“Fuckkkkkkkkkkk!” Bolt yelped out in pain. Just then tattooed Wayne and the guy called Bruce raced in the room. Bruce pulled me off of Bolt. Bruce extended his hand helping Bolt off the floor. “This crazy bitch just bit me!”
“You want me to kill her?” Wayne asked like he had better things to do than take my life. He took a few steps toward me and his worn red and black cowboy boots clicked across the floor.
“No, no this is my future wife.” Bolt self-assuredly announced while pretending to not be fazed by the tirade I smashed all over him.
Bruce, Wayne and I all looked dumbfounded. I fought the urge to leap from Bruce’s firm grip and claw Bolt’s eyeballs from the sockets. The urge took over and I struggled in his arms. I kicked and screamed. “Kill me now!”
***
My eyes popped open and this time I remembered that my wrist was handcuffed to this rusty pole. That was only after my arms and legs flailed about all helicopter like. I wasn’t with Bolt and his bandits. I was safe in the confines of the Aldo shoe store. That was just a nightmare, a nightmare that happened not so long ago in my waking reality. Can you call it a dream when it actually happened? Maybe it should be a total recall.
I sat up and leaned my back against the ice cold wall. I looked over at Nick. He was back. He was wide awake like always, watching me closely. The weight of his constant stare was taking a severe tool on my already unsteady mental status. I wonder if he slept at all. I slept if you can call it that and dreamed of Bolt.
Nick looks a mess, bloodshot eyes and the beginnings of dark under eye circles. He needs to wash his hair and shave. My guy is a mess. Do I have the right to call him my guy?
“You had another nightmare?” He asked.
“Yeah, I don’t have any distractions so I think that’s why I’ve been having them.”
“That’s what you think?” He stared as he asked and I wasn’t sure if he was being smug or if he just was repeating what I said in an attempt to disguise his fatigue.
“What day is it?” I had lost track of time. All I did was sleep so I wasn’t sure when the new day had approached us. I stayed cooped up in the office and I only left to use the restroom.
“It’s Friday.” Nick mumbled. He was so worn and weary. I want to lie to him just to make him feel better. I wish I could just hold him in my arms and tell him everything will be alright.
“It’s been seven days.” I point out what I know he obviously knows to be true.
“I know.” He tries to shrug but his limbs are stiff and lifeless.
“Well maybe you should get some sleep. You don’t have to watch me all the time. I’m handcuffed. Nick, you look like crap.”
“Do you have to pee?” Nick ignored my analysis of his physical state. I think he has formed some sort of detachment toward me although we just made love yesterday. I think he just wants me to turn so he can get on with his life.
“No, I’m okay for now.” There’s air conditioning in this mall so I’m not nearly as thirsty as I was when we were back at the humid post office.
“I don’t understand.” He muttered. “Why haven’t --?”
“Why haven’t I turned?” I took his question and made it my own. “I don’t know. I can’t seem to figure it out.” I raised the short sleeve of my t-shirt. “My bite mark is healed, completely gone. It’s like it never happened.”
“I know, but it did, it happened. I saw it. I was there.”
“I was there too, Nick. I don’t have the answers you’re looking for. I wish I did. I have the same questions you do. Every day that passes I wonder why I haven’t turned into a… deadie.” I spit the word deadie out like it was Snow White’s poison apple. “I’m starting to think I was immune to the bite or something. I don’t know why I’m living this long. I’m not even sick anymore. I want you to stop beating yourself up about this. If you want to keep me chained up I understand but please stop torturing yourself.”
Nick stood and placed his Glock on the desk. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t watch you chained up like an animal.”
He reached into his pocket and produced a single key, the key to the cuffs.
“You’re letting me go?” I wasn’t sure if I was asking him, asking myself, or polling the audience. I definitely couldn’t phone a friend.
“No, you’re letting yourself go.” Nick placed the key in my hand. After a few seconds of utter shock I quickly undid the cuff and rubbed my sore wrist.
Nick presented his hand to me and I took it. He pulled me to standing and I stumbled right into his arms. He held me tight and I had almost forgotten how nice, warm and strong his arms felt wrapped around me. In his arms, this is the place I want to be. I am comfortable here. I would rather die here in his arms then handcuffed to the stupid drain pipe.
I’d like to flash my middle finger at the devil but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’m not sure if I’m out of harm’s way. I’m not sure if the infection has passed. I’m not sure if this is some deadly practical joke. I do know that the darkness has fallen upon me and I sincerely hope it has fallen away.
“This is it. Whatever happens, happens. I can’t hope for the best and then expect the worst.” Nick confided and his words warmed me just as his strong muscular arms did. I nuzzled my face into the place between his jawbone and his shoulder blade. He didn’t flinch as my lips brushed against the bare skin of his neck. I missed this closeness. I missed this skin to skin contact. I thought I would never feel it again. I thought yesterday’s sex was the last time Nick would touch me. In Nick’s arms I feel like I’m home. I feel like I’m not infected. I feel like I’m not in a zombie apocalypse. It’s nice to be able to feel.
CHAPTER 19
My eighth day of phantom infection had arrived. I woke on an air mattress next to Nick. Although I was no longer bound to a drain pipe I instinctively reached over and massaged my wrist where the handcuff once was attached. As I sat up Nick’s eyes ripped opened and found their way to mine. I looked down at him and got caught in his wild gaze.
Nick closed his eyes as soon as he realized I had not turned into a deadie. His panic subsided just as soon as it has arisen. He turned away from me and buried his face deep into the plush pillow that cradled his head. I wonder if he’ll ever again in his life have a restful sleep, probably not.
I got my stiff body up to stretch and ventured out into the shoe store. There was a dress hanging from the metal slats in the gate on the outside. As I approached the gate I could peep the details of the dress. It was a short lace dark green number with cap sleeves. There was a note taped to the plastic hanger. I opened the store gate half way. I ducked under and grabbed the dress from the gate slat. I stood on the outside of the store gate and read the note. I heard you were feeling better. This dress is for our dinner party tonight in the lounge area. I’m sure you can pick your own shoes, Lol. Kait . I flipped the note over and there was nothing on the other side. I examined the dress and looked through the gate at the plethora of shoes on display inside Aldo. Kait was right. I could definitely find shoes in a shoe store.
Before I could move Joe was behind me. I jumped out of my skin, into his skin and then back into mine as his sudden presence rattled what was left of me.
“What the fuck?” My potty-mouth took the lead.
“I see you’re still alive.” Joe squinted his already shifty eyes.
I automatically looked around to see if anyone was watching or listening to us. The coast was clear. “Yes I’m still alive. Disappointed?”
Joe shrugged. “I don’t care either way.”
I thought he was joking but his deadpan delivery made me wonder if he was speaking the truth. “Nick is sleep.” I told him before he could ask.
“He told you about the girl in the mall?”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t sure where this line of questioning was headed.
“I gave her a walkie. She called me in a panic and I’m leaving now to go see her. Come with me.” He was kind of telling me instead asking m
e. Why me? I wonder if this is some kind of trap like the one we used to lure Doctor Mark’s ex-wife away from the group. I couldn’t actually think of one good reason why Joe would want to trick me or harm me. “So what’s it going to be? Stand here holding a dress or get back to business.”
I thought for a second while his forehead spouted wrinkle lines. “Fine, let me brush my teeth.”
“Geez Vic, we’re not gonna kiss. Supermodel, go get your gun not your mascara.”
Asshole. “Give me a sec.” I ducked underneath the gate with the green dress. I tossed the dress on a chair and retrieved my gun from the storage hall. Joe was waiting as I walked toward him removing my clip to check my ammo before slapping the clip back into place. I noticed Malik leering out of the Sprint store.
I joined Joe in the middle of the mall floor. We jogged away from our cul-de-sac campgrounds. The mall was empty, quiet and deserted. I never got the chance to explore.
“The girl, Tailyn, said she heard some noise coming from the Sears entrance near electronics.” Joe mumbled as he kept pace with me, more like I kept pace with him.
“Do you trust her?”
“I guess.” Joe gave me a weird look. “I don’t think she’s shady. I don’t think it’s an ambush. I’ve been to see her plenty times, day and night and she was always alone.” Joe pointed. “It’s right around here.” Joe slowed and I followed his movement.
We hit the corner and right outside the Sears Department store was a short girl with long raven hair waiting at the entrance. She had the face of a young girl, maybe a young woman. She was holding a pair of scissors in her hands. She had the sheers gripped like a knife. She looked relived to see us. Her brown eyes focused in on me and I fixed my eyes on her as well. To me she is a stranger. I don’t know her. What if this is some kind of trap?
“Tai, what are you going to do with scissors, cut someone’s fingernails?” Joe taunted and I was pleased that I wasn’t the only one that was the butt of his constant mockery.
“I, I--” She stuttered. She was scared. I could recognize it because I had seen it so many times before.
“Show us where?” Joe firmly ordered and this Tai girl stood there as if he said nothing. She was looking me over in a strange way, not a lesbian way, not a jealous way, just a way. Joe caught wind of Tai’s observation of me. “This is Nick’s girl, Vicki.”
“Oh.” She added with a tone of relative clarification.
I didn’t bother to correct Joe but I did want to shout ‘Hey asshole my name is not Vicki!’ I wonder if Joe told her I was bitten. Is that why she was staring a hole in me?
“Tai?” Joe yelped and Tailyn jogged into the store as we followed her. We passed clothing racks, home goods, appliances and electronics until all of a sudden we came to an abrupt halt at the rear of the store. Tailyn ducked behind a washing machine and we followed suit behind the dryer. She was genuinely afraid. I could see it. This was no ruse. This was obvious fear, the fear that only the deadies could produce. It was just as recognizable as my own face.
“Where?” Joe asked Tailyn. We couldn’t see them or hear them but we just knew they were somewhere nearby, waiting to send us to our early grave.
“The first door.” She whispered in her light little girly voice. “I think its zombies.”
Joe made a move toward the door and Tailyn grabbed his forearm right where the bicep bulged. She touched him. Yuck. Joe turned back to her. “I’ll be right back.” He assured her as she let go of his Marine muscle.
I had missed a lot. Joe stood and walked over to the set of four glass doors. I decided to follow Marine Joe. I had grown a set of balls since the deadies took over. I was kind of an unwilling Zena Warrior Princess. I had survived so many challenges, fear was just like a pimple that came and went. Sometimes it was there, sometimes it went away and sometimes I just covered it up.
We crept to the doors. About twelve feet outside the glass doors was an iron and wood park bench. Two deadies were asleep on the bench. They were draped on it like two homeless people claiming a spot on a luxury mattress. The deadies were two gross looking guys. One was shirtless covered in dry blood with a steak knife sticking out his right shoulder. His feet were black like tar and his filthy jeans were frayed at the bottoms. His benchmate used to be a fat black man with a bald spot on top off his head. He was wearing a dirty blue polo shirt and plaid shorts. The cleaned up human version of him resembled a golfer. A deadie had taken a massive chunk out of his chubby cheeks when he was still human.
“What are we going to do?” I whispered over Joe’s shoulder.
“I don’t know. They haven’t gotten in yet. They have just been banging on the glass. It’s only two of ‘em.”
Joe was right. It was only two of them and it was highly unlikely that they would be able to crush threw the glass doors.
Tailyn walked out and joined us in front of the glass doors.
“They were banging so hard I really thought they were going to break the glass.”
“Yeah well.” Joe shrugged as he placed his gun in his shoulder holster.
“This door has gross shit all over it.” Tailyn’s fingertips traced the door where the deadies did the bulk of their pounding.
“Tie your boot before you fall on your ass.” Joe ordered.
Tailyn and I looked down at her untied laces. She bent down to tie the strings on the boot that were undone. Tailyn grabbed the laces and her butt barely banged the glass door. The fragile door glass shattered sending her petite body careening through the bottom of the door.
Tailyn’s dwarfish torso fit perfectly through the bottom half of the rectangular door frame. The glass explosion was loud enough to wake the dead and that is exactly what it did. The golf pro and tar feet were off the bench before we could even grasp the concept of this freakish accident.
Tailyn was on her ass. She was half out the door and her feet were still inside with us. Joe and I rushed to her aid and run smack into each other in the process.
“Move!” Joe yelled at me and I moved out of his way as fast as I could. I could see the deadies becoming alert and realizing their good fortune. I could see all the blood on Tailyn but I’m sure the deadies could smell it. Joe was trying to pull her through the door frame but a shard of glass on the bottom of the door frame was lodged deep into Tailyn’s calf. Joe pulled at her legs and she screamed bloody murder. She turned and looked behind her. She saw the dead closing in on her. They were just a few feet away growling in delight, feasting on the blood and flesh before it even reached their lips.
“Do not shoot!” Joe yelled as I raised my gun. Joe went down on his knees and crawled over Tailyn’s body. He had to squeeze through the opening and a hanging shard of glass sliced into his back as he moved through the door frame. He reached in his pocket and wielded a hunting knife, with an alarmingly long jagged blade.
Joe had has body on top of Tailyn. Thank god she had stopped screaming. The black foot deadie had his sights set and he came charging at Tailyn and Joe. I had my gun drawn even though Joe told me not to use it.
I couldn’t figure out what Joe was going to do. He was on the ground and his gun wasn’t even out of the holster.
The deadies mouth was gaped open and oozing with his own disgusting brand of drool. Joe grabbed the deadie by the throat and plunged his hunting blade into the temple of the black foot. Joe tossed the deadies body to the side like a rag doll and removed his blade at the same time. The fat deadie was so close behind the other deadie that he tripped over him as Joe tossed him aside. Joe met the dead golfer with an uppercut that sent him stumbling backwards.
Joe leapt from a crouch and shived his blade in the gooey glazed eye socket of the dead golfer. I fell to my knees and started trying to disengage Tailyn’s calf from the huge splinter of glass. There was fresh blood everywhere. Human blood was so different from the blood of the deadies.
I removed her calf from the glass. Joe put his hands under her armpits and helped me. He pushed as I pulled her throug
h the broken door frame. Tailyn moaned in agony. She was pretty badly cut up. It didn’t look like anything major but I’m sure it hurt just the same. We finally got her through the door way. Joe kicked the remaining pieces of glass out of the door frame then he ducked in with us.
“How ya doing Tai?” Joe knelt to asset the damage.
“I fell through a fucking door.”
“You sure did.” Joe concluded and Tailyn started laughing uncontrollably. Her girlish giggles smashed the tension into a trillion pieces.
“That was some crazy shit.” She said in the midst of her laughter.
“Fuck yeah.” Joe shook his head. I couldn’t help my own smile of relief. “Vicki you clean up her wound and I’m going to secure this hole in the door.” Joe brushed back the sweaty strands of hair that were pinned to Tailyn’s forehead. I think he cares about this girl.
“Joe I don’t think we should split up.” I said for good reason.
“I got this. Tai, can you walk?” Joe asked.
“I can hobble.” She explained through the evident pain. Joe aided me in lifting Tailyn to her feet. Her boots where covered in blood. She winced as she took her first step.
“I’m going to quickly board this door up. Go take care of your injuries.”
Deadies: Book 1, 2 & 3 Page 19