The Decay of Humanity Series (Book 3): Demise of Humanity

by Dawn, M. K.

  The rest of the table laughed. Makayla jumped from her chair and rushed over to Britney, wrapping her in a hug.

  “What’s going on?” Sloan asked. “Did I miss something?”

  “Come here.” Britney pulled Sloan from her chair and hugged her tight. “I love it when you don’t catch on to social clues. It’s so...you.”

  Sloan hugged her back as she replayed the conversation in her head. “Wait a minute. You and Axel?”

  “Of course, me and Axel?” Britney squeezed her tighter. “He asked me this morning. Why else do you think, Axel, of all people, would bring up a wedding?”

  “I had no idea why he brought that up; that’s why I was so confused.” Sloan took a step back and stared into her sister’s eyes. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “We haven’t told the kids yet,” Britney said through her tears. “We’re going to tell them tonight, so we can’t make the announcement until tomorrow, okay?”

  “You’re getting married?” Sloan still couldn’t believe the news. She’d never been one to believe in the sacrament of marriage, thought it was a bit outdated and sexist, but seeing the happiness in Britney’s eyes made her heart melt. “Do you know when?”

  “Ten days,” Britney beamed. “And you’ll be my maid-of-honor, of course. And Makayla’s a bridesmaid. The kids will need to be part of the ceremony, as well. Molly the flower girl and the boys can be the ring bears. Not that we have rings, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is I’m marrying the man I love.”

  Sloan couldn’t recall how long it had been since she’d seen Britney so much like her old self. “Everyone needs a set of rings when they get married.”

  “Please,” Britney waved her off as she snuggled into Axel’s arms, “rings are the furthest thing on my mind. I’m more concerned about finding a minister or something along those lines.”

  “A minister?” Sloan asked. “Why?”

  “Because, even though we won’t be married in a church, it’s important that we be married in the eyes of God. And someone who has been ordained by a church would see to that.”

  “I think I might know someone,” Makayla said. “I’ll check with him and let you know.”

  “Thank you!” Britney called out as Makayla and Terrance left the room.

  Axel kissed the top of her head. “You won’t have to wait too much longer. I gotta go. See you tonight at dinner.”

  “Me too,” Archer brushed his lips against Sloan’s cheek before following Axel out.

  “I’m so happy for you, Brit. He really is an amazing guy.”

  “You know,” Britney locked elbows with Sloan, “it could be a double wedding, if you want.”

  “I love Archer and don’t need a ceremony to prove the commitment we have to each other.”

  Britney stuck out her bottom lip. “What if he needs it?”

  “I don’t know. We’ve never talked about it before.”

  “I have a feelin’ you guys might be talkin’ about it soon. Especially if you catch the bouquet.”

  Sloan rolled her eyes. “We have more important things to worry about. Like the rings that you and Archer are missing.”

  “I told you, we don’t need rings. I mean, it would be nice, but...”

  Sloan knew that a wedding without rings would never sit well with Britney. She was too much of a romantic, too much like their mother. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Britney stared down at the engagement ring she never thought she would have. After the council meeting last week, Sloan had taken Britney up to the attic. In the years that Britney had lived in this house as an adult, she’d rarely gone up there.

  The attic is where she had stored the last of her parents’ things after they passed. Items Sloan and she considered irreplaceable.

  What Britney hadn’t realized was that there were boxes up there that their mother had left for safe keeping.

  Items like old family photos, hand-made baby toys, and their mother’s wedding items.

  Sloan had found the rings in the wedding box. Britney didn’t know that on her parents’ ten-year anniversary, her father had bought her mother a new engagement set. The first one he had given her wasn’t much on size, probably not even a half a carat, but to Britney, it was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen.

  A light knock on the door drew her from her thoughts. “Come in.”

  Sloan entered the room, a bright smile stretched across her face. “You’re stunning.”

  Britney couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her sister so happy. She rose from the stool she sat on in front of the full-length mirror. It had been years since she applied make-up, so she was a bit rusty. But overall, she did a pretty good job, if she did say so herself. It’s not like she had much to work with, considering the age of the make-up.

  “The dress fits well.” Sloan circled her, tugging and fluffing the full skirt. “Mom would have loved that you’re wearing her dress.”

  “It really is beautiful, isn’t it?” Britney admired the classic A-line gown. “You don’t think she would be mad, do you?”

  Sloan paused. “Why do you think she would be mad?”

  “Because I took it out of the preservation box. Had it altered. You know how much she hated when we touched her stuff.”

  Sloan laughed. “Remember how mad she was the time we got into her make-up when she was out of town?”

  Britney hadn’t thought of that in years. “Yes! Mad at us and Daddy. Pretty sure we weren’t allowed in her bathroom for a year. Grounded for two weeks. Had extra chores. I missed my first sleepover because of it.”

  Sloan continued to fiddle with Britney’s dress. “To be fair, we ruined her brand new Mary Kay make-up.”

  Britney cringed. “Yes, we did. If Molly had done that, I would have been pissed.”

  “Take a seat and I’ll attach your veil. You have bobby pins, right?”

  Britney pointed to the small pink box on the dresser. “In there. You didn’t answer my question.”

  “What question?” Sloan asked as she lay the veil out on the bed.

  “About Mom being mad for using her dress.”

  Sloan chuckled. “I think Mom would have loved to see you wearing her dress. Actually, if she were alive when you wed John, she might have insisted on it.”

  Britney sat still and in silence as Sloan attached her veil.

  “What are you thinking about?” Sloan asked when she finished.

  Britney bit her bottom lip, trying not to cry. “When I married John, I remember how much I wished for our parents to be there. And now, I’m grateful they’re not.”

  Sloan eyed her in the mirror. “Because of Axel? I think once they got to know him—”

  “No, no.” Britney stopped her. “That’s not what I mean. They might have given a sideways glance when they first met him, but it wouldn’t have taken long for them to see how big of a heart he has and how much he loves me and the kids. Which is all that ever mattered to them.”

  “So why wouldn’t you want them here?”

  Britney sighed. “Because of this God-forsaken world we now live in. It’s hard enough havin’ kids. Then, there’s you to worry about. And all our friends. This community. I can’t even think about addin’ two ailin’ parents on top of all that. Can you imagine growin’ old in this world? Barely bein’ able to walk and knowin’ that there are monsters hidin’ in the shadows.”

  Sloan clasped Britney’s hand. “You’re allowing your anxiety to get the better of you. Worrying about things that you have no control over.”

  “I know.” Britney collapsed on the bed. “It’s just...it gets to be overwhelmin’ sometimes, you know. And how things are going lately...”

  “You’re scared.” Sloan sat beside her. “We’re all scared. Nathaniel’s death and transformation reminded us of the horrors that wait beyond our walls. Most of the people here hadn’t seen an infested in a year.”

  “It’s more than the
infested.” Britney couldn’t believe they were having this conversation on her wedding day. “The well suddenly breakin’ and the pipe busted. The pigs gettin’ loose and tearin’ up the crops. How is it possible that so many things could go wrong in such a short time?”

  After a quick knock on the door, Angie peeked her head inside. “It’s time. And sugar, I have to tell you, damn do you look good.”

  Britney pushed away the worry that plagued her mind and smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Unfortunately, you might need a jacket.” Angie cocked her chin to the window. “Looks like it’s going to be a white wedding.”

  “That’s okay.” Sloan shuffled around in the closet and came back with their mother’s white faux-fur floor-length coat. “You can wear this.”

  “Lord, have mercy that is a beautiful jacket.” Angie lifted the arm and snuggled it to her cheek. “And it’s so soft.”

  “It was our mom’s favorite.” Sloan motioned Britney to rotate around so she could help put it on her. “She wore it every chance she could get.”

  Britney faced the mirror and smiled. “It’s perfect.”

  ***

  Britney hung back on the porch, hidden by the house, her mother’s silk bouquet in hand and waited for the wedding march to begin.

  It was strange, standing there alone, without her father at her side ready to walk her down the aisle. She hadn’t even thought to ask anyone else. Gus, God rest his soul, would have been the perfect substitute. He’d always been a father figure to the group.

  “Sorry I’m late.” Shifter took the porch stairs two at a time.

  “Late?” Britney frowned. “Late for what?”

  Shifter dusted the snow from his jacket. “We can’t have you walking down the aisle alone, now can we?”

  His thoughtfulness left her breathless. “Really?”

  “I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but you’re family.” He gave her a slight nudge. “Like the little sister I never had.”

  Tears stung her eyes as she threw her arms around his neck. “That is the nicest thin’ you have ever said to me.”

  Shifter hugged her back, sort of. It was more of a light squeeze with a pat on the back. “Okay, okay. Let’s not be getting all sappy on me now. Save that shit for your husband-to-be.”

  Britney released him and dabbed the corner of her eyes with her fingers, sopping up any stray tears. “I would love it if you walked me down the aisle.”

  “Good.” Shifter offered her the crook of his arm.

  The music started up, and Britney hooked her arm in his. “That’s my cue.”

  “Then, let’s go.”

  Shifter guided her down the snow-covered stairs. When Britney first started planning what she’d wear for the wedding, she considered a pair of heels, ones she hadn’t worn in ages. But after walking around the house with them for an hour, the balls of her feet throbbed to the point she changed her mind. Instead, she opted for a pair of nice western boots. Thank goodness she did. With the snow and the cold and uneven ground, heels would have been a nightmare.

  They rounded the house, and everyone stood, blocking her view of Axel. She wanted to see him and him to see her. There was nothing like the feeling of seeing your soon to be spouse for the first time at the wedding.

  Shifter led her to the walkway between the two sets of chairs. Her eyes locked with Axel. He looked so handsome standing up there in a suit and tie that Britney had no idea he had.

  Axel wiped a single tear from his cheek and smiled. The rare display of emotion brought tears to her eyes.

  Beside him, Blake and Chase stood tall, shoulders back and so adult-like, mimicking Axel’s stance.

  Sloan and Molly waited for her on the opposite side, each with a silk flower bouquet made from old flowers they’d found in the attic. Molly had picked out her favorite neon pink tulle dress to wear, which stood out against the archway made of tree branches and snow.

  Britney and Shifter came to a stop as Carl, a former minster at his local church, came forward. “If you would please take your seats.”

  Shifter offered Britney’s hand to Axel and whispered in her ear, “Congratulations.”

  “You’re breathtaking,” Axel said as he took her hand. “What lucky guy gets to marry you today?”

  “You, silly!” Molly yelled.

  Everyone laughed, and Molly beamed. She loved the attention.

  Once the laughter settled, Carl began. Britney had requested the ceremony be short, and Carl did not disappoint. In no time at all, they had said their I-dos, and Carl was pronouncing them husband and wife.

  “You may now kiss the bride!” Carl declared.

  People clapped and cheered, congratulating them as they headed back down the aisle hand in hand.

  Conversations were light, and she couldn’t remember the last time everyone seemed so happy, so carefree.

  She’d like to say it was the wedding that had sparked the sudden change, but she knew better. It was obvious what the town was most excited about today, what they craved most of all after all that had happened. It was the same for her and Axel. Why they wanted such a short ceremony. They wanted today to be more of a celebration.

  A party.

  And not just any party. A party with good food, upbeat music, and alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.

  ***

  The sun faded past the horizon as Britney and Axel joined the reception. Located on the concrete slab her late husband, John, had poured for the barn he never had time to build, it made the perfect dance floor. Four large bonfires stood tall at each of the corners, melting the fallen snow and warming the area enough that Britney didn’t need her jacket.

  The smell of roasted pig made her stomach growl. She’d been so nervous about the wedding, she hadn’t eaten all day.

  “Mommy!” Molly grabbed her hand as they stepped out on the dance floor. “Look at the cake!”

  “Cake?” Britney’s eyes followed the excited finger of her daughter, and she gasped. The stunning four-tier cake with pink roses brought tears to her eyes. She never even discussed the possibility of a cake, didn’t think they had the resources to spare. “I don’t...it’s...”

  “A gift from Angie,” Axel whispered in her ear.

  Molly licked her lips. “I can’t wait to eat it!”

  Axel patted her on the head. “Dinner first. Or at least a couple of bites.”

  “Got it!” Molly bounced away, joining up with the other kids who’d already gotten in the food line.

  “A few bites?” Britney cocked an eyebrow.

  Axel wrapped her in his arms. “It’s a party.”

  “Speaking of party,” Britney scanned the area, “I believe there was a promise of wine?”

  “Did someone say wine?” Archer swirled a full glass of red in front of her.

  Britney took a long sip and sighed. “Thank you. Lord, how I’ve missed this.”

  Sloan held up her glass and chuckled. “Congratulations to the happy couple. Axel, welcome to the family.”

  Archer handed Axel a glass of whiskey, and everyone touched the rim of their cups.

  “Cheers.” Axel took a sip, much smaller than Britney’s large drink.

  “Are you savoring it?” Britney smirked.

  Axel’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Not sure how much there is.”

  “Don’t worry.” Archer patted Axel’s back. “I hid a bottle for us.”

  Axel shot back his drink. “Now we’re talking.”

  The music picked up, an old country song Britney was sure Axel had never heard, but he swept her on the dance floor anyway.

  “Your dancin’ is gettin’ better.” Britney giggled as Axel spun her around. “Have you been takin’ lessons behind my back?”

  “I’ve been pulling a Footloose in the barn when no one is around.”

  “What I wouldn’t give to have a video of that.” Britney lay her head on Axel’s chest as they swayed to the music. “This is nice.”

  “Too bad we
don’t get a honeymoon.”

  Britney looked up at the tattoo-covered man she never, in a million years, believed she would fall in love with. “Where would we go?”

  “I don’t know...somewhere on the bike. Wind in our hair, nothing but the open road in front of us.”

  Britney scrunched her nose. “Really.”

  Axel laughed. “Not your thing?”

  “I was thinkin’ more like a private, all-inclusive beach in the Caribbean. Endless food, drinks, and sun. Loungin’ around all day, wrapped in each other’s arms.”

  “Interesting.”

  Britney rolled her eyes. “Would we even be together if it weren’t for the apocalypse?”

  Axel slowed his step. “No.”

  His answer not only surprised her but broke her heart a little. “Wow. That...wow.”

  “Hey,” Axel cupped her chin, “what’s wrong? Does that surprise you?”

  “It sort of does. Like we’re only together because the world ended. I mean we met, kind of became friends, before all this happened.”

  Axel touched his lips to hers; his kisses always had a way of soothing her anxiety. “But John would still be alive, and we would have continued on our way. Chances are pretty good I would have never come back to Myrefall, despite—because of—the very sexy, but very much married, red-head.”

  “You’re right. Life would have been totally different. But in a way, I’m glad it happened, because now I have you.” Britney clasped her hand over her mouth, shocked at the words she let spill from the most guarded part of her soul. “God, that’s an awful thing to say. I’m a horrible person. So many people have died. No more wine for me. It’s screwing with my head.”

  “You’re not horrible. Everyone, including me and the kids, knows how much you loved John.”

  “I did, very much. It’s just different with you.” She couldn’t believe they were talking about how much she loved her late husband on their wedding day. “John and I knew each other our entire lives. Everyone thought we would get married one day even though we never even dated until after high school. It was almost like it was expected...not expected, but convenient. Shit, that sounds worse.”