CHAPTER 5
Institute, WV
As Henry and Tori were passing through the gates, he thought about John, the old security guard from the day care. He liked John; the man’s soothing demeanor always gave him a sense of security, and his sense of humor was unprecedented as well. Things were different now. The guards were many and their protocol more severe. The guards were a bunch of overzealous thugs, sort of like the TSA at the airports, but entirely redneck.
As they made their way through the second gate, one of the men, brandishing a WHS badge on his uniform, stopped beside Tori and motioned for her to roll the window down.
“I’m gonna need you to step out of the car, Miss."“I don’t think so,” Tori retorted, pinching her red blouse together at the neckline.
The young man's chin jutted out. He leered inside and said, “I’ve got my orders. Now you can get out, or you can sit in the car the rest of the day. Don’t worry, I won’t bite. It’ll just take a second.
Henry noticed in his mirrors that more of the guards were gathering around the car. A swagger was in every step as they rubbed on the handles of the guns on their hips. There never was much traffic coming in and out of the complex. It was only natural the bored men would overreact at the sight of a pretty girl. Still, Henry wasn’t much for compassion these days. Besides, the look on Tori’s face told him she was about to freak out. Something about the man reminded him of his brother, Jimmy, who he hoped he would never see again. He never heard what happened after that night. The leering man was licking his lips like he was about to be fed a barbeque pork chop, and it was more than Henry could stand.
Henry pulled out his phone and texted a message.
“Come on, Lady,” the guard urged. “Don’t make me use any force, but I will if I have to.”
Tori remained rigid and silent. She’s gonna freak out.
“Looks like she’s got something to hide, fellas,” the guard said as two other guards began to close in. “Looks like we better pat them both down.” He pulled out his night stick and stuck the nose of it inside the window. “You two better get out … now.”
“You’re making a mistake … uh,” Henry put on his glasses as he searched for the name tag on the man’s shirt “ … Toby. Yes Toby, you’re making a big mistake. You see, we’ve passed all of your little checks, and if you don’t let us in you’re going to be going home.”
“Is that so? Well, Mister, let me tell you something. I could use the day off, but I ain’t going anywhere, not until I search you and this pretty little lady right here. Now, you’ll do as I say unless you want me to call my uncle, from the local police department, and have you hauled in.” The men snickered. “And I’ll take her into my personal custody,” He licked his lips. “ …and keep a real close eye on her.”
“Toby, do you realize how big of an idiot you are?”
“I suggest you keep your big mouth shut, or I’m gonna take this baton upside your head.”
Henry sent out another text message.
“Have it your way, Toby, but I tried to warn you.”
Toby laughed and said, “Thanks. Now get out of the car—both of you!”
Henry just shook his head and waited. Come on. What’s going on? Is everyone asleep in there?
There was a loud clicking sound coming from an outdoor speaker overhead.
“TOBY. YOU’RE FIRED. PACK YOUR SHIT AND GO! AND IF THE REST OF YOU MAKE ASSES OUT OF YOURSELVES, YOU’LL BE HEADING BACK TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE AS WELL!”
CLICK
Toby looked like someone just shot his dog as the last gate rattled open and Henry drove through.
“You okay?” Henry said to Tori, rubbing her knee.
“Yes, I think. But, poor Toby. Who else on earth is going to give that slob a job?”
“Ha! Ha-Haa! Well, it won’t be long before they have the zombies working the gates.”
Tori was holding her stomach as she giggled and said, “Oh don’t say that, please don’t say that. WHS Security guards: Better … Faster … Smarter ... than plain ole people.”
The jokes were just what they needed before the uneasiness settled in. Henry let the car roll to a stop about thirty yards south of the gate they just left. Ahead was the complex, a roughshod campus of cracked pavement, red brick buildings, and long rows of gray warehouses running along the edge of the interior wall as far as the eye could see. Just ahead was a six story office building that towered over the rest of the campus. The parking lot surrounding the building was vacant except for about a dozen cars.
Henry pushed down on the accelerator and let the car slowly roll over the road towards the back of the complex. He used to come here often, to the complex, back when it was a thriving center for the rehabilitation of many folks in the community. The patients came from all over to be trained by a dutiful staff and refit to function and prosper within society. There was a boarded up entrance to a gymnasium where he used to play basketball games, swim, and even bowl. He remembered the cafeteria, the way it had been, thriving with happy faces and hungry people enjoying a hot meal. They had made the best pizza and homemade biscuits there. Now, the patios where he and his friends used to eat were overgrown with vines creeping up over the walls.
“What a waste,” he said.
“What do you mean, Honey?” Tori asked.
“Aw, it's just that I used to come here as a kid, with my mom. It was awesome, like a giant playground. It’s just a shame seeing it decaying like this. I mean, you see that rickety gazebo over there?” He pointed up the road to an overgrown patch of grass where a wooden gazebo had collapsed inside on itself.
Tori patted his arm. “I see it, Sugar, I see it just fine. You okay?”
Henry’s tongue clove to the roof of his mouth as he fought back his tears.
“I had an uncle; he stayed here. I mean as a patient; he needed help. It was my mom’s brother. Anyway, he had some problems, some had ones with drugs and alcohol and Lord knows what else. Well, he and I, we …” he voice trailed off.
“It’s okay, you can tell me. Just let it out.”
The warmth of her soft hand gave him the strength he needed.
“We built it. It took two weeks, but we did it. It was one of the best days of my life when we all sat in there and ate. Mom made the best ham salad sandwiches and lemonade. The folks in the cafeteria even brought us some cookies and ice cream.” He wiped the tears from his eyes. “It was just a great day … for all of us.”
Jimmy had been there, too, but he didn’t want to say it. He could only assume Tori figured so much. It was hard to believe that his life, once so simple and perfect, had turned into what it was now.
“Well Henry, it’s a shame,” Tori remarked, patting his knee as they stared at the gazebo.
“I know. I guess … I guess we just didn’t do a very good job.”
Tori burst out into laughter, and it wasn’t long before he followed suit. One thing that the pair had managed to survive on the past few months was a sense of humor. If they couldn’t find a way to laugh, at least once a day, they wouldn’t have made it this long.
“Funny, why haven’t you ever told me that before?”
“I don’t know, I guess I just didn’t want to think about it. I guess I needed to share that with someone, someone special that is.” He squeezed her hand.
“Oh Henry, give me a kiss.”
He pressed his lips against hers, and within seconds his sadness was washed away with elation. He didn’t care who saw, either, but the complex was like a graveyard, and besides, they were both adults.
HONK! They both jumped as Tori pinned him back against the steering wheel.
“Geez, that scared the poop out of me,” Tori said. “Wow Henry, you really surprised me with that kiss, too. It was one of your better ones; I’ll say that, but we're gonna have to go.”
“Why? I mean, no one will know. I’m trying to be more adventurous here,” he said, pulling her back towards him.
“I know, and I appre
ciate it. I’m sure I'll regret it, too, but I think I just peed myself, so we need to go.”
Henry pushed his glasses back up on his face, blushing, and said, “Oh, okay.”
He put the car back in gear and took a deep breath. He wasn’t even sure what he was doing right now as it was almost like he was having an out of body experience. He needed to get his head back on straight; he was beginning to feel like he was falling apart. What am I doing?
Tori was fixing her lipstick in the mirror when she asked, “So, if you don’t mind me asking, what ever happened to your uncle?”
“Uh … well, a few years before the zombies came they released him, and we never saw or heard from him again.”
“That’s sad. What do you think happened?”
“He used to talk about going to Korea a lot. Maybe he went there. I don’t know,” he said with a shrug.
“Did you ever try to look him up?”
“Sure, a few times, but no luck.”
“Does it bother you?” she asked.
Henry stopped the car.
“Er … no, but I’ll tell you what does.”
“What,” she said as she checked her lips in the mirror.
“Zombies walking around on the loose like human beings. Roll up your window, Tori. Roll it up!”
Tori gasped as she pressed the window button.
Stupefied, Henry watched two zombies lumbering his way. One was pushing a lawnmower. The other was dragging a rake.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Zombie Rehab: Impact Series - Book 2 Page 5