by Karen Carr
Rachel rushed to Stan’s side and laid him flat on the ground. She opened his eye lids and checked his pulse and made some other swift movements across his body.
“Come here, Hella,” Rachel said. She wiped her long red hair out of her face.
I came over to Rachel’s side and knelt next to Stan. Saudah stood above us as Rachel pulled up his sleeve to expose his arm.
“Bite him,” Rachel said.
I double-blinked. “I can’t,” I said. “My bite turns people into zombies. I told you, remember?”
“I know,” Rachel said. “But maybe it can turn zombies into humans. Bite him.” Rachel shoved Stan’s arm at me again. “We are running out of time.”
“Bite him, Hella,” Saudah said. She pushed me forward. “If it’s our only chance to save Stan, you have to try.”
Holding my breath, I opened my jaw and took a good, deep bite into Stan’s arm. His blood tasted metallic and sweet, not like regular blood. I feared it was too late. Stan’s arm shot up like a spring and punched me in the jaw all on its own.
I stood up and took a few steps back while Saudah took my place at Stan’s side and Rachel checked his pulse and his eyelids and his forehead.
“He’s still alive,” Rachel said. She beamed a smile at me. “As in human.”
Stan sat up and his eyes fluttered open. “Hella, why did you bite me so hard?” he asked, rubbing his arm.
Saudah laughed and hugged him. “You did it, Hella.”
I did it. I bit a person human again. If I had known my power I could have saved other, like Zeke’s girlfriend Eliza. She had been bitten and changed before my eyes. Overwhelming guilt made me feel dizzy and I took a few steps back.
“What’s wrong, Hella?” Saudah asked.
“We have to get going,” I said, trying to vanquish any bad thoughts from my mind. “Where’s the bus?”
Saudah helped Stan to her feet and took us in the direction of the bus. While we jogged toward it, Saudah explained how one of Mace’s men had grabbed her and how Stan had to come forward to protect her. Out of nowhere, a couple of zeroes showed up. Saudah was able to kill one of them, but the other one bit Stan and the trooper.
We had made it back to the capital building and ran around it to the park. Stan seemed invigorated, and kept up with Rachel at the head of the pack. We hid behind the statue of the three presidents with a horse and looked out to see if we could find the bus.
“There it is,” I said. It was still parked in front of the hotel, but zeroes were approaching it from either side. “I’ve been running too quickly. My virus is gone. We have to get in there before they surround it.”
Just as we were about to run across the park, the bus engine started and the headlights went on.
“That better be Huck,” I said. I prayed it wasn’t Mace. They had to be in it, there was no sign of them anywhere else.
We made a mad dash for the bus, stopping only when we got to the door. The engine was still on, but the bus wasn’t moving. We had attracted plenty of zero attention, trailing after us through the park, and more of them were all coming over to investigate.
I banged on the door, but whomever was inside wasn’t opening it. “It’s Hella, you assholes,” I cried out. “You want me dead?”
Greg stepped forward and rattled the door some more, but we couldn’t get it open. The zeroes were on us. Zora fired at one and downed it, while Saudah took down another.
“Open the door,” I hollered, taking out my pea-shooter and kicking the bottom of the door.
I tried to see inside, but the windows were tinted. I heard muffled voices, yelling and then silence. The rising sun sent an orange glow across the park. Several dozen more zeroes were inches away from making us breakfast.
I banged on the door one more time, tears in my eyes. We had come too far to be eaten by zeroes. Before my fists could hit the door again, it slid open and we rushed up the bus’s stairs. Zeke sat in the driver’s seat, looking no worse for wear, except for the worried expression on his face.
“Get in,” Zeke said. “So I can close the door.”
We all piled into the bus, and Zeke closed the door behind us. He then pressed his foot on the gas and drove away from the capital building without another word. I entered the cabin, hoping to see Huck. My shoulders, which had been around my ears, sank down low when I saw Huck sitting at the dining room table with a bloodied and banged up Mace sitting next to him.
“Glad you could make it,” Huck said. He winked at me, but didn’t take his gun off of Mace. “Is he alright?” Huck asked when he saw Stan.
“He’ll be fine,” Rachel said. “He needs to rest.”
Saudah took Stan into the back bedroom. After checking to make sure Zeke was alright, and exchanging a few soft words with him, Rachel followed Saudah and Stan into the bedroom. Zeke drove down the road and soon we left downtown Raleigh behind us.
“I could use a drink,” I said, eyeing the liquor cabinet. The sweet metal taste of Stan’s blood was still in my mouth.
“Make me one, too,” Huck said.
Greg, Zora and Boa sat on the leather couch in the living room while I made drinks and sat across from Mace and Huck. By the time I had finished making the drinks the three of them were asleep, leaning on each other for support.
“Thirsty?” I asked Mace as I handed Huck his drink.
Mace’s face was red and his left eye swollen so much that he couldn’t see out of it. It made me feel good to see the evil man incapacitated and without any of his protective troops. I picked up a fork and fondled it on the table, thinking how nice it would be to stab it in Mace’s hand.
“What are we going to do now?” I asked Huck, twirling the fork in my hand.
“You said you wanted to kill him,” Huck said. “I saved him for you.”
I patted the pea-shooter, now back in my pocket. It was tempting. Fork or gun, neither would do too much damage. A bullet from the pea-shooter, placed right, might kill the man.
“What about the rest of his army?” I asked. “What happened to them? Why are you all alone, Macey?” I fake-frowned.
“Most of them are dead,” Huck said. “They didn’t survive the zombie apocalypse after all. The plan worked, Hella. The zombie horde came in full force, on their way to find you. Zeke and I barely made it through. In fact, Saudah saved our lives. I’ll have to thank her for that one.”
Mace coughed and spat up something vulgar on the table. I didn’t want to kill him, but I didn’t want to spend the rest of my journey with him either.
“Can we toss him out?” I asked.
“That’s a great idea,” Huck said. He stood up and walked over to Zeke, leaving me staring at Mace.
He was such a pathetic man, puffy and bleeding all over the place. There was no room for him in the future world. The best thing for him would be to die, that’s why I couldn’t kill him. He deserved to live in misery.
“I want the keys to the cabinet,” I said to Mace, pointing to the communications cabinet behind his head.
He looked at me with his unblinking right eye and tried to say something. It sounded like ‘over my dead body,’ which made me reach for my gun again.
The bus slowed down and came to a stop. Huck walked over to the table again.
“End of the line,” Huck said. He grabbed Mace by the shirt and pulled him out of the booth. Mace didn’t put up a fight. By the angle of his arm, it looked like it had been dislocated, so that must have been the reason why.
Zeke opened the door to the bus and Huck dragged Mace to it.
“Wait,” I said.
I stepped forward and reached in Mace’s pocket, finding the key at the bottom of it. Suddenly, Mace came to life and grabbed my hair with his good arm. I screamed and tried to twist out of his grip, but the weight of his body came down on top of me.
Zeke jumped in to help Huck get the fat man off of me. Mace kneed me in the stomach and pulled out a switchblade. Huck and Zeke rolled him to the door, but he wouldn’t
let go of my hair. I had no choice. I pulled out my pea-shooter and shot him in the shoulder.
At once, Mace screamed and released my hair. Huck and Zeke shoved him out of the door, and then Zeke jumped back in the driver’s seat, driving away and closing the door at the same time. No more Mace. He was gone for good. He would never hurt anyone again. Rachel came out to see what was going on, and quickly disappeared into the bedroom again when Zeke told her it was alright. She had a gleam in her eye. For a virologist, it must be very exciting to be on the forefront of the zombie apocalypse cure. If it were true, and my bite could save people after they were bit, then our future would be secure. I began to feel better thinking about a cure for the virus made out of my own spit.
“How do you feel?” Huck asked me when we were settled down with our drinks again.
“Gross,” I said. My hands were sticking to the table and I reeked of death. “I could use a shower.”
“Good thing we’re headed home,” Huck said.
“Home?” I asked. “We have no home.”
“Sure we do,” Huck said. “We’ve got our apartment in Haverlyn Village.”
I smiled and cuddled under Huck’s arm. “Warm showers and working fireplaces. Do you think they found my stash of marshmallows?”
Huck touched me under the chin. “I hope not, because that’s the first thing I want to do. Roast marshmallows.” He laughed and kissed me on the lips.
“Where do you think Trevan and Lily are and what about the others?” I asked. “Everyone in Pittsboro. Do you think they’re safe?”
“We didn’t see Trevan or Lily,” Huck said. “They’re either dead or hiding out somewhere, maybe in the PNC building. I’m sure Hipslow made it through. He’s pretty tough. We can check on him in the morning.”
I looked out the window at the sun and smiled. “It is morning, Huck.”
Just a half an hour later, Zeke pulled up into Haverlyn Village and parked on Oval Park Place.
“We’re here,” Zeke said. He turned off the engine. “We should do a once-around with our bikes before everyone gets out, to make sure it’s safe.”
“Our bikes,” Huck said in a reverent tone. “Do you think they are still here?”
“They sure are.” Zeke pointed out the window, to where Huck’s baby blue painted motorcycle sat.
“That’s almost exactly where I left it,” Huck said. He turned to me. “You wait here.”
I shook my head. “I’m going with you. I want to feel the wind in my hair. I want to be behind you on the back of your bike again.”
Huck smiled and handed me his gun. “Yea, alright, but you have to shoot anything human that moves.”
We waited another five minutes to make sure my virus was in effect and then opened the door to the bus. Greg, Zora and Boa who had been sleeping woke up and stretched. Zora massaged Greg’s cramped arm while she gazed out the window.
“My shop,” Zora said. She dropped Greg’s arm. “Boa, our shop. We’re back at Haverlyn Village.” She hugged her sister.
Rachel came out of the back bedroom. “Stan will be fine,” she said. “He’s sleeping with Saudah.” She looked out the window of the bus. “Is this where you used to live?”
Zeke nodded. “We’re going to take a motorcycle ride through the village to make sure it’s safe. Want to come with?”
“You know I do,” Rachel said. She smiled and gave Zeke a bear hug. “Can I drive?”
“You know how to ride a bike?” Zeke asked.
“Sure do,” Rachel said. “I used to race dirt bikes.”
“My kind of woman,” Zeke said. He gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and opened the door to the bus. “Ready to go out?” he asked.
Huck turned to me. “No more collecting keys, alright Hella?” Huck asked.
“This is the only one I want now,” I said. I showed him the key to the control panel and the access to the satellite phone.
“You got it?” Huck smiled and took the key. “We’ll figure it out later. Come on for your ride.”
Zeke, Rachel, Huck and I left Zora in charge of the bus. Huck and Zeke found their hidden keys right where they left them, mounted their bikes, and started them easily. Huck mounted and started his bike, and Zeke let Rachel take the lead on his. Rachel and Zeke took off north on Oval Park Place, her slender figure looking like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly in Zeke’s arms.
“He’s given up the ride,” Huck said. “It must have been love at first sight.” He smiled and winked.
“Let’s get going,” I said. “I want to be alone with you.” I touched his chest and gave him a peck on the lips before I slid on the back of his bike. He took off in the opposite direction as Zeke and Rachel.
The wind in my hair felt exactly like I thought it would. It felt like freedom. Huck’s hair was actually longer than mine at this point, and lashed at my face and flew in my mouth. I put my head back and watched the clouds float by in the sky. Flocks of birds flew into view, ducks and starlings, all making their way in this world.
“Look there,” Huck said.
He pointed to several deer that ran out of the green. We must have startled them out of their morning breakfast. Following the deer walked a heavy set man carrying a white fluffy cat. My heart leapt in my chest. Huck screeched on the breaks and pulled up behind a car. I dismounted immediately and ran toward the man. Huck chased me and grabbed my shirt.
“Are you nuts?” Huck asked. “Shoot him.”
“Huck,” I said. “It’s Broder. Look. He’s carrying Snowball.”
Sure enough, Broder was walking towards us on Oval Park Place. No, he was jogging with the cat in his arms. I ran to meet him and hugged him, crushing the cat between us. Zeke and Rachel pulled up on their bikes to make sure we were alright.
“Broder, can you talk?” I asked, knowing how Broder didn’t like to use words. He heaved a sigh and nodded. “Hipslow and the others. Are they alright?”
Broder nodded again. “They sent me here in case you came back. Hipslow was right. He always knew you would make it.”
“Snowball?” I asked. “Huck, it’s the Professor’s cat. I left the window open for him. I can’t believe the cat survived.
“I’ve been staying in the Professor’s apartment,” Broder said. “I saw you come into the village on the cameras.”
I hugged Broder and petted Snowball. Even though it was only a cat, I felt like the Professor was back with us.
Zeke and Rachel went to get the others on the bus. We all convened on the green, which was muddied with tire tracks and wrecked, but it was ours again. Everyone was so excited and so tired at the same time. We all cried and talked and hugged and cried some more. We made plans to get some sleep and then go back downtown to see if anyone was left in PNC.
Huck and I walked back to my apartment holding hands. Once were in my building, he gently pushed me down on the steps.
“I can’t wait,” he said. He pressed his body to mine. I felt every muscle of his on mine, making me tremble with desire.
“You’re going to have to wait,” I said. “I need a shower and so do you.”
We skipped up the three flights of stairs to my loft apartment looking over the green. Solar heating had kept the place warm, and when I walked in I turned on the fireplace. I missed it so much. It made me feel like civilization had returned. Huck checked the place and then we showered together, him helping me get extra clean.
We went to the bedroom and made love in our bed. As I was just dozing off into sleep, I heard a muffled ringing noise.
“What’s that ringing?” Huck asked.
I hadn’t heard that sound in ages.
“I think it’s my cell phone,” I said. “I left it plugged in—just in case.” My hand shook as I followed the cord, remembering the phone was in my nightstand drawer. I opened the nightstand drawer and picked up my phone as Huck stuck his head over my shoulder.
“Who is it?” Huck asked.
My hands shook so much that I dropped the pho
ne. Calming myself, I didn’t want to miss the call, I picked it up again. It couldn’t be true. I must be dreaming. The name flashing on my phone was that of my sister.
“It’s my sister,” I said. Tears started running down my face.
“Answer it,” Huck said.
“I don’t think I can talk,” I said between heaves. It couldn’t be true.
Huck picked up the phone, pressed the green button, and held it up to my ear.
“Hello,” I said, too scared to say anything else.
“Hi, Hella?” A voice on the other end said.
“Yeah, sweetie,” I smiled through tears.
“It’s your sister,” the voice said. “And I am safe.”
“I am safe, too,” I said.
Epilogue
Three months had passed since we made it back to Haverlyn Village and everything had gone back to the way it was before. We were back in our routine, and had even resurrected the garden. More people had migrated here from Pittsboro, including Hipslow and Sivan who had shacked up in one of the houses.
Fareva and Georgia had opened a bakery, and the Reverend with Harper and Mikey took over the church. Zora and Boa refreshed their store and had a grand opening with lots of visitors and were sold out by the end of the day. We made Greg the mayor, which had more to do with his easy going personality than his abilities as an accountant. Broder and Galen and everyone else made themselves at home.
We were all here and together as a family. We had also brought back all the people from the PNC building, everyone except Lily and Trevan who we couldn’t find. The village bustled and flourished with life, making it easy to want to stay in it forever, which was now a distinct possibility.
“Ready, Hella,” Huck called to me, knocking on the bathroom door.
“I’m still sick,” I said. “I can’t keep a breakfast down.”
“That’s what happens when you are pregnant,” Huck said.
I smiled and touched my stomach, which barely had a bump. Soon, we would be giving birth, both Saudah and I at the same time. Miracle babies, Rachel had called them. I couldn’t help but think that she was trying for one of her own with Zeke. They had been locked in a starry-eyed gaze ever since things calmed down.