State of Decay (Omnibus (Parts 1-4)) (18 page)

M
y neck was horribly kinked
and my arm was throbbing with pain when I woke up the next morning on the floor of the toy store. I wiggled my shoulders and rolled onto my back, blinking away the sleep and fuzziness from eyes.

“Thank goodness. I was beginning to think I was going to have to listen to you snore all day.” A pair of brown eyes, slightly blood shot, stared down at me. I reached up to run a hand along Jude’s face. A tiny sob and a tear escaped to roll down my cheek.

“You scared the shit out of me, you know,” I said softly. Jude smiled and then grimaced in pain. He rolled off of his side and back onto his back to get more comfortable. I sat up and placed a palm on his forehead. He didn’t have a fever. I sighed in relief.

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a herd of angry elephants,” he said gruffly. I smiled and ran a hand along his bare chest and around the covered wound there. Blood was beginning to seep through. “I seem to remember you promising me some
action
after we got out of that hell-hole. This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, you know.” He waggled his brows and I laughed.

“There will plenty time for that later, soldier,” I whispered as I gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. Someone cleared their throat. I turned and saw Tex standing just a few feet away.

“We should probably get going. The sooner we get to the base, the better. Everyone’s exhausted and a few people still need some medical attention,” he said. I nodded and got up from the spot next to Jude. The room spun slightly and Tex grabbed my arm to keep me steady. “Whoa there. You do remember that you were shot yesterday, right?” I scowled over at him and he laughed. He sobered quickly and looked at Jude. “You’re going to have your hands full with this one,” he said with a small smile. Jude blinked. I could tell he was a little confused. Heck,
I
was a little confused. “You’ll take good care of her.” I wasn’t sure if it was a statement or a question. The guys were staring at each other, some sort of male communication passing between them, mano-a-mano, that I couldn’t decipher. Jude nodded, barely a movement and Tex returned the gesture. “We’re ready to go when you two are.” And with that, Tex turned on his heel and left.

“What was that all about?” I asked, my mouth still hanging open slightly.

“Nothing for you women-folk to worry your pretty little heads about,” Jude said with a wink and an exaggerated southern drawl. I raised a brow. Really?

“I know you did not just refer to me as
women-folk
,” I said, narrowing my eyes. Jude began laughing and immediately hissed out in pain. I knelt down beside him.

“Have pity on the wounded,” he pled with big, puppy dog eyes. I rolled mine and tried to look angry, but didn’t quite succeed.

“How’s my patient today?” I looked up and found the young medic staring down us.

“I’m ready to take on the undead hordes. Where’s my knife?” Jude said loudly. She smiled. Jude smiled widely at her and I found myself wishing the woman was a little on the ugly side. A soldier came in to help Jude to his feet so we could get to the RV that Tex had secured for us the night before.

When I got outside and made sure Jude was safely in the RV, much to his amusement, I walked over to Tex to see how everything was going. He watched me approach as he finished giving instructions to a Hispanic man who had been riding the tank the day before.

“How’s everything looking?” I asked as I joined him.

“The guys were going to drive the tank to the base, but it is out of ammunition and only has fumes for gas. We can always come back for it later.” He pointed to the tank where three guys were standing as a look out for zombies. “We lost one guy on the supply run last night, a really young guy named Michael.” I frowned at him. I hadn’t known we lost anyone last night. Of course, I’d been out cold until this morning.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. Tex waved away the sentiment.

“So, we have Captain Parsons driving the SUV with six passengers, and I’ll drive the RV with you, Jude, the medic, and four of the others. We should be able to make it back in a little over two hours.” I nodded. Sounded about right.

“Look, I wanted to talk to you,” I said softly. Tex caught my gaze and held it. His eyes searched mine and then he smiled gently.

“There’s nothing to talk about, sweetheart. I understand. There’s no hurt feelings,” he said. I smiled and felt a weight that I hadn’t even know was there lift from my sore shoulders.

“Are we good to go then?” I asked in relief. Tex nodded and mumbled a “we’re good” as he walked away. Something was off with Tex, but I couldn’t place what it was. I guess there would be plenty of time to talk to him about it later … once we were at the base. Captain Parsons let out an ear-splitting whistle and we all jumped into our awaiting vehicles, anxious to be on the move.

Our trek home went without a hitch.

“I
thought you two were
zombie bait for sure.” Before I could respond, I was pulled forward by two dark, muscular arms until I was completely enfolded in Ghost’s embrace. I only flinched a little at the pain in my arm. “Thanks for bringing him back to us alive,” he said gruffly as he pulled back.

“I did my best, but I sure wish I could have brought him back without a bullet wound,” I answered wearily. Ghost lifted my chin with one long finger and made me meet his eyes.

“You can’t control everything, Melody Carter. Jude’s a big boy and he was lucky to have you with him on that suicide mission.” I smiled at him as Jude entered the room.

“I’ve been commanded to go straight to bed,” he said grouchily as he joined us. I laughed and put arm around his waist.

“Well, let’s get you tucked in, shall we?”

“Man. I’d take her up on that offer quick if I were you. A lot of guys would love to hear those words from her lips,” Ghost teased. Jude scowled over at him as I pulled him toward the exit.

“Wait, what did he mean a
lot
of guys?” Jude grumbled. I sighed and threw Ghost a dirty look over my shoulder as we left the room. His laughter followed us all the way down the hallway.

After I tucked Jude into his room, I went to check on how everyone else was doing. A few soldiers were being still being treated for minor wounds, several had already retired to their new rooms, and some were sitting in the small common area chatting amongst their new base-mates. I smiled as I watched the young female medic, Maria, blush while Big Ben flirted outrageously with her. I shook hands with Major Tillman and was just about to head to my own room when Captain Parsons stepped in my path.

“Melody, may I speak with you a moment, please?” he asked. I smiled at him until I caught on to how serious he was.

“Of course, Captain. What can I do for you?” I asked. He smiled at that and I marveled at how much he reminded me of an older version of my dad. I blinked rapidly and turned away from his gaze, not wanting him to see me get all girly and emotional. He cleared his throat.

“You have done so much for me, so much for my men already.” He looked down at his hands and then back up again at me, his gaze sincere. “I hope I can help you some day, to pay you and Jude back for what you did for us.” I was shaking my head the whole time he spoke. As if we would expect anything in return. “But for right now … I have to ask you for a small favor.” That caught my attention. “Not for me … but for one of my men.” He said uneasily. I smiled again and shook my head.

“Captain, spit it out. I’d be
honored
to do anything I can for you or any of your men,” I said gently.

“It’s Tex,” he said, watching my reaction. I hissed in a breath through my teeth and narrowed my eyes.

“What about him?” I asked. I knew something was going on with Tex, I just wasn’t sure what it was. It seemed the Captain had a better clue than I did.

“He’s leaving,” he said flatly. I thought I misheard him.

“Leaving?” I asked as if it didn’t make any sense. Where could he be going? Captain Parsons nodded his head.

“The darn fool has it in his head that he needs to be alone, so he’s planning on heading out into ....” His voice trailed off. I knew what he was getting at. Tex was headed out into a world that we really had no clue about, a world full of misery and death … and he was going to do it all alone. I’d done that for two years and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. He was an idiot and I was going to have to knock some sense into his honky-tonk-
lovin’ ass. I gritted my teeth and glanced over at the door that led topside.

“I’ll take care of it.” I said.

“Thank you,” he answered. I nodded and shook hands with him.

“Now,
please
go get some rest, Sir,” I suggested. He smiled as he walked away to check on the rest of his men. I left to tell the Major I was going to be MIA for a few. He didn’t question what I was doing, he just told me to be careful. I gave him a smart salute and pulled my knife from its sheath. He shook his head and sighed. A few minutes later, I found Tex sitting in an office, staring at a telephone like it might ring at any moment.

“You waiting on a call?” I asked. He smiled wryly, his eyes never leaving the desk phone.

“It’s funny, really. I always hated to hear a phone ring. I despised my cell phone. I’d only gotten one in case Alison needed to reach me. So many people were caught up in their devices, their smart phones, laptops, and such. They tended to forget about
real life
going on all around them.” His voice lowered as he stared at the phone. “I’d give anything to hear a phone ring again. To hear people bustle about, full of life and dreams.” I took a deep breath, hurting a little for him and his pain. “How’d you know I was up here?” he asked a second later. I shrugged and sat down on the edge of the desk.

“What are you doing, Tex?” I asked after a moment. He sighed deeply and raised his eyes to meet mine for the first time.

“I’m doing what I need to do right now.” My mouth flew open and I was ready to rip him a new one when he immediately cut me off. “I can’t be here, Melody. Not right now. I know you think this is the absolute worst thing someone could do with the world the way it is right now,” he said quickly. “And I would agree with you … normally. But, I know what
I
need right now. I know where I’m at, what I’ve dealt with and how much more I can take,” he said vehemently. “I
need
this.” He said, his eyes wide and pleading.

I stood up and walked over to the window and peered out through the blinds. Two zombies were lumbering around the small RV we’d picked up on our way back to the base. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. I
didn’t want him to go. It wasn’t good for anyone to be out there alone with the way things were. But, I couldn’t help but understand where he was coming from and kind of
get
what he was saying. Only Tex knew his mind and heart. Only Tex could make a decision like this for himself. He seemed to be making the decision with a clear head, so who was I to make him feel like crap for it?

“I don’t like it,” I said, as if it made a difference. I turned to face him. He grinned at me and got to his feet.

“I know you don’t, sweetheart. And I know Captain Parsons doesn’t either. But, you’ll both let me go, because you know it’s the right thing to do.” I huffed out a breath and followed him to the door.

“You better not get killed, Tex,” I said angrily. He smiled wider and reached for the door knob.

“I don’t plan on it,” he said with a wink.

“If it gets to be too much out there by yourself ….”

“I’ll pack up and bring my ass right back here,” he finished for me. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall. He turned the knob and cracked the door open.

“Tex, what’s your real name anyway?” I asked as he stepped through the doorway. He didn’t turn or even look back.

“I’ll tell you some other time,” he said softly.

“Promise?” I whispered. A pause.

“Promise,” he murmured as he shut the door behind him.

I stood there, leaning up against the wall, for quite a while after I heard the RV start up and leave the area. I thought about all I’d been through since
that first day that the airplane fell from the sky to land in our neighborhood. I thought about all the time I spent alone in the woods, fending for myself and just trying to survive day by day. I thought of all the things that had happened to me over the last several days … meeting other survivors, meeting Jude, almost dying a couple of times, meeting Tex, getting shot by my psycho ex-best friend, and then having to kill her.

I thought of all that … all the horrible things and all the good things and I couldn’t help but to have …
hope
. Hope that tomorrow would be a better day. Hope that the world could bounce back from the horrible, gaping wound it had suffered.

And hope that humanity would be able to find its way back from all the darkness, pain, and loss.