by Chelsea Luna
“I have two shots left.” Adam pulled out his handgun. “Stand back.” He squeezed the trigger and the padlock exploded into bits of metal.
Cage rolled the grated fence into the slot above the door. Two display windows flanked both sides of the glass door. Cage shattered the glass with his tire iron. “Hurry, get in!”
They trampled over the broken glass and into the store. Cage yanked on the rope and the metal grate slammed down.
“We have to find something to board up that door,” Adam said. “Let me do a quick sweep of the store first. Stay here.”
Adam walked down the aisle lined with racks of clothing and disappeared into the back of the store. His voice rang out a few seconds later. “Looks clear.”
Lindsay went to a table stacked with folded jeans. “I need to get out of these wet clothes.”
Rachel led Morgan into the store. A long glass counter with a cash register claimed the far wall. There was a one-stall restroom, two dressing rooms with curtain doors and a stockroom filled with boxes. The store didn’t have a back door.
“Let’s take this stockroom door off the hinges and use it to board up the front,” Adam said.
The guys worked on taking the door off the hinges without any tools. Rachel led Morgan to find something to wear. Lindsay was right — they needed to get out of their wet clothes before they got sick. “This is a great store, Finn.”
“Thanks,” he said. “My mom used to shop here all the time.”
“The clothes are actually pretty decent.” Lindsay flipped through a stack of jeans, looking for her size. “I would’ve shopped here if I knew this place existed. Maybe. It’s in a weird location, though.”
“They are nice,” Rachel said.
“Like you could afford them, Blondie.” Lindsay rolled her eyes.
Rachel fought the urge to smack her. She still hadn’t forgotten the look on Lindsay’s face and the sound of her voice when Rachel was dangling from the dorm’s fifth-story window. Lindsay had wanted her to fall, she was sure of it. If everyone hadn’t been watching, Rachel knew she’d be a splat on the cement.
The guys carried the storeroom door to the front. Once the door was boarded over the broken glass, the room would be relatively safe. The grated fence wasn’t locked, but it was pulled shut. The street was isolated, so maybe they wouldn’t attract any zombies.
“Do you think any of these clothes will fit me?” Morgan held up a sequined tank top.
“I’m sure we can find something in an extra-small.” Rachel took the top from Morgan. “Maybe something less shiny.”
“This is going to look fabulous on me.” Lindsay lifted the hem of her wet shirt and pulled it over her head, exposing a rather full hot pink bra.
Nicky froze. His mouth fell open.
Cage turned to see what Nicky was looking at, saw Lindsay standing in the middle of the store half-naked, and then turned back to the door.
“There are dressing rooms in the back.” Selena shoved a row of hangers angrily to the side. “We don’t need a full view of your boobs.”
“I do,” Nicky said.
Selena shot Nicky a dirty look.
Lindsay put her hands on her hips, slightly arching her back and puffing out her chest. “Oh, whatever. It’s not like I’m flashing anyone. It’s covering as much as a bathing suit would. It’s not like anyone in here hasn’t seen a pair of boobs.” Lindsay’s eyes met Rachel’s. “I mean, Cage has seen mine, but it’s not like I’m showing them to him now. I have a bra on.” Lindsay’s lips curved into a smile.
Rachel dropped her gaze to the clothing rack. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Cage’s back tense.
Lindsay moved to unbutton her pants.
“Go change in the dressing room.” Adam’s face was stony. “There are kids around.”
Lindsay sighed and stormed off.
Adam’s eyes shifted to Rachel’s and stayed there for a moment before he walked away.
The feeling in the pit of Rachel’s stomach grew. I mean, Cage has seen mine, but it’s not like I’m showing them to him now. The statement was meant to piss her off. And it did.
What was wrong with her? This wasn’t breaking news. Rachel knew that Cage and Lindsay had dated, but she never gave much thought about what that meant or what that entailed.
Rachel tried to find a shirt in her size, but it was hard to concentrate. Obviously, Lindsay and Cage had kissed. That was a given. Had Cage really seen Lindsay’s boobs? Her stomach dropped further. Had they had sex?
The blue blouse she wanted only came in medium or large. Figured. Rachel turned around to search for something to wear, but she smacked into Cage.
“Hey,” he said quietly.
“Hey.”
“You okay?” Hazel eyes scanned her face.
Rachel understood what he was asking. Was she upset about Lindsay? It was embarrassing enough to admit to herself that she was. She definitely wasn’t going to verbalize it to Cage and give Lindsay the satisfaction.
“I’m fine.” Rachel forced a smile. “Just trying to find something to wear.” She pulled her wet tank top from her skin. “This use to be white. Now it’s various shades of brown and red. It’s pretty disgusting.”
“I guess that’s the hazard of being a zombie-killing machine.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, especially with your new weapon.” Rachel tapped Cage’s tire iron. “It’s a step up from the mop handle.”
“I miss the old mop stick. I have no idea what happened to it.”
“Rachel,” Morgan said. “I’m going to try this on. I think it’ll fit.” She held up a yellow tank top with butterflies embroidered over the stomach and a pair of dark jeans that were way too long for her short legs.
“Sure thing, Morgan. I’ll help you roll the jeans up when you get done.”
Morgan skipped down the aisle to the dressing room.
“How’s she doing?” Cage asked.
“I think she’s doing well, considering everything she’s been through. You know what?”
“What’s that?” Cage placed his hands on Rachel’s hips. He pulled her against his chest once Morgan disappeared behind the dressing room curtain.
“I think Gene is the reason Morgan is still alive.”
Cage made a face. “Gene? Your evil foster father?”
Rachel nodded. “He was so horrible that I think he somehow activated that fight-or-flight gene in us.”
“I think it’s safe to say that you received the fight gene.”
“Morgan’s the opposite. She’s tender and timid, but she knows how to survive. She knows how to protect herself when shit hits the fan. She could sense when Gene was going to come after her and she’d hide. That’s exactly what kept her alive in the dorm. She hid in that closet for two days.”
Cage planted a kiss on her lips. “I told you we’d find her.” He placed his forehead against hers. “We’re going to make it to the safe zone, too. Together and in one piece.”
“I hope so.”
“Are there any dude clothes in here?” Nicky asked. “All I see is girly junk.”
Finn pointed to the back corner. “A little bit back there. Not much.”
“Sweet,” Nicky said. “I’m raunchy. I’ve been wearing these threads for like a week.”
“The zombie outbreak only started four days ago,” Adam said, as he returned from the storeroom.
Nicky shrugged. “What can you do?” He grabbed a handful of clothes — without checking the sizes — and headed to the storeroom to change.
“Nicky, Nicky, Nicky.” Cage laughed and pulled Rachel close again. He planted a kiss on her forehead. “Will you help me find some clothes? I’ve never felt this uncomfortable in my life.”
Adam carried a large box. “Cage?”
Cage pulled his eyes from Rachel. “Yeah?”
“There are sheets in here.” Adam’s eyes flitted to Rachel for a moment, before he looked back at Cage. “Will you help me hang them up on t
hat front wall? I don’t want anyone to be able to see in through the windows.”
“Good idea, cutie pie.” Selena had an armful of clothes. She smiled at Rachel. “I don’t know what to wear. There’s too much to pick from. It’s pretty stupid, right? It’s the end of the world and I’m getting excited about trying on new clothes.”
Rachel walked over to Selena while Cage helped Adam hang the sheets. “No, it’s not stupid. Pack some extra clothes if you can fit them into your backpack. Who knows when we’ll be able to go home? These might be our clothes for good.”
“I don’t see any shoes. Do you? I can’t walk in these anymore.” Selena regarded her wet shoes.
“Take them off and give them a chance to dry,” Rachel said.
“Good idea.” Selena slipped off her shoes and flung them against the far wall. “I’ve been wanting to get out of those shoes since we crashed outside of Ann Arbor. I found them in the back of the Suburban and thought they’d fit, but now I have more blisters on my feet than I have toes.” She handed Rachel a green V-neck shirt. “Here, try this on. It’ll look great on you.”
“You think?”
“The color will look good with your hair. The neckline is nice, too.” Selena wiggled her eyebrows.
“I’ve never been good with clothes,” Rachel said.
It didn’t help that she was always broke and could never buy nice things. If she ever had extra money, she’d give it to Morgan or buy her something nice. This whole shopping thing was out of Rachel’s element. Should they leave money for Finn’s aunt? They were essentially stealing.
Selena handed Rachel a few more items. “These will look great on you, too. Especially because you’re so skinny and you have big boobs.” She lowered her voice. “Cage will like these.”
Rachel lifted her eyes.
“Don’t let that skank upset you.” Selena waved her hand dismissively toward the changing room. “She’s trying to push your buttons. Don’t give her the satisfaction. She’s not worth it.”
“Thanks, Selena.”
“Anytime.”
Rachel carried the bundle of clothes to the restroom. She passed Morgan, who looked adorable in her new clothes. She was helping Finn pick out something to wear. Rachel reached the single unisex bathroom (where at least she didn’t have to worry about zombies jumping out at her because it was only large enough for a toilet and a sink).
She locked the door and, for the first time in days, looked at herself in the mirror. She wished she hadn’t. It was bad. She looked like someone who had battled an army of zombies across Michigan.
Dirt, blood and who knows what else caked her white tank top and denim shorts. Her hair had slipped out of its sloppy ponytail and she had dark circles under her eyes. Adam was right. None of them had slept since the night in the firehouse when Selena’s sister, Vivienne, had turned into a zombie.
Rachel took off the tattered tank top and stepped out of her shorts. She peeled off her undergarments and grabbed an ugly cotton shirt that she’d found on a table. She figured the shirt worked better as a washcloth than an outfit. Rachel turned on the hot water and did her best to clean herself using the shirt, water and dispenser soap.
The night at the firehouse seemed so long ago. Cage and Rachel had shared a pile of blankets on the floor together. Nothing had happened between them, but they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Despite the zombie apocalypse happening around them, that had been one of the better nights of Rachel’s life.
Pretty sad.
Her hair was wet from the downpour outside, so she fingered it with dispenser soap and scrubbed it in the tiny sink. When she was finished, she tied her hair up into a knot on top of her head. She scrubbed her hands and fingers — blood and grime had dried beneath her nails. She ignored the brownish-reddish water that rinsed from her washcloth and swirled around the porcelain sink.
She scrubbed and scrubbed. She unwound the bandage on her arm. The pit bull bite was healing thanks to Adam’s daily dose of antibiotics. The wound was still nasty — jagged and red — but it no longer showed any signs of infection. She wrapped the bite with a clean bandage from her backpack.
When she was finally clean and dressed in the green V-neck shirt and a pair of dark skinny jeans, she saw some resemblance of the old Rachel. She couldn’t do anything about the dark circles under her eyes, but she looked — and felt — better.
Rachel dumped her dirty clothes in the trashcan. The door slammed shut on her way out and everyone turned to look at her. Adam was cleaning his gun. He froze as Rachel walked out.
“Oooh, I need to wash up, too,” Selena said. “You look great, Rachel.”
Cage smiled. “Fantastic.”
“Is there a shower in there?” Nicky asked.
“No, just a sink.” Rachel shrugged. “I improvised.”
Nicky pulled his shirt from his chest. “I’ll improvise, too. No sense in putting on clean clothes over a dirty body.”
Lindsay glared at Rachel. She had changed into a tight jean miniskirt and a black halter top with silver sequins on the hem. She turned and discreetly tried to rub the dirt off her arm.
“We can take turns cleaning up.” Adam slipped his gun in his back pocket. “We all need it. Let’s make a sleeping area and take inventory of our supplies before we eat.”
“Eat?” Nicky said. “Now we’re talking!”
They pushed the clothing racks against the walls, creating an open space in the middle of the store. Adam passed out the rest of the sheets and they made cots from sweaters and other bulky clothing.
Once everyone was clean and in new clothes, they gathered in a circle on the floor. Rachel sat next to Cage — who looked nice in a pair of khaki shorts and a blue polo shirt. Morgan was on the other side of Rachel with her new best friend, Finn. Selena and Adam pulled out all the food from the backpacks and stacked it in the middle. Lindsay and Nicky sat close to each other and talked in low whispers.
Something was developing between Lindsay and Nicky. Rachel couldn’t understand why, because Lindsay was so mean to him. It didn’t make any sense, but she’d caught Lindsay genuinely smiling at Nicky a few times without her trademark sarcastic face. Not that Rachel cared who Lindsay was with — as long as it wasn’t Cage — but Rachel didn’t want to see Nicky get hurt.
Rachel’s eyes roamed to Adam. He was taking inventory of their food. It seemed like lately he’d been looking at her differently. Seeing her in a different light — like she wasn’t just a teenager, but an equal. She’d liked Adam from the moment she met him at the Wooden Barrel. He was strong and brave and caring. He’d volunteered to go with Rachel to Ann Arbor to find Morgan and he helped her rescue Cage in Peabody Dorm. There was no denying that they worked well together.
The muscles in Adam’s forearms flexed as he pushed a clothing rack away from the center of the room. Maybe Rachel had imagined the way he looked at her earlier, after she’d changed her clothes and washed up. Why would he look at her like that? He had Selena. Rachel had Cage. Granted, it had only been a few days since any of them knew each other, but still… Rachel didn’t know what to think. Maybe it was all just in her head.
“Listen up, everyone. We have four bottles of water,” Adam said. He handed a bottle to Nicky. “We can drink these tonight and refill them from the tap in the sink, but we don’t have any extra containers to take water with us. When we leave tomorrow, we need to keep an eye out for a store or something to see if we can find more water. Four bottles isn’t enough for eight people. The average person is supposed to drink eight glasses of water a day.”
“Won’t we be at Ford Field by tomorrow?” Selena asked. “They’ll have water there, right?”
“Yes, but it’s not a bad idea to have extra water stored in our backpacks even if we are at the safe zone.” Adam tapped a row of canned goods. “We have three cans of corn, one can of green beans, a box of graham crackers, two candy bars, a bunch of very over ripe bananas, a tin of caviar —”
“Caviar
?” Rachel said.
“I took everything I could find in Cage’s kitchen.” Nicky shrugged. “I’ll eat the caviar if no one wants it.”
“Three packs of beef jerky,” Adam continued. “Two power bars and a can of tuna. That’s it.”
“Sounds like a feast to me,” Nicky said. “Can you hand me the can opener?”
“We shouldn’t eat it all now,” Cage said. “Just in case.”
“I agree,” Adam said.
“Just in case what?” Lindsay asked.
“Just in case,” Adam said. “Let’s eat half for dinner and then store the other half in our backpacks. We don’t know what’ll happen tomorrow.”
They divvied up the food and packed the rest. Rachel had to tell herself to chew before she swallowed, resisting the urge to devour the whole graham cracker. She hadn’t realized she was starving. The adrenaline pumping through her system had been working overtime for the last several days — so much so that her brain had neglected to tell her that she needed to refuel. The last thing she had eaten was a granola bar at Cage’s house. What — two days ago?
Nicky held up the caviar. “Anyone want some fish eggs? They’re kind of salty, but they hit the spot.”
“Eww,” Morgan said under her breath.
Rachel laughed and handed her sister a piece of beef jerky. “Try this instead.”
“I’m so tired.” Cage stretched his long legs. “Every muscle in my body hurts.”
“I could sleep for a week,” Adam agreed.
They finished their meal and lounged around the circle. It was kind of nice — indoor camping in a boutique shop. The kids were hovered over a sheet of scrap paper that Adam had found behind the cash register. Finn was drawing a design of a weapon. Morgan yawned.
“Why don’t you try to get some sleep?” Rachel crawled over to the kids. “It’s going to be another long day tomorrow.”
They didn’t argue. She tucked Finn and Morgan under the sheets and they fell asleep.
“I wish we had a bottle of wine.” Selena laid her head on Adam’s lap. “I could use some wine. Or a shot of vodka.”
“Or beer,” Nicky said. “And a baseball game.”
“Had you picked a school yet?” Adam asked Cage.
