Jeff shook his head. “We’re not interested in trading or taking. I’m here to make you an offer, and a very generous one at that.”
A few of the people stirred but no one stopped pointing a weapon at the trio.
“We’re not interested,” the older man said after a pause. “Kindly go your way and we’ll continue to live.”
“Is this really living?” Mitchell asked.
Jeff’s first reaction was to punch the fucking guy in the face for speaking out of turn. He’d told him to keep his mouth shut and let him do the talking. When they got back to Main Street, Mitchell was going to get a beating he wouldn’t soon forget.
* * * * *
Mitchell knew he’d fucked up as soon as he opened his mouth. By the look on Jeff’s face, he was going to get his ass kicked when this was all over, regardless of how it played out.
“It’s living to us,” the older man said defensively.
Mitchell kept his mouth shut and looked at Jeff, knowing it was too late.
Jeff squinted at Mitchell and grunted before turning back to the leader. “It isn’t much living, I can plainly see. You have no running water and I’m sure every time you light a cooking fire a horde of zombies attack. I’m also sure you’ve encountered quite a few smart ones, and they keep getting stronger and smarter each day. From the looks of your group, I see many women and children and not in the best shape. I’m guessing your death rate is through the roof due not only to zombie attacks but disease and malnourishment. How long do you think you can keep this up?”
Two men stepped forward with rifles and aimed them at Jeff.
“If you had any ammo, you would’ve shot us as we approached or at least given us a warning shot. We both know your days are numbered,” Jeff said.
“We’ll fight you tooth and nail for every last scrap we have, buddy,” one of the men said. The older man put his hand up and sighed.
“There’s no need for another confrontation. It only leads to people getting killed and turning into zombies and yet more enemies. We have nothing of value for you and your group. We just want to be left in peace. We are not a threat to wherever you are living, and we have no intention of going much further than the main road. There isn’t much left to take,” the old man said.
“We don’t want what you’ve got,” Jeff said and smiled. He put his hands high in the air. “I’m here, standing before you, to offer you sanctuary. Food and water. Electricity. Safety in numbers and behind four high walls.”
“You’re lying,” the mouthy guy said and shook his rifle for effect. “Electricity? Bullshit. How many unicorns do you have?”
“Six, you idiot,” Jeff said. “You can believe me or not. But come and see for yourself.” Jeff took off his shirt and threw it at the older man. “Smell it.”
The older man took a whiff and looked confused.
“Today was laundry day. I used Downy in my working washing machine. You can check my fingernails. They’re clean. My hair is washed.” Jeff patted Red Shirt on the stomach. “Obviously, we have food. I’m trying to save you.”
“What if we refuse your offer?” The older man threw the shirt back.
Jeff shrugged. “Then you stay in this spot and die a horrible death. And in a few weeks, when you wander over to Main Street, we shoot you in the head. No love lost.”
“Main Street where all the biker bars are?” one of the women asked. “I used to bartend at Dirty Harry’s.”
Jeff laughed. “I now call the place home. There’s plenty of room, too.”
“I don’t trust him,” the guy who kept adding his opinion said. Mitchell knew by the look on Jeff’s face he was going to take care of the guy no matter what happened.
The older man put his hand up again. Everyone from the camp was standing around listening by this point. “How is it possible you aren’t overrun?”
“We have a protector,” Jeff said slowly. “He guards us and makes sure no harm comes to us. He eliminates the smarter zombies and lets us live in peace. Grow crops. Build housing. Live a normal life.”
The older man squinted his eyes. “He’s a zombie.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes, he is,” Jeff said.
Everyone began to talk at once and Jeff looked at Mitchell. “If one of these fuckers aims a gun at me, you better shoot him.”
Mitchell nodded. No one was looking murderous. They were either confused or angry right now, which wasn’t good. This could escalate any second. Mitchell hoped the guys hiding were good shots or they’d just walked into a death trap about to spring shut.
“I’d rather take my chances out in the open and fight for my life than be sacrificed to a damn zombie,” the loud guy said. More than a few people agreed.
“No one is being sacrificed. How can I prove to you we’re not messing with you? It would be easier to just shoot everyone and take your shit, you know. I have twenty men armed to their teeth hiding and surrounding you. But I’m not threatening. I’m just saying. Why go through all the trouble of luring you miles away so we can have a few ripped tents and maybe a bent fork? You have nothing I want. But I have everything you need. Think about it,” Jeff said.
Mitchell eyed the loud guy, who looked like he was about to put his finger on the trigger but stopped short. He was about to blow if they didn’t come to an agreement soon. Mitchell was ready to shoot. With any luck, he’d kill Jeff and then Mitchell would kill him. Everyone would be happy.
“I’ll tell you what… why don’t a couple of you come back with us? If you like what you see, you can come back and get everyone else. If you don’t like the vibe of freedom and taking a shower, you’re free to leave. No one will stop you. I give you my word,” Jeff said. “But I’m leaving in a few minutes. I have more shit to do.”
The group circled around and began discussing the situation while Jeff stretched and stared at Mitchell. He hadn’t forgotten about him talking out of turn. Jeff put an arm around Red Shirt and they walked a few paces away.
The discussion broke up and the older man stepped forward. “You will kindly escort me and two others to Main Street. We will be gone for no more than six hours. If we see any of your men sniffing around while I’m gone, they have instructions to repel you. Is this understood?”
Jeff nodded. “You mentioned something before about another confrontation. Are there more people in the area?”
The older man nodded. “Across the street. At the mall. A group of maybe six men, carrying rifles and wearing camouflage, are holed up in the food court. When we get near the property, they open fire. They’ve also raided us twice in the last two weeks but we managed to keep them away.”
Jeff turned to Mitchell. “I want you to do some recon while we’re gone.” He winked and turned to the group, pointing at the man who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “Take him with you. He knows the area and maybe he can help you get inside and see what they have over there. We don’t want them following us when we break down the camp. I’m sure they’re watching our every move.”
Jeff turned back to Mitchell. “I want this asshole dead. Understood?”
When Mitchell nodded, Jeff pointed at Red Shirt. “Take him with you for backup, too. Are we ready to move? We’re burning daylight, people.”
Chapter Nine
The Lich Lord was suddenly at Darlene’s bedside, even though she hadn’t heard him enter. He stood over her with a blank expression on his face.
“Help,” Darlene whispered through clenched teeth. The pain in her side had come on strong and was unbearable. Her fingernails were digging into her torso, trying to scratch out the wretched feeling.
He closed his eyes and put his hands out but didn’t say a word.
“Holy shit, dude, I need help. Stop the mumbo jumbo and get me a doctor,” Darlene said, wishing she had kept quiet. Each word had been punctuated with a twisting shot of pain in her gut.
The Lich Lord’s eyes snapped open and he frowned. “I can’t read your thoughts.”
“Are
you sure? Because I’m thinking about what an asshole you are right now for taking your time helping me,” Darlene said. “Either give me something for the pain or fucking kill me. But do something.”
“I don’t know if I can help you,” he said quietly and leaned down to her on the bed. “I don’t know if I have any power over you.”
“Fucking try,” Darlene said, closing her eyes because the pain was unbearable. It felt like her insides were on fire.
She felt his cold hands gently touch her stomach and she tried to stay still. If he wanted to kill her, he could’ve done it a million times already. When Jeff brought her here and off of his motorcycle, she was in bad shape. Weak and defenseless. The Lich Lord could have killed her in a second, but he didn’t. Darlene decided to put her trust in this monster because she had no other choice right now.
“Ahh. I know what’s happening,” The Lich Lord said. His hands roamed her torso but not in a sexual way. Wherever he touched Darlene, she felt tingly. “You’ve gotten a bad infection from giving birth. It is really bad, too. A lesser woman would have died already.”
“Save the compliments and save me,” Darlene said.
The Lich Lord smiled. “I think I can save you. But what’s in it for me?”
“I won’t shoot you in the head,” Darlene said and grimaced in pain.
“Not good enough. I’ve built a real community. I have a group that wants to survive. And it is built on trust. I don’t harm them and they protect me. I no longer need to feed off of the blood of my enemies, even though I choose to at times. But never anyone under my protection. I’d like to take you under my wing and study you. See why you are so different. Give me time to figure out what makes you the way you are, and maybe it will help me understand why I am who I am now. We can help one another and no harm will come to you. In fact, I will help you find your baby and your mate. I think it is a fair trade, don’t you, Zombie Killer?”
Darlene grinned despite the pain. “I will stay and help but not for long. Until I am fully healed. If I don’t die while you’re talking to me. And I want that fucker Jeff off of my back. If he messes with me, I will kill him.”
The Lich Lord nodded. “Agreed.” He looked over his shoulder. “Taylor, find me something thick like a piece of wood or something metal.”
“For what?” Darlene asked.
“I have a strong feeling this is really going to hurt. You might want to bite down on something as a precaution.”
For all Darlene’s show and words, she didn’t want to fight off pain. She’d been fighting for too long. She wanted to rest and sleep, but knew she’d have to find an inner strength.
Finding her newborn son and John would have to help her get through right now. The thought of them both out there and not together was too much for her to comprehend, but she used it to fall back into her thoughts just as Taylor placed a block of rotting wood into her mouth and The Lich Lord placed his hands on either side of her torso and a searing pain shot through her, forcing her arms and legs to spasm like she was being electrocuted.
Darlene didn’t want to die but knew she’d made a deal with the Devil in order to live to fight another day.
The Lich Lord moaned over her and his hands moved slowly across her stomach area, pressing harder as he moved.
She could feel her insides churning in rhythm to his movement and her body began to tingle where he touched, the pain slowly subsiding. Her skin was clammy and began to feel tight on her frame, a weird sensation her brain was trying to comprehend when a pain caressed her body so exquisite and so sharp she blacked out, thoughts of the baby and John on her mind.
* * * * *
The group had only gone two miles south on Route 1 when Lincoln signaled for them to halt.
“Now what?” John asked. He was riding bitch with Jessica and he wasn’t too happy, but Lincoln didn’t trust John being in good enough health to ride a Harley on his own. And John knew he still wasn’t completely trusted, either.
“There’s a blockade ahead. It looks like three school buses have been laid out in the road,” Jessica said. “Learn to be patient. Jeez. If we drive up and it’s a trap, we’re all dead.”
John watched as Heath rode his motorcycle ahead to scout. He hoped if this was a trap they’d know because Heath was shot between the eyes. “Only one guy to look?”
“Lincoln is very careful. We’ve lost too many people to smart zombies and raiders. You might think Heath is an asshole but he’s saved our lives a million times. He has a good sense for danger and where it’s coming from.” Jessica got off the bike and stretched. She scanned the trees to their right. “I came up this way following the train tracks. All the way from Orlando.”
“I didn’t think anyone survived Orlando,” John said as he stood and tried to relax. He remembered back to Flagler Beach, when everything seemed so crazy, but now seemed so simple. “We got word the survivors were heading north up A1A and right at us on their way to St. Augustine. We were going to be the welcoming committee. Knowing so many people had survived and were headed our way… we were not prepared, physically or mentally, to see hundreds of zombies coming up the road. We were trapped in our homes for days while the horde passed on their way north.”
“We got out just in time. Again, Heath saved us. He knew the new group in town was going to be nothing but trouble. Their leader was quite the asshole. We were literally an hour away when the first vehicles passed us. We stopped someone, who told us the walls had been breached. Rumor had it someone had opened I-4 to the zombies and let them in. Can you believe it? What kind of person would do that?”
John shrugged as he watched Heath, rifle in hand disappear behind the buses. “This world is still filled with all kinds. It would’ve been nice to have all the assholes die in the first wave and then we’d be shooting them in the head right now. But too many innocent people died and too many of the wrong people are still alive.” John scrolled through his mind about all the people he’d lost since this began. Way too many to contemplate. He stopped and smiled at Jessica. “But we’re still alive.”
“Thanks be to God,” Jessica said.
John was about to make a sarcastic comment about religion when he saw Heath come out from behind the bus waving it was safe.
“Looks like we ride a few more miles until the next barricade,” Jessica said.
“I take it this isn’t the last one.” John got on behind her. “I can remember coming through this area not too long ago and not having the buses set up like this.”
Jessica shrugged her shoulders as she started the motorcycle. “It’s obvious someone is out here. A large group by the way all the surrounding houses up and down Route 1 have been picked clean. But we haven’t been able to get a definite lock on where they’re hiding or who they are. Lincoln hopes they are friendly and we can join forces, but we never see them. Heath is obviously a bit wary. We were hoping it was you at first but I guess not.” They started moving with the rest of the caravan. “I’ll have to let Lincoln know. He’ll be disappointed. We still have a mystery friend or foe to contend with at some point.”
The group rode on, slower this time, watching the trees and train tracks to their right and the houses and side streets to the left. They'd only gotten another two or three miles when another obstacle presented itself.
A line of cars, bumper to bumper, blocked the road ahead. There was no easy way around them. John sighed. This wasn't going to be pleasant, because he'd survived long enough to know they were about to get attacked.
"Seriously, I need a weapon. Shit is about to go down," John said.
Jessica shook her head. "I have my orders."
"You're going to let me die out here? Really?" As soon as Jessica stopped the bike, John pulled himself off and began walking towards the cars.
"Where are you going?" Jessica said, trying to keep her voice down.
John laughed at that. As if a caravan of loud pipes coming down the highway couldn't be heard for miles. "I'm going to sac
rifice myself to the bad guys since you won't give me a fucking gun."
"You curse too much," Jessica said.
John laughed. "Darlene never said that. Of course, she curses more than I do." John turned on his heels and put his hand out. "Do you not have another gun?"
Jessica looked at Lincoln, who came walking over.
Lincoln looked at John and then at the line of cars before turning back to Jessica. "Give him one of the .22's from your saddle bag."
"That's not a very manly weapon... but I'll take it," John said. "We're sitting ducks right now."
"Then why aren't we being shot at?" Heath asked as he came over.
John didn't like this guy at all. "Maybe they're waiting for us to spread out. Some of us go to the blockade so they can keep us separated and shoot us like fish in a barrel."
"I'm going to see if we can move the cars," Heath said.
"Wait..." Lincoln looked uncertain. "Maybe we should circle back."
"We'll lose a few hours that way," Heath said. "And, if we end up on A1A, it will be just as bad. These zombies are marking out their territory. We're crossing either into their turf or that of another group. Either way, we aren't going to be invited for milk and cookies. I say we barrel through and see what happens."
John was about to admit that Heath was right when Lincoln turned to him. "You go with him. And no fighting."
"No fighting if we get attacked?" Heath asked.
Lincoln sighed. "No fighting each other."
Chapter Ten
"What are you doing here?" Jeff asked Vee. "You worry about the compound and I'll worry about adding people to help you plant corn and shit."
They were at the former parking garage, now the processing area for incoming survivors.
"I came over because Claude sent for me," Vee said. She hated Jeff so much it pained her. Why did he always have to be such an asshole to everyone around him? And for no good reason, either.
Dying Days 5 Page 5
