My appetite lost, I stood to take my plate back to the kitchen. Emilie stood to join me, and stayed close by my side.
As we left the room, she whispered to me. “Zoe, we really need to finish our food. Let’s head upstairs and eat, ok?
I nodded and we climbed the stairs, half full plates in hand, and went into Gus and Emilie’s room. To my delight, Boggs joined us about two minutes later.
“Hey ladies, mind if I join you?”
I smiled. “Tremendously,” I joked.
“Let’s eat then get these beds moved. Gus is having a pretty detailed medically-type talk down there. He might be awhile.”
It took us only a couple of minutes to finish our food. Afterward we were all full and exhausted. Emilie gathered up our dirty plates and forks and set them in the corner. Boggs lay down on the bed width-wise, arms over his head.
“What’s wrong, Boggs?” asked Emilie. “Don’t wanna go back to the living room?”
“Not in particular,” he admitted.
I was already sitting on the bed, so flopped onto my side to lie alongside Boggs. Emilie followed suit on the other side of him.
“It’s getting cold again,” said Emilie.
We lay there quietly together for some time. The light filtering in through the window was almost gone, signaling sunset.
“I should light a candle,” moaned Emilie.
“We need to get these beds moved,” mumbled Boggs. He sounded like he was nearly asleep.
The door opened, and Gus walked in. “Cozy?” he asked.
“Hiding,” said Emilie.
“I’d join you all but I’m afraid the bed would break,” joked Gus.
Boggs sat up and stretched before speaking. “Ok, let’s get this shit done. I’m beat.” He stood, ready to work.
Gus sat on the bed next to Emilie. He tousled her hair, something I noticed he liked to do. “We should bring the other mattress in and lean it against a wall first to make room for the frame in the other room. Shouldn’t take long. Thanks for helping, Boggs.”
“No problem,” he answered. “But are you sure you don’t just want to switch rooms?”
“I’d like to stay closest to the stairs, to be honest,” Gus said. “We can talk about it more tomorrow, but Wanda’s in a bad way. I’ve given her a couple of the pain pills Em found in the bathroom, but she barely ate anything for dinner and she told me her urine production is way down. It sounds like her cancer’s spread to her bones and she’s in a lot of pain. I want to find a pharmacy, get her some morphine. I just hope we have time.” Gus looked concerned for the older woman. “Louisa says she’s twenty weeks pregnant. We’ll need to get supplies in anticipation of the baby’s birth. It’s not my area of expertise, so we’ll need books so I can learn.” He sighed. “Ok, let’s do this bad boy.”
It took Gus and Boggs about twenty minutes to switch the beds around. Emilie and I wanted to stay busy so found clean linens and dressed both beds, especially wanting to thank Louisa for making dinner by doing something nice in return. I desperately wanted to shower but was too tired. Finally ready to sleep, Boggs and I left Gus and Em’s room to walk to our own. Julio was busy helping Susan get the camp cot into the attic. We walked past them into our own room and shut the door quietly.
“Zoe, are you ok?” asked Boggs.
I nodded. “I’m ok, Boggs. It’s just been a horribly long day. I stink like the burning bodies, my feet hurt, my head hurts, and I’m so tired.”
He wrapped his arms around me tightly. Kissing the top of my head, he used his hands to rub my back. The room was pitch black, but I felt safe in his arms. “Do you want me to light a candle or should we just fumble into bed?” he asked.
“Fumble,” I mumbled.
His hand found mine, and guided me to the bed. I reached my other hand out to find the covers and pulled them down. I climbed in and scooted over, and Boggs followed. We held each other and slept deeply.
I woke in the middle of the night, my bladder full. The cabin was still and quiet. Boggs and I had decided to keep a candle and lighter on the nightstand beside the bed, so I felt around the table surface until I was able to find them and produce a flame. I swung my legs over my side of the bed and carried the candle to the other side of the room. I opened the door and, out of habit, listened before crossing the hall to the bathroom. Once in the small room, I set the candle on the counter next to the toilet and pulled my pink tights down. I sat on the toilet and relieved myself, feeling better almost instantly. The ambient temperature had dropped considerably and I was getting chilled. I used toilet paper sparingly, flushed, and pulled my tights up. As I reached for the candle, I noticed the bottle of pain pills sitting at the edge of the candlelight. The lid was off, so I went to put it back on. The bottle was empty, and I knew it had been nearly full when we first found it. Of course I hoped that Susan had pocketed them so we’d have a reason to banish her from the house. I set the bottle back down, left the lid off, and crept back out to the hallway. Candle in hand, I walked the couple of steps to Gus and Emilie’s room. I put my hand on the door knob and turned it quietly. I really didn’t want to wake anyone I didn’t have to, so closed the door softly behind me and tip toed to the side of the bed where Gus was asleep. I set the candle down on the bedside table and knelt down so I was closer to the mattress on the floor. “Gus,” I whispered. He stirred but didn’t wake, so I set my hand on his shoulder and shook lightly. “Gus.”
His eyes shot open and he sat up, alarmed. “Zoe. What’s wrong?”
Emilie stirred beside him but didn’t wake.
“I’m not sure. I just used the restroom. That bottle of pain pills is empty.”
“The Percocet?” he asked for clarification, a hint of concern already starting to show on his face.
“Yes. It’s on the counter next to the toilet. The lid was off.”
He sighed. “Ok, we’ll bring it up at breakfast; see if anyone admits to it. I don’t want to start accusing our new housemates.”
“Ok. Sorry I woke you.”
“It’s ok, Zoe. You did good. Think you can get back to sleep?”
I nodded then gestured toward Emilie. “She’s really into you, you know that right?” I whispered.
Gus looked down at the sleeping Emilie. “She’s really amazing. I’m pretty into her too.”
“Good night,” I whispered as I stood and picked up the candle.
“Night,” he mumbled as he settled back into the bed.
I walked to the door and opened it quietly. As I started to cross the threshold, I stopped, frozen in place. Inside my brain I felt a tiny spark that didn’t belong there. It was faint, but obvious.
“Zoe?” whispered Gus, sitting back up.
I didn’t answer at first. The tiny spark quickly grew into the beginnings of hunger, the unmistakable and overwhelming desire to eat human flesh. I took a step backward, away from the door. I could hear Gus climbing out of bed.
“Zoe? What is it?” he demanded quietly.
Without looking away from the hallway, I whispered back. “There’s one inside the cabin.”
I turned to look at Gus, my eyes wide. He was naked except for boxer shorts and already reaching for his shotgun.
“Do you know where?” he asked, not beating around the bush.
I stopped and focused. The desire inside my head was getting stronger. I wasn’t sure how, but I felt it below us. “Downstairs,” I whispered.
“Zoe, go wake up Boggs. Leave me with the candle. Just set it on the floor in the hall.” He left the room and I stepped into the hall behind him.
I did as instructed, setting the candle in the hall off to one side. Gus stood at the top of the stairs, his shotgun raised and aimed down the stairs.
I hurried into my own bedroom and shook Boggs awake.
“Shhhh,” I muttered. “Gus needs you. One of the creatures is downstairs. Inside.”
Boggs was slower to rouse than Gus, but his head soon cleared and he got out of bed. He hadn
’t said anything. He removed his Kahr from the drawer of the night stand and walked to the doorway to join Gus in the hall. He and Gus didn’t speak to each other, but instead used hand signals.
Gus proceeded down the stairs first, closely followed by Boggs. The fireplace had been left on to keep Wanda warm and cast a dim glow upon them once they reached the bottom. I hustled back into Gus and Emilie’s room and climbed onto the mattress.
“Emilie, wake up. Now,” I said in a harsh but quiet voice.
She sat up quickly. “What is it?” Her voice was filled with dread.
My head was starting to hurt, and my hip felt like it was on fire.
“Where’s Gus?” she pressed.
“Downstairs,” I replied.
“Zoe, what’s going on?” She was watching me intently. The only light was coming from the candle in the hallway.
“There’s one inside.”
We looked at each other without speaking for a long moment that was finally interrupted by Gus’ gun firing. We flinched in tandem. The next sound was Julio running out of the third bedroom, his footfalls full of alarm. Emilie and I rushed toward the door after him, wanting to warn him.
By the time we got to the top of the steps Julio was bounding down the stairs, shotgun in hand. “What is it?” he yelled.
Gus called back. “Julio, we need you. Girls, stay upstairs!”
“They killed it,” I said as the desire in my head had died.
Emilie clung to my arm. Louisa was behind us now and the attic hatch opened, Susan popping her head down.
“What the fuck is going on down there?” asked Susan.
“Should we go up into the attic?” asked Emilie.
“No, it’s ok now. It’s dead.”
“What’s going on?” asked Louisa, near hysteria. “Julio!” she began yelling for her lover. “Julio!”
“Louisa, stay upstairs!” Julio yelled back.
Louisa stood there in panties and a t-shirt that fell short on her growing belly. Her arms were crossed protectively over the baby growing within her.
“Emilie, will you stay here with Louisa?” I asked. Emilie nodded.
I walked down the steps slowly, not wanting to see what waited below. Halfway down, I remembered Wanda. Terrified that she’d been attacked, I quickened my pace.
“Boggs?” I called with urgency. “Oh God, is Wanda ok?”
I rounded the corner to the living room.
“No darlin,’ she’s not.” Gus answered for him. The cowboy was standing near the fireplace, looking a bit pale.
I looked for Boggs, who was standing over Wanda’s body.
Julio had knelt on the floor, and cried softly over the frail woman’s remains.
“What happened?” I asked. “Oh my God, what happened? Did it get her?” My voice was rising.
Blood and brain matter splattered the boarded-up window in the room. It looked even more disconcerting in the flickering light of the fire. I looked down and saw that Wanda’s head was grossly damaged as a result of being shot.
“You shot her? Gus! Why? Where’s the zombie?”
Boggs had stepped close to me and tried to calm me by holding onto my arms and looking me in the eyes. “Zo, stop. It was Wanda. She turned.”
I stared back at him, not quite understanding. “What do you mean she turned?”
“Zoe, she took the Percocet. She overdosed,” said Gus quietly. I looked back at the body and then her bed. There were a few large round white pills scattered on the floor. “My guess is the pain was just too much for her.”
“Oh God,” I moaned. “Are you all ok?” I asked. “No one got hurt?”
Boggs shook his head back and forth. “We’re ok, I promise.”
Julio finally spoke, still looking down at what was left of Wanda and was wiping away tears that I assumed he didn’t want anyone to see. “Louisa’s going to have a hell of a time with this,” he muttered then stood. “Zoe, do you mind making sure she stays upstairs?”
“Sure Julio,” I answered. “I’m really sorry about Wanda. She seemed like such a great lady.”
He hung his head. “Gracias.” He made the Catholic symbol of the Cross on his chest. “Gus, Boggs? Mind helping me take her outside? We can have a funeral tomorrow?”
“Of course, Julio,” answered Boggs in a caring tone.
“Zoe, we’ll clean up down here and be up later. We’ll just set her body outside the front door till morning. Can you and Emilie stay with Louisa?” asked Gus.
“What should I tell her?” I asked.
“The truth,” answered Gus. “That she died. You don’t need to say more than that for now. Julio, sound ok?”
“Yes, please. I should be the one to explain to her,” answered the young Latino. “I worry about the baby if she gets upset.”
“Ok.” I gave Boggs a quick hug and walked back upstairs.
Emilie and Susan were sitting in the third bedroom with Louisa, who was crying softly. I walked in and sat near Louisa on the bed. I gladly ignored Susan, whose eyes I could feel on my back.
“Where’s Wanda?” Louisa asked me pathetically. Her big brown eyes were bloodshot. I suspected she already knew that Wanda wouldn’t be joining us.
“She died, Louisa. I’m so sorry.”
The girl’s chin trembled, but she nodded in acknowledgement. “How?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Julio wants to be the one to talk to you about that. Ok?” I looked into her eyes and placed a hand over hers.
“Is he ok?”
“Ya, everyone else is ok,” I assured her. “They’re just going to take care of a few things downstairs, and then they’ll head up.”
She nodded again. “She was really special, you know?”
Susan spoke. “She really liked you, Louisa.”
It was one of the first nice things I’d heard Susan say since meeting her. I looked at her, trying to read her face. I was glad she didn’t look back at me.
Chapter 12
Morning came slowly. None of us slept after discovering that Wanda had died. We had all gone to our own rooms, allowing Julio and Louisa time to talk in private. I heard her sobbing on and off for hours. Sometimes she would cry out in Spanish. My heart ached for her. We had all lost so much already. It seemed so unfair to have to lose any more.
Boggs and I lay holding each other on the bed. We left one candle lit, in honor of Wanda.
“It must be close to dawn,” I whispered.
“I think it’ll be good when we’re all up and busy again,” he replied.
“I’m gonna go take a shower,” I said.
“Can I join you?” he asked.
I nodded hesitantly.
“Let’s hurry, before anyone else is up and needs the bathroom,” suggested Boggs.
We stood and quietly walked to the bathroom. I set a lit candle on the counter. Boggs turned the water on in the large shower stall, which was made of stone tiles in hues of gray and pink and brown and had a swanky glass door that opened on hinges. Steam began to fill the room so I stripped out of my clothes, crossing my arms over my chest.
Boggs took his clothes off and walked to me. “Zoe?”
I looked up at him.
“You don’t need to cover yourself in front of me. You’re beautiful.”
He took my hands in his and gently took my arms away from my chest. I didn’t try to stop him. He looked down at me, smiling softly. I tried to relax, but wasn’t used to my body being admired. My nipples were erect, evidence of the room being cold as well as my escalating sexual desires. He leaned down and kissed me sweetly, then picked me up and set me on the counter. I returned his kiss, and we began to explore each other’s bodies with our hands. He traced my nipples with the lightest of touches, sending shivers through my body. I leaned forward, kissing his collarbone and slowly moved my mouth down to his chest. He leaned his head back as I began sucking his tattoo. My kissing grew stronger and I sucked on his chest deeply as my desire escalated.
&n
bsp; He put a hand beneath my chin and I paused to look up at him. He whispered into my ear, “ready for the shower?”
Slightly out of breath, I nodded.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and he carried me, facing him, to the shower. Once under the warm spray of the water, he backed me up to the cold tile wall and began kissing me wildly. His body was pressing against me with desperation, his erection searching to find its way inside of me.
“I want to fuck you so hard, Zoe,” he mumbled. “God I want to fuck you.”
My body now craving his, and more excited than I had ever been before, I responded by grabbing at his back in an attempt to get closer to him. Sensing my desire, he lifted me up a few more inches and entered me deeply. I moaned loudly with pleasure. Until now, he’d been gentle when making love to me. This time he was showing rough desire. He began thrusting with new enthusiasm, crushing me against the wall. I grabbed hard at his back and my eyes rolled back from the pleasure of him being so deeply inside of me.
“Don’t stop, Boggs,” I moaned. “Oh God, please don’t stop.”
My pleading caused him to wrap his arms behind my back and pull me against him, thrusting faster. He ended with a loud groan, and I fought to keep from screaming with pleasure as my muscles shuddered around his hard penis. Out of breath, we both clung to each other as the water continued to wash over us.
“I love you,” he whispered, kissing me sweetly on the lips. “I love you, Zoe.”
“Boggs. I love you too.” I put my head against his chest and started sobbing.
“Oh God, Zoe, did I hurt you?”
I shook my head no, and he held me close.
“What is it? Shhhh.”
“Boggs, it was horrible. Wanda. I felt it, when she started her new life. And I felt when it ended.” I clung to him, afraid to let go.
“Shhhh.”
“What do I do with that, Boggs? How do I deal with that?”
“I’m not sure, Zo. I’m just not sure.”
After several minutes my sobbing ebbed and he finally set me down on my own feet. We finished the shower by washing each other. He unbraided my hair and lathered it with shampoo. The water started to cool and we decided we better get out. After rinsing off, we wrapped ourselves in towels. Soon after, there was a rap on the door.
Grace Lost (The Grace Series) Page 15
