Read Online Tainted Grace by M. Lauryl Lewis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: M. Lauryl Lewis
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again.
Once we neared the end of the drive, I felt the faintest of buzzes in my head. I wasn't able to see anything it saw, and somehow I knew it was a lone zombie. A slow Roamer, most likely. The buzz was so weak it was unlike any I had felt before.
“We have company,” I blurted out. “It’s either really weak or really far away,” I continued.
“Thanks, Zo,” said Boggs.
Gus rounded the corner of the drive, turning right onto the highway.
“This is the way we first came,” I said. “The way we headed toward that bed and breakfast.”
“Yup,” was all Gus said in reply. That outing held some bad memories for him, Boggs, and certainly for myself.
Bill called forward to us from his perch on one of the mattresses in the back. “Is the B-and-B still standing?” he asked.
“It was standing the last time we were there,” said Gus. “But, we scavenged the good stuff from it already.”
“Fair enough,” said Bill.
“We were also stuck there overnight, surrounded by the dead…uh…Runners,” I added.
“It’d be a detour as well. The route we mapped out takes us past the turn off,” added Boggs from beside me.
We continued north on the highway, eventually veering west. We passed a familiar minivan that sat in a ditch, its passenger slider door still open. We had passed this van once before and inspected it. It had been obvious that a family had been slaughtered inside. I tried my best to rid my mind of the images that had been burned into my memory back then. It had been raining that day as well.
After about fifteen minutes Gus slowed the van, coming to a stop. “Fuel’s getting a bit low,” he said. “I think we’ll make it to your hole-up, but we should be watching for sources of gas to siphon.”
“Nate and I didn’t come this way, so I can’t claim to know of anything,” said Bill.
“We have siphoning gear, so if anyone spots a car, truck, ambulance…anything, holler. Zoe, how does it feel here?”
I focused. “Fine,” I said.
“Ok, does anyone need to make a pit stop? If so I suggest doing it now.”
“Sounds good,” said Emilie. She appeared behind my seat and stretched.
“Make it quick, please?” said Gus, who smiled at her.
She smiled back. “Ok. Get out and keep me company?” Em seemed feisty today.
Gus grinned back. I stood up, sat on Boggs’ lap to allow her to climb through the cab, and wondered what secret joke she and Gus had going on.
“I need to go too,” I said.
“Ok, everyone out,” said Gus. “Two minutes and we need to be back on the road.”
Boggs slid our door open, and helped me climb down. The rain was heavier now, falling in sheets. The temperature felt like it was dropping and I thought I might have seen ice mixed in with the rain. I shivered, and followed Boggs as he led me away from the van toward the tree line.
“Still clear, Zo?” he asked me quietly.
I nodded ‘yes.’
“Ok, let’s make it quick. I’ll make sure no one is watching while you do your thing.”
“Thanks,” I said quietly while I pulled my pants down and squatted. I watched Boggs’ back while I peed, wishing I had an umbrella. It wasn't long before I finished and stood to pull my pants up. I was already shivering. I looked at the dark gray sky above and the rain falling down. I saw a bird fly over us and wondered what animals thought about the plague. Were they aware? Were they also afraid?
“Zoe. C’mon,” said Boggs. “We need to get back to the van, hun.”
I nodded and walked to him. He took hold of my hand again.
“Jesus, Zo, you’re freezing.”
My teeth were clattering together and I was shaking more violently.
“Let’s get you into the back and wrapped up in blankets.”
I didn’t argue.
Back inside, I had stripped out of a layer of wet clothes and was wrapped up in the comforter that Boggs and I had shared in our bedroom at the cabin. Emilie sat beside me, also under the blanket. I leaned against her, grateful for her warmth. Bill
Once we neared the end of the drive, I felt the faintest of buzzes in my head. I wasn't able to see anything it saw, and somehow I knew it was a lone zombie. A slow Roamer, most likely. The buzz was so weak it was unlike any I had felt before.
“We have company,” I blurted out. “It’s either really weak or really far away,” I continued.
“Thanks, Zo,” said Boggs.
Gus rounded the corner of the drive, turning right onto the highway.
“This is the way we first came,” I said. “The way we headed toward that bed and breakfast.”
“Yup,” was all Gus said in reply. That outing held some bad memories for him, Boggs, and certainly for myself.
Bill called forward to us from his perch on one of the mattresses in the back. “Is the B-and-B still standing?” he asked.
“It was standing the last time we were there,” said Gus. “But, we scavenged the good stuff from it already.”
“Fair enough,” said Bill.
“We were also stuck there overnight, surrounded by the dead…uh…Runners,” I added.
“It’d be a detour as well. The route we mapped out takes us past the turn off,” added Boggs from beside me.
We continued north on the highway, eventually veering west. We passed a familiar minivan that sat in a ditch, its passenger slider door still open. We had passed this van once before and inspected it. It had been obvious that a family had been slaughtered inside. I tried my best to rid my mind of the images that had been burned into my memory back then. It had been raining that day as well.
After about fifteen minutes Gus slowed the van, coming to a stop. “Fuel’s getting a bit low,” he said. “I think we’ll make it to your hole-up, but we should be watching for sources of gas to siphon.”
“Nate and I didn’t come this way, so I can’t claim to know of anything,” said Bill.
“We have siphoning gear, so if anyone spots a car, truck, ambulance…anything, holler. Zoe, how does it feel here?”
I focused. “Fine,” I said.
“Ok, does anyone need to make a pit stop? If so I suggest doing it now.”
“Sounds good,” said Emilie. She appeared behind my seat and stretched.
“Make it quick, please?” said Gus, who smiled at her.
She smiled back. “Ok. Get out and keep me company?” Em seemed feisty today.
Gus grinned back. I stood up, sat on Boggs’ lap to allow her to climb through the cab, and wondered what secret joke she and Gus had going on.
“I need to go too,” I said.
“Ok, everyone out,” said Gus. “Two minutes and we need to be back on the road.”
Boggs slid our door open, and helped me climb down. The rain was heavier now, falling in sheets. The temperature felt like it was dropping and I thought I might have seen ice mixed in with the rain. I shivered, and followed Boggs as he led me away from the van toward the tree line.
“Still clear, Zo?” he asked me quietly.
I nodded ‘yes.’
“Ok, let’s make it quick. I’ll make sure no one is watching while you do your thing.”
“Thanks,” I said quietly while I pulled my pants down and squatted. I watched Boggs’ back while I peed, wishing I had an umbrella. It wasn't long before I finished and stood to pull my pants up. I was already shivering. I looked at the dark gray sky above and the rain falling down. I saw a bird fly over us and wondered what animals thought about the plague. Were they aware? Were they also afraid?
“Zoe. C’mon,” said Boggs. “We need to get back to the van, hun.”
I nodded and walked to him. He took hold of my hand again.
“Jesus, Zo, you’re freezing.”
My teeth were clattering together and I was shaking more violently.
“Let’s get you into the back and wrapped up in blankets.”
I didn’t argue.
Back inside, I had stripped out of a layer of wet clothes and was wrapped up in the comforter that Boggs and I had shared in our bedroom at the cabin. Emilie sat beside me, also under the blanket. I leaned against her, grateful for her warmth. Bill
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