“Me too.”
I closed my eyes as he kissed me slowly, with so much emotion that another tear fell down my face. Then he just held me in his arms and gently stroked my hair.
“Other than that, I’ve got no regrets,” I whispered.
He embraced me tighter.
“I treated every honorable person I met with respect, and I’m leaving this world with no hate in my heart. I’ve treasured every friendship and relationship I’ve ever had.”
“You put up this front and I know you’re tough, because I’ve seen you fight, yet, I also know that underneath all that, there’s a pureness and compassion about you that’s hard to find.”
“Thank you,” I said. “That means so much to me.”
“What’s next?” he asked. “Do you still wanna go to the island?”
I held him at arm’s length.
More tears welled up in his eyes as he tried to stay strong.
“Yes. If I have a chance to meet my family before I die, I have to try.”
“Then I’ll take you.”
“We’ll never get through the security checks with this bite on my arm. I don’t know how to sneak in, though, because I’m sure the border patrols will hear this boat coming from a mile away.”
“Then we’ll swim,” he said, “or I can go get them and bring them back here to meet you. Just tell me how you want to do this.”
“What happened?” Sammy screamed, storming out of the cabin.
“Sammy—” I started.
“Val, please tell me Jenny is playing some awful joke on me.”
“She’s not. It’s true.”
With her eyes wide, Sammy jumped off the boat and onto the dock, marched over, put her hands on her hips, and looked down at me. “You were bitten?”
I let out a trembling breath and held up my arm.
“No!” she shouted. “You’re always telling me to be careful, telling me to be sure I didn’t let one of those things get too close. That’s the first and most important rule out of all of them!”
“Calm down, Sammy,” I said. “You’re gonna scare Jenny, yelling like that.”
Her lower lip trembled. “Calm down?” she screamed. “You’re gonna die, and you’re telling me to calm down?”
“It’ll be okay,” I said, trying to calm her.
“No it won’t! Nothing ever is!” she said hysterically. “No magic words will take this all away!”
She was losing it, and I didn’t know how to comfort her. I hadn’t even dealt with it myself, and it was something I wouldn’t have put my own worst enemy through. Well, maybe Marvin…
“I can’t live in this world without you,” she said. “You’re my best friend, like a big sister or mom to me. You’ve been babysitting me since I was five. You’re everything to me. How can I lose you?”
“We’ve got to get to the island,” I said, holding her trembling hands.
“Please,” she begged. “Please don’t leave me, Val.”
I embraced her as well as I could with my arm throbbing. “I can only promise that I’ll hang on as long as possible.”
“No!” she said, sobbing.
I glanced up at Sammy again, and tears were streaming down her face. We all knew what the bite meant: In mere days, I’d be dead. At that moment, I wanted to scream at the world at the top of my lungs. Why do I deserve such a fate? I was so close to meeting my family. Why this? Why me? Why now?
I hugged Sammy for what felt like an eternity. “I’ll make sure you have a home on the island,” I said. “You, Kyle, and Jenny will be safe. I promise.”
“But it won’t really be home, Val,” she whispered, “not without you.”
“I’ll feel a whole lot better if I die knowing you’re safe.”
When another zombie moaned, Kyle motioned for us to get back on the boat. He helped me aboard, and Sammy sat down beside me and wrapped me into another hug.
As Kyle readied the boat to take off, I stared at the zombie, studying its horrid face, my destiny. It wobbled toward the boat and snapped its jaws at me. I observed every jerky movement it made when it walked. Its head tilted to the side, exposing muscles and tendons. I shook my head. “Kyle, you can’t let me become that,” I whispered, “not one of those cursed things.”
Chapter 32
Kyle drove the boat, and I couldn’t help but ponder my fate. There was no cure for zombie bites. Ultimately, it was fatal, no matter how hard you tried to fight it. It was a simple fact of life. I didn’t know how Sammy was going to survive without me. I was all she had. She had watched her entire family die at the hands and mouths of zombies. I just hoped she could be strong enough to take another hit. She was only seventeen, so I hoped she would bounce back.
When we were far away from the dock and the shore, I asked Kyle to stop the boat. I knew I would die on the island. My moments were quickly fading away, and I wanted to hang on to the good ones. I wanted them to remember me happy and smiling, not broody and sad. We sprawled out on the upper deck of the boat for a minute, enjoying the sunshine. The warmth felt good on my face, and a cool breeze ruffled my hair. We laughed and joked and had the best hour ever. Kyle and Sammy left to give us some alone time, and Jenny wandered off to find sunglasses for all of us. She handed me the biggest pair and said I looked like a movie star.
For most of the time, Sammy and I did the same stuff we always did. We told jokes, relived happy memories, and talked about all our crazy adventures over the last year. We reminisced about our family and our crazy friends. My impending death was an off-limits conversation for the most part, but I did complain sarcastically about kicking the bucket, and we even made some jokes about it. Sammy came up with some hilarious and heartfelt messages for the dearly departed I’d soon meet, and we even debated whether or not St. Peter would let me in.
Sammy told me she wanted to learn karate, and I told her all about my garden back home. She used to hate hearing about carrots and lettuce, but now she hung on my every word. We laughed some more and told more jokes, then talked about funny experiences. I recounted funny stories from her childhood, like the time when she dumped a bowl of spaghetti on her head.
“I so didn’t do that,” she said. “No way!”
“Yes, you did. You were only one, and my mom took pictures.”
She laughed. “Maybe the zombies devoured those embarrassing pictures.”
“Not a chance,” I retorted.
“I feel like I’m on vacation,” Sammy laughed. “I just wish I had a bikini.”
“This is the best vacation we can hope for in a zombie apocalypse,” I said, munching on chips.
“Sun, fun, and a big, pretty boat. I like it.”
“It’s getting so hot out here,” I said.
“Then maybe you should go for a dip,” Kyle said, suddenly picking me up over his shoulder.
I laughed and begged Sammy and Jenny to help me.
They just laughed harder.
“Kyle!” I said. “You’re not supposed to move an injured person!”
“You said to treat you normally,” Kyle said.
“Did I say that?” I chuckled.
“Yep,” he said, then threw me into the lake.
I landed with a splash, laughing as streams of water poured down my face. The water was a bit chilly but quite refreshing, and I smiled. I was having the best time, enjoying myself, which was something I’d all but forgotten how to do. There was no sad faces or tears—only smiling ones and laughter. There was no talk about zombies and death. Yes, death was looming, but for that one brief moment in time, we let ourselves go and had a blast.
My spirits were lifted even higher when Kyle jumped in next to me.
“The water feels great,” I said.
His eyes lit up as he swam over to me. “Sorry about throwing you in like that. I didn’t think I’d convince you otherwise.”
I met his gaze and smiled. Melting into his warm embrace felt intoxicating, like wine. His green eyes pierced mine, and shimmeri
ng droplets dripped down his face. He intertwined his fingers with mine, and I grinned even wider. When his lips lowered on mine in a fantastic kiss, I wrapped my arms around him as tightly as I could.
“Cannonball!” Sammy shouted as she jumped in, followed by Jenny.
I laughed as water splashed everywhere.
We all had the best time, laughing, dunking, and splashing each other. Afterward, we lay on the boat deck again, drying off and basking in the rare happy moment.
I turned and smiled at Kyle. “Thank you,” I said. “I’ll never forget this.”
“Me neither.”
I couldn’t figure out why I cared about him so much, since I’d practically just met him. I just didn’t understand it. I hadn’t felt that way about anyone since Travis, and Kyle and I had only known each other for less than a week, yet he’d impacted my mind and emotions in only a few precious moments. Besides that, the chemistry between us was off the charts. I loved his personality, his taste in music, his attitude, and his zest for life. I knew I’d never get him out of my mind. I only wished I had more time to get to know him even better. We really hadn’t had much time alone together at all. Everything was so rushed and intense as we fought for survival.
Over the last year, romance had barely crossed my mind, but I’d found a person who touched my soul, and I didn’t ever want to let go. There was so much I wanted to learn about Kyle. I wondered if we could’ve worked out if things had turned out differently, but I thought it best not to dwell on the impossible. My organs would be turning to soup soon, and I’d be dead in a matter of days. Nothing hurt and stung more than knowing I would have to leave everyone behind.
* * *
We took off after lunch, and Kyle didn’t stop till we were just a short distance from the island. He took a moment to explain the plan to the girls, and they wholeheartedly agreed to do whatever they needed to do.
We were all strong swimmers, so it really wasn’t a problem. We ducked underwater when boats sped by, and no one noticed us bobbing in their wake.
As we waded to the shore, the sand felt thick as it oozed over the top of my tennis shoes. Pebbles shifted beneath my feet, and my arms felt heavy and numb. The pain in my legs intensified with the stifling weight of my wet clothes, and I panted from the effort.
“Welcome to Kelly’s Island, your new island paradise,” I said. I felt a sense of accomplishment by getting them to the safe haven my grandma promised me. She said I could bring whoever I wanted. And I knew she’d welcome my friends with open arms.
“It’s beautiful,” Sammy said. “And we’ll be safe from zombies.”
“Never ever let your guard down,” Kyle said. “It’s safer. But there’s always risk. Because if someone dies on this island, well, that’s a zombie on the loose. But I’m sure they’re pretty on top of things around here and handle the situation swiftly and effectively.”
“This is like heaven,” Sammy said. “I hated being cooped up in that little apartment and stepping outside was a death sentence. But here, it’ll be different, even if I do have to keep my guard up.”
“I can’t wait,” Jenny said.
Sammy looked at me. “It’s been a year. I hope your grandma is still here and didn’t go somewhere else.”
“She’s here,” I said. “And we know the island’s safe or there wouldn’t be people patrolling the perimeter around the clock.”
Kyle nodded. “Yeah, we know it hasn’t been overrun by zombies.”
When my feet finally touched the dry beach, I shouted in victory, then collapsed in exhaustion.
“You all right, Val?” Kyle asked.
“Just tired.”
“It’s the bite,” he said.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
He wrapped his arm around me. “Let me carry you.”
I laughed. “Not a chance.”
I gripped Jenny’s hands. “How are you doing?”
“Good.”
“Great. Are you ready to go?”
She smiled. “Yep.”
Sammy pushed the wet hair out of her face. “If we follow the directions, your grandma’s house should be right over there,” she said, pointing.
I pulled at my soaked clothes. “Yeah, we’re close.”
“What are we waiting for then?” she asked, water dripping down her face. “Let’s go.”
Kyle put Jenny on his shoulders and started walking. Jenny squealed in laughter. They looked absolutely adorable. I was so glad I was able to find them a safe place to live. I hoped that this island could be a fresh start and they could all heal from their battle wounds. I ultimately would die on this island in a few short days. I wasn’t ready to go, but I knew I couldn’t stop the hands of fate.
When we eventually found the white house with the green shutters, I was ecstatic. It looked just like the pictures Grandma had sent.
“This is something you have to do by yourself,” Kyle said. “We’ll wait out here.”
“What did I do to deserve somebody so fantastic?” I said.
He just smiled at me, and so did Sammy and Jenny.
“Don’t worry about us,” Sammy said. “We’re going to hang out and walk around a little. But don’t worry, we won’t go far. And we’ll stay hidden. Just don’t rush on our account. We’ll be fine.” She then hugged me, tears welling up in her eyes. “Thanks for getting us here.”
I tried not to cry. “All I ever wanted was to find you a safe haven, and I can’t wait for you to make this place your home.”
She hugged me tight.
Kyle kissed me and my heart soared. I gave everyone one last hug. Taking a deep breath, I walked to the door and rang the bell. My heart felt like it was going to explode. I was a complete mess and a jumble of nerves.
A dark-haired, blue-eyed woman opened the door. Her jaw dropped when she saw me, and she immediately pulled me into a long embrace. My mom suddenly burst into tears. I felt welcomed in her loving arms. It was a joyous reconnection and I never felt such bliss. Emotion, thoughts, and all kinds of feelings raced through me. I couldn’t stop hugging her and I could hardly contain my excitement.
“Hi Mom,” I whispered as a tear ran down my face. “It’s me your long-lost daughter.”
“Valerie!” she said, sobbing into my drenched shoulder. “You’re alive! I wasn’t sure. I talked to a woman who said Philadelphia was overrun with zombies.”
“It is, but I survived.”
“My baby’s a fighter and a survivor.”
“You know I’m a cop, Mom.”
“For the first time in twenty four years, I’m holding you in my arms and I’m never letting go.”
We both cried as we hugged tightly. It was one of the most surreal moments in my entire life and I knew the trip was worth it. Even if I only got this one perfect moment, it was definitely worth it.
My search was over.
She kept telling me how sorry she was. And I told her I was thankful for the life I had, and that I adored the adoptive parents she chose. I had no complaints whatsoever. But there was always that missing piece of the puzzle…and now I had it. It was a highly charged and tearful reunion just like on those heartwarming talk shows when an adoptee meets his/her biological parents.
“I clutched you close to my heart in that hospital room,” she said. “I’ll never forget stroking your beautiful face. Meeting you has ended all my torment…the aching years of waiting, wondering, longing, and praying to see you once again.”
I was overwhelmed with the intensity of my emotions and could hardly control them, which wasn’t like me at all. I wasn’t one to bawl my eyes out, and if any of the guys back on the police force ever saw me weeping like a baby, they’d surely never let me live it down. I think it was the combination of meeting my mom and knowing I was going to die.
“I always wondered what you looked like in person,” I wept.
“I spent my whole life trying to imagine what you looked like.”
I smiled. “All you had to do
was look in the mirror.”
“I know,” she said. “You look identical to me. It’s uncanny.”
“We could pass as sisters,” I said.
My mom embraced me tighter. “You’ve filled the massive hole in my heart. You have no idea how long I waited to hug you.”
“Over two decades?”
She cupped my face. “We’ll never lose each other again. You’re going to be part of this family.”
I wept. It was a long, emotional journey, but well worth it in the end. I knew who I was and where I came from. And all those years I wondered why I never quite fit in. Now I knew.
She wiped her tears. “I know it’s a lifelong process of rebuilding what was lost but we got all the time in the world, baby girl.”
“I love you so much,” I said, clinging onto her.
“I love you more.”
The tears poured like a river flowing from both of our eyes. And we just held each other for a long moment in this emotional moment. She gripped my hands and smiled, and no words were needed. I could feel the love and warmth radiating from her. I hugged my mom once again. An elderly woman with white hair in a tight bun came and joined in on our hug. I knew immediately from pictures it was my beautiful grandmother. I grinned as I stared into her big, blue eyes.
“Oh, Val, my beautiful granddaughter,” she said. “I hoped you would show up.”
I hugged her, and she started to sob. And the tears started all over again. She led me into the house and handed out tissues.
“I should’ve listened and come sooner,” I said.
“The important thing is that you’re here now.”
My grandma went over to the couch, grabbed a blanket, then wrapped me up. “You’re all wet.”
“Jumped off a boat and swam over,” I said. She cocked a brow and I continued. “It’s a long story.”
“Are you thirsty?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Let me get you some water, dear.”
“That’d be wonderful.”
My mom stroked the hair out of my face. “I still can’t get over how much you look like me.”
“I thought so when you sent the pictures. I have your eyes and dark hair.”
She stared at me lovingly. “The last time I saw you was the day I gave birth to you twenty-four years ago. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”
Val: Prequel to The Zombie Chronicles Page 25
