My eyes were wide-eyed in horror at what just happened. Holy shit this thing can shoot! I placed it on top of the bag along with a quiver of arrows.
I grabbed the shotgun from behind me, one hand ready at the pump and one finger ready on the trigger.
Making my way towards the door, I pushed it open with my body. I walked ahead in the same direction they went and watched my surroundings for anything out of place. I reached the corner of the block, I made a right and saw my Hummer in full view as well as the basket still in place.
But the zombies were nowhere to be seen. I gulped nervously, and made my way cautiously to the Alpha. Nimbly, I avoided stepping on the remaining half-eaten dead bodies. Ugh and I thought sewers smelled so bad.
Finally reaching the Hummer, I opened the door with the key instead of the key fob. Silently, the locks opened, and I opened the back door, picked up the basket and put it in the Hummer throwing the guide in there too.
As I closed the door, I heard growls coming from the alley just behind the car. They must’ve heard somehow.
The same set of zombies came running at me. I walked backwards with the shotgun and popped them one by one. Pump, shoot, pump, shoot, pump, shoot. Six of them were finally down, but the other four managed to catch up to me.
I butted the first one in the face with the end of the shotgun, and swung my leg underneath the second one that came at me. After emptying the shotgun, I pulled out the handgun and without missing, took two down.
The one I butted his face managed to grab me from behind and put his arms around me. But I was too quick for him as I elbowed his face, and backed off. I quickly reload and pump the shotgun, putting it under his chin and pulling the trigger. I shot the female I’d tripped in the head with the handgun before she made a grab at me.
Holy shit! I killed ten!
Then I hear more growls come from behind me and I take that cue and get in the Alpha. I put it on drive, and drove around the curb to the left to get my ammunition.
I stop in the middle of the road, put my car in park, get out and leave the door open. I run to the door of the gun shop, get to the bag, and drag it across the floor rather quickly with the crossbow on top.
OMG could I make any more noise?! Dragging it across the street, I heaved it up with my two hands, and just threw it all in the backseat. The sound of running feet and growls is what made me turn my head to the right.
Holy fuck! FIFTY?! Maybe even more were running at me. Closing the door, I entered my driver side all the while feeling extremely shaky. I thought I was going to have a panic attack, and drove out of there, taking a left, and another left, to continue towards finding my parents.
After finally finding them I had to kill them since they became one of the dead. I would never hear them say if they ever really loved me.
Since it happened, driving cross-country to nowhere in particular for two months, I decided to just go where the wind takes me. My hopes were diminishing in finding anyone alive that’s not undead, as I was heading to New York, and yet…
“Here I am with a couple of survivors thanks to you, and now I feel as if my life has a small purpose.”
For a while we sat there, both reeling from our loss. Josh let the pain pass as silence set in. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
I shrugged my shoulders. It was easy to talk to Josh, even though he was technically still a stranger. But still, it felt nice to talk, more like comforting.
“It was in the past. Not as tough a loss as your baby sister.” I clasped my hands together and looked at them. It was better to just let it go and move on. “But I guess we both know what it feels like to lose people that were once special to us, and it’s not just us,” I admitted.
Someone scraped their chair, and as I look, I find all pairs of eyes on me, and I do mean all pairs. Ah shit, I thought. Just when I want to only share my story to him turns out we had an audience. I had an audience.
I blushed, looking away. Oh well, what’s said is done. What I didn’t notice until then was when I looked down at my fingers they were shaking. I wrapped my arms around me to hide them, and just looked at Josh. I wish I hadn’t. I don’t know how long it had been that he was looking at me that way, but he had his elbow resting on top of the couch with his head lying against his fist, and was just concentrating on my next words.
He had a look of wonder on his face, as if in awe.
At this point, I could really use a drink.
He sighed then. “Have you heard about New York?” he asked me.
Everyone seemed to have dispersed. “No. But that was my plan to head there.”
“Well, good planning. There are actually people there living a normal life. Even in Canada.”
I pulled my feet up on the couch, and tucked them under me. “Wait. So, the infection didn’t spread all the way up there?”
“I guess not. I’ve heard they’ve built walls there before the virus hit, as if they knew it was going to happen, which is kind of weird...And they’re closing a lot of sewer lines that connect with New York in order to block any of the infected from coming in. We don’t know much about Canada though.”
“That is strange. You think New York had anything to do with the virus?”
“Honestly, it beats me. Even Brian and Martin think it’s a bit odd that New York, out of most States in America, prepared itself for this. Brian is pretty suspicious about it. But then Canada has barriers, so that changed our theory of it just being New York who knew something before the outbreak.”
“I see…Well then, what are you guys still doing here?”
“That question everyone has a different answer to. Some want to stay here, some would rather we all left together. Something like that.”
“What about you?”
“I can leave when I want to, but I don’t want to.”
“Why not?” I asked him, suddenly more curious about him than before.
“Because California is where I was born and raised.”
I didn’t have a good comeback to that. Since this state was his home town, I respected his decision…
“But now, I guess I would leave.”
“Hmm?” I got confused.
“There was no reason for me to leave before, but there is now. Actually, it’s more like I’m growing fond of someone. Basically, it’s time to move on.” He blushed with a cute, adorable smile.
Was the cute smile for me? I wonder what made him decide that all of a sudden. I didn’t want to keep asking him questions. All I could do was smile in return.
“Well, moving on to better things… So I bet you are feeling better since getting here.”
“Yes! A bath and sleep made me feel like a brand new person!”
“Good. There’s so much you can do around here for fun.”
I looked up at him questioningly. What is there that we could do for fun around here? I thought. Although, he just smiled.
Irrational
As the days continued to pass by in this safe haven, my body began to relax its everyday tension that something bad was going to happen. Well, not anymore.
Brass was definitely the owner of the club. The ground he walked on trembled beneath his feet and he gave off a territorial sense of grace. I’d be so afraid to piss him off, I don’t know what he’d do.
In fact, every day that I passed by the sealed metal gate I read his list of rules on two big white boards in permanent black markers – smart dude – on the wall, and reminded myself of my dos and don’ts.
Board of the House
DO’s & DON’Ts
1. DO participate in social circles – we DO NOT want anyone to turn mad.
2. You have something to say, let it out in a non-violent way - I DO NOT want mess. If it becomes a bigger issue, talk to Brass/Old John.
3. Everyone eats with everyone at the table and not separate times - snacks NOT included.
4. No sharing - please DO NOT share utensils and eat from same plate (including lovers)! Make your ow
n food.
5. You have trash, throw it away - I DO NOT want it to stink like shit in here.
6. DO NOT share your clothes and each one washes their own - that includes undergarments, shirts, jeans, jackets, etc. (including lovers).
7. DO NOT share your toothbrushes, hair brush, towels, etc. Name your stuff - this is to keep the infection at a minimum (including lovers).
8. You want sex, use a CONDOM/protection - we DO NOT want any girl pregnant. We are NOT a HOSPITAL!
9. DO clean up behind yourself wherever affiliated - DO NOT leave unclean dishes, or pee stains left on toilet seats. Your mess, FUCKING clean it!
FAIL TO COMPLY THESE RULES WILL RESULT EXTREME PUNISHMENTS BY BRASS/OLD JOHN!
Yup, turns out Old John is second in command of this place other than being the cook in the house. I’ve helped him out cooking a couple of times as well as some other girls too, such as Naomi, Anna, and Rave. Josh began to volunteer too. Naomi has mentioned to me that he’s never helped out with cooking before, till after I arrived.
She’s even mentioned that he has his eyes on me for sure. I only dismissed the topic and told her there would be nothing interesting about me that would please him.
She’d rather think otherwise.
I’ve noticed Darcy and Marcy - who, unsurprisingly, are sisters by blood - keep their eyes on Josh with a hungry desiring gaze every time he was nearby - or even far away.
I was sitting in the lounge area by the metal gate reading through some magazine and overheard them talk about him.
“Gosh, he’s so hot!” Darcy, the pretty blonde one, exclaims. I didn’t take my eyes off reading relationship tips section and didn’t turn the page.
“I just want to kiss him so bad. He’s got lips to die for!” Marcy, the brunette, replies with a fit of giggles.
Darcy gasps with a big smile upon her face. “We should totally do a threesome!”
WTH…..!!!!
To be honest, I wanted to go slap them both once my jealousy began to take over. But I recollected my thoughts and emotions and told myself I’m not his....Would he even agree to their threesome? I didn’t want to know. I don’t think any guy would want to let down such an offer. I shut the magazine with a little force against my hands, and made my haste away from them before I exploded and threw a hissy fit.
“Jeez, what’s up her end?!” one of them scoffed. I didn’t bother to look who said it.
“Girls,” Julia began…
I don’t know what they were going to do. Julia and the sisters never leave each other’s side. They were like mean girls. In fact, I don’t think any of the sane girls liked them, including me.
Why am I even feeling this way towards some guy I’ve just known for only a week and a half?
Before I came, turns out Josh and Julia had a fling. A small one that only lasted two weeks. Apparently for Julia, there was different fish in one house, and she’s tried each and every one except the ones that were already taken and Brian and Martin, who, of course, don’t have time for such.
I figured she’s one of the biggest sluts around along with Darcy and Marcy - each one even made a pass at Old forty-year old John and he declined...respectfully.
Turns out Brass has had a “sleepover” with all three. How do I know all of this? Thanks to the limitless amount of gossip talk from Naomi, Anna, Rave, and even one of the teenage boys for clarifying for me. I didn’t want to bring it up personally with Josh.
And I got to say, wow, all of this in a little over three months since doomsday?! Were Julia, Darcy and Marcy always like this before everything? Or did it trigger something in their consciousness to become this way?
After that whole episode, I headed down the basement after an hour to do some laundry until I heard two people talking in a room beside the stairs. I stopped walking and eavesdropped. Not my thing really, but she said a word that caught my attention, something like, “She’s wicked,” which my intuition told me it was me she was talking about… “…Please, Josh, take me back. Please, I’m sorry,” Julia pleaded.
A rapid shuffling of hands sounded. “No, it’s over. Don’t you get it?! You’ve cheated on me more than once in the two weeks we’ve dated,” he spoke calmly and gently.
She didn’t seem eager to listen. “Please, take me. I promise not to do it all again. It was stupid of me to do that to you.”
He chuckled. “You really are pushing it. Are you that desperate?” his voice sarcastic.
“I was stupid,” she told him again.
“You sure were. Sorry, but you knew better. If you really did have any feelings towards me, you wouldn’t have done that in the first place.”
Ouch. Such words hurt.
“You broke my heart many times, and I forgave you for each and every one, but cheating goes beyond forgiveness. Again, I’m sorry, but this is how things are and have to be.”
She sniffled. “So, is it true then? You have your eyes on weirdo out there?”
“She’s not a weirdo,” he defended with anger in his voice. “She’s more valuable than you were and are. More than anyone.”
She snorted, “To you!”
“Okay, so maybe she’s not special to anyone else, but she is to me.”
She scoffed, laughing like what he was saying was nonsense when it was actually the sweetest thing I’ve heard coming from a guy for a long time (like I’ve heard a guy talk about me like that in my life. I wouldn’t sign a contract with the devil just to know actually). “I don’t believe it. You’re already moving on?”
“You’re not worth my time anymore. We did have something and only one thing and that only belonged in the bedroom. You give it good, I’ll give you that much.”
Then I hear a hard slap. “You arrogant ass…” Julia told him menacingly.
I can’t believe he told her that. That’s so mean! Maybe he’s just being a guy? But then she deserves it.
I stumbled, tripping on my own feet, hitting my head against the ground. My basket full of laundry fell on top of me. “Oooow,” I grumbled, painfully.
I could care less about panicking or if they found out right now, but I did whatever stupid, yet smart person would do at the last second. “Yeah, I’m okay! Thanks for caring, Old John,” I shouted at the closed door while pushing my dirty clothes off of my face.
“Are you okay?” Josh extended his hand out towards me.
“Yeah, I’m ok,” I told him, placing my hand in his. He pulled me up.
Julia brushed past us. “Hi, Lillian,” she told me with a fake grin.
“Hi, Julia,” I told her returning the favor. Faker, I thought. Josh had a cold look as he glanced at Julia.
“Sorry, but did I interrupt something?” I asked him, rubbing the back of my head while he helped me put my clothes back in the basket.
“Oh no. Nothing important,” he answered looking away.
“Well, okay. I better wash these clothes.”
“Need some help?”
Now I know he was just being kind and nice enough to help me, but when it came to laundry I’d rather do it alone, plus there’s a Brass rule I’d like to not ignore. “Ah, no. Not really. Thanks though.” I’m not going to let you go through my lingerie, that’s for sure, I thought.
“How's your head by the way?” He went around me and scanned it.
“It's fine.” I winced after I felt him put some slight pressure on the burgeoning bump.
“Might bruise a little. You sure you okay? Can I get you anything?”
“I'm good,” I smiled. “Thanks.”
“Okay, well, just call me if you need anything. I’ll be a shout away.”
I kept my smile. “Thanks again.”
He left with a glint of interest in his eyes and a smile, going up the stairs two at a time.
Gosh!! I’ll admit. I love his smiles.
It seemed as if he really didn't want to go. Okay, I’ll go with a confession to myself that I do have deep feelings towards him (more than just a crush), but I
feel like I'm one of those girls up there who have a thing for him. I sighed.
This made me quite angry at myself. After overhearing him and Julia, I wondered what was going to happen since I now know some truth of how he feels about me.
I dumped clothing after clothing. Of course, I separated the colors. I started with the whites first…
“Hey,” a flirtatious voice sounded from behind me. I was startled. It was only Julian when I faced him. When did he get in here? Is there some secret door around here? My heart calmed down some, and I went back to dumping my whites. “Hey,” I told him with disinterest. Josh was right. He is an ass, but not just any ass; a major ass!
“Wutchya doin’?”
“Washing clothes,” I scoffed, shaking my head reluctantly. He asked me what I was doing when it was evident that I was putting clothes in the washer.
“Oh, yeah. What you got there?”
He approached the basket about to touch my black tank top until I slapped his hand away. “Go touch your own germs!”
“Ooh, I like that,” he said touching my side.
“Don’t touch me,” I said through clenched teeth, as he kept my arms from thrashing and brought himself closer. He breathed down against my neck.
“You should come to my place sometime. I’ll show you what a real man is,” he whispered seductively against my ear. He started kissing my neck with heavy breathing, and grinding against me from behind.
“No. Stop,” I told him panicking.
I was going to scream until he covered my mouth with his hand. I started to breathe hard as my heart rate sped up. I kept stomping on his foot to let go, but he was wearing shoes while I had on flip-flops. I even tried kicking his nuts, but failed.
Suddenly, I was crying as I tried to break away from him. As I thrashed and kicked, it made it harder for him to take my pants off. I was beginning to get tired. I closed my eyes praying for this horrible moment to pass. However, my eyes shot open, and I told myself I wouldn't become a rape victim and I am so not going to lose my virginity this way. Besides, I was trained for moments like these.
The World At End (Book 1) (Left Alive for the Dead Series) Page 6