The Z Word

by Bella Street

  “No, I haven't imbibed since that party in the Valley last month. Puked my guts out afterwards and you had to help me clean up, which explains my reticence for a repeat.” She blinked. And I reminded him of that humiliating night why?

  “Exactly.”

  Seffy pressed her lips together, more confused than ever.

  Gareth put his hands on her shoulders. “So for now, I need you present. Even if this turns out to be something else, pretend it isn't. Act like this is real.” He frowned. “You don't want to be zombie nosh in a dream anyway, right?”

  “Zombies aren't real.” When he started to speak, she put up her hand, “But for your sake, I'll be 'present'.”

  “For our sakes.”

  Seffy wondered how the admission changed anything. “Fine.”

  “Ohhh,” Addy said, her moan an eerie counterpoint to the sound coming up the hill. “How can this be happening? I cannot deal with this!”

  Gareth looked down the hill, then ran his hands through his hair. “We've got to find some shelter.”

  “Except shelter seems to be where they like to hide,” Lani pointed out, her pretty face pale with fear.

  Seffy noticed the man stumbling as he attempted to climb the hill. “Can't we outrun him? I mean, he's so slow.”

  “They're slow,” he said, “but they're also like the Energizer Bunny, if you know what I mean.”

  “I love that bunny,” Lani said with a wobbly smile. “How cute is it for a rabbit to wear flip flops?”

  Seffy emitted a nervous laugh. “Remember when we used to say thongs instead of flip flops?”

  “A lot of things changed when we moved to L.A,” Gareth said, his tone distracted.

  Addison gasped. “I think there's another one! Look over there!”

  They watched a woman with a see-saw gait emerge from behind a tree and head toward the hill.

  Seffy shaded her eyes with her hand and squinted. “I can't believe she's wearing fringed moccasin boots.”

  Addison's eyes widened. “Are you seriously commenting on her outfit? We're trying not to be murdered here!”

  “Sorry. I just happened to notice, okay?”

  “The guy was wearing one of those silky landscape print shirts,” Gareth said, his expression grim. “We're gonna need weapons.”

  Seffy looked at her friend. And they thought she was the one with issues?

  Lani pulled on Gareth's sleeve. “Weapons? Why can't we just run?”

  He strode to a nearby pile of debris and started pawing through it. “Because they'll eventually catch up, remember? I'm not really wanting to be a brain buffet today.”

  Lani wrapped her arms around herself and whimpered.

  Gareth pulled four pieces of wood from the pile and turned to them. “One for each of us. Aim for the head.”

  “You're kidding,” Addison said in a choked voice.

  He sighed and held out the wood to her. “Their bite is absolutely fatal. And if you're bitten, you'll turn into one of them.”

  “So which is it, death or zombie?” Addison said, her expression contorted.

  “Both.”

  Seffy put her hands up. “Okay, we're making a huge leap here. I'm with you that we need to avoid unfortunately-dressed strangers until we figure out what's going on, but calling them zombies is just plain juvenile.”

  “But accurate,” Addison added, gripping her stick with white-knuckled fingers.

  “This is unreal,” Seffy mumbled. Still, she went up and grabbed a piece of wood. She turned to Gareth and saw the tight look of his mouth. He was scared. More scared than when he'd been discovered patronizing an electronics store that wasn't The Sharper Image. “How do you know all this stuff about...them...anyway?”

  He lowered his gaze. “Even if I'm wrong, hitting them in the head if they're within striking distance is a good idea.”

  Lani walked over, picked up a piece of wood and stared at it like she didn't know what it was. Her eyes were wider than ever. “This was a bad idea.”

  Addy shot Lani a quizzical look.

  “We're just trying to get prepared.” Gareth swallowed hard. “Next, we need shelter...and bicycles. And maybe a vegetable garden.”

  “What?” Seffy stared at him. “Are you losing it?”

  Gareth shook his head. “Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself.” He took a deep breath. “Get a good grip on the wood, girls, and be ready to swing with everything you've got.”

  “Gareth!” Addison screamed. “Behind you!”

  He spun around and swung wildly with his stick. Seffy could not believe silky shirt guy had made it up the hill—especially in those platform shoes.

  The man moaned and reached for Gareth. Gareth swung again and this time made contact. They watched in suspended horror as the man's head separated from his neck and fell to the ground with a thud. The headless body then slowly crumpled onto the sand. Brownish blood dripped onto the gold medallions resting against the matted hair on its chest.

  Seffy blinked hard, unable to comprehend the sight.

  “I think I'm going to be sick,” Addison said in a weak voice.

  “Don't be such a drama queen,” Seffy said automatically, feeling faint herself.

  The sound of retching filled the already heavy air, blending with an ominous moan.

  “Uh, guys,” Lani whispered. “That lady is coming.”

  Gareth twisted around. The woman had the same gray countenance and vacant eyes. And a fringe vest that matched the boots. “Girls, close your eyes.”

  “Gladly,” Seffy muttered. She heard a muffled groan and thwack, then more retching, presumably from Addison. She squeezed her eyes shut and thought hard about the gorgeous pair of shoes she'd seen in a boutique window just yesterday. Manolo Blahniks. Above her pay grade, but that just made them all the more desirable.

  A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped like a startled rabbit.

  “It's just me.” Gareth said softly. “C'mon, we have to go.”

  Seffy didn't asked where. She grabbed his hand and started running. It looked like she was going to miss that audition after all.

  Chapter Three

  Seffy leaned forward and touched Gareth's knee. His brown eyes were clouded with grief over a fight he'd had with Verity.

  “Don't worry, sweetie. I'm sure you guys will work this out.” And if you don't, you know where I'll be.

  Gareth flashed a hopeful look at her. Seffy smiled gently. “Verity can sometimes just be...a little bit controlling. And she doesn't always tell the truth.” When he looked surprised, she softened her tone. “I'm sure she means well.”

  Gareth blew out a breath. “I guess. But sometimes I just don't get her.”

  “You're not the only who feels that way.” Seffy paused and measured her words. “And remember, she's the new one. She doesn't fully understand our history. She's not one of us.”

  Gareth regarded her for a long moment. Seffy touched the side of his face and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Besides, I'll always be here for you.”

  “Hey!”

  She blinked. “Huh?”

  “You were totally snoring.”

  Seffy looked at Addy, disorientation muddling her brain. “What?”

  “Shh! We don't want them to know we're here.”

  “Who?”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Zombies,” Lani said. Her lower lip trembled.

  “Oh, geez. You mean that's still going on?”

  “No,” Addison growled, “we just enjoy sitting in a broken down shack trying to avoid the detection of flesh-eating monsters.”

  Seffy took in her surroundings and suddenly remembered their flight over another hill and finding this shelter. Gareth had reconnoitered—yes, he'd used that word—and decided it was creep-free. At least from the bi-ped kind. And they wonder why I prefer the dream world to the real one.

  She was leaning up against Lani and must've fallen asleep. Gareth sat on the other side of Lani. Addy hunched across from th
em a few feet away, a scowl on her face and her arms wrapped around her knees. A shaft of light pierced a hole in the ceiling, illuminating the shadowy gloom of their ramshackle fortress.

  “I think I liked my dream better.”

  “What were you dreaming about?” Gareth asked. Sweat trickled down his grubby face—a strange sight for one usually so fashionable.

  She felt her face heat. “You.”

  Addy gave a disgusted snort.

  “I don't know how you can sleep through this,” Lani said.

  “I think we're all pretty exhausted,” Gareth said.

  Lani offered a small smile. “And thirsty and hungry.”

  “You can say that again,” Seffy said.

  “It's all I've heard you say,” Addy snapped. “I don't know how anyone could eat after what we've witnessed.”

  Seffy suppressed an urge to slap her friend. But then Addy would just slap back—harder—in the mood she was in. And right now, Seffy was too tired to try and figure out the real reason for the redhead's anger. She cleared her dry throat. “So we're waiting in this shack...?”

  “Until they go away,” Addison said rudely.

  Seffy's shoulders sagged. How was this scenario possible? “So, how sure are we that these things really are what...Lani said? And what's up with their clothes? Unless they're all from Presidio.”

  “It does seem odd.” Lani said. She wrinkled her brow. “I haven't seen platform shoes like that since 70s Day at Tarus High.”

  “Oh, man, remember that pair of platforms I wore?” Gareth said, a slight smile tipping his lips. “And that glitter?”

  “Your glitter shoes,” Addy said, loosening up a bit. “That's what you called them.”

  Seffy regarded them with surprise. “Guys, why are you talking about this?”

  “Don't forget that Mod Squad wig,” Lani said, ignoring her. “You looked so cool! And I wore that flower child outfit. Remember?”

  Gareth nodded. “I also remember that librarian outfit, Addy. The updo, cat-eye glasses, pencil skirt, and heels. You had that whole uptight, naughty vibe going.”

  Addy raised her brow to Seffy, who shook her head in disbelief.

  “Don't forget Sef,” Lani said.

  “Ah, the disco dancing queen outfit,” he said. “Very nice.”

  Seffy stared at him. “So we're okay with talking about the horrors of Montana? We haven't had enough trauma as it is?”

  Addison covered her mouth in fake shock. “OMG, she just said the M word!”

  “It's okay, hun,” Lani said, patting Seffy's leg. “Anyway, I like the 70s. They had great clothes.”

  “Better than the 80s,” Addy said, lifting her chin. “Nothing you could do with a decade of frizzy hair, heavy blush, and shoulder pads.”

  “Exactly,” Gareth said with a shudder. “Argyle sweaters? Penny loafers with no socks? Imagine all the blisters.”

  “I kinda liked the fashions. All that pastel. It was so pretty.”

  “Lani, only you would think that,” Addy said with a half-laugh.

  “It was a simpler time,” she insisted.

  “You say I'm the one in denial,” Seffy said, as the heat bore down on her, “and yet you're still on this subject.”

  Addy snorted. “So you're more freaked by our past than our present, is that it?”

  Seffy ground her back teeth. “I'm just saying we all had an agreement.”

  “No one here could possibly care about the subject of our conversation,” Lani said in a soothing voice.

  Seffy shoved a lock of damp hair out of her eyes, disgusted.

  Lani rested her cheek on her knees. “I wish I was fashionably aware then. What did I have to look forward to in middle school? The grunge look?”

  “Yeah, that was pretty rough,” Gareth said, sending Seffy an apologetic smile. “Everyone wanted to be Kurt Cobain, but I just couldn't pull off the stocking hat and flannel look.”

  “And the music was nice.”

  Addy furrowed her brows at Lani. “What, like the garage band sound?”

  “No, I mean the 80s.” She peered up from under her lashes. “I mean like Zannytu.”

  “Guys!” Seffy said. “Seriously!”

  “Uh oh,” Addison said, “another Thing We Don't Speak Of.”

  Seffy shot her a pointed look.

  “There's no one around to guess our 'dark secrets', Sef. Get over yourself.”

  “Okay, ladies, let's dial it down,” Gareth said in a low voice. “And honestly, Sef, I don't think there's any harm in talking about a few good memories.”

  “And a really campy movie,” Addy added in a mocking voice.

  Lani's usually sweet expression took on a mulish cast. “It wasn't just a movie. It's a way of life.”

  “And a successful soundtrack,” Gareth added with a chagrined smile.

  “It didn't use to be a dirty word.”

  Seffy stared at Lani, then looked at Addy, who turned her head away. “Okay, this has absolutely got to stop. We all agreed—”

  “Like Gareth said, I think it's okay to remember better times when things are hard,” Lani said in a quiet voice.

  “Better times?” Seffy flared. “While sitting in a shack instead of finding our way back to our real lives in L.A.?”

  Lani's eyes grew shiny. “Are they real?”

  “What are you talking about? The things out there?”

  “Oh,” said Addy, “how convenient. Now you believe they're real.”

  “I don't know what to believe!” Seffy hissed. “But what I do know is that we should be doing something instead of talking about the past, which is the same thing as nothing.”

  Lani put her face in her hands and burst into tears.

  Gareth leaned over and put his arm around her. Seffy immediately felt like a beast. Great. Hearing Lani's continued sobs, she got to her feet and went to the far wall of the shack. She looked through a crack at the endless landscape stretching beyond. Which way to go? Surely home was just over a nearby rise. Rubbing her face, she felt the grit there, and wanted to cry herself. But someone had to hold it together—and remember what was at stake.

  After a few moments, Seffy went back to where Lani sat sniffling into Gareth's arms. She crouched down and touched Lani's knee. “I'm sorry for being rude. I really am.”

  The brunette looked up at her, her eyes brimming with a silent appeal. “I guess I'm just weak,” she said, and hiccuped.

  Seffy didn't know how to respond, so she dropped a kiss on Lani's head and went back to look through the crack in the wall. The pink light had deepened. Soon it would turn green and get dark. Was it possible they'd be spending another night in this pastel hell? She didn't have a single idea of escape beyond walking in the direction of Los Angeles—if they could get their bearings while avoiding biting hipsters. Seffy touched the wall and sighed. Simple, right?

  “You know, we haven't been doing a good job of being quiet.”

  Seffy turned to see Addy join her at the wall.

  “All this arguing and crying,” Addy said in a harsh whisper. “We need to calm down and think.”

  A sarcastic remark rose to Seffy's lips, but she squelched it. She noticed the strain around her friend's eyes, and for a moment, longed for what Lani desired—simpler times. Times when she and Addison were more friends than frenemies. She swallowed. “What are we going to do?”

  Addy stilled. She looked at Seffy and raised her finger to her lips. Seffy peered out the window and saw a shambling figure approach the shack. She snapped her fingers to get the others' attention. Gareth nodded in understanding as he helped Lani up. Seffy peeked through the slat again, not understanding why the figures outside frightened her so much. Maybe she simply misunderstood the situation. All this running and hiding when they could probably simply stroll out the makeshift door and eventually find help.

  A knock on the other side of the shack made them all whirl around toward the direction of the noise.

  “Oh, God, they're trying to
get in.”

  Seffy noticed Addison's bloodless face. She took a deep breath. “Maybe these guys are just people like us looking for shelter.”

  “Get real,” Addy said, clenching her fists and beginning to pant.

  “Weapons,” Gareth hissed. “Find something.”

  Seffy watched as the others began picking through the debris. This is insane. Why would anyone want to hurt us? Besides, if it was real, they'd be using guns, not...moans. Seffy faced the wall. She'd been irrational this morning. And anyone would be scared, finding themselves in this situation. But then all this had to be make-believe. Just a figment—

  A hair-raising moan made her jump. She scanned the ground, which was strewn with strips of old wood flooring, hinges, and bits of rope and wire. Gripping a piece of flooring in her hands, she began to shake. The sound of scrabbling and scratching at the barred door made her stomach turn. “How did they find us?” she asked in a hushed voice.

  “Probably your snoring,” Addy said. “Now be quiet!”

  The scratching and banging increased. “I think they already know we're here.”

  Addy looked at Gareth. “Can they smell us or something?”

  Keeping his attention fixated on the door, he gave a quick shrug of his shoulders. “Maybe. I can't exactly remember.”

  “And here we thought you were this expert.” Seffy felt petty the moment she said it, but Gareth's grim countenance only deepened her frustration. “So when are we going to figure out how this happened in the first place? Seems to me we just keep reacting to things without thinking them through.”

  “Shhh!”

  “And then there's the inexplicable strolls down memory lane. How many times do we have to be reminded that that back alley is a dead end?”

  “Seffy,” Addy said just as the sound of splintering wood rent the air.

  Lani squeaked in fright, her eyes huge. “I'm so sorry,” she said in a small voice.

  “Sorry for what?” Addison said, her tone suspicious.

  Tears streamed down Lani's grubby cheeks as she shook her head, unable to speak.

  Seffy looked down at the stick in her smudged hands and saw her cracked fingernails. How could she been seen at the clinic with nails like these? “I'm sorry, too,” she said, dropping the wood. “Sorry that my friends aren't content with what we've worked so hard to achieve. And the minute something strange—okay, something crazy happens—you guys forget everything and start reverting to the past. That's the real problem. Not make-believe monsters.”