Four (Their Dead Lives,1) (28 page)

“What do you mean?”
 

“You took me up to that roof for a reason. You wanted something.”
 

Nasir’s face was an impassive stone Scot found impossible to read. “We have to keep moving.”
 

“Listen, I’m not taking another step until you tell me what -”
 

“I was sent to find you and take you north. That is all.” Nasir clenched his hand around Scot’s arm and forced him closer to the bus’s edge. “Now go. It’s not safe here.”
 

“Yeah, no shit.” Scot huffed and landed next to Kelsey on the treacherous path. They stood on the remaining highway, his toes mere inches from slipping off into nothing. He guessed it was a 50-yard gash in the middle of the highway, completely gutting the road.
Like I really know.
 

“Don’t look down,” Kelsey whispered, smiling.
 

After hearing those words, Scot couldn’t help but look down. Waves crashed against rocks far below. Smashed cars and mangled bodies were tossed around by the water. He jerked from the edge and pressed his back against the bus. He closed his eyes, raising his head and tried to get some air. He breathed harshly, his chest heaving. The mantra ran through his head:
We leave as four. We leave as four. We -
 

Her touch slowed his panic. Warm fingers wrapped around his. He opened his eyes to the green calm of her gaze. “I won’t let you fall,” she whispered.
 

And her words spoke truth.
 

The five survivors made it across the divide and continued along the Pacific Coast Highway on foot. Nasir lead, with CJ and Sadie right behind him.
 

Scot glanced back at the overturned bus, realizing his hand was still wrapped in Kelsey’s.
How long?
They stared at each other for a second before breaking away. Scot cleared his throat, mumbling, “Thanks for that.”
 

“Anytime.”
 

As Kelsey caught up to Sadie, Scot scanned her slender body and his eyes locked to her ass. He’d always claimed himself ‘protector of her ass.’ And he missed touching her, not only there, but everywhere. He tried to keep his mind clean, but his eyes refused to detach from the sight of her cute butt.
I just want to hold it, protect it.
He shook off his thoughts and laughed, jogging up to CJ. The girls were walking a few yards ahead of him now. Nasir was far ahead in the lead, his sniper rifle strapped to his back, looking like an old badass.
But who sent him for me? Who wants me?

“Okay, it’s us guys now. Spill it,” said CJ.
 

“Spill what?”
 

“Your belts, dude, your belts. I like a good belt count and hell, it beats focusing on this crap-fest.”
 

Scot figured he would entertain the kid. “Okay.”
 

“Sweet.”
 

“Don’t tell anyone.”
 

“Dude. The Belt Bible. Rule number 3 says, ‘Never disclose accomplishments of any fellow belt wearer unless given permission by said belt wearer, but upon death, all material accomplishments may be disclosed.”
 

Scot paused. “You’re making this up. Right?”
 

“Nope. I’ll show you the Belt Bible later. Got it in my pack.”
 

Scot continued. “Right, whatever.”
 

“So, tell me.”
 

“You tell me your three first.”
 

“Sure. Blue, green and black. Your turn.”
 

Up ahead, Kelsey laughed at something Sadie had said. She wouldn’t be able to hear Scot. Not that he should care, but he did. And he hesitated.
 

CJ wouldn’t have it. “I bared my belts to you, bro. Don’t leave me hanging beltless like this. Or are you scared I’ve done better?”
 

Maybe it was pride or maybe it was to shut the teen up, maybe he realized he was no better than CJ, but Scot caved in to his demands. “Fine. Fine. I have all of the belts except for purple.”
 

CJ stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes were wide, shining with admiration. “You’re telling me you’ve almost achieved the title of Master Notcher?”
 

“Shit, kid, I hope I wasn’t like this at your age.”
No, I became pathetic and selfish later on in life.
 

“That - that’s amazing. I mean, I thought
I
was good. So do you think you’ll go for it?”
 

“Go for what?”
 

“The last belt.”

“Purple belt?”
 

“Yeah, the purple belt.”

Scot’s answer was final: “No.”
 

“No?”
 

“No.”
 

“But you’re so close, dude.”
 

“Yeah, well...” Scot’s gaze stuck on Kelsey, and everything else faded from his view. “The next belt I buckle is the belt I marry.”
 

After an hour of walking, Nasir called for a halt and pointed ahead at a long restaurant tucked against the mountain, right off the coastal highway. Motorcycles cluttered the dirt lot, some parked neatly and some knocked over. There was one car. “Let’s rest in here for the night,” he stated, leading the group to the wooden front porch. He inched to the door, guarded in every step. CJ rushed to the door’s side and adopted a swinging stance, holding his bat, Bashing Betty, high.
 

Nasir gave two hard knocks at the door. It was quick to creak open, and a young woman’s face poked out. She eyed CJ then Nasir. “You bit?” she demanded.

“No, ma’am. I have five others with me. None are bit.”
 

“You sure?”
 

“Yes, I promise.”

The young woman nodded curtly. “Fine. What do you want?”
 

“We are on our way north, looking for a safe place to rest. We won’t be in your way long.”
 

“I see. Well, come in. We have six others here. None bit.”
 

“Inside,” Nasir ordered the group.
 

CJ let Sadie enter then followed behind her. Kelsey paused in the doorway and turned back to Scot, who lingered on the wooden steps leading to the restaurant’s deck. “You coming?”
 

“Of course.”
I’d rather keep moving, but hell, what do I know?
 

“What are you waiting for?” She looked beautiful standing in the doorway, her hair moving with the ocean breeze.
Kiss me.
 

“I’ll be right in.” He let an insecure laugh escape. She nodded and entered the restaurant, leaving him outside alone.
 

Looking back at the horizon, Scot wondered about Alec, Jeff, and even Kale. He wasn’t sure why, but thoughts of that fateful day when they were stupid kids in high school shadowed his mind. He tried to shake them off.
Every day, every night, I fight them.
The memories never leave.

SADIE
 

The back patio of the restaurant was covered by a light blue tarp. An occasional breeze caused it to flap above them. She and Kelsey were alone, friend seated across from friend at a plastic green table.
 

Sadie reached over the table and grabbed Kelsey’s hand. “How are you doing?” Kelsey was paler than usual. Tired. Defeated. Sadie hated seeing her this way.
 

“I want it to end.”
 

“So do I. At least we can hide here for now. There’s food. Drinks. Shelter. We can wait it out.”
 

“What if it never ends?”
 

How do I answer that?
She usually had an answer for any question Kelsey posed. She loved her friend and would do anything for her, but Kelsey was quite simple-minded in a sense. “All we can do is stick together and survive. Right?”
 

Kelsey nodded with some hesitation.
 

That nod. There is something else.
“You’re thinking about Scot?”
 

“I mean, what are the chances of us ending up together last night? Do you think it’s a sign?”
 

Sadie dismissed this. “I think we lived in a small town. Jeff went looking for him. The chances were good.”
 

“I know you hate him, Sadie.” She retracted her hand. “But a part of me will always love him, no matter how dumb he acts.”
 

He’s not dumb. He’s selfish. All Scot cares about is Scot.
“I get that. And I will have your back no matter what.”
Meaning I will protect you from him, if need be.
 

Kelsey flashed a smile that showed some more life. “I’m lucky you’re here.”

“As am I.”
 

One day this would all pass and things would return to normal. Kelsey would end up with Scot. Scot would end up drunk, finding some way to break her heart. And Sadie would be there to put it back together. With the Dark Dragon over her shoulder, she’d be there to punish him.

After some small talk, they went back inside the restaurant, Neptune’s Retreat. It had a reputation as a biker bar and had received raving reviews for its service, food, and general beach-themed atmosphere. It was a big tourist spot for those visiting the Malibu area. Well, it used to be a tourist spot.
Now it’s a big spot for death walker food.
She had been to Neptune’s Retreat once as a kid and hated the whole experience. The crowds. The heat. The claustrophobia. She never thought she would return.
 

The first survivor they met at the restaurant was the bartender Jacky. Several years older than Sadie, she had red hair that scorched her shoulders.
Gorgeous.
Sadie had thought numerous times of dyeing her dark hair red. But she never did.
No point now.
 

Jacky was friendly enough. At first, Sadie had thought her careless for welcoming a bunch of strangers. Of course, not everyone should be over-cautious assholes during the apocalypse. Jacky’s barback was also there. Sadie didn’t catch his name but he looked exactly like Patrick Swayze in
Point Break.

They sat on stools at a tall table in the bar area. The windows were all shut, making the room quite dark, but several lit Tiki torches provided an orange glow. Kelsey took a seat next to Scot at the end of the table and Sadie placed herself at her side. The others at the table were Jacky and CJ, who tried his hardest to charm Jacky.
Adorable in a pathetic way,
Sadie thought.
 

The barback arrived with a tray of waters and she learned his name. Talon.
Of course.
He was wearing a tank top that hugged his ripped upper body. He had a gorgeous tan, but Sadie figured if a death walker didn’t get him, skin cancer eventually would.
The price of looking ‘good.’
But Talon didn’t seem like a guy who went outside with the intention of tanning, seemed to have no care about his physical appearance, seemed the type to simply love life, even with the dead swarming the world.
 

Scot chugged his water quicker than he should have, leaving himself with an empty glass.
I thirst too, but I’ll preserve every sip.
 

Another survivor approached the table. He was an older man, his red and grey curly hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. An acoustic guitar was strapped to his back. Scot leaned into Kelsey and Sadie, whispering, “I swear if he starts singing, I’ll let the zombies eat me.”
 

Kelsey laughed. Sadie wished he would indeed sacrifice himself to the death walkers. She gave a slight smile, though, because the one thing she
did
tolerate about Scot was the fact he hated other people almost as much as she did.
 

The man with the acoustic guitar waved a casual hand and gave off a less-than-appealing smile. “Hello, traveling friends.” His voice was breathy and creepy. “I am Oderly. Welcome to our—”
 

“Shut up, Oderly,” Jacky snapped. “You’ll scare everyone off.”
 

Oderly sighed, puffing out his lips. A recent scab bisected his lower lip. He brought his guitar to the front and gently tickled its strings. “As long as I have you, my sweet Moonjava,” he whispered.
 

“Ignore him,” Jacky said. “Talon found him wandering outside, high off his ass.”
 

“Jacky, man, he seemed cool enough.” Talon put out a hand, requesting calm. “He’s a lost soul like the rest of us.”
 

Oderly bowed to Talon. “Namaste, brother.”
 

Hippies. We are hiding with hippies.
Sadie had done yoga on several occasions and understood the appeal of it, but she could never take it seriously. She preferred running. Fast. Long distances. Sweating it all away. But that was her secret. After all, she had to maintain her thin ‘goth’ appearance. Just thinking of that word made her ill.
Embracing the dark does not mean I’m goth.
 

Oderly went to the main restaurant area, took a seat with two other survivors. He began to hum and strummed Moonjava. The other survivors both got up and went out to the back patio where Sadie had been at earlier. Oderly sang to himself. Sadie found him quite amusing, as long as he didn’t sing to her.
 

The final survivor in the restaurant was an enormous man who wore large reflective sunglasses on his shaved head, a gold necklace, and a blue shirt with cut-off sleeves that revealed his hulking arms.
He could take out a death walker, or five.
 

“You look familiar,” Scot mused, looking at him closely.
 

The man took a sip of cucumber water and shrugged. “I get that a lot.”
 

“No, you really look familiar. I’ve seen you somewhere.”
 

“I’m telling you, I’m nothing special.” Ice rattled in his glass.
 

“I knew it. You’re Lexington Gunn.”
 

The man slammed his glass on the table.