Zombie Girl (The Zombie Girl Saga Book 1)

by A. Giacomi

  “Packing is one of the greater nuisances of our time,” Aristotle would say. Okay, maybe he wouldn’t, but I hate it. No, actually I despise it like an axe to the face. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but that’s in my nature.

  I see Alex packing her things so neatly across from me. I don’t know how she manages to squeeze a shitload of items into one luggage. I can’t understand how she gets it to look that way and how mine looks like airport security has already rummaged through it.

  Alex is more dainty and girly than I am. I like make-up, and I like looking good, but it’s an effort for me. She looks amazing so effortlessly. Alex always says I’m the prettiest thing she’s ever seen, but I think she’s just being nice because she loves me. I admire how elegant she can look even when digging in the dirt; she must have royal ancestors somewhere in her lineage. I always feel like the unrefined tomboy next to her—I certainly have poor table manners. But she seems to love me anyway.

  I decide to break the silence. “I hate to leave knowing that we found nothing.”

  Alex looks at me with a mirrored expression and nods. “I know what you mean. I came here hoping to find something magnificent. Well, I guess I did find this rock.” She pulls a tiny rock out of her pocket. I take it from her hand so I can examine it.

  “It looks like a little elephant,” Alex says cheerfully.

  “Actually, it does. I guess you found a natural wonder,” I spit back at her sarcastically.

  “Har har, you’re so funny. Well, I thought it was pretty cool, and it’s my souvenir, okay! Even Dr. August collects rocks. I saw him holding a beautiful red one when I was on the way to get your locket.”

  I never knew Dr. August to collect such small items; he’s more into collecting larger treasures like a mummy, or a golden sarcophagus. I throw a pair of clean undies at Alex, showing my disinterest in her rock story.

  “Ewww, Eve, so unhygienic! Honestly, sometimes I wonder why you weren’t born a man!”

  I laugh really hard until my ribs ache, and then I continue to pack. In a way, she was right; what souvenir do I have other than a nasty scar? I suppose I will always remember this trip. I rub the bandage on my arm, aware of it for the moment. Tomorrow our adventure will be over before it even began. I continue packing, feeling very sorry for myself.

  CHAPTER SIX

  CAM

  It’s our last day on the dig site. Eve hasn’t been cleared to dig anything today. In fact, Dr. August pulled us aside earlier and told us not to let her out of our sight and make sure she doesn’t attempt any work today.

  Eve decides to kick up dirt in frustration while watching Alex and me dig and uncover some more pieces of pottery. So much for interesting finds; Eve isn’t exactly missing out on anything. I think pottery might be the only thing I found this whole trip, and if I’m lucky I might have found enough pieces to complete one artifact and then someone else can have the pleasure of gluing it all back together. It would be a pretty awesome puzzle, though. A puzzle with no map to go by, so it’s better handled by professionals.

  I start to become annoyed with Eve when the dirt starts flying in my direction.

  “Eve, can you stop kicking around that dirt? It’s starting to get into my eyes and mouth,” I cough out at her.

  “Sorry, Cam, I’m just so bored. It’s the last day here, and all I’m doing is standing, inactive, useless!” The little crease in her brow is cute when she does this; it always includes a little pout that makes it all the more adorable.

  “Stop being so overdramatic, Eve.” I chuckle to myself and watch her crumple down to the ground like a tantrum is about to ensue.

  As Eve sits on the ground, she stretches her long legs out in front of her, and they glisten in the sun. God, she has hot legs. Must be all the swimming she does. I glance from her toes all the way up to her midsection, where a bit of skin peeps out between her denim shorts and her tee shirt. I gulp, trying to compose myself, but my eyes don’t leave her. They move up to her chest and then rest on her face. It’s extremely warm, and Eve is dewy from sweat. She flips her hair back in an erotic way. I’m not sure she means for it to look so sexy, but it does, almost as if she does it in slow motion. My heart is ready to do back flips, and I force myself to look away, but not soon enough. Alex catches me gawking and rolls her eyes at me before returning to her work.

  I feel my cheeks grow warmer and decide to get back to work myself. This is not the best time to daydream.

  When my eyes feel it’s safe to shift their gaze back to Eve, she is looking at the tunnels a few feet away. I wonder what she’s thinking. I go back to digging, assuming that Eve is occupied by her thoughts.

  When I look up again a few moments later, I notice Eve is closer to the tunnels. I drop my tools and run after her. She doesn’t try to move further ahead. She just stands there, frozen. “Eve? Where are you going?” She doesn’t answer; she just continues to blankly stare at the tunnels.

  I’m starting to think there is something wrong with her, so I grab her shoulders and give her a gentle shake. She speaks without looking at me.

  “I need to go back down there, Cam.”

  I give her as stern a look as I can muster and say, “No way!”

  She looks so desperate it frightens me. Her eyes are wide and insane looking. I swear they glow a strange hue that I can’t explain.

  “I need to find out what’s down there. Aren’t you the least bit curious, Cam?”

  She must be joking, I think to myself. “Why would I be curious about getting eaten down there? Stay here where you’re safe!”

  By this point, Alex notices our squabbling and appears at my side.

  “What’s going on, guys?” Alex waves her hands in front of Eve’s blank stare, which has not moved from its focus on the tunnels.

  “Guys, I have to…” Eve stops talking abruptly and continues to walk forward almost as if she’s possessed by something. Her eyes are fixed on her destination like someone is summoning her towards it.

  I stand in front of her, trying to block her path, and she gives an animalistic snarl. Well, that was strange, I think, but I hold my position. She continues to move forward, and I continue to stay in her way as if we’re performing a strange dance.

  Eventually, her frustration builds, and she begins trying to push me out of the way. Her shoves feel similar to a football player’s charge, and I feel slightly winded. I attempt to restrain her with my arms and notice her body goes limp when my limbs connect around her.

  “Eve? Eve?” I shake her with vigor, but I can tell once I lower her to the ground that she is unconscious.

  Alex looks down at us. “I think she fainted, Cam. Quick, set her flat on the ground and elevate her legs on a crate until she recovers.” Alex quickly drags an empty crate over to us.

  A few seconds after making Eve comfortable, she opens her eyes.

  “What happened? Why am I in the dirt?”

  Alex and I look at each other, very confused by what just happened.

  “Eve, you were demanding that you had to go back to that tomb. I wouldn’t let you go, so you attacked me, and then you fainted.”

  Eve’s eyes go wide. “I did what now?”

  I can tell none of this sounds familiar to her.

  After some stunned silence, Alex speaks up. “Eve, maybe we should go back to the nurse. She can just check…”

  Eve interjects without letting her finish. “No way am I going back there! It’s the stupid meds they’re giving me. They make me feel crazy, and they’ll just give me more. So we’re going to pretend nothing happened, okay? I’m not going into the tomb, and you’re going to forget my crazy little episode here. Deal?”

  I look at Eve and reluctantly say, “Okay deal, but if you wander off again, Alex and I will drag you to see the nurse, got it?”

  Eve nods and crosses her heart as a promise.

&
nbsp; Alex and I go back to digging, and Eve sits in the dirt in front of us without another word. Can meds really do that to someone? Maybe steroids. I’ve never taken a single drug in my life and barely drink alcohol since my dad was such a violent drunk. I’m glad that Eve is okay, but I keep a closer eye on her this time around. I’m not sure I trusted her right now.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  EVE

  It’s almost time to leave. I let out a groan of disappointment. I know Cam and Alex are waiting for the bus with some of the other volunteers. I can only assume they are chatting about their finds or lack of, and I can’t join in on that just now. I zip up my luggage, throw on a hat, and leave the tent for a moment.

  I go off in search of Dr. August. Although I have seen him every day, I have not had an opportunity to say a proper thank you for the opportunity. My eyes search the grounds, and I find him in the distance looking at a map and discussing it with a colleague of his.

  “Dr. August!” I wave and shout over to him. He waves me over, and when I’m closer, I blurt out what I came here to say. “Dr. August, I just wanted to say thanks for everything. I know you don’t usually take second-year students, and I hope I’m not a total and utter disappointment to you. You know I love this work. I won’t mess it up again.”

  He looks down for a moment before responding.

  “No, Eve, I’m really sorry about everything, dear. I know you hoped for so much more on this trip, and you especially didn’t expect to become a victim out here.”

  He truly looks upset as he crinkles his entire face into a frown. It’s as though he can’t even put into words how upset he is on my behalf.

  I shake my head. “Honestly, I’m fine. I learned a lot, and I hope to do a dig again someday. I know this may be one of your last digs, sir, so it’s been a real honour to have worked alongside you. I know you’re retiring next year.” I hope he doesn’t hear the sadness in my voice; I don’t want him to think me pathetic. Instead, he appears touched by it and a bit misty eyed.

  “You’re a great student, Eve. I will miss you when I retire. I’m not sure if you have any classes with me during the fall semester, but if not, I hope you will drop by and visit me on campus soon.” He’s about to return to his work but then adds, “I do hope even after I retire, I will be reading about your adventures someday, huh?”

  I smile. “I would love that, sir.” I give him a quick, awkward hug and turn to leave.

  ***

  As I’m walking towards the crowd that awaits the shuttle to the airport, I feel around in my pocket and realize my locket isn’t there.

  “Crap!” I mutter to myself.

  I better go double check the tent. Alex and Cam didn’t go through all that trouble only for me to lose it again. That would be the icing on this miserable cake. I run in the opposite direction, away from the crowd, and catch a glimpse of Cam and Alex looking confused by my sudden change of direction and pace. I don’t have time to explain.

  Once I reach the tent, I search the nightstand and under the tiny bed. Thankfully, there it is, gleaming under my cot. I guess it fell out of my pocket during my half-assed packing job. As I reach for the locket, the bandage on my arm catches on something, and the fabric falls away. Great! Now I’m going to have to refasten it and waste more time.

  As I reach for the bandage, I notice there is no pain. That’s odd. I look down at where the nasty gash in my arm should be and am horrified to find that there is no gash, not even a scar.

  I feel around, grabbing every inch of flesh, thinking I’m seeing things. Have I gone completely mad? Where is the wound? I’m scared all over again, but there is no time left to freak out. As I look down at my watch, I see that it is departure time. The bus will be leaving at any moment.

  I quickly throw on my cardigan, since getting the bandage back on in time is not an option. I just hope my cardigan will help me avoid answering any questions about this strange healing.

  I stand outside the tent in a cold sweat, panic staining my underarms. I want to talk to everyone and no one at the moment. Is this all a strange dream? I better wake up soon or I’m going to puke. I stand outside rubbing my palms on my shorts and trying to calm my nerves.

  “Act normal and you’ll be fine. No one is going to notice,” I repeat over and over to myself until I begin to believe it.

  While having my little freak-out session, as I pace outside of the tent, I hear wheels approaching and then someone hitting the breaks. “Shit, the bus is here!”

  In the distance, I see Cam and Alex waving me forward telling me to hurry up. I start to run and make it over to them. I notice that we are the last ones to join everyone on the bus. “Sorry, I took so long, guys. I just wanted to double check the tent in case I forgot anything. You know I can’t pack to save my life.”

  They both smile and board the bus. Phew, they bought it. Now I just need to pretend everything is fine until we get home. I hope I can pull this off, but I’m aware that I may look as tense as I feel. Cam looks over at me, and I think he senses it already. I flash him a big smile, and he accepts it and moves on. Double phew. For the rest of the bus ride, I pretend to sleep. I am also able to avoid conversations with everyone through the airport and onto the plane.

  ***

  Once on the plane, I feel a bit more relaxed. I feel that going home will make this all go away like some big bad dream. There is some comfort in returning to something familiar. I try not to think about explaining things to my parents. Maybe I won’t have to tell them anything since there is no evidence on my body that anything was ever wrong. I’m not sure how I can keep this secret from Cam and Alex for long. They know me too well, and sooner or later, they are going to want to see how my arm is healing.

  Just once during the long flight, I go to use the restroom and bravely decide to check the former wound. It is still gone; I didn’t just imagine it. My fear makes me sob a little, and I grab some toilet paper, ready to wipe away my tears.

  When my eyes meet the mirror, what’s looking back is not me. There stands a bony and pale figure. Her skin looks rotten, and purple veins appear on every inch of her. The eyes that burn red are the most terrifying part of her; they glare at me as if they want to pounce.

  “But it’s just a mirror. It can’t hurt me,” I try to convince myself.

  I place my hands on the mirror in an attempt to wipe the image away, but it doesn’t budge. Instead, the grotesque figure opens its mouth to reveal a dark smile that begins to turn red. Blood begins to pour through the spaces of each tooth until it fills her mouth and then begins to pour down her chin.

  I cover my mouth and fly backward, smashing the back of my head into the wall of the small space. The back of my head throbs, and I fall to the ground shaking. I want to scream, but I must keep up the appearance of normalcy, at least until I’m home.

  I rub the back of my head and pull myself together.

  “Snap out of it, Eve,” I whisper to myself.

  I rise slowly so that my eyes lift above the counter and catch the mirror first. Blue eyes are glancing back at me, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

  When I am in full view of the mirror, I see me again. I inspect every inch of my body to make sure whatever I see before isn’t staining me. I convince myself that I’m seeing things, but my gut tells me there is something more to that. First my arm, now the mirror…something isn’t right, and I know it.

  When I get back to my seat, I am determined to sleep until we land. I try to let nothing bother me and convince myself that there is nothing but blue skies ahead.

  Cam passes me as I struggle to act naturally in my seat. I lean back and try to look sleepy. He eyes me inquisitively. It’s a shame and a blessing that he can sniff out any irregular patterns in my behavior. I wink at him, which is within my realm of “normal” conduct. He smirks and continues on. Thank God! I slam my eyelids shut and feel a slight bit of
triumph. I’m such a pretty little liar sometimes.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  EVE

  Here I am. My front door. I’m not ready to enter yet. It’s been a long trip, and my parents are most likely about to dissect me with a question and answer period. Delaying does nothing but postpone the inevitable, so I finally open the door and shout, “Hey, I’m home.”

  I drop my bags at the front entrance as my first greeter, our dog Winston, approaches, wiggling his almost nonexistent tail. He’s a lovely little Scottish Terrier that just adores a good tummy rub. “That a boy, did you miss me? What a good boy,” I say as I playfully rub his tummy.

  My mother is the next to greet me with her Cheshire cat grin. This woman never stops smiling; I think she smiled during every chemo session she ever had. I’m not sure she even knows what the word sadness means. She inspires me to be a more positive person, even though I can be really negative and bitchy sometimes. I’m sure people wonder if I’m adopted because we’re not alike at all. I love my mom more than anything in the world. In my mind, she’s the best example of perfect.

  “Oh, Eve, you look great! What a tan you have on you! I have a pot of coffee ready and your favourite chocolate cake. We can have some while we talk all about your trip.”

  And here we go, the Q and A session is about to begin.

  “Let’s get this over with,” I huff to myself.

  She follows me as I stroll down the hallway to the kitchen and grab a drink from the fridge. I am sipping a Five-Alive when my father comes in with his garden gloves on. “Hey, Pops!” I give him a hug, and he squeezes the life out of me. That father of mine should have been a wrestler.

  “So I guess you have been doing my garden gig while I was away?” I smirk at the thought.

  “Yes, and keeping your plants alive isn’t easy. I’m not sure they all made it, but I did my best. That’s what you get for asking me to help.” He chuckles to himself.