Dex

by Claflin, Stacy

  The idea of being so close to his childhood home both thrilled him and sent chills of fear through him.

  Radley came into the garage and handed him another box. “This is the last one. I think I might be too excited to sleep. The thought of a walled-in community…” Her voice trailed off and she sighed dramatically. “It just seems too good to be true.”

  “In some ways, yeah.”

  “What do you mean?” She twisted a strand of her red hair.

  “It’s definitely safer. I had no idea what I was stepping into when I snuck out, but on the other hand, nothing’s perfect. They have a lot of rules, and if you misstep—out you go.”

  Radley’s eyes widened. “Is that what happened to you?”

  “Basically.”

  She looked deep in thought for a moment and then her expression brightened. “Well, at least we’ll be able to check it out and see if it’s even something we want. We always have this house to come back to.”

  “True. I just don’t want anyone getting their hopes up too high.”

  The garage door swung open and Bob came in. “Everything packed?”

  Dex shifted the weight of the box in his arms. “Just got this one left.”

  “Good. I’m ready to go, but definitely need some shut-eye first. I never come back home and leave for another supply run in the same week.”

  “This isn’t a supply run,” Dex pointed out.

  “Ain’t that the truth. Well, breakfast is ready.”

  Radley yawned. “Good. I’m starved.”

  Conversation was at a minimum around the table. Everyone had dark circles under their eyes and kept yawning through the meal.

  Dex’s mind kept wandering back to his family. Were his dad and siblings still alive? Had Mom and Dad had more children? Could they still be in the community?

  More importantly, if they were, would the leaders let Dex back in? He’d run, and perhaps his mom had been kicked out. Would they accept Lucy and the others? What would Dex do if they would only allow him inside?

  There were so many questions, and he’d have to wait to find the answers.

  Once everyone had finished eating, they all helped to clean up and then made their way upstairs. Dex’s vision grew blurry. He was sure he’d be asleep before his head even touched the pillow.

  Dex waited in the hallway while Lucy changed into some clothes she’d found hanging in the closet.

  She opened the door, wearing a similar nightgown to the one she’d had back at Silverly. “I’m ready. You want to change?”

  He shook his head no. “I’m used to wearing the same clothes all the time.”

  “Okay.” She disappeared into the room.

  Dex went inside and closed the door behind him while Lucy climbed under the covers. He kicked off his shoes and set his bow between the bed and the nightstand. Even in the house, he never let it out of his immediate reach. Some habits were too hard to break.

  He lay on top of the covers but, surprisingly, didn't fall asleep immediately. Lucy’s floral aroma reminded him that she was only inches away and that no one else was there.

  Dex breathed in the sweet scent and held onto it. He rolled over, his face only a couple inches from hers. Lucy’s eyes were closed, but she wasn’t breathing heavily.

  He whispered, “Are you still awake?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  If he didn’t say anything, she’d probably fall asleep in a matter of moments.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  He ran his fingers over some of her hair that lay between them and ignored her question. “How do you smell like flowers all the time?”

  Lucy opened one eye. “Radley gave me perfume. You like?”

  “Very much.”

  She smiled and opened her other eye. “I hoped so.”

  His heart skipped a beat. He longed to feel his lips on hers again. How was he ever going to get any sleep with her right there, smelling so nice and looking so sweet?

  Lucy propped herself up onto her elbow and scooted over, holding his gaze. Her long hair flowed over her shoulder like a majestic waterfall.

  His breath caught and his insides heated, flaming like an out-of-control brushfire.

  She brushed her lips against his as though testing his reaction. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, deepening it immediately. His heart thundered in his chest, and he swore he could feel hers pounding, as well. Something inside of him exploded with delight.

  He traced her jawline with his fingertips, then threaded his fingers through her hair. She ran her hands down his arms. He flexed, and she slowed, squeezing his muscles as she moved toward his hands.

  She leaned back and gazed into his eyes, her face even more flushed than earlier, her grin even wider.

  Dex cupped her chin and trailed kisses along her jaw to her mouth. She traced patterns on his chest and pressed her mouth against his before pulling away, gasping for air.

  “Is this okay?” Dex asked.

  Her eyes widened and she smiled again. “Yes. We should sleep, though. Big day tomorrow.”

  “Right. Yeah. Exactly.”

  Lucy leaned forward, brushed her lips across his, then lay down. “Hold me.”

  Dex lowered himself and got comfortable as best as he could with his heart beating wildly. He took a deep breath and put his arm around Lucy. She nestled closer to him and within a few moments, her breathing deepened into the rhythmic sounds of sleep.

  How could she fall asleep so fast? Dex wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to sleep again after that. His mind wandered back to conversations with his friends back in the community.

  He and his preteen buddies had wondered together what it would be like to kiss a girl other than their moms or sisters. The big debate had been whether it would be fun like some of the teenage boys had claimed, or if it would be gross. Dex had sided with gross.

  How wrong he’d been. He’d never been more wrong about anything in his life. And he’d never been happier about being mistaken.

  He took in Lucy’s sweet floral scent, kissed the back of her head, and closed his eyes. Hopefully he’d be able to get some sleep before their big adventure.

  Chapter 38

  Dex climbed into the back of the Hummer after Lucy, sat next to her, and put his arm around her. Radley sat on the other side of her and Zianna sat up front.

  He glanced out the window and stared at the garage. Would this be the last time he saw it, or would they return? What if they couldn’t find the community? Or what if they did, and they sent Dex away?

  Ian poked his head inside, bringing him back to the present. “Y’all ready?”

  “Ready as we’re gonna be.” Dex yawned.

  “Start ’er up.” Ian turned to Bob.

  Bob turned the key, and the engine roared to life. The entire vehicle shook.

  “Do you want someone to stay here with you?” Dex asked. “Safety in numbers and all that.”

  Ian shook his head. “Y’all are more likely to run into trouble and need the numbers than I will. Other than that massive zombie attack, this place has always been safe. I’ll just keep rubbing the guts on the fence. All those rabid freaks have moved on, right? No sign of ’em since that night?”

  Dex nodded.

  “I’ll be fine. Appreciate the concern, though. See y’all in a couple days?”

  “Not sure, exactly,” Dex said. “I traveled by foot, and hardly took a straight path.”

  “Either way, come back and get me once they welcome you in.”

  “I don’t know that they will.”

  “We have to hope. Good luck, y’all.” Ian nodded toward Bob and then slammed the door shut.

  Bob turned back toward Dex. “You know how to get there?”

  “I know the general direction. It’s been a while. Like I said, I don’t even know if it’s still standing.”

  “If it is, we’ll find it.”

  “If it’s not?” Dex asked.

  Lucy squeezed his hand.


  “Then we’ll figure that out, too.”

  The garage door opened, and Ian waved them out.

  Chills ran down Dex’s back. Would he see his family that day, after so many years?

  The Hummer bumped up and down as they crept out of the garage, through the yard, and out the opening in the fence.

  Dex’s heart raced. Lucy and he bumped against each other, and Dex bumped against the window next to him. He’d always pictured vehicles providing a smoother ride.

  They reached the end of the short pathway. Dex looked at the footpath in the woods wondering how the massive truck would fit.

  “Left?” Bob asked.

  “Yeah.”

  The Hummer turned. It scraped against a couple small trees, but otherwise fit all right.

  Despite his nerves, Dex yawned again.

  “Didn’t you get enough sleep?” Lucy asked.

  Zianna glanced back and arched a brow. “Did either of you?”

  “She did,” Dex said quickly. “I had a harder time falling asleep.”

  Pop! Bang!

  Dex reached for his largest knife and held it out, looking for the source of the noise.

  “That was just the Hummer,” Bob said. “She has a tendency to backfire after we start her up.”

  “It sounded like gunfire.”

  “That’s why they call it backfiring.”

  Dex put his blade back. “I guess.”

  The next couple hours passed slowly. They all made light conversation, and Dex kept an eye out for wanderers. Not one showed up, which surprised him given how loud the vehicle was, even when it wasn’t backfiring.

  His eyelids grew heavy after the conversation quieted. He leaned his head against Lucy and let his eyes shut. Unlike last night, now it was easy to relax with her so close.

  They bumped up and down until his thinking grew fuzzy and slowly images of his family, even his mom, appeared before him. They and everything in the community looked like it had the day he’d left. He ran to them and embraced each one, then they showed him around, excited to see him.

  “Zombies!” Radley’s voice broke through Dex’s dream.

  He sat up, his heart racing. It took him a moment to realize they were in the Hummer. A group of about a dozen wanderers stepped out from the thick trees onto the path, meandering toward the vehicle. Most of them wore white gowns. They were Silverly escapees.

  Bob sped up the truck and roared past the group. Several of them hit the windows, leaving bloody handprints. The Hummer left them in the dust.

  Dex’s heart rate returned to normal, though those wouldn’t be the last monsters they came across.

  “We still goin’ in the right direction?” Bob asked.

  Dex studied the terrain. He’d been there several months before. “Yeah.”

  “We’re coming up on a fork in the road. Which way do we go? One way leads to a small town with a windmill and the other goes deeper into the woods.”

  “The woods.” Dex had never seen a windmill outside of storybooks and he’d tended to stay in the forests as much as possible while traveling. He’d only come out to look for the metropolis of his dreams. The only towns he’d seen were small ones, usually overrun by either wanderers or violent people.

  A few minutes later, they came to the fork and Bob turned left. The path was even narrower than before and far bumpier. He tightened his arm around Lucy’s shoulders, trying to keep from falling against her.

  The rugged road seemed to go on forever. In fact, it grew light out and then dark again before they reached a bigger path. Both Radley and Zianna had driven for a while, and now Bob was the driver again.

  He turned back to Dex. “Does this look familiar? We—”

  A wanderer smashed into the side of the Hummer.

  Lucy clung to Dex.

  “It’s okay,” he assured her.

  Another creature stumbled out. It wore a bloody suit and tie, and its flesh barely hung onto its face. The thing moved its jaw up and down and walked toward the truck, reaching out.

  Bob pressed harder on the gas. All of their heads flung backward as the Hummer raced toward the monster. It struck, and the thing exploded, leaving red and yellow streaks all over the front of the vehicle and on the windshield.

  “One point,” Bob mumbled.

  “Point?” Dex asked.

  Radley rolled her eyes. “The guys have a point system for taking out zombies with the Hummer.”

  “Why?” Lucy asked.

  “It’s all a game.”

  “And I’m the king,” Bob bragged. “I was already fifty-two points ahead of Ian. Now it’s fifty-three. You’re all my witnesses.”

  “We’ve got your back.” Zianna’s flat tone told Dex that she couldn’t have cared less about the game.

  “Here come more points.” Lucy pointed to the window on Dex’s side.

  He glanced over. A mob of rabid wanderers headed straight for the vehicle. There had to be more than fifty of them.

  Bob released a string of profanities and hit the gas again. Dex’s head hit the back of the seat behind him, but then he shot forward and smashed his nose into Zianna’s seat in front of him.

  He turned to Lucy. “Are you okay?”

  She rubbed her cheek. “Yeah.”

  Dex pulled Lucy closer.

  Bob punched the gas. They lurched forward, and the Hummer shook and bumped far worse than before.

  Dex flew against the window and hit his head on it.

  Thump! Thump!

  Yellow and gray hands with loose and rotting flesh pounded on the windows.

  Chapter 39

  Hands thundered along each of the windows all around the vehicle. Faces pressed against them, too. White foam and blood smeared around the glass. A pair of yellow eyes stared at Dex from only inches away.

  “Go, Bob!” Radley yelled.

  “Not gonna do much good!” Bob gestured toward the twenty or so wanderers climbing on the hood.

  “Do something.”

  Bob gripped the steering wheel. “Get your weapons ready.”

  “What’s the plan?” Dex demanded. “Has this happened before?”

  “Plenty of times. Just not this many at once.”

  “That’s comforting.” Dex stared at the many hands. “What do we do?”

  “Whatever we can.” Bob punched the gas. The vehicle barely moved forward.

  Crunch! Crack!

  “Crack open the windows,” Zianna said. “Shoot as many as you can.”

  Dex’s eyes widened as he stared at the mass of hands and faces pressing against the outside of the window, just inches from him. “Can’t you just try to run them over again?”

  “Did you see what happened just now?” Bob yelled. “Open those windows and shoot!”

  Thunk! Thud!

  Dex glanced up at the ceiling. “They can climb?”

  Bob cocked a gun. “The rabid ones aren’t your grandma’s zombies. Shoot them!”

  Lucy clung to Dex, her eyes wide with fear.

  The instinct to protect her trumped everything else. Dex reached down for a ready-to-shoot rifle on the floor and rolled down his window just enough to slide the end through.

  Yellow fingernails poked through the small opening. Snapping and smacking noises echoed all around from the monsters outside. The stench of rotting flesh came inside.

  Dex’s stomach turned.

  The Hummer rocked from side to side as the wanderers not only tried to get inside, but attempted to knock it over.

  One of the women screamed.

  Bang! Bang!

  Bob was already firing his gun.

  Dex pushed his rifle through the crack and used up all the bullets, aiming as best as he could with such a small opening. Several wanderers fell to the ground, but not nearly enough.

  More rabid creatures pushed their way through the bushes. Far more than the ones just killed.

  Dex turned back to Bob. “You’ve got to try to run them over!”

  “It’s no
t going to work. We’re going to have to get out and fight them.”

  “Have you got any better ideas?”

  “Run them over!”

  Lucy leaned across Dex and shoved a revolver through the small opening in the window. She killed five wanderers with five bullets. Gray matter splattered, and the monsters crashed to the ground.

  She and Dex both reloaded and fired more rounds at the creatures. But for every one they took down, two more pushed their way out of the trees.

  And they were trapped inside the vehicle.

  If they opened a door, the monsters would swarm them.

  Crack!

  The windshield. A long, crooked line ran down the middle. Hands continued thundering against the glass. Teeth scratched against it as a couple wanderers tried biting it.

  Snap! Snarl!

  Noises of the wanderers echoed all around them from outside.

  Everything moved and sounded in slow motion. Dex’s breathing grew labored.

  Was this the end? Would the Hummer be the last place he ever saw?

  Lucy pushed against his side as she shoved another gun out the window. She’d only just gotten free of that horrible hospital. He couldn’t let this be the end for her.

  Dex pushed her back away from the door.

  “What?” she exclaimed.

  “Stay here.”

  Everything continued in slow motion.

  He reached for another gun and double-checked that his bow was secure over his shoulder. Then his hand reached for the door handle. It wouldn’t move fast enough.

  “Dex,” Lucy cried.

  “Stay here!” He pulled on the handle and shoved the door open as hard as he could.

  Several wanderers flew backward, crashing into others behind them. Time sped up and seemed to move faster than normal.

  Bloodthirsty creatures reached for him.

  “Dex!” Lucy begged.

  He slammed the door shut to keep her safe inside. The monsters swarmed him. Frothing teeth snapped at him. Ragged, yellow nails twisted toward him. Loose, dripping flesh swung his way. Hollow, empty eyes stared at him.

  Dex would kill as many as he could to save Lucy, or die trying.

  Snap!

  Snarl!

  Growl!

  He started with his bow, not wanting to attract the rest of the monsters yet. The first arrow went into an eyeball. Another shot into a temple.