Broken Dreams (37 page)

“Ye…yes, sir.” Thomas’s voice was shaking.

“I can either leave you here with those supplies, or we can take you with us.”

“Oh, hell no,” Sophie grumbled. “We are not taking that prepubescent little shit with us!”

Henry looked over at her with a snarl. “We are
not
monsters!” Henry barked. “He has zero chance out here!”

Sophie bit back at Henry right away. “Have you forgotten so quickly? He tried to kill you!”

“With just cause, Sophie!” Henry shouted back at her. “If I were in his shoes, I would have probably done the same. He is scared! Let’s take him with us. We can always use another pair of eyes.”

“He could go rogue on us!”

“Have you met us? We
are
rogue, darling!”

Sophie’s fists were clenched at her sides. “Rogue from the program!” she growled.

“He won’t hurt us.” Henry flashed his million dollar smile. “Will you, Thomas? Or we will tap him for ourselves.” It was a small yet sadistic, psychological move on Henry’s part.

Thomas’s face went from scared to pasty white and horrified. Then he waved his waif arms in front of his gaunt body. “You have my word. I ain’t gonna hurt any of you.”

Surprisingly, he was able to get the sentence out without a stammer. Sophie was pissed. Henry yanked her aside and got about two inches from her face. “How dare you undermine me?!” He was furious. Sophie jumped when Henry began to yell. Tears were welling up in her eyes again. “I am in charge of this group! You knew that from the moment you were instructed to
bring me home
! He’s going to decide his own fate. He should have that choice, unlike us!”

Sophie looked at Henry as if he had two heads. “What about Nick?! What about his fate?! You decided that for him!” Sound the alarm. “Angry Henry” was about to make another appearance.

“I could not help that! You know and understand what it’s like!” Henry growled, turned away from Sophie, and stalked off to his truck. He cursed out a string of obscenities and kicked the back tire. His main focus was to get Elaina somewhere safe so he could tend to her medically.

“She ain’t gonna eat me when your back is turned, is she?”

Henry stopped in his tracks. “No, she will not touch you unless I say so. If you decide to go with us, then you will be responsible for helping the group. You will not undermine me at all!” He looked directly at Thomas. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes…yes, sir. I think I would like to go with you.”

“Alright. Claire, you ride with me and keep an eye on Elaina. Nick and Thomas, ride with Sophie.” Not a sound came out of Sophie’s mouth. There was only an icy glare directed right at Henry. “Nick, keep an eye on the kid. Make sure he doesn’t try anything. If he does, enjoy.”

“Understood.” Nick grabbed Thomas by the arm and dragged him to Sophie’s truck. “Here, eat a couple of these, you scrawny bastard, and drink some water.” Nick handed him a couple packets of snacks, along with a bottle of water that Claire pulled out.

Within minutes, they were piled in the trucks and began their journey to Elaina and Nick’s parents’ house. The two trucks moved with purpose as they drove at a slow speed down the road. There were several vehicles, their doors and trunks open, pulled off to the side of the road. It gave Henry the impression that someone must had already looted through there.

He tried to shake the feeling that something was off. A shiver went through his body. Claire looked at him with concern. He pressed on, though, wanting to get to their destination. He was worried about what they might find. On top of that, he was exhausted.

Chapter 17

enry pulled into the driveway of the Cooper’s home. It was a grand Victorian set in the small, well-established village. Nick and Elaina grew up in that home. There were so many fantastic memories there for them.

Since it was late fall, the leaves had changed to the brilliant golds, ambers, and reds, which were quietly falling to the ground, one by one.

Henry and Sophie got out to scope out the area for any undeads. This left Thomas alone with Nick, a fresh reanimation of his former self. Thomas was jerky and nervous, and rightfully so. He was drumming his fingers on the door armrest. Nick was staring at him, watching him and studying him, getting used to the small changes in his senses. He rapidly became aggravated of Thomas’ twitchy behavior.

“Enough!” Nick roared with clenched fists. Thomas almost came out of his skin. Nick was feeling the pain and stiffness of his new body. The blood that he had back at the store wasn’t enough. He tugged at the bloodied strip of Henry’s t-shirt that was tied around his arm. He now had a good understanding of Henry’s rages.

The craving was becoming uncontrollable. And the anger was like an ember that never burnt out in the deepest part of his body. He couldn’t think about anything but tearing open Thomas’ neck and drinking the elixir of life.

“Fuck!” Nick’s rage continued. He threw open the door and slammed it shut. Thomas didn’t leave the truck. He had decided it would be best if he just stayed right where he was.

Henry and Sophie turned around, pointing their Sigs in Nick’s direction. “Christ, Nick! What the hell are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed?” Henry jogged up to him. Claire was watching the scene from Henry’s truck.

“I can’t. I can’t do this.” Panic was settling in on top of his rage. He kept rolling his neck back and forth. He was clenching and releasing his fists, time and time again, while pacing like a maniac. He was seconds from tweaking out.

“Listen, I know how hard it is, but we need you. You need to concentrate on the bigger picture right now.” Nick began laughing at Henry’s statement.

Then, out of nowhere, he grabbed Henry by the throat and wrestled him to the ground. Henry easily overpowered him and rolled Nick to his stomach with his wounded arm pinned behind his back. Then Henry jammed the muzzle of his Sig into Nick’s left ear.

Claire scrambled out of the truck, screaming. “No! No! Stop! Please, stop!” She was on her knees, begging.

“Do it! Do it!” Nick yelled, maniacally laughing.

“Shut it now! You’re going to attract undeads!”

Nick laughed again. “Wake up and look around you, motherfucker. We
are
the undeads!”

“You listen to me,” Henry growled, as he slammed Nick’s body further into the ground. “You are going to shut the fuck up now so we do not get overrun. We’re trying to see if your mum is here and alive!” He held him down, and Nick was growling in pain. Henry looked up at Claire. “Can we tap you?”

“Tap me? Absolutely not!” Claire gave Henry a disgusted look, and scrambled back.

“Claire, please. He needs some blood. If he doesn’t get it soon, he will not be able to control this rage or his drive. You guys will be in danger. Trust me. It will only get worse from here.” Nick continued to struggle. Claire stood looking at what Nick had become. “If he doesn’t get what he needs, I will have to end it. You get me?”

“This is your fault! He wouldn’t be like this if you could control yourself! Look at him!” The tears began pouring down her face. “And it’s your fault Elaina is hurt!” That stung Henry. He knew the current predicament that they were in
was
his fault, but to hear Claire spit those words to him hurt on a deep level.

“Claire, please. I know. I’m fucking sorry. You have no idea how pissed I’m with myself right now. I’m full of regret, but I can’t turn back time.” Nick was starting to wear thin beneath Henry. “He needs your help. Can you not see that?” Claire was sobbing.

***

I heard the fighting, yelling, and the struggle going on outside the truck. My head was foggy, but I was able to process what was going on. I sat up, using my hands to hold myself steady. Then I saw that we were in front of my parents’ house.

I took a deep breath, focusing on my family home standing silent in all its glory. Someone left the truck door open so I slid out unnoticed. I saw Henry had pinned down Nick, and Claire was off at a short distance away from them, crying.

“I have no idea what the fuck is going on, but tap
me
if you need to.” My words were groggy, and my knees were weak. I had to hold onto the truck’s door to stay upright because I felt every rotation of the earth. Claire spun around when she heard me speak.

“Elaina, love…” Henry’s ridged features softened when he saw me. “No. Absolutely not.”

Claire ran over to me, and helped hold me up. “You need to sit down.” Claire was trying to direct me back into the truck.

“I’m fine.” I was angry at them for treating me like I was fragile. I could hear Nick growling. “Get whatever you need to help him!”

Sophie, while still keeping an eye out for undeads, grabbed a pack, and started pulling out the supplies we needed to perform a draw. She stood, waiting for permission from Henry.

“I will not allow that to happen!” Henry snapped at me.

“It’s not your choice, is it? It’s my body!”

He shook his head, and began pleading with me. “Elaina, please. I feel you may have a concussion.”

“Okay. Okay!” Claire held out her arm to Sophie.

“Are you sure?” Sophie asked.

“Yes. Do it before I change my mind.” I have to admit, I was relieved Claire stepped up to the plate because I was pretty sure I would have passed out again.

While Sophie was performing a draw on Claire, I maneuvered my way to Nick and Henry. “Henry, let him go.”

“No, he can’t be trusted at the moment.”

“Sort of like you,” I mumbled. I looked at the scene around me, and I was finally able to speak about the nightmare that was consuming us. “I cannot believe you hid this from me! I still can’t believe I have been fucking a dead person. Do you know what that makes me? A necrophiliac!”

“Elaina...”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I had a right to know who I was sharing my bed with. I had a right to know who I was marrying!”

“I’m sorry. Please believe me when I say that I love you so much.” I looked at him with disgust, and I would have slapped him across his face if he wasn’t holding my brother. Henry tucked his Sig in the back of his pants. Nick was still struggling underneath him, trying to get free. “You know why I didn't say anything.”

“Am I going to get infected now since you stuck your tongue in my mouth? Or since you...?” I looked around, hoping no one was listening to our conversation. I figured Nick was too focused on himself so he wouldn’t even hear me, “released in me?”

“No. No. It doesn’t work that way. There has to be a blood/saliva mix in order for it to infect. My saliva, your blood.”

“So other fluids...?” I tried to say it without notice. I was blushing. I didn’t want to say out loud that I was wondering if his juice was contaminated. We had a few slip ups but, for the most part, we stayed protected…until recently.

“No. It doesn’t work that way. You’re safe. If not, I would have made sure to wear protection every time. I wouldn’t have risked your life just for sex.” Nick was still growling. I could see he was deteriorating, second by second. His eyes were graying.

“Hurry up, Sophie!” I yelled.

“I’m doing the best I can. I can’t force her blood to come out any faster!”

“I thought you said the process was slower for your kind!” Claire yelled.

“Once we become stable. He isn’t stable yet. It’ll take a few days. He needs a lot at first, but then his need slows down. Eventually, he will be able to live on a vial daily, plus a bag every few weeks, like Sophie and me.”

“This is a bunch of bullshit!” I was still feeling a little dizzy and I grabbed my head.

“Sophie, grab Elaina some water and something sweet to eat. Sit down before you fall, love.” I was happy to. With no grace at all, I plopped my ass down on the ground and rested my head on my knees.

“I only have two hands, boss. I’m trying to fill a bag here.”

Henry grumbled. “Shit.” He started sitting up, then he remembered. “Thomas!” he yelled. “Thomas, get your scrawny ass out here!”

The truck door opened, but he didn’t get out. “I’m not comin’ out there wit’ you freaks!” he shouted.

“Get Elaina some water and food.” Thomas was frozen in place. “I’m not asking. That was an order!” Henry had a knack for intimidation. He could intimidate Godzilla.

Thomas scrambled to the back, finding the items Henry demanded. He slid out of the truck and handed it to me, while keeping a close eye on Henry.

“Thank you, Thomas,” I murmured.

“Uh…yeah. Anytime.” He backed away one slow step at a time and made his way back to the truck. I began to refuel. I was feeling a little better after getting some more water in me.

Sophie wrapped up the draw from Claire. She filled two vials for her and Henry, along with a partial bag for Nick. “Here, sit back. I’ll get you something to eat in a second.” Sophie helped Claire sit back in the truck. Then she rushed over to Henry. He helped Nick sit up, but he was still behind him, restraining him in a bear hug.

“Open up, already.” Sophie began squeezing the fresh blood into Nick’s mouth. Once he drank it all, he started to relax. Henry loosened his grip on him, but was still taking precautions until Nick calmed down enough to maintain an even temperament.

Finally, when Henry was able to let him go, he came over and sat down next to me against the ailing fence. Sophie handed him the vial she drew for him.

As I watched, Nick rolled onto his back. He looked like he was in ecstasy. He lay on the ground with his eyes closed, enjoying what looked like a high. I looked at Henry, who had started to tip back the vial. “Don’t you
dare
drink that in front of me.” I was angry, but then I could see the shame on his face. I knew it wasn’t his fault he was that way, but I was so pissed at him for everything. He started to get up and I grabbed his arm. “Wait. I’m sorry.” He looked at me with great uncertainty, and then sat back down. “I know this isn’t your fault. It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” He had hope in his voice and his eyes.

“Yes.”

Henry tipped the vial back. I shuddered, and my stomach started protesting. I fought to keep the food down. I could see the euphoria on his face. I had seen that face in more compromising situations. A low groan rumbled out of his chest. “Fuuuck…,” he said in that gritty voice that always made my panties hit the floor.

He rested his head back on the fence with his eyes closed for a moment. He exhaled at great length. When he opened them up, they were more brilliant than they were before. He looked at me with concern again. “I’m so bloody sorry for all of this.”

I wanted to accept his apology, but I wasn’t ready to yet. “I need some time.”

“I understand.”

“Can we go and see if my mom is here now?”

Henry stood up and held his hand out to me. I grabbed it and he helped me up. He pulled me close so that we were face-to-face. I stared deep into his sorrow-filled eyes. He took my face in his hands. He began speaking to me in a soft calm voice. “Please understand… I love you. I could never stop. It is you that makes me whole. It is you that makes me want to keep going every single day. Having your love captured in here…” He took my hand and put it over his heart, “means so much to me. You rock my world, love. If you weren’t here at this moment with me, I would have sacrificed myself long ago.”

His words tore through me like a jagged arrow. It dug deep into my heart and soul. My sadness flooded to the surface, causing my eyes to fill with tears. I was afraid to speak, knowing that if I did, my words would come out in between my sobs. He wiped the tears with his thumbs. Then he kissed me on the forehead and whispered, “I love you, Elaina Cooper. You have no idea how much.” He let go of my hand, pulled away, and looked around for Thomas. I was absolutely overwhelmed.

I wanted to collapse on the ground, kicking and screaming like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum. I wanted to curl into my own body and cry. Why me? I looked up to the sky, searching, searching for the answer. Why? Why was this allowed to happen? I wanted answers, but I realized I was on my own and I needed to press on.

“Thomas, get out!” I didn’t like the way Henry was barking orders, but I was sure he was still pissed about Thomas taking him hostage and tying him up. He scurried out of the truck and met us on the side of the truck. “Sophie, how’s Claire?”

“All pinked up and pretty.”

“All right. Nick, are you all set?”

He was lying flat on his back, as if he was crucified. He opened his eyes. “Yeah. I think so. For now, at least.” His voice was slow and drawn out. He was still experiencing some sort of crazy high.

“Have your weapons at the ready.”

“Can I get mine back?”

Henry laughed at Thomas’ statement. “Nope. You stay in the middle. I don’t trust you yet.” We walked single file, kindergarten-style, up onto the front porch.

I wasn’t sure if my trembling was from excitement, fear, or my head wound. Henry paused for a second, then quietly said, “No separating. We will search together. Ready, Elaina?” I nodded. After trying the doorknob, Henry knocked a few times, only to get no response. He dug into his pocket for his lock picking tool set.

Nick said, “There’s a storm cellar entrance around back. She might be down there. If not, we can get in and search the house.”

“All right then. Lead the way.”

Nick stepped off the stairs and, at a slow and even pace, headed toward the back of the house. He seemed to be trying to get used to his new self. Everyone stopped in front of the doors. Sophie was continually scanning the area for undeads, or whatever else could possibly pop up. Nothing would have surprised me at that point.

Henry tried to open the doors, but they were latched from the inside. He pounded on the doors. “Mrs. Cooper?! It’s Henry! Are you inside?” He spoke in his American accent so as to not confuse my mother if she was down there. When I heard the latch unlock, my heart raced. My mother was in there! I knew it! I couldn’t wait to see her. I nearly pushed Henry down. The door creaked as it opened an inch at a time.