Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three) (14 page)

It would make the Mitch incident look like child’s play.

All morning, abdominal cramps had left Lauren uncomfortable in any position. Shifting her weight back and forth, she watched Gunther methodically dig a hole in the ground for a firepit. He was zoned in and working like a machine, each movement precisely tuned for speed and accuracy.

Absentmindedly, her hand rubbed her belly as she focused on the steady rhythmic sounds the shovel made as it was jammed into the ground.

Hurrying over to her, Jane approached Lauren when she heard her let out a long sigh. Doing as Henry instructed, Thomas’ eyes tracked her and listened in.

“You feeling okay?” Jane asked as she tucked Lauren’s dirty blonde hair behind her ear.

“Yeah, just tired and achy. I think I should go in and lie down,” Lauren murmured. She didn’t want to worry her mother over the cramping.

“Well, let’s go then. Eli? Come with us,” Jane ordered.

“I don’t need his help, Mom. I’m fine.”

“He needs to take care of you, and you need to let him.”

“It’s fine,” she retorted.

Eli approached, looking as disheveled as the rest of the group, filthy clothing and soot covering every part of his exposed skin. “What’s up?” he asked.

“She’s not feeling well.”

Panic welled in his eyes while reaching his hands toward her stomach. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby?”

Lauren sighed again, pushing his hands away. She didn’t want to cause any more drama. “Honestly, I just need to lie down for a while. My body is achy. It happens.”

“Well, let me help you. I’ll rub your back. Or your feet. Whatever you need.”

“What I need is for you all to stop acting like this. I’m fine.”

“Please, Laur. Allow me to help,” he pleaded. “I want to.”

Eli wanted to try to prove he was worthy of Lauren and the baby. With his sharp tongue and attitude that didn’t quit, he felt he needed to show her he would be a good father to their baby.

Ever since his episode with Gunther, he had been offering to help out around the community when Henry needed a hand. Then, of course, there were so many things he did to help Lauren. Eli knew he was on her last nerve, but he wanted her to see he had finally started growing up. He guided Lauren inside, an arm wrapped around her waist, Jane following behind.

Lauren’s pregnancy was unexpected. Eli crushed on her for years in school, but she wouldn’t give him the time of day, always telling him she wasn’t interested in dating and would rather focus on her schoolwork.

A short while after the virus hit, Eli left his family in the middle of the night to take off to see if Lauren was still alive. Did he miss his family? No, not really. Eli was the black sheep and, because of his behavior throughout his teen years, it was well-deserved.

After stealing his father’s gun and a hatchet from the garage, Eli hopped in his mom’s SUV, figuring it wouldn’t be too much of a loss for society if he didn’t make it. A gore-filled five day, ten-mile drive later, he showed up on the front porch of Lauren’s home.

Eli was relieved to see she was alive. Lauren, on the other hand, had no idea why he would come after her. It took quite some time for Eli to convince her parents to allow him to stay. The lie that he was the only survivor from his family, plus offering the gun and hatchet and whatever gas was left in the SUV, was what did it for Ben.

Day and night, Eli lusted after Lauren, catching her father scowling at him on many occasions. When Ben and Mara went scavenging for the family, and Jane was resting, Eli cornered Lauren and pressured her into having sex with him. She was leery, but relented. About a month or so later, they realized she was pregnant.

Ben and Mara watched as Eli escorted Lauren inside. “Wonder what’s going on with them?” Mara asked.

“Who knows,” Ben replied, bothered. He ran his hand over his thick gray hair and smiled. “I suppose we should go check on them.”

Ben had ulterior motives in mind, and checking on Lauren was the perfect diversion.

Even though he was worried about Lauren, Ben also carried heavy suspicion around with him. There was something off with Henry, Gunther, and Nick. Being a former SEAL and a government official who worked closely with disease control, he had an idea of what it was.

Having overheard a discussion between the head of the organization and the second-in-command about a virus made overseas with the help of the US, Ben’s curiosity peaked and he investigated without anyone else’s knowledge.

After several weeks of working through the evening, he was finally able to break into the main computer system and track down all the information he needed to secure in his mind that trouble was brewing.

Ben decided to purchase a prepaid cell phone and call a reporter in another state under the guise he was an anonymous tipper. He felt the media should be alerted to such an atrocity so the people could take the necessary precautions. Maybe his actions would shut down the program. He knew the government held secrets and knew, at times, they were up to no good, but to endanger entire populations? Ben wasn’t down with that.

Ben and Mara headed inside, catching Gunther’s and Thomas’ attention. Thomas tossed his shovel down, wiped his dirty hands on his thighs, then started to follow.

Gunther lightly whistled. “Hold up, lad. You always tailing them would look suspicious. Josie, you go. I’ll keep an eye on the kids. Just nose around and listen in. You have your gun?”

“Yeah,” she responded.

“Come running if you need help.” Josie nodded, jogging into the school, trying to look inconspicuous.

Ben opened the door and marched into their room, Mara on his heels. He glanced over at Lauren. She was lying on her side curled in a ball, Eli rubbing her lower back. “Is she okay?”

“She’s just achy and tired. It happens,” Jane replied.

Mara, being her usual miserable self, plopped down on her bed, and mumbled something nobody could understand.

“I’m going to go exploring a bit while everyone is busy.”

“Ben?” Jane rushed up to him with furrowed brows.

“It’s fine. I’m just going to look around the building.”

“After your accusations outside, you have me worried.” Ben swiped his hand through the air. “Tell me what’s going on right now!” she demanded.

That got everyone’s attention. Ben sighed and paced. He worried if he should just blurt it out or leave them in the dark.

“Have a seat. We have a few things we need to discuss.” He waved Jane toward a chair, as he leaned back against the whiteboard, his arms crossed. Lauren sat up and Mara stopped her incessant discontented mumbling. “It’s a man-made virus.”

“What are you talking about?” Jane asked.

“The virus… The zombies… It was an injection.”

Shaking her head, confused, she said, “What? How do you know this?”

“I found out after I overheard a conversation between the big wigs. I didn’t believe it…until I broke into the system. I read document after document about testing over in the UK. They tested the virus on various troubled teens. They were testing it for immunity because they wanted soldiers on the ground equipped to deal with the walking corpses. The two governments wanted to wipe out and take over specific countries.”

“This just seems–”

“It’s true. Why would I lie?”

“I don’t know, Ben. It sounds like some conspiracy theory crazy talk.”

Shocked his own wife would think of him in that way, he threw his arms out. “So you think this is just a hoax?”

“No…,” Jane mumbled.

Ben yelled, “Look around you!”

“I saw what happened, Ben. No need to shout.”

“I have reason to believe those three jackasses are involved. I’m quite sure El Drunk-o and Musclehead are involved. The other one… I’m not so sure what the deal is with him. The descriptions from all the documentation I read match. The eyes… Their physique… Their uncanny knowledge and fighting abilities… They’re British… It all fits, for fuck’s sake.”

Eli grimaced when Lauren elbowed him for chuckling.

“So because there happens to be British people around, that means they’re involved with this preposterous theory? How can you say this?” Jane questioned. “They didn’t have to, but they helped us with food and shelter. They’re even protecting us.”

“Just trust me on this, Jane. Please.” He paused for a few breaths. “They have to drink blood to stay ‘normal’,” Ben said, using air quotes.

“Okay. Dad, I have to stop you here because this really sounds like a crock of shit.”

“Mara! Language!”

“Oh, Mom, for the love of god. Who the fuck cares what words come out of my mouth? So you’re saying they’re zombies
and
vampires?” Mara laughed.

“
I
care, Mara! Drop the tone…now,” Jane warned.

“Or what? You gonna ground me? Like I already don’t live in a hellish environment? I think that’s punishment enough.”

Ben interjected, “
Anyway
, I’m going to get some exploring done while Henry’s away and Gunther’s busy.” He pushed off the whiteboard and waltzed out the door.

“Okay. Really, Mom? I think he’s loco.” Mara lay back on her bed and grabbed an old magazine she found in the library.

“I don’t know what to believe, Mara.” Letting out a burdened sigh, she pressed her palms to her khaki-covered thighs and pushed herself to a standing position. In silence, she shuffled over to her bed and sat to ponder everything he had just told her. It just didn’t make sense, but that’s not what worried her the most.

Ben’s current erratic behavior was.

When Ben stepped out into the hall, Josie was wandering around. As soon as they locked eyes, she dived into her room.
Odd, but whatever. She’s a weird one
. He shook his head and decided on a destination.

First, the weapons room. Ben tried the handle. Unlocked. A wicked smile spread across his sun-damaged face. Henry usually kept it locked. Someone obviously fucked up. He opened the door and…

“Holy shit,” he marveled in a whisper.

There were weapons upon weapons lined up on the rows of desks seamlessly pushed together. Noting the few empty spots, which must have been the weapons they took with them, the guns were arranged by model. Adjacent to each type of gun, the proper ammunition was organized by caliber and stacked with precision. The knives and axes were arranged in the same manner.

“Someone has OCD issues,” he murmured, approaching the row of sniper rifles.

Allowing his fingers to roam over one of the more powerful weapons in the room, he admired the HK rifle. His eyes darted around the darkening room and spotted two desks full of Sig Sauer handguns.

“Perfect.”

Ben grabbed one and checked the magazine. Ten rounds. He readjusted the guns just right so, at first glance, it wouldn’t be noticed one was missing.

Confidence exuded as he took correct stance, aiming the Sig at the wall. The smirk was undeniable. His posture…powerful. At the right moment in the not-so-distant future, he would use the weapon to his advantage.

After tucking the gun in the back of his pants, he ensured it was invisible under his fleece jacket. Padding to the door and pressing his ear against it, he listened for any sounds. The coast was clear. The door creaked as Ben cracked it open. With a cringe, he peeked out and glanced down the hall. No one was around.

How easy can this be?

Upon exiting, he locked the door.

Everything was all falling into place for Ben. Soon, he would out those Brits for who they really were, then kick them and their band of merry idiots out of the school. He and his family could live in pure safety, with all the supplies they would need.

Since the halls were still vacant, Ben headed to Henry’s room. He tried the handle. Unlocked.

Well, isn’t it my lucky day
.

Rushing through the door, he closed and locked it behind him.

“I found the one with OCD,” he mumbled under his breath, glancing around.

Ben was astonished at the absolute alignment of everything. Impeccable rows in all areas throughout the room. So faultless, it was perverse. Even the desks were stacked against the wall so neatly, they blended in. There wasn’t a single thing out of place…not even a tube of toothpaste.
Wait a second
…