I watched him closely to make sure he’d did pull out a syringe full of poison and inject me. He had no idea who I was and thought I was just some weak, helpless young woman. I could tell by the way he looked at me that he considered me inferior, a frail little damsel in distress. I could have taken him down before he knew what hit him. What I didn’t know was how to get past the dozen armed guards who were pacing back and forth outside the door.
As I was pondering whether or not to put the doctor in a chokehold, the door opened, and a soldier walked in. “I have her three friends outside,” he said.
“Sammy!” I said.
“Val!” she shouted.
Chapter 34
“Let me see her!” I insisted.
The doctor looked at me. “I will give you five minutes, and then your friends will be deported off the island. They aren’t infected with the virus, so we’ll let them go graciously, but if they return, they will be executed.”
After he walked out, Sammy walked in, and I pulled her into a tight hug.
“Why won’t they let you come with us, Val?” Sammy asked. “It doesn’t make any sense. If they’re scared of you, why don’t they just boot you off the island with the rest of us?”
“I’ve been bitten. I’m now officially a menace to society, and they have to take me down.”
“I know I can’t stop you from dying, but I want to be with you till the end.”
“I know, Sammy, but they won’t let you stay, and they won’t let me go,” I said.
“Please don’t tell me this is the last time I’m ever gonna see you.”
“I’m so sorry, but it’s really out of my hands.”
Tears ran down her face, and her eyes widened. “No!” she shouted. “I won’t leave without you.”
“I’ll be a zombie in a few days anyway and then Kyle would have to shoot me. I can’t do that to him.”
“No!” she screamed again, kicking over a cart of medical supplies. “I know you wanted to meet your family, but we never should have come to this horrible island.”
I softly cupped her face. “Kyle will take good care of you, Sammy. He already promised me he would.”
“Kyle is not you,” she said, sobbing in my arms.
I held her trembling body close as I embraced her.
“Do you remember when we went fishing in that snowstorm?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“How could I ever forget?” I laughed.
She wiped her eyes and looked at me. “We were starving, and you promised everyone fish. You delivered! Jack was completely dumbfounded.”
“Yeah, I know. The look on his face was priceless.”
“I miss our friends,” she said.
“If I meet them on the other side, I’ll tell them you said hi.”
“I can’t live without you. You’re all I’ve got, my only family. Everybody else is dead. You can’t die on me too. You promised you wouldn’t leave me. You promised, Val!”
“I know I did, but I didn’t plan on getting bitten.”
“Please don’t go,” she begged between sobs.
She collapsed to the tile floor, and I just held her as she let it all out. I couldn’t tell her everything would be okay, because I knew it wouldn’t. I slowly stroked her hair. “You’ll eventually get past this, Sammy,” I said. “I want you to keep fighting and never lose hope.”
“I won’t,” she said. “I’ll keep fighting…for you.”
I wiped her tears away. “Always remember that you’re a survivor.”
“I love you so much, Val.”
“I love you too,” I said. “Just remember that my life was so much more than just this one grim moment. Think about all the wonderful times we had together.”
“You’ve always been there for me, even when my mom wasn’t—like when she left me at your house for days and my tooth came out. You wrote that long letter and put twenty bucks in it.”
“What letter? That was from the Tooth Fairy,” I argued.
She playfully slugged me. “I know it was you. You always did stuff like that. All those huge presents under my tree and those Easter baskets full of candy? Don’t go telling me that was Santa and the Easter Bunny. I know it was you.”
“Guilty, as charged. I wanted to throw you a birthday party but your mom always said no and I didn’t want to start trouble.”
“My mom was always drunk, staying out all night. She left me with you all the time, and I know she didn’t pay half what you deserved for all that babysitting. She’d pay you for four hours and come back four days later.”
“It wasn’t about money, Sammy.”
“You were…the mom I never had,” she said. “How do I say goodbye to the most special person in my life? To the person who always went out of her way to make sure I was happy and loved?”
“Stop,” I said. “You’re gonna make me cry all over again.”
“I’m sorry. I’m usually not this sentimental.”
“Yeah. It kinda clashes with the whole blue-hair and pierced-nose thing,” I joked.
She wiped her eyes, then looked at me. “So…how does this work? Are they gonna keep you here until you change?” she asked. “Will they take good care of you?”
“Yeah. I’m going to get to visit with my mom and dad and brothers.”
“Was your mom everything you thought she’d be?” she asked.
“Everything and more. I’ll die knowing I got to meet her.”
“So you took care of some unfinished business? That’s something, I guess.”
“Yeah, and I feel so much better for it.”
“I don’t.”
“Oh, Sammy.”
More tears dripped down her face. “There I go, getting sentimental again.”
“Just let it all out. I’m here.”
“I can’t go on without you,” she said.
“You can, and you will. You have to, Sammy. It’ll be hard, but you have to carry on. I can’t stand the thought of you being sad all the time. Go out and enjoy life. Do all the things you want to do. Stare up at that starry sky and watch that beautiful sunrise and know that I’ll be there looking down on you, making sure you’re okay.”
A tear rolled down her face as she wept. I knew she’d survive and go on to live a very fruitful life. She was tough, a fighter, as well as a compassionate, beautiful person, inside and outside. Her mother would have been proud of her, and so was I.
“I’ve learned so much from you,” she said, her voice wavering. “You’ve taught me how to survive out here, and it hasn’t always been easy. We’ve made some tough choices and sacrifices, but I’m a stronger person because of you. Thank you for always believing in me, Val. You’re forever in my heart.”
We embraced each other for a long time before she pulled away.
She wiped her eyes. “I’m gonna go now, because I know you wanna say goodbye to Kyle.”
Jenny barged in next and looked at me with her big, green eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”
I smiled. “Just being here is more important than any words, Jenny. I’m glad to see you.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. “Okay,” she whispered.
“And you can’t go wrong with a hug,” I said.
She jumped into my arms and hugged me tightly.
Letting out a trembling breath, Sammy waved goodbye.
“I love you. Take care of Jenny and Kyle. They’ll need you, so stay strong for them. Promise me that, okay?”
“I will,” she said.
I knew saying goodbye to a dying person was devastating, and I could see how torn up Sammy was. Nothing could have broken my heart more. “That’s my girl,” I said. I rushed over and hugged her one last time as sobs wracked through her.
After Sammy and Jenny walked out, Kyle walked in.
Tears rolled down my face. I couldn’t control the emotion washing over me. “Shoot. I didn’t want you to see me this way,” I said. I’d hoped to reserve the tears for when he left, but that wasn�
��t happening.
He handed me a tissue. “I’m not here to judge,” he said.
I smiled. That’s what I had told him when I saw him in his chainmail ensemble back at the museum. He said it in the exact same tone I had.
“Thanks for taking care of Sammy,” I said. “You’re all she has, so treat her well.”
“I’ll always have her back.”
I stared into his eyes, and he held my gaze for a long moment. “I don’t wanna die,” I whispered, barely holding it together.
Kyle placed his lips on mine in a gentle kiss. “If I could take your place, I would.”
“No, I wouldn’t want anyone to take this curse for me.” I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I hate this though. I really hate goodbyes.”
“I kinda suck at them myself.”
“I’m so glad I got the chance to meet you,” I said.
He cupped my face. “You’ve made such an impact on my life. I’ll never forget you.”
“I’m so sorry, Kyle. I don’t know why I was so careless. I didn’t mean to get bitten,” I said.
Tears welled up in his eyes, making them sparkle like emeralds.
“Don’t be sad,” I said.
He couldn’t speak as emotion choked him. I knew it was a profoundly painful experience to lose someone, and finding the right words was difficult, and I actually felt sorry for him in his grief.
I stared at Kyle and wished I had more time. If I’d learned anything, it was that life offered no guarantees. I had once felt invincible, as if I could take on the world and win, but in the long run, I ended up facing the same horrible fate as all my dead friends. It’s funny, I thought. You don’t really think about precious life is till it’s ripped away from you. I would have given anything to feel the sunshine on my face one more time, to walk barefoot on the beach and let the Lake Erie water wash over my feet. I would have given anything for my death sentence to be lifted. I shuddered as cold, paralyzing despair washed over me. Still, as horrible as I felt, I didn’t want to spend my last hours in a mad mood. As numb and sad as I was, I wanted to face death with dignity. “You know nothing can save me now, Kyle,” I said. “This isn’t something you can change. The second I got bitten, my fate was sealed. You and I both know that, so don’t go doing something stupid and getting yourself killed trying to break me out of here. If you do, Jenny and Sammy will have nobody.” I cupped his face. “Promise you won’t try to play hero.”
He didn’t answer.
“Promise me, Kyle,” I said again.
He held my face as another tear slid down his cheek. “I promise.”
It was then that I worked up the courage to say the words I’d wanted to say for so long. I knew it was much too early to say them, but I was on my deathbed, so timelines really didn’t matter anymore. “I love you,” I said with heartfelt sincerity.
He looked at me as grief washed over him.
“I know it’s a crazy thing to say when we don’t really know each other all that well, but in the short time we have spent together, I’ve come to realize that love at first sight might actually be real. If I’m going to die, I wanted you to know that before I go.”
“I love you too,” he said.
“You don’t have to parrot it back to me, Kyle. Just because a dying woman says those three little words, that doesn’t mean—”
“Val, I mean every single word,” he said, stroking my face. “I was just scared to say it first.”
“This makes saying goodbye even harder.”
“I know. I’m not ready to lose you. I want so much more. You’ve meant so much to me, so much more than words can ever express.”
I was touched, because I knew he wasn’t just saying it to make me feel better. He meant every single word. “I’m so proud I got to know you, and I cherish every moment we’ve spent together.”
“I just wish we would have had more of them. My only regret is that we didn’t have enough time.”
“Know your worth,” I said. “You’re brilliant, clever, smart, and beautiful, and a fighter and protector to boot…and you touched my life like no other.”
His lips pressed against mine in one of the most emotional, intense kisses I’d ever experienced, even more passionate than the kisses Travis and I had shared. It was rare for me to make such a strong connection with anyone so quickly, but there was an undeniable chemistry between us.
While we were still caught in the throes of that one, final kiss, the door opened, and the soldier grabbed his arm. “Time to go, buddy,” he said.
I looked at Kyle one last time. “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Val.”
Out in the hallway, another soldier grabbed Sammy, and she thrashed and screamed as they dragged her down the hall.
Blood pounded in my head, and anger consumed me. It was not the way I wanted to end things, to be torn from my friends in a forced farewell. I hated the fact that I had no control and couldn’t say goodbye on my terms. Tearing a poor, scared teenager away from me was despicable and heartless. The soldiers sickened me, and I shot daggers at them with my eyes, the only assault I could muster.
“Val,” she shouted, “I love you!”
Her words tore at my heart, and I ran out of the room and bolted down the hall to where she was.
“Val!” she pleaded. “Val!”
I ran to her and gave her one last hug.
Sammy shoved the soldiers off of her, embraced me tightly, and wouldn’t let go. “I won’t leave you,” she said. “I won’t do it. These bullies can’t make me!”
“You’ve gotta go,” I said. “If you don’t, they’ll shoot you. Be brave, Sammy. You’ve gotta live, remember? For me.” I touched her face as a tear slipped down my cheek. “You’ve got so much to live for. Don’t let the zombies take that from you. Keep fighting and never give up hope, no matter what. You have to take control of your destiny, and you can’t die here.”
“I can’t do it,” she cried.
“You can and you will. You’re strong. That’s the only reason you’ve made it this far. Stay brave, confident, okay?”
“But you said we’d always be inseparable,” she said, sobbing, “forever and always, no matter what.”
Another tear rolled down my cheek. “I’ll always be with you in spirit.”
“That’s not good enough!”
“Every day is a precious gift. Go live your life and never take it for granted.”
“Let’s go!” the soldier said, peeling her hands away from me.
She shot me one last look as he jerked her away.
Kyle shoved the soldier aside and grabbed my arms. As another soldier tried to break us up, he said, “I love you, Val.”
I gazed into his green eyes. “I love you too.”
“You’ll always be with me, no matter where I go, no matter what I do.”
I let out a long sob. I gave Kyle one last hug, then Jenny before the soldiers tore us apart. Watching them walk away was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. I wiped the tears from my eyes and was led back to the exam room. I had lied to Sammy about being able to spend my last days with my family; the doctor had already told me they would kill me as soon as possible. I simply couldn’t let Sammy know how horribly lonely my last breath was going to be.
Just as my friends turned the bend, Sammy let out the longest wail I’d ever heard. She was devastated, and there was nothing I could do.
Chapter 35
When the doctor walked in, I tried to keep my composure. “They were going to kill your friends,” he said.
My jaw set. “Are they really letting them go?”
“They are, after a little convincing from me.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’re welcome.”
“When do you plan to inject me?” I asked, fearing the answer.
“I would do it right now, but there are, um…some complications with your case.”
My brows shot up. “Such as?”
“I
am a friend of your family’s, Val,” he blurted out.
“So you’re not gonna kill me?” I asked hopefully.
“I am not in charge here, but I will stall as long as I can. Your family is pleading your case as we speak.”
“So you know my story?”
“Yes, and I’d hate to cause your mother any further heartbreak. She’s a fine woman.”
“I’ve asked for a few more days, but that doesn’t mean they’ll grant my request. If they do, your family will have to come here to visit you, but you’ll have more time to say goodbye. When you get worse, we’ll have to give you the injection. You’ll drift off to sleep and won’t feel a thing.”
“Thank you.”
“When you pass, anyone who had any direct contact with you will have to be isolated for three days, myself included.”
“That’s why they won’t give me the time,” I said, “because they don’t want to lose their doctor for more than three days.”
“Yes.”
I let out a long sigh. “Once again, my life is being dictated. At least you’re not going to eat me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Long story. I had a run-in with a town of cannibals on the way here.”
“Unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head. “I assure you, nothing sinister is going on here. It is just a matter of…public safety. Killing people isn’t something we enjoy. I wish there were another way.”
“You could just escort me off the island,” I joked.
“And that’d be one more hungry zombie out there. I’m afraid that once you’re bitten or scratched, it’s the end of the road, game over. There’s no magic cure. All we can do is make the end very peaceful and comfortable.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. “I don’t want to die,” I whispered.
“There’s nothing you or I can do to stop it. The best I can do is to get you a priest and make sure your family is by your side when the time comes.”
I tried not to burst out into tears, because that wasn’t my style. “But I have so many things I still want to do with my life. I didn’t want to go out like this.”
“At least you got to meet your biological family.”
Val: Prequel to The Zombie Chronicles Page 27
