Chapter 25
Achill clung to the morning air. Clouds passed overhead, gray in hue, threatening to downpour later. Nick and Kate crept through urban areas until they entered a portion of the forest, which offered them the relief of natural seclusion.
A distant laugh made them pause. The pair waited until the chuckle sounded again, allowing them to pinpoint the creature’s direction. They approached with caution in fear of a horde.
Ahead, a slow-moving male body dragged one leg along a forest floor littered with dead leaves and dirt. As Nick and Kate closed in, the monster slowed its dragging gait. It lifted its head and sniffed at the air before letting out a choked laugh.
Then, the Infected turned toward the pair. Brown, shaggy hair swept across its forehead, and it wore tattered jeans and a black Korn shirt.
“See? This guy knows great music,” Nick jested. The Infected started toward Kate, low growling sounds interrupting its fits of giggles. Nick held a hand against its chest to hold it back.
“Please. It was probably laundry day, and he didn’t have anything else to wear.” Kate scoffed.
“No way. This guy woke up one morning and decided he needed to dress to impress,” Nick replied, looking the Infected over with mock affection. Maggots spilled out of rotten holes in the walking corpse’s cheek.
“Nick, please just kill the thing.”
“Oh no. Get out a vial and needle. We’re bringing him back so we can settle this debate.”
Kate stared at Nick with an incredulous gaze. “Half of his face is missing. I thought we agreed that we could only bring back fresh ones.”
“Baby, sometimes you have to accept being wrong. Making excuses is not a good look for you,” Nick laughed. Kate crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, fighting the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. “I’m kidding. I know you’re always right and—”
The creature’s hand shot up to its face.
Blistered fingers smeared with dirt took hold of a piece of flesh dangling beneath its nose.
Its fingernails dug in until they pulled a strip of skin off completely.
The couple watched in horror as it held the rotten fragment out, offering it to Kate.
Although Nick’s hold on the monster was steady, Kate stepped back.
“What the hell is that thing trying to do?” Kate asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe he likes you. He’s trying to give you a gift. Sorry, buddy. She’s all mine. Cool shirt, though.” With his free hand, Nick pulled the hunting knife from his side and drove it through the Infected’s temple. The creature’s undead animation ceased, and it fell to the ground.
“I’ve never seen one of them do that,” Kate said. Fear still swam in her eyes as Nick returned the hunting knife to its place.
“Add it to the list of things we need to ask Dr. Chamberlain about.”
Kate nodded, ridding herself of the burden of questions that could not be answered. She placed a hand on Nick’s chest and shoved him.
“Maybe I enjoy receiving rotten flesh as gifts,” she said, her tone playful. “He would’ve made a great boyfriend, always laughing at my jokes. We’d have to work on his taste in music, though.”
“We haven’t seen any Infected wearing Slipknot shirts. Just saying.” Nick shrugged.
“That’s because all the Slipknot fans are too smart to become Infected.”
“Oh, is that right?” Nick laughed.
“What were you were saying just before that thing pulled a piece of its skin from its face? That I’m always right?” Kate wrapped her arms around Nick’s neck, looking up at him with a smirk.
“What? I would never say such a crazy thing.” Nick kissed the top of her forehead.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s keep moving,” Kate said. She pressed her lips to Nick’s, then broke away.
A clearing in the woods led them to a white farmhouse, its scalloped siding reminded Kate of an oversized dollhouse. Children’s laughter made them pause and caused Nick’s hand to jut out in front of Kate. This motion had become a reflex—protection upon instinct.
The duo walked with cautious steps, aiming to continue past the house without disturbing its occupants, whether living or undead.
The pleasant sounds drifted toward them once more, little girls playing in the backyard.
Nick knew what he would see before looking at her.
Kate’s eyes were fixed on the sound, glimmering with hope and desperate for rescue.
Nick gripped her wrist, urging her to press on. Kate turned to look at him, and he had to watch her nurturing spirit fold in on itself. She relented to being led away.
“Hi!” a small voice called from behind them. Kate whirled around to see a young girl with messy, tangled hair wearing a nightgown and peeking around the backside of the house.
“Hi sweetheart,” Kate said sweetly, dropping to one knee. The little girl smiled and started across the overgrown lawn toward them. An older girl wearing jeans and a muddy t-shirt peered at them from the back of the house. Her expression was stern and full of worry.
“Evie, don’t!” the older girl called.
“It’s okay, Tate. She’s a friend!” Evie said without looking back.
Tatum grumbled, then started to follow her when the front door flew open.
Nick swung his rifle around in his hands and aimed, moving forward until he was blocking Kate.
Pulling the revolver from her waistband, Kate clutched the handgun in a ready position.
A man armed with a shotgun crept down the steps.
“Girls, get back! What do you all want?” The man moved forward with the shotgun aimed at Nick. His dingy, stained jeans bristled against the knee-high grass.
“We’re just passing through. Lower your weapon!” Nick responded.
“Daddy, don’t shoot her, please. I like her!” Evie pleaded.
“You military?” the man asked, his fingers twitching against the stock of the gun.
“Used to be,” Nick answered. “Marine Corps.”
The man sighed, then lowered the shotgun.
“Sorry, friends. It’s been a crazy year. I always respect a man of war. I’m Ron. This is Evie and Tatum.”
Nick searched Ron’s eyes, then lowered his rifle with hesitation.
“Yay!” Evie shouted and ran into Kate’s arms, hugging her fiercely. Kate laughed, closing her eyes and taking in the moment.
“I’m Nick. This is Kate,” Nick said.
“You guys hungry?” Ron asked. “I’ve got some venison cooking.”
“Yeah! Come have breakfast with us!” Evie tugged on Kate’s hand and headed toward the house, passing Nick and then Ron.
Nick’s jaw tightened. Breakfast with strangers was not on the list of approved, safe activities.
However, the girls were speeding past him before he could try and stop it.
The sight of Kate holding a small girl’s hand, the two smiling and laughing—it should have brought him joy. Nick stifled his worries and followed.
Nick, Kate, and the two young girls sat at a round wooden table in a cramped kitchen.
Ron served deer steaks on ceramic plates.
The home was modest at best. Buckets filled with water sat on the kitchen floor near the sink.
The counters were a chaotic mess of empty tin cans.
The carpets leading into the living room and down the halls looked as though they had never seen a vacuum, and a musty yellow tinged the walls.
“Where are you all from?” Ron asked, looking back and forth between Nick and Kate.
“Not far from here. We’ve been holed up in the Aqua Region, but supplies are short, so we’re seeing what else is around,” Nick said, his answer calculated.
“Yeah, I’m afraid there isn’t much. I thank God for being self-sufficient from day one. I got vegetables and herbs growing out back, and I go out hunting almost every morning.” Ron smiled at the girls too engulfed in their meals to pay the conversation any mind.
“Is the game around here any good?” Nick asked.
“More so, I’d say since the fall. Animals have a lot more freedom. They can live uninterrupted by our vehicles and machines and traffic. Sometimes I see more deer in one day than I could eat in a year,” Ron answered.
“That’s good to hear. I used to hunt a lot back in the day. Might have to take it up again.” Nick squeezed Kate’s hand beneath the table.
“I’d say leave some for us, but that is no issue. Plenty to go around.” Ron stood to collect plates, and the girls sat back in their chairs with smiles and full tummies.
“Well, we should probably get going. We really appreciate the meal,” Nick said.
“Will you push us on the swing?” Evie asked, her eyes hopeful.
“Evie, I think these folks have to get going,” Ron said. Kate looked to Nick, dropping her lower lip and giving him those damned puppy dog eyes. Nick rolled his eyes.
“We can stay a little longer,” Nick relented.
“Let’s go!” Kate smiled down at Evie. She jumped out of her chair and grabbed Kate by the hand, leading her to the backyard.
Kate began pushing the small girl on the swing, higher and higher.
“Okay, not too high!” Evie laughed, pumping her legs back and forth. Tatum sat on the swing beside her, moving it back and forth with her feet.
“Want me to push you, too?” Kate asked.
“I can push myself,” Tatum responded flatly. Her eyes were fixed to the ground, white knuckles clutching the swing chains.
Ron and Nick exited the back of the home and walked down the porch steps toward the garden.
Lush greenery drooped over a timber edging.
Tomato plants climbed up cages that towered almost as tall as Nick.
As the men passed through the garden, sometimes they were completely hidden behind leaves and stalks.
“Is everything okay, Tate?” Kate asked while she pushed Evie.
Tatum stayed quiet, and Kate took the opportunity to study the girl.
Her arms were folded across her chest. Faded, yellow circles tinged her skin where bruises once were.
Kate noticed fresh welts around the back of her neck, resembling fingerprints.
Kate’s stomach churned, and she pushed away the thoughts. She focused on Evie swinging back and forth and the giggles that erupted from her. Surely, this new life was tougher on kids. It warranted a harsher existence and stricter discipline.
“Is he your boyfriend?” Evie asked.
“Umm, yeah. He is,” Kate answered with a laugh.
“Is he a superhero? He looks like a superhero.” Evie giggled, kicking her feet in the air.
“He’s not a superhero, Evie,” Tatum whined.
“Actually, he is a superhero. He saves people all the time. He saved me. Many times,” Kate said. Tatum gazed at her for a moment, trying to read if she was telling the truth.
Evie raised a fist in the air, simulating a superhero flying through the sky as Kate pushed her.
From across the yard, Kate watched Nick and Ron.
She could not hear Ron speaking, but from the speed at which his lips moved, she imagined his enthusiastic rantings of his well-grown garden.
When Ron was not looking at him, Nick looked bored to death.
His blank expression as he endured the tedious explanations of local flora brought a smirk to Kate’s face.
A strange gasp came from Evie, and Kate looked down just in time to see her falling backward from the swing.
Her bottom had moved too far back on the seat, and when Kate pushed, she had slid off.
Evie lay on her back on the ground, whimpering and gasping for air.
Kate caught the swing before it came back and hit the small girl.
Evie’s legs were in the air, and her nightgown had fallen down around her hips. Angry purple bruises climbed up her legs and around her thighs. Red circles where fingers had pushed into her skin dotted her hips.
“You’re okay, sweetheart. Take deep breaths,” Kate consoled as her eyes scanned the girl’s body. She looked to Tatum, whose eyes were wide. She was watching Kate discover their secret.
Kate pulled Evie to her feet and sat her on the swing. Then, she knelt in front of Tatum, who refused to meet her gaze.
“Tate, does daddy hurt you?” Kate asked. She clutched Tatum’s hand in hers. Tatum’s resistance pulsed through her skin, but she did not pull away. “Tatum, please talk to me. If something is going on here, I can help. But if I’m wrong, then something bad might happen.”
Tatum’s face lifted to meet Kate’s, fear swirling in her green irises.
“No, it’s fine. We’re—”
But Evie cut Tatum off. “Daddy says that there are no more mommies left. The monsters ate them all.”
“Evie, stop,” Tatum warned.
“But daddies need things. Things that mommies usually do.”
“That’s enough, Evie!” Tatum shouted.
Kate’s eyes were wide, and racy breaths bellowed from her lungs. Tears formed in her eyes, and she willed them to stay put. For the girls. She stood and looked toward the garden. The downpour of understanding shifted until a storm of rage formed in her chest.
Nick looked over, scrunching his brows at her solemn expression. Kate ran through all of the options in her head, letting them zip by as she settled on one that was feasible. The only thing to do.
Kill him, Kate mouthed. She made her fingers into the shape of a gun and lowered her thumb, reenacting the pulling of a trigger.
But Nick had already pulled out his handgun.
He did not stop to question Kate. There was no wonder at why she was asking this of him.
There was nothing except Kate’s order and a single gunshot that echoed across the field.