Beautiful Death (Bella Morté Trilogy Book 1)

by Walker, L. Dee

  Zach was not your typical type of man. He didn’t like blood, mud, cooking, or anything that was watery-messy. Rolling away disgusted, pushing, he kicked to be free of the body on top of him. Todd oozed blood and gunk as hands clawed the ground for a few seconds, before stopping altogether. “Ew! What the hell?”

  Seeing he still had a head, Candice breathed a sigh of relief. “Did you get shot? Are you okay?”

  “No. Get this freak off me!”

  She looked at him. “No, you’re not okay, or no you didn’t get shot?”

  “Both!”

  Rolling her eyes, she closed the distance between them. “Why didn’t you just let him come at me? I had the ax.”

  “Like I knew that? Looked to me like you were about to become dinner. Then as I grabbed him, his fucking head exploded.”

  Standing behind him, she pushed her hands under his armpits and pulled, tugging backward. “I think he had a little help with that.”

  He grunted, kicking his feet as he pushed back with her help and finally escaped. “Yeah, well I hope they’re on our side.”

  The sound of someone tromping through the leaves grew closer as it echoed. Oddly enough, the screaming heard earlier had quieted and the woods were silent, but the swish, swish, swish drew closer. Zach took her hand and they stood ready to run. He wasn’t sure who shot Todd, but if they had to make a run for it, he didn’t want to lose her in the woods.

  They saw the short, reddish, brown hair even in the darkness. The man stepped out holding a rifle in his hand with the barrel resting on his shoulder. He looked like a Greek God, standing in at a whopping five-foot-nine. Bright blue eyes shined as he smiled, revealing deep dimples in his cheeks. That brought instant attention to his boyish face, making him more appealing. They gave him hot character, which was something men strive for that women notice… apparently.

  Brandon Ayres was also the first to arrive. He smiled, motioning to the corpse on the ground. “Now that was a pretty close call there. You’re either brave or foolish, attackin’ without a weapon. Are y’all okay?” His West Virginia Southern accent was just as sexy as the rest of him.

  Another person joined him. Trevor Santella was taller. He stood in at a cool six feet, with short, dark hair, and eyes that couldn’t hide the boyish features or his actual age of nineteen. He grinned, standing next to Brandon. “Other ‘an needin’ a nice hot shower?”

  “We shot the right guy, right?”

  Trevor scoffed, turning to glare at him, slapping him on the shoulder. “What the fuck dude? You ruined a perfectly good rescue scene!” He mimicked Brandon; “We shot the right guy, right?”

  Brandon scoffed in return. “I did not! We still hit the guy, didn’t we? Besides, it’s dark out here. How do we know? One guy runnin’ after another from far away, it’s hard to tell!”

  “Considerin’ they’re both talkin’ an’ shit, I’d say it was a lucky guess that we did!”

  “Oh, that sounds much better.” Sheepishly, Brandon looked at Candice and Zach. “Um, we did shoot the right guy, right?”

  Whispering to Candice, Zach shook his head. “Well, that’s encouraging. The rescuers don’t know if they shot the right guy and if they did it was a lucky guess because we’re talkin’ an’ shit.”

  She winced. He was right. It didn’t sound encouraging and seemed even worse stated aloud, but they did rescue them from the jaws of death. “Zach, give them a break. It is dark out here. After all, they did shoot the right guy.” She shrugged as he glared at her. “Well, it’s true.”

  Another man ran towards them also carrying a rifle. It looked as if the Hunters Club came to their rescue. Montana was the safety director. No one knew his last name. Everyone just called him Montana. Then again, all of the guides had nicknames, so this wasn’t a big deal. None of them went by their actual names, save Trevor and Brandon. Never mind, Montana was the one who started the ritual. People didn’t need to know anything about him, other than he was the safety director. That was one reason the campsite was a good career. No one ever went wandering into the woods to ask questions. He didn’t want people to know his real name and they had no never mind knowing his business. His silver hair was the same shade seen on the backs of gorillas with blue eyes the color of a summer sky. He wore light brown-rimmed bifocals needed for reading. “Is this everyone?”

  Zach gagged, plucking a piece of Todd’s skin out of his hair. Tossing it to the ground, he wiped his hand on his jeans. He coughed, struggling not to throw up. That was just beyond gross and it flagged his gag reflexes. He was wearing another person’s skin! That man was infected or sick too. He prayed he wasn’t about to get whatever the hell turned Todd into a cannibalistic lunatic. “No, we’re all that’s left.” Rolling his eyes, he looked at Brandon. “Congratulations. You shot the right guy.”

  Brandon held his fist up for Trevor to bump. “Score!” Of which Trevor complied, smirking. “I told ya we shot the right one!”

  “I didn’t doubt it,” Trevor looked around, cautiously. “I just didn’t think ya needed to tell people there was even a question in your mind ‘at we did. It makes us look bad.”

  “Uh-huh.” He leaned down to look under the truck. “Are there any other… weirdoes hangin’ ‘round?”

  Another man joined them, carrying a hunting rifle. He shook his head in answer, pointing to the woods around them. “No, I think we got ‘em all from this site.”

  Justice, no known last name, had black hair kept in a tight ponytail with the top-slicked back with enough hair gel that even the winds of a tornado wouldn’t budge it out of place. His intense blue eyes sparkled with excitement and he had the same physique as Brandon but towered over him by more than a few inches.

  Brandon nodded. “It looks ‘at way.”

  “Sorry ‘bout your friend.” He leaned over, whispering to Brandon and Trevor. “The employee manual doesn’t cover the proper protocol when we shoot one guy’s head onto another.”

  Trevor nodded. “Yeah, ours is missin’ ‘at page.”

  Standing upright, he pointed around to the small group. “Don’t worry. We’re the good guys. We work at the campground. This is Montana, Brandon, Trevor, an’ I’m Justice. I’m late to the party, so catch me up. Are you guys okay?”

  Zach plucked pieces of flesh off, trying not to gag. He turned, glaring at Justice. “Are we okay?” That was the only thing people kept asking them. How did they expect them to feel after reality turned into one horrific nightmare? He was getting more annoyed by the second. Justice answered with a nod. “Are we okay?”

  It was obvious he was about to blow a fuse and Candice put her hand on his shoulder. Usually, that was enough to calm him down and he merely muttered or stammered to himself. “Zach, it’s been a rough night for everyone.”

  Not tonight. He had enough of this whole situation and wanted answers. “If that isn’t one of the dumbest questions anyone could ask. Are we okay? Let’s see… a friend of ours tried to kill us tonight. We were sleeping when he killed his girlfriend. He ripped her to pieces and ate her while chasing us around the campsite. If that’s enough not to be okay, Grizzly Adams here and his sidekick Justice just blew him away on me. I am wearing pieces of my friend as a memento and can’t pick him off fast enough. What part of that sounds like we would be okay?”

  Justice arched a brow before shaking his head. “Well, all right then. I guess you’re okay! However, it could’ve been a lot worse because ya see that,” turning he pointed to a truck parked on the street. In the bed were a few people huddled close together looking in their direction. “In there are people who have had a rough night,” he turned back and pointed at him, “just like you. If you’re not hurt then let’s get the hell outta here.”

  Zach was about to argue. He didn’t want this guy getting the last word, especially with Candice there. He could see the way this asshole looked at her as if her fiancé wasn’t standing beside her!

  Before he could, Candice put her hand over his mouth. “They’re
right. Let’s go. Remember Janet?” Sheepishly, she looked at the others. “Sorry about that. He’s been through a lot tonight.”

  Brandon nodded, looking at Zach. “Understandable. I’d be upset if a head were blown off on me too.”

  Trevor winced. “Yeah, I couldn’t get over that. Apology accepted.”

  Justice turned, glaring at the two while shaking his head. “You’re not helpin’ at all.”

  “Come on Trev. Let’s do a quick run through an’ make sure there aren’t any more nastiness around before we go,” Brandon said, rushing into the woods with Trevor hot on his heels.

  Candice looked from one to the other. “Well, umm, thanks for saving us. I’m Candice and this is Zach. So what the hell happened here tonight?”

  Shaking his head, Montana looked around. “We’re just as confused. Whatever happened here is happenin’ all over the campground.”

  “Yeah, we had to shoot up the employee site,” Justice looked at Zach. “You think it’s hard seein’ your friend shot? Imagine if you had to kill him.”

  Zach winced. “That doesn’t sound fun.”

  “Not at all.”

  Brandon returned. “This one’s clean, but we heard commotion up the road.”

  “Which is one reason we need to get the hell outta here before somethin’ comes back an’ we’re all fucked.”

  Zach furrowed his brows in confusion. “But I thought you killed everyone, so what could attack us?”

  Brandon shrugged, pointing to the woods. “These woods are pretty thick.”

  “Look, we can’t force ya to come if you’d rather stay here. However,” Justice pointed at Todd’s dead body, “when those things come back, we won’t be able to help.”

  Brandon nodded. “I don’t think ya wanna take your chance with this again.”

  Zach looked around. “Where the hell are we going to go? What’s the difference if we go with you or stay by ourselves?”

  “Do ya remember the main buildin’?” Justice asked as Zach nodded. “That buildin’ should still have electricity. If not, we have enough generators to get it goin’. That is gonna be the best place for us to wait this out.”

  “Yes. It could be the safest area around here.” Sighing, Montana looked at Zach. “Look, I know you’ve been through a lot, so let us help ya. Our concern is your safety.”

  Zach looked around their campground. “This place was packed! Are you telling me everyone died?”

  “No, but almost.” Justice pointed up at the street. “Those people in the truck are probably gettin’ antsy, so either come with or stay. We still need to check a few more sites.” Not waiting, he turned, walking back to the truck.

  The others followed, climbing in the back while Justice and Montana climbed up front. The people in the truck didn’t say anything as the group arrived, just made room for them. Everyone was in his or her own little world. It was like being stuck in a horror movie where they killed the hero in the beginning credits: hopeless. No one knew what was happening, or where they were going, or even how they were going to survive… if at all.

  Zach continued picking pieces of Todd off, chucking them on the road, gagging at the same time. “Camping sure is as much fun as you said,” he said sarcastically.

  “If you don’t shut up about that,” she warned.

  Six

  Montana slowly drove through the campground. Being the safety director, he took his job seriously. As far as he was concerned, that was his job until his last breath. Despite the fact that his boss was probably dead. It was his job to make sure the survivors stayed safe and by God, he was going to do just that.

  There was one campsite on the grounds that had lodged their fame within the first few days they set up camp. It was a beautiful college sorority. Happily, the men around their site were entertained nightly, as it looked like a case of good girls gone bad every night. Those around them that weren’t with their families flocked to watch the festivities because of the wild girl shenanigans happening. It was nothing to see bras and panties hanging on the line, or bikini-clad bathing beauties running around wearing the skimpiest of clothes. A few nights it was truth or dare, and the girls pulled many of the men standing around in for a fun night.

  However, things had changed at this site overnight.

  Pulling up to it, the four men hopped out quickly. They raced down to help anyone still alive. As they did, it was as if a civil war reenactment. Sorority girls, covered in blood, ran towards them in attack formation. Each of them took a bullet in the brain, dropping before they got close enough to do any damage, which added more macabre splatter to the already grotesque scene.

  Bodies lay dead, sprawled out in mangled positions, in pools of blood. The picnic table held the naked body of a girl with her head hanging off the edge. Blonde hair flowed freely with a trickle of blood dying parts red. Blue eyes looked up to the heavens. Someone tore her chest open and scattered pieces of her around on the ground.

  It was as if the Tasmanian Devil paid them a visit. Tents were shredded or entirely collapsed. At one time, the wood was stacked in even piles, now lay scattered around as if someone danced on top of them. The sticks, used for roasting marshmallows, held in high esteem above the others found their way to the ground. Stamped on, broken, and discarded like all the others.

  Standing at the base of a tree was a crazy-eyed girl with blood dripping down her chin. She was oblivious to anything but the girl up the tree. Clawing, she screeched up at her, trying to pull her down. A shot to the head dropped her. She sank down in a crumpled mess. Bleeding out, she twitched as death took his final dance with her.

  Justice stepped forward. He was the Casanova of the group. He offered his hand up to her, flashing his best smile. “You’re safe now. Come on down.”

  She screamed, kicking at his hand. “What the hell’s going on around here? What twisted fucking joke is this?”

  That girl was Queen Bee of this sorority: Erica Holden. The Holden’s were famous for having lots of money. That put her at the high end of the wealthy status quo at the college. Twenty years old, in her sophomore year and she looked like the Goddess of Love. To get ahead, you either had to have massive amount of wealth or looks and she had both. She was beautiful with golden blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was the head cheerleader in high school. Being the one in charge of her sorority as a sophomore was a big deal and not many accomplished that feat, but she did.

  Everyone knew she was going to be someone important one day. She had her beauty, intelligence, not to mention the power of her family. One day, she would make it to the White House and be the first woman president. Many of her friends knew the day that happened, and they didn’t doubt it would, the world, as they knew it, was over. She wasn’t one to cease war over titles. If they pissed her off, they were going to die.

  Brandon walked over, looking up at her. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s not a joke. It’s as real as I’m standin’ here.”

  Once more Justice motioned up at her. “Look, you really need to get outta that tree an’ come with us. We don’t know what’s goin’ on. We can get ya to safety an’ protect ya.”

  “No! I’m not coming down. You can’t make me! Nothing can get me up here!” She screamed. Her voice echoed around them.

  Wincing, Trevor wiggled his finger in his ear. “Well, there’s nothin’ wrong with ‘er lungs.”

  Shaking his head, Brandon looked around at the massacre. “You’re gonna have a hell of a time findin’ food up that tree. Unless ya can coax a squirrel close enough.”

  “Mm, squirrel’s good eatin’.”

  “Cooked squirrel is, but she’ll be lucky if he doesn’t tear her to pieces in the process,” he looked back up at her. “If you’re not bleedin’ to death, you’ll have to eat it raw.”

  “Yes, because if ya start a fire in the tree, you’ll set the whole thing ablaze an’ there goes your safety net. Ooh, raw squirrel. Ya like Sushi?”

  “Sushi’s raw fish not squir
rel.”

  “Raw anything can’t be good. All that uncooked stuff; nerves, tendons, meat, eyeballs… it sounds chewy to me. You’re gonna find it hard to do anythin’. Goin’ to the bathroom’s gonna be a real chore.”

  Justice groaned, shaking his head at the two of them. “Again, you’re not helpin’. Maybe you’d be better standin’ guard at the truck.”

  Kicking at them, Erica held on to the tree with both hands. “I don’t know you! For all I know, you’re rapists, waiting to grab and kill me!”

  Brandon chuckled, winking at her. “If this was yesterday maybe, but my agenda’s booked today.”

  Trevor winced, shaking his head. “It’s too soon for jokes, bro.”

  Justice glared at Brandon. Turning, he looked back up at Erica. “Look lady, we really don’t have time for this shit! You don’t want us to leave ya behind, do you?”

  “You wouldn’t do that!” She screamed. “I’m a paying customer. You have to keep me safe!”

  “Then come outta the fuckin’ tree! Damn! It’s not that fuckin’ hard to figure out! If you wanna be safe, then ya need to come with us! We can protect you! Otherwise, you’re gonna be on your own cause we’re leavin’ ya out here.”

  “I’m not leaving this tree!”

  “Oh, I give up! Let’s just leave the stupid bitch behind an’ keep goin’. We ain’t got time for this.”

  “Who you calling stupid?”

  Brandon chuckled. “Wow, so this is what they mean by a catch twenty-two, huh?”

  Trevor shook his head. “More like a rock an’ a hard place.”

  “Same thing.”

  “Nuh-huh.”

  Meanwhile, back at the truck, Candice grew restless just waiting on the others. They were taking too long. In that open bed, she felt like a sitting duck amid a firing squad of hunters. Finally, she stood, hopping over the tailgate. “Fuck this.”