“You what? Have you lost your mind?” That was the only explanation.
The redhead jumped between them and glared at Dex. “What were you thinking?”
“What was I thinking?” he exclaimed. “I was trying to save that little girl.”
“Little girl?” The short-haired woman pulled her rifle’s strap over her shoulder and tucked away the weapon. “You mean the zombie?”
Dex’s mouth dropped. “She was no wanderer! Look at her—no rotting flesh. No yellow nails. No guts hanging out. Her clothes weren’t even stained or torn. At least not until you killed her! Just a little girl. You people are the monsters.”
The three exchanged incredulous glances.
Dex’s mind spun. Either those people were crazy or he’d entered an alternate universe.
Red turned to him. “That was no little girl. Not anymore, at least.”
“Because you killed her.”
Skinny stepped forward. “Zianna put the thing out of its misery.”
“Tell yourself what you have to.” Dex pushed past them. “Just don’t kill me, too.”
“Wait,” Zianna said.
Dex turned to her, not sure why he was bothering to humor her. She probably wouldn’t hesitate to shoot him just like she had that little girl. “What?”
“Are you traveling alone?”
Like he’d admit that to them. He gripped a knife handle. “Nope.”
None of them looked like they believed him.
“Where’s the rest of your party?” Red asked. “I’m Radley, by the way.” She pulled some of her frizzy hair behind an ear and held out her hand. “What’s your name?”
Dex glared at her, gripping the handle all the tighter.
Radley took Dex’s free hand and shook it. “Laiken already told you Zianna’s name. Now you know us. Who are you?”
He yanked his hand away from Radley’s and gritted his teeth. They seemed friendly enough, but he had no reason to trust them. He was probably nothing more than dinner to them.
Laiken ran his fingers over his bald scalp. “Come on. He doesn’t want anything to do with us. Let’s just leave him to fend for himself.”
For some reason, that comment sent a surge of anger through Dex. “Why do you people think that girl was a wanderer?”
Radley shifted her weight from one foot to the next and gave Dex a curious glance. “Because she was. Have you never seen an immunized zombie?”
“A what?”
“Im-mu-nized.” Zianna adjusted her rifles strap. “You know, vaccines. Shots. Injections. Any of this ringing a bell?”
The only thing he wanted to ring was her neck. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He glanced around. They were probably talking in circles to keep him distracted so they could attack—they or friends of theirs hiding and waiting.
Radley tilted her head. “You’ve really never heard of the zombie immunizations?”
“No.” His curiosity was getting the better of him. “What are those supposed to do? Make it harder for us to recognize the wanderers?”
Laiken leaned against a tree. “No, the scientists are working on a cure. The closest they’ve come is a way to slow down the process. That kid zombie was the product of that. Her bite would’ve still been lethal, though it’s hard to say if she’d have been able to pass on the zombie virus.”
Head spinning, Dex glanced back at the girl—the wanderer—laying on the ground. It actually made sense that she was something halfway between human and monster. Her eyes had been as hollow as any other wanderer. “There’s a cure for the wanderers?”
“Not yet.” Zianna glanced around. “Tell us the truth, are you a lone traveler?”
Dex gritted his teeth, though he was growing more curious than worried about those three. “There are more like that girl?”
“Yeah,” Radley said. “Look, we have to get back to our place. If you’re on your own, why not join us?”
He studied each of them. “So I can be your dinner?”
“That’s gross.” Laiken scrunched his face in disgust. “No, we’re not cannibals. Just a group of people trying to help each other survive until all this is over.”
“All what?” Dex asked. “The wanderers?”
Zianna nodded. “Exactly. They’ve already found a way to slow down their disease. It won’t be long before they can get rid of it altogether.”
Dex looked at her like she was crazy. “You think they can turn someone from a monster back into a human? I guarantee you one thing. The wanderers have lost every ounce of their humanity.”
“Clearly,” Radley agreed. “But they’re getting close to a vaccine that’ll prevent people from turning into one after being bitten.”
Dex glanced around, still trying to find others who might be hiding. He turned back to the three. “Where are the scientists you say are doing this?”
Zianna adjusted her rifle strap. “They’re said to be all over the world, but there’s at least one group not far away.”
Radley stepped closer. “By not far away, she means on our continent. There’s at least one group in the country—probably more, but as you can imagine, they keep a low profile. Otherwise, people would swarm them, and they’d never get anything done. We can tell you more if you want to come with us. Seriously, we need to get back.”
Dex studied them. They actually seemed okay, but appearances could be deceptive and friendliness could be faked. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped, waiting to be their next meal. “I’m on my way to get back to my family, but thanks for telling me about the new wanderers and the vaccines.”
Radley’s brows came together. “Where’s your family?”
Dex’s stomach tightened. “Far away. I need to get going, too.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. I need to find out if they’re still alive.” He shuddered at the memory of his mom as a wanderer, trying to kill him.
“Maybe if you’re headed in our direction, you can travel with us for a bit.”
Dex stepped back. “Why do you want me to join you so badly?”
Radley held his gaze. “Surely you know how rare it is to find someone friendly. We need to stick together.”
He held back a snort. “You think I’m friendly?”
Zianna stepped closer. “You’re clearly not like most of the others out there. Pretty much everyone attacks to kill. You were worried about that zombie.”
“I thought she was a lost kid.”
“Exactly. Most wouldn’t.”
“Are you with us?” Laiken asked.
“Sorry.” It wasn’t a risk he could take. Dex took a few steps back, spun around, and ran.
Chapter 10
Dex came to a wide-open trail that led away from the forest. The sun was setting, so he needed to find a place to stay for the night as soon as possible. He grasped his bow and listened. The only sounds were rustling leaves from the slight breeze in the air. But now that meant nothing. The wanderers wouldn’t necessarily make their disgusting noises for all to hear—not if what Radley and her two friends had told him was true. They could look and sound completely human, only their empty eyes giving their true nature away.
The thought sent a chill down his spine. He thought he’d understood the world, but now everything had changed in a matter of less than twenty-four hours. First, his mom. There were more questions than answers when it came to that revelation. Now the new wanderers. At least he’d found out the truth before getting himself killed by one of those things that looked lost and human.
He glanced down the trail. Despite the weeds, he could tell it had been used by vehicles at one time. The thick path of grass down the middle of the trail showed where tires had traveled around, creating the old roadway.
The silence worried him. If there were no monsters, he should’ve been able to hear birds at the very least. He clutched his bow with one hand and hovered his other one over the quiver of arrows, then he marched down the path, staying in the center wh
ere his feet were most likely to stay quiet in the grass.
Dex took quick, shallow breaths as he hurried along. He glanced around and listened for anything worrisome. The only thing he could hear were his footsteps and his own breathing. Trees gave way to big, open grassy fields on either side. In the distance loomed a large fence with a wrought-iron gate. Beyond that, a large sprawling rectangular building. It was hard to tell the color between the setting sun and the distance.
Behind him in the woods, bats screeched and swooshed above. The eerie hoot of an owl rang through the air. Bats and owls in the vicinity meant there were things for them to eat. Perhaps that meant rodents who felt free to run around and make a home for themselves. In other words, there were no monsters or humans in the building. If there were, they’d feast upon the meat of not only the rodents but also the bats and owls, and whatever else might be out there.
A sweet smell graced his nostrils. Dex sniffed the air. Berries. Several different kinds, and lots of them, given the strong aroma. There were definitely no people around, or those would be eaten.
His pulse raced. Could the entire property actually be abandoned? It was the only thing that made any sense. If Dex was right, he could stay for a few days and make more arrows and eat his fill of berries. Maybe have enough left over to take with him on his journey to find the rest of his family.
As the sun went down, the pink and orange hues of the sky cast a welcoming glow on the building and gate ahead.
It was almost too good to be true, but after having caught a fish and bathing in a clean stream earlier, Dex wasn’t about to question another good thing. He’d definitely made the right decision running from that group of people.
He was better off by himself. That was how he’d survived all these years—by not trusting anyone.
The sweetness in the air grew stronger, making Dex’s mouth water. He ignored it and focused on the gate. It appeared to go all the way around the long, sprawling building which now appeared to be a series of separate and connected buildings. No part of the fence had been broken down, but not for a lack of trying as evidenced by a couple impaled skeletons in the distance.
Dex stopped in front of the gate and studied it. The iron, though partially rusted, appeared strong and sturdy. That would only last until either a group of people came along, or a hoard of wanderers. It was actually surprising everything had lasted as long as it had. The monsters had taken over the world when his grandparents had been young. There was hardly anyone alive who remembered life in the glory days.
He took a deep breath and wrapped his hand around an iron clasp near the top and pulled, unlocking it. It came off easily. Then he grabbed a bar of the gate and squeezed. The cold, rough metal scraped against his palm. Dex pulled. The gate resisted. He yanked, giving it all he had.
Squeak!
Dex jumped back and swore. He pulled out an arrow and nocked it in his bow, aiming in various directions. Nobody came out from hiding. Nothing moved other than the breeze.
He released a breath, but didn’t relax. After looking around again, he put his weapon back and pulled the noisy gate again.
Screech!
Dex gritted his teeth and continued pulling until it widened enough to let him through. He squeezed through, careful not to scrape himself on any of the rust. Once inside, he debated whether to close the gate. If there were monsters inside, he was locking himself in with them. However, if there were wanderers outside, he was just inviting them into a fortress. Finally, he closed it without latching it. That way it looked secure but would allow him an easy escape if he needed it.
He readied his bow again and crept down an overgrown path, watching for the slightest movement. Long grass and weeds grew over what had once been a smooth concrete walkway. The tall, dirt-caked buildings cast long shadows, blocking most of the colorful sky as well as much of the breeze.
A cracked wooden sign rested against the first building near a set of stairs with a single metal railing.
Silverly Mental Hospital.
Dex paused, contemplating the sign. He’d heard of a hospital—which sounded like a glorified version of the doctor’s office in the town he’d grown up in. But a mental hospital was something new.
Curious, he sauntered up the steps, still ready to shoot an arrow at a moment’s notice. He came to a set of double doors. The peeling paint gave him pause. What would it have been like to live in a society where paint was fresh everywhere he went? Where there were stores, schools, hospitals, and anything he needed?
Maybe if there were really scientists trying to fix the monsters, he might actually get to see that for himself one day. Or maybe he’d find a utopian paradise somewhere. But with each passing day, month, and year, his hopes of finding one had waned into almost nonexistence. Yet the small flicker that remained kept him going.
Dex held his breath as he reached for the nearest door handle. His fingers grasped the handle itself while his thumb pressed down on the top flat part.
Click.
The door pulled toward him in a quick, smooth motion. He jumped back, half-expecting a flood of wanderers, but none came. A musty odor and silence were the only things to greet him.
Maybe the property really was abandoned.
He slipped inside and closed the door behind him, allowing it to click into place.
“Hello?” His voice echoed around him.
Better to know if others were inside while he was still close to the door. The musty smell made his eyes water, but for as pungent as it was, it didn’t hold a candle to the smell of the monsters and their rotting flesh and exposed organs. Or their breath. His stomach turned at the thought.
The fading light outside cast strange shadows around the inside of the building. To the left, couches lay on their sides or completely flipped over and framed pictures hung crooked. A faded sign welcomed him to the Silverly Mental Hospital, but he couldn’t make out the small print underneath.
Dex tiptoed to the room and stood near a counter. What lay beyond it looked like many offices he’d seen in abandoned buildings over the years. His mind automatically tried to piece together what the facility had looked like in its prime, but he forced himself to stay focused on the present.
Nobody was anywhere in sight so far. That was the important thing.
Creak…
Dex spun around, aiming his arrow in front of him.
Chapter 11
Nothing unusual stood out, but it was getting dark and shadows fell everywhere.
“Is someone there?” His finger twitched over the arrow, ready to release it.
A slight breeze blew by, causing a chill to run down his back. Dex hurried past the entryway to the room on the other side. A large broken window allowed the night air inside. A long white shirt hanging on a hook brushed against the wall in time with the breeze, making a slight noise. It wasn’t the creak he’d heard before, but that could’ve been the old building settling. Who knew when the last person had entered? Could’ve been years given the dirt and dust covering everything inside. There were no footprints in view.
Dex walked around the room, scanning it as best as he could given the lighting. He was alone.
So far.
He turned toward the long hallway between the two rooms. Several doorways, some open and some closed, decorated the hall between Dex and whatever waited at the end in darkness beyond his quickly decreasing line of vision.
The musty stench grew stronger as he trudged down the narrow hallway, stepping over broken chairs and other various debris. He slowed as he passed each doorway. The first few were offices with chairs, desks, and shelving. No noise came from any of the rooms, so he moved on. He didn’t have time to check every room in the massive building. The only thing that mattered was making sure he was actually alone.
Dex tripped over something. He managed to catch his balance before falling with a loud crash—exactly the last thing he needed. After stepping back, he saw a chair with two large wheels laying on its side. A small,
stained headless doll rested next to it.
Chills ran down his spine. He didn’t want to think about what had happened there. Not when it came to a little kid.
He hurried down the hall, careful to watch his step in the almost-darkness. After he passed a few more rooms, he came to one with a bed underneath a long, wide window.
Dex stepped inside and surveyed the room. It was mostly empty aside from the bed and a table full of odd tools. He glanced behind the door, finding nothing but a pile of dirt.
Relief washed through him. This would be the perfect place to get some sleep. A small room with no place for anyone to hide. He could close the door and rest easy. And if anything should go south, he could escape out the window.
Dex set his bow and arrow on the unmade bed before closing the door. He tried locking it, but found only a keyhole on that side. Weird. A quick check of the outside of the door, showed the lock out there. That was less than ideal, but he could still break out of the window if he was in desperate need of an escape.
He closed the door again. It clicked into place. Dex turned the knob, finding it still unlocked. He lifted the small, lightweight table. The tools rolled around, making more noise than he liked. Carefully, he carried it over to the door. It wouldn’t keep anyone out, but it would alert him if anyone entered. That was all that really mattered. It would give him enough time to wake, shoot, and either escape or fight.
Exhaustion enveloped him as he trudged toward the bed. It even had a pillow.
If it worked out, he might be able to make the Silverly Mental Hospital his home for a few days before heading out to find his family. If all he did was gather berries and make more arrows, it would be time well spent.
Dex moved aside some long leather straps and dropped them on the floor before pulling up the covers and climbing in. The bed creaked and moaned under his weight and a spring from the thin mattress dug into his side.
It was practically a haven. His eyes closed on their own as soon as his head rested on the pillow. Dust kicked up. He coughed, but a warm cloud of sleepiness enveloped him. Dex listened for unusual noises—anything would be worrisome—but he quickly gave into sleep in the quiet building.
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