by M. J. Haag
“We were trapped in the warehouse, Mya, not the street.”
The way he said it almost made me grin.
“I’m sorry. Continue.”
“After that, we didn’t see any infected until we reached Ardmore. Standing alone in the road was the same infected. He wore a red shirt and only had one shoe. He didn’t call out this time. Instead, he turned and ran. We followed, chasing him into a warehouse. The door closed behind us. Bud was yelling because it was dark, but we could see and smell. Decay soured the air in the building from the hundreds of infected waiting within. It was good that Bud could not see all of them.”
My stomach dropped at Ghua’s description, and I sincerely hoped this was like a fishing story. One embellished to make the retelling more interesting.
“What did you do?” I asked, leaning forward, food long forgotten. Most of the men in the kitchen lingered to hear the end as well.
“I considered throwing Bud to them, but we climbed the metal logs supporting the ceiling and ripped open the tin roof.”
“Why didn’t you just rip open the door?”
“I wanted to see what the infected would do.”
“And?”
“They didn’t do much. They couldn’t climb like we could. After the warehouse, we left the city and found the fenced-in place. The return trip was much quieter,” Ghua finished.
“Eat, Mya,” Drav said softly, nudging the bowl toward me.
I picked up my spoon and ate a few bites as I considered everything. Although I trusted Ghua’s word, he knew very little of humans, uninfected or otherwise. Maybe what he’d thought was a sign of intelligence was just his lack of understanding. Or maybe I just didn’t like the idea of smarter infected.
“I need to talk to Bud,” I said, pushing the bowl aside.
“Why?” Drav asked.
“I don’t like the idea of shuffling around from place to place in a blind attempt to find the safe zones. I’m hoping after a day with Ghua and the others, he might be more willing to share whatever information he knows.
“I’m also thinking about telling him we’re leaving. Part of me thinks that’s a bad idea. That they’ll go running to whoever they’d thought had shown up when Ghua arrived. Yet, the other part of me feels…I don’t know. Worried maybe? They have two men out there who haven’t come back. How long will four humans last against the infected and hellhounds, even with this fence protecting them?”
“I think you should tell them,” Molev said. “If they go to tell other humans, then your people will find us.”
“Yeah, that worries me. You saw how they destroyed the cities. I’m worried they will try to do the same to you if we can’t find and talk to them on our terms.”
Molev shrugged. “I still see no reason to remain quiet. Perhaps they tell other humans, and we find women sooner. Perhaps they come with us, and we must look longer. We cannot know the outcome until we make the choice.”
“All right,” I said, standing. “I’ll go talk to them.”
Drav stood, too.
“Together,” he said.
“Together,” I agreed.
His company came in handy when we walked into the barn to an openly hostile one-sided argument between Bud and the four fey who’d been keeping an eye on the men.
“Is there a problem?” I asked Bud, interrupting his tirade about privacy.
“Yeah, tell them to get lost.”
“They’re keeping an eye on you because I asked them to,” I said, walking toward the aisles of supplies.
“Why, and what are you doing?” he asked, angrily following in my wake. “Leave our supplies alone. You’ve taken enough.”
“You’re right. We have.” I turned to look at the man. Drav stood inches behind him, the intensity in his gaze a bit awe-inspiring. Bud wouldn’t even be able to sneeze in my direction without immediate intervention by Drav.
“We’re leaving. Tomorrow morning, if I have my way.”
“Good,” he said with a satisfied smile.
“Is it? You said you’re missing two men. How long do you think just the four of you will be able to stay here on your own?”
“Long enough.”
“That’s such a macho bullshit answer. The real answer is not long.”
“We’ll last plenty long if you give us our guns back.”
I shook my head, not in denial but annoyance.
“You’ll get them when we leave and not before.” I glanced past him to his men who watched us and listened. “If any of you want to come with us, you’ll be welcomed and protected.” I looked at Bud again. “What happened in the warehouse?”
“How the fuck would I know? Those idiots ran into a pitch-black building. I couldn’t see a damn thing.”
“What about what you smelled or heard?” I asked.
“I didn’t smell or hear nothing.”
The steady almost daring way he held my gaze told me the truth. Ghua hadn’t embellished.
“Right. You weren’t stuck in a building filled with infected who only wanted to rip you apart so they could taste fresh human flesh. I get that you’re not worried about you. That’s fine. But think of everyone else out there. You wouldn’t be standing here right now if it weren’t for the fey. There are other survivors out there who need their help. Please, tell me where they are.”
His eyes narrowed.
“There ain’t nothing to tell, demon whore,” he said with menace.
Drav growled low behind him, and I had the pleasure of watching Bud pale.
“Fine. We’ll see you again in the morning. Enjoy your night,” I said, walking past him to Drav. Drav wrapped an arm protectively around my shoulder and led me to the others.
“Keep watch,” I said. “All night. I don’t trust them.” I didn’t bother to lower my voice.
Outside, Drav scooped me up into his arms.
“Why do they keep calling you something you are not?” he asked, pressing his forehead to mine.
“They use insults to try to make me as angry as they are. By staying calm, I’m robbing their insults of any power. Next time, ignore them. It will make you the bigger man.”
“I already am the bigger man.”
I grinned knowing he meant that literally.
“Let’s go to bed, big guy. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. There’s no reason to stay here if everyone who’s coming from the caves has joined us. It’s time to start seriously looking for my family.”
No one stopped us as we made our way to the bedroom. Most of the men already lay wherever they could find an open spot. Ghua once again rested on the floor beside our bed.
Drav didn’t say anything about all the bodies crammed into the room. He just set me on the bed and snuggled close. I toed off my shoes and closed my eyes.
Tomorrow, for better or worse, we would leave this place.
Six
The smell of bacon tickled my nose. I sat straight up in the mostly dark room and inhaled deeply, not believing what I smelled.
“No way.”
I bolted from the bed, and like a pro hurdler, I cleared the bodies on the floor. Drav called my name as I sprinted down the steps, waking up the men along the way with my racket. The sun hadn’t yet kissed the horizon so I whispered “go back to sleep” as I passed.
Rounding the corner to the kitchen, I found Jerry at the stove, guarding three pans full of the greasy meat. Molev watched from the table.
“That smells like heaven,” I said, moving close to Jerry. “Where did it come from?”
“The freezer on the back porch. It’s full of meat.”
“Damn.”
“Bud was glad you didn’t notice it. But I figured if you’re leaving today, you might want something that reminds you of home.” He shrugged as if what he’d done was no big deal.
I studied him, noting the worry in his face. Likely for me. He knew what to expect out there. He’d been living it for weeks. And, I had no real idea, but I did know the fey would keep me
safe.
“Come with us,” I said softly. “You spent all day with these guys yesterday. You had to learn a little bit about them in that time. They’re no better or worse than us. They have faults, but they have strengths too.”
“I know. I’m not staying because I don’t trust them. I’m staying because my friends need me. We’ve lost too many already, and I can’t do that to them.” He set his fork aside. “Now that you’re awake, I better get back out to the barn before Bud notices. He’s been arm wrestling most of the night.” A slight grin followed that statement.
“Thanks for the bacon,” I said, watching him as he walked away.
Drav entered the kitchen to the sound of the door closing behind Jerry.
“Good morning, Mya. Is this the food you crave?” he asked, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Oh yeah. Bacon and eggs. I never thought I’d eat that again.”
He watched me nudge the bacon around the pans while I waited for the salty meat to finish cooking. Once it was crisp enough, I removed all of it from the pans and set a heaping plate full on the table. Neither Drav nor Molev seemed too impressed when they tried a piece. I didn’t mind. It meant more for me.
Men slowly trickled into the kitchen and tried bits of the bacon before going outside.
“We’re leaving this morning, right?” I asked, looking at Molev.
“Yes. According to Ghua, we should be able to reach the building before the sun is too high.”
“Good. The humans are going to stay here. We can’t leave them defenseless. Where are their guns?”
“In the back of the barn next to the sacks of rice.”
“In plain sight?”
“Yes.”
“How did you know they wouldn’t find them and try to use them?” I asked.
“Someone was always with them. They wouldn’t have gotten close.”
I didn’t argue, but he probably saw the doubt on my face.
“I’m going to head upstairs, shower, and pack. It shouldn’t take me too long to be ready.”
Drav followed me upstairs.
“You should see if any of the clothes in these dressers fits you. It doesn’t hurt to have something clean to change into,” I said as I set my bag on the bed. While he looked through drawers, I pulled a clean set of clothes out of my bag.
He didn’t say anything when I left the room.
In the bathroom, I brushed my teeth and looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look different. Not really. But I felt so different. Older. More tired. More determined, with a clear goal. Find my family and a way for all of us to rebuild our world, together.
Turning from the mirror, I started the shower and stripped. Not wanting to waste time, I stepped into the chilly spray and began washing. Physically, I felt recovered from my time in the caverns, which was a good thing. Even though Drav would likely carry me the whole way to the new place, I would still need my strength and wits about me in the days to come. Because, while my goal might have been clear, how to achieve it still remained a mystery, especially given the reaction of the humans to the fey.
The water had just begun to warm when the door opened. I rinsed my face and stuck my head out of the curtain to catch Drav in the process of stripping.
“Uh…what are you doing?”
“Showering with you.”
My gaze shifted to his erection.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Molev wants to reach the building before the sun gets too high. Showering together is going to slow us down.”
“No, it will save time.” He swept the curtain aside and stepped in with me.
My pulse jumped at the first brush of his fingers over my water slicked skin. I should have said no, but I couldn’t. Not when he took the soap from me and ran his foamy hands over my shoulders in slow gentle sweeps. I closed my eyes and let him wash me, relishing the feel of skin on skin. Each soapy caress over my breasts made my breath catch. He didn’t rush, and I didn’t want him to. As he washed my chest, he nibbled his way from my collarbone to my jaw. I wrapped my arms around his neck and waited for his lips to meet mine.
Instead of kissing me, he coaxed me to release my hold and turn around. The spray of the shower rinsed my front as his hands slid over my shoulders and down the long line of my back. I held still as his hands swept over the curve of my ass and cupped me, but I ached for more than just a washing.
He reached around me and set the soap on the ledge. Before I could turn to rinse again, his hands gripped my hips, and he pulled me against his chest. One hand anchored me to him while the other slid over my abdomen and down to my curls. I reached up behind me, digging my fingers into his hair.
“I love the sounds you make,” he murmured in my ear as he parted me.
I tried not to make sounds. Really, I did. But when his finger brushed over my sweet spot again and again, I came apart with a pained-sounding mewl. I turned my head up to him, and he kissed me hard, capturing most of the sound.
Trembling with aftershocks, I kissed him in return until he pulled away, turned me, and placed his forehead against mine.
“I love you, Mya.”
Tears welled in my eyes for the beautiful, sincere man holding me. My heart ached for what I felt for him. Was it love? I thought so. But the fear I had for our future fought so hard to stifle it.
“We better finish up, Drav, before Molev bursts in again.”
Drav didn’t seem to mind that I hadn’t returned his sweetly worded sentiment. When I took the soap and helped him wash, I paid all his parts as much attention as he’d paid mine. Kissing him didn’t keep his growls quiet, though.
His release echoed in the bathroom, and I didn’t stop touching him until the last shudder wracked through him. He kissed me tenderly, and I was glad I hadn’t fought showering together. Even though he’d never left my side, I’d missed him like he had left me. We’d needed this.
Someone knocked on the door.
“We are meeting in the yard,” Molev said through the wood.
“Okay. We’ll be just a minute,” I called back.
Drav kissed me hard then turned off the water. Pushing the curtain open, Drav grabbed the waiting towel and handed it to me before getting his own.
We hurriedly dried and dressed. Well, I dressed. Drav left the bathroom without wearing a stitch of clothing. No one in the hallway seemed to even notice.
Drav put on a clean shirt and the same pants in our room while I brushed and braided my wet hair in the bathroom. We both walked downstairs a few minutes later. Most of the fey had left the house. The few remaining ate soup in the kitchen.
Stepping outside, we found the majority of the fey milling about the yard in the pre-dawn light. Molev called Drav’s name, gesturing him over toward the barn where he stood with some other long-haired fey.
“Go. I’ll walk around before we have to leave,” I said, waving him off and shouldering my bag. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and went to join Molev.
I wandered over to the gate. I didn’t think we were that far from Irving, which meant we had a lot of road to cover to get to the new place. It wouldn’t take the fey long, though, at the speeds they traveled.
While the others wandered about, I watched the trees through the fence. Shadows danced among the barren trees, the branches rustling in the wind, creating creaking groans as bark scraped against bark.
The woman from the day before and Ghua’s story rose to my mind again. How many infected lurked in those trees lining this road and the next?
Suddenly, I no longer felt so eager to leave.
I stepped back, ready to turn away from the fence when something in the trees caught my eye. A trace of red amidst the brown. I leaned forward, focusing on the spot. There it was again. A small figure moving through the forest. I watched the uneven way it moved, and my heart broke. As much as I wanted it to be a fox or some other creature, I knew it wasn’t. A child had become infected and now wandered the woods, forever
alone.
The figure stumbled from the trees into the road, tottering closer with each uneven step. Close enough that I could see its tousle of black hair. A little boy, no more than three or four years old, lifted his head. I caught a glimpse of his baby blues as he stumbled then threw his hands out to catch himself.
My hands gripped the chain link gate, and I gasped, not believing what I was seeing. Blue eyes without a trace of cloudiness. The child was not infected, just thin and dirty. How was he still alive out there?
The boy regained his feet and wobbled forward, each step a monumental struggle. I finally saw why. A heavy, thick loop of rope had been tied around his waist. The end trailed after him and disappeared into the trees from where he’d emerged.
Fear gripped me. Who had tied him?
I reached out and grabbed the fey beside me.
“Do you see the human?” I asked, not taking my eyes from the boy.
“Yes, Mya.”
“Go get him. But be very gentle. There’s a rope around his waist. I don’t know why. Hurry and be careful.”
The fey jerked the gate open and sprinted toward the boy. The child stopped walking, shocked at the sight of the big grey man coming his way. The toddler’s bottom lip wobbled.
The rope behind him moved. The slack began to tighten. Something held the other end.
“Quick,” I yelled. “The rope!”
The fey reached the boy and quickly untangled the rope from his tiny waist. A loud gurgle sounded beyond them.
From the trees, a herd of infected emerged, racing toward the fey and the boy. The number of infected spilling from the forest stunned me. Amidst the chaotic movement, one stood still. A woman in a torn and dirty brown business suit. The woman I’d seen outside my window. She held the other end of the rope.
Terror coursed through me as the fey lifted the child into his arms and sprinted toward the gate, barely ahead of the infected.
Across the yard, Bud started yelling, demanding their guns. I hoped the fey were smart enough not to give the humans the weapons.
“Get Mya away from the gate,” Drav shouted.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist and yanked me off my feet. As I was carried away from the gate, I couldn’t stop watching the scene play out.
