Stepping over the dead, I continue to the door. Mack and Todd are doing the same thing. If we don’t hurry, we will be overrun and then, it is game over! Making it to the door, I look up at the camera, screaming for them to let us in. The guys get to me and push me back against the door. Blocking me as the zombies get closer, the smell is horrid and the moaning will be in my nightmares for the rest of my life. Gagging I try again pounding on the door, but no one comes.
“Mack, what do we do?” I scream over the sounds of them. He reaches behind him, grabbing my hand. I look up into his eyes and I see agony there. Shit! Turning, I pound on the door. "Come on, open up!" I scream. The guys are pressed back against me when suddenly the door opens and we fall inside. Laying on the ground, I look up at the men. I can hardly breathe with them on top of me. Looking around the room I see there are other people in the room with us. Tensing up, they need to get the hell off me. Images of Jake start running through my head. His hands all over me. Mack looks down at me and freezes. Never taking his eyes from mine he tells Todd to get up now.
Mack doesn’t move while I try and push him off me, I try to smack him in the face, but he stops me. Looking up at the others he tells them we need a few minutes. I hear a door close and it is just us.
“Egypt, you’re safe come back to me,” he says softly in my ear. Looking up, I realize it is Mack. But I am still not comfortable with him on top of me. “I’m here, Mack. Please, get off me.” Looking him in the eyes, he nods and sits up to the side of me. I look anywhere but at him I don’t want to see the hurt and pity there, it would shatter me.
“Egypt, look at me.” He gently grabs my chin and makes me look him in the eyes.
“Mack, I can’t do this, please, let me up," I say with a crack in my voice. I cannot lose it right now. Mack stands up and reaches his hand out toward me. Grabbing it, I stand up looking up at him.
“Egypt, nothing has changed between us, you hear me? But you do need to talk about it,” he whispers.
Squeezing his hand, I know he is right. “I know Mack I just can’t right now and I really want to head home, please,” I beg him.
We start walking to the door where others went. We do not talk anymore, but he still has my hand in his. I need that more than I can say right now. Opening the door up, we walk in looking around. There are four people, not including Todd, in what seems to be a lab. Squeezing Mack’s hand, we go further in and sit down with the others. There are three guys and a woman that could be old enough to be my mother.
“Please, please, sit. Get something to eat and drink. I know you must have a thousand questions,” the lady says.
“Nope just one,” I say looking over at her, “what the fuck did you guys do?” I know I sounded pissed off, but you know what? I am. The world is coming to an end and it is this bitch’s fault. Looking around the table everyone looks shocked, well screw them.
“Well, I guess so much for pleasantries.” As she gives me a dirty look. But she continues, “As best as we can tell this came from the flu vaccination that everyone got this year.”
Looking over at her I shake my head. “What the hell are you talking about? That can’t be right. My mom got that vaccination and she’s just fine,” I say looking over at Mack. He just stares at the doctor without saying anything. Again, she gives me a dirty look but continues.
“Somehow this virus got into it, but it is killing people, but only they come back alive so to speak. As for your mother, she must be immune to the strain. Boy, I’d like to get some blood samples...” She doesn’t get to finish.
“You will NOT go near my mother,” standing up, “she’s been through enough already,” I say angrily. Looking around, I spot what I am looking for. Grabbing my pack, I head to the restroom. I need to get cleaned up. Walking through the doors there are sinks, showers, and everything in here. Walking over to the showers, I turn the water on and it’s hot almost immediately. Taking off my clothes, I step in and let the hot water run down my body. Watching the blood and the rape wash away.
Resting my head, I watch the steam start to fill the room. Closing my eyes, I start to relax. I cannot keep them closed long before I start thinking about Jake and what happened. Jerking my eyes open, I grab the soap and start washing off the blood, the guts, and Jake. I did not realize just how sore I am there. Taking the washcloth, I gently clean myself, I cannot stop the tears from falling. How am I going to move on with Mack? Why would he want me? Can I still be what he needs and wants?
Hearing the door close, I move the curtain a little. Mack is sitting on the bench that goes right down the middle. Closing my eyes, I lean my forehead on the tile and let the water run down my head and back. Feeling the chilly air hit me, I turn slightly to watch Mack join me in the shower. Looking at him, I almost laugh at the sight before me—Mack left his boxers on. He must really not want me or that he feels sorry for me. I might as well get this talk over with so that way we know where we stand.
He goes to say something, but I stop him as I turn around and put my fingers to his lips. “Mack, let me say what I have to say before I can’t. I was raped, I know it’s not my fault, but it still doesn’t change what happened. I can let this either make or break me. And I chose to let it make me. I’m stronger than what Jake forced on me.” Looking up, I can see he is really listening to me. “I will understand if we don’t go any further than what we have. I was raped by Jake and it might be hard for you forget.” I don’t get to finish because he wraps his arms around me and kisses me more tenderly than he ever has. He does not try and touch me in any other way. I don’t know if I feel grateful or hurt.
“Egypt, yes, you were, but that doesn’t change how I feel for you. I love you and nothing can change that. I’m not leaving you. I want to help get you through this.” He pushes me away from him a little. “You are the strongest woman I have ever met, and I know this won’t break you.” Looking into his eyes I know he means what he says, the bottoms of his eyes are filling with tears. “Don’t leave me, Egypt.” I cannot hold it in any longer and I cry. The hardest I have ever cried. And I think he is too. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get to you faster. If I had…”
“I love you, Mack. I think I always have.”
Resting my head on his chest, we stay that way until the water runs cold. We get out and get dressed. I feel better, like a ton of bricks have been lifted off my chest. Sitting down, I watch him finish getting dressed. He looks up and smiles at me. I know I will be fine. We needed to talk about this.
“Mack, I just want you to know that I don’t blame you. You came as fast as you could. And I love you for it. Don’t you ever blame yourself for what happened,” I say, looking at him. He stiffens up a bit but relaxes quickly. He pushes his pant leg down over his boot and walks over grabbing me in his arms.
He kisses me gently on the lips. “I love you, too. We need to head out of here, one of the doctors wants to look at that cut on your head. It’s still bleeding." He hands me a few paper towels and I press them to my head. Mack grabs our bags, looking down at me. “Ready?” he says.
“As ready as I will ever be” We head out the door back into the lab. One of the young male doctors walks over smiling, telling me to sit down. He cleans up my cut and puts on a few steri strips and puts a gauze pad over it. I thank him and walk over to where Mack and Todd are. The doctors give us a few bags to take with us. And tell us to be careful, and that there is no cure. We head to the door and they tell us to wait. One of the doctors went to the roof of the building and lit a few fireworks on the other side of the building.
Watching out a little window, the zombies fell for it and are going to the other side. That is our cue to leave and we do just that. Walking outside into the bright sun feels welcoming. Mack opens my door and throws our gear in. I hop in, waiting for Todd to do the same. Once he is in, Mack shuts the doors and gets in himself. We head north to pick up a highway so we can get into North Carolina by nightfall I’ve been on 77 many times it will take us right to Ohio. W
hich means home and my family. We are meeting Sal and the others there, where we will stop for the night and get some sleep.
I’m glad that we are. I have some unfinished business with Sal and Sally. I want to get it out of the way. So I can try and leave all this bad stuff behind me. I cannot say that anyone will like the new me. But I really don’t give a shit.
Chapter 16
After we have been on 77N for a while, Mack decides to stop at the next rest stop. It’s been very slow going. We have had to stop and push cars off to the side of the road so we can go by. Looking around, I see more of it. Cars smashed into each other. People leaving doors open and must have run for it. There are kids toys scattered across the road. Suitcases left behind.
Mack slows down and takes the ramp to the rest area. There are cars and semis parked all over the place. I don’t see anyone alive or dead walking around. He pulls up, not even bothering to park in a space, next to the building. The windows are broken out; trash cans are tipped over and the contents are blowing all over. Grabbing the handle, I open it and the humid air rushes in. It instantly makes my skin sticky.
“Get out and stretch and whatever else you gotta do.” Looking around, I have an uneasy feeling about being here. I would have just as soon stopped in the middle of the highway, but the guys thought there might be drinks here. “Just be careful, just because it seems safe doesn’t mean it is.” Hopping out of the truck, I open the back door. I head to the front. It does feel good to walk, my knee is a little swollen and this should help it.
Mack and Todd head to the vending area to see what is left, if anything. I am sure it has been picked over. Looking over to where the restrooms are, I really need to go. Reaching down to my hip, I make sure the safety is clicked off and that my knife is where it should be. Making my way over, I have to walk around stuff that’s on the ground. To the left there are a few bodies. I am not going to walk over, but they are pretty torn up. Making it to the doors, I stop and listen and look around to make sure I do not see or hear anything. Looking for something to keep the door open before I slowly open the door.
The smell hits me first. Trying to hold my breakfast down, I bend and put my head between my legs. Feeling a bit better, I stand up and walk in. There is only one thing that can make that kind of smell. Going to the stalls, I slowly open each one. At the last one, I know whatever is causing that smell is in there. Opening the door, I was not expecting just a dead person. A real dead person, looking at her she’s been shot, not chewed on. She was a young girl around 15 or 16. Her shirt is torn and she is missing her pants. There’s blood between her legs. As it dawns on me what happened, I shiver. Pulling my gun, I shut the stall door and go take care of business.
Walking to the sinks, I splash some cold water on my face. Damn, does it feel good! Hearing something outside, I shut the water off and walk to the door to listen. There are three big guys pointing guns at Mack and Todd. I hear them ask if there is anyone else with them. Mack tells them that it is just them. Shit, this isn’t good. Strangers are just as bad as the zombies anymore.
Walking to the back of the restrooms, I crack the door and peek out. Not seeing anything, I head to the side of the building. I am behind the strangers now. I hope Mack sees that I am here, and he does. He shakes his head no at me. Like I am going to just hide and let them get shot? Looking around, it is nice and wooded. I should be able to get closer and take at least two of them out. I make my way closer to them by going from tree to tree, making sure I stay hidden. I am as close as I can get without being seen. The one on the left is grinning and talking to them. “Why you looking at the restrooms? Did you see that pretty little thing in there? Yeah, we had some fun with her,” he says. Looking over at the other two, now I am pissed. Grabbing my 9mm, I aim and take out the two on the right. They fall before they ever know what hit them. The big one turns quickly and goes to raise his gun, but he stops because I’m already on him.
The guys come running up behind him. Todd raises his gun. “NO,” I shout at him. “I’ve got this. Don’t you guys do anything." Walking up to the guy, I put the gun to his forehead.
“Lady, I don’t know you. Put that gun down and you and I can get out of here,” he says. I hear Mack swearing behind the guy. Smiling.
“You filthy piece of shit! Shut the hell up!” I say angrily. “Get on your knees,” I tell him. It takes him a minute, but he does. “You bastard! You raped that little girl and you laugh about it,” I say looking at him.
“Oh, she was just a stray, she wasn’t anybody,” he says.
Taking the gun, I put it to his temple. Looking back at Mack, he doesn’t move. I think he knows I need this. “That girl was a daughter, a sister to someone, you asshole!” I never let him say anything else. I fire and brain matter splatters all over the ground. Lowering my gun, I take a step back.
I am not going to be nice anymore, you threaten my family and friends I’m going to kill you. Mack walks over and puts his arm around me. “Sorry, Mack, but I had to do it. I saw that little girl and I wasn’t going to lose you guys.” Mack squeezes me and we head to the truck.
Todd looks over and grins at me. “You’re one tuff bitch now Egypt,” he says. Laughing we make it to the truck.
“So do we leave, or stay a bit,” I ask looking over at Mack.
He looks to be thinking and finally says, “We better get going in case those guys weren’t alone. We should meet up with the others here in a couple hours.” He gets into the truck. We all pile in and take off.
"Guys, I’m not sorry about that. What those guys did is heinous and they deserved to die,” I say looking out the window.
“We know that, Egypt. I just didn’t want you in danger is all,” Mack says with a grim look on his face. We fall into a comfortable silence and watch out the windows as we pass the stopped cars and trucks. It is no better than before the rest stop. Todd is doing some crossword puzzle thing and not really paying attention. Sliding my hand over the armrest, I lace our hands together. Mack squeezes and gives me a sexy smile. Turning my head, I close my eyes for a while.
“Egypt, Egypt, wake up were almost to the meeting place,” Mack says laughing. Wow, I must have slept more than I wanted to. Well, at least I can keep watch tonight first. Looking around, I see we are in South Carolina, I see we are coming up on Greenville. We have another twenty miles to the exit. It would not take long, but we are way under the speed limit. Mack and Todd are talking about what to look for and that the others should already be there. They both stop talking then Mack looks over at me.
“Egypt, I think we should stay the night and get an early start tomorrow,” he says. I want to get home, but that would be stupid to drive at night. Too many things could happen.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right. It would be the safest that’s for sure.” We get off at the Greenville exit. Mack takes a left and then a right. We stop when we see Sal’s truck. It is a normal house not too big. We pull to the curb and park. There is movement inside the house and the door flies open with Sal jogging out.
He stops at my door and pulls me out of the truck with a big bear hug. “Oh, Shit! I’m so sorry about what happened in Atlanta, Egypt.” Looking up at him after he puts me down I take a step back.
Looking over at Mack. “Mack, I’ll meet you inside. I need to talk to Sal,” I tell him. I can tell that Mack doesn’t like it but does as I ask. I wait until they grab our gear and head inside. “Oh, and tell that little bitch if she comes outside I’ll shoot her in the head!” I turn my back on Mack, walking to the back of the truck I pull the tailgate down and hop up. Sal slides next to me.
“Egypt, about Sally,” he starts.
“Just shut up, Sal! I get why you went to get her, I really do. But it doesn’t stop it from hurting," I say looking at him. “You and I were a couple remember. How do you think it makes me feel?” When he doesn’t answer, I keep going.
“That stupid girl has made you stupid in the head. OR you just want to get laid by that young th
ing. It doesn’t matter which it is, but I want you to know a few things. One, I’m never going to trust you again. Two, don’t ever say you loved me, because you don’t do that to someone you love.”
Standing up, I face him. He doesn’t see it coming when I draw back and punch him square in the face. His head moves a little bit to the left and his lips are bleeding. Drops of fresh blood are hitting his shirt. Feeling better, I do not let him say anything. Turning to leave, “One last thing. You hurt my family and I will kill you!” OK, that is one down and one left.
Storming off, I get to the door of the house. Opening up, I go inside looking around until I see what I want. Sally. I make direct eye contact with her and she throws her hands up backing up. That does not stop me, I head straight for her. Grabbing her by the throat, I slam her up against the wall. I see Todd grab hold of Tara and takes her out of the room. “Let me the fuck go, Egypt. You’re fucking crazy,” she says, her voice hitching a bit.
Slamming her head back against the wall, she shuts up. “I’m going to tell you right now. YOU WILL NEVER GO OUT ON A RUN AGAIN. How stupid do you think you were taking your kid into the city? You stupid bitch! Because of your stupidity I was raped so that your little girl didn’t get the same. YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME OR I WILL PUT A BULLET IN YOUR BRAIN!” Her eyes get huge, but she does not say anything. Mack comes up from behind me and pulls me off Sally. “OK, OK, Mack," I say to him. He lets me go but stays behind me.
Sally is rubbing her neck and she just won’t leave well enough alone. “She’s crazy, someone needs to put a muzzle on her,” she spits. I lunge at her and tackle her to the ground. Straddling her, I let my fists fly. I get one good punch to her mouth. I think I knocked out a few teeth. Mack drags me back and keeps hold of me. Mack looks over to Sal and he’s helping Sally up. He does not seem real happy with her.
The Outbreak Series (Book 2): Outbreak The Living Page 11
