Chapter Two

I find Felicia working in one of the bottom-level classrooms that used to be some kind of agricultural class, judging by the built-on greenhouse attached to the back of the room. With her are Daisy, Rose, and a handful of other girls who are stuck with washing duty. Between the eight girls are three large metal tubs full of cold, soapy water and a handful of washboards. A few of them scrub the clothes as thoroughly as they can, before passing them off to be wrung out.

A few lines of cord hung up in the greenhouse serve as makeshift clotheslines, where the clothes are hung up to dry in the sunlight. Beneath them are a few plastic trays of plants that are still in the process of growing, courtesy of the agricultural teacher that taught his students to grow things. Peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots, and cabbage are a few of the seed packets that were left behind, and we planted them a few weeks ago, though much hasn’t grown yet. Aaron and I are afraid we waited too long to plant them to expect anything to grow before winter.

However, the greenhouse ceiling lets in light and heat without letting it out, so we may be able to grow a few of them inside during the winter months. If not, we’ll have to ration our canned goods even more than we already do, and that will bring down our morale lower than it already is.

I take a seat next to Felicia and grab a stained shirt from a pile beside her. I’m not sure whose shirt it is, but it’s definitely seen better days. Most of the clothes aren’t in the greatest of conditions. They’re ripped, stained, or threadbare. The camp will definitely need newer stuff before winter arrives, or many of the people here will freeze. And people who are cold, hungry, and scared do not make for good workers.

Dunking the threadbare shirt into the cold water, I begin to vigorously scrub it against one of the old-fashioned washboards, but I’m not sure if it will come clean yet or not. There are a ton of bloodstains in these clothes that no amount of hand washing will get out. When the shirt is relatively clean, I pass it off to one of the other girls. She wrings it out into a fourth tub near the back of the room that collects the dirty water, and then she hangs it up with a clothespin to dry.

“How was your training lesson?” Felicia asks, scrubbing a pair of jeans with a bristled brush. “Did you learn anything new?”

I shake my head. “Nope. I was a teacher today, not a student. There were only thirteen people in class today counting me, and there were two new kids that haven’t been here long. Aaron asked me to help show them the basics while he taught the rest of the class. Apparently he thinks I could be a good teacher.”

Felicia’s hand pauses mid-scrub and she sighs wistfully. “Aaron sure is cute, isn’t he?”

I nod in agreement. “Yeah, he is,” I say as Rose, Daisy, and the others mutter a chorus of agreement.

Aaron is easily the most sought after man at the camp, and any of the three of them would love to spend the night with him. Even though I know it’ll never happen, I won’t dash their daydreams out from under them. Those simple daydreams are what keep many of us going from day-to-day. Without them, I have a feeling many would kill themselves, unable to face the horrors out there without some kind of escape, no matter how temporary it may be.

“Is there something going on between you two?” Felicia asks as she hands off a pair of jeans to be wrung out. “I’ve seen you two flirting a couple of times. I think you’d make a cute couple.”

When I look up from my shirt to answer, I notice that all the other girls in the room are staring at me in surprise. Daisy and the others look shocked, but Rose just looks skeptical. Her skepticism stings a little, but I can definitely understand it. I’m a cute girl, with my long, strawberry blonde hair, my light blue eyes, and my athletic build, but cute girls do not often get the attention of a guy like Aaron…I think to myself.

“No, there’s nothing going on between me and Aaron,” I say finally. “He and I are just friends. He saved my life and brought me here. Without him, I would have probably died. He and I are both unattached and we just like to flirt with one another.”

Daisy smiles. “Sure you are. Nobody can be just friends with Aaron Monroe. It’s alright if you two are sleeping together. We won’t tell anyone,” she promises quickly.

I laugh. “We are not sleeping together. I wish, though. I haven’t been with anyone since before the infection started.” I glance over at Felicia. “But you probably don’t need to hear any of this, do you?”

“I’m fourteen,” Felicia says with a smile. “I’m not stupid. Most ten year olds know all about sex these days. In fact, there were a couple of freshman in my grade that were having sex. One girl even got pregnant at fourteen. Her parents disowned her and kicked her out. I found out about that a month before the infection spread.” Felicia stops scrubbing again and frowns. “She’s probably long dead by now.”

We all stop what we’re doing and stare at her until she begins to shift uncomfortably in her seat. “Felicia–” I begin.

“Well, she is,” Felicia says defensively, narrowing her eyes at all of us as if we’re accusing her of murder instead of just worrying about her wellbeing. “You think it would be easy for a fourteen year old girl to survive the zombie apocalypse, let alone a pregnant fourteen year old? She and the baby are both probably long dead, along with everyone else I knew!” she shouts, throwing the bristled brush into to the tub harshly, splattering us all with soapy water.

When none of us speaks, she gets up and storms out of the room, leaving us all worried and speechless. After a minute, everyone goes back to what they were doing before her outburst, but I just stare at that door, hoping she doesn’t do something stupid like hurt herself. When I’m sure she isn’t coming back, I grab the remaining clothes in her pile, and I start to scrub them clean.

*****

“Hey, Madison,” Aaron says, stopping me on my way back to my room after washing clothes. “I need a huge favor, and you’re the only one I can trust.”

“What do you need?”

“I need someone to come into town with me on a supply run. I’ve got a few soldiers willing to help out, but I want someone that knows the area a little better than them. You survived here in town for a while on your own; I thought you might be able to help.”

Aaron gives me plenty of time to think over his question without rushing me, because he knows how serious this is. I haven’t been outside the fenced-in perimeter since Aaron found me five month ago, and to be honest, I haven’t had the slightest urge to leave the safety of this camp. Even though we desperately need supplies, many refuse to go on the supply runs; there are so many things that can go wrong, and they don’t always come back. We’ve lost eight men and women on supply runs in the past three and a half weeks. Those that have come back in one piece claim that the zombie population is increasing daily, and soon there will be thousands in this portion of the city alone.

We really need the supplies. We’re short on food and clothes, and people are starting to complain to Aaron every chance they get. It’s not like I’ll be going alone. Aaron will be with me, plus the few volunteers he got to help out. I’ll be as protected as I can be while on the outside. But is it worth the risk?

I take a deep breath. “Alright, Aaron. I’ll help you out. But I want you with me at all times. Not any of the other guys. I don’t trust them to watch my back like I do you. Got it?”

He nods his head in agreement. “You have my word. You and I do not get separated from each other under any circumstances.” He looks at me more closely, before turning and walking down the hall. I have to walk quickly to keep up with his longer legs, but the pace doesn’t bother me. “I know you haven’t really had a chance to try out a gun for real, so just stay close and watch what I do and if you need help, just holler, and I’ll come running.”

“I think I’ll be fine,” I say, eyeing the handgun in the holster on his belt. “Guns really aren’t complicated if you’ve had a bit of practice. It also doesn’t hurt to have a cute soldier for a teacher.”

Aaron smiles at me, but he has that look on his face that I’ve seen many times, and I get the feeling he’s remembering something from before the infection broke out. “I know; I had a cute teacher, too. He was one of the best teachers I’ve ever met, but I’m sure he’s long gone now,” he says, getting that solemn look most people have when thinking of their past lives.

I pat him awkwardly on the shoulder as we arrive at the front door to the school. It’s the only door aside from the backdoor near the greenhouse that isn’t chained and locked shut. Standing near the open door are six men, five of which I’ve never interacted with before, though I’ve definitely seen them around. The sixth man is more familiar to me, and I smile at the sight of him.

“Hey, Michael. So, Aaron roped you into coming with us, too?”

He chuckles and rests a large, warm hand on my shoulder in a good-natured manner. “Someone’s gotta keep you two kids in line, right? Just think of all the trouble you’d get into without a chaperone!” he says with another chuckle, and I notice the other soldiers join in. Aaron looks slightly uncomfortable, but he brushes it off. “You know, the outside world isn’t exactly the safest place for a young girl these days, maybe you should stay here,” Michael adds with a frown.

“I’m twenty years old, Michael,” I say defensively, though to be honest, I’m a little touched at his concern for my wellbeing. “I survived out there before, and that was before Aaron took me under his wing and showed me a few things. Just give me a gun, and I’ll be just fine out there. Who knows, I might even save your ass once or twice.”

The soldiers all chuckle again and I look over at Michael, and I’m surprised to find him looking at me with a strange expression on his face. When he catches me staring at him as he stares at me, he quickly averts his dark brown eyes and runs a massive hand nervously through his short dark blonde hair. Michael Davidoff is in his mid to late thirties, but he looks younger than that, probably due to the fact that he’s built like a machine. He’s easily six feet tall and his entire body is covered in thick muscle, testament to his fifteen years in the military flying all sorts of aircraft for our country.

It’s a shame there isn’t much of a country left for him to serve.

“Alright people. We’re going into town to look for any supplies we can find. At this point, nothing is unneeded, but our priorities should be canned goods, durable clothing, and more ammunition if we can find it. I know that last one is a long shot, but we have to try, or we’ll have to learn to use swords and spears. Now, once we get into town, we’ll go off in groups of four. Stay vigilant and watch out for each other,” Aaron says, looking each man in the eyes.

He’s a good leader, I think to myself as we head out of the school. Even though he’s younger than many of the men here and he only won the leadership because of the female vote, he knows what needs to done, and he has no problem doing it. I wonder if any of the other soldiers resent him for being in charge…

With a small handgun in my hand, I feel better protected and more likely to survive this supply run. It doesn’t hurt that Aaron and two other soldiers are with us. Michael nods his head slightly at me as he and his group split off and head in the opposite direction. I watch him go, and I can’t help but wonder if this will be the last time I see the friendly giant. Unfortunately, it’s a thought I’ve had many, many times since the infection broke out.

Aaron taps my shoulder to get my attention, and I give him an apologetic smile. He and I jog down the street to catch up with our two companions, and I try to make my movements more silent and stealthy, like his. But I’m not trained soldier, and my boots thump heavily on the ground with each step. When we catch up with the others, one of them turns and narrows his eyes at me. “You need to learn to move more quietly, or you’re gonna get us killed, Kid.”

I narrow my eyes right back at him. “Don’t call me kid. I’ve seen just as much death as any of you, and I’ve managed to come out on top for now. Don’t underestimate me and don’t talk down to me like I’m some inexperienced child.”

Aaron puts a hand on my shoulder. “Let it go. We need to keep quiet and keep our heads in this. Now, let’s head over to that store and see if there’s anything still left. We have a baby about to be born any day, and it’ll need something to wear. Start with baby clothes, but grab anything else you can find.” The other two soldiers dart across the street in a well-practiced way that hints at their official training, and they motion for us to follow them when they deem the coast to be clear.

Aaron puts his hand at my back and pushes me forward, taking the rear. I twist and turn as I walk, trying to look in all directions to make sure we’re alone on this empty, destroyed street. Everywhere I look I see the results of the end of the world: abandoned cars rest along every street, windows have been broken out of stores, blood covers every bench, wall, and stretch of street, and bodies litter the ground, though most of them are in pieces or are so bloated they’re beyond recognition.

Aaron firmly grips my arm and steers me away from the carnage in the streets, pushing me in front of him. I get the feeling he’s trying to protect me from any more horrid sights, kind of like a brother might do for a younger sister. Knowing there’s a possibility that Aaron cares for me in that kind of a way is a refreshing change from the normal things I’ve seen lately. These days, people look out for themselves and nobody else, even their own family. I’ve seen people who abandoned their spouses or parents or even their children just so they could get away.

It just goes to show you how spineless some people can be, and that family ties and loyalty only matter until you’re in danger of being eaten alive. Then it’s everybody for themselves…

The two other soldiers in our group stop and immediately press their backs up against the front of a store, crouching down low in the process. Aaron and I do the same, trying to make ourselves as small as possible against this wall. Sensing the potentially dangerous situation we’re in, I bring my gun out in front of me, using both hands to steady it. Seconds pass by in total silence and we all hold our breath as if our lives depend on it.

Slowly, the sounds of shuffling feet reach my ears, along with the quiet moan of the dead. As the sounds draw closer, my heart starts to race, and my hands begin to tremble. The intense urge to turn and flee builds up and the muscles in my leg tense as I prepare to run in the opposite direction. The only thing that stops me from running away is Aaron’s hand as it clamps down on my shoulder, silently reassuring me that everything will be okay once more.

The first zombie walks into view and the sight of her causes me to flinch. The left half of her face is missing, and judging by the jagged tearing, it appears as if the skin has been chewed away. The whiteness of her cheekbone that peeks out from beneath torn flesh catches my attention, and I can feel the bile rising in the back of my throat, harsh and acidic. I bite down on my lip, close my eyes, and count to ten until the urge to puke begins to subside.

When I open my eyes, the woman missing half of her face has already shuffled past our hiding place, but others are starting to come out of the alley after her. I count four more zombies, all missing various appendages or features, and I feel a moment of pity for them. Just by looking at them I know they suffered before their deaths since not one of them is a whole person, but I wonder if any part of who they were is still locked away inside their minds. I wonder if they’re aware of what they’ve become, of who they’ve hurt, or even of their own suffering.

As I ponder their depressing fates, the group of five continues past us until they disappear around a nearby corner. The second they’re gone, the soldiers in front of me cautiously get up and scan the street in both directions, checking to make sure the coast is clear. They signal back to us, and Aaron and I get to our feet and follow after them. When I reach the opening to the alley, I turn and look into the dark space between buildings, just to make sure there are no more zombies. Being thorough and careful is what’s kept me alive this long, and I don’t plan on being lazy just because I’m with a group of trained soldiers.

The first thing I notice in the alley is what looks like a recently dead man. Or at least what’s left of a dead man. The majority of his skin and muscle has been stripped away from the bone, and I wonder if there’s enough left to reanimate after having been fed on by that small pack of zombies. I have seen many zombies that are missing entire limbs or chunks from their bodies, but I’ve never seen one reanimate after being so completely ripped apart.

Movement stirs at the back of the alley, catching my attention in an instant. Four of his fingers have been eaten away, but the one that still remains begins to twitch against the bloody ground. Aaron appears at my side, and his eyes lock onto what’s left of the man’s corpse just as his arm lifts from the ground as if to wave at us. Aaron stiffens at the sight of the zombie and silently draws a knife from a sheath on his belt.

One of the soldier’s narrows his eyes at Aaron’s back. “Aaron!” he hisses angrily. “We don’t have time for this. It’s not even a threat to us; leave it!”

Aaron ignores the calls of his men and keeps walking towards the man on the ground. I don’t know why, but I follow him into the dark alleyway without hesitation. When I reach Aaron, he’s kneeling on the ground beside what’s left of the man’s face, and I wince. There isn’t much there other than bone and a few scraps of hair, but Aaron clearly sees something human still in him.

I worry that Aaron might be kneeling too close to the zombie for comfort, but he doesn’t seem to notice. Even when the zombie turns his head slightly, opening and closing his mouth–trying in vain to move what’s left of his body so he can get a bite–Aaron doesn’t move. He knows that what is left of this poor creature is of no threat to him, and this may be the closest we can safely get to study one of them. Even though I know this creature is dangerous, curiosity draws me closer. I crouch down beside Aaron to get my first up-close look at these monsters. Every other time I’ve been close enough to take a glance, I’ve been running for my life or hiding in an attempt to stay alive.

The first thing I notice about this creature is his right eye. The left one is gone, but it has to be the same startling shade of blue as his remaining one. That one remaining blue eye fixes on me, and it looks so normal—so human—I can’t bring myself to look away. Without breaking eye contact, he lunges at me and what’s left of his hand grasps my ankle. The scream builds up in my throat, but before I can let it out, Aaron pounces with the knife, driving it deep into the head of the zombie.