Zombie Queen

by Mary Martel

  A soft rap on the window behind me, draws a squeak from my lips before I can stop it. Nightmare come to life, wild man stands on the other side of the pane with a smirk pulling his lips up. I back away from the window slowly, but he doesn’t make a move like he’s going to come after me. On the contrary, he plants his ass in a seat on the porch, shit-eating grin never leaving his face.

  If he doesn’t care that I’m trying to escape, it only means that he doesn’t think I can.

  Untangling myself from the curtains, I turn to run and smash face first into the edge of a silver tray.

  “Oh shit. Are you okay?” Talker worries, letting the tray drop to the floor.

  Blood drips down my chin, but I’ve got surprise on my side, and I plan to use it. With all of my might, I bury my fists into his stomach and shove as hard as I can. He drops back with a hard oomph. Wild man is near the front door, so I’ll take my chances with finding a different one. Another stroke of luck leads me straight to a screened in backdoor that’s unlocked.

  I almost cry in relief as I step out into the sun. So damn close. There’s an old barn out back here, which won’t be good for hiding for long, but my ankle is screaming at me to stop. Ducking underneath a row of kayaks in the corner, I try to steady my breathing. When I’m sure that I’ll be able to take the pressure on my ankle again, I reach for the chord above my head. Too late to realize that it’s holding the plastic boats in place.

  As soon as that chord is pulled, it causes a chain reaction that has the kayaks falling on top of each other, and almost on top of me. There’s no way no one heard that racket. I’m steps away from freedom when three male bodies pop around the corner out of nowhere with guns and a crossbow drawn. It pulls me up short so fast that my one steady foot slips out from underneath me and my ass hits the dirt.

  Wild man and the smooth talker come up behind the others from the direction of the house before the one I remember as gorilla man takes a step toward me. With one hand, I hold out the can of hairspray in front of me as I try to crab crawl backwards away from him with the other.

  A deep crease worries his forehead right before he reaches out a hand. In true panicked fashion, I don’t depress the little button on the can to spray him. No, I rear back away from him so hard that I conk the back of my head on the floor.

  I can’t help the few tears that slip from my eyes at the pain and defeat. I don’t fight it anymore, letting the blackness pull me under yet again.

  Samuel

  Emerald’s scream has echoed around in my skull ever since I saw her get taken. Once I shoved her back into that hiding spot and lost our tail, I doubled back around and scaled up the building across from where I told her to go. It was just in time to see her almost fall into the hoard of zombies. A part of me would have died with her, and not because I’ve got weird stalker fetish or anything. I sent her that way, thinking it was safe. She’s been alone for god only knows how long, and she trusted me enough to keep her safe. Needless to say, I failed. Not only did she come close to being zombie food, but even worse, those meatheads took her.

  I’d watched in horror as that ladder fell and she cracked her head loud enough to be heard all the way up to where I was perched. Blood started to pool beneath her, but she moved, which was a good sign. It meant she wasn’t dead.

  Staying long enough to make sure they scooped her up off the ground and didn’t leave her to be eaten, I’d hauled ass off the roof. When I first found Em, I tried keeping a low profile until I got enough courage to approach her. I hid my ATV underneath some crap lean-to in someone’s backyard. Skipping the last couple rungs on the ladder, that’s where I’d taken off to as soon as my feet hit solid ground, only stopping once to grab my stashed bow and arrows.

  A couple dead approached while I was on the run, and I hated to leave them wandering around. Just in the little bit of time I’d been watching Em, it was easy to see how much personal care she takes keeping the space around her little store clear. She doesn’t realize it, but she almost caught me once or twice taking care of some of them for her.

  When the shed came into sight, so did another zombie. Whipping an arrow out of the quiver underneath the back of my shirt, I nailed him right in the head on the first shot. Expecting nothing less, because that’s what Pa always expected when we went hunting. “You shoot to kill or don’t bother shooting at all,” he’d always say.

  Ripping the arrow out on the way by, I’d gave it a quick swipe in the grass before replacing it. The slim pieces of wood or plastic used to be a dime a dozen back in the day, but ever since the world went to shit, I can’t seem to find many replacements. Yet another lesson I thank Pa for. Respect and appreciate your weapons and tools. Growing up on the farm, we never had a whole lot of money, not that Pa let on anyway. We were always fixing our own shit when it broke down or making something out of nothing. Pa was really good at stuff like that, even if he lacked in the emotion department.

  Clearing all the random junk off my ATV, I start her with one quick flick of the wrist, and of course, she rumbles to life immediately. I’d loaded as much shit as I could around the beast of a vehicle to keep it hidden from prying eyes on the search for shit to steal. It’s all a game of survival now, so I wouldn’t be able to blame them if they took it. That would be on me for not protecting it as I should.

  At that moment, however, I’ve never been more grateful for a sight in my life. I watched from the rooftops when Emerald saved those assholes the other night and heard them talking about coming back to get her. If I had a clear shot after hearing that, I would have taken it without hesitation. Unfortunately, the storm chased them out of town pretty fast.

  When their loud ass Hummer had come back through, I knew the time had come for me to expose myself to her. Judging by the direction they had come in from, I had a good idea of where I could cut them off to follow them to wherever they’re staying. Figured it had to be close considering they were back so fast and turns out I was right.

  I crested the top of the hill leading out of town just in time to watch them make the turn off towards the lake. Keeping my distance to stay off their radar, I tracked them all the way out to a massive log cabin sitting right on Lake Oconaow. We’d come out here during the summer all the time to swim until the property switched hands and went private.

  I ditch my ATV about a mile away. I don’t want them to hear me coming. It seems they don’t have any kind of security around the perimeter, making it easy enough to sneak right up behind an old barn.

  Voices inside tell me I’m in the right place. I’ve just drawn an arrow and gotten ready to stand when there’s a snap of a twig in the leaves behind me. There’s a slow motion moment of me turning with my bow drawn and recognition from one of the men standing practically close enough to touch. The other slams the butt of his gun right into my face, rendering my bow completely useless. It drops to the side as my ass hits the dirt hard.

  Blood runs down into my eyes from somewhere on my forehead as the two lift me between them. I’m dazed and seeing double, making it difficult to fight back, but I try.

  The guy to my right gets an elbow to the ribs as I jerk my arm away from him, but his voice kills all the fight in me. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. The girl is right here.”

  Sure enough, when we round the corner going into the barn that’s seen its better days, it’s to find Emerald being strapped down to a chair by the same guy who saved her from becoming zombie bait. I dig my heels in the dirt, trying to bring my captors to a halt, but the click of a gun’s safety being flicked off stops me again. A psycho looking dude that looks like he stuck his head in a low burning fire holds a pistol against Emerald’s head.

  The other guy in the room starts to protest, but the big one stops him before yanking out another chair and tying me to it. I let all the shit sink into my brain while he makes quick work of it. Pistol-holding asshole has moved over to the work bench in front of us and props against the side, letting his gun rest in one hand on his thi
gh. The two that dragged me in here, one being the cat to my mouse yesterday, stand off to the side watching curiously. Kitty cat better hope I don’t get out of this alive. My bow is now slung against his shoulder, and he’ll be first for touching it. Red will be next for threatening Em.

  “So, what now?” I goad them.

  Kemp

  Noble bristles at the tone in the question from the man. Not like I blame him. These two have been nothing but trouble. We’d only gone back for the girl, but low and behold, she’s got a big brother protecting her. Can’t have one without the other. You’d think he’d have a little more fear after just being tied up by the big brute. In reply, Noble crosses his arms against his chest.

  The sound of the stranger’s voice begins to rouse the girl, and I tap my 9 on the top of my thigh in anticipation of those beautiful greenish gray eyes opening. Her long dark hair is matted in a few spots, likely from all the blood she’s lost since the bump on her head. It doesn’t make her any less beautiful. Before this shit went down, she would’ve been my second pick next to a tall redhead, but I wouldn’t have been able to deny her beauty in all its petite glory. She’s a fighter, too, making her all the more appealing these days.

  Our intention isn’t to harm a single hair on her head, contrary to what they doubtless believe. No, she saved one of ours, and we owe a debt. The least we can do is take her in to feed and protect like one of us…her brother too, even if it does grind a few gears.

  Russ rests a hip against the table I’m on. He can say what he wants, but I know it’s because he wants a better view of her. He’s easy on the eyes himself and uses it to his advantage. Between that and the way he talks to people, it’s no wonder why we always throw him to the sharks to be our middle man.

  A low pain-filled groan slips from between her lips, and I’m not the only one holding my breath and waiting for her to come to now. Her head lolls back, and she winces before cracking her eyes open. They land on me first, like I’d hoped in choosing this spot. They’re appraising, and the fire behind them says they like what they see. It sends a jolt straight to my dick. I can’t stop the tilt to the left side of my lips, much like when I found her hiding behind the curtains in the house.

  As if my teasing smile breaks the spell, her eyes narrow slightly and she begins to struggle with her bindings.

  Emerald

  There are a hundred smurfs in my head with a hammer in each hand banging their merry little hearts out on my skull. If I listen closely enough, I’m sure it’s even in tune to their catchy theme song. The pressure at the back of my neck isn’t helping either. It takes a supreme amount of effort, but I lift my head and let it roll back to relieve the tight muscles. When I finally gather the courage to risk opening my eyes, they lock onto a sexy auburn-haired wild man.

  Headache completely forgotten due to the fire, as dark as his hair, deep down in my belly, I enjoy the feel of his eyes on me. From that face, down to a leather jacket covered torso and black fitted jeans tucked into a pair of laced up combat boots. Then that smirk pulls up one side of his face, and I come to my senses.

  Reflex has me reaching for anything close to defend myself, only I find I’m unable to move my arms. They, along with my upper body, have been roped to a damn chair.

  Sam’s voice stops my struggles. “Hey, you okay?”

  I whip my head to the side so fast that my stomach churns. Sure enough, there he sits. Tied down just like me.

  “Peachy, thanks,” I retort and add, “No, literally, thanks for everything.” I let my harshest sarcasm drip from my voice. Normally it’s reserved only for that inner voice that likes to get me into trouble.

  He opens his mouth to reply, but gorilla beats him to it. “We weren’t trying to hurt either one of you and don’t plan on it. We’ve got a secure place here with access to great food and water sources. You saved our friend here, and we’re just trying to return the favor.”

  “By kidnapping us and tying us to chairs?” I suggest angrily. “No means no, assholes. I said I didn’t need your help, so you should’ve backed the hell off. If you weren’t dumb little boys, walking around and waving your guns in the air like a bunch of morons, then you wouldn’t need to be saved by a girl with a sword in the first place.”

  Ignoring my tirade, one of the others steps up beside gorilla man. “Are there others with you, or are you two the only ones?”

  I purse my lips in defiance, and his smile drops as he nervously wipes his palms down the hips of his jeans. He’s cute for an older man. Maybe ten years or so my senior. Dark brown hair is styled close to his head, and short stubble traces his soft jawline. He looks small compared to the man beside him but is still bulky enough to look like he can hold his own. Reaching out a hand, he says, “I’m Graham. This is Noble. What are your names?”

  My eyes go wide in disbelief as I twist my arms so that my palms are up. His face turns red, obviously realizing his mistake. Can’t shake hands with anyone if mine are tied, eh?

  Sam answers him anyway, “I’m Sam, and she’s Emerald.”

  “Shut up,” I hiss at him, catching his eyes on wild man before he looks away.

  Venturing another glance at him, I notice the gun in his lap for the first time. My lip curls in distaste. Survival by any means, I won’t fault anyone that, but how dare he threaten us with it.

  “Are you set up somewhere close, or are you just wanderers?” Noble asks, taking the floor again. His bald head is shiny with sweat, almost as if he is enjoying this less than we are. Highly doubtful, silverback.

  I let Sam confess his life story to the men in front of us, and while they’re distracted, I catalogue them all in my mind. We know the two in front, and then there’s the wild man. Next to the table beside him is the pretty talker from the alley. His white tank displays layers of muscles, leaving nothing to the imagination. With cheeks a little more sunken in and the dimple on his chin, I’d gamble and say he was a model before shit hit the fan.

  Last but not least is the man I recognize not only from the floor of the alley when I saved him, but also as the one chasing us. The hood of his sweatshirt is pulled up halfway over his head, letting dirty blond locks stick up around the top edge. His face, much like the rest of them, has a shapely stubble to it. What is wrong with men during the apocalypse? Haven’t they ever heard of shaving? I know if I can find fucking period sticks for shark week, they can surely to god find razors.

  “And what about you, Emerald?” Graham asks. “Are you stationary here?”

  I suck my lips through my teeth, making it plain and clear that I don’t intend to answer any of their questions.

  “We went to high school together,” Sam admits.

  My head whips back in his direction as my mouth opens with a pop. Tell them all you want about yourself, asshole, but leave me out of it. No one needs to know my business.

  Of course, not privy to the shouts inside my head, he keeps going, “She’s got a place in…”

  I don’t give him a chance to finish that sentence. With all the power I can muster, I twist at my lower back and kick his chair. “Shut your fucking pie hole, Farmer Ted!”

  It crashes to the side with a loud bang, and Sam groans with his face planted into the floor. Serves him fucking right. I hope it opened that gash on his head the last asshole he tangoed with left him.

  Wild man snickers, not even trying to hide it, but the others look on with separate looks of disapproval.

  “That wasn’t very nice,” Noble says, muscles straining as he lifts Sam back up beside me.

  Giving him my biggest bitch face, I sneer, “Never said I was nice. The world doesn’t have room for nice people anymore. Nice gets you dead.”

  He nods as if he finally understands. “So, if I tell you right now that I’ll untie you and let you go, would you leave? After I just told you that we’re just trying to be good people and help you.”

  I shrug. “Probably.”

  The man I saved, Dex, steps forward, dropping the strings of
his hoodie he’d been fidgeting with. “Why?”

  “It’s always human nature to believe that there’s safety in numbers, but that thought is illogical. In every group, there’s always a weak link. Those links cause casualties,” I reply honestly.

  “So, you think you’d be the weak link in our group?” wild man fishes, a deep northern lilt to his words.

  Bringing my shoulders back to sit straighter, I stare him dead in the eye. “I never said that.”

  “She’d be the casualty, obviously,” Sam remarks with a quick spit of blood to the floor. “She saved your asses, didn’t she?”

  Dex’s expression morphs into fury, and he steps toward Sam, but Noble puts the back of his hand against Dex’s chest and stops him. Then he turns to me. “What if we politely asked you to stay for now? We’ve been going out on scouting trips around the area and almost had a run-in with a pretty nasty gang. We’re hoping it’s just one of those get what they need and move on kind of conditions, but things would be a lot worse for you were with them right now instead of us.”

  Shit. I couldn’t even take these guys on, and they weren’t trying to hurt me. I might not be so lucky with this other group.

  “Conditions,” I reply, internally arguing with myself. Noble nods once, and wild man snickers again, but I ignore him as I continue. “One, I want a room that can be locked from the inside only. Two, keep your hands to yourself. I don’t want to be tied up like this again.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see wild man brush a thumb across his lips, and my brain decides for whatever reason that it would most certainly like to break that rule and let him tie me up. Thinking of anything but that to keep my face from flaming, I keep going, “Three, when the time comes for me to leave, you let me go.”

  Noble dips his head again in agreeance. “Done.”

  “Oh, and I want my backpack returned,” I demand as he steps close to untie me. Graham has already moved over to Sam and is tending to the cuts on his forehead.