Brandon and Trevor jumped up, getting between the two, separating them. Justice turned, trying to get back at Zach. Brandon held Zach in place, pushing him back. Trevor kept the struggling Justice under control, also pushing him back.
Justice sighed, struggling against Trevor. “I tried. I shot at it, but not until after it bit ‘er. We didn’t see it. There was nothin’ I could do. It already got ‘er.”
Meanwhile, Zach tried to get around Brandon, waving his hands in front of him, growling like a wild animal. Justice tried to get around Trevor, struggling to get at Zach. Furniture moved, chairs scraped, people quickly moved out of the way. The four of them looked like they were dancing. Montana shouted for them to stop, but nothing worked.
Candice shook her head. Putting two of her fingers in her mouth, she whistled loudly and that stopped everyone in their tracks as they turned to look at her. “Zach, that’s enough! Quit blaming him. No one forced me to go! He didn’t make any of this happen. I knew it was a bad idea, but I still went in the store. He couldn’t have stopped it any more than I could.”
He stopped fighting, struggling to fix his shirt, looking at her, accusingly. “Yes. I know, but it was still his job to watch out for you.”
“What am I five? I can watch out for myself and I did! The bitch snuck up on me after we left the store! It was my fault for not being careful. I understand you’re upset. I would be too if the situation was reversed, but enough is enough. Drop it!”
Sophia sighed. “I’m not gonna lie. You’ve been bitten, an’ you’re infected. There’s no reason to put in stitches ‘cause the virus stopped your bleedin’.”
Holding her stomach, Candice nodded before jumping up, running from the room. She raced to the bathroom.
Zach glared at Justice. “You told me everything was going to be fine.”
He nodded. “It was. Everythin’ was perfect until we left.”
“You weren’t supposed to get out of the fucking van. You were irresponsible. Now my fiancé is going to die because of your bravery. Are you feeling brave now?”
“We found out information. It is goin’ on everywhere, not just here. We found out somethin’ else too. They use infected little kids to draw people in so they can attack.”
“You shouldn’t have been in there.”
Montana was angry. He wasn’t shouting like Zach, but his facial expression showed his disappointment with Justice. “What do ya mean, they use little kids?”
He sighed. “We would’ve been back long ago, but as we were leavin’, we heard this kid. Candice couldn’t leave until we found ‘er. That’s when we found the trap they set. They attacked as soon as we found that little girl.”
Rachel groaned. “A little girl? Well damn, anyone who’s not a cold-hearted jerk is gonna check on a kid.”
Zach growled at him. “It’s your fault! You know that, right. You had to be king shit. You knew she wanted to get out of here. You decided you two should go off on your own.”
He sighed again, running his hand through his hair. “No one knew this was gonna happen.”
“Bullshit! We told you it was a bad idea! None of this would have happened if you just waited for the others, but no. You couldn’t do that. Mr. High and mighty fucking big shit had to go out on his own and prove he could do it. No one fucking tells me what to do! Now look at her! I swear to God… if she dies…”
Candice walked back in, sitting down. “Zach, that’s enough already.”
Justice shook his head. “Dude, it was a fucking accident! I think they planned that shit down to the last second. It took us a little while to find the kid. We didn’t see hide or hair of anyone else. As soon as we found the kid is when it happened.”
Montana nodded slowly. “Are ya sure it was a child?”
“She was a little girl holdin’ onto a baby doll, or a stuffed animal.”
“How did she act?”
“She turned around an’ we saw she wasn’t a cute little innocent kid. She was a killer. That’s when ‘ey attacked from every corner. We killed some of ‘em, but there must’ve been one hidin’. That place looked like a bloody massacre.”
Brandon shook his head. “That should’ve been your first clue not to go in, much less with her.”
“Yeah, but you had to take her, didn’t you? Big man thought he could protect her. She even thought she was safe. If something happens Justice will protect me,” Zach mimicked Candice, not in a complimenting tone. “Well, I guess you’re not the safest person to be around, are you? You probably just got her killed, you son-of-a-bitch!”
Candice glared at Zach. “Stop it! Just fucking shut up! It’s not his fault! I wanted to go. It was my idea to find the kid. He tried to talk me out of it. It was me with my arm hanging out the window smoking a cigarette. I got careless so if you want to blame someone, blame me!”
Sophia sighed. She was on the verge of tears as she sat next to Candice. “Ya know what this means, right?”
“I know. I should be okay for a few days before you guys have to lock me up. Besides, I’m not sure you can put both of us in the room at the same time.”
“I know. I hate to ask, but what better way to find out?”
“What’s that?” Candice looked at her with a slight cant of her head, curiously.
“When you start experiencin’ things can ya tell me so I can keep a record?”
Zach rolled his eyes. “Seriously Sophia, that’s almost… cruel.”
“Zach, I understand what she’s talking about,” Candice said, nodding. “I was thinking the same thing.”
Sophia nodded. “What happened when you were bitten?”
“It felt like someone shot liquid fire in my arm. On the way back here, it was like that fire spread upwards. I can feel it moving through my veins like lava through a valley. A few minutes ago I puked up my guts until there wasn’t anything left but blood.”
She nodded. “Why did ya throw up? Erica did that before we first got here.”
“I don’t know, but the urge was definitely there. I was hungry before bitten, but now… no appetite whatsoever.”
Brandon cringed. “Yeah, that makes two of us.”
Sophia closed the book then stood. “Come with me to check on Erica. I wanna see if she reacts differently towards you.”
“You’re not going to put her in that room,” Zach exclaimed.
“No honey. I’m not gonna put ‘er in the room. I meant from outside the door. I would never do anythin’ to hurt this girl.”
“Sure, let’s go down,” Candice said, turning and glaring at Zach and Justice. “You two fucking behave. We need to get through this together. That doesn’t mean trying to rip each other apart. Got it?”
Justice nodded, looking down. “Yes ma’am.”
Zach groaned angrily. “Fine.”
Candice and Sophia walked down the stairs. It was obvious there was something on Sophia’s mind. She kept looking at her. Candice finally stopped on the steps and turned to her. “What is it?”
She sighed, wrapping her hands through the crook of her arm. “Honey, what possessed you two to go off by yourselves?”
“I was tired of being stuck in here with nothing to do. I wanted to be helpful in some other way than sitting here waiting to either die or be rescued. It looks like I rushed one part of that anyway.”
“I dunno what’s gonna happen. I can tell you from what I’ve seen with Erica… it’s painful. There’s a lot of sweatin’, no appetite, an’ lots o’ pain. I can help ya with the pain part.”
“Why worry if I’m in pain? We know anyone who gets bitten is gonna die anyway. So just save the meds for the living. It’d be wasted on me.”
“I don’t think it’s as cut an’ dry as ‘at, besides I don’t wanna think everyone dies or that--” Sophia stopped talking, looking through the storage room window. Splatters of crimson covered the walls. Blood was everywhere and Erica stared at the wall, facing away from them. “Erica honey, are you all right?” She knocked on the
door, but she didn’t budge.
Candice looked in and kicked the door. “Oh my God! Erica, look over here! We found your baby mouse!”
She still didn’t move, just continued to stand completely still in the middle of the room, facing the opposite wall. There was blood dripping off the fingers of both of her hands.
Sophia arched a brow, turning and looking at Candice, curiously. “You really thought that was gonna work a second time?”
“She’s a ditzy sorority girl. It was worth a shot.”
Montana heard the commotion and ran down, carrying his rifle. He looked from Sophia to Candice. “What’s wrong?” He looked from them to the window. Reaching up, he scratched his head. “Is she bleedin’?”
“It looks ‘at way,” Sophia said, pushing the combination into the pad.
“What are you doin’?”
“I have to find out.”
He shook his head, pulling her back, putting his hand on the pad. “Wait a minute! What if you open ‘at door an’ she attacks you?”
“You’re worried about me, an’ I appreciate it, but I’m the doctor. I’m the only one who can find out what’s wrong with ‘er.”
“Fine, you do what ya have to do. If she makes one wrong move towards you, I’m gonna do what I have to do.”
“I understand.” He moved aside. She put in the code, slowly pulling the door open. Popping her head inside first, she whispered, “Erica, are you okay?”
Erica still didn’t move. She stood like a statue in the center of the room. The only movement was the blood dripping off her fingers to ping into the pool of blood beneath her.
Sophia slid further inside. Slowly, she moved behind her. Candice followed closely behind her. Candice stood at Sophia’s side moving with her, matching each of her steps. Montana moved in behind the both of them. He had his rifle ready to pull the trigger if necessary.
Sophia cleared her throat. “Erica honey, what’s wrong?”
That was when all hell broke loose.
Sophia reached Erica and put her hand on her shoulder. Erica flipped around to look at her faster than the speed of light. Her front was covered in blood. She looked like a rabid dog. Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated, mouth open, and she showed her teeth. She had blood dripping from her chin. Her arms were shredded and it looked as if she had bitten into her own flesh. With every movement she made, she splattered blood around the room. She grabbed at Sophia. Her red eyes intent on her, growling low in her throat.
Candice saw what was happening and shoved Sophia out of the way, throwing her own body in Erica’s path. Sophia hit the ground, sliding to the far wall. Though she didn’t mean to push her that hard, Candice wanted her out of the way. She was the doctor. Montana raced to help Sophia, tripping on the slippery floor. Sophia pointed, screaming for him to help Candice. Erica grabbed Candice with a screeching howl. Turning, she slammed her into the concrete wall. Gripping a handful of hair, she banged her head repeatedly, snapping her teeth like a vicious animal.
The constant banging of her head was enough that she almost passed out. She felt faint. Her mind grew foggy. Finally, she closed her eyes, accepting the fact that she was dead. That was when Erica lunged at her. Snapping her teeth and aiming for her throat. She leaned in close with her mouth wide open.
The shot pierced the room, echoing. It felt as if her eardrums shattered. Candice felt the spray of liquefied chunks hit her face, arms, and chest. Opening her eyes, she looked at the headless body of Erica. She pushed it off, moving away from her. The body drifted to the floor. It looked as if Candice held a watermelon and it exploded on her: seeds and all. Pieces of Erica clung to the ceiling and walls as if she just refused to let go, even in death. If that wasn’t bad enough, she was scattered in every corner of the room.
Candice cringed, gagging at the sight, as she tried to keep control. Not only was the smell horrible, but it was on her, which meant she couldn’t escape from it. “Okay. That’s just gross.” She gagged. “I hate to be a drama queen, but I’m wearing Erica all over me. Please don’t let her get in my mouth.”
Montana winced. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t have a choice. She was about to kill you.”
She wiped her face with the inside of her shirt, which was the only clean part on her body. Though it was wet with blood, it wasn’t chunks of flesh. She gagged again, stepping over the body. “I understand, but this is just so gross.” She looked at Sophia. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to push you that hard, but I didn’t want her touching you.”
“Honey, you just saved my life. I’m sure I can handle a few bruises. I would hug ya, but… ”
“I need a shower. If I get that bad, please promise me you’ll shoot me first.”
It didn’t take long for the others to rush down the stairs, like a herd of wild animals as they fought for lead position, when they heard the shot.
Justice was the first in the door and shook his head. “Oh my God, what happened?”
Montana motioned to Candice. “She just saved Sophia’s life.”
Brandon looked around. “Nice paint job. Not sure I like the texture though.” He ducked as a piece of bloody pulp dropped from the ceiling. “Gross.”
Trevor cringed. “Nasty! So I take it Erica turned, huh?”
Sophia nodded. “Yeah, she wasn’t as nice as she has been.”
“That was her bein’ nice before?”
“Yeah, I’d hate to see ‘er bein’ mean,” Brandon said, shaking his head. “What a waste.”
Zach tried not to gag. “I remember what that felt like. It still feels like Todd is on me.”
He nudged him. “Dude, show a little compassion.”
“I am! I know exactly what that feels like.”
“Then don’t say stupid shit like ‘at.”
Candice gagged again. “That’s okay. I’m going to go take about five showers. Turn the generator on boys. This is gonna be my longest shower yet.”
Trevor held his nose. “Why do they smell so bad?”
Sophia shrugged. “Decayin’ flesh smells like ‘at.”
“It smells like those outside!”
“You should let me give ya somethin’ for the pain.”
Candice shook her head. “Why? Why waste it on the dying when the living might need it. Just keep it for when someone really needs it.”
She walked over with the needle, plunging it into her infection. “Hush you. The livin’ needs it. Stop talkin’ like ‘at.” She motioned her to the showers. “Go take your shower. I’ll see if I can find ya somethin’ clean to wear.”
After her shower, when she was clean again with River Riders shirt and shorts, she went to find Sophia. She sat down near her. “I have some more information for you to write down.”
She took out her book and pen. “Okay, what’s wrong?”
“My head and arm are killing me.”
“What do ya mean by killin’ you? Is it a shootin’ pain, throbbin’, or just all over?”
“It feels like there’s this fire creeping through my body.”
Sophia nodded, writing it down, before looking up at her. “You said ‘at before. On a level from one to ten, what’s the level o’ your pain?”
“Is ten as high as I can go?”
“Yes.”
Candice winced. “Seven or eight, but heading close to nine.”
“Yeah, that’s bad. Do ya need another shot?”
She shook her head. “No. I know it’s the poison going through my body.”
“Ya mean infection.”
“Same thing. Before I get as bad as Erica was, I think I should go in the room. Now that she’s not there, there’s no reason not to.”
Justice shook his head. “No way, ya just got bit! We know from watchin’ Erica an’ what’s-his-name, ya have at least five days before ya go nutso on us.”
Brandon nodded. “Yeah, he’s got a point. We do enjoy your company.”
She shook her head. “You can still talk to me through the door.”
“What if this is highly contagious and I sneeze on you?”
Justice shrugged. “So, we’ll make you a mask.”
“Or one of you accidentally picks up my cigarette? Or you drink after me?”
Trevor winced. “Oh, well yeah, I guess ‘at could happen.”
“Yes, it could. I’m not ready to infect anyone.”
Sophia nodded. “Okay honey. If you’re sure that’s what ya want.”
“I’m no different than Erica.”
“Yes, you are.”
Brandon nodded. “Yeah, we happen to like you.”
She chuckled. “Thanks. Regardless… We couldn’t get her in the room fast enough.”
“We didn’t know as much about it as we do now.”
“Really? What do we know about it?”
He thought about it before shaking his head. “Um, not much.”
“Exactly. The same applies. The danger is still there.”
Trevor scoffed. “Yeah, but she was a bitch.”
“Even still,” she offered a weak smile. “Please guys, don’t make this any harder than it already is, okay?”
She turned, walking down the hall to the storeroom. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the code and entered the room, pulling the door behind her. The sound it made was so final, like the slamming of a jail cell. She turned; ready to face the remains of Erica.
The room was clean. It looked like someone took a hose to it and washed it off. It was still a little damp, but at least it wasn’t filthy. Breathing a sigh of relief, she walked back to the far wall and sank down onto the ground. She placed her hands on top of her head. “Go camping, I said. We’ll have fun, I said. This was a wonderful fucking idea, Candice. Are you having fun yet?” She muttered, rolling her eyes.
The door opened a little while later. Sophia entered with another needle. “Hey baby girls, how ya feelin’?”
She flinched. “The pain’s getting worse.”
“What is your level now?”
“Ten and going higher.”
“Is it still your head an’ arm?”
Beautiful Death (Bella Morté Trilogy Book 1) Page 13
