Cities of Rust

by Ariel Bonin

  "You should probably get downstairs. Don't want to keep them waiting," Lindsey said, even though she didn't want him to go.

  Andrew sighed and tipped his forehead to rest against hers. She squeezed her eyes shut and savored the moment, knowing it could possibly be their last. With visible reluctance, he released her and got up to get dressed. Lindsey watched him move about the room. He glanced at her as he fastened his gun belt, but neither of them spoke.

  After tugging on his jacket, he propped an arm on the bed frame behind her and leaned in. She draped her arms around his neck as he kissed her with absolute tenderness.

  "Be careful," she whispered against his lips.

  "Always am," he replied in his deep, velvety voice. "I love you, Linds."

  She grinned at the nickname, masking the moisture that was seeping into her eyes.

  "I love you, too, Andy."

  He kissed her once more, and then left the room without a backward glance—his own coping mechanism. As the door clicked shut, the first tear rolled down her cheek.

  _____

  Andrew walked down the hall, hating goodbyes with every step. He had one more to make, and this one would be even tougher than the last. He knocked gently on the door to Zoey's room, and pushed it open. His daughter was sitting up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  "Are you leaving now?" she asked with a yawn.

  Andrew sat on the edge of the full-size bed and nodded. "We should be back before it gets dark. If we aren't, hold off the search party. As you've probably noticed by now, things don't always go as planned."

  "But you'll find your way back. You always do, Dad."

  Andrew clenched his jaw and glanced at the flannel bedspread. He struggled to voice the next few sentences.

  "Listen, if something happens to me—" he started to say.

  "Dad, stop," she groaned out of discomfort with the subject.

  "No, let me say this. If something happens…will you take care of Lindsey and Jake for me? I hate to ask that of you—"

  "I know she'd do the same for me. I promise that I will," Zoey interrupted again, her expression reflecting the seriousness that Andrew felt. His heart swelled with admiration for his daughter.

  "I love you so much," he said as they embraced.

  "I love you, too," she whispered.

  Before Andrew stood, he picked up Zoey's favorite beanie hat from the bedside table and placed it on her head. She flicked the short visor and gave him a crooked grin. Andrew took a mental picture of that moment to save for later—he was sure he'd need it.

  "I'll see you soon," he said to Zoey, and quickly exited the room.

  The brisk morning air intensified the crisp aroma of decaying leaves on the damp earth. Andrew exhaled as he descended the front steps, and a light puff of breath appeared in front of him. These dropping temperatures further supported their mission today. Winter was rapidly approaching; it was absolutely imperative that they get these supplies.

  Charlie sauntered across the yard, looking up when Andrew came into his line of sight.

  "There ya are! I thought I was gonna have to drag your ass outta that warm bed," he said with a wink.

  Andrew shook his head in good humor. It made him happy to see the man in a decent mood, considering the events of the day before. As he followed Charlie to the truck, he saw that Ana and Darius were already waiting in the backseat of the extended cab. When he opened the passenger door, they all exchanged good mornings.

  After fastening their seatbelts, Charlie swung the truck around and set off down the driveway. Andrew watched the farmhouse recede in the side mirror, his chest tightening as he saw the curtain flutter in their bedroom window. He'd get back to the woman on the other side if it was the last thing he did.

  _____

  Lindsey shut the lacy drapes, blocking out the sight of the departing truck. She couldn't help but feel like part of her heart was leaving with it—the other half was buried back at the school—and she desperately hoped the rest didn't meet the same fate.

  Moving on with her day to the best of her ability, she slipped on a pair of dark jeans, and a gray, long-sleeve top Caren had given to her. As she opened her bag, her gaze fell upon the item she'd retrieved from Zoey's cot.

  Lindsey studied the happy family in the studio photograph. She had wanted to see Andrew all clean shaven and, now that she was getting the chance, she thought he looked like a completely different man. It was his carefree smile that made the difference. Zoey had grown so much. She'd gone from a girl to a young woman.

  The last person in the picture held her interest for a bit longer. She had to admit—Kelly Flynn was a beautiful woman, and the type of person that would have intimidated Lindsey in her former life. Just from what she'd heard about Andrew's wife, Kelly had exuded an air of competence. In this photograph, though, all she saw was a loving mother, and that was the only thing that mattered now.

  Clutching the picture behind her back, she strode downstairs in search of Zoey. She found her sitting on the porch swing, her face troubled.

  "What's up?" Lindsey asked.

  "I remembered something that I wanted my dad to get at the school, but when I got down here, he was already gone," she mumbled, moving her feet off the swing so Lindsey could sit next to her.

  "What did you want him to get?" Lindsey kept the photo tucked out of view, hopeful that she was talking about that very thing.

  "It's a picture of him, me, and my mom. I was saving it for Jake, but now I'll probably never get the chance anyway," Zoey said sadly.

  "You will," Lindsey whispered. She bit her lip as she revealed the picture. Zoey gasped and seized it from her hands, a bright smile adorning her face. "I grabbed it on my way out," Lindsey added.

  "Thank you! Thank you so much, Lindsey!" she exclaimed as she threw her arms around the woman, and Lindsey returned the hug with equal vigor. When Zoey pulled away, she held the picture in both hands. "Do you really think I'll ever be able to give it to Jacob?"

  Lindsey didn't blink as she responded, "I know it. Don't ask me how, but I do."

  Zoey hopped off the swing and gave her another quick hug before heading inside, presumably to display the picture in her room.

  It was still early in the morning, so Lindsey opted to take a short walk around the estate. The cool air was refreshing and she thought it would help clear her mind.

  She reached a section of wooden fence posts and stopped to take in the view. The ranch was gorgeous. Overcast skies intensified the green trees scattered throughout the hilly field, and a soft breeze rustled the tall grass, bringing with it a slight chill.

  Of course, now that she had a peaceful moment, her concern from earlier made itself known again at the forefront of her mind. Lindsey smoothed a delicate hand over her flat stomach as she allowed herself to fall into her thoughts. She'd been through this once before, but last time, it was on purpose and the dead hadn't been walking the earth. It had taken a while for her and Jared to get pregnant. After they'd lost the baby, she'd had some tests done. It turned out that she wasn't as fertile as most women her age. As much as she wanted to live in a world where she could have a baby with Andrew, she was relying on that infertility to do its thing right now.

  "Is there something you're not telling us?" A voice asked from behind Lindsey.

  She brought the lingering hand to her mouth in surprise as Dean moved to stand next to her. His gaze remained on her stomach, then settled on her face.

  "No. I mean…it's too early to tell."

  Dean simply nodded.

  She would have loved to have known what he was thinking. In fact, she made the decision to ask him outright.

  "What?" Lindsey snapped. "Obviously, you want to say something, so out with it."

  Dean raised his eyebrows and, after rolling his tongue inside his cheek, said, "Andrew seems to have a problem with taking the right precautions."

  "You don't know anything about him," Lindsey muttered, shooting him a glare.

>   Dean leveled his eyes with hers. "Then fill me in—tell me what I'm missing here. I mean, for God's sake Lindsey, the man's son is missing! Is this really the time to knock you up?"

  Before she could even consider what she was doing, her hand flashed through the air and slapped soundly across his cheek. Dean stiffened, looking off to the side. He blew out a breath and took a menacing step toward her, meeting her eyes once again. Lindsey held her ground, refusing to be threatened by him.

  "He's gonna get you killed, Lindsey. Sooner or later, you're gonna end up just like his wife," Dean said bitterly, and turned to stalk back to the house.

  Chapter 20

  As the small group traveled to the school, Andrew kept an eye out for any sign of Nadie or Jacob, but everything was the same as it was on their last trip through. It was disappointing, but all it meant was that he needed to look someplace else. Thanks to Lindsey, he wasn't going to give up anytime soon.

  "So, what's the plan again?" Darius asked from the backseat.

  "We need to get the truck as close to the front door as we possibly can. We'll clear it out—turners, supplies, everything," Andrew said, his mind working all the different angles.

  Ana cut in. "Lindsey and I locked our hall door on the way out. It should be empty. It'd be nice to get our stuff, too."

  Andrew considered this new piece of information. Other than what little was left at the ranch, they were limited on clothing. If their rooms were free of turners, why wouldn't they go in?

  "You got it," he said. "We're low on ammo, so we also need to raid the bin in the schoolyard." They passed through a section of road that was all too familiar to Andrew and he knew they were getting close.

  "All right, here we go. Let's hope that horde's long gone and that they didn't leave any friends behind," Charlie stated as he pulled into the clearing in front of the school.

  The anticipation caused adrenaline to thrum through Andrew's veins. He took in the sight before them, sitting up in his seat to peer over the dash. Large clusters of turners milled about in various parts of the schoolyard. Andrew took a deep breath in attempt to slow his racing heart as Charlie urged the truck over the fallen gate. Once they were parked, everyone readied their weapons. Turners started closing in on the vehicle, their pace quickening at the potential food source.

  Charlie turned to face the others. "Try not to use your guns unless ya get pinned down. Hate to find out that the horde was just movin' on, and then bring 'em right back down on us. I doubt we'd be as lucky gettin' outta here the second time around."

  Andrew nodded at Charlie's sensible instruction. The man may not have wanted a prominent leadership role, but he knew his shit.

  A short turner slapped his slimy hands against the passenger-side window, snapping his jaws along the glass surface. Andrew unsheathed his machete and got a tight trip on the handle. With considerable force, he pushed open the door, knocking the turner onto its back. Before the cadaver could make its next move, Andrew brought the machete down, impaling it between the eyes. Another turner staggered toward him, but Ana was there, her arrow slicing through the air.

  The foursome progressed through the yard and came upon the large ammunition bin. Darius and Charlie pushed it in the direction of the truck as Andrew and Ana cleared the way. Thick black gore covered their clothes and arms. One turner got too close to Andrew, causing him to hold the corpse at bay as his blade ripped through its throat. More blood spattered his face, eliciting a grimace on contact. They continued this until the two men were done emptying the bin into the bed of the truck.

  Next up was their section of the school. Charlie led the way, his suppressed rifle up and ready. At his signal, Andrew unlocked the heavy door, and Charlie advanced into the hallway. Much to their satisfaction, Ana had been right—it was empty. Everyone moved room to room, grabbing all the personal items they could carry.

  Andrew hesitated before entering the room he'd shared with his children. As his gaze fell upon Jacob's empty bassinet, the gaping hole in his chest ached. Like picking at a fresh scab, the reminder that the boy was gone was almost too much for him to bear. He gritted his teeth as he gathered his and Zoey's things.

  They made one more trip, and then progressed into the school, moving toward the common room. If Lindsey's story held any indication of what was waiting inside for them, they would need to bring their A-game. It wouldn't be filled with just turners from the horde, but new ones as well—their former group members to be exact.

  This was really going to suck.

  Andrew and Charlie repeated their process from earlier, opening the door methodically. When Charlie crossed the threshold, his choice words were a sign of what they were walking into.

  "Oh, shit."

  Andrew followed Charlie in and every part of him screamed to run back out. There were at least twenty turners trapped inside, and every one of them looked their way as the metal door swung shut behind them. Ana fired an arrow into the forehead of the closest turner, and then swung the bow onto her back, clearly not going to attempt reloading for each shot. She removed the hatchet from her belt and buried it in the skull of an advancing female turner. Andrew swung his blade, decapitating one immediately to his right. Charlie and Darius backed them up, hacking away at the progressing swarm.

  They seemed to be making headway, until Andrew rounded a corner and came across even more turners.

  "Charlie, I need you over here!" he called out as two corpses lunged at him. He kicked one back and executed the other, his arm burning from the exertion.

  Charlie immediately came to his aid, and the two men took down every threat like they were some kind of dynamic duo. Andrew would have laughed if they weren't in danger of being eaten alive.

  "Darius!" Ana yelled.

  Andrew snapped his gaze across the room and, with a sinking feeling, realized that he could no longer see the large man. After beheading one more turner, he and Charlie rushed to help Ana. They each sighed with relief as she lifted Darius to his feet, appearing unharmed.

  "What happened?" Andrew asked. He got his answer as a weak growl sounded from the floor behind Darius. When the man stepped away, Andrew doubled over. "Oh- oh, God."

  The young boy that Zoey had a crush on, or what was left of him, writhed on the ground, his skinless arms reaching upward. Most of the flesh had been torn from his body, and all that remained was raw muscle and white bone. The only way they really knew it was him was from the thick-rimmed glasses that somehow remained on his face, though kinked to one side.

  Andrew gingerly covered his eyes as he struggled to keep his composure.

  Another young life, gone.

  Ana laid a hand on Andrew's shoulder and gave him a reassuring look. She stepped in front of him and loaded an arrow into her bow.

  "See you on the other side," she said quietly to the boy, and let it go.

  The four survivors stood in silence for a minute. When Andrew glanced up from the mutilated body, he pointed a stare at each of them. "Not a word of this to Zoey."

  Everyone agreed and, with less resolve than before, started lugging food supplies to the truck. Ana kept watch, effortlessly eliminating any turners that crossed their path. It took multiple trips, but the haul was worth it.

  When the Ford was full, they piled back in. Charlie tore out of the yard, weaving between turners. As they left the school for the final time, Andrew did look back. He knew his wife wasn’t there, and yet, it felt like he was leaving her behind.

  Goodbye, Kelly.

  _____

  Lindsey remained at the wooden posts, watching Dean walk away as resentment rolled off her in waves. That man could be such an ass. Part of her understood the point he was trying to make, but his choice of words could use a vast improvement. He also needed to stop blaming Andrew for everything. The two men may have been on even terms now, but Dean's overprotective tendencies toward her wouldn't cease, and she was growing tired of it.

  After a while, Lindsey's stomach began to rumble, despite
her fluctuating appetite. She followed the dilapidated sections of fence and cut across the field, winding up on the opposite side of the farmhouse. She knew Dean was on watch out front, so she came in through the back door, which led to the kitchen. Caren jumped as she turned away from the stove and discovered Lindsey at the counter next to her. Lindsey laughed softly.

  "Sorry."

  Caren dropped the hand from her chest and smiled. "It's okay. I just didn't hear you come in."

  She sprinkled some cinnamon in the pot, and Lindsey snuck a peek of their breakfast.

  "More oatmeal," Caren exhaled.

  "Awesome," Lindsey said with thick sarcasm. She lifted a mug from the cabinet and filled it with hot water from the teakettle. After dipping a teabag into the steaming liquid, she grabbed what she needed and sat down at the table.

  Robert and Zoey entered the room, drawn in by the smells. They weren't as picky when it came to food—it just had to be edible. Each of them filled a bowl and took seats on either side of Lindsey.

  "Hey, Caren, is there, by any chance, a pharmacy in town?" she asked in her best attempt at casual.

  "There is. It's inside the grocery store. Why? Do you need something?" Caren responded as she wiped her hands on a dish towel. Afterward, she draped it on the edge of the sink and came to sit across from Robert.

  "Yeah. I know we don't have it here and I could probably find it there," Lindsey said, praying that no one asked her to get specific.

  Caren ate a bite of oatmeal as she mulled it over. "Rob, you were talking about going into town weren't you?"

  He nodded. "Last time we were there it had been picked over pretty heavily, but I want to see if there's anything left. Would you like to go with me after breakfast, Lindsey?"

  "That'd be great. Caren, would you be so kind as to keep Zoey out of trouble while I'm gone?"

  The woman agreed, and Lindsey looked to Zoey.

  "You mind Caren, all right?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Zoey replied with a roll of her eyes.