Refuge From The Dead | Book 2 | Dead Summer

by Masters, A. L.

  “Mmmm, that hits the spot,” she said, sipping the golden liquid.

  “I want to go on the supply run with you.”

  “No,” he said.

  “Yes. Don’t argue with me, Cam. It’s not good for my health,” she retorted.

  “You’re healthier than all of us put together,” he replied.

  “Maybe. I do know that I’m not going to sit around here doing nothing. I need to go.” For once she was serious. She drained her glass and set it down.

  He looked her in the eyes. “This time won’t be as easy as the other times. You know that?”

  “I know.”

  “Okay. You’ll ride with me,” he stated.

  He went and helped Angie up and took her to the library. She sat on a sofa, reading a romance novel of some sort, while he jotted down notes and supply lists on a notepad.

  Jim, and the others who were going, joined him, and they planned out their next expedition.

  Chapter Six

  Ed’s Decision

  Jim

  Jim sat with Angie on the front porch of the lodge, quietly enjoying their peaceful surroundings.

  Jim was lost in thought. Two days had passed since Cam went over to the parking lot and decimated the ranks of his rotting foes, and tomorrow the team would go out on another perilous journey, fraught with danger and grievous harm…

  Jim suspected he had read too much Tolkien lately.

  He set aside his lengthy tome, full of frivolously descriptive language and stood, stretching his back.

  If their team was a company of fictional characters, hell-bent on tossing a ring of power into a fiery mountain full of magical ring-destroying lava, then Ed would have to be Gimli. Cam could be Aragorn and he would be…no, no. He would be Aragorn and Cam could be the elf. He’d be pissed.

  Jean…Jean could be…

  Angie looked up at him and smiled. She couldn’t know what he was thinking. He smiled back and laid a hand on her shoulder. Just her presence made him happy.

  “Were you trying to figure out which Lord of the Rings character you would be, just now?” she asked.

  “What? No! Why would I do that?” he asked. “That’s silly, babe.” He shook his head and tsked.

  Jean could be Gollum. The store could be Mount Mordor.

  Okay, he needed to stop now. Maybe he should just stick to reading gun magazines and Clausewitz.

  “Do you guys have everything ready for tomorrow?” she asked.

  He sat and pulled her into the seat next to him.

  “Yeah, I went over it all with Cam several times. Then we got Jean, Monica, and Jack and briefed them. It should go fine, as long as the roads are clear. That place isn’t as populated as our town was, so hopefully they won’t have too much trouble with herds.”

  He rested his chin on the top of her head and felt her lightly rest her hand on his arm. He wanted to go with the team so much, but there was no way either one of them would leave the island at the same time. One of them always needed to be here, whenever possible anyway.

  He resolved to be the one to go on the next run.

  “I don’t want Cam to go, Jim. I don’t want anyone to go. We’re safe here. It’s stupid to leave again.”

  He sighed. “I know, but you understand why it has to be done. This may be our last chance to stock up. Pretty soon other groups will be out. Dangerous groups. And the herds of dead could get bigger. You didn’t see how many were on the shore over there, Ang. There must have been a hundred.”

  “You mean Cam killed a hundred of those things?!” she said incredulously.

  He nodded his head and forgot that she couldn’t see him. “Yeah.”

  Cam scared him a little, to be honest.

  He felt that they had begun their friendship in an equal manner, on even-footing, as it were. Now…he didn’t know. Cam was different. Maybe they would all change eventually, and Cam just adapted the quickest.

  “Let’s go in and get some tea. This day is depressing me,” she said.

  Jim stood and swept her up.

  “You don’t have to carry me, I’m perfectly capable of walking.”

  “I know,” he replied simply.

  She reached up to him and put a hand on his cheek. “Jim…” she began.

  “Please don’t say it yet,” he begged.

  She sighed and eventually nodded.

  “Besides, maybe you’ll heal faster this way, then I can steal you from Cam and get lucky sooner,” he said, in a cheerful voice.

  “Jim!” she said. “That’s outrageous.”

  “You think they don’t know that Cam and I are in a competition here?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

  “Jim, there is no—”

  “Shhhh. Let me pretend, he said.

  He saw a flush spread across her face and took her in to the library. She may love Cam, but she wasn’t completely immune to him. He would take whatever kind of relationship she dished out, and he would be content.

  Or so he kept telling himself.

  He couldn’t help but push it sometimes…that was just who he was. A rebel, at heart. He sat on the couch, conveniently forgetting that she was in his arms still.

  Hopefully, Cam wouldn’t bash his kneecaps while he slept tonight.

  “Well, this is cozy,” a sarcastic voice said from the doorway.

  Jim closed his eyes and sighed in exasperation. “Monica,” he acknowledged.

  “I want to go over the alternate routes with you again. Cam was so abrupt with me last time that I didn’t fully understand the plan,” she said.

  “Have a seat,” he offered, gesturing to a chair nearby. He slid Angie off his lap and settled her next to him, leaving as little available space on the couch as possible.

  “Let’s get this done once and for all, I have other things I need to do,” he stated impatiently.

  “Mmmhmm, I’m sure you do,” she said cynically.

  Jim glared at her then proceeded to, once again, explain every detail of the mission to Monica.

  If she didn’t get it this time, she was out of luck.

  Ed

  Ed walked slowly up the path behind the lodge.

  His feet were starting to hurt again, though the last couple of days rest had done wonders for his gout. He knew it was only a matter of time before it got bad again. A man could only sit down for so long.

  He thought about Peggy, for the millionth time that afternoon, and wished he could bring her around.

  She seemed like a hollow shell. He guessed there was only so much a person could take before they just decided it wasn’t worth it anymore.

  Of course, there had been people back in Vietnam who couldn’t take it.

  They got depressed or acted out, and some even committed suicide once they got back stateside. Maybe it would just take time for her to deal with it.

  He didn’t want to consider the alternative.

  She had been brutalized. Damaged. He knew what they had done to her. Ed thinks she had never come face to face with true cruelty before, and that combined with the state of things now…well, it was just too much for her.

  He knew one thing for certain. Right now, she had no hope left. That was a dangerous thing.

  “Hey Ed, Nick’s wanting you to come see him if you can,” Bradley said, wandering up the path.

  “I sure will. How’s he doing this afternoon?”

  “He sat up for a while earlier and ate something. He isn’t quite so pale anymore. His eyes are still the same though, and that hideous scar on his arm.” Bradley shuddered.

  Nick’s scar came from a Z scratch.

  They had a run in with a group of walkers trapped in the back of a trailer at the store, and he got a long chunk gouged out of his skin.

  It had healed up peculiarly; Ed never saw anything like it. It had turned black and cold but hadn’t spread or gotten very infected.

  “Those antibiotics he’s taking may have helped him out more than we know. Probably even saved his life,” Ed com
mented.

  “I wonder if he’s immune to bites now. That would be awesomesauce.”

  Awesomesauce? Where do these young folks come up with these words?

  Thinking back, he supposed his generation had some pretty snappy lingo themselves. He remembers his parents shaking their heads over it a time or two. Of course, what would his parents have thought about the dead rising up and chasing after living folks?

  “Let’s go on up now and have a chat with Nick. I haven’t spent much time with him here lately,” Ed suggested.

  “Well, you’ve been pretty busy, with Peggy and all,” Brad stopped, unsure of what to say next.

  Ed stayed silent and they went up to see Nick.

  ◆◆◆

  “Well, how do I look?” Nick asked, sitting up in bed. “Better, right?”

  Uh…no.

  Ed studied Nick carefully for a few seconds, but not too long because he didn’t want Nick to think he was lying or anything.

  “Yes! At least fifty percent better than you did a few days ago!” Ed assured, his voice higher-pitched and louder than normal.

  His wife would recognize that in a heartbeat. It was his ‘I-don’t agree-with-you-but-I’m-trying-to-make-you-feel-better voice’. His daddy had told him back in seventy-five that a successful marriage required it, and he was right.

  Nick smiled at Brad. “See, I knew you were wrong,” he said smugly.

  “About what?” Ed asked him.

  “Brad said I looked slightly dead and suggested cosmetics until it wears off. I told him I looked fine, maybe just a little under the weather,” Nick explained.

  “I don’t think being dead wears off, Bradley,” Ed mentioned.

  Bradley facepalmed. “I said looking slightly dead…and I’m sure it will be totally gone someday. For real.”

  He dug through his bag and tossed Nick a tube. “Here. Use a tiny bit of this under your eyes. It will really brighten you up.”

  Nick read the tube and made a face. “I’m not wearing that. It’s for women!”

  “I wear it sometimes!” Bradley retorted.

  Nick just stared at him and raised an eyebrow.

  Bradley sighed in disgust. “Fine, but don’t expect me to give you any more tips. You’ll have to deal with that complexion on your own.”

  Ed looked at Nick’s face.

  Brad was right, he did look slightly dead still…but he felt no need to mention it to Nick and upset him. There was plenty of time for Nick to come to the truth on his own.

  His eyes at least had a little color showing through the white film, so he wasn’t completely savage looking. A definite improvement.

  “Do you want to go downstairs for supper tonight?” he asked Nick.

  Nick looked apprehensive. He started to speak, then stopped, then started again.

  “You don’t think I’ll ruin the meal?” he asked quietly.

  “No way. We’ll all be happy to have you. It will be like the old days,” Ed smiled fondly.

  “We just ate together, like, a week and a half ago. It hasn’t been that long Ed,” Nick replied.

  “Yeah, but time moves faster for us old folks,” Ed said mysteriously.

  Brad and Nick just glanced at each other and shook their heads as Ed walked out the door.

  “See you this evening!” he tossed back over his shoulder.

  One mission accomplished…

  Now if only Peg would get well.

  ◆◆◆

  An hour before the evening meal, Ed was reclining on Peg’s bed, telling her about his day.

  He was particularly descriptive, maybe it would help her visualize things better?

  He hoped she was listening.

  He had finished by telling her about Nick’s improvement. He really was happy. Nick seemed okay now, and if he kept getting better, maybe someday he would be back to normal.

  He wanted things to be normal and all his friends and loved ones to be well and happy here… for whatever time they had left.

  Ed wasn’t deluding himself. He knew that this place wouldn’t be safe forever.

  The dead probably wouldn’t find it, but the living would. Their defenses wouldn’t hold off an attack for very long. He only hoped they could get their alternate locations stocked up and prepared well before they had to flee this place.

  Living the rest of his life running from one place to the next didn’t sound very appealing.

  “Hey Peg? I wanted to tell you something. I’m thinking about going on that supply run tomorrow with Cam and the team. They’re going to the clinic up the road a ways, and then maybe that big outdoors store outside of town.”

  He was silent, thinking about the implications. It could be extremely dangerous. The clinics were all going to be hot spots for the living and the dead.

  He felt okay now, but what if they got stranded out there for several days and he had an arthritis attack? He wouldn’t be able to walk at all.

  He just didn’t feel good about leaving them to do all the dangerous work.

  He glanced at Peg and saw tears dripping from the corners of her eyes. She didn’t move to brush them away. She didn’t blink. It was enough for Ed.

  “I won’t go, Peg! Okay? I’ll stay here, I promise.”

  He wiped the tears away gently and lay down close to her, his hand on her arm. Maybe there was some hope for her after all.

  He stayed that way until suppertime.

  Jessica

  Jessica had finished prepping the dough for this evening’s meal and was letting it rise in covered bowls near the window. The heat from the sunlight would help it rise faster. She was certain they would all love what she had planned for supper.

  She took off her apron and hung it on the hook on the back of the basement door. She was about to grab a glass of tea when the back door opened, and Jack stepped in with Jonah.

  Jonah had his cat in his arms, as always.

  “Hey guys, you thirsty? I was just going to pour a glass of tea and go sit out on the porch for a while.”

  “Tea sounds great, thanks,” Jack replied, washing his hands at the sink.

  “Jonah?” she asked.

  Jonah only nodded and went into the other room.

  “He isn’t taking it very well, what happened to his mother, I mean,” Jack supplied.

  “I’m sure it’s very hard on you both, I can’t even imagine…”

  She could though, she could imagine how she would feel if something happened to Jack.

  Not that she loved him or anything, they were just friends, but she would be absolutely heartbroken if anything happened. Devastated.

  “Yeah. She was my wife and I failed to be there when she needed me. But…” He broke off and shook his head.

  Jess looked at him, wanting him to continue.

  “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. Let’s go sit outside for a bit. I want to relax this evening, before I have to leave tomorrow.”

  He followed her out to the porch after she gave Jonah his tea and a bowl of water for the cat.

  She would be brushing cat hair from the sofa later, but she didn’t have the heart to ask him to put the cat on the floor.

  They sat outside talking about their pasts, telling funny stories, and getting to know each other better. Jessica found out that the more she learned about Jack, the more she liked him. He was a dependable, honest man and a good father.

  She imagined that he was a good husband as well.

  “I guess I had better go in now and get that dough ready so I can roll it out,” she said, getting up.

  She grabbed their empty glasses and took them in. She set them into the sink and scrubbed her hands well. Jack had followed her in and did the same.

  “Where do I start?” he asked seriously.

  “What?”

  “I’m helping. What can I do?” he clarified.

  “You’re going to help me cook?” she asked, making sure she understood.

  “Sure, why not? Can a man not help out in the kitchen?
Are you sexist?!” he teased, placing his hand on his chest in false consternation.

  She snapped a dishtowel at him, and he laughed, jumping away.

  He flicked his wet hands at her, and she shrieked a little as the droplets of water landed on her face. A little too much for a few drops of water.

  Great, now he was going to think she was a spaz.

  “You!” she said wiping her face and smiling. “Get down to the basement!” she ordered.

  “Yes ma’am,” he saluted. “What am I going to do down there?” he asked.

  “Grab some pizza sauce, black olives, pepperoni, pepperoncini—” she stopped as he interrupted.

  “Wait, wait. You’re going to have to come with me. I have no idea where that stuff even is,” he complained.

  “Already slacking?” she kidded.

  He followed her down the steps and into the basement, using the solar lantern they kept at the bottom of the steps.

  She only used the solar charged ceiling lights when absolutely necessary. She wanted to save the battery power for emergencies.

  They made their way along the canned foods section, and she placed the ingredients in an empty crate that he held. They reached the end of the shelving, toward the back of the basement, and finally found the pepperoncinis she wanted. She put them into the box and turned to move in the other direction.

  “Wait,” he requested, setting the box on the floor.

  He moved closer and her heart sped up, beating double-time in her chest. He ran his hand down her arm, prompting instant tingling in her body. He finally reached his goal, his warm hand covering hers and removing the lantern.

  He set it on a shelf nearby without breaking eye contact with her.

  Jess sucked in a breath as he cradled her face in his hands. He ran his thumb across her lips and looked at her mouth. She licked her lips, nervous and excited. His eyes darkened at that, and he leaned down, gently pressing his lips to hers.

  Jessica felt a flash of heat and time stopped.

  She raised her hands slowly to his chest and he pulled her in closer, tighter. He deepened the kiss and groaned as he touched her tongue. She tentatively teased him.