The Dead Hunger Series: Books 1 through 5 (54 page)

She shuddered in my arms and put hers around my neck, squeezing me tight.  I looked up at Dave and saw the pain on his face.  He mouthed the words ‘thank you’ and I nodded.

“I’d like to join you folks,” said Todd, with a southern drawl.  “I’ve got nowhere else to go, and no family keeping me here.”  He hesitated, and I swore a shadow passed behind his eyes.  “At least not anymore.”

“You’re welcome to come along,” said Flex.

“Thanks,” he said.  “Let me know anything I can do to help.  We’re all hungry, but we haven’t had water in two days, since these bastards got here.  So everyone’s dehydrated.  I’m a doctor, had a family practice.  When we get a moment I’ll let you know what I do well and what I can’t do to save my life.”

His words almost made me fall over.  It was only Flex in the room with me and I hadn’t told the others about my pregnancy yet, so I wouldn’t be sharing it with these folks, either. 

“That’s great news, Todd.  A big relief, really,” I said.  “Now will you guys come outside with us?  All the infecteds are dead, we promise.  I’m sure our friends are worrying a bit.”

The radio crackled.  “Gem, you alright?”

“Told you,” I said to the others.  “Yeah, Charlie.  Got five more we’re bringing out.  They’re awake for a change.”

“That’s great, Gem,” said Charlie.  “See you in a minute.  Out.”

I held the young girl’s hands and smiled.  “How old are you, Lisa?”

“Eighteen.  Welcome to fucking adulthood.”

“You got that shit right,” I said.  “Ready to get out of here and get some food and water in you?”

“Oh, yes,” she said.  “But I’d give all that up just to  leave this horrible place.”

“Baby sis, we’re gonna put this behind us,” said Dave.  “We’re gonna be fine.”

She stood up and hugged him tight.  “I don’t blame you,” she whispered.

“I had to do it,” he said.

“I know,” she whispered.  “I love you.”

So the tattooed man was Lisa’s big brother.  Good.  My initial impression was they were very close, and you can’t beat having someone to talk to in this fucked up world.

“Flexy, lead the way.”

*****

We took the side aisle out to avoid the major slippery spots, and the first thing we did was get water for all of our new friends who were awake to drink it.  After introductions all around, including Trina and Taylor, we put them in the mobile lab with Bunsen and the puppies, and she and her kids showed our guests some unconditional affection.  There was nothing like puppy therapy for zombie-stricken hearts and souls. 

A thought hit me as I watched the licks go all around, creating smiles where there had been terror just minutes before: 
Chicken Soup for the Zombie-Shattered Soul
would be a nice addition to the book series, and would no doubt go to number one on the New York Times Bestseller List, if there were a fucking New York Times, but I suppose it would be up to us to write it.

I wasn’t so sure whether what we’d have to say could be considered inspirational; it might just be perceived as angry and perhaps a bit cocky.  But we were angry for good reason and cocky for better reasons, so even if this particular apocalypse wasn’t anybody’s fault, a bit of cocky rage blended with our smooth prose might just help survivors cope.

While our new refugees drank slow sips of water to rehydrate, we carried the other seven survivors inside.  We sat with Lisa and her brother, Dave to find out what happened.  Lisa was a member of the congregation and a regular attendee of the church, and told us what had happened the day the zombies showed up.

There had been twelve others along with the twelve we rescued.  Twenty-four in all.  A 50% loss of life.

Some of them had been hiding out there as long as three months.  Others straggled in as they were able to make their way over.  Between standing watch and sleeping enough to stay alert while they stood watch, they made runs out to grab water from a nearby well, and food from convenience stores, as well as the Denny’s before all the stored food began to rot.

The night everything went to shit, someone had gone outside to relieve themselves and apparently didn’t latch the door properly when they came back inside.

Who it was didn’t matter.  The person was dead and everyone knew it.  They’d liked that person a lot and didn’t  really want to talk about it.

That night as they slept on the forward-most pews with what blankets and padding they had, several zombies penetrated their sanctuary and killed several members where they lay, gassing the rest.  The choice of who made it into the locked office was based solely on who was in the front two rows of pews. 

Dave Gammon couldn’t sleep that night, and heard the intruders before they made their way to the front.  At the first screams of terror and pain, Dave jumped up and looked, seeing more than twenty of the dead walkers.  He’d already become familiar with them on the streets, so knew it was fight or flight, and there were too many for the former.  Seeing as how they blocked the exit to the church, they had only one option, and that’s where Dave intended to hide with his charges.

He yanked his sister Lisa abruptly up and out of her slumber, running down the row, smacking whoever was under the blanket, yelling “Come!  Now!” 

No time for explanations, and just one glance toward the screams eliminated the need.  When they saw what was happening, they followed him without questions.

They had no food in the office, and no water either.  Not even an old box of Saltines.  But they did escape that room with their lives and consciousness.  That was two days ago.

I was heading inside the motor home when Flex took my arm.  “See if you can get Dave to come outside.”

“I know,” I said.  “I like him.  At first I thought he’d be trouble, but he’s awesome.  He’s the one who saved the other four in that room.”

Flex nodded.  “I need to ask him something.  Gem, we can’t hang out here until these people wake up.  They might not come to until tomorrow.”

“You think he’ll know if they’d come with us?”

Flex shrugged.  Hemp walked up to them.

“How are they doing in there?” he asked, indicating to the converted RV.

“Better.  The puppies really helped.  I think Tong took to Lisa like instantly.”

“She can have him,” said Flex.  “It would be good to dole out the responsibility to individual owners.  This owning six dogs shit is overrated.”

“Don’t be surprised if she takes him,” I said. 

“I don’t want to stay here much longer,” Hemp said.  “The behavior of the infecteds in the church has me concerned.  The flanking they were doing is an attack strategy.  Like a wolf pack.  How they communicate, if they do, is beyond me.  Maybe it was coincidence, but I don’t put much faith in that.  I don’t have any answers, but if they can coordinate even a little, I don’t know what to expect from any others that might have come here and left, perhaps with designs on coming back.

“Out hunting?” I asked.

“I don’t know, Gem,” he said.  “But if they are, I want their food supply to be gone when they get back.”

Charlie came out of the mobile lab and slid her arm inside Hemp’s.  “What’s the plan?” she asked.

“I think we’re taking all of them to
New Hampshire with us,” I said.  “Flex thinks we should ask Dave what he thinks.  The guy with the tats and piercings.”

“One sec,” Charlie said.  She bounded up the two metal steps to the motor home and said, “Dave, come here a sec?”

She nodded and came back to where we stood.  Before the door closed Dave pushed through it and closed it behind him.

“Dave,” said Hemp.  “I want to get moving.  As a group we’ve decided we don’t want to leave any of you behind.”

“I can’t speak for them, but I can tell you that nobody here had a plan,” he said.  “From the moment Lisa brought me here I felt like we were biding our time until we died.  Once we were in that office, it felt like the better way to die.”

“So I take it you’re a yes,” said Charlie.

“I’m a fuck yes,” he said.  “So is Lisa.  I’ll warn you; right now we’re going through a little something, but she says she understands and she’ll try to get past it.”

“What’s that?” asked Flex.

Dave sighed, his expression grim.  “I shot her father, who’s not my father.  He was a good guy once, but he’d become one of them, and Lisa watched him kill her mother.”

“Jesus Christ,” I said, remembering my uncle killing my aunt.

“She ran and hid, but he came after her, then me.  So I killed him.  Grabbed a dining chair and beat him with it until his head was pulp and he quit moving.”

“Was Lisa’s mom also your mom?” I asked.

Dave nodded.  “Yeah.  Lisa’s my half-sister.”

“I’m sorry, Dave,” said Flex.  “Your story’s fucked up, but unfortunately not exclusive.  Lots of people have been put in that situation.  You were just braver than some.”

I wondered if he meant me, but discarded that.  It was a guilt thing for leaving my uncle alive to hurt others.  But I hadn’t known much about what was happening then, so I had to put that guilt away.

“So what’s your feeling on the others?” asked Hemp.  “If we kidnap them are they going to be resentful of it?”

Dave looked mad for a brief moment and the look passed.  “They’d better not be,” he said.  “Because if they are, I’ll remind them of the choices they’d have been presented with if they were awake:  Choice one:  Get knocked out and wake up en route to New Hampshire, safe and sound.  Choice two: Get knocked out and never wake up at all, or wake up with something eating you.  If anyone give you any shit, and I don’t anticipate it, I’ll set them straight on that.”

“Okay,” said Hemp.  “Thanks.  The reason we’re going to
New Hampshire is because of the solid granite earth upon which it sits.  I’m hoping it’s an exclusive part of the country where this gas emitting from the earth is minimal.  It might allow a somewhat normal life.  Tell the others, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.  Todd said he’ll be ready when the others awaken.  He can check them out if that’ll help.”

“It will, a lot.  I’ll have him ride with us so he’s there when they wake up.”

“Speaking of that,” said Flex, “Dave, do you know if anyone else has any cars here?  I didn’t see any out front.”

“The preacher does,” he said.  “A little bus.  Like one the special kids ride on.”

“Older or newer?”

“In great shape.  Engine purrs like a kitten, and paint job shines.  I’d say it’s on the newer side.”

“Okay.  You mind driving that with some of the others?  It should be all we need.”

“Sure,” he said.  “I’m pretty sure I can pick up another bike in New Hampshire.  Probably something better than what I got.”

*****

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

We were back on the road.  Hemp, Charlie and the seven sleepers in the motor home, Cynthia and Taylor in the Crown Vic, and us in the Silverado.

According to Hemp, our new guests hadn’t woken up yet.  Flex drove and I stared out the window, both of us occasionally checking the rear view mirror to be sure Dave still had the little bus behind us.  He did. 

We were now third instead of last in the caravan, and Trina snored softly in the back seat as we made our way north and east, toward
Concord, New Hampshire.

I saw the steeple of a church in the distance, and something happened to me.  We hadn’t seen any ghouls for a long time, and sunset was fast approaching.

“Flex,” I said.

“Yeah, babe.”

“When?”

“When what?”  He looked at me.

“When are we getting married?”

Flex looked straight ahead and didn’t hesitate.  “I’ll marry you now, Gemina Cardoza.  Right now.  If there were a preacher here, I’d marry you this second.”

“Tell everyone to pull off at this exit,” I said.

“Babe, what’s going on?”

“I want to marry you.  I want this baby to be born with your last name, and I want to commit myself to you.  So if that little church right over there is empty and clean, I want to marry you tonight.”

Flex pushed the button on his walkie.  “Everyone, off at the next ramp.  Head toward that little green church on the right.”

“Not another church,” came Charlie’s voice.

“If there’s trouble, we keep going,” said Flex.  “But this is a special stop.”

When everyone pulled up in front of the church, which was somewhat overgrown now, but clearly had been meticulously maintained before everyone got eaten or changed their diets, I jumped out and went to the motor home and opened the door.

“There’s going to be a wedding,” I said.  “Oh, yeah.  I’m pregnant.”

“I fucking knew it!” shouted Charlie.

“So did I,” said Hemp, smiling.

“Get anyone who’s awake, lock the rest inside,” I said.

Dave walked up to me as everyone on his bus stepped off to stretch their legs.  “What’s up, Gem?”

I smiled.  I couldn’t help it.  “Flexy and I are tying the knot,” I said.  “Maybe not officially, since the preacher’s still out, but we’re doing it.”

“I’m a notary,” he said.  “In
Florida, notaries can marry people.”

I snapped my fingers.  “That’s right!  Have you performed a ceremony before?”

Dave nodded, smiling.  ‘Yeah, on the beach in Sanibel once.  A friend of mine asked me to do it.  That’s the only reason I got my notary.”

“Okay, start practicing,” I said, giving him a quick hug.  I really misjudged him right off the bat.  It wasn’t like me and I felt bad about it, but only I had to know. 

There was a note on the door of the church stating that Pastor Frank would be out of town for two Sundays and to pray in the solace of your own home until his return. 

I wasn’t sure which Sunday he left, but the fact was he wasn’t holding church on the Sunday the world changed, and that meant it was locked up. 

Hemp popped the front door lock and we went in with full canisters of urushiol oil and guns just to make sure the church was clear.  There wasn’t so much as a dead body – not of a human or a mouse – in that space.  It was clean and abandoned.

When everybody was inside, I went to the front of the church, pulling Flex along with me.  He was smiling, and I could tell he was a little embarrassed.

“I know some of you don’t know me all that well,” I said.  “But I left this man quite a long time ago.  It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life.”

I turned to look at Flex, and my eyes welled up.  I paused a moment, then turned back to all the tired faces.

“But when all this crap went wrong, he was the only person I could think of; the only face I saw when I closed my eyes, even to blink.  So I went looking for him and by a miracle, he was there, at the first place I went looking.  At even greater odds, he was alive and uninfected, and he took me back.”

I turned to look into Flex’s eyes again.  “So,” I said, “Let me announce now that I’m pregnant.  And Hemp, I didn’t know when I asked you about immunity, but I had some idea.”

“I knew that,” Hemp said.

Charlie punched him in the arm.  “Why didn’t you tell me then?”

“I didn’t really know,” said Hemp.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said.  “But Flex asked me to marry him a few days back, and I said yes.  When I saw this church, I got a feeling.  This is the place, and this is the time.  Flexy said it was okay.”

Dave Gammon stood and walked to the front of the church.  “You want formal or just off the top of my head?”

“Top of your head,” Flex and I said in unison.  Then we smiled like idiots at one another.  It was already starting.

“Next we’ll be wearing matching Hawaiian shirts,” he said.

“Shoot me if that ever happens,” I said.

“Wait!” said Hemp.  He stood up and took Charlie’s hands, then knelt down in front of her.

“No,” Charlie whispered.  “Hemp.”

But I saw the tenderness and love in her eyes.  So, apparently, did Hemp, because he didn’t stop.

“Charlie,” he said.  “Since that first day I laid eyes on you, the very beat of my heart changed.  I believe it synced with yours that instant, and when you’re not near me, it skips and jumps.  When you’re in danger, it feels like my spine has been injected with steel rods, I’m so stiff.  At first I didn’t know why.  I’d never felt it before.”

“You loved me,” said Charlie, smiling.  “I rocked your world.”

Hemp’s smile was as goofy as I’d ever seen it.  “That’s right, Charlie!  You did rock my world, and it hasn’t stopped rocking since.  I want you to marry me today, Charlie.  Stand up there with these two whom I know we both love like family.  Let’s make this a double wedding, Charlie.  Make my life.”

“Yes,” said Charlie.  “Oh, fuck.  Charlie Chatsworth!”

Everyone laughed.  “They can call you Charlie or Mrs. Chatsworth, baby.”

Charlie fell out of her chair and into Hemp’s arms.  She kissed his neck and he stood up and carried her to the front of the church.

“You guys ready now?” he asked.

Hemp looked at Charlie, then at me and Flex.

“Hells yes,” I said.  “Let’s do this.”  I looked at Flex once more.  “Hope you’ve gotten your vows figured out.  I do.”

“Shit,” said Flex.  “I’ll think of something.”

I was dressed in suede capris pants and a mid-sleeve top with almost a bare midriff.  Flex wore a khaki button down long-sleeved shirt rolled halfway up his arms, with faded jeans.  

In these clothes, we’d more suitably get married in a biker bar than a church, but it was what it was, and fuck it if we weren’t getting married right then, along with our best friends in the whole world, Charlie and Hemp.

Turns out a paper in the church said we were now in
Meadowview, West Virginia.

Dave stood in front as the two couples, me and Flex included, stood facing him. 

“We are gathered here today among friends and strangers, but good people, all.  The world has changed from the one we once knew, but with the bonds of marriage we are about to create, let it be the first step toward returning this society into a civilized one where love is not something to be reminisced about, but rather celebrated each and every day and witnessed by all of us.  Let love be a beacon, a light in the distance that we can all strive to reach.  For as we know, love has the power to complete us and bring us true happiness in our hearts.”

“Very nice,” I said to him, winking.

“I’m improvising,” he whispered.

Flex nudged my ribcage.

Charlie laughed.

“We shall first join this man, Flex –”

“Sheridan,” whispered Flex.

“Sheridan, and this woman, Gemina Cardoza, in holy matrimony.  To spend the rest of their days sharing life’s experiences, both good and bad, protecting one another, and leading each other down the many paths of life, making corrections when they take missteps, but always supporting the other through the inevitable difficulties of life.  Flex, please share your vows with Gem.”

Flex turned toward me and took my hands in his.

“Gem,” he said, his eyes fixed on mine.  “Time was meaningless before you came into my life.  There was no heart inside me until you came and handed it to me.   Everything I did before I held you in my arms meant nothing, and I didn’t even realize it.  And this might sound funny, but even food tastes better with you in my life, and that says a lot – because the food we have now sucks ass, Gem.  You make it sweeter, if that’s even possible.  You’ve heard of the opening to that book by Dickens, ‘A Tale of Two Cities?’  It began:  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

He squeezed my hands in his, and I fought my tears.

“Gem, I know what that means now.  I finally get it.  While they’re completely different, the times are the same, Gem, because while that world out there is fucked up beyond belief, I’ve never been happier.  I never want to be without that again.  I never want to be without you again.”

And now I was crying.  I blinked away my tears as best I could, and looked into his eyes.

Trina was in the front pew smiling at me and I waved her over.  She jumped up and ran to me, taking my hand.

“No, not there.  Up here.”

I leaned down and pulled her up into my arms, trying not to bump my awkwardly gauze-wrapped thumb, which thankfully, only throbbed a little.

I kissed her on her sweet lips, and looked back at my Flexy.

“Flex
Sheridan,” I said.  “I have been in love with you since probably a week after I met you.”

“It took a whole week?” he asked, smiling.

“At least,” I said.  “But as my love for you became undeniable, I got scared.  I thought I was making a mistake.”

I looked at Trina, who’s little brows had furrowed.  “Gemmy left him.  I got scared.”

I turned back to Flex.  “You see, I didn’t really know you.  Or I thought I didn’t.  I expected I was doing what I’d always done to that point in my life; jumping in without thinking.  But that’s not what it was, Flex, because when all this happened, and you were the only person I could think of in this entire world, I set out to find you, and I did.  You opened your arms to me, and here’s the best part of all.”

I put my cheek to Trina’s and hugged her tight, then let her down to stand beside me.  I took Flex’s hands in mine again.

“When I saw the strength and love you have in your heart for this little child, and when I saw how you did everything in your power for your family, I knew who you really were.  I knew that my heart had been right on about you the first time.  It was nothing but my own insecurities that sent me away.  Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s final this time, mister, because I love you with everything inside of me.  This beautiful girl standing beside me is going to have a little brother or sister, and the four of us will face the world together with the assurance that the power of a love like ours will see us through.”

Flex looked at me, the tears streaming from his eyes, too.  “You didn’t say fuck once,” he said.

Everyone laughed. 

“Get the fuck on with it,” I told Dave.

“Do you, Flex Sheridan, take this woman, Gemina Cardoza, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I absolutely do,” said Flex, smiling.

“Do you, Gemina Cardoza, take this man, Flex Sheridan, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“Fuck yes, I do.”

“Fuck yes!” shouted Trina.

Everyone guffawed this time.

“Okay, then,” said Dave.  “By the power vested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife.  You may kiss the bride.”

We made out for a good five minutes before realizing there was still another ceremony to be performed.  We stood aside.

“Okay, Charlie?  Hemp?  You ready?”

“Ready, yes,” said Hemp.  “Prepared, not at all.”

“Wing it, babe,” said Charlie.  “At least I’m wearing my Sex Pistols shirt, even if you don’t let me listen to it on the road.”

“We’re going to make this simple,” said Hemp.  He turned and took Charlie’s hands in his, dangling down below their waists.

“Charlie, you’re the most amazing girl I’ve ever met and if I were to pass up this moment to make you my wife, I’d never forgive myself.  That’s because I knew the instant I saw you I wanted to marry you.  Then I touched you, smelled you.  There was no question.  There is no question.  If there was ever a woman for this man, she is standing right now in front of me.  I love you.  Okay, now you.”

“Oh, really?” she said, smiling.  And yes, she had streaks of tears, too.  “Hemp, and I love the nickname, by the way, I didn’t know what to think of you when I first met you.  I knew you were good looking, and I assumed you were smart from what Flex and Gem said about you.  But I didn’t know you’d have such a big heart and such a capacity for love as you do.  I’m happy to be the recipient of that love because what I’ve discovered since meeting you, and realized more and more every day, is that I can’t stand being apart from you for even a minute.  When I’m not with you, I think of you.  When you’re quiet, I wonder what you’re thinking.  When you sleep, I wonder what you’re dreaming.”