After The End (31 page)

“It’s agreed: no one knows anything about
vampires. We’ll split the group into day and night with a few doing
an in-between shift, so these two don’t stick out. From now on the
donations schedule isn’t written down. Keep the donations private
and hide any marks. If we can’t get help from the vampiric society
outside the infected zone, we move to meet them at wherever the
border is. The Pact is a secret we keep for the rest of our lives,
and one we’ll need to maintain until we’re out of the
quarantine.”

Our fate chosen, we composed ourselves and
called the others from the room. Troy comforted Seth in the other
room while he explained things to Randolph and Ellen’s mother.

Seth took the news worse than Chase; he
couldn’t get over the fact that he’d been starved into eating a
woman because of some unknown quarantine line. He refused to go
with us. Instead, Seth marched out to the car and picked up his
pistol. Troy pursued him and lunged for the gun.

Several of us watched horror-stricken as he
put the barrel against his temple and sprayed his brains over the
driveway. The blast sounded louder than any I’d ever heard and I
could see the wraith of smoke that followed the pink spray of his
blood. Troy reached his friend too late to do anything but topple
into a heap beside the corpse.

The younger kids were kept from the gruesome
view. Jordy stood pale and sniffling as he choked back his dinner;
his posture straightened as he walked inside the house. Liam stood
in a puddle of his own pigeon-laced bile while he stared at the
body from the porch steps.

“What happened? Why would he do that?” He
asked no one in particular as he heaved and wept.

No one answered him at first. Troy wailed and
cussed over Seth’s warm remains. Someone went inside and returned
with the military shovels and started the hole three feet from the
body. No one spoke except Troy and he only spoke to the spirit of
his companion. I did my best not to listen to the grief in his
voice as I accepted one of the spades and dug. I found my voice in
the din of hard earth being moved and bawling.

“Liam, please go home tonight. We need the
night to mourn our friend and wrap our heads around everything. I’m
sorry. Please tell your Gammy we appreciate the hospitality you two
have offered and we’ll be happy to come over tomorrow evening.”

The sickened boy wiped his mouth and left at
a run. We buried Seth by starlight. Each person took a turn
standing at the unmarked grave and saying his or her goodbye. Some
mumbled prayers, some cursed him, and others just stood in
lamentation.

One by one, we entered the house to push away
the sorrow with busywork and planning. Troy insisted on being left
alone. As the group split in half to take watch or sleep, I curled
up next to Daemon. I needed someone to talk to. We spoke for hours
about what the truth meant until I drifted off to sleep against his
chest. The night was restless and I frequently stirred; each time I
found Daemon’s powerful arms wrapping around me, protecting me from
my nightmares.

The week passed in blur rampant with
bewilderment and amusement. We followed Liam through nearly an acre
of traps, spike pits, and sections of various fences arranged in
labyrinthine style. Our deflated band of twenty-four abandoned
souls trailed behind the adolescent guide in twos and threes. Every
bunch was laden with belongings and supplies and carrying a dozen
different conversations. Even Sindbad had been recruited into
carrying medical supplies strapped to his back in two handbags.

The house is a Tudor with three large
greenhouses in back, a large garage that’s used for storage since
the protective measures prevent vehicle traffic, a massive
satellite receiver, a dozen fruit trees, solar panels on the roofs
as well as platforms, and plenty of space. As we came past the
final picket white fence, a figure stood in the front door calling
out to us.

“Liam, where are your manners? Bring those
people up here and make a proper introduction; they’ll want set
their belongings down and rest awhile before you start showing them
around.”

“Yes, Gammy.” Liam quickly veered away from
the orange tree and led us to the door. “Squirrel, this is my
Gammy, Edith Hedburg. Gammy, this is the lady I told you about and
her friends.”

His part done, the teen stood to the side.
The overhead light flicked on, startling and blinding me for a
moment. When my vision adjusted I looked at the elderly woman who
was already giving me a hug and welcoming us to her home. She was
my height – which is to say short – and made me think of Betty
White; she looked like a typical sweet old lady, but her eyes and
voice betrayed her energy and zest. I liked her instantly.

“Thank you for having us Mrs. Hedburg. We
appreciate the hospitality and we’ll earn our keep while we’re
here.”

She released me from her grip and stepped
back grinning.

“It’s no trouble. I’m sorry to hear about
what happened last night. Hopefully your friend will be the last to
go that way. Please come in and get unpacked, I’m about to start on
supper. I’ll be doing my video blog in an hour, and I’d love to
introduce all of you to my fans.”

“Gammy’s a worldwide internet sensation. She
talks about all sorts of random stuff.”

“Oh yes, if anyone would like to use one of
the computers, we have a couple of laptops in the family room
hooked up and charged. Feel free to make yourselves at home and
catch up on current events; Liam says you’ve been in the dark since
the outbreak began. Those damned contaminated Botox shots…”

“Yeah, who’d have thought injecting deadly
toxins into your forehead could turn out badly.” I grumbled before
realizing I was being rude. “I’m sorry about the outburst. I think
we’ll get settled in and cleaned up a little. Some of us will help
with dinner; we brought some food with us. Thank you again for your
help.”

She smiled and took Cal by the arm.

“That’s alright. And you, handsome man, can
keep me company while I show you around. You can even sleep in my
room. I can think of dozens of ways for you to earn your keep.”

She winked at him while her grandson mocked
puking before leading us on a brief tour of the rooms. At each stop
bags were unloaded and weapons removed. Edith insisted we take the
rest of the hour to wash the crust off of us, volunteering to lend
the elder vampire a hand with the loofah until he blushed like an
altar boy in Vegas. Everybody giggled, stretched, and rubbed their
aches as we made it to the bathrooms to clean up.

The miracle of warm showers greeted several
of us as we took two-minute turns washing the last year away. The
young kids were bathed in a tub first, with poor Jordy hopping in
after. Most of the adults shared. The vamps, Troy, Bubba, Vincent,
and myself volunteered to take the final turns; even ice cold it
was wonderful. Seeing everyone fresh and thoroughly clean by the
glow of electric lights amazed me.

Even if we don’t get back
to civilization, this wouldn’t be a bad way to live.

Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed
it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your
favorite retailer? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my
Facebook and Twitter pages as well. Thank you!

Melissa Gibbo has been living and working in
the Orlando area for nearly ten years. During this time she has
worked at both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. She
has a large extended family, a loving wife, and three evil but
loved cats. Melissa grew up in Columbus, Georgia and visits as
often as possible.