Surviving The Aftermath (Book 1): The Dead Linger

by Roberts, Liz

  “He’s gone. I’m sorry. There was just too much internal damage.” She said slowly and then closed his eyes.

  “Damn it!” Casey said turning trying not to touch his bloody hand to his face. Someone else walked over and asked who else didn’t make it.

  “Where’s Bernie?” Someone stepped forwards and asked. Everyone looked around for her, and Jill knew that must have been the girl that had got taken down by her.

  “She didn’t make it either.” Jill said still standing next to the truck. Everyone was very quiet and helped move Ben’s body inside the store. Jill wasn’t sure what she should do so she just started helping Oscar unload the few supplies they had managed to get. A few people were crying and consoling each other.

  “It happens. Not every trip out is 100% successful.” Oscar told Jill, she just nodded and kept unloading. A few others came to help until all was done and Jill still didn’t know what to do. Ben’s body had been taken away to be disposed of, bodies weren’t buried anymore, no place to bury them, but they were cremated, that is if there was a body left to deal with. Not everyone got a funeral nowadays.

  “Hey you ok?” Jack came over to talk to Jill.

  “Yeah. I think I’m just going to go shower and to bed now. You going to be ok?”

  “Of course.” Jack gave Jill a brief hug and jogged off toward Meghan who was starting to walk back inside. The cars had been put away, the supplies having been dispersed to their proper places, Jill continued to stand there watching people continue with their late nightly routines, others going off to bed, Jill looked up and could see how bright the stars were, the moon wasn’t quite full yet but very close. Casey stood by the main entrance and noticed Jill still standing there, she looked lost almost.

  “I guess you could look at it like a war and were and soldiers, not everyone makes it back, and we all take risks.” She had no idea what to say that would help him, he looked very sad. Silence was now stretching between them, and Casey leaned forward to embrace Jill in a hug. They held each other for a moment before Casey whispered to her that he was glad Jack made it back. They walked inside, holding hands, passed the others, down the hall towards Jill’s room. They stopped in front of her door.

  “Do you want to come in my room?” Jill whispered to him, hoping he’d say no but really wanting him to say yes. She wasn’t sure if she was offering to sleep with him or just comfort him, but she didn’t want to leave him either. Casey leaned back to look at her, and nodded his head after a moment. Jill reached behind him and unlocked her door and they both slipped inside.

  Chapter 4

  Pissed and seething, Jeff lay on the cot that was inside his jail cell. He was monitored 24/7. He needed to talk to Tyler, find out what was going on and how to break him out of here. He lost track of how many days he had been in here for, he hadn’t seen Casey or that bitch Jill since they drug him in here. He didn’t know what yet, but he was going to do something to Jill when he got out of here, just for that shot in the balls he took. Thinking about that only infuriated him more. He’d done time in prison before, but he’d done easy time. This was worse, no smokes, no interaction, he didn’t even get exercise time. Sometimes he’d stand there and shout for hours, just holler and scream to be let out, other times he would just swear and threaten. He tried at first to be friends, tried to tell them that he had been isolated so long his people skills were bad, that he was so horny he lost control, anything to get them to believe he was fine. But now he had a feeling that they were going to leave him here to rot. Now he just thought about killing. Just breaking down those walls and letting those walking rotting corpses in to take care of everyone while he got away. He looked over at his wall, he must be right on the corner of the building, closest to the outside, because all night long he swore heard nothing but the zombies moans and shuffling around out there. He stood and put his ear to the wall wondering how close they were to him out there. He hadn’t slept in days, what was going on, he wanted to know. It was just like all of a sudden there was constant noise. Sometimes he could hear faint gunfire, good, he hoped that meant those living were being eaten by the dead. He prowled around a bit then sidled up to the bars, put his hands on them gripping them till his knuckles whitened. He just stood there looking at the door, then up at the video camera hoping someone was watching him right now. What time was it? He wanted to scream and shout again, but thought it was scarier if he just stood there silently. He was thinking again, about Tyler, how if he could only get in touch with him.

  One room away Kurt sat with Andy in the security room, talking strategy and watching the security monitors they had installed around all the buildings. They were very interested in the monitor that was showing the room with the jail cell.

  “I think he’s lost it. At first I thought letting him out after a couple days would have been fine, but now… . . look at him, he’s gone crazy.” Andy said eyeing Jeff pace back and forth like a tiger.

  “I know. We have to tell Tom and Casey.” Kurt replied.

  “What are we going to do with him?” He asked Kurt.

  “Probably kill him. He’s too violent to let loose, and if we send him away with supplies of any kind he’ll probably just try to compromise our shelter.” Kurt was thinking now.

  “What do we do about his friend?”

  “Not sure yet, we’ll have to feel him out, see how loyal he is. Maybe he’ll give up Jeff to stay here, protected. That’s the one thing we can offer.” Andy said. They had been watching Jeff put his ear to the wall, now he was leaning his head against the cell bars, staring out and then shifting his gaze to the camera that looked down on him.

  Kurt gave a shutter “I’m telling you man, he’s not right in the anymore.” He said quietly as they watched Jeff on.

  “I know.” Andy replied. “You ever see the movie Psycho? The good one with Janet Leigh?” Kurt just nodded. “This is like the ending scene, where Norman is talking inside his head as his mother how he’ll be released because he’s not going to swat the fly away from his hand, and he looks up at the camera and smiles.”

  “Yeah, this is just like that.” Kurt said.

  Oscar was enjoying being alive. His favorite thing to do was clean his gun, and he always tried to clean it at least every other day, it had gotten him through the last year or so of hell, and until he found something else this was his baby. Being outside, enjoying the fresh air was one of the best things. He’d always think back to his mama’s house, and the cookouts they use to have with all his Aunts and Uncles and cousins there. Just good times. There had been talks more recently about raiding the armory, but that would be an overnight trip, lots of planning had to go into that one. But he knew they would go, they didn’t have a choice. The Cabela’s raid had been a partial success with only a few minor casualties, but they found the rest of the equipment they need to actually make their own ammo. Oscar started having thoughts of possibly surviving this whole thing.

  “Hey there.” Kurt said coming sitting down next to Oscar at the table where he was finishing putting his gun back together.

  “Hi.” A beer appeared before him. “Oh I love you man.” Oscar said tipping his head back took a big swig of beer. While booze was still available, they indulged once in a while. There was no need yet to make their own, but everyone knew there were a few people that did it anyway.

  “How are things looking?” Kurt asked referring to the ammunition resupplying area.

  “It looks good. Al and Emily are showing the others how everything works, there will be a learning curve I’m sure but by the end of the week we could be firing brand new bullets.”

  “That’ll be nice, one less thing to worry about on our list of a million.” Kurt was now drinking up his own beer. Oscar always made Kurt a bit nervous, he was a military man, but he’d swear that he got that Vibe from him, he’d just never had the courage to ask. He didn’t seem homophobic, but then Kurt didn’t really come off as gay either, he felt stuck.

  “You ok? You look te
nse.” Oscar asked.

  “Just came from the security room. The Jeff guy is losing his marbles man. We can’t keep him here. Maybe we should just poison him and be done.”

  “I’m all for that, but you know there will be some people that have issues.” Kurt reminded Oscar. There was a select group that was not fond of capital punishment, or the banishment of people or some of the stricter laws that were in place. They felt people deserved chances and everyone should be forgiven and absolved of all crimes committed before coming here. It sounded good in theory, giving people the opportunity for a fresh start, but it was discovered early on that not everyone was looking to better themselves here.

  “Did you hear what they are cooking for dinner?” Oscar asked. Kurt had just gotten caught staring at Oscar and had to regroup quickly.

  “Mexican, uh, tacos and stuff I heard.”

  “Nice, beer always goes good with Mexican. Oh and tequila, we should get a bottle and have a couple of drinks later. You want too?” Oscar stood and was looking down at Kurt.

  “Ugh, yeah sure. Totally. Uh sounds like a plan to me.” Kurt was elated and shocked, he hadn’t ever recalled be invited to drink alone with Oscar.

  “Awesome! I’ll see you at dinner.” Oscar clapped Kurt on the back and head over to the warehouse. Kurt couldn’t believe what a jack ass he sounded like. He could barely speak what was wrong with him. Maybe after dinner with some tequila he’d have the courage to ask Oscar his preference.

  “Hey, Meghan?” Jack said.

  “Yes?” Jack was very nervous. He had been for a couple of days now, trying to work up the courage to ask her out.

  “You know, last week was my birthday, I’m 18 now.” He added.

  “What?! Really? Why didn’t you tell anyone, we would have celebrated.”

  “It’s no big deal.” He shrugged it off. They walked along the back side of the lot, it was Meghan’s patrol route for the night. A small perch had been built up in the back corners so people could see over the wall, and on cold windy nights, which were abundant in the Midwest, the shelter really helped. She climbed down and they walked along the side wall, eventually, they wanted to make it possible to walk along the tops of the walls, so you could circle the entire complex from above, but that would take a lot more material. For now this worked, with the perches.

  “Well happy birthday anyway. What would you have done for your 18th if things were normal?”

  “I guess probably just have gone out to dinner with my folks, maybe gone to a movie or something with my friends. Nothing spectacular.” He told her.

  “Well I could give you a belated birthday present.” And she leaned forward and kissed him. Jack didn’t really know what to do with hands so he just set them on her waist as she kissed him.

  “Will you go out with me?” He blurted. She just smiled and looked at him as she put her arms up around his neck and nodded, then added. “You know, you could kiss me back.” She informed him.

  “Oh right.” He started kissing her again.

  Slinging through the shadows, trying not to be noticed Tyler made is way to the rendezvous point that him and Cindi arranged earlier. He could barely contain his excitement. They had some handguns and a rifle, a couple boxes of food and water. There were even three girls willing to leave with them. Cindi was meeting him to check out the SUV he could hot wire, in a couple of days he’d bust Jeff out and they hit the road. Stupid Tom, trying to get him to leave his daughter alone, he knew they were having sex. That was the best part, and he couldn’t do anything about it, Cindi only had eyes for him. Ah, and there she was waiting for him. He was gonna tap it again tonight, just like he’d been doing almost every night. The girl was insatiable, she must get off on being daddy’s girl dating the bad boy.

  “Hey sweet thing.” He strolled up to her and kissed her long and hard. She grabbed his belt and yanked him into her body.

  “Hey yourself.” She kissed him some more, sucking on his tongue and doing anything else that seemed naughty. He had to push her back, she was relentless.

  “Did you get the rest of the ammo?”

  “Yeah, it’s in the box around the corner.” Tyler headed towards it, Cindi was trailing behind him. He crouched down and searched through it. Yes! There had to be easily 1000 rounds. They snuck back around in and quietly deposited the box in the trunk with the rest.

  “Thanks babe! You are the best.” He kissed her and grabbed her hand to go to their spot.

  “Wait, where are you going? She was irritated and ready to cry her emotions were all over the place, a new and recent development for her.

  “I thought we were going to our normal place.”

  “I knew it. You’re just using me. All you wanted was the supplies, some booty and you’re going to ditch me.” He rolled his eyes heavenward as this was almost becoming an everyday occurrence with her. She used to tell him how much she wanted him and needed him, but now it seemed to turn in whining more and more.

  “You know I have to find Jeff and bust him out, I love you sweetie.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her.

  “Then why won’t you make love to me? Why are you so afraid to show me affection in public? You won’t even talk to me in the lunch room, are when we pass each other in the yard.”

  He loved playing with her, getting her to beg him for sex was such an ego boost.

  “You want me here? Now?” He was already primed and ready to go.

  “Yes, oh yes.” She was running her hands up his chest and frantically working on his pants. Tyler didn’t mind the place, in fact it was kind of a turn on, just the fact that Cindi was so loud. She started getting that frowny face again. So he sucked it up and kissed, he started pulling her shorts and spun her around. Thank god she didn’t always require the normal attention most women, she was quick to arouse and satisfy. He drove into her, pressing her up against the car, as she started to make screechy noises. He quickly covered her mouth with his hand. “Shhhhhh baby, you have to keep it down.” He just had to focus and finish quick before someone saw them. He’d never had so much pressure on him to perform before.

  “Ah, young love.” Kurt said as he had a sip of tequila, noticing Jack and Meghan kiss from a far.

  “I know, poor kids, he should be taking her out on a cheap date or something, not stuck here.” Oscar replied.

  The two men sat outside enjoying their bottle and the night air. Most if not all of the patio furniture had been moved outside to different areas for people sit and relax when they were not working.

  “Did you hear, Casey and Tom are drawing up plans to move us all into those apartments soon.” Kurt announced.

  “No shit.” Oscar said turning to look at Kurt. Those apartments had been the cause of lots of talk, arguments and worries. Other than the fact that they were completely engulfed in a wooded area with a small creak running in the back, they had no idea what lurked inside them. For a while now there was lots of back and forth about risking it or not, and the idea always fizzled out. It seemed Jill renewed this notion and people were siding with her thoughts.

  “Man it would be nice to have a real room again, with real walls and junk.”

  “I know right. But the worst part will be cleaning them out and up. Think about, a year worth of rotten food and stale air, who knows if anyone died in there. It’ll be a pain in the ass man.” Kurt replied.

  “Yeah but I’d still do it just so I wouldn’t have to hear the couple next to me having sex.” With the mention of that word Kurt suddenly became very self-conscious and remembered why he was really out here. He had to ask now, while he was still sober enough to think but yet had enough drinks to take the edge off.

  “So ah, was there anyone waiting for you at home? You know, before all this started?”

  “What? Like a wife?”

  “Well yeah. A little woman in her apron and pearls, waiting for her army man to come home from the wars.” Kurt said trying to keep things light and downed another shot. He was up to three now, he h
ad to keep track.

  “No way man, I was single before, still am.”

  “There’s no one here that interests you at all?” Kurt doing his best to keep is casual as he refilled both glasses.

  “Maybe one or two people that I’ve noticed, but you know I just don’t think I have the courage to say anything.” Kurt was feeling slightly deflated and shocked by this omission, he felt like the only thing he should do was suck it up and be supportive and help Oscar. With a slightly shaking voice Kurt said

  “Well maybe she doesn’t realize you are into her. I mean flirting hasn’t died, that’s still part of the game bro.” Kurt now back with a little muster.

  “I guess I could flirt more, I’m a pretty private person and aside from shooting zombies I’m kind of shy.”

  “No way, you’re shy?” Kurt had never witnessed anything but courage and utter brazenness from Oscar. He always seemed to walk around with a bit of swagger, even when he was in full army mode. He’d seen him skinny dip in a pond once after rescue mission. It’s probably why he felt so drawn to him. Nothing seemed to distract him from a goal or mission, he was a super nice guy, and with handsome Latin features and dark wavy hair, Oscar was the epitome of tall dark and handsome. In Kurt’s mind this was a lethal combo.

  “I am. I’m not sure if I could walk up to anyone and tell them I like them. Tell me what I should do. How would you play it?” Oscar asked Kurt. Kurt took a sip of his tequila, he’d have to think about this one. “Pretend you like me, what would you say?” Oscar asked.