Parasite; The True Story of the Zombie Apocalypse
Page 38
The whiskey burned horribly as I gulped down as much as I could take. Excess liquid ran down my chin and dripped off onto my shirt. I lowered the bottle and coughed, nearly vomiting. How did people drink this stuff?
I wasn't a drinker in the normal world. Sure, I had a little wine on the right occasion, but that was about it. When you have an academic as a husband, you tend not to drink that much.
After further encouragement, I took a few more pulls on the vile liquid. Each time, I felt the same queasy feeling in my stomach. I really didn't want to continue drinking this stuff, but I dearly wanted to spend just a little more time with Henry.
"We heard," Drew spoke from behind. "Is there anything we can do?"
"No," I said, trying not to sound mournful. "But thank you all."
I took another swig. Almost immediately, I regretted it, following the mouthful with a series of coughs.
"I don't think drinking will help," offered Ben.
"Actually, it will," Henry corrected, wheeling angrily on the unsuspecting man. "It will slow the onset of the..." He couldn't continue. "We have to go!"
"Where?" Frank asked sarcastically. "In the middle of the apocalypse, I don't think-"
Henry cut him off. "Someplace special. You don't have to come, any of you. But, I have to get Melissa someplace and it has to be fast!"
Everyone just stared at him for a moment.
"I’m going," Dean said.
"We're all going!" Drew added, sharing a challenging look with his two friends.
They just looked sheepishly at their leader.
"Just follow us," my husband said determinedly.
Henry climbed into the driver's seat while Dean sat on the opposite side from me. We tore down the road and, turning again, sped past the lower reservoir, a warm feeling spread through my body.
"I feel warm," I informed Henry.
"Good," he replied. "That means it's working. Just keep drinking. We'll be there soon."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
We drove on at breakneck speeds, taking turns hazardously wide and using both lanes. With effort, I looked behind us. Drew and the others raced to keep pace with us as we drove on ahead.
Every time I looked over at Dean, he was watching me, never looking away. I knew he was keeping alert, waiting for any sign of danger.
Henry poured everything out, telling me how much he loved me and lavishing praise and heartfelt feelings about me. And I, in turn, told him the same. As we went on, it was hard for me to speak. My tongue felt sluggish and I slurred my speech, but both men seemed not to notice; they just kept encouraging me to drink more.
The last thing I saw before falling asleep was Dean, wiping tears from his face. I knew he was thinking about Julie and what she meant to him; how he wished he could have said these last things to her. I looked into his eyes and said in a low voice, "She knew."
Chapter 38
Henry