Zombie Attack! Army of the Dead (Book 3) (6 page)

“Come on, sweetie,” I urged her. “Let's leave before they figure out we're gone and send more people.”

Felicity came back and took my hand. We hurried to catch up with Moto and the others, keeping a grueling pace after that as we cut across the wild forest. Eventually, we came to another clearing and found two large horses tied up waiting for us.

“We ride from here,” Moto said. “We should be out of harms way before the sun comes up.”

I made Felicity ride with Moto, while Sam and I rode with Apache. The cold air burned in my lungs as we swiftly traveled across a shadow-blurred landscape, weaving in and out of riverbeds and up through unseen trails, at times seeming to cut back entirely on our own path. As the first rays of sunlight came up, we rode over a ridge and descended into a manicured patch of lemon trees before cutting up a nearby hill and descending into untamed forest anew. Around ten minutes into the forest, we were lost in a thicket so dark it obscured the rising sun. We came to a clearing walled in by a steep mountain with a jagged face. Moto slowed as he rode into the brilliant sunshine, and then got off his horse. He was helping Felicity dismount as Apache brought us out into the warm daylight in a small stretch of wild grass and berries. He stayed on the horse as I climbed down, helping Sam back onto solid ground. There was nothing in sight that looked remotely manmade in any direction, and I couldn't help but wonder what we were doing there.

“Why are we stopping?” I asked.

“We're here,” Apache informed me, smiling again and patting his horse.

“I don't understand,” Felicity said. “Are we going to camp out here and wait for reinforcements? Is that it?”

Apache just laughed, pointing to the cliff wall to the right of us. As I focused, my perception began to shift causing the harsh angles to pull apart like a mirage as it revealed a narrow entrance. Another Indian, one dressed just like Apache, came out and waved at us before disappearing back into the mountain, never saying a word. Apache climbed down at last, and walked his horse through it.
 

“Go on,” Moto smiled. “It's safe.”

Sam wasted no time chasing Apache through the hidden access. Felicity and I held hands again and made our way into the dark mouth of the cave, the sound of running water echoing off the dark mossy walls around us. There was a small light up ahead and we instinctively followed that. The light grew as we approached, revealing a bustling village tucked away on the other side as we exited the damp cave. There were dozens of smiling faces going about their busywork as we walked out among them. Only a small child who had been playing with a toy bow and arrow gave us a second look, stopping to smile and wave as we passed him. Felicity smiled and waved back.

“What is this place?”

“This,” Apache spoke at last, spreading his arms out to indicate the village now swarming with life around us, “is Xanadu.”

 
“Wow,” Sam exhaled, his eyes big with wonder.

“You said it, Sam,” I added with a smile.

“Come follow me,” Apache said. “We need to talk about what happens next, and I could use a poultice for my swollen eye.”

“I still can't believe you let someone sneak up on you,” Moto teased. “You must be getting old or something.”

Moto grinned as Apache shook his head, turned and walked to a big tree house, tying up his horse before making his way up a series of rope and wood stairs to the entrance above.
 

“It's like a dream,” Felicity sighed as she watched him go. “Isn't it?”

“I couldn't have put it better,” I agreed.

CHAPTER FOUR

Apache's tree house was actually just an entrance point to a sprawling network of platforms that ran through the small forest. We hurried to keep up with him, passing a pack of small, squealing children too caught up in a game of tag to give us a second look. Looking up I could see the fresh blue California sky, but it seemed like a dome floating over our heads a million worlds away. We were in a valley surrounded by tall cliffs with no visible entrance or exit in sight, completely insulated from attack by any other means except by air. There was even a waterfall that flowed into a small pool, draining off and returning into the mountain tunnels.

“The trees give us more than enough coverage,” Apache said, not bothering to look back in our direction. “It's a smaller window than it looks over our heads. You have to know where you are supposed to be looking to catch a glimpse, and then the thick canopy usually obscures all traces of us. Outside of the tunnel there is no realistic way in or out.”

“What are you protecting?” Sam asked.

“For starters, there's our village,” Apache said in a happy tone. “This is an uninfected and uncontaminated place in the world with all the resources needed to indefinitely remain that way. As you can see we have a river that runs through the mountain bringing us fresh water to drink, our own crops including fruit trees, and a fair selection of livestock. We've even managed to make our own dairy. That's reason enough to need extra protection in the new world.”

“Because you can make cheese?” Sam asked. Apache laughed lightheartedly.

“I meant all of the rest of the stuff too,” Apache assured him. “Although now that you mention it, there probably are some people who would be willing to risk dying for a bite of nachos.”

“You said the village was just the first thing you were protecting,” I said, feeling my stomach kick into high gear at the mention of delicious snacks. It was no great secret that I'd been missing junk food since Z Day hit. I complained about not being able to hit up 7-11 for Doritos and Funyuns and Snickers bars pretty much all of the time when I was back in Freedom Town. It got so bad I'd even caught my men doing impersonations of me. I actually thought most of them were pretty funny.

“That's right,” Apache said cryptically.

“So what else are you protecting?” I pushed.

“This,” he said, stopping at another platform and spreading his hands. Down below us grew a patch of wild plants with small green leaves and pinkish flowers. Each had several glossy-looking orange bulbs shaped like elongated ovals or little, stretched footballs.

“What are they?” Felicity asked.

“Iboga plants. These plants grow year-round in the rainforests of Africa. We've had no trouble recreating suitable conditions for them to thrive here as well. This swatch of land falls in what was once called the Fertile Crescent before Z Day. We can grow anything here in Xanadu.”

“So those things that look like peppers, you chew them up like fruit? Is that it?” I asked.

“No,” Apache explained. “Although by the looks of them you'd think that's exactly how it works. The real power comes from the roots of the Iboga plant, actually from the bark of the root, which is where the highest concentration of Ibogaine is held. Shamans used to chew on the root bark, then have powerful visions. It's also been used for its anesthetic qualities.”

“What does that mean?” Sam asked.

“It means it makes your skin numb on contact,” Apache patiently explained. “So people sometimes use it in small doses on painful injuries. There is a more recent use for the plant, as I am sure you are aware.”

“It's the key ingredient to the antidote for the zombie virus,” I answered. “Without it they can't synthesize the cure.”

“That is correct,” Apache said with a smile.

“Why do you have so much of it growing here?”

“This is really a small yield compared to what we'd eventually like to grow,” Apache explained. “In the future we hope to be able to provide enough to cure the whole State of California, or at least put those who are suffering out of their misery. I'm sure you've also realized by now that the cure won't work for everyone. Some people are just too far gone, their bodies physically incapable of regenerating or, in some cases, their minds broken beyond repair. For these poor souls the antidote simply seems to lay them to rest, as nature intended. These dead do not rise again, but remain at peace forever more. That's really what my life's work is about at this point, helping ease the suffering of living and undead beings.”

“Where did you get it?” I asked.

“We took it from some very dangerous people who were planning on using it for the wrong reasons,” Apache said. “Come inside and your brother and I will tell you more. We don't want to keep our guest waiting any longer than we have to. She's already upset as it is that we didn't let her join the rescue party, despite my explaining that we needed a strong warrior here to protect the camp in our absence.”

Apache turned and walked into the nearest covered enclosure, ducking under the branch-covered hut at the center of a large knot of trees. Sam chased after him and we followed, eager to hear more.
 

It's bigger inside this hut than I'd have guessed
, I thought,
but still not as big as a normal apartment.
 

Looking around, I saw a small living space with a bed and kitchen. From behind Apache I could see the figure of a woman slinking around, looking bashful. Although her hair was now freshly oiled and braided, and her clothing was now both combat ready and form fitting, it was still easy to recognize her.

Sonya,
I thought, chills racing up my spine at the surprise of seeing her again.
 

There was no mistaking the person who had lured us into the worst trap imaginable, and then abandoned us to a horrific fate at the hands of our enemies.

“What the hell is she doing
here
?” I said, my voice gaining an octave out of frustration.

Moto turned and followed my line of sight, locking eyes with the woman in an intense stare. Then he suddenly sprang forward, as if his feet rested on coils, moving quickly past Apache and making a beeline straight for Sonya, who stood unblinking and unafraid as he approached.
 

He's going to kill her
, I thought.
She did save our lives. I'm not sure she deserves to die, but she definitely deserves to be punished for her crimes.

Guilt pricked at my conscience and rose up in the form of a blush across my cheeks. Despite wanting nothing more than to see her get what she justly deserved, I knew letting my brother take out his anger on a person who had saved my skin just wasn't right.

“Wait!” I called out, nearly unable to believe the words as they came out of my mouth. “Don't hurt her,” I begged.

I turned to Felicity, expecting her to look as dumbfounded at hearing the words as I was at speaking them, but instead found her brows knitted in similar concern. She might have been less than suitable traveling company in many ways, owing mostly to her penchant for abandoning you without warning and leaving you to your enemies, but punishing her would be wrong and we both knew it.

What happened next surprised me more than seeing Tank alive with my own eyes, after leaving him squirming in a pile of biting zombies. Moto reached Sonya, and took her by the shoulder. They stared into each other’s eyes for a hard moment, while Felicity and I trembled with anticipation. Then Moto leaned in and kissed her for a very long time.

“So that's what you meant when you said you wanted us to be like sisters,” Felicity said, unable to hide the shock in her voice.
 

“But John told us that she was working with him,” I protested. “He called her his lady. How do you explain that?”

“No,” Felicity said. “He didn't. I asked him where she was, but I never specifically said Sonya. He must have been talking about someone else.”

“So she was never working for him?”
 

“She was sent to watch over you,” Apache explained. I was embarrassed because in my shock I had totally forgotten how close he was standing to us. He could hear every word we were saying.

“You mean at Freedom Town?”

“That's right,” Apache nodded. “There were some developments happening here at the time that left your brother and me worried about the safety of your family.”

Moto and Sonya walked back to us holding hands. It was the happiest I think I've ever seen my big brother in my entire life. He just looked complete with her by his side, like two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together.

“What kind of developments?” Felicity asked. “I don't understand. I thought the base was safe.”

“It was, until I found the secret lab by accident,” Sonya started.
 

“I'd told her not to come to the base,” Moto said, sounding playfully cross. “But she never was one for listening or following rules.” He kissed her softly on the top of her head, and I saw the color rise up in her cheeks.
 

“Take it easy guys,” Apache said, looking uncomfortable by their open display of public affection. “She's still my little sister, you know.”

“Your sister?!”
 

“It's the age difference that throws people off,” Apache laughed. “My old man was never around when I was growing up. When I got older I found out why. Turns out he had another family on the side. When Sonya found out the truth, she came and found me. We both knew exactly what it felt like to grow up as an only child, how lonely that can be, but what we didn't expect was how finding out we had a sibling out there would change us both.”

“It was like finding out a part of your life had been missing all along,” Sonya added, “but you'd never realized it before. I spent as much time with him as I could after that, mostly in training. I'd been a fighter my whole life. Now I had someone to share that with, someone who encouraged me to channel my aggression in a healthy way instead of trying to crush it out of me.”

“I taught her everything she knows,” Apache bragged, swelling up with pride. “Although, in all fairness, the desire to question authority and think for ourselves seems to be more of a genetic thing than a learned quality.”

“So she's your girlfriend, right?” I asked as I turned to Moto. I felt stupid for asking again, but the shock of this new revelation was still just a little too much for me.

“That's right, Xander,” Sonya said, cutting in. “Yosha and I met the day you were bitten. In a lot of ways you could say that's where this all began. You see, I didn't know that there was a cure for this thing until that day, and even after it was all over, I still had trouble believing you'd actually been infected.”