Dean put his arm around Vanessa to comfort her, his face crumpled with horror, while Chas sat still, her mind numb. She couldn’t take it all in. Not anymore. Shocked to the core, she stared at the scene below until the pilot swung away.
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, not caring what happened next. Vaguely, she registered the co-pilot saying they’d been recalled back to base, and that the evacuation center was lost. It simply confirmed her worst fears. I’ll never see Grumps or Emily again. They’re gone. Dead. Just like that.
They landed a few minutes later, and Chas climbed out with Vanessa and Dean. Seconds later, they were joined by Lala and Vivienne who cried with relief to see them. They were then herded to a tent where a nurse and doctor examined each of them for injuries and infection. Chas’ wrist injury was deemed minor, and she was issued a few painkillers and a wrist brace she had to wear for a few days.
Those that were really ill were taken away, and it was here that Vivienne took her leave of them, much to everyone’s surprise. “I spoke to the people in charge and told them I’m a registered nurse. They’re short on staff, so I’ll be helping out there for now.”
“But, Chas needs you, Vivienne,” Lala protested.
Vivienne shook her head, pointing a hand at the sick and elderly from the hospital. “You can look after her just as well as I can, even better, but these people are my patients. They need me more than she does. I’ll drop in as soon as I can. Until then, goodbye.”
She pressed a cold kiss to Chas’ cheek, hugged Lala, and walked away with brisk steps. Her back was ramrod straight, but Chas thought her shoulders were shaking, and realized, “She’s crying, Lala.”
“Of course, she is, hun. Your mother only pretends to be tough, but inside she’s as soft as a teddy bear. Plus, she loves you very much, even if she doesn’t always show it.”
“Thanks, Lala,” Chas whispered feeling a little better.
After their examination, they were taken to a warehouse where a harassed looking officer issued them each with a temporary ID, two sets of clothes in their size, and a pair of boots.
A man and woman in uniform escorted Chas, Lala, Vanessa, Dean, and a few others to a dusty square flanked on all four sides by long low buildings with whitewashed walls and tin roofs. Small windows overlooked the square, and a few crusty cedars and pines dotted the spaces between, casting their shade on the sparse grass below.
“This will be your new temporary home,” the woman informed them. “I will be in charge of the woman’s dorms. You can call me Sergeant Miller. Those two barracks on the left and top of the square are for women only. The other two are for the men. Sergeant Brown here will be in charge of you,” she said. “Ladies, follow me.”
Chas, Vanessa, and Lala trooped after Sergeant Miller, waving a sad farewell to Dean who went with Sergeant Brown.
Sergeant Miller took them to the nearest building and led the way inside where she waved a hand and said, “Choose a bed, ladies. Any bed.”
Bunk beds lined the walls on both sides, and each had two footlockers stowed beneath them. Chas and Vanessa chose the one nearest to the door with Lala and another lady taking the next.
“The footlockers are for your personal belongings. Keep the keys with you at all times to prevent theft,” Sergeant Miller said. “There’s a bathroom over there. Hot water is available between five and seven in the morning. Please keep your bunk tidy at all times and the bed made.”
“What about food?” one woman asked in a tremulous voice.
“All meals will be served in the communal tent at set times starting with breakfast at seven, lunch at twelve, and supper at six.” Sergeant Miller glanced at her watch. “It’s just after five now. If you wish, you can shower and dress while there’s hot water. I will collect you at seven to show you where the meal tent is. After that, you will be allowed to do as you please for the rest of the day. You must be pretty tired, so I suggest you get some rest. Tomorrow, you will be assigned specific duties and asked to perform them without complaint. We all have to pull our weight here. Any questions?”
“What about toiletries?” one girl asked. “Soap, and so on.”
“Inside your footlocker.”
“What if I need to see a doctor?” another asked.
“You can speak to me, and I will arrange an appointment. Anything else?”
“When can we go home?”
Sergeant Miller sighed.”I don’t know.”
Silence fell.
With no one else speaking up, Sergeant Miller left them to it. In a rush, everyone opened up their lockers to find a few basic items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel, hairbrush and ties, sanitary pads, deodorant, and hand cream.
“I could use a shower,” Vanessa said. “You?”
Chas sniffed her armpit and wrinkled her nose. “That’s a definitive yes.”
“Let’s go.”
Followed at a slower pace by Lala and the others, Vanessa and Chas sprinted to the bathroom at the end of the building. It was small and sported two toilet stalls and four shower cubicles. A single wooden bench, mirror, and two washbasins were the only other furniture.
Chas and Vanessa each jumped into a hot shower, and Chas groaned with relief as the dirt and grime of the past twenty-four hours sloughed away. Afterward, she put on the khaki jumpsuit the supply officer had given her along with clean underwear, socks, and boots. The clothes were ugly but clean, and that was all that mattered. A spare set went into her locker, along with a linen pajama set before it was time for breakfast.
As they entered the mess hall, Chas spotted Dean in the line for food. With a wave, they joined him. They were each handed a plate with breakfast on it and chose a seat at a table in the far corner. The food was plain and simple. Nothing fancy. A slice of toast, scrambled eggs, grilled tomato, and coffee. Chas wolfed down every single crumb, her empty tummy begging for more, but according to the lady behind the line, seconds were a no-go.
“Have any of you seen Emily or Grumps? Sarah, perhaps?” Chas asked, hoping against hope that they’d somehow escaped the evacuation center and landed up at the base.
“Nope, sorry,” Dean mumbled, shoveling in a bite of egg. “My parents aren’t here either. None of the people from the evacuation center are.”
“I hope they’re safe, wherever they are,” Lala said, though it was an empty sentiment.
They all knew their loved ones were most likely dead, but the reality had yet to truly hit them. None of it felt real, and the past few hours were a nightmarish blur.
“So, what now, Lala?” Chas asked, glancing around the tent.
Lala shrugged. “We do whatever these people tell us to do, Chas. At least, until we can figure out what’s next.”
Epilogue
A cry and a hue dragged Chas from her slumber. Sharp voices roused her, and she sat upright on her bunk with a groan. “What’s going on?”
“Chas, it’s me!” a familiar voice cried, and Chas came fully awake in an instant. She blinked her lids until her vision cleared and pushed her hair back into its customary ponytail.
“Emily?” she asked, almost too afraid to hope.
Emily’s freckled nose and bespectacled eyes appeared before her like an angel from heaven, and Chas laughed as she gathered her friend into a hug. “It is you! I’m so happy to see you alive.”
“Yes, it’s really me,” Emily said.
Lala watched from the side with an indulgent smile while Emily’s mother fussed over their things and picked a bunk bed for her and Emily. Her father would have to share with the other men, of course. Sarah, Vanessa’s foster mom was also there, much to her friend’s delight, and it was wonderful to know they were all together again, safe and sound.
“But what happened? We saw the evacuation center. It looked horrible. Completely overrun by zombies,” Chas cried as Vanessa and Dean crowded onto her single mattress until they were all sitting together again.
“It was awful,” Emily exclaimed
, pushing her glasses back in that adorable way she had. “We got there and were put on a bus with tons of other people, squished in like sardines in a tin can. In the meantime, the infection had already gotten inside the center and started spreading rapidly through the crowds.”
“Oh, no,” Chas gasped.
“Oh, yes. The soldiers tried to fight them off, but they were everywhere, even on our bus.”
“How did you get away?” Chas asked.
“We kicked out the emergency glass at the back, and that’s when I found him,” Emily said.
“Found who?”
“Grumps,” Emily said with a delighted smile.
“What? He’s here? Where is he? Take me to him?” Chas exclaimed, jumping up and down.
Emily’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry, Chas, but he’s not here at the base. He didn’t come with us.”
“What do you mean?” Chas asked, her hopes dashed to pieces.
“After we escaped from the bus, Grumps showed up and led us to another one just as it was leaving. He was shooting at the infected all the while and helping other people to escape. When it came to going with us, he refused, saying the survivors needed him more than we did.”
“What happened to him in the end? Did you see?” Chas asked, her heart feeling like lead in her chest. As happy as she was to see Emily, losing Grumps was more than she could bear.
“I’m sorry, but he disappeared into the crowd. I’m sure he’s fine, Chas. I didn’t see him die or anything,” Emily said. “It’s just, he wanted to help, you know? He couldn’t let people suffer.”
Lala sobbed softly, a trembling hand pressed to her lips. “That sounds like Grumps, all right.”
“Oh, Lala,” Chas cried, running to her grandmother for a hug. They stood like that for a long time before Chas was willing to let go. Even then she clung to Lala’s hand for comfort.
“I’m sure your granddad is just fine, hun. He’s out there somewhere, helping people and killing zombies,” Lala said, though Chas was sure it was more to keep her calm than out of any true belief. Still, it was nice to hope.
“Maybe,” she said.
“Not just maybe, Chas. Definitely,” Vanessa said, jumping up. “Your granddad is the toughest old coot I know. Nothing can kill him. Certainly not zombies.”
“She’s right. He’s out there, Chasity. I know it,” Emily declared.
Chas looked at her friends and smiled, really smiled, because right then she knew she’d never be alone as long as she had friends like them. “I’m sure you’re right, guys.”
“Of course, we are. Especially me. I’m always right,” Vanessa said, drawing Chas and Emily into a group hug. “I’ll tell you something else too.”
“What’s that?” Chas asked.
“We’ll be just fine. All of us.”
Chas grinned. “No matter what.”
The End.
Gen Y
Chapter 1
Chas was laughing at something Emily said, the world spinning past in slow motion as the Ferris wheel turned. She plucked a wad of cotton candy from her stash and put it in her mouth, savoring the sweet explosion on her tongue.
“Are you having fun?” Vanessa asked.
“Of course. Best birthday ever,” Chas replied.
Vanessa smiled, but something was wrong. Blood spilled from her lips, dripping onto her shirt. “Good, because it’s time.”
“Time for what?” Chas asked with growing horror.
“Time for the screaming to start,” Vanessa said, crimson fluid running from her mouth.
“Yeah, Chas. Listen. Can’t you hear them?” Emily asked, her lips parting in a death’s head grin.
“No, I don’t hear anything,” Chas said, but she did. It came from everywhere and nowhere. She leaned over the side of the Ferris wheel to look and gasped.
From this high up, everything looked small and insignificant, but there was nothing small about the terrified screams issuing from the throats of the people below. She spotted a couple of running figures, sprinting across a patch of open field. They appeared to be chasing a bunch of others, and it was they who were shouting out in fear.
The guy operating the Ferris wheel turned to look, his shoulders tense as he surveyed the scene. He reached for the radio at his belt but never got to use it. One of the people queuing for the Ferris wheel let out an ear-splitting screech, her head thrown back and her hands curled into claws. Her back crackled and twisted as she contorted into strange shapes before suddenly snapping upright, her eyes fixed on the operator.
With a growl, she launched herself at the guy, her hands latching onto his shoulders and her legs wrapping around his waist. Chas watched in terror as the woman bit down on his neck, her teeth sinking into his flesh until his blood fountained into the air.
Chas didn’t want to look anymore. It was too horrible, but her eyes remained glued to the scene. Another shriek pulled her gaze to a young boy, maybe five or six, and she stared in disbelief as he underwent the same monstrous transformation, changing from an innocent kid to a demonic fiend. He jumped onto the nearest body, his mom, and buried his teeth in her arm, tearing out a hunk of flesh. The rest of the people in the queue stampeded in all directions.
***
Chas tore free from the grip of the nightmare and bolted upright in her bed. Sweat poured down her skin, and she shook her head to rid it of the lingering fear. A nightmare. That’s all it was, Chas. A bad dream.
She sighed and lay back again, only to realize another terrible fact: It was Saturday.
Chas stared into space, her stomach filled with dread at the mere thought. Normally, Saturdays were fun days for her, but that was not the case anymore. No day was a fun day in the safe zone, but Saturdays were the worst.
From Mondays to Fridays they had school and basic chores to perform around the camp. It wasn’t great, but she could handle it. Sundays were for the church service in the morning, followed by a restful afternoon for the adults, and a quiet supper. This afforded the kids a small amount of downtime as well. They usually ended up being bored out of their minds, but at least the non-stop supervision eased up a bit.
Saturdays, however…those were Major Brown’s days. The one day of the week when he could make Chas pay for her lie about the Senator’s daughter being inside the hospital that fateful night. It hadn’t taken him long to find out the truth. The moment Alvarez returned to base, he was debriefed in length and Chas’ perfidy discovered.
Of course, Major Brown couldn’t do much about it when so many other civilians had been rescued in the process. Officially, he’d satisfied himself with a stiff reprimand while basking in the glory of the adults’ gratitude. Behind the scenes, however, he went out of his way to make her life a misery when he had spare time.
And on Saturdays, he had plenty of spare time.
Chas shivered in her bunk, pulling the blanket over her head as if that would make the bad things in the world go away. It didn’t work. It never worked.
The dorm room was still dark in the early morning hours; it was barely four in the morning after all, but sleep was out of the question. Emily shifted in the bunk next to her, fast asleep, as were the rest of the women she shared her living quarters with nowadays. Her grandmother Lala, Vanessa and her foster mom Sarah, Emily and her mother, Amelia, as well as a few others. All survivors of the outbreak.
Sadly, Dean’s parents had not been with Emily and the others. They’d disappeared during the attack on the evacuation center, but Dean refused to give up hope. He was convinced they were out there, somewhere, surviving. She hoped he was right.
Chas sighed, wondering what fresh punishment Major Brown would cook up for her next. Or his nephew, Sergeant Brown who was in charge of the men’s dorm. Cleaning the toilets with a toothbrush? Peeling a thousand potatoes until her fingers bled? Or something worse? What on earth can be worse than peeling potatoes?
“Pst, Chas, are you awake?” Vanessa called from her bunk.
Chas perked up. �
�Yeah, I can’t sleep. You?”
“Me neither. It’s Saturday.”
Chas fell silent as guilt filled her. Not only did she suffer under the Brown’s, but so did her friends and family. Lala brushed him off, but she was old and could get away with rudeness. It was one of the few perks of advanced age, Lala used to say with a smug smile. People expected a little bit of crazy from old people.
The same applied to Vivienne. As tough as nails and madder than a wet hen, nobody dared to tell her what to do. Chas blinked when she realized how much she missed her mom even though they rarely got along. Ever since they’d arrived at the safe zone, Vivienne had busied herself working in the infirmary, looking after the sick, and sharing a room with the other nurses. I hardly get to see her anymore.
“Want to get out of here?” Vanessa asked, breaking the silence.
“And go where?” Chas asked.
“Don’t worry about it.”
That caused Chas a great deal of worry. When Vanessa told you not to worry about something, it usually meant something bad. Major Brown’s frowning visage flashed in front of her eyes, followed by a vision of his prissy little nephew, and a wave of rebelliousness washed over her. Forget that. I’m out of here.
“Let’s go,” she said to Vanessa, throwing back her covers.
“Great, follow my lead,” Vanessa said.
In silence, the two girls slipped out of their bunks and got dressed in the hated khaki jumpsuits and boots they were expected to wear every day. Chas dragged her hair into a ponytail and tucked her knife into her pocket. She never went anywhere without it.
Vanessa slipped out of the women’s dorm on silent feet, beckoning to Chas. “Come on.”
“What about Emily?”
“Leave her. She won’t approve of what we’re about to do.”
Chas nodded. That was most likely true. “Are you sure we should do it then?”
Gen Z Boxed Set Page 13
