Marionette Zombie Series (Book 2): Walk With Me
Page 10
“Well, at least hear him out. He deserves that. His father just died.” Evelyn said. Kate nodded.
Josh glanced at his mother as she started walking towards him. He stopped. He knew he was caught. He didn’t know how she did it, but she always did.
“So, were you going to sneak off without saying anything?” Kate asked.
“I didn’t want to.” Josh said.
“Did you feel like you had too?”
“Maybe. I guess so, yes.” Josh said.
“Maybe you did. But I know I can’t stop you. Your father reminded me of that not too long ago. But I need to know why? Why are you leaving? Is it because of what happened? To your father?”
“No. Not because of it. Not really. I need to not be hiding. I don’t know how to explain it.” Josh said.
“Josh, you don’t need to. It is the same way your father felt. Inside.”
“But he brought us out here to hide.” Josh said.
“Yes. He brought you and me and Scott and everyone else out here to hide. But he couldn’t hide. He brought us here so he could feel we were safe. He knew he had to take us somewhere that he thought we would be safe, without him. Because he knew he would go out there again. He knew he had too. You are more like him than you will ever know.” Kate said. She was crying.
“Why are you crying mom?” Scott asked. Josh hadn’t seen him walking up behind him.
“Because Josh is leaving. He and Lori are leaving.” She said this last part loud enough for most of the rest to hear. They all gathered around.
“Leaving?” Charlie said. “No one’s leaving.”
“Yes I am. We are.” Lori said.
“Are you crazy?” Charlie asked.
“No Charlie. They’re not crazy. Not any crazier than the rest of us. They have as much a chance to make it as we do. I wish they wouldn’t go but it’s not up to me. Or you. It’s up to them.” Kate said. “I hate it. I really do, but I get it.”
“I don’t.” Scott said. “Why do you want to go? You shouldn’t want to go?”
“I have too.” Josh said.
“That’s bullshit. You don’t have to do anything.”
“You’ll understand one day.” Josh said.
“That’s bullshit too.” Scott said.
“I love you little brother.” Josh said. He hugged him.
“Don’t go” Scott said.
“I love you ” Josh said.
“I love you too.” Scott said. They hugged again.
Josh and Lori said their goodbyes to everyone. Evelyn had given them some of the food supplies. Enough to last a few days at least. Bridger had told Josh how to find the logging road in case they changed their mind when they got there. Or whenever.
Kate leaned in the window with tears in her eyes. Josh was fighting back his own. Lori hugged Jennifer out of the other window.
“Be careful. I love you.” Kate said.
“We will. I love you too. We’ll see each other again. I know that for sure.” Josh said.
“I know. Me too.” Kate said. He touched her hand as he pulled away.
They watched until they couldn’t see them through the trees any more. They all looked around. This wide spot in the road, where their friends and family lived and died, had become home. They all loaded into their vehicles. Dottie and Amanda on the bus with Kate, Evelyn and Scott. Raj and Tilly in the SUV. Scott and Charlie driving the Harrison’s car and Bridger and Ed leading the way in JW’s truck. They pulled back down the dirt road they had driven two weeks ago to escape one version of hell. They pulled back out onto the asphalt past the mass of dead that had been left by Bridger. They pulled back off the asphalt just down the road and made their way deep into the woods. The one spot Bridger had seen turned out to be nothing. It was the three he didn’t notice that slowed them down but not so much so that they weren’t pulling through the gate of the compound just as the sun began setting in the sky. They pulled the gate back shut and they all walked up to the fence. They couldn't see anything in the woods. They couldn’t hear anything in the woods. But they could all feel the fence under their fingers. They all felt just a little safer than they did this morning. It might not be perfect, but things seemed better.
Josh and Lori passed the old post office without noticing it at all. The sun was setting and the glare on the dirty windshield made seeing anything beyond the road difficult. He used the windshield washer until the fluid was gone and it was a little better. The problem was the wiper blades were worn out. Things you never think about until it’s raining or it’s the apocalypse. Josh smiled.
“What?” Lori said, catching his smile.
“Something my mom said, about me being more like my dad than I think. Well I just heard his voice tell a joke in my head.”
“Was it funny?”
“A little”
This book was not possible without the music of
Lincoln Durham
The Wailin’ Jennys
Bob Dylan
Shovels and Rope
The Be Good Tanyas
And The Kills.
Thanks
ABOUT THE AUTHOr
S.B. Poe is a fan of books and zombies and series. Hence a book series about zombies.
“The Hard Day”
Book 3 in the Marionette Zombie Series
September 1st 2018