? Feel any better?”
“Been busy,” Rafe answered, unsure of what he had been doing.
“Did you hear about the attack in Cascade? Zombies attacked Corporal Jade’s berry picking patrol. I heard a lot of old people were killed and one kid was bitten. They’ve got two Little Leaguers over there that may or may not be infected. When they brought the kids in, they were drenched with zombie juice. One of them has parents and they’re trying to convince Mother Superior to quarantine them for now. She ordered the bitten kid to be terminated, so you know she’ll do the same to these two.”
Rafe became excited. “Did they swallow it? Did it get in their eyes? How does she know they’re infected if they weren’t bitten?”
“Hey, slow down a minute pal.” Wizard grabbed Rafe by the arm to keep him from running off. “Don’t get involved. You can’t help either kid. You need to get some rest. You look like hell.”
“I have a cold, that’s all.”
“Maybe a hot shower would make you feel better. I’ve got to report to the Captain on the front lines. Scavengers have been sighted close to camp. The teen patrols will guard Base Camp, and I heard they’ve handed out guns already. What a mistake.”
“I forgot about the scavengers,” said Rafe. His friend’s scrutiny made him nervous. “Tell you what, I’ll go shower then meet you at the truck. We can ride together. I won’t be long.”
Wizard nodded. “Well, hurry up. I’ll try to find out what’s going on.”
Relieved his friend was out of the way, Rafe walked toward the community showers. Most people bathed during the day when the water was heated by solar energy. Night baths were cold. He was already numb from head to toe. What was a little cold water?
Avoiding the security lights positioned on every building corner, Rafe made it to the showers without incident. Rafe stripped and tossed his clothes on a bench then caught his reflection in a mirror. What he saw took his breath. Rafe was pale and dark circles hung under his eyes like half moons. His eyes had a strange film that made them look dead. He pinched his neck hard and was surprised it didn’t hurt. He flexed his muscles, letting out a sigh.
“Playing with yourself again, Rafe?”
A soldier nicknamed Feather came into the shower and tossed her jacket aside. He ignored her and slipped beh
ind a shower curtain, turning on the water.
“I could join you,” said Feather. “We could soap each other’s backs. You game, Rafe? Or are you still with Cadence?”
“Leave me alone,” snarled Rafe. “What are you doing here anyway? We’re all supposed to report in for duty. We’re going to the front lines.”
Rafe stepped under the steaming hot water, but feeling nothing as it hit him in the face. He could smell Feather and knew she was naked. Her odor reminded him of barbecue.
“I have a cold, so I don’t have to go. Anyway, since everyone is with the Captain at the front that means the water is hot tonight. No one is using the showers.” Feather’s voice was enticing. “I could use some help washing my hair. It’s all tangled.” She let out a loud sneeze. “Sorry. If you catch my cold, it won’t kill you.”
Rafe filled with a sudden and irrational sense of rage, mixed with lust. He stormed out of his shower and forced the curtain open to reveal Feather. Her back was to him as she massaged shampoo into her long black hair. Needing no further invitation, Rafe came up behind Feather and slid his arms around her. As he kissed her neck, she let out a sigh and wiggled against him. Then she screamed.
“What the hell? You bit me!”
Rafe felt an explosion of pain worse than any migraine explode in his head. He pushed her into the wall, thinking nothing when she fell to the floor. She looked up at him in rapid blinks as the water hit her face. A trickle of blood ran down her neck from two clean puncture wounds. He fought the urge to bite her again.
“Sorry about that. It was meant to be a hickey. You taste good.”
“Get the hell out of here, Rafe. I’m going to report you. You had no right to bite me.” She sat up, wincing. “With the way the infection spreads, you know it’s dangerous to . . . ” She fell silent, a look of horror spread across her face as he moved closer.
Feather didn’t finish her sentence before Rafe’s fist connected with her jaw. Her head snapped and hit the wall. As she sank to the floor, he looked away.
“You liked it,” Rafe said, cold and without feeling. He licked blood from his knuckles before stepping under the water to rinse.
When he was clean, he turned off the water in the showers, dried off, and got dressed. He felt better, only now he was hungrier than before. Glancing in the mirror one more time, Rafe knew he was infected. He looked terrifying. He opened a bag Feather brought with her and used her makeup to cover the dark circles and color his cheeks. The moment he walked outside, Rafe saw soldiers carrying the two children away from the hospital. They weren’t going to be given a chance, but a bullet, right between the eyes. He glanced toward the trucks, thought about Wizard, and wondered if he should go meet his friend.
One of the children let out a whimper and something snapped inside of Rafe. He lost his rifle, but couldn’t remember where. He wanted a weapon as he trailed behind the soldiers with their victims. Rafe paused to pick up a rock and imagined hitting each soldier in the head. The idea was sound. He followed, making no sound. The soldiers didn’t notice Rafe until it was too late. The first went down in a heap. The child dropped on the ground and stared at Rafe, frightened. The second soldier spun around and Rafe slammed the rock into the man’s nose. Before the man hit the ground, Rafe struck him once more, killing him. He caught the little girl before she hit the ground.
“Are you going to kill us, mister?” asked the boy.
Even in the dark Rafe could see the boy was pale and had dark circles under his eyes. His nose was bleeding, and there were drops of blood in the corners of the girl’s eyes. It was clear they were both infected. He grasped the boy by his hand and pulled him to his feet.
“Does that mean you’re not going to kill us?”
“I don’t think so,” said Rafe. “That wasn’t my intention. I knew they were going to shoot you, so I saved you. Didn’t your parents want to save you?” he asked the boy.
The child nodded.
“Well, it’s not safe for me to take you to them. You’re infected like her. Like me.”
The boy’s eyes grew wide. The girl threw her arms around Rafe’s neck and pressed her cheek to his face.
“We need to stay together for now,” said Rafe. “I’ll find a place to hide and we’ll figure something out in the morning.”
“I’m hungry,” said the boy.
Rafe released the boy’s hand and like a savage he ripped open the jacket of a soldier and buried his teeth into the exposed stomach. The girl wiggled out of Rafe’s arms and joined the boy in the gory feast. He let them eat their fill. After a few moments, Rafe reached down, picked up both children and walked off into the night.
***
Highbrow was taking a much needed nap when a thump on his head gave him a rude awakening. He scowled, only to find the Professor standing over him. One of a few teachers on the Peak, the Professor was in his sixties and looked the part of a scholar with his tweed jacket, bow tie, and horned-rimmed glasses. His bald head and plump belly went a long way to help that image. Highbrow had fallen asleep in a hammock hanging on the porch of the Professor’s two- story cabin, which served as a classroom as well as his living quarters. Highbrow wiped the sleep out of his eyes.
“What do you want?” said Highbrow. “Let me sleep a few more minutes, Professor.”
“Why don’t you come inside? It’s cold out here. I don’t know how you slept through the commotion. I was about to settle down to a cup of tea when I heard the trucks pull out. I thought you were at the hospital with that young girl. All the soldiers have been sent to the front lines. I’m sure the teen patrols are at Base Camp. You probably should get down there.”
“Crap!” Highbrow reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out his radio. “I wonder if I can reach Cadence. I’m sure she’s worried sick about me. Have you heard anything from the Tigers? They should have been back at the Peak hours ago.”
“Did you hear anything I said? I said the patrols are at Base Camp. You might check with Mother Superior. She might have details, but I’m sure she’ll send you down the mountain.”
The Professor removed his glasses and rubbed his brow. Highbrow respected the teacher. They had grown as friends and spent many hours talking about life. The teacher was probably the only man on the planet who could have persuaded Highbrow to read Shakespeare. What the Professor lacked in physical stature, he made up for with intellect and class. He had a deep, rich voice that was fun and soothing to listen to, no matter the topic.
“Look, son, I know it’s none of my business,” said the Professor, “but at some point you need to realize there is more to life than chasing after a girl who doesn’t want to be caught.”
Highbrow felt torn. Yesterday morning, he thought the sun rose and set with Cadence. But now there was Savannah.
Savannah was soft and kind. He could imagine himself reading Shakespeare with Savannah under the stars, holding hands and sharing long kisses. She wouldn’t laugh at him. Chasing Cadence was far from his thinking today.
The Professor patted Highbrow on the arm. “You’re not the only one who has ever felt this way,” he said, grinning. “I had a crush on a girl once myself. I know what you’re thinking. Looking at me now, I hardly seem cut for romance. It was a different story in my younger years. I had more hair then.” He chuckled. “Her name was Amanda. I kept chasing her and she kept running until, eventually, I was exhausted with it all and stopped chasing. That’s when I met the love of my life, my late wife Sarah. The whole time I was chasing Amanda, Sarah was patiently waiting for her turn to chase me.”
Highbrow frowned. “This is good advice, Professor, but I’d rather not talk about girls tonight, Cadence least of all. You know how I feel about her. Or felt. I’m done chasing. I think I’ve found my Sarah.”
“Very well,” the Professor shrugged. “On another note, I’ve been reading some interesting material. If you want to check on Savannah and Nomad, we can talk about what I found in the black box later.”
Hi
ghbrow stood up and straightened his jacket. “Savannah can wait. I want to know what you found. Can you tell me?”
The Professor smiled, missing half of a front tooth. One of the professions they lacked at the Peak was dentistry.
“It took a bit of tinkering, but I managed to get the box open.” The Professor tapped his bald head. “Thinking men use mallets.”
Highbrow lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. “Midnight. It’s later than I thought.”
“This won’t take long,” said the Professor. “Actually, I’m glad I found you out here. It’s a relief to be able to tell someone I trust about what is in that box. I believe we’ve come into the possession of some highly classified information from our government.”
“Like what?”
“What I’m about to say doesn’t go beyond you and me. Promise?” “I promise.” Highbrow leaned in.
“You remember the first soldier who returned from Afghanistan, the one infected with a strain of the swine flu? The virus at that time was transferred through a sneeze or a cough. It spread fast. Asthmatics were first to fall ill, then the elderly, the obese and children. Hospitals filled up quickly, but the usual drugs simply did not work. After a week, people started to die. More than fifty million people fell ill that first week.”
The Professor looked up as a soldier walked by with a girl on his arm. He waited until they were out of earshot before he continued.
“Then the disease mutated and the dead sat up and began to feed on the living. The new strain was called H1N1z. I won’t bore you with the details. In any case, merely getting a drop of their blood in your mouth or eyes, or an open wound, would cause infection. Now, according to this report, the virus continues to mutate.”
“We all know if you get zombie juice in your mouth, you’ll turn into one of those freaks,” said Highbrow. “But you said the virus is mutating. Do you mean we could turn into something else? Something worse?” He shivered when the professor nodded. “I can’t imagine anything worse than turning into one of those things. Who’s the report from? The CDC? Who? Tell me.”
Dead Hearts (Book 1): Morbid Hearts Page 9