Surviving The Aftermath (Book 1): The Dead Linger (19 page)

“No you can’t! Your place is here, look what you’ve helped do for all these people you can’t leave them in a lurch!” Jill struggling with trying to stay calm and yet excited that Casey would even suggest that he leave with her, to stay with her, it really meant something to her at this moment in time. Tipping her chin up, Casey said “Why don’t we go get cleaned up, and get some rest. You look as worn out as I feel.”

“Ok.” They both rose and left the room to where the showers had been set up. After both had showered and changed, they went back to Casey’s room to lie down.

“Do you really think he’ll hate me forever?” Jill asked in the dark.

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen Tom like that, but losing a daughter is rough. I only hope he can cope, for his wife and other daughter’s sake.”

Chapter 6

Two days had passed since the Jeff/zombie/Cindi incident. Most people not directly affected were moving forward. Rumors swirled about the girl being pregnant and Jill in a jealous rage killed her. Other rumors about it being Jeff’s baby and Tyler found out. It was weird how gossip brought people together and tore them apart. Jill had been avoiding Cindi’s whole family, but she knew she needed, no wanted to talk to Vikki. She wanted to beg Vikki for forgiveness. She had been getting very close with this woman, and even if Vikki wanted nothing to do with her after this, at least she told her what happened and tried to make it better. Knocking on her door she knew Tom wasn’t here. A few seconds passed and Vikki opened the door slightly. Both women stared at each other for a moment.

“Can I come in?”

“Of course.” Jill really wanted to give her a hug but held back.

“Please sit.” Vikki offered her a chair.

“I don’t know what to say, but no matter what anyone else says or what you think of me, please know how truly sorry I am.” Jill was no crying full out, and with Vikki’s silence she started to rise. But then Vikki grabbed her in a hug so tight Jill had no real choice but to hug back. They sobbed like that for a while, when finally the tears began to subside.

“I swear to you I thought it was Jeff behind that wheel. All I kept thinking was he wanted to bust through the entrance and let those monsters in here. I had to stop him.”

“Jill I don’t blame you. Honestly.”

“Really?”

Jill hung her head, with tears slipping down her face. “I should have just let the car hit me. I shouldn’t have fired.”

“Jill you did the right thing at the time. If anyone else would have been in your shoes, they are lying if they say they would have not fired that gun. I probably would have myself.”

“Yes. While my heart is ripped in two at the moment, it will heal. Cindi was losing herself with that man and it didn’t matter what I did to try and keep her away, it seemed she always found a way to be with him. I can’t tell you how many people would tell me they saw those two together.”

“I tried to keep her busy with jobs myself but it was so hard. Tom loved her so much, he couldn’t stand seeing her do manual labor and would have her stop.” Jill added.

“I just don’t understand Tom. He hasn’t spoken to me since that night. It’s amazing the things you can still accomplish without speaking to each other. How’s Casey holding up with all this?

“He drifts in and out. Tom is avoiding him too, and it’s tearing him up too. Casey just wants to help, both of you, and he feels clueless.”

“Jill I’m not sure anyone can help. Tom is in a dark place right now. He’s even ignoring Susie.”

“Vikki I have to know.  Was Cindi pregnant?” Vikki closed her eyes and looked down, not a good sign.

“I only have speculation, but Cindi was late. I can only guess why. If she took a pregnancy test she hid it. Part of me says no way, not my little girl. But then the sensible part of me acknowledges that my 19 yr daughter was sexually active and yes she was probably pregnant.” More tears came down from Jill.

“Please don’t cry honey. There’s nothing anyone can do now. But if I ever see that son of bitch Jeff again, I’ll slit his throat in a heartbeat.” Vikki said.

Days, three long ass days had passed, Jeff had been hiding outside the walls of the so called fort. Thank god they were so close to suburbia, he was able to drag his limp, broken body to an empty house however many blocks away with running water. Of course no food, but he could deal with that. If only that stupid bitch had just waited like he said, she wouldn’t have gotten herself killed and they’d be miles away from this place. But she had to freak out because Tyler wasn’t with him. What was he supposed to say, admit that he killed him, hell no, who better to take the blame then that convenient little slut Jill.

Part of him really wished Cindi would have been able to finish the job she had started, but he didn’t mind now taking it over. God his knee hurt, after Cindi went nuts and left him back in the garages he was left to watch the crash and chaos ensue. He climbed up the building and flung his body over fencing and barbed wire, only 30ft drop. He barely cleared the fence and some of the razor wire cut into his side and unbeknownst to him, thinking he just twisted his knee, he actually tore the MCL in his left knee, ligaments completely gone. Jeff lay on the couch in pain and a raging fever with an infection starting from the open wound on his side. He found some old Tylenol in the med cabinet, and had been close to OD’ing a couple times now. He had to find a vehicle. He knew there was no way he could walk or even run, but most cars were rotted to the ground having not been maintained in any way. Using an old ski pole he found in a closet as a cane Jeff meandered outside to the garage to take a look. A car or a minivan to be exact was there. He busted the window, got in and messed around at hot wiring it for a while to no avail. Fuck. He sat there thinking he was going to die with those bastards having gotten the best of him, when he saw a bike hanging from the ceiling. Managing to get the bike down, the tires flat, but of course his luck was changing and there was a foot pump in the corner, with an extra chain, some oil, water bottles, and other various tools. He grabbed a sponge bob back pack from the house, having filled all the bottles up and pumping the tires full of air, he set off from the house. It was dark now, took him most the day and his energy to get everything together. He road back towards the fort, staying just out of sight as he gazed over at it, watching the people make their rounds on watch detail, he remembered hearing Jill talk about the makeshift towns set up around the area to the south of here, from what she said it sounded like his kind of place. Flipping the fort the bird he turned and road off, vowing he’d return with an army, of sorts.

“I don’t think I can stay here.” A single phrase uttered. Casey stepped forward towards Tom.

“You can’t mean that.” He said putting his hand on Tom’s shoulder.

“I do.” Tom replied expressionless. “It’s hard being here now, with Cindi gone.” It had been a few days since the tragic accident with Cindi and the break out involving Jeff.

“What does your wife say, does Vikki want to leave? We’ve been together so long, you know there’s really nowhere else to go.”

“Why do you think this is the only place that’s set up? The only place with people that are surviving? You’re not some sort of king that controls us.” Tom was getting very agitated now.

“You’re like my brother Tom. We’ve been through so much together. I don’t want to be here without you by my side.

“I can’t stand looking at her every day. Vikki say’s we have to forgive, but I don’t think I can.”

“Are you serious right now? Listen to what you’re saying. You act as if Jill killed her in cold blood. It was self-defense and you know it. Cindi was misled, she fell for that jackass’s tricks and he lead her astray. Jill isn’t to blame.” Casey was trying anyway to reason with Tom now.

“But nothing has been done, no punishment, no anything.” Tom replied with venom in his voice.

“She said she was sorry.” Casey offered a meager response knowing it was not adequate.

“I don’t want her sorry, I want my daughter back.”

“Punishing Jill wouldn’t bring her back. What do you want us to do?? Kick her out, make her leave? You know Jack would leave with her. You would seal that boy’s fate too.” Now, trying desperately with threats to keep Tom here and see reason.

“I don’t know what I want, I just hurt. All the time now, I can’t think about anything else, I just see her laying there in that blood, knowing it was Jill that put her there like that.”

“What would you do if Cindi had killed Jill with that truck?” Casey was trying to flip the tables for Tom to understand the consequences his daughter may have faced had she lived. “That would have been murder, and we would have had to act on that, and you know it. You know it in your heart that you would have lost Cindi that way too.”  Tom grabbed Casey’s shirt collar brought him right up to his face.

“At least she would have been alive!” He sounded almost hysterical now.

“So you would have sacrificed Jill’s life . . . . . . for your daughter to have been a murderer?” Casey was scared what the answer was going to be.

“Yes. I guess that’s exactly what I’m saying.” Tom thrust Casey away from him.

Most days Jill seemed to just wander from place to place, job to job, if she wasn’t staying shut up in her room. But that was about as far as she went. It had been about week or so since Cindi died. Jeff had yet to be found and the place seemed split with what was the true story around Cindi’s death. Jill just didn’t know what to say nor do. She still couldn’t believe Casey talked her into staying here, she should have just left when she was pumped up to go. Jill was walking around outside enjoying the day as much as she could now, it had been a while since the sun shone so bright, summer was in full swing, it had been rainy and gray since the mall excursion. That was rough. She neared the back of the lumber yard thinking about how she almost lost Casey and it a curd to her that she couldn’t leave this place, she couldn’t leave Casey. She especially couldn’t ask him to leave for her. This was their new home, their new world in a sense.  Maybe one day years down the road this shit would get straightened out. She could hear loud talking and what sounded like scuffling. She hustled over to where she could see people crowding around.

“Fuck you . . oof!” A sound reverberated like someone smacking a wet ham. Casey slammed his fist into the side of Tom’s already bloody face. Tom recovered quickly and lunged, tackling him in the gut and taking Casey to the ground hard. They rolled, arms flying at each other’s side. *smack* A fist hit a torso, *thump* elbow in the ribs. Jill pushed through and saw the guys rolling around the ground and asked “Why aren’t we stopping this?”

“We thought maybe they had some issues to work out.” A random person in the crowd said.

“We’ll this is over!” Jill ran forward and couple guys finally joined her to pull the guys apart. It took a few minutes, they were still trying to reach and kick each other. Finally, with heavy breathing, they each took in the sight before them and calmed down.

“I’m done with this bullshit.” Tom was spitting blood out of his mouth.

“Fine, then go! But you leave here with nothing more than anyone else would get.” Casey clearly upset with what had transpired. He didn’t want to fight Tom, he was his brother, he just wanted to help him and heal their family. But after taking some many hits to the face Casey couldn’t think of a better solution.

“Wait Tom, Vikki doesn’t want to go.” Jill stepped in saying. He stalked towards hers.

“What did you say? You don’t talk to her or us.” Casey slide over between them.

“Oh that’s right, protect your murdering whore.” People gasped with that phrase as if smelling salts would be needed in a moment. Casey put his hands up in a surrendering gesture.

“Tom I know what you’re going through. I lost my daughter too.” Casey said very serious.

“Fuck you. I lost my daughter, I didn’t miss place some baby.” Casey saw red and swung with all his might catching Tom right in the cheek and knocking him down hard.

“You’re way out of line there Tom.” Someone pointed out.

“Yeah man you need to chill just a bit, we’ll get you some water, maybe drink of some Jack or something.” Another person said.

Very serious and sober, he stood back up, looked around at everyone and then back at Casey and Jill,

“I’m leaving in an hour.” Tom wiped his face, walking away ending what the two men had come to know over the last year and half of living together. The crowd slowly dispersed after having witnessed . . . well they weren’t really sure at the moment, but the worry was there about some sort of break down happening in this place.

“Should we go clean you up?” She asked Casey after everyone had departed.

“Yeah, sure.” Jill grabbed his hand and pulled him to where the showers had been located.

Miles and miles away, still on his bike Jeff continued to pedal, his knee killing him. He was getting sicker with his infected cuts and possible broken ribs. If he didn’t find some sort of help or medicine soon he’d for sure die soon. He was stupid and tried going downtown to seek help, but that turned into a complete failure. Zombies were every way, thousands and thousands of them, milling around just waiting for fresh meat He’d be back for them, his soldiers. He rode on. Now out in a more rural area, he seemed completely alone, isolated and cut off. Farm land was all around him. He’d never been alone before, he’d always had Tyler to keep him company. He’d been riding for about 2 days, dusk was settling around him. His knee throbbed, and was swollen. His side ached with the cut that wasn’t healing, damn it he was dying and he knew it. As he thought about his new mission in life, for the hundredth time, killing Jill and burning that fort to the ground, he didn’t notice the barn up ahead that was surrounded miles of aluminum fencing or that he had been spotted by its inhabitants.