Nova Nocte (Book 2): Quarantined in Chaos

by Melissa Gibbo

  Not going to be a good day.

  “Hey guys, look who’s back with us.” Daemon propped me up next to him.

  “Hi. We have problem.” I ignored my weakening resolve. “Chaim is infected; dog was warning. He smells Dead. Chaim has to be...”

  “No!” Chase jumped to his feet, his sword pointed at me. “You are not going to lay a hand on this boy. Sunny and I are taking care of him. He’s just a little sick.”

  Sunny kept rocking the bundle in her arms. A pale leg hung from the fleece and swayed limply. Vincent and the Nurse inched closer to the sleeping child.

  Margot took out a dagger.

  “We need to put that kid down if he’s got the z-bug.”

  “Back off all of you!” Chase wheeled on them with the blade. “This kid is ours. He’s just fine. He just needs some more rest. Forget about the damned dog. You can’t believe a mutt and a crazy leech like Squirrel over us. Chaim is fine, so back off.”

  Tension made the cold room heat up. Everyone moved back but Daemon and I. I watched the energy leap off the tense foster dad as his eyes darted from person to person. Margot kept her dagger pointed at the silent toddler. Sunny appeared calmer than I’d ever seen her as she moved to a steady rhythm and sang a lullaby to the boy. I listened to the pounding pulses in the room; the ragged breaths played their own melody. One heartbeat was missing.

  “He’s already dead from the infection isn’t he, Sunny?”

  She stopped rocking. Panic masked Chase’s face as Margot and her siblings closed in on them.

  “He will be fine. He’s just asleep. He’s a little sick, but when we get out of the quarantine, they’ll be able to help him. Chaim is alright. You’ll see.”

  I waved off the triplets and found my footing steadier. I took a step forward.

  “Just let me check on him. Maybe we can help. Some medicine or something.” Chase adjusted his grip on the sword and backed up. “The two of you have barely slept; you must be tired. Just let Nurse and I take care of Chaim for you. It can’t be good for your baby for you to go without rest.”

  Instinctively, Sunny’s palm went to her belly and her husband lowered the weapon a little. Cal and Daemon moved the crowd out of the room slowly. Margot didn’t follow her brothers, but stayed to my left. I could almost hear the couple fighting their personal demons in their heads as I inched closer with glacial movements.

  “He’s our kid, too. We just want to take care of him.” Tears streaked down Chase’s face as his hands shook. “Sunny and I just want to keep Chaim safe. He’s just a little kid, he deserves to be safe.”

  “I know. I know he does.” I pushed down the memory of me draining the boy on the highway. “You two are good people. I know you will be wonderful parents when your child is born in a few months. But right now, Chaim is sick and needs someone to take care of him. Just hand him to me and the Nurse can look after him while you guys catch some Zs.”

  I held my hands out.

  My arms are either getting cut off or filled with a probably dead zombie toddler. The fuck kind of day is this to wake up?

  Sunny whispered to the bundle and kissed the child’s forehead before holding the limp form out to me. Chase crumpled to the floor and dropped the sword. The clatter resonated in harmony with the weeping of the would-be parents. I held the bundle carefully. The body was rigid and ashen.

  “We’ll take care of Chaim for you. Just rest and take care of each other. I’m sorry, guys. I’m so sorry.”

  I backed out of the room with my parcel. Margot moved to follow me; her blade still at the ready. I pictured the particles of air between us growing denser and shoved the invisible barrier at her with my mind. She was tossed a few feet backwards. When she sat up, red trickled from her lip. I smiled at her and carried Chaim out the door.

  ###

  As I looked at the innocence wrapped in blankets, Chaim’s clouded eyes blinked open and doll fingers reached up at my face. I felt a tickle in the back of my throat where I stifled the waiting onslaught of tears; there will be time to mourn later, but not now, while there’s work to be done.

  I hold his hand in mine and walk him out of the red brick and white siding building. Taking care to keep his tic tac sized baby teeth from making contact with my skin, I speak to the Dead boy.

  “I’m sorry, Chaim. I hope that you can forgive us for not being able to keep you safe. Forgive me for not being in my mind enough to protect you and the others.”

  I ambled past Cal and Garret. Nurse looked away as I passed him, Bubba, and Vincent. I set the writhing bundle on the overgrown grass and looked at the gray sky. “I hope that what we have to do will give your spirit some peace.” I reached out and took someone’s spear without looking. “May you find rest in whatever lies beyond in the arms of your family and God if he’s listening.”

  I closed my eyes and drove the spear tip through its mark; I tried to blot out the sound of the impact and the silence that followed. The feeling in my forearm confirmed the act’s completion. I opened my eyes, released my shaking hand from the staff, and left the spear in place.

  Keeping my gaze above, I turned from the scene to face my people; the tug was strong to withdraw but I battled it. Snowflakes began to tumble from the starless heavens, waltzing their way towards the hard earth. Several of us stood in the cold to witness the flurry of silver-gilded nature traipsing over us.

  Exhaling a breath I didn’t remember holding, I zipped up Daemon’s leather jacket and returned to our shelter to check on my friends. They’d adopted Chaim in their hearts and now he was gone. They’d even killed Sindbad to buy them time before saying goodbye. I plodded up the narrow stairs.

  What can I possibly say to them? I’m sorry I failed you and had to destroy your toddler? I don’t know if there are words for this...

  Victor and Claude stood outside the door to the apartment; they stopped speaking when I neared. Pushing past them, I found Margot holding a gun on Sunny and Chase.

  “What do you think you’re doing? Put the pistol away. No one else is dying here tonight.”

  I sensed two people entering the room behind me. The door shut and a bolt slid into place.

  Not good. I guess someone is dying tonight.

  I mentally called out to Daemon and Cal.

  Problem up here guys. Triplets have a gun on our favorite couple and I think they have their blades drawn on me. Little help, please?

  “Is this the plan?” I slowly turned to get a view of the brothers. “Kill all of us and keep moving north on your own with our gear?”

  Victor lifted his machete to neck level.

  “We didn’t want things to go this way.”

  “Speak for yourself.” Margot adjusted her aim to Sunny’s stomach to halt Chase’s gradual advance.

  “Okay, Margot wanted you dead immediately, but Claude and I didn’t want to have to hurt anyone else.”

  “So don’t then. Just put away your weapons and let’s talk out whatever problems we have. You don’t want to hurt anyone and none of us want to be hurt; I think the math works out here.”

  Claude’s rifle dropped to waist level. I hoped Victor and Margot would copy him. Margot clicked off the safety.

  “The problem is you. You are too weak to run this crew and too powerful to be so crazy. You leeches suck us weaker to keep us your cattle. I wouldn’t mind a tumble with your boy toy, but I’d stake him after.”

  I tensed my muscles and felt my fangs digging into my lower lip.

  “And then these two want to pick up strays during this trip.” Chase sidestepped between the gun and his wife. “How stupid are you people to want another mouth to feed? You don’t add useless people to your group, you cull the herd. That kid getting bit was the best thing that could've happened and you folks are all solemn.”

  “Sis...” Victor’s blade wavered as he swayed with nerves.

  “Shut up and keep that bloodsucking bitch covered.” She spat at him.

  Feet clamored up the stairs. A poundi
ng at the locked door. Bubba’s voice punctuated the knocking.

  “Y’all doing alright in thar? Why’s the door locked? Let us in, it’s getting cold outside and we need to get moving ‘fore we’re stuck in a blizzard.”

  A shadow crossed the darkened window. Victor’s blade pressed against the back of my neck; one thrust and I’m done. Chase’s eyes hold a madness I haven’t seen since we found his brother’s body.

  “You are not going to hurt my wife. Put the gun down or I swear I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

  “You mean hand, Stumpy.” Margot aimed at his head and cocked the hammer. The click echoed in the sparse room.

  Victor, your arm is tired. Just lower the machete for a second. It will be fine; you just need to rest it for a second, that’s all.

  The point disappeared from my spine and I lunged for Margot. Chase dove on top of Sunny. The pistol fired as I grabbed the shooter’s arms and lifted them to the ceiling. The window burst open and three vampires pounced on the brothers. Weapons clanked on the faux hard wood floors.

  “Sunny!” Chase examined his wife for signs of injury while I kept her attacker pinned to the wall by the throat. Her pulse throbbed against the heel of my hand. It was electrifying.

  Her siblings were lined up next to her while the rest of our gang was let in the front door. We’d all managed not to draw any blood in the skirmish.

  That had to earn us some brownie points with everyone. Surprise the vampires aren’t monsters! Well, not really I hope.

  “Is everyone okay?” I asked no one in particular.

  Nurse took his sweet time responding.

  “Yeah. The bullet hit the dresser. Sunny and baby are fine. Chase is hurling, but I think that’s just from all the adrenaline.”

  I lowered my prisoner to the floor and pushed her into a sitting position. Victor and Claude needed no such urging.

  “You tried to kill our people. I say they choose your fate.”

  I faced the community.

  “Any comments people? Forgive, banish, execute, force into slavery, torture, reward, any ideas?”

  Reggie and Cal made a move to speak. I held my hand up to quiet them.

  “Not us four. The four of us are going to have separate lives from these guys when we cross the border. We can help enforce their decision, but it has to be theirs.”

  Vincent and Bubba’s eyes widened. Garret sat on the bed and Nurse looked up from his patients. Sunny was the first to say anything.

  “It’s really become humans and vampires, not just people again hasn’t it?”

  I hung my head a little more.

  “Yeah. It has. The world outside isn’t like this one. We’ve got to deal with that.”

  She hefted her plump body out of her seat, stepped over her husband’s puddle of sick, and hugged me.

  “I’ll miss the life we had in Nova Nocte. It wasn’t much, but it was a home and we were a family.”

  “I know. But now,” I softly pushed her away. “...it’s time for you to take the lead. We’re fellow travelers and allies. Nothing more.”

  She nodded and looked around the room. Our party had separated on instinct: humans to one side, vampires on the other, attempted murderers in the middle against a wall.

  Garret hid the spear behind his back when Sunny peered at him. Chaim’s blood still stained the end. She held her hand out and he sheepishly placed it in her open palm.

  “I think our decision is pretty simple.”

  She held her favorite spear and forced her face to go blank. All faces rested on her. Sunny stole a glance at her husband.

  “We should take these three captive for now.”

  Cal formed a half-smile. Garret, Chase, and Bubba startled and stared at the trio on the floor like a new fish in the tank.

  “How do you mean?” Vincent holstered his sidearm as he asked.

  “Just how it sounds; we keep them prisoner and have them pull the heavier trailers of supplies. They handle all ‘donations’ for the foreseeable future so the rest of us can preserve our health. Margot, Victor, and Claude will still be fed but not armed. If they cause any more trouble, our undead friends can drain them dry and leave them for the zombies to pick at.”

  Damn she’s smart. I’m going to miss having Sunny around. Couldn’t think of a better plan.

  Everyone seemed nervous and fidgety. Reggie excused himself to recline in the living room. Daemon held my hand. Seeing Margot look at him, he moved my hand to his butt and looked away. I gave it a squeeze in appreciation of the symbolic ‘fuck you’ to the girl and cleared my throat.

  “Is that the decision?” Heads turned. “Any objections?”

  “I object.”

  Margot elbowed her brother in the ribs.

  “Claude, you can’t object.” I replied.

  “Why not? I’m part of the group, too.”

  Sunny wheeled on him and brought the tip of the spear to the bridge of his nose. He held his breath in shock as much as to keep the point from breaking the skin. Chaim’s infected blood still covered the steel.

  “You are most certainly NOT a part of this group. You and your siblings are only alive until you cease to be useful or until we get tired of you. Basically, you three just forfeited your freedom and your right to exist. Shut up or I’ll use this,” She dragged the weapon tip against his brow for effect. “...to infect you with z-bug. Then we’ll work you until it brings you to an agonizing death. After that, we’ll make Margot and Victor be the ones to cut you down. Do you like that option?”

  Okay, she’s flipped. Leadership does that these days.

  ###

  Sunny and Chase’s reign as leaders of our human companions is off to an interesting start. Vincent, Garret, Nurse, and Bubba are leaving the triplets under our watch. Feeding four vampires on with three people probably won’t last for long, but thankfully it’s brokered a certain amount of peace for our two species.

  I’m monitoring the prisoners from above as they haul Reggie’s gold, extra blankets, cookware, and whatnot. With the loss of Chaim and Sindbad, Cal suggested that our friends rotate hauling one another so we can cover more ground. Already tonight we have reached Walterboro.

  My skin tingles with the instinctual knowledge that the sun will be rising within the hour. I land -- not so smoothly -- in front of the trio and direct them to pull off for the day. They scowl at me and stop at a boarded up Foodland. Victor wipes sweat from his face and neck. Claude pants from exhaustion but keeps his head down. Only Margot looks at me.

  The other bicycles roll in with their trailers: people transports and mobile armories. Daemon is peddling one full of canned food at the rear of the convoy. Cal and Reggie alight beside me and watch as he attempts to pop a wheelie. I shake my head as he topples the bike and its contents; the commotion is the last thing we need.

  “Was that necessary? I know you saw what it looks like around here.”

  “It’s a bike, you are a cute girl, I’m a dumb guy; it’s kind of my job to impress you with crazy stunts.”

  Daemon replaced the cargo and gave me a quick kiss.

  “Fair enough, but not when there are hundreds of Dead within a mile of us, okay?”

  He caressed my cheek before walking the gear to the front of the building. I circle the building to assess its stability. Cal joins me after checking the roof.

  “Well, the ceiling shouldn’t cave in, but that’s not saying much.”

  “I know this place is a crappy option.” I stick my finger into one of the long line of bullet holes on the wall. Brown smears mar the side of the shop; no bodies or parts are nearby, just the residue of somebody’s life. “Unfortunately, we don't really have the time to clear a path further into town. The four of us are outnumbered at least a hundred to one by Dead. We have to hole up here for the day and figure out the rest tomorrow.”

  The Roman kicked at the shotgun shells and bullet casings littering the lot. He bent to pick up one of the larger rounds. He examined it between his for
efinger and thumb.

  These are all coated in grime and dust; whatever happened here was long ago. We will need to barricade ourselves in with the others for the day. And have a watch over Margot and her ilk, of course. I suppose we can manage a day or so.”

  Cal dropped the spent bullet and wiped his hands on his trousers. I peered at the stars and listened to the slow steady thuds of fleshies wandering the town. I tried to imagine what the city was like before. Cars roaring past, people talking into their phones, children playing, the hum of televisions, the constant buzz of life.

  Will it overwhelm me when I’m surrounded by that bustle of society again? Will I miss the plodding of mindless zombies when I lay down to sleep? Is this the new white noise of my life, like the need to hear a fan to drift off to dreamland?

  “Squirrel?”

  I blink away my reverie.

  “Yeah?”

  Cal puts a hand on my shoulder.

  “I thought you’d gone again. Shouldn’t we get everything arranged for the day? I think you could do with a little rest.”

  “We all could.”

  I march off to rally the troops into our temporary abode. Daemon and Vincent have already cleared the store. Reggie yawned as he supervised the triplets hauling the supplies to a corner of the room. He faced us as we started carrying the junk out the plywood braced door.

  “Back with us, huh?”

  “For the foreseeable future, you are stuck with us.” Cal teased.

  “You know you love us, Reggie.” I handed him a gunny sack. “Trade jobs with you for a bit?”

  He carried the luggage without a response and I sat guard over the door and the captives. Everything was stowed quickly and bedrolls were set up along two walls: one for our allies and one for the condemned. Cal took up guard in the center while I covered the door. Chase brought me a handful of chains and padlocks.

  “We should, uh, lock up those three.”

  He proffered the steel links and master locks without making eye contact. I hesitated before accepting. I closed my hands over the restraints and he gave me a couple of keys.