As The World Dies: The First Days-A Zombie Trilogy Read online

"Oh, there is," she answered, feeling slight guilt at her determination to make him think she was an unattainable lesbian. Of course, the painful truth was she was drawn to him and that felt like an utter betrayal of Lydia. "I have all sorts of deep dark secrets."

  "Ah, I see," he said, and squinted his eyes at her. "You know, I don't believe you."

  Katie laughed. "Seriously. I have all sorts of secrets that would tantalize you. But that's okay. My life as a super spy should be kept secret. I made James Bond look like a wussy."

  "I see. Well, then I won't tell you that I'm a space alien," Travis said with a nod of his head.

  Katie smirked and clicked her bottle of beer against his. "You got a deal."

  Curtis wandered over and looked at them uncomfortably. "Did you get an update on our newest addition?"

  "Yeah, the Mayor told us. He wasn't too happy about Ritchie showing up or the story around it," Travis answered.

  "Look, I know I'm not one to say what does or does not happen, but I think we should just put him out of his misery and dump him over the wall. Seriously, he's nothing but a piece of white trash." Curtis looked more upset than Katie had ever seen him.

  Travis stood up and said softly, "Curtis, this is something that we all have to discuss together. Seriously, in this world, I feel everyone has a chance. Even the local crack dealer."

  "Meth dealer," Curtis corrected.

  Katie stood up as well and said in a low voice, "But at the same time we need to make sure our safety isn't compromised by people who have no idea of how to work with the community."

  Travis looked at her, startled, and said, "A human being is a human being, Katie."

  "Yes, but at the same time, what will he add to our community? If he honestly sacrificed others to save his own life and those people were his friends, then how do we know he won't do the same to us?" Katie looked at him very intently.

  "That's bullshit, Katie. I'm sorry. They are all strung up on drugs and doing stupid stuff like going into a zombie-infested clinic. They are not in their right mind." Travis put his hands on his hips and returned her gaze.

  Curtis shook his head. "Look, Travis, I have some serious concerns and I'm sure others do as well."

  "Then we handle it as a group," Travis answered immediately.

  "Don't get defensive if we don't agree with your point of view, Travis," Katie said firmly.

  "I just don't understand how you could not see that everyone has a right to life," Travis responded.

  Katie shook her head and looked away from him. She ended up looking across the construction site toward the new area. There were at least four men up on the new wall shouting down at the zombies. Katie noticed one was even peeing on them.

  "Travis, I think we may have other troubles," she said and pointed.

  "Ah, shit."

  Katie watched as another man flung his empty beer bottle down at the zombies. Maybe it was because she was now aware of the situation, but she could swear the zombies were getting louder.

  "I'll get Bill so we can go get them," Curtis said gruffly.

  Travis agreed with this and Curtis walked off. "I'm going to go and get them down before one of them takes a header into the crowd."

  "I'll come with you," Katie answered, setting down her half-empty beer.

  Travis sighed and headed down the stairs. Katie followed, her hands in her jacket pockets. As they passed the closed door to her tiny room she shared with Jenni, she smiled to herself, realizing she probably was going to have to find somewhere else to sleep.

  Out in the courtyard, there was more commotion. Several of the older people and a few parents were talking loudly to Mike, demanding that he shut up the men on the wall. Children were trying to sleep, as were the older people. Mike was nodding, promising to do something, when Travis and Katie walked out of the city hall building with Curtis and Bill behind them.

  A few more men, drunk and rowdy, had climbed onto the wall next to the gate, jostling each other a little, trying to get into position to either throw things down at the zombies or urinate on them. Katie was glad she couldn't see the men's flopping penises from her viewpoint.

  "Let's go," Travis said to Mike as he passed them.

  Curtis and Bill stopped long enough to promise in their best policemen voice that the situation would soon be under control, then also followed.

  "Get down," Travis called out as he climbed up to the platform that served as an entrance to the new area.

  Shane, the redneck who had punched out Katie, turned and laughed. "Ah, c'mon, they just stand there with their mouths open."

  Next to him was his best buddy, Phil. "Yeah, Travis, they're just a bunch of dead dumb fucks."

  Travis didn't step out onto the three-foot wide wall, but stood on the platform looking toward the gate. The pounding was frantic.

  "You're stirring them up. Come on down."

  Several of the obviously very drunken men began to laugh. "C'mon, Travis. Stop being pussy-whipped by your lesbo girlfriend and lighten up."

  Shane whipped out his cock and waggled it at Katie before turning, drinking his beer, and urinating over the edge down onto the zombies below.

  Katie turned away, shaking her head.

  "C'mon, boys. Bring it back in," Bill said in a firm, authoritative voice.

  "You ain't a cop no more. Back off," Phil answered.

  "This is going to turn dirty," Katie whispered to Travis.

  "Shut up, lesbo bitch! Who asked you to fucking open your mouth?" Phil's voice was full of hate and his gaze was hostile.

  "Nah, Phil. Let her open her mouth. I got something right here for it," Shane answered, flapping his cock at her.

  "Gawd," Katie turned away again.

  "Get back now," Bill said. His voice was going to a calm, deadly place.

  Travis hesitated then started to follow Katie.

  "She ain't gonna give you any, Travis. She's a waste of ass," Shane said mockingly.

  "Fuck off, Shane," Travis answered.

  Shane continued to dance around, exposing himself.

  Travis looked ready to go out onto the wall and punch his lights out, but Katie grabbed his arm. "Let it go."

  "Yeah, Travis, let it go. She don't want you. Maybe we should just bend her over and turn her back to the man side of the force," Phil said nastily. He began fumbling with his zipper. In his drunken state, he wavered, his foot caught, and he went tumbling forward. He hit the top of the wall sideways and began to roll off when Shane caught him.

  "Oh, gawd," Katie murmured as Bill and Curtis rushed onto the narrow top of the wall to rescue Phil.

  Travis stepped back, his hand coming out to keep her behind him. Katie wasn't sure what he was thinking, but he seemed to think she needed protecting.

  The zombie moans and screams were increasingly loud and the banging on the gate was more energetic.

  Bill and Curtis managed to get a grip on Phil and with Shane's help and the help of a few others they managed to pull him up. Mike moved out onto the wall and began to corral the rest of the men back to the platform. Katie noticed that Shane and Phil avoided him and stumbled onto the platform.

  "Waiting for me, baby," Shane sneered at her.

  Katie just laughed and shook her head. She turned on her heel and walked away. Without looking behind her, she knew Travis was following. He caught up to her and slid his arm around her shoulders. Looking up at him, she could see he was more upset than she was.

  "Travis, I'm used to it," she said softly.

  "I'm not and it was bullshit," Travis answered darkly.

  "Let it go. It's not worth it. Lydia and I sometimes got comments like that. It's not uncommon. Some men are very intimidated by lesbians.”

  Travis shrugged and turned her toward him. "Yeah, but I don't like it."

  Katie tilted her head. "But they have a right to live here, too. And to be a part of this community."

  "Don't twist my words back in on me," Travis growled.

  "Look, we just have t
o deal, that's all," Katie answered, then yawned. "Gawd, I'm tired. And I have a feeling I don't have a place to sleep. Maybe Peggy can put me up."

  Travis shook his head. "No, come with me. Sleep with me."

  "Travis?" She blinked.

  "I said sleep. I didn't say have sex, okay?"

  Katie hesitated. "Okay."

  Travis led her toward the beat up portable building that was now a dorm. Entering it quietly, they made their way past recently constructed doors and walls that lead into tiny dorm rooms. Travis led her to a doorway at the end of a hall and opened up the door to his office. It was crowded with a desk, light table, and file cabinets. Up against the wall was a sofa that folded out into a bed. It was still rumpled from the night before, but Katie was too tired to care if it was freshly turned down or not. Sliding off her jacket, she flopped onto it and stared up at the ceiling.

  She felt so very tired, physically and emotionally. Shane and Phil just reminded her of all that she and Lydia had gone through together. But now she was dealing with it alone and the ache inside of her was intense.

  Travis shed his jacket and lay down next to her. "I'm sorry those guys are such shits."

  "Not your fault. Just part of life," she answered grimly. She closed her eyes and rolled onto her side.

  She could sense Travis beside her and his great need to reach out and touch her. But she ignored it and squeezed her eyes shut tighter. Curling up, she wished fervently the ache inside of her would subside, but it pulsated and ate at her.

  "Fuck this," Travis whispered and suddenly his arms were around her, dragging her deep into his embrace. He held her tightly and she clutched his wrists with her hands. "I can't stand to see you in pain."

  Katie smiled slightly and opened her eyes. Turning her head, she gazed at him gratefully. She knew she was a bullheaded Norse, prone to moodiness and the solitary, but he bulldozed her defenses and she rather needed that.

  "You're a very good friend, you know that?"

  "I'm trying," he answered, and snuggled against her.

  She closed her eyes again and enjoyed the sensation of his closeness. Already, the ache was fading, and she was too tired and stressed to think too deeply what that meant. For once, she just didn't want to think about what things meant. To just relax, to just not care, just for a little bit.

  Rolling over in his arms, she rested her hand against his neck, her thumb resting on his cheek and kissed his lips very softly. "Just for a moment," she whispered, her gaze searching out his.

  Travis didn't hesitate and kissed her deeply and slowly. His hand rested tenderly on her hers as they kissed. Almost as if he knew the kiss had grown to be too much for her to bear, he drew away and kissed her forehead. Silently, he laid his head next to hers and drew her hand up to his lips and kissed it.

  "Just for a moment," he said, and closed his eyes to sleep.

  She smiled, then fell away into a peaceful slumber.

  2. Dead Man’s Party Ends

  And so the party ended and people finally crept back to their beds, some so drunk they barely found their way. At last, silence descended except for the ceaseless moaning of the zombies.

  A steady rain started at some point of the night and many of the guards rushed to get ponchos.

  During the brief chaos, a figure made its way to the roof of the city hall, lugging another form with it. Without pause, it shoved the other form over the edge of the roof. It tumbled over easily, its arms and legs flailing, then it landed with a painful thump without uttering a sound.

  It did not take long for the zombies to find it and soon a feast erupted in the street.

  When the guard returned to his place, he noticed a heavily ravaged body standing in the street, swaying back and forth, it's head turned upwards.

  Its mouth was taped shut.

  It was Ritchie.

  Chapter 21

  1. Skin Against Skin

  Skin against skin…breath-consuming breath… limbs intertwined… soft moans… gentle whisperings…pleasure building steadily…

  Katie's hands slid over the broad shoulders of the man over her and tilted her head back, sighing softly, rapturously.

  "Travis…"

  His mouth slid over hers in a soft kiss and her fingers tangled in his hair.

  Suddenly, something gripped her leg painfully, angrily. She opened her eyes to see Lydia, mangled, bloodied, and dead leaning over them.

  "How could you," Lydia demanded in a raspy voice.

  Then she lunged forward, bloodied teeth desperate for flesh.

  Katie awoke and nearly fell off the bed in her haste to defend herself and Travis. Her heart was thundering in her chest and she pressed the flat of her hand against it to feel the harsh pulse beneath her fingers. Looking around, she realized the sun must be up for a yellowish light was seeping in around the mini-blinds.

  Travis was nowhere to be seen and she felt panic billowing up in her.

  Resting her booted feet against the floor, she leaned forward, taking deep breaths. Nothing had happened between her and Travis except for their goodnight kiss, but she still felt agonizing guilt. Rubbing her face with her hands, she tried to remove the vision of Lydia lunging forward to bite into Travis.

  Feeling like crying, she stood up shakily and grabbed the Reverend's jacket. She slid it on and ran her hands over her hair. It felt tangled and crazed and she pulled out the rubber band to let the curls fall around her face.

  Travis entered with his face grim and his gaze haunted. He saw her expression and moved toward her.

  "Katie," he said, concerned.

  She took a deep breath. "I had a nightmare."

  "Evidently. You look pale as a ghost." He touched her cheek softly.

  She had trouble looking at him in the eye and he gently turned her face toward him.

  When he saw the pain in her eyes, he gently lowered his hand. "Lydia?"

  Nodding mutely, she began to mess with her hair again.

  "Katie, I know what is going on is confusing," he started.

  Katie refused to look directly at him as she fussed with her hair. "You're not the one betraying your wife. Your entire life for years. You're not living with the knowledge that your wife is one of those things now!"

  Travis drew back and lowered his head, his expression tormented and sorrowful.

  "I lived my life for the last decade with an incredible woman who did nothing but love me unconditionally and believe in me. I loved-love her with all my heart and it kills me that she is gone."

  Travis looked up with her, a stricken expression on his face. "I understand."

  Katie tried hard not to cry and shook her head. "No, you don't. You don't know what it is like to live your life with someone you love more than life itself and have people treat you like shit because of it. How you don't hold hands or kiss in public out of fear. Or the way it feels when you do finally come out fully to a world that swings back and forth between wanting to see you fuck your wife or drive you out of the neighborhood. You don't understand."

  Travis took hold of her wrist and drew her near. His voice was very raw with emotion. "Don't tell me that I don't know what it is like to love someone. If you haven't figured it out, I do love you. And I will continue to do so as you deal with the ghost of Lydia in your life. Maybe I'm a fool to believe you could love me back, but your kiss gave me hope. Lydia may have been your life and hope before, but now she is your tormentor and your curse."

  "Fuck you!"

  "Katie, our world is dead. Everything that we were is dead. This is the new world. What we make of it. It's been a few weeks, but it feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Who you are now is not who you were on that first day."

  She sobbed and nodded mutely. It did seem like an eternity ago. Time seemed odd and cruel. Everyone seemed to be living at an accelerated pace.

  "I feel lost without her here. I miss her! Every day I miss her and the only way I can deal with it is to not think about her!" She gasped at her own words and covere
d her mouth with her fingers.

  Travis' gaze warmed and he reached out toward her. "Katie, you're not doing anything wrong. She loved you and you loved her. But you can't let that stop you from living now."

  She blinked the tears from her lashes and took a slow, stuttering breath.

  Katie drew back from him, covering her face with her hands. She trembled at the impact of his words and he slipped his arms around her and held her gently. Laying her hands on his chest, she looked up at him and sighed.

  "I can't forget her."

  "And you shouldn't," he assured her. He kissed her forehead and drew away.

  She rubbed her face and then ran her hands over her T-shirt to smooth it out as she tried to regain her composure. Right now, she couldn't fully examine his words or try to deal with them, but they had hit a harsh chord within her.

  "You didn't come in here to calm me down from a nightmare," she said after a beat.

  "Yeah, we have a situation. It's not going to be pleasant. Someone threw Ritchie over the wall, bound and gagged."

  Katie dropped her hands. "What?"

  Travis looked at her sadly. "He's out there, in the street, staring up at the city hall. He's not moving, just staring. He's pretty much eaten away, but you can tell it was him."

  "Oh, gawd, that's awful," Katie gasped.

  "Yeah. And I have to go find Juan. He's suspect number one, followed by Curtis."

  Katie shook her head. "No, no, I don't believe either one of them would do that."

  "Yeah, but Bill is investigating so we need to find Juan," Travis answered grimly.

  "He's with Jenni," Katie said.

  "Yeah, so I thought you should come with me."

  "Okay, let’s go."

  Their walk across the construction site was uneventful. It was early morning and many people were up at breakfast or still asleep. The sun was barely up and a thick mist, two feet deep, drifted over the ground. As they walked, Katie glanced toward Travis and saw absolute devastation written on his features. He was taking a lot of hard knocks and she knew she was part of it.

  She was struggling hard against her internal turmoil. Never had she felt so conflicted. Well, actually, she had, back in high school when she had come out as a staunch lesbian and had endured much vilification at the hands of her former friends. Cheerleaders were not gay. And then in her senior year, she and her girlfriend had broken up and Katie had unexpectedly fallen in love with her first boyfriend. It had been a huge relief to her parents and her friends, but it had thrown her a little. But she had been young and embraced her boyfriend with all the love and passion she had embraced her girlfriend. When he had started pushing her to have sex with another girl with him watching, that had ended their relationship. He had been pleasant enough, but she despised him for trying to use her sexuality just for his pleasure.