“Oh, lord. What now?” I sighed, increasing our speed down the darkening stairs.

  Chapter 24

  Once on the ground floor, Patti ran up to us and warned us not to ask about the Remington or our spare ammo we left in the Jeep and don’t ask her why right now.

  David ordered men to bring in the supplies, my supplies, from the back of the Jeep. Cheyenne spat fire as Tex tried to calm her down. Armed goons stared us down, daring us to stop them. When I asked David what they were doing, he explained the community needed some of our supplies. Odd, how the “community” seemed to be just the people above the second floor such as David and his mob but no one below.

  He explained to everyone in listening range that since we were going on a supply run early in the morning, we needed more room in the Jeep. In the meantime, our gear would be shared from the top down so that our guardians, i.e., the people assisting David, would have more rest and comfort.

  Too tired and in pain to argue, I told Cheyenne to let it go since they were letting us keep my sleeping bag, the air mattress, our clothes, ours and Tex’s medical supplies, and my writing gear. The rest disappeared up the staircase to our dear, helpful, glorious leader’s roost.

  Many of the survivors argued for us, demanded our possessions back, apologized for our treatment. David could care less but he seemed to take notice of those who argued the longest and loudest for his own future reference.

  We made our nest in a corner of the infirmary. Once everything calmed down and David’s mob went on about their business, Randy, Demetri, Julie, Tex, Janessa, a seething Cheyenne, and, too-happy-for-the-situation Patti gathered together.

  “What are you so happy about?” I asked Patti.

  Cheyenne agreed, “Yeah, why did you tell us not to mention the Remington and our ammo?”

  Demetri and Patti grinned at each other and then Demetri explained.

  “Patti told me while everyone was upstairs to make several trips to the Jeep to get medical supplies.” He crouched lower, “She told me about your spare rifle and the ammo. I carried it in piece by piece and we hid it under the table over there.” He pointed at the table with the sorted medical gear.

  “The rifle was the hardest to bring in,” Patti added, “He told two of David’s people it was my dad’s spare crutch and wrapped it in the tarp we have on the floor.”

  Tex winked, “I caught on quick and started complaining about sitting in my wheelchair all the time. They ignored Demetri and paid attention to me.”

  “You have shells for the Winchester and the shotguns?” I asked.

  Demetri smiled, “Oh yeah. I brought all of it in. I put empty shell boxes in each of those big metal ammo boxes so David and his men would think you were out of ammo if they looked. Once everyone goes to sleep we can start reloading.”

  Julie kissed Demetri on the cheek, “You little ninja, you.”

  “Good job you three,” Randy declared, but his eyes flashed toward Patti who blushed slightly. “Smart, quick, thinking.”

  “We’ll take the two shotguns, the Winchester, and my Colt tomorrow. They don’t know we were out of ammo for the shotguns, do they?” I asked.

  Everyone shrugged, no one told anyone else they were currently empty so that gave us a slight advantage, we would have to load them covertly.

  A messenger came around and told us to be quiet and keep the noise and light to a minimum. A group of zombies, we knew them as slow-moving Roamers, were near and wandering down the cleared road beside the hotel. Also, food distribution was beginning if we wanted our share for the evening.

  After we ate, settled quietly for the night, and huddled together in the dark, Cheyenne crawled onto the air bed with me, the sleeping bag unzipped and flattened to share beneath us. At first, we were going to give the mattress to Patti and Tex, but Tex absolutely refused. He said we needed to sleep as comfortably as we could so we would be fresh tomorrow. Janessa asked if she could sleep beside us like last night, she said it would help her sleep. We had no problem with it. She was our little sister now.

  Tex made a pillow of towels and fell asleep immediately. Patti and Randy sat and whispered for a while. Julie, ever hyper, did yoga stretching exercises to relax if such a thing was possible. Demetri wandered around the ground floor and told stories to the orphaned kids Lori looked after.

  Once everyone was finally asleep, I stared at the ceiling. Janessa, curled beside Cheyenne and me, softly snored in unison with Tex to her left.

  “Why aren’t you sleeping?” Cheyenne whispered from my chest, my arm draped protectively over her shoulders.

  “Why aren’t you?”

  “Thinking about ways to blow David’s head off.”

  I grinned, “Yeah, same here.”

  Moonlight shown in the multiple open windows casting shadows around the room. The heat wasn’t as bad as during the evening and a gentle wind stirred dirt in its wake.

  “I think we’ll have a problem with David and his people tomorrow,” she whispered, turning her face up toward mine.

  “Yeah, the guns.”

  I felt her nod, “Yeah, the guns. If we give them more, who knows if they’ll let any of the others have them? Right now, they have power. David doesn’t seem the type to give that up. He’s a control freak.”

  She shifted and draped a leg over my wounded one, I hissed, and she pulled her leg away.

  “Sorry. Sorry. Forgot.” She rolled over on her stomach and looked into my eyes, “We really can’t give him more firepower.”

  Her hair shimmered in the moonlight, “We’ll think of something. Go to sleep now. We need the rest.”

  She watched me for a moment then moved higher and our lips brushed.

  Our passion this time was more reserved, a moment later, we separated.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  I grinned, “Hey, kissing is free, take advantage of it.”

  She kissed me lightly, “Not for that. For being…” she sighed, “just for being the type of person you are. I know I’ve said it before but…thank you.”

  “Only type I can be.” I kissed her back, “Now go on to sleep. Listen to Janessa’s snores, they’ll put you right out.”

  She chuckled, “Right, sure they will.”

  “One day I’m going to write about all this,” I smiled.

  “Yeah, and you’ll be famous.” She caressed my cheek, “I’ll know a famous author.”

  “It’ll be a bestseller.”

  She chuckled, “And all the thousands of us who aren’t changed will read it as a guide on how to survive a monster take over.”

  “Thousands? Wow, not much optimism there.”

  She shrugged, “I’m becoming a realist. Time to sleep. We need it.”

  “I’ll try not to talk in my sleep.”

  She snuggled against me, “No, don’t. I like what you say.”

  I frowned, “What do I say?”

  “Shh. Need sleep. Go sleep. No talk. Shh.”

  I drifted off listening to her breathe.

  ***

  Randy shook me awake.

  It was still dark and he held a finger to his lips.

  Looking around, everyone was piled nearby. The air bed lay lengthwise and Janessa had curled into a fetal position facing away from me. Cheyenne lay on her belly, her bottom half off the mattress. Julie guarded over us with the Winchester and waved at me in the darkness, her nose ring reflecting what little light there was, as Randy motioned for me to get up and follow him.

  Tex, Patti, and Demetri lay side by side fast asleep. Randy helped me to my feet and I followed him toward the staircase and up the stairs to the roof. My leg wasn’t throbbing as much and I hoped whatever he was taking me to was important or I was going to be one grumpy limping dude.

  Six people waited on the roof. Each faced a different direction except for two who stood together. Both used binoculars looking out into the surrounding area. One in a flowered dress made me realize it was Sheila. We headed for them.

  She turned as we approached, “Hey. They’re still there,” she whispered.

  Randy nodded and took the binoculars from her.

  “What’s going on?” I whispered.

  “We’ve got monsters on every side of us,” Randy replied scanning the area, “The lookouts noticed as the sun set they were congregating together in groups. Nearly a hundred apiece. They’ve been helping each other out of homes and businesses, those join with them. They’re far apart but still too close for comfort. It’s making me nervous how large the groups are getting.”

  “You’re not the only one,” Sheila added.

  “Take a look,” he handed me the binoculars.

  It took a second but the moonlight reflected off the massed collections of Changed purpled-spotted flesh.

  Holy crap.

  Their skin was slightly reflective in the clear sky and bright moonlight. Hundreds was accurate. The creatures huddled together. Bald, nude, several quilled manes of Dog Boys, small ones, large ones, enlarged Volcanoes, pressed together and sedate. They lay on the ground sleeping or leaning against each other. I searched the area around the grouping, multiple locations around the city lights reflected out of houses and businesses. Left on from the day or the previous night. The airport in the distance lit the night like a lighted mausoleum.

  “No Tanks?” I asked.

  “We saw three before the sun went down,” Sheila said. “We lost sight of them when they went beneath some trees or behind buildings. We know they’re there, but they don’t seem to be joining any of the groups.”

  I scanned in another direction and another gathering shimmered in the distance, “How many clusters?”

  “Five large, two smaller,” Randy replied.

  “Shit.”

  “Yep.” He answered.

  “Which way is the outfitters?” I moved my line of vision up the cleared Patterson Highway.

  “Keep going, higher and to the right.”

  The green roof and faux log cabin style construction of the back of the outfitters sat serenely in the midst of a shopping area. Moving the binoculars around, I found the bookstore. No clusters of Changed appeared to be near either one.

  One group, however, a large one, blocked our way to both.

  I cursed again.

  “Yep. That’s what I wanted you to see,” Randy whispered.

  “We’ve got to go through that?”

  “Yes. We’ll need some help. Other cars. Cars with power. Room. We’ll have to blow through, shoot our way through, and do a smash and grab. Hightail it back here.”

  “We have to stop at the bookstore. For medical reference material for Janessa.”

  Randy sighed, “Okay. Mow through, smash and grab, run, smash and grab, hightail it back through them. Shoot our way through and get back here.”

  I lowered the binoculars and glanced at the slim black man beside us before speaking.

  “That’s Don.” Don nodded at me. “He’s not a fan of David’s if you want to say something.”

  I measured my words, “Randy, these people can’t stay here. We’ve got, what, fifty? Sixty adults?”

  “More or less,” he confirmed.

  “Half are kids, half of those are under eight. The adults aren’t fighters; some will fight but most won’t. Some are nuts. I’ve seen them. That one woman who hugs that stick like it’s her baby. We’re outnumbered here. We need a safer place.”

  Sheila cleared her throat to interrupt, “He’s right. Those groups are coming closer. Not since the sun went down, but they’ve been gathering all day. I agree we’ve got to get somewhere safer. A wood-covered chain-linked fence isn’t going to stop them if they figure out all of us are in here.”

  Randy stretched, nodding at Sheila, “I know. I know. I was hoping to lead everyone out of here before David’s jerks took over. I’ve been listening. Some don’t trust me now. They just trust David. Others are leaning toward me, and some are still friends. Lots of them are paying attention to what Taylor says to do.”

  I blinked, “Me? Why me?”

  Randy’s smile reflected the moonlight, “Because your friends, and me, trust you. You’re the voice of reason right now.”

  I laughed, “Really? Reason? I have no idea what to do or how to take care of anyone.”

  Randy plopped a big hand on my shoulder, “Taylor. You’ve rescued strangers, putting your life at risk. You’ve fed the survivors. You have a goal. The outfitters. A purpose. Save people and protect your friends.”

  I shook my head, “Anybody would do those things.”

  Randy laughed at me, “No, Taylor, no, they wouldn’t. I can promise you that.”

  Don chuckled behind me, “Nope, they wouldn’t.”

  Sheila smiled, “No. They wouldn’t.”

  People just don’t understand I’m not the leader type! Point-go-there. That’s me!

  Randy dropped his hand, “I have a problem, and so do others, with David leading us obviously. But if they won’t follow me, I have no problem with them following you.”

  I held up both hands and handed Sheila the binoculars back. “Nope, nope, nope. I’m not a leader. Not smart enough, not brave enough. I’m just doing what I have to do.” I counted out my fingers, “Weapons, food, shelter, safety, survive. In that order.” I ran my fingers through my hair, “I’m not a leader. No. I’m a writer. I write mysteries. I sit on my butt and create dramatic stories.” I shrugged, “Some clichéd, some not so much.” I paced for a second, “But I’m not a leader, I’m just trying to survive. I’m just a writer. I self-publish. That’s how big I am. Yeah, it was a popular book, it made cash, it was a best-seller, but I’m not that big a deal. That’s me. That’s who I am.”

  I paced back and forth. I don’t know why this bothered me so much.

  Randy finally stopped me, “Hey. I didn’t say we were going to force you to be the leader. Just that people wouldn’t have a problem with you leading them.”

  “I can’t, it’s not me.” I squirmed.

  Randy draped his arm over my shoulder, “Forget about it then. It was just my opinion. I just wanted you to see what we were going to have to go through on the way to the outfitters and the bookstore since it’s your Jeep. Unless you let Cheyenne drive.”

  I shook my head, “No, she’s much better at shooting.”

  He nodded, “We can agree on that. Come on, I’ll help you back down. You sure you’ll be able to drive with your leg?”

  I nodded, “I will. Some painkillers and some numbing gel will make it hurt less. I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, then, back to bed, still a few hours before the sun comes up and I have to sleep too. Tex is taking over from Julie. I’m making sure all of you, the only other armed people, by the way, are being watched over. Julie says she feels like a den mother. So far, David’s jerks are following his orders and leaving us alone.”

  I smiled, “They wouldn’t want to wake Cheyenne up. I think she’s a coffee person and may be in withdrawals.”

  He scrubbed his forehead, “Man, I know how that feels.”

  We were silent partway down the stairs until I told him how things might go down with David.

  “Randy? You know we’ll probably have to kill David. And his goons too.”

  He grunted but didn’t say anything more.

  Some people were made for killing, some weren’t. Some regretted it but were willing to do what needed to be done.

  I was of the latter group, I didn’t like being self-aware.

  Chapter 25

  “No,” David said, “that’s not going to happen.”

  The morning sun was beginning to light the sky. The omnipresent heat wave already making us aware of its company. With a gentle, barely noticeable breeze, dust swirled into our eyes and mouths as we argued over Janessa going with us on our outdoor outfitters run.

  During our early morning breakfast, some of David’s men made several off-color comments toward her. Janessa’s beauty, her figure, her chest size, each was commenting on. Multiple requests to play doctor were directed at her. Comments that were becoming too frequent for the female survivors.

  David, calm, smiling, self-assured, his hair still damp from a private shower, his clothes still neat and tidier than anyone else’s, slowly shook his head back and forth.

  “Janessa is not allowed to go,” he stated once more.

  Cheyenne’s lip curled, “She’s not a prisoner.”

  David gave her a pleasant smile, “No, of course she’s not. No one is. Anyone can leave at any time.”

  “Then-” I started.

  “Except for her,” he held up a finger to stop me, “She’s our only nurse. A few people know minor first aid, but she knows the most. It wouldn’t be smart to let her go.”

  Cheyenne, Janessa and I exchanged glances; we didn’t want anyone to know Cheyenne was more skilled than Janessa. Janessa straightened and spoke up before we could say anything more.

  “I’m going. I’m going no matter what you say.”

  David smirked, “No. You’re not.” Two of his goons stepped closer behind him.

  Janessa rubbed her bald, dark, lovely head, “No, you don’t understand. I am going.” She actually stepped forward out of mine and Cheyenne’s protective wall. “I’m going because I need to find books. I need to find first aid equipment. Clean clothing for the kids.” She looked up into David’s gaze staring down his nose at her, “I’m also going because if anyone gets hurt, I’ll be there to take care of them. I can keep them from bleeding until they get back here. I’m going.”

  David regarded her, his gaze traveling over Patti, Tex, Julie, Randy, Demetri and the others who were standing behind us to see us off and to give us good wishes having made certain enough gas was in the other vehicles we were preparing to take. Those cars were a red, open-bed Ford pickup, and a blue Lexus.

  “You think so, huh?” David sneered.

  Janessa stood her ground, “I am. Or they’ll not pick up the right books, I’ll not get the medical supplies I need, and one of you,” she looked him directly in the eyes, “or you, will not get the help you need because they didn’t get what I could have picked out.”

 

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