Marionette Zombie Series | Book 12 | Dead Reckoning

by Poe, S. B.

  “What did I say?” Scott asked.

  “Nothing. It was his wife, Abby’s mom.” Hannah said.

  “Oh.” Scott looked at the two standing in the darkness several yards away. “Are you going to tell me now what is going on?”

  Cyrus and Hannah exchanged glances.

  “It’s all coming apart.” Hannah started. “We were so close.”

  “Close to what?”

  “The end.”

  “I don’t understand.” Scott said.

  “I know. It’s a long story.” Hannah said.

  “Afterlife?” Scott asked.

  “They lost faith.” she paused.

  “Faith in what?” Scott asked.

  “Him.” Hannah said.

  “Noah?”

  “It’s been so long.” Hannah said.

  “I don’t understand.” Scott said.

  “Discuss it later.” Cyrus said. “We have to move. Now.”

  Everyone grabbed their packs and formed around Scott again. Most of the rot had dried on him. They started walking again.

  “I was afraid y’all were gonna forget about us.” Vernon said as Josh climbed the ladder. “Charlie and Jennifer usually relieve us, wasn’t sure what the deal was.”

  “We did forget. Tilly remembered.” Lori said.

  “Well I owe her a beer.” Ed said as he gathered his belongings and headed down the ladder.

  “Get me one too.” Josh said.

  “I wish.” Vernon said.

  Josh watched them walk up the dark street behind him. He looked at Lori.

  “You okay?” Josh said as he sat down.

  “Not really.” Lori said.

  “Jennifer?”

  “Yeah. We had an argument just before this happened.” Lori said.

  “What about?”

  “About me being a bitch and not a very good friend. And she’s right. And now I’ll never get a chance to make it up to her.” Lori started crying again.

  “If you need to be up there, I understand.” Josh said. “I can handle this.”

  “No, I’ll stay. There’s really nothing I can do for her. Josh?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you love me?” She asked.

  “I guess so.” He looked at her. “Yes, of course I do.”

  “Is it real or are we just a couple of kids pretending?” She asked.

  “It’s real.”

  “How do you know? I mean really?” Lori asked.

  “I just know.” Josh said. “Why are you asking?”

  “There was a moment, right before she got bit, that I knew I loved her like a sister. I mean I felt it. We were laughing so hard. I had missed that, and I didn’t even know it. It was like a hole being filled that I hadn’t realized had been emptied.” Lori said. “Do you feel that with me?”

  “Like a sister?”

  “No, I’m serious.”

  “I don’t know, I guess. I haven’t thought about it.” Josh said.

  “Well think about it.” Lori said.

  “What’s this all about?” Josh asked.

  “I don’t know. I just know that I’ve lost my parents and now I’m going to lose the best friend I ever had. I don’t want to lose you. And I need for you to feel the same way. I need to know you do.”

  “Why?” Josh asked.

  “Because I don’t want to feel like I’ve wasted any more of what little time I have left on something that isn’t real. It all has to mean something now. Especially now.” Lori said.

  Daybreak

  Bridger followed Naomi and Raj back through the door. She had come in and out three other times over the last few hours. The sky was still dark when they walked outside.

  “Well?” Bridger asked.

  “Ask him.” Naomi said.

  “Raj?”

  “She looks like Charlie did. The skin is discolored, but that is from bruising. No necrotic tissue. She hasn’t complained of any numbness around the bite or any other part of her body. No fever.” Raj said.

  “So you think she’s going to make it?” Bridger asked.

  “It’s early, but it has been several hours now. Even with our limited experience she doesn’t appear to be crashing like the others have. But Naomi has a lot more experience that I have.” Raj said.

  “Naomi?” Bridger turned.

  “If she were applying for membership in the immune club, we’d have already granted it.” Naomi said.

  “Yeah, well you can afford to be wrong. We can’t.” Bridger said. “Nothing changes.”

  “Of course. I wasn’t suggesting otherwise. I am merely pointing out that there is reason for you and the others to have hope.” Naomi said.

  “Until when?” Bridger asked.

  “What?”

  “When do we know for sure? Two days? Three? When is it for sure?” Bridger asked.

  “I have yet to see anyone live longer than twelve hours after a bite that wasn’t immune. Some of the immune have experienced a site infection that made them sicker than others but no sicker than any other person experiencing an infected wound. Antibiotics work the same and clear it right up.” Naomi said.

  “So you're saying she’s safe?” Raj asked.

  “I already told you my opinion. If you feel more comfortable waiting until the sun comes up or tonight or tomorrow or next week, go ahead, no one would blame you. There are some in our group that were isolated for weeks to insure they were not going to turn.” Naomi said.

  “I need to talk with Charlie. And Jennifer.” Bridger said.

  “I’ll join you.” Raj said.

  “I need to get my things together. I suspect that by the time this day is over things will be improving for all of us.” Naomi said.

  “So you’re leaving.” Bridger said. “That’s what you think is going to happen today.”

  “Yes.” Naomi said.

  “And you’ve finished with us. We’ll be rid of you and your group.” Bridger’s questions sounded more like statements.

  “Everything is finished.” Naomi said. “If you’ll excuse me.” She turned and walked out the door.

  Jahda stood on the sidewalk rocking back and forth to a song in her head. Her eyes opened when she heard the door shut.

  “Ready?” She asked.

  “Yep. Brushed my teeth.” Ham smiled at her.

  “Let’s get to it then.” Jahda said.

  They started walking down the street. Ham clucked at the shadow standing on the other side of the tree. The horse snickered back and went back to eating the grass in front of her.

  “She misses running.”

  “I don’t think she misses dodging the deaduns though.” Jahda said.

  “Yeah, probably not.” Ham said.

  They walked down the street. The evening had left shimmering dew on the asphalt and the slight breeze brought a damp chill. The leaves fluttered across their path as more and more gave way to the wind. Bare patches now appeared in some of the higher reaches of the tallest trees. Jahda tapped the side of the bus.

  “We’re here.” Ham said.

  Josh’s head stuck over the top and Lori started down the ladder.

  “Any word?” Lori asked.

  “Nothing yet. But we didn’t see anyone either.” Jahda said.

  “I guess we’ll go and check.” Josh said.

  “Can you let us know?” Jahda asked.

  “Sure.”

  Ham climbed the ladder and sat down in the folding chair. She grabbed the binoculars, but it was still too dark for her to make out anything. Jahda sat down in the chair beside her.

  “Maybe today will be better.” Ham said.

  “Better than what?”

  “Yesterday. The day before that. The day before that. The day before that.” Ham said.

  “I hear ya.” She smiled.

  Bridger leaned his head into the room. Jennifer was sitting up with a flashlight in her hand as she flipped through a magazine. She looked up.

  “We kinda deserved it.” She said
.

  “Sorry?” Bridger stepped into the doorway.

  “I mean look at all this. I used to think this was what really happy people do. These people were the ones who had it all figured out. They were the smartest, the prettiest, the best of us all.” She held up the glossy pages. “It was a lie. We all believed it. And we just kept on believing it until it was all gone. Turns out the crazy guy down the street and his friends were the ones who really had it figured out.”

  “We didn’t have anything figured out.” Bridger said.

  “Well, we’re still here.” She paused and looked at the bandage on her shoulder. “At least for a little while.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that. You and your dad.” Bridger said.

  “He stepped outside to use the bathroom.” As she said it the door squeaked open.

  “Everything okay?” Charlie asked as he caught Bridger’s eye.

  “Yeah.” Bridger said. “I was telling Jennifer that I wanted to talk to you. Raj does too.”

  Bridger stuck his head back out the door and motioned. Raj joined him and they stepped into the little exam room.

  “What’s going on guys?” Charlie asked.

  “I guess I’ll just tell you. Naomi thinks Jennifer is going to be fine. She thinks she is like you.” Raj looked at them and then at Bridger. “And I can’t say that I necessarily disagree with her.”

  Jennifer sat up straighter and slung her feet over the side of the table. Charlie stepped beside her.

  “Are you serious?” Jennifer asked. “Is she sure?”

  “She is.” Bridger said.

  “You’re not?” Charlie asked.

  “I don’t know Charlie. I want to be. But it's a risk. For everyone.” Bridger said.

  “I don’t care.” Jennifer said.

  “I do.” Bridger said.

  “No, sorry. I don’t care how long you want to keep me locked up. Days, weeks, months. I don’t care.” She smiled.

  “Why not?” Charlie asked.

  “Because as long as I am not going to turn into one of those things, I don’t care about anything else.” She said. “But seriously, how long are you going to keep me in here now?”

  “Just a little while longer. I promise. Just long enough for me to tell everyone that you’re coming out and that things look good. We’ll come get y’all for breakfast. How’s that?” Bridger said.

  “Breakfast sounds good to me.” Charlie said. He turned and hugged Jennifer. Raj slipped out the door with Bridger.

  “I hope you’re right.” Bridger said.

  “Me too.” Raj nodded.

  Bridger walked out the door and into the street. Josh and Lori came down the sidewalk as he turned towards the big house.

  “How is she?” Lori asked.

  “No change. Not worse. Not better.” Bridger said.

  “No change at all?” Lori asked.

  “No not really. Sorry, gotta go.” Bridger turned and bounded up the steps of the big house and went inside. Josh and Lori watched him go.

  “Is he avoiding us?” Josh said.

  “Looks that way.” Lori said. “Let’s go back to Raj’s and wait.”

  Bridger let the screen door shut and looked back to see Lori and Josh walking away. Evelyn and Kate came out of the kitchen. Emma Grace trailed behind them carrying a cup.

  “You want some coffee?” She held the cup up.

  “No, thanks. It has to be now.” Bridger said.

  “When is she leaving?” Kate asked.

  “I don’t know for sure but it won’t be long.”

  “We can’t lose her. She’s our only link to getting Scott back.” Kate said.

  “I will not let her out of my sight. But I have to go now. She’ll expect us to follow her. She won’t expect me to be out there already.” Bridger said.

  “She’ll expect you to be there when she leaves. She’ll find it odd you’re not.” Evelyn said.

  “She’ll think I’m with Jennifer.” Bridger said.

  “How is she doing?” Evelyn asked.

  “Naomi thinks she’s immune and Raj isn’t too far from agreeing with her.” He said.

  “Immune?” Emma Grace asked. “Like her daddy?”

  “That’s what she said.” Bridger said. “Look I’d love to keep discussing this but,”

  “But you have to go. Where is she now?” Kate asked.

  “She said she was getting her stuff together.” Bridger said.

  Kate grabbed the walkie.

  “Jahda, you there?”

  “Right here. Everything okay?” Jahda’s voice came through the speaker.

  “Has our guest left yet?” Kate asked.

  “Haven’t seen anyone since we got here.” Jahda said.

  “Thanks. Let me know if that changes.” Kate said.

  “Don’t lose her.” Kate turned to Bridger.

  “I won’t.”

  “Be careful.” Evelyn added.

  “I will.” He turned and headed back out the door. He grabbed the rifle and the backpack from the chair on the front porch and started down the street.

  The Book of Life

  The damp air smelled stale. The water pooled in the dips in the asphalt. Muddy ponds formed in the potholes. The trees hung heavy over the sides of the road and the grasses grew tall along the edges. Scott walked between the others as they made their way. Cyrus stopped.

  “We wait here. Getting close. We have to find a way through.” Cyrus said. “Joel, Abby come with me. Hannah, watch him.” He said.

  “Through what?” Scott asked.

  “The dead.”

  “What dead?” Scott asked as he and Hannah found a spot to wait.

  “Just uh, some that followed us when we brought Naomi.” Hannah said. “It was just to keep your people penned in so they wouldn’t try anything stupid.”

  “So what happens when we get to Naomi?” Scott asked. “What is this all about?”

  “They waited until they were apart. Until we were all apart.” Hannah said.

  “Who waited? What are you talking about?” Scott asked.

  “I saw it coming. He wouldn’t listen. He thought it would change.” Hannah said.

  “Stop it. What are you talking about?”

  “It started after we got to the trailers. That was supposed to be the goal. Noah insisted we keep going. Keep looking. Some didn’t agree. Then we found Collier.” Hannah said.

  “Collier? What was special about Collier?”

  “Nothing, except it existed. It was another place to look.” Hannah said.

  “Look for what?”

  “That was the thing. That was what started it all. I just never thought it would…”

  “Just tell me what’s going on.” Scott said.

  “There was an argument…” She started.

  “What the hell do you mean go on?” Caleb yelled. “We’ve been going on. It’s over. There’s nothing left.”

  “You don’t know that. What did I tell you when I found you? What did I tell all of you? This is our job. This is what we are here to do.” Noah said.

  “The people who gave us that job are gone. The whole world is gone.” Caleb said.

  “It doesn’t matter. There is always hope. There is always a chance. And we have been given a gift. We have to make sure we use it.” Noah said.

  “That’s what I want to do. We need to quit trying to save the world that was. We need to stand up the world we have. We were chosen. We are what’s left.” Caleb said. “You know it.” He looked at one person, then another. “You know it too. We have been given a gift, Noah’s right. But that gift is the world. And all we have to do is take it. The only thing stopping us is if we keep wasting our time and risking our lives chasing after something that’s dead and gone.”

  “We’re not chasing something that’s dead and gone. Not yet. You know how I know?” Noah smiled.

  “How?”

  “That barricade. There are people in there. People who we can help. People we
maybe can save. That’s what we’re here for. That’s the gift we’ve been given.” Noah said.

  “Just like the last people? The ones who shot Vanessa? Or the ones before that? The ones that tried to burn us all alive?” Caleb shot back.

  “Or maybe like the ones at Gifford Junction. You remember the kids? The ones that we got out?” Noah asked. “We do it for that. For a chance. And we’re not done. We’re going to figure out what’s behind that barricade.”

  “So that’s it?”

  “That’s it.” Noah said.

  “Just so you know Noah, this is it. After this, we take your map and your book and go find the rest of the ones like us. We’ve wasted too much time chasing this fantasy already. I’m serious. Things will change.” Caleb looked at Noah. He turned and walked away.

  “So Caleb is the one who has Noah?” Scott asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Can Naomi get him back?” Scott asked.

  “I don’t know. I just know that I am still on her side.” Hannah said.

  “It’s time to go.” Cyrus walked up. Abby and Joel had their packs on and were already a few paces ahead.

  “How much longer?” Scott asked.

  “An hour. Maybe a little more.” Cyrus started walking. “We found a way.”

  Naomi walked down the sidewalk. She could see a hint of gray in the eastern sky. The two people standing ahead of her parted as she walked by. The boy glared at her as she turned up the walk. She knocked on the door. The doctor answered.

  “May I see her one more time?” Naomi asked.

  “Let me ask them.” He turned and disappeared down the hallway. “Come on.” He called out.

  She made her way into the little room. The girl was sitting up on the edge of the table and the father was seated in the chair. She smiled at them both.

  “How are you feeling?” She asked.

  “Great. Ready to go.” Jennifer smiled. Naomi’s eyes narrowed.

  “Really. No pain at all?” She asked.

  “It’s sore. Like a bruise.” Jennifer said.

  “Well I hope things continue just as well. I’m sure they will.”

  “How sure?” Charlie asked.

  “Pretty sure. There is more than enough reason to believe she will be fine. When did you know you were going to be okay?” Naomi asked.

  “I never felt like I was going to be otherwise. I mean I had some serious mental reservations, but I never felt sick. I never felt weak.” Charlie said.