Taking on the Dead

by Annie Walls

  “Kale… I want to trust you. Can I?”

  He stares at me for a long time before nodding. A bell rings like we’re all in high school.

  “Kan, I need to tell you something.”

  “Okay,” I draw out the word. Kale always comes out with things I don’t like hearing.

  He swallows, and shakes the hair out of his eyes. “Remember when you helped us with those zombies?”

  It takes me a minute, but he means when him, Harley, Nadine, and Bridget were getting attacked. I don’t want to hear this because they had weapons I didn’t know about until they turned them on me. I nod slowly.

  He sees my reluctance, and looks down. “They knew you were there. We faked that attack, so you would think we were helpless.”

  I wait for this to bother me. It doesn’t, seeming like years ago. It also explains the older zombies I had to kill the night before they showed up. My ventilation system leak was just a coincidence. They drew zombies to my bunker. On purpose. I think about asking him why. I will later, if I get the chance. I do want to know something else now. “Kale, did they ever eat anyone?”

  He looks me in the eye. “Once, there was no food. We had another person with us, but he was sick...” His gaze turns distant, “Not zombie sick, just ill with the flu or something.”

  “Did you?”

  He jumps up. “What? No way! I didn’t agree with anything they did. Honest.”

  I put my hand over his. “It’s okay. I believe you.”

  He looks relieved to get this off his shoulders, and onto mine. Glancing around, everyone makes way to their work duties.

  “I’ll talk to you later. I got greenhouse duty.” My face pinches.

  He laughs, “Good luck with that. They work you to the bone in there.” Great. Yes, Kale’s very good at saying things I don’t want to hear.

  ***

  He is right, they work me hard. The greenhouse is five times the size of Linnie’s. That’s saying something, since Linnie’s greenhouse has trees, although, this one does too. Linnie would be proud to know the vegetation in here doesn’t look as good as hers. The only weeds growing are the kind you can’t smoke. I dig holes, pull weeds, water, and pick fresh vegetables and fruits. They also put me on starting a new section. I till. Manually. I curse. I sweat. I ache. Fortunately, the day goes by fast with no incidents. Julie never comes to give me the rest of the tour, and I never once see Dalton.

  I take a long, hot, steaming shower, knowing I’ll be sore in the morning before going to the greenhouse again. Seeing it as a good thing, my body will harden up from where it’s softened from not tending my own garden and cranking the generator. Needing the comfort of a weapon, I steal a trough at the end of the day. Mac and Rudy are both just as good as me about having them. For some reason this adds to both of their sex appeals. Real men carry various weapons in weird places. A smile stretches across my lips, thinking of them.

  Making it back into the room, I’m exhausted. I need to go talk to Kale, but that can wait till tomorrow. Climbing into my bunk, I realize they want me exhausted, but I don’t really care at the moment. Now would be a nice time for Rudy to play his guitar, the song he changed various times. He never told me the name. Yawning deep is the last thing I remember.

  ***

  Light taps on my face wake me. When I peek through heavy lids, Julie puts a finger in front her lips and motions to the door. Groggy, I get up, noticing everyone’s asleep already. It must be middle of the night, sleeping through playtime and dinner. How about that? To avoid the discomfort of the cold floor, I pull on my boots.

  When we enter the hallway, she rushes me outside.

  “What the hell?” I grumble.

  She spins on me. “You have to leave and tell Rudy not to come!”

  Chapter 31

  This might be another Gray trick, but I doubt it. Dressed all in black, Julie’s eyes are wide, and dart around as if she doesn’t want to be caught.

  “And how am I supposed to do that, Martha Stewart? Thousands of famished roam outside the base. They will eat me alive.”

  The look on her face confirms she knows something. She squashes it. “I know where a motorbike is, and they have this ultra violet spotlight that clears a path because the infected don’t like it. I’ll turn it on for you.”

  Seriously considering this, it might be my only chance to leave, but I need to do something first. She holds out her hand, offering me something. I can’t tell what it is right away. “I want you to tell Rudy…that I found someone else, that I’m married,” she tells me just as the diamond flashes in the moonlight.

  “Ah!” I jump away. “No fucking way!” The ring signifying Rudy and Julie’s engagement falls from my hand as if it burns me.

  “Shit!” she exclaims, bending over to look for it. After picking it up, she holds it up, like maybe I didn’t see it before. “That was uncalled for!” I stare at it without seeing it, not wanting to see it.

  I have an idea so suddenly, Julie can probably see a light bulb over my head. Plus, I don’t want to argue about Rudy. “You’re going to show me where the medical building is, and get me in.” I grab her arm. “Show me where the bike is, first. Weapons too. Guns, preferably.”

  She struggles in my hands, and then looks at me, considering. “You’ll leave? And tell Rudy I’m happy?” Her eyes plead with me. “Before the outbreak I was going to end it with him anyway,” she blurts, like it will make a difference. Tears sting my eyes. Damn her. I blink them back. I can’t believe she’s only thinking about herself, and can look cute doing it.

  I let go of her and say, “One thing at a time. Take me to the bike.”

  She turns, and I follow her in my skimpy nightshirt and little cute shorts – the most decent thing I found to wear to bed. They’re serious about people doing the nasty. I need to find something to tie my hair back, it drapes down my back in a tangle. I’ll deal, getting to leave and telling the team everything takes precedence. Julie doesn’t know it, but she’s coming with me.

  The deal Rudy and I made, comes to mind – help Rudy get Julie, and then I’m on my own. Now I know what I need to do.

  The darkened building we enter rumbles with male laughter. Somehow, this strikes me as the guard’s dorms, smelling like a smoky bar. The white brick walls are yellowing from it. We make our way to the end of a big hall, she opens a door, and motor oil immediately fills my nostrils. We stand in a garage.

  I stop her and whisper, “They should have a room with weapons. Where is it?” She picks up something leaning against the wall, and hands it to me. A freaking baseball bat.

  I blink at her through the darkness. Moonlight streams in through some windows making her hair stand out like a halo. “You do know these famished are under some kind of voodoo spell. What the hell is a bat supposed to do?”

  Her shoulders lift, but she clearly doesn’t care. “The bike is right here.” I’ve already seen it. It’s a crotch rocket Ducati, though I wouldn’t call it a motorbike. “When I open the door and flip the switch, just drive straight until you hit the main road.” She tosses me a set of keys I don’t need, but am happy to have. She just wants me out, gone.

  Taking in my surroundings further, I spot several vehicles, and an open closet. “Where is the medical building?”

  She sighs, frustrated. “It’s the only white brick building. Right behind this one, we passed it on the way here.” I nod, remembering. “You don’t have the time. You need to go, now,” she says with authority. Like hell. She doesn’t know I don’t like authority.

  “Tell me what you know about Mago.”

  She doesn’t want to answer, so I cross my arms to wait, my lips hardening as she realizes I’m not going anywhere without all my questions answered. “Uh… I don’t know how he does it, but I do know that he travels around, probably to other bases. He goes to New Orleans a lot.” I study her, with no reason not to believe it.

  “Good. Thanks.” I grab her around the waist. Her round stomach is hard as a
rock. What the hell does she feed this thing? Quickcrete? She screeches, and that’s when a distant sound catches my attention. Still holding her, I shush. We’re both frozen, listening. The men in the building spring into action, making a lot of noise. Another explosion booms, clear as day, as are the small vibrations under my feet. A thrill shoots though my limbs and up my spine. My lips spread into a wide, open-mouthed smile. “Too late,” I croon.

  “What have you done?” she squeals loudly as she struggles against me. “I have to get to Jonathan! He’ll be worried I’m not there. He went to bed thinking I was knitting.”

  My smile slips as something inside takes over. “You aren’t going anywhere, Julie. You are coming with me.” I tighten my hold on her. “I haven’t gone through what I’ve been through just for the adventure.” I’m pissed, yelling at, and man-handling a pregnant woman. I shouldn’t even care, but wanting to strangle her won’t do. Then, I say through clenched teeth, “You want to come back? Fine, but you’re coming with me while I take care of some business.” No way I’m playing messenger. I’m shaking her with no abandon. Does this count as shaking an infant? I don’t know, so I stop. A look of surprise crosses her face before I shove her in the closet. It’s not easy with her screaming and clawing my arms. I finally have her in and barricade it with a metal locker.

  A set of running footsteps comes closer. I grab the bat, popping a squat beside the door. The light flicks on as the door swings to the wall. I hit whoever it is in the stomach. My arms scream from the labor I’ve done in the greenhouse.

  Gray pitches forward. Raising the bat, I hit him in the upper back, and he goes sprawling to the floor, face first.

  I take this time to get ready to leave in a hurry. I look around for that switch, which was right beside the garage door.

  I’m climbing on the Ducati, when a hand clamps down on my shoulder, spinning me around as a blow lands on my face. Spots dance as I try to blink them away.

  “Lyin’ bitch!” Gray smacks me the other way, and I fall. Julie screams, beating on the closet door. Multiple kicks to the ribs send pain shooting through me. Trying to get up, I open my eyes in time to see a fist punch me in my left eye, and I fall back onto the concrete. Static ensues behind my eyelid, and a throb immediately starts in my skull. I lie there, saving my strength. My ribs might be broken, and pierce my lungs. Taking a deep breath, air goes in smoothly, so I know I’m not internally injured, yet. My only comfort – the booms have stopped, and rapid gunfire seems close. They got in. I smile, even as I breathe heavily.

  A vehicle door opens.

  “What’s going on?” Julie cries, banging on the door. “Let me out!”

  Gray ignores her as he jerks me up and throws me into the back seat. A rip shocks me, and I look down, feeling open air. My shirt is gone, and his large hands grope me. I scream my rage and kick. Gray releases my breast, and smacks me harder. Feeling like I might lose consciousness any minute, blood and bile flood my mouth. No longer able to breathe through my nose, fluid drips out. It’s bleeding.

  He socks my gut for good measure, and I wheeze. My insides shift, spreading agony. It comes out through my throat in a groan. Grabbing a fist full of my hair, he jerks my head up and backhands me, efficiently splitting my lip. Warm blood spurts out. Gray lets go of me, his attention on something else.

  Looking up at him, he struggles with Mr. One-eyed Willy. “Bastard!” I spit blood in his face, my voice hoarse and unrecognizable. Grabbing me by my throat, he cuts off my air supply. I struggle against his hands as my shorts are jerked away. My nails dig into his skin and scratch down his hands. How I wish I could pull a Mike Tyson and bite his ear off.

  My legs fly into the air as he grabs them with his free hand. He prods me, unsuccessfully. My lungs command air, scream for air. He’s going to rape me and kill me at the same time. I can’t take this, can’t let him rape me. I’ll make him kill me first. Rage surges through me, giving me a huge dose of adrenaline. I use all my strength and buckle my body just at the moment he thrusts into me, bone dry. A deep pain adds to the misery of my abused body. Grunting as he falters, he pulls out to get a better grip, but I get a leg free. Wasting no time, I kick him in the face with my boot.

  He releases my throat. Air burns as I suck it in, but I keep momentum, and punch him in the temple.

  Taking a split second to recover, he prepares to hit me again when I kick him in his Adam’s apple. He gargles as he goes backward. Stumbling out of the car, I grab the bat from the floor. His manhood is no longer happy, hanging limp, out of his pants. Relief engulfs me that it’s tiny, with no blood on it. I weakly swing the bat to hit him. He catches it, jerking it out of my hands, and tosses it away.

  Shooting commences the hallway. Gray glances toward the hall with panic in his eyes. I go for the bat, but Gray stops me, pushing me backward.

  Air rushes from my lungs as my head bounces on the floor. Spots sparkle in my vision. Pain splices through my head. Blinking away the lingering spots, my adrenaline returns when Rudy grabs Gray by the throat, swinging his arm hard, punching him in the face.

  I struggle to the bat, barely able to stand. My whole body shakes from shame and embarrassment. Rudy ruthlessly beats Gray in the face with continuous wet thuds, making it look like hamburger. I swing the bat, hitting Gray in the back. Rudy drops him as I continue beating him with the bat. Finally, Gray stops moving. Arms come around me, and Rudy firmly takes the bat out of my hands, dropping it with a metal clang. I slump into his body, shaking, not looking at him. Reece stands in the doorway, shooting into the hall. Pipe bombs wrap around his beer belly, like a suicide bomber. Kale stands beside Reece, staring at me in horror.

  Reece finally stops and looks to me. “Sweet little lady! What the fuck happened to you?” He rushes toward me.

  I tremble, sitting down to cover myself up. Rudy follows, squatting in front of me – maybe to help me cover up. My face blazes at the knowledge of them seeing me this way. I probably have the shame beaten all over my body, clearly visible.

  “Kan… Are you all right?” Rudy tilts my face by the chin. I don’t look him in the eye, but I can feel his barely controlled fury as he takes in my face. My eye must be swollen shut, it feels puffy, hard to blink.

  “Do I fucking look all right?” My throat burns from talking. Rudy audibly swallows. Reece whistles, bringing my attention to him as he checks out Gray.

  “Where is everyone?” I ask them, before Reece can comment on Gray.

  Reece gestures with his hands, “Scoring the grounds. Bunch of famished running around though. We gotta be careful.” He jerks his head in Kale’s direction, making his beads clack together. “He helped us figure out where you were.” I nod, looking to Kale with gratitude in my eyes. I can’t muster a smile right now.

  “Reece, may I have a weapon? Please?” He nods, but Rudy hands me a pistol and an extra clip. It’s way too small for his hands, but he probably has it as a backup. He slips his hoodie off, and gives it to me. I put it on without looking at my beaten body. Rudy breathes hard and I can feel him staring down at me.

  Bangs sound from within closet. “Um, Julie is in the closet,” I inform them.

  Rudy jumps up from his squat, “What?” Alarmed and worried, he goes to push the locker over. Julie comes tumbling out. Rudy’s eyes widened at the sight of her belly.

  “You’re crazy,” she screams at me. Her face is beet red, and she looks to Rudy. She almost stumbles over herself to hug him. In a daze, he looks at me, possibly wondering what could have made me put her in the closet. I can’t be sure, though.

  “Jules,” he says quietly, wrapping his arms around her. “What happened to you?”

  A pang at his endearment stabs me, but I ignore it. By his tone, he thinks she’s unwillingly pregnant. She ignores him, and keeps glaring hatred at me from over his arm, looking tiny compared to him.

  I hold out my hands in peace. “Julie, please help Rudy find Dalton. Reece, I need your help. Kale, go with them.” I feel better alrea
dy just bossing people around, helping me feel in control.

  Rudy’s instantly alert. “I’ll help you.”

  I shake my head. “Please, find Dalton, and you need to get Julie out of here. We’ll meet you later.” I don’t want to look at him right now, not knowing how to act, having a strong reaction at seeing him with Julie. Disgrace and mortification burns through me like a raw wound. I focus on the gunfire outside.

  “I know where he is,” Julie says, as she takes his hand and leads him away. Kale follows, looking back at me. I wave him on.

  After giving Reece the rundown of the vaccine and Mago, I tell him my plans. He just nods before going behind a jeep. My pajama shorts on the ground are useless and ripped. I consider grabbing Gray’s pants, but I don’t want anything to do with them – I’d rather go as I am. Rudy’s hoodie goes to mid-thigh, covering enough, but I want clothes. Pronto. After washing my face with cold water in a deep sink covered in grease funk, my nose has stopped bleeding, and I can sniff through one nostril.

  When I turn around, Reece hands me a pair of boxers. I smile, realizing they have biker Santa’s all over them. “Going commando?” I ask, slipping them on. They’re too big, but anything helps. I’d rather wear Reece’s dirty underwear, than Gray’s pants.

  He smiles, relieved I’m making a joke. “Nothing I haven’t done before.”

  I’m grateful. “Thanks.” I say genuinely, hoping he knows I mean for more than him lending me his boxers. He nods, and looks to Gray’s form on the floor.

  Reece dumps cold water on Gray. He sputters and coughs.

  I bend down, knees closed. My body hates me right now, but I need it for a few more hours. “Where’s Dr. Finnegan?”

  He glares, “Fuck you!” His voice cracks, hoarse. Reece looks more than happy to give his face a stomp, then the tips of his fingers. Gray grunts out profanities, looking up at him.