by Bale, Sarah
I kissed her. “You heard the lady. Let’s go.” To Daisy I said, “Let me know if you need to stop.”
She shooed me away. I started the bike and she rested her head against my chest.
“Let’s go home, Daisy.”
At the I-35 break three more men went their separate way. I could tell Grey was worried about them, but he didn’t try to stop them. Daisy gave directions and we traveled to a small town outside of Ft. Worth. We didn’t run into any more people, only small hordes of zombies.
As the sun began to set we reached Daisy’s home. I cursed under my breath. A massive fence surrounded the ranch and men stood in watchtowers with guns drawn.
“Daisy?”
She was nervous, but got off the bike and walked to the fence.
“Can you tell me if Brad and Rose still live here?”
A man took off his sunglasses. “Daisy? Is that really you?”
Daisy’s face lit up. “Theo! Oh my god. Are my mom and dad here?”
“Yeah. Hold on and we’ll let you in.”
Daisy turned to me, joy radiating from her face.
Throwing her arms around me she said, “I knew they were alive!”
I hugged her back. But I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in my gut. A lot could change in three years - I knew that better than anyone. The gates opened and I held onto Daisy’s hand. But we were in this together. For better or for worse.
1
Daisy
My head throbbed as we made our way down the bumpy road. I didn’t remember much, but Elijah said there was an accident. I didn’t care, though. All that mattered was getting to my parent’s house.
And we were so fucking close.
The sun began to set as we finally reached the ranch. But everything was different - so different that I had to look across the street to make sure the large oak tree with a rope swing still stood. It was there, so this was the right place.
A massive fence surrounded the ranch now and I couldn’t see past the gate. There were several watchtowers along the property line and men guarded them, guns drawn and ready to fire.
“Daisy?”
Elijah looked at the tower with a frown on his face. I didn’t answer him because I already knew what he was thinking.
This was bad.
This wasn’t right.
Was my family even here?
Every thought had already crossed my mind.
Instead, I got off the bike and walked to the gate where a man from the watchtower called out for me to stop. The setting sun bathed the man in light, making it hard to see his face.
I asked, “Can you tell me if Brad and Rose still live here?”
My voice didn’t quiver or give away my unease. And there was no way he could tell that my hands were shaking.
The man took off his sunglasses. “Daisy? Is that really you?”
He moved a little and I could see his face.
“Theo! Oh my god. Are my mom and dad here?”
“Yeah. Hold on and we’ll let you in.”
I turned to Elijah and threw my arms around him.
“I knew they were alive!”
He hugged me back but didn’t say anything. Over his shoulder I saw Grey take Kat by the hand. They looked as tired as I felt.
The gate groaned as it was pulled open by four men. I didn’t know them, but they motioned us forward. When our group was inside Theo was waiting with a smile on his face.
“How in hell did you get here? We all thought you were dead.”
I grinned back. “Still alive.”
He pointed to my head. “Are you sure about that? That’s a pretty nasty gash.”
Elijah put his hand on the small of my back. “We ran into some trouble on the highway a few hours ago.”
Theo looked Elijah up and down. “The highways haven’t been safe in a while. Everyone knows that.”
Tension bounced off both men and it made me laugh nervously. And loudly. Too loud.
“We came from Oklahoma,” I said. “And, to answer your first question, getting here wasn’t easy.”
Theo’s expression softened. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
The gate behind us groaned again as it was closed. Seeing the bars separate me and the open road made me uneasy and I didn’t know why.
Theo noticed and said, “We don’t leave the gates open. The hordes are thick in these parts because of the wildlife.”
That made sense and it was reassuring that there was still game in the area.
Theo motioned us forward. “I’m sure you’ll want to clean up before going to the main house. You can wash up over here and I’ll radio them, letting them know you’re coming.”
Growing up, my mom had always had a rule about cleaning up before meals. It was nice to see that they still followed that rule even in the apocalypse. Theo led us toward a water trough and pointed to some towels before giving us some privacy.
Grey reached the wooden trough first and ducked his whole head into the water. When he pulled his head out, he shook it, sending water droplets flying everywhere. Kat giggled and did the same thing. They were certainly a match made in heaven. I laughed as the rest of our group followed suit. Soon there were ten sopping wet men splashing each other and have a good time.
Elijah and I took a more traditional approach as we cleaned up. I grabbed two towels and handed one to him.
Elijah asked in a low tone, “Does anything seem out of place?”
I looked around. “It’s hard to say. The house is a good distance from here.”
It was true. The buildings lining the fence hadn’t been here before, but I could understand the need for them now. There was no telling what the main house looked like now, though part of me foolishly hoped it had remained the same.
“That’s not what I mean. I mean, are you getting any weird vibes from anyone? Like the guy who let us in?”
“Theo? No, he seems like himself.” I hedged. “An older, harder version of himself. But still Theo.”
“Have you known him long?”
Something in his tone made me look up.
“Are you asking because you think something’s up or because you’re jealous?”
His eyes narrowed and I wanted to kiss the look right off his face.
“Does it matter?”
I sighed, knowing not to poke fun at him. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. His dad worked for mine on the ranch.”
Elijah made a sound in the back of his throat, but didn’t press the issue any further. So, he was jealous. A warm feeling spread across my stomach and I hid a smile.
Grey came over to us and said, “I’m hungry. I hope that boy hurries this along.”
Elijah asked, “What do you mean?”
“He hasn’t radioed anyone. He’s been standing over there watching us this whole time.”
Elijah glanced over his shoulder and then said, “How are you feeling about everything so far?”
It irked me that my word wasn’t good enough.
Grey shrugged. “Reckon if they were going to kill us they wouldn’t have let us in, so that’s a good start. The verdict is still out.”
I hated that they didn’t trust Theo, but after everything we’d been through I couldn’t blame them. We’d learned the hard way back in Oklahoma that people weren’t always what they appeared to be.
I said, “If it’ll make you feel better I can go over and talk to him.”
Both men stared at me, telling me without words that they didn’t think it was a good idea. Kat met my gaze and shrugged, letting me know this one was on me. Tossing my towel to the ground, I walked over to Theo.
“We’re all cleaned up. Are they ready for us at the house?”
Theo inhaled so fast that it made a whistling sound. I tried to keep my expression neutral as I glanced around. What I’d told Elijah was true – I’d known Theo for a long time. We were like siblings. Which was how I recognized his quick intake of breath as a bad sign. He was either
lying to me or scared. Or both.
“Theo?”
He said in a low tone, “Daisy, you shouldn’t be here. Things aren’t like they used to be.”
“I just need to see my parents. That’s why I’m here.”
He replied, “You’d be better off leaving. No one knows you’re even alive.”
I shook my head. “No. We came all this way. I can’t just leave.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He turned his back to me and unclipped the two-way radio hanging from his belt. “Main House, be advised that we have visitors. Party of fourteen.”
The radio made a static sound before a female, who I didn’t recognize, said, “Copy that. Are you sending them on?”
“Negative. One member of the party used to live here. Please let Rose know that Daisy is here.”
“Copy that.”
Theo clipped the radio back onto his belt. “Let’s go.”
I followed him and Elijah fell in step next to me.
Theo said, “They can’t go. Only you. House rules.”
I glanced at Elijah and then asked Theo, “Why can’t they come with me?”
“You’ll see when you get there.”
Elijah looked down at me, shaking his head.
I asked, “Can we have a minute?”
Theo nodded and I turned to Elijah.
“Something’s up, Daisy. Can’t you feel it? His entire demeanor is different. There’s no way in hell that I’m going to let you go up there, alone. Got it?”
“I need to see my parents. And if this is the only way then so be it. Besides, Grey was right – if they were going to kill us they would’ve already done it.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” He ran his fingers through his dark hair. “Daisy, I almost lost you today when the motorcycle crashed. Don’t ask me to let you out of my sight and be where I can’t protect you.”
I held his hands in mine. “I understand that. I do.”
His eyes narrowed. “But?”
“But we don’t have anywhere else to go. We have to try here.” I sighed. “And I’m sure when my mom sees me she’ll have them send you and the others up to the main house.”
“And if she doesn’t? What if she says only you can stay?”
I’d never considered this as a possibility. And it made me cringe. Would my parents really do that?
“If it comes to that, then we’ll head out and find a new home somewhere else. We’re in this together, Sir.”
His lips twitched and he nodded. “Fine. I don’t like it, but we’ll see what they have to say.”
I hugged him, allowing myself to feel safe in his arms for a moment. Until Theo cleared his throat.
“I’ll hurry.”
Elijah gave me another squeeze before letting me go. I followed Theo up the gravel road that led to the house I was raised in. There were several new buildings along the road and faces I didn’t recognize.
“Is your dad still around, Theo?”
He inhaled deeply again and said, “He didn’t make it.”
“I’m so sorry. What about your brothers?”
“Tommy left after the outbreak began. I can only assume he’s dead. And Ted – he didn’t make it either. Couldn’t grasp how things were different.”
“What do you mean?”
He glanced at me. “Couldn’t bring himself to kill the biters. Trusted the wrong people. I’m sure you’ve encountered similar stories.”
His tone was hard and not at all what I expected. Theo and Ted were as thick as thieves growing up. The way he spoke of his brother was… off-putting. I was about to ask more, but the house came into view, stopping me in my tracks.
“Oh! It’s exactly the same! I can’t believe it.”
Nothing, and I mean nothing, had changed in the last three years. The house stood tall and welcoming, still painted white with yellow shutters. The flowerbeds that lined the pathway to the house still bloomed.
“I can’t believe Mom still takes care of the flowers.”
Theo nodded. “I think she needed to hold on to something from the past.”
We walked up the pathway made of old seashells. My dad had them brought in when I was nine. Mom thought they were silly, but Dad was always a dreamer and said they reminded him of our vacation that year. Ahead, a man stood at the front door with a shotgun in hand. The warm feeling began to vanish. Why was there an armed man?
He spit on the ground and asked, “Has she been searched?”
Theo shook his head. “Not yet.”
“You’re slacking on the job, man.”
Theo turned to me. “Do you mind?”
“Go ahead.”
He patted me down and found the pistol tucked in my back pocket as well as my knife.
“There’s no bullets in the pistol, if that makes a difference.”
He checked and kept both weapons, putting the knife in his belt.
“You’ll get it back when we leave the house.” To the other man he said, “We’re ready.”
The man opened the door and whistled three times. Theo walked in first and I followed. My stomach curdled and it was strange. This was my house – or used to be – so why was I so nervous?
The living room looked the same. There were candles lit to give the room light. But instead of pine-sol, gunpowder filled the air. A big, burly man sat on the floral print loveseat as he cleaned his shotgun, which was the source of the smell. It was an odd sight. He didn’t even look up as we passed. Overhead, the floorboards creaked as people walked. Someone coughed and someone else laughed loudly. All voices sounded male. Unease crept up my chest making me feel jittery.
Theo led me through the large kitchen – my mother’s favorite room in the house. I expected to see her at the table or standing at the stove. But a short man with glasses stood at the stove stirring a large pot.
“Just in time for dinner, I see,” he said with a grin to Theo.
Theo motioned to me. “Not yet. Save me a bowl. It smells great, Coop.”
The man smiled at me. “I can save her a bowl, too.”
“Thank you,” I said, stomach growling.
Theo’s mouth tightened into a thin line, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he walked through the kitchen to the large family room. Growing up, this room was my favorite. It was large and spacious with a view of the land behind the house. I used to look out the windows and let my mom know when my dad was finishing up in the fields for the day. It was warm and inviting and usually smelled like fresh baked cookies.
But not now.
Everything familiar in the room was gone, including the large family portrait that hung over the fireplace. I began to panic. What had happened here that my parents got rid of that photo? Where the furniture used to be now housed tables and shelves filled with weapons and ammunition.
Had this been my dad’s idea or someone else?
Theo pointed to a chair sitting against the wall.
“You can wait there. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I walked to the wooden chair and sat, folding my hands in my lap. I was so fucking nervous that I was shaking. Why hadn’t I protested when Theo said Elijah couldn’t come with me? I sure as hell wouldn’t be feeling like this with him at my side.
Theo cleared his throat and I realized he was back.
And then my mom stepped around him and nothing else mattered. I was home. I had made it.
“Mom!”
2
Theo said, “I’ll give you two a minute.” To my mom he said, “We’re in next room.”
She paled and nodded. He left and then it was just the two of us. She stared at me with one hand over her mouth and the other hand over her heart. Her once blonde hair was now a snowy white and she looked so much older than she was. But I guess time could do that to a person, or so I tried to tell myself.
“Mom?”
“Daisy? Is that really you?”
I nodded, but didn’t move. I felt frozen to the flo
or.
“We- we heard you were dead.”
She sounded like she was in shock.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m here and I’m fine. Where’s Dad?”
Her face scrunched up like she was in pain.
“Mom?”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to talk about it.”
“Talk about it? What do you mean? What happened?”
The French doors to my dad’s study opened. I gasped and took a step back.
“Well, well, well. Look what the dog drug in. Theo said you were here, but I didn’t believe him. Guess I’ll have to reward him for being right for once.”
There, in front of me, was my cousin, who I had watched die. Like, literally. Three men stood behind her. They were so big and burly that they reminded me of professional bodyguards. None of them looked pleased to see me.
“Lilly?”
Her face was so similar to mine that we’d been mistaken for sisters before. But now the blue eyes that stared back at me were hard and unforgiving. Her jaw was clenched and there was a scar from her left eyebrow that crossed over her nose and ended by her lips. Her hair was a short, jagged bob, like she cut it off herself.
Most of all she looked like she wanted to murder me right where I was standing. And, if the guns strapped on her belt were any indication, she could and just might.
“Lilly?” I tried again, cold sweat running down my back.
Her gaze moved from me to my mom.
“Leave us. You know you didn’t have permission to be in here.”
My mother scurried from the room, reminding me of a scared child. I wanted to call after her, but something on Lilly’s face warned me against it. Or maybe she was hoping I would – which was equally as frightening.
“Where is my dad?”
Lilly’s lips lifted in a slight smile and her hand settled on her arsenal at her hip. “You’re not privy to that information. Not when there are other things you should be answering.”
Her tone rubbed me the wrong way, but I was smart enough to know that something wasn’t right here. Especially now that the three guards had their hands on their guns.
I swallowed, hoping my nerves didn’t show. “Such as?”
