by Kody Boye
Let him come around—it’ll be easier than forcing him to do something he doesn’t want to do.
Good old Steve, always knowing the right thing to say.
“Do you remember what we talked about this morning?” he asked. “Did you think about anything I said?”
“I did,” Jamie said.
“And?”
“I still don’t think we should say anything about it yet.”
Dakota nodded. He settled back down beside Jamie and drew up close to his side.
“You’re not disappointed in me, are you?”
“No,” Dakota whispered. “Of course I’m not.”
He reached down, laced their fingers together, and took the breath he’d so desperately been wanting to take.
He’ll come around, Steve had said.
He sure hoped so.
“They’re getting closer,” Dakota mumbled.
The mob had begun to accumulate in front of the asylum over the past few days. Driven from Arcburrow’s vacant market district most likely by sleet and rain, they’d first shambled down the stretch of road that led to the interstate, then detoured onto the path that led to Saint David’s Ward and the other few measly stores that dared to propagate in the face of insanity. It seemed pointless for them to travel in this general direction, given the lack of human activity, but for whatever reason, they stepped foot onto the road and didn’t stop walking.
Upon entering the jagged, indirect path, they’d quickly become trapped by the manmade roadblock constructed by cars and other debris. Unable to move forward, they’d simply remained in place. As such, they hadn’t left.
They won’t leave, Dakota thought. There’s no reason for them to.
Standing amidst the tattered display of death and destruction, Dakota slid his hands into his pockets and watched Jamie light a cigarette. His hand up, then over, the click of a zippo sounded in his ears before the scent of smoke drifted into his nose.
In the parking lot below, a zombie dressed as Santa Clause looked up.
“It heard you,” Dakota whispered, gesturing Jamie to settle down in one of two chairs in the eastern watch tower.
“I noticed,” Jamie chuckled, then, in a sing-songy voice, added, “He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake.”
“More like he knows where you are breathing,” Dakota said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Heh. I guess it’d be funnier if we didn’t have to worry about them breaking in.”
“They’re not gonna break in, Dakota. We’ll lure them off just like we always do.”
“There’s getting to be too many, Jamie. You can’t expect our tricks to work forever.”
“They’ve worked up until now.”
Dakota shook his head. Frowning, Jamie took another drag off his cigarette, then pushed it over. At that moment, Dakota thought it was the exact thing he needed. The first breath of nicotine that spiked his brain instantly calmed him. “This the reason you smoke?” he chuckled.
“I guess. I picked it up in the army.”
“Helps your nerves?”
“It does.”
It’s sure helping mine.
Taking another drag, Dakota passed the cigarette back to his boyfriend, then stood and made his way to the railing. The zombie Santa had apparently lost interest in the click of the zippo and had wandered to the other side of the street, toward the photography store he’d heard they’d initially rescued Desmond from.
“Nothing to worry about,” Jamie said, pressing a hand against his lower back. “I’ll have someone get on the roof and start luring them away again.”
“Again,” Dakota said.
“Huh?”
“You said again. We’ve had to do this twice in the past three days.”
“I can’t help what they do.”
“I know. That’s what scares me so much.”
Jamie stood, set the cigarette between his lips, then wrapped his arms around Dakota’s waist.
“Jamie?” he whispered.
“Huh?”
“What’ll happen if no one comes for us?”
“I don’t like to think about that. It’s better to think someone will come than to think no one ever will.”
Dakota tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
Was it really better to be ignorant and hope that someone would come for them?
He didn’t know.
He didn’t think he wanted to.
Jamie raised his voice to draw the group’s attention. “Listen up, everyone! I’ve got something I want to talk to you about.”
“Is this about the zombies?” Dustin asked.
“Somewhat,” Jamie replied, waiting for the last of the voices to die down. “As you all are aware, we’ve been having a bit of difficulty keeping the zombies away from the asylum. This is in part due to the barrier we’ve constructed on the west side of the road. This means the only way the zombies can leave is to the east, up the snake road that leads to the main highway.”
“So what you’re saying,” Ian spoke up, “is that they’re basically trapped.”
“Exactly,” Jamie said. “This concerns me mostly because they’ve been hanging around the road. The only thing separating us from them is a chain-link fence.”
“Simple solution,” Kirn said. “We shoot the bastards.”
“Shooting is only going to draw more of them,” Erik said. He glanced up from his food to look Kirn straight in the eye. “You know, a loud noise plus zombies equals a swarm.”
“I know that, dumbass. We should just build a gate to keep the fuckers out.”
“Then we’re isolating ourselves away from the road,” Jamie said. “It’s a good idea, but if we need to get out of here fast, we don’t want to have to mess with a gate.”
“Point taken.”
“That wasn’t the only thing I wanted to talk about,” Jamie said. “I wanted to talk about something else.”
The hairs on Dakota’s arms went up.
He isn’t…
“I’m sure all of you are aware that I’ve been sneaking around at night,” Jamie began, instantly silencing the table with the thought of accusation alone. “Now, before I continue, let me just say that I haven’t been up to anything that’s going to hurt the group, at least not physically.”
“You been sneaking around on us, captain?” Wills asked.
“In a way, yes, Wills, I have.” Jamie swallowed. “I wanted to come clean about something before I lost the balls to do it.”
He’s not going to say it.
“I’m gay, and I’m in love with someone who means very much to me.”
Almost instantly, all eyes turned on Dakota.
Great. Now I’m the lamb in the lion’s den.
“You’re a fag?” Kirn asked, turning his eyes on Jamie after he gave Dakota the worst glare he could possibly summon.
“Yeah, but I’d prefer you not use that word around me.”
“I’m not listening to some fag.”
“What the fuck does it matter?” Erik asked.
“He’s a fuckin’ fag, Erik.”
“I know, you fucking dumbass. I’ve been his best friend for years.”
“And you don’t have a problem with him taking it up the ass, huh?”
“Do you have a problem with it?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Seems like the only person that would have a problem with it is someone who doesn’t want anyone to know he might like it,” Michael muttered.
Several people around the table chuckled, including Alexis. Her heightened pitch instantly singled her out to Kirn and Wills’ stares. “Hey, bitch,” Wills said. “What’s so funny?”
“You are,” Alexis shot back. “You sure are making a big deal out of something so stupid, aren’t you, guys? Something tells me you might have something to hide.”
“Fuck you whore,” Kirn growled. “At least I’m not going around sleeping with—”
“That’s enough,” Jamie said.
<
br /> “Fuck you, faggot. Go let your boyfriend give it to you up the ass.”
“Would you like to leave, Kirn?”
“What?”
“I said, would you like to leave? Because if you don’t shut your fucking mouth, both of you are free to go.”
“I’m not listening to some fag.”
“Then you can leave. The front door’s right there, complete with a four-or-five-dozen zombies.”
Neither man said a word in response. Dakota grimaced as a fire started coursing through his chest, quickening his heartbeat and shortening his breaths. Steve set a hand across his back and squeezed his shoulder. It’s all right, his friend mouthed.
Dakota reached down to grip Steve’s other hand in response.
“Fine,” Kirn finally said. “Come on, Wills. We’ll leave then.”
“I don’t want any more of this bullshit,” Jamie said, raising his voice as the two men took their trays and began to walk back toward their room. “I mean it, Kirn, Wills. Keep causing trouble and you’ll be out of here before you can say the word bullshit!”
The door to their room slammed shut.
The air now free of animosity, Jamie turned his attention on Dakota. His features softened the moment he lay eyes on him. “I love you, babe.”
“Why did you do this, Jamie?”
“Because I couldn’t hide the way I feel anymore.”
Erik raised both hands and clapped. Dustin and Michael followed suit, quickly followed by the rest of the table. Jamie’s lips parted in a smile as the sound began to die down.
“You didn’t have to do this for me, Jamie.”
“I know,” Jamie said. “I did it for myself.”
Dakota smiled. “Thank you,” he said, blinking out a single tear.
“You don’t have to thank me for the way I feel.”
Standing, Steve pulled his chair aside and gestured Jamie to come sit in it. “You probably want to sit here,” he said.
Jamie stepped out and made his way around the table. “I do,” he said.
When Jamie settled down in the chair next to him, Dakota smiled.
Maybe this was it.
Maybe things really would be fine after all.
CHAPTER 6
Screams and gunfire shattered his world and tore his heart to pieces.
Forced from a dream of the absolute greatest things in the world, Dakota threw himself forward, breathless and not sure what exactly was happening. “What’s going on?” he asked, looking at Jamie, who seemed just as startled.
“I don’t know,” Jamie said, throwing himself from bed and pulling a pair of pants up his legs. “Stay here.”
“Fuck that!” Dakota cried, jumping out of bed.
“Do as I say, Dakota!”
A scream, then a round of gunfire drowned out the sound of Jamie’s voice.
Shortly thereafter, a groan of collapsing metal echoed across the building.
Dakota’s heart stopped beating in his chest.
It’s happened, he thought. It’s happened!
Jamie shoved a gun into Dakota’s hand. “We’re leaving,” he said, strapping his rifle across his shoulders.
“But you said—”
“Doesn’t matter!” Jamie cried. “Go! GO!”
Dakota threw the door open and ran through the main corridor and into the front lobby. He stopped immediately upon seeing a group of zombies pounding against the revolving glass doors.
They’re gonna get in.
“WHERE IS EVERYBODY?” Dakota screamed.
“I DON’T KNOW!” Jamie cried.
Steve, Ian and Erik bounded around the corner.
The front doors collapsed inward as the zombies surged forward.
“STEVE!” Dakota screamed.
“GO! GO!” Steve cried, waving his hand forward as the three fell back against a side entrance to Dakota’s right. “RUN DAKOTA! RUN!”
“STEVE!”
Ian reached back, grabbed the doorknob, and twisted the door open. All three men fell back and out the door just as the zombies began to swarm into the base.
“NO!” Dakota screamed, throwing himself forward. “STEVE!”
“THEY’LL BE FINE!” Jamie cried. “Let’s go!”
“JAMIE!” Desmond called, waving his arms at the top of the stairs. “Up here! Hurry!”
He wasted no time. Jamie hurled Dakota’s sobbing form over his shoulder and threw himself toward the staircase, bounding up the steps as though nothing could keep him from his destination. Dakota could do little other than keep a hold of his boyfriend’s belt as he was jostled to and fro, watching the crowd of zombies part ways toward both the stairs and the side entrance his friends had just run out of.
Steve, he thought, tears cresting his cheeks. Ian, Erik.
He was thrown forward and into the middle of the of the second-floor hallway.
“Where is everyone?” Jamie asked, shaking Desmond’s shoulders. “WHERE ARE THEY, BOY?”
“THEY’RE GONE!” Desmond sobbed.
“Who’s gone? Tell me!”
“Dustin, Michael and Alexis! They went out the fire escape on this floor!”
They’re alive, Dakota thought, trembling, head ready to explode at the deafening sound of the zombies in the lobby.
“What about Kirn, Wills? What happened to them?”
“They were on guard duty,” Desmond said. “Wills slipped on something and went over. Kirn opened the gates and they swarmed.”
“GODDAMMIT!” Jamie screamed. “GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!”
A running zombie howled and threw itself toward the stairway.
From his place over Jamie’s shoulder, Dakota raised his gun and fired a shot into its chest. It flew back off the stairs and into a smaller group desperately trying to maneuver their way up the stairs, instantly knocking them off balance and onto the floor.
“We gotta go,” Dakota said, eerily calm for no reason at all. “We can’t stay here.”
“Where are we going?” Desmond sobbed.
“There’s a truck depot on the corner,” Jamie said, placing Dakota to the ground and grabbing both of their shoulders before throwing them down the hallway. “Go! Run!”
Dakota took off running. Desmond at his side, Jamie close behind, he rounded the table to his left while Desmond took the opposite side. Jamie jumped up onto the table and used the forward momentum of its resounding pendulum affect to throw himself in line with the two of them just as a group of runners breached the second floor.
“GO!” Jamie screamed.
A spray of automatic rifle fire lit up the hallway.
Dakota grabbed Desmond’s shirt and threw him toward the partially-open fire escape.
“GO!” Dakota said, drawing his gun and firing a few shots to cover Jamie as he ran in their direction. One of the infected’s legs went out under its body as Dakota shot it in the hip, sending it sideways into another. The sickly scream of rage that followed forced him to fire three shots in rapid succession, all but destroying the zombie against the wall and sending the other one to the floor.
When Jamie caught pace, he turned and sprayed a few rounds into the two remaining infected. The blood that splattered from the first one’s chest painted the windows red, casting the room in a morbid shade of death.
“Go! Go!” Jamie shouted.
Dakota slid his gun into his pants and ran out the fire escape.
Jamie had just enough time to slam the fire escape door shut before the shambling zombies made their way to it.
“Where are we going?” Desmond asked, grimacing as he saw the wave of zombies surging into the building.
“There,” Jamie said, jabbing his finger at the truck dealership on the corner of the road.
“How are we gonna get there?” Dakota asked. “It’s too far for us to run.”
“One of us is going to have to go.”
“ALONE?”
“Alone,” Jamie said. “Who runs the fastest?”
“I do,” Desm
ond said.
“How do you know?”
“I ran track in high school. I was the best on my team.”
“Desmond, you—”
“You have to let him go!” Dakota cried. “He’s got the best chance of making it there, Jamie.”
“I’m going,” Desmond said, taking hold of the single ladder that led to the ground.
Jamie reached down to grip the boy’s shoulder as he began to descend the stairs. “The keys will be in the manager’s office.”
“What if I can’t find them?”
“You will,” Jamie assured him. “Now go. Me and Dakota will cover you.”
The boy took one last look up at them, then made his way down the ladder. Once on the ground, he bounded across the parking lot and jumped over the freshly-downed fence, careful to make his way around any of the zombies in his way.
“Look at him,” Jamie said, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the sun.
“He’s fast,” Dakota said, sighing when he saw Desmond make his way to the front of the dealership. The boy wrapped his hand around the doorknob and tried to pull it open, but couldn’t. “Shit.”
“Shit is right,” Jamie said. He raised his gun and took aim. “DESMOND!” he called. “DUCK!”
The moment the boy threw himself to the ground, Jamie opened fire.
The row of glass windows blanketing the side of the building collapsed inward in a rain of glass.
Startled, Desmond looked at them, then to the broken remnants of the windows before ducking into the building.
“Fuck,” Dakota whispered, looking down at the mob of zombies below them.
“It’s the lesser of two evils,” Jamie said, looking out at the parking lot in front of them. The sound of a vehicle starting in the distance made Jamie frown. “Steve.”
“Steve?”
“That was them.”
“How do you know?”
“They went in that general direction,” Jamie sighed, leaning against the railing. He tried not to look down at the undead below them, but couldn’t help himself.
“Can we catch them?” Dakota asked.
Jamie shook his head. “No. We can’t.”
“Then what do we do?”
