The Zombie Chronicles - Book 2 (Apocalypse Infection Unleashed Series) (10 page)

“
It scabbed over already. I know it’s a little gross, but I think I’ll live.”

“
I’m just glad you escaped from that hole with nothing but that cut,” she said. “When you told us you were stuck down there with zombies, I about freaked.”

“
Me too,” I said, not wanting to recall it. I was desperate to change the subject, tired of talking about the undead. “So…tell me about your grandparents’ farm. You drove that harvester like a champ.”

She chuckled. “I did, didn’t I? Their farm was wonderful. They had chickens, cows, pigs, and horses, my favorite. I used to ride this black stallion, bareback, through a green meadow covered in wildflowers. I’ll never forget how the wind whipped through my hair.”

Talking about her childhood memories calmed her down. When she laughed, her face lit up. She was so adorable that I just couldn’t help myself. Without even thinking about it, I pulled her close and kissed her. As she
slid her hands up my chest, she grasped me behind the
neck. My heart raced. I had never wanted anybody as much as I wanted her. She slid her hands through my hair as
I rolled my tongue across her lips. Murmuring my name, she went weak in my arms as we shared a slow, passionate kiss. Sliding my hands down her body, I kissed the soft skin of her neck.

Then, just like that, she pulled away from me. “As great as this is, we’d better get some sleep. We’ll be on the road in no time.”

That was my cue: She wasn’t ready to go any farther with me yet—and she was right. It was best not to rush things. I knew it as well as she did, but I couldn’t help getting carried away. I snuggled next to her, and she whispered, “Goodnight,” before we fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Chapter 12

Morning came without incident. It was nice to know we could actually stay the night somewhere without the place being ransacked by zombies. Tahoe’s signal remained motionless, so we had to assume he either hadn’t gotten up yet or the zombies had enjoyed a delicious traitor omelet for breakfast.

I zombie-sat Val while the others made sure it was safe to venture out of the gym where, in spite of the stale smell, we had managed to get a good night’s sleep. Staring across the gym at the punching bags, I squeezed my eyes shut.
The possibility of losing Val hurt so much. I looked at her, sleeping soundly, curled up in a ball like a tired kitten. She had been feverish the night before, but her skin had cooled down noticeably, and her heavy gasps for air had slowed into shallow breaths, signaling that the virus was finally giving her a few hours of peace. I looked away as my thoughts consumed me once more.
If we don’t get that serum soon, we’re gonna lose her.
It wasn’t news or a sudden realization, yet the knowledge still hurt, the emotional turmoil tugged at my heart, making me want to hurl and shout at the top of my lungs.
Why did this have to happen to my sister? Why this century? Why our world?

Jackie came from behind and touched my arm, startling me. She knew the anguish I was going through, for I had shared my thoughts with her the night before. “We’ll get that cure back, no matter what,” she said softly.

I nodded grimly, wanting to share her optimism. Part of me believed wholeheartedly that we’d save Val, but lingering doubts banged around inside my head. Even if Tahoe managed to escape the frenzied flock of zombies, there was no guarantee that we’d find him easily or in time to save Val.
And what if he sees us coming? What if he manages to evade us once more?
Val was slowly but steadily turning. If we missed that fragile moment between her life and death, she’d be gone to us forever.

I nodded as I scooped my sister up and exited through the doors, then gently placed her on the bed we’d set up inside the pick-up truck, where we could see her and act quickly should something change about her condition.
Nick had come up with the idea; he said the cool air would do her good and keep her health from worsening, buying us a few more hours. The unspoken reason was for our safety. The sunlight cast a murky green glow over her skin, and her breathing morphed into small, animalistic pants as droplets of sweat rolled down her forehead.

“
Nick,” I said, “she looks horrible.”

“
I know,” he answered grimly.

He was the suffer-in-silent type, but the worried lines running across his face made what was going on inside more than obvious. His gaze shot over to Jackie and Claire, who were sitting in the bed of the truck next to Val. Claire was wiping off Val’s sweaty face with a damp washcloth, while Jackie held her hand.

“
Claire, Jackie,” Nick said, “I want you to ride up front with Lucas, okay?”

“
But Val needs me,” Claire said.

Nick cleared his throat. “Dean and I would like to have a private moment with our sister. I hope you understand.”

Of course it was true, but I knew there was also a hidden meaning behind his words. Val had hung on for as long as she could. Our sister’s turning was inevitable—and close. She was going to change, and he wanted Claire and Jackie safe inside the truck when she did.

Claire touched Nick’s shoulder. “If you need anything…”

He nodded but didn’t answer.

Claire lingered a tad longer, then left with Jackie, and they squeezed inside with Lucas.

The more I thought about it, the more I was glad it was just the two of us in the back with her. We were her family, and we would be with her to the end, just like family is supposed to. My throat tightened as emotions welled up inside. I just wanted that girl back, the one I’d met the day we’d crashed into that zombie nightmare—that spunky being full of spirit, just like Mom. I didn’t want to lose Val. I couldn’t, and I vowed we wouldn’t. But to keep that commitment, we needed to find Tahoe.

Lucas stomped on the gas pedal and pulled onto the main road. The warm, gusting wind blew through my hair as the smell of wet grass and rotting cornfields drifted all around us.

The sun disappeared, and the sky grew dark, signaling an approaching storm while the pickup raced down the deserted highway. I gripped the side tightly as we wobbled over every bump and jolt, always keeping my gaze on Val, trying to be sure she wasn’t
too uncomfortable.

After a little while, she opened her eyes and met my gaze. “Dean,” she whispered between gasping breaths, “tell Mom and Dad I love them and that I never blamed them for giving me away.”

“
I will,” I said, choking back tears.

“
And…and don’t blame yourself for this.”

My eyes welled up, and I squeezed her hand. Even though we barely knew each other, I felt as though she could peer right into my soul. “I should’ve done more.
I’m so sorry, Val.” My voice quivered as emotion rushed through my body.

“
You did everything and more. I couldn’t have asked for better brothers.”

“
Dean’s right. It wasn’t enough,” Nick said.

“
Meeting you and Nick changed my life in the short time I had the chance to know the two of you.”
She took another gasping breath. “
The lengths you’ve gone through to try and save me have been heroic…admirable.”
She grabbed Nick’s hand, then mine. “You can’t…don’t live in the past, boys.”

I pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes as she paused.

“
Appreciate your life. Stop complaining about what you don’t have and start living with what you do have.” She coughed, then continued. “If you fall down five times, get up six. Despite the struggles you’re facing, never let go or give up. Always keep hope alive.”

“
Always,” Nick said, holding her hand.

Lightning streaked across the dark sky just seconds before a loud clap of thunder rumbled overhead.

“
If you can’t save me, at least find the cure and save others.” A trembling cough escaped her throat, and her eyes glazed over for a moment, as though she was losing it again. “It could save millions. Take our world back, help…”

A tear rolled down my face as she closed her eyes and slipped into unconscious. Her words stayed with me for a long time, and I wondered if I would ever see my sister normal again. Everything hinged on us finding Tahoe.

The wind whipped through my hair as a blur of scenery passed before me. Val gasped and fought for every breath. Every time I thought she’d taken her last breath, she proved me wrong, making me weirdly proud of her. She was a fighter, and I hoped she’d win the game.

The girls and I had never witnessed a turning, and I couldn’t imagine a loved one changing into a freak who’d want nothing more than to feast on my brains. The whole thing made me feel nauseous, but it also scared me. I didn’t know if I could ever hurt her, even if I had to.

Nick sucked in a trembling breath.
It was all very hard on him. He always felt the need to play ‘tough guy’, but his emotions were getting the best of him. We both wished we had the cure in our hands. Even if we did possess the precious serum, though, I think he doubted that the doc’s formula would work. He scooped Val up and held her in his arms, then shielded her from the wind with the blanket.

Freezing rain poured down, but I didn’t care. A deeper pain tore through me at the sight of Val’s sudden ashy color. Her breathing quickened for a second or two and then, ever so slowly, it stopped. My heart thumped harder, and hope filled me that it would be just like before—that she would breathe again. When thirty seconds passed and nothing happened, panic grabbed hold of me.

“
Val?” I asked, my voice raspy, broken.

She didn’t answer.

My fingers wandered to her neck to check for a pulse, but I felt none. “Val?” I said, this time louder, my voice filled with terror.

She looked so peaceful and calm, as if she was sleeping.

I scooped her up from Nick as tears welled in my eyes.
“It’s gonna be okay, sis,” I whispered. “I promise.” I don’t know why I made a promise I wasn’t sure if I could keep; it just seemed like the right thing to do. Even if the cure didn’t work or we couldn’t get it back from Tahoe and had to end her life, I knew she’d be in a better place. Nick agreed to do it because there was no way I could. I refused, even if it would mean sending her to a better place.
How could I ever go back to our parents and tell them I shot their only daughter?

“
That’s it. She’s gone,” Nick whispered.

I shook my head, unwilling to believe him. “No, just wait. She’ll come around.”

Lightning flashed, followed by a roll of thunder that rocked the air, as if the whole universe was angry about the death of our sister.

Rain dripped down Nick
’s hair and face
“She’s gone, Dean.” He punched the side of the truck. “I can’t believe she’s dead!”

I cradled her close
, blinking through the rain. Wet drops rolled across her green, tattered skin. I pulled the blanket up so I could protect her face. “What are we going to do?”

Nick
ran a hand through his wet hair, as if in thought.

“
You can’t shoot her!” I snapped. “I don’t care what she made us promise back at that airport control tower.”

“
Of course, but she’s gonna change eventually. You have to understand that.”

I glared up at him.
No
! I knew it was going to happen, but facing it seemed scary, numbing, and surreal.

Nick grabbed some rope
from the corner of the truck bed, the rope we’d used to hold the zombie that Claire had shot. “We’ll have to tie her up,” he said.

It seemed so cold, so heartless, but I knew it had to be done.

“
You need to put her down and get away,” Nick said. “That’s not our sister anymore.”