Deadly Night: Jenni and Katie's Untold Tale: A Short Story From the As The World Dies Universe (As The World Dies Untold Tales Book 4)

by Rhiannon Frater

  “Are you sure it’s the flu and not a bite?” Nerit asked, her eyes narrowing.

  “Can’t be sure without examining them, but I had the flu a few months ago, too. Remember? With all the corpses walking around, there are plenty of viruses and bacteria in the air.” Katie sighed with frustration. “The woman is refusing to budge.”

  “The zombies are coming.” Nerit gestured toward the truck with her head. The baby was crying again. “That child is going to bring them all into town. Get enough zombies up against that truck, and they’re going to get in.”

  “We can’t let those kids die, Nerit.” Jenni slapped a fresh clip into the Beretta. “She’s not going to go to the fort without her friends, so we need to find them.”

  Nerit’s face was completely devoid of emotion. “Just because we want to save everyone doesn’t mean we should put ourselves at risk to do so.”

  “Volunteer only,” Katie said promptly. “Only those who want to help.”

  “And you’re going to volunteer.” It was a statement, not a question. Nerit cocked her head and regarded the two women pensively.

  “Absolutely,” Jenni said.

  “Loca...”

  “Shut up, Juan. You volunteer, too.”

  “That’s not how volunteering works,” Juan groused, but Jenni knew he would come with her.

  Appearing somewhat troubled, Nerit said, “Katie, the herd that’s coming will overrun this area. We need to get behind the wall and make a solid plan for dealing with the zombies. They are our primary concern.”

  “We can’t leave the kids,” Jenni insisted, growing frustrated with Nerit. She knew the older woman was pragmatic, but Jenni wasn’t about to abandon children. Not again.

  “Let me at least try to talk her into going with us,” Katie said, giving Jenni a warning look.

  Jenni pouted but knew Katie was probably right for the job. Jenni’s inclination would be to grab the kids, and things would go to hell pretty fast. Besides, she was still in the mood to kill zombies.

  “Fine. We’re going after those two guys,” Jenni said firmly.

  Looking quite frustrated, Nerit said, “You’re risking your lives for strangers who are ill and resisting our help. Is it worth it?”

  Jenni was already nodding her head when Katie said, “Yes.”

  Lifting her walkie-talkie to her mouth, Nerit said, “Peggy, what’s the ETA on the herd?”

  “Mike estimates twenty minutes from the edge of the herd to where you are right now. The head count is around a hundred zombies.” Peggy’s voice sounded very scared. Peggy never left the fort. She was too afraid.

  Nerit lowered the walkie-talkie. “Katie, you got about ten minutes to get them out of there and to the fort. I’ll send out one of the vehicles, but we’re not reopening the gates. You’ll have to come up over the wall by ladder. Am I clear?”

  Katie nodded. “Perfectly.”

  “And if she refuses, you have to leave them behind,” Nerit finished.

  Jenni knew Katie’s savior complex very well. There was no way Katie would leave the woman and two children behind.

  “And as for you,” Nerit said taking a firm grasp of Jenni’s arm, “you’ve got to find those men and get them back to the fort before that herd gets here. I know you can handle yourself, but no craziness.”

  “You do realize who you’re talking to,” Juan muttered.

  Feeling defiant and a little picked on, Jenni pulled her arm free. “We’ll handle it.”

  “Good. Now get your volunteers. We don’t have much time.” Nerit’s resolute gaze washed over the two women, then she strode away.

  Katie waited until Nerit was out of ear shot, then wagged her finger at Jenni. “I’m with Nerit. Nothing crazy.”

  Jenni widened her eyes and made a face. “Me? Do something crazy?”

  Katie seized her hand and met Jenni’s defiant look with her own glare. “Nothing crazy.”

  Lifting her eyes to the heavens, Jenni said, “Okay. Nothing crazy.”

  “Keep an eye on her, Juan,” Katie ordered.

  “I didn’t volunteer!”

  “Shut up. You’re going,” Jenni said, elbowing his side.

  “I love you. Behave. I’ll see you at the fort.” Katie gave Jenni’s fingers one last squeeze and let her go.

  “Love you, too. See you there. Good luck,” Jenni answered.

  “Thanks. I have a feeling I’ll be needing it.”

  Katie sauntered over to Nerit and the others.

  Jenni cocked her head and gazed up at Juan’s concerned expression. “We can do this.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears,” Juan muttered, slinging his arm around her shoulders while tapping the bloody ax head against the road to knock clumps of brain matter off it.

  “Let’s hope She’s listening,” Jenni said, then followed Nerit to collect the rest of her volunteers.

  Chapter 5

  “Thanks for staying,” Katie said to Bill.

  The big lawman with the kind, round face flashed his wide smile. “No problemo, Katie. Let’s get the little ones to the fort.” He adjusted his cowboy hat on his sandy hair and squinted up the road. “It’s a bad night to be out and about.”

  “Anyone else have a bad feeling about this?” Felix, a new fort resident, asked. A handsome young man with ebony skin and dark eyes, he was the adopted child of white parents from Houston. Felix tended to keep to himself, but Katie didn’t really blame him. It was hard integrating into a population that consisted of townsfolk who’d known each other all their lives.

  “I always have a bad feeling,” Katarina, the final person in their group, replied. Plain faced with lots of freckles and thick, unruly red hair, the skinny woman was Nerit’s protégée. She was one of the best shooters in the entire makeshift fort. Katie was relieved that she’d volunteered to stay.

  The four of them watched Nerit and the rest of the group hurrying back to the fort while Jenni and her small crew raced off in the direction of the gas station that had been the destination of Julie’s friends. From inside the truck came the gentle reassurances of the frightened young woman. The kids were crying out of fright, and Katie dreaded her task.

  “Keep watch while I try to get her moving,” Katie told the other three.

  Felix twirled his two-bladed spear in his hands. It was his creation, and he was very adept with killing zombies with it. “Got it covered.”

  Bill winked while Katarina briefly nodded.

  Katie grabbed a handhold and pulled herself up onto the side of the truck. She’d unlocked the passenger door earlier, so it opened easily. Immediately, Julie raised her weapon. In the illumination from the overhead light, the young woman looked too pale and a little green. The smell of sickness was nearly overpowering. Someone had vomited into a plastic bag that was tied off and set to the side.

  “Julie, I know you’re afraid, but I promise we can help you. We have medicine at the fort, and we can help you take care of the kids. You can’t do this alone,” Katie said in her calmest voice.

  The little boy with unruly brown hair and a smattering of freckles over his nose sat behind Julie, piteously sobbing.

  “Want Daddy,” Parker whimpered.

  “My friends went to go find your dad and take him to our fort. It’s safe there.” Katie kept her hands in plain view, her rifle slung over one shoulder.

  “I’ve seen things. People acting nice and then doing evil.” Julie’s red-rimmed eyes filled with tears. “People using kids as bait so they can get away from the zombies. Using women like...toys. We lost Parker’s twin to people like that. We barely got away. Why should I trust you?”

  At a loss, Katie ran her fingers through her hair and discovered blood was drying in her blonde tresses. How could she convince this woman of her good intentions when she’d already lost a child to the evils of humanity? “I used to prosecute criminals. I worked very hard to put the bad guys in prison. My father was a police chief. I’ve seen the worst of humanity, and I’ve see
n the best. You have no reason to trust me other than the fact I’m sitting here begging you to come with me and save your children. There’s a herd of about a hundred zombies coming this way because they can hear the baby crying. I’m trying to save you and the kids. I’m even letting you put a gun in my face so I can talk to you. I don’t know what else I can say or do to convince you that I don’t mean you or your kids any harm.”

  “She’s not our mom,” Parker said, sniffling. “Our mom is a zombie.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that,” Katie said to the boy.

  “Is your mom dead, too?” Parker asked.

  “Yeah.” Katie decided not to tell them her mother had died before the zombie apocalypse or that her father had died when his police station had been overrun. “I know how hard it is.”

  “Julie is kinda like a mom now,” Parker admitted, glancing at the woman so adamantly protecting him and his little sister.

  Julie drew in a shuddering breath. The hand not holding the gun gently smoothed the little boy’s hair back from his face. “Parker and Alice’s mama was bitten. Hunter was kidnapped outside of San Antonio. His daddy and Rob tried to save him, but the bastards who took him used him as bait while they looted a store. So, tell me, lady, how can I trust you?”

  “I don’t know. But I do know that the zombies are going to get here soon, and you won’t stand a chance alone.”

  “Maybe you’re lying,” Julie replied. “Maybe the zombies aren’t coming.”

  “I’m not lying. I swear I’m not.”

  The gun aimed at her head was wavering, but Katie couldn’t figure out if it was from exhaustion or because Julie finally understood just how dire her situation actually was.

  “We can’t keep sitting here and waiting, Julie.” Katie heard a car engine and looked over her shoulder to see one of the fort’s trucks rolling down the street as the gated entrance to the fort closed behind it. The security lights were back on, making it much easier to see the fort wall. “They’ve sent a truck for us. All you need to do is get into it, and we’ll take you to safety before the zombie horde gets here.”

  “Alan trusts me with the kids,” Julie wailed. “I can’t let him down. He said to wait. He said to protect them!”

  “My friend is going to find Alan and take him to the fort. He’ll see that you took good care of the kids. Julie, if you stay here, the zombies will get inside. When they swarm, they’ll climb over each other to get to you. You need to go with me.”

  “No. No. Alan said to stay here.” Julie stubbornly shook her head. Pressing a hand to her flushed face, she trembled. She was obviously sick and most likely delirious.

  “I don’t wanna die,” Parker said, scooting off the bed and toward Katie.

  “Parker, no!” Julie exclaimed, grabbing for him. She inadvertently knocked the baby over. The infant tumbled onto her side and immediately broke into sharp, angry cries. Julie set down her weapon and picked up the little girl, attempting to console her.

  Parker seized Katie’s hand. His fingers were clammy, but he didn’t feel feverish. After checking to make sure the area was clear, she popped the passenger door open. “Bill!”

  The big man lumbered over and reached up to take the little boy. “Katie, we’re about out of time now. I can see the edge of the herd down yonder.”

  “I hear ya. We’ll be out in a sec.” Katie lifted Parker up and over her lap before lowering him into Bill’s arms.

  “Hello, little man,” Bill said.

  “Hello, big man,” Parker answered.

  The truck from the fort came to a hard stop nearby, and Katie glimpsed who was behind the wheel. Despite her internal admonitions to keep away from him, her heart sped up a bit at the sight of Travis. All her life, Katie had easily slid from one relationship to the next, but she’d known instantly that Lydia was hers forever. Losing her wife had devastated her. That she was undeniably drawn to Travis created feelings of guilt and frustration within her. Even half-terrified out of her mind, the mere sight of him made her feel safer.

  Focusing on Julie, Katie was relieved to see the gun still on the bed. “We need to go, Julie.”

  “Alan’s going to be so upset with me. He trusted me to stay with his kids and take care of them.” Julie wiped her nose on her sleeve.

  “You’re taking them to a safe place.”

  “Please, please, don’t be lying to me. After Hunter died, Alan nearly lost his mind. Please don’t be lying.”

  “I swear to God that I’m not. Our fort is safe. I promise. No one will hurt you or the kids.” Katie shifted her gaze to the view the road. “They’re closer now. We don’t have much time. We need to go now, Julie.”

  Clutching the baby to her chest, the other woman finally scooted off the bunk. Katie quickly swung out of the cab and held the door open. Glancing toward the pickup truck, she saw Katarina standing on the bed, her rifle raised. Bill was in the backseat holding the little boy. Meanwhile, Felix prowled back and forth waiting for Katie and Julie.

  “Help me?”

  Katie looked up to see Julie trying to get over the passenger seat while holding the baby. Reaching up, Katie took the smelly little infant in her hands. Julie immediately aimed her weapon at Katie’s face.

  “You’re going to hand her back.”

  “Of course!”

  “Katie,” Travis’s voice called out, concerned.

  “It’s all good,” Katie replied, though she was absolutely terrified that the ill woman would end up pulling the trigger by accident.

  Julie maneuvered out of the cab with some difficulty. Her slight frame was trembling, and she looked as if she could barely stand.

  “Katie, we need to go now,” Katarina called out. “We got runners!”

  “Julie, hurry!” Katie ordered. The baby in her arms let out a wail and flailed her small hands.

  The sickly woman jumped down and grabbed the infant from Katie. She tried to run but wobbled precariously. Katie gripped her by the arm and hurried her toward the truck a few feet away.

  Katarina’s rifle barked.

  Shoving Julie into the back seat alongside Bill and Parker, Katie glimpsed the concerned look on Travis’ handsome face.

  More gunshots erupted, close at hand.

  “Katie, we have got to leave now,” Felix shouted.

  Spinning about, Katie witnessed the terrifyingly fast zombies called runners sprinting in their direction. Yanking the passenger door open, Katie slid inside as Felix vaulted onto the back of the truck.

  “Go, Travis,” Katie said.

  Without a word, he shifted gears and turned the pickup around just as the first runners careened into the intersection.

  Chapter 6

  “Why are we doing this again?”

  “You volunteered, Shane,” Jenni said, irritated by the ruddy-faced man’s attitude.

  She hated Shane with a passion. The tall, lanky man with the constant sneer on his face kept pace with her, Juan, and Curtis. She’d been surprised when he volunteered, but she suspected he had an ulterior motive for doing so. He was constantly harassing her and Katie for their friendship, using homophobic and sexist slurs every chance he got. He was useful in dangerous situations, but Jenni couldn’t be around him without wanting to punch his face.

  “We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” Curtis answered. “Besides, we could use two more men-”

  “People,” Jenni corrected.

  “-in the fort helping out.”

  Jenni’s group was now two blocks away from the stranded long haul truck. If they were to keep ahead of the encroaching zombies, they needed to move faster.

  Curtis scampered ahead of Jenni, his fine blond hair puffing upward in the night breeze. Clad in his police uniform, the young man held his weapon before him in what Jenni regarded as classic television police mode. Curtis was in his early twenties and quite jittery, so she wasn’t sure how long he’d actually been on the local police force before the zombies destroyed the world. He had a
lost little boy quality that often made her and other women in the fort want to hug him.

  Curtis hesitated near the next intersection. He held up one hand, bringing the rest of them to a stop. “Hold up.”

  Shane, bringing up the rear, aimed his shotgun in the direction they’d come from.

  “What’s wrong, Curtis?” Juan asked.

  “This is the area that had those slower zombies a few days ago,” Curtis answered. “I’d like not to stir them up.”

  “If those men came this way, they’re stirred up,” Jenni retorted.

  “Caution don’t hurt nobody,” Curtis replied sourly.

  “Let’s hurry. Something’s wrong back there,” Shane said, sounding very nervous.

  A second later, the pops of gunfire echoed through the night.

  “Yup! Things are going to hell!” Shane took several sharp steps toward the others.

  Jenni peered around Juan. The flash of headlights briefly blinded her as a pickup did a U-turn to head back to the fort. Dark shapes raced after the truck, and the screech of the dead filled the night.

  Instantly, Jenni’s group dove into the recessed entrance of an old store.

  “Runners,” Juan whispered. “Shit.”

  Runners were fresh zombies and very dangerous. They appeared to be smarter than their shambling brethren, so the fort survivors were always cautious when they appeared.

  Curtis scooted up to the threshold of the entrance and cautiously peered up the road.

  “What do you see?” Jenni asked in a whisper.

  “Looks like they’re following the truck. Or at least the runners are.” Curtis sank back against the wall and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “That big group might follow the runners or keep coming this way.”

  “Are you sure the runners are heading to the fort?” Juan asked.

  Jerking his head toward the road, Curtis said, “Pretty sure. Hard to see. One of the runners kicked that flashlight, and it’s aiming this way now. So we best stay put or they might see us.”