Deathly Contagious (49 page)

At ten-fifteen, I left Raeya to find Hayden. He wasn’t upstairs and Ivan told me he hadn’t seen him. I went back into our room and tried to do a Sun Salutation but quit after only a few seconds. My shoulder radiated pain down my arm and back when I raised it above my head. Knowing stretching would help despite the pain, I slowly reached forward.

I snatched my arm back to my side. “Ah!” I said when a tingling feeling shot down into my fingers. I opened and closed my hand several times. It was as if my arm suddenly fell asleep. I tried to shake it away without success. Giving up, I held it close to my side and attempted to straighten out the sheets and blankets on my bed.

I opened both windows, welcoming the slight breeze that blew in. The air wasn’t hot but it was thick and sticky, carrying the scent of rain. Gray clouds were moving in fast. We could use the rain; it would wash away the blood spilled on our land.

“Ready?” Hayden’s voice came from behind me. I almost asked ‘for what’ when I remembered the service.

“No. I don’t want to go. I hate stuff like this.”

“Me too,” he agreed. “It reminds me of how easily it could be one of us we’re honoring.”

I nodded. “Can I please lock you in a safe room? I promise to feed you three times a day. I’ll even have sex with you at least four times a week.”

“Can I have a TV?”

“Yep.”

“Make it five times a week and we have a deal,” he said with a smile. “But you’ll have to be locked in with me. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, either.”

“Well, then we’re both screwed.” I got off the bed and went to Hayden’s side. I tucked his dog tags down the front of my shirt and followed him outside. Andy, the guy who Wade pulled from the hands of zombies, died from complications as Padraic explained it several hours after he was brought to the hospital ward. We had what was left of William’s body and nothing of Miguel.

All three hundred and something residents lined up outside, raising their right hands to their foreheads in respect when the bodies were walked through. Though none of the three who died were enlisted in the military, Fuller considered them soldiers and everyone wanted them honored for their bravery and sacrifice.

I knew the twelve gun salute triggered a waking nightmare in Hayden’s mind. I kept a tight grip in his hand the entire time while I fought back tears. The rest of the day passed in a subdued, sad fashion.  There was lots of talk about the dead; people reminiscing happy memories, laughing at some of the few funny moments they were able to share, and saying how thankful they were for all of us who kept them safe.

Hayden had another nightmare that night. He hadn’t been asleep for long before his body began twitching, waking me up. He was breathing heavily and was drenched in sweat.

“Hayden,” I said softly and cupped my hands on his face. “Hayden, wake up.”

With a sharp intake of breath, his eyes flew opened and darted around the room, trying to focus on something that wasn’t real.

“Hayden,” I spoke again. “It’s ok. It’s not real. You’re safe, you’re with me.”

With a fast, jerky movement, he grabbed me and pulled me onto him. “Orissa?”

“Yes, Hayden. It’s me. It’s ok.”

He took a deep breath and stopped shaking. Then he suddenly startled and involuntarily squeezed me. “You don’t hear it?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No, I don’t. It’s not real. You’re safe, Hayden.”

“Yes,” he panted. “Safe. But it’s so loud.”

“What’s loud?”

“The IED. Get off the road.”

“We are off the road. Hayden, look at me.” I sat up and put my face inches from his. “You are not on a road. You are not in Afghanistan anymore. You are in Arkansas. We are fighting zombies, not an army.” That wasn’t going to offer any comfort, but I wanted Hayden to come out of the dark place he was stuck in.

He opened his mouth to say something, stopped, closed his eyes and nodded. When he opened his eyes again, I could tell he was in the present. He kept his arms wrapped tightly around me until his heart stopped racing.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed.

“What are you sorry for?” I asked, not moving my head off of his chest.

“For making you have to deal with that.”

“You’re being ridiculous, Hayden. I don’t feel like I ‘have to deal’ with anything.”

“I should be over it by now.”

“I don’t think I’d ever get over seeing something like that. And not just Ben,” I said gently. “Everything you saw over there plus all the shit we see now. It’s enough to fuck anyone up.”

“But I’m the only one who has nightmares,” he argued, clearly upset and frustrated with himself.

“I highly doubt that,” I soothed.

“It’s annoying.”

“Not to me. And besides,” I said, sitting up so I could look into his hazel eyes. “It’s your only flaw. There has to be
something
wrong with you or else you’d make me look bad.”

He only nodded and ran his hands over my arms. “Are you tired?”

“Yea,” I responded with a yawn.

“Go back to sleep.”

“I’ll stay up with you.”

“No,” he said quietly. “I’m fine now. I’ll read until I feel tired.” He turned on the lamp next to the bed, covered the lampshade with a tee shirt to dim the light, and got a book. I resituated my pillows so my back was touching Hayden’s side where I’d be able to feel if he was having another nightmare.

When I woke up at seven-thirty, Hayden informed me he hadn’t been able to sleep most of the night and was too tired to go down for breakfast. I offered to bring him up a tray, got dressed, and went downstairs.

My shoulder was still sore. The tingling feeling in my fingers came back when I extended my arm for my tray.

“I think that can be a sign of a heart attack!” Raeya exclaimed, her voice full of concern, when I told her about the annoying sensation.

I dubiously stared at her. “Yea, Raeya, I’m having a heart attack.”

“Just because you’re in good shape doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen,” she reminded me. “I know you’ve heard the stories of athletes dropping dead of heart attacks.”

“I have and I know, but the tingling has nothing to do with my heart. It feels like my arm fell asleep.”

“Exactly! It’s a sign!”

“Would it make you feel better if I asked Padraic?”

She smiled. “Yea, thanks.”

Once we were done eating, the two of us went downstairs to the B level. Raeya suggested we try Padraic’s room since it was his ‘day off’ from working in the hospital ward. Like Raeya, he too had curtains closed over a nonexistent window.  Other new additions to his room included a bouquet of colorful flowers made out of paper, several drawing that were obviously done by children taped to the cinderblock walls, and a TV centered on the dresser by his bed. Dressed in green pajama pants and a thin, black tee shirt, Padraic smiled when he took in the sight of us.

“Morning. What do I owe the pleasure?” he asked, beckoning us in.

“Raeya thinks I’m heaving heart problems,” I said calmly.

Padraic’s clear blue eyes momentarily flashed with fear before he laughed. Looking at Ray, he asked, “Why do you think that?”

“She said she feels tingling,” Raeya supplied.

“Which arm?” Padraic inquired, suddenly serious.

“This one,” I said and held up my right arm which caused the pain to shoot down again. I winced.

“Describe your pain,” Padraic said in a very doctorly way. I described it the best I could, feeling a bit like a baby for talking about my stupid shoulder hurting when others were injured way worse than I had been.

After a few moments of gently touching, squeezing, and stretching my arm Padraic said, “I can’t be certain, but I think it’s a pinched nerve. They are very painful but usually go away in a week or two. Try and rest it as much as possible.”

“Thanks,” I told him. “See, Ray, nothing to worry about.”

“You’re welcome, Orissa.” He turned again to Raeya. “Are we still on for part two?”

“I am if you are!” she told him with a smile.

“Yes! I’m dying to know what happens to Brooke!” he said causing Raeya to laugh. “I enjoyed my orange this morning, thanks, Orissa.”

“You’re welcome. I’m not the only one that deserves the thanks, though.”

“You discovered the footprints, right?” he asked, glancing at Raeya. She nodded, confirming the truth.

“Yea, I did,” I admitted.

“As weird as the situation is, I’m happy we can enjoy something fresh for a change, though I daresay it won’t last long,” he said.

“Sorry to rush off,” Raeya began. “But I have an overseer meeting in a little bit. I’ll come back as soon as it’s over!”

“Sounds good,” Padraic said with a smile. “See you ladies later.” He walked us to the door. I waited until I heard his door click shut before I turned to Raeya.

“What are you and Padraic doing later?” I asked, hoping to sound merely curious and not disappointed that I wouldn’t get to hang out with her as I had hoped.

“I’ve been making him watch One Tree Hill with me. Sofia Johnson, who is three rooms down from me, has the all the seasons on DVD.” She shook her head. “Sofia is lucky the guys found her. She packed more forms of entertainment than food in her bag when the virus broke out.”

“Some people have no idea how to survive. It’s funny…it’s a skill no one thought they’d need to know.”

“When this is over and things are somewhat back to normal, I think it’s something we should teach the kids. A survival skills class should be mandatory,” Raeya said with complete seriousness.

We walked up the stairs to the C level.

“So, have you and Padraic been hanging out a lot?” I asked carefully.

“Not really any more than normal. Well, when you’re gone I do. I told you, I get lonely.”

She followed me back into the cafeteria to grab a tray for Hayden.  “What about the other overseers?” I asked. “Don’t you like them?”

“Yea I do. But I’m like ten years younger than them. I feel awful by saying that I don’t really want to hang out with them.”

“Don’t feel awful, it’s understandable.”

“What about you?” she asked. “What’s it like going on missions and being with five guys twenty-four seven?”

“It’s not bad at all,” I confessed. “I really like the guys. With the exception of Hayden, of course, I feel like those guys are family.”

“I’m glad.” She smiled. “Well, I’ll see you at lunch.” We hugged before I went into the cafeteria to get breakfast for Hayden, who was still asleep when I got back to our room.

Not wanting to sit around and do nothing, I went outside to find Argos, though my shoulder was aching so badly I didn’t want to throw the ball for him. Jones was outside pouring food into bowls and distributing them amongst the begging dogs. It occurred to me that I didn’t know Jones’ first name.

“Hey, Orissa!” he said brightly over the sound of kibble rushing into a stainless steel bowl.

“Hi,” I replied and strode over to help. The little dogs had been sectioned off for feeding and Jones stepped over the gate and set a bowl down. Instantly a fight broke out. He picked up a Chihuahua, only to quickly drop him from his grasp. He shook his hand and stuck his finger in his mouth.

“It’s always the little ones,” I commented. Jones inspected the teeth marks on his hand.

“He drew blood,” he grumbled. “Seriously, we have how many German Shepherds? And I’ve never had an issue feeding them.”

“Where’s Argos?” I asked, looking around the yard.

“Dr. Sheehan has him. He takes him a lot, actually.”

“He does?”

“Yea. I think Argos spends more time with him than with the trainers. It’s gonna make him spoiled,” he laughed.

Greta, the pretty, dark sable German Shepherd that Hayden favored trotted over and licked my hand, wagging her tail.

“Sorry, girl, I don’t have any treats.” She stayed regardless, happy to be petted. Jones filled up several more bowls and I picked up two, setting them several feet from each other. We had to break up two more fights in the little dog section of the yard. Without being too obvious, I eyed Jones’ ID tag and learned his first name was Trey.

We made small talk while the dogs ate, speaking mostly of the new tricks the canines were learning and how good Greta was at seeking out the scents of humans. In mutual agreement, we were excited to use the dogs to find people but worried to take them into such a hostile environment. Animals were innocent, Jones strongly voiced. It wasn’t right for them to get killed by zombies when it could easily be avoided.

It was another humid day so we brought the dogs inside, distributing them to their owners. The military and police dogs the compound had acquired were ‘adopted out’, as Trey put it, by residents. Trey formally introduced me to Sadie, an older Shepherd who was assumed to be a former drug sniffing canine.

“They started barking a good twenty minutes before anyone saw the herd,” he told me as he stroked Sadie’s fur. “Being this far underground, I don’t know how they sense it. Maybe it’s the smell.” He shook his head. “I knew something was wrong. Sadie woke me up. Then Greta started barking. It was odd; they never need to go out in the middle of the night. Then they all started whimpering and barking. That’s when I knew.”

I nodded. “If it wasn’t for Argos, I don’t know if I’d be here.” The image of Logan, the first person I considered a friend during the initial outbreak, flashed through my mind. Argos saved me. I wanted to think I would have been able to get out of that situation on my own. Deep down I wasn’t able to lie to myself. I would be dead if it wasn’t for that dog.

Clutching my sore arm to my chest, I went down another flight of stairs to find the Doberman. Padraic’s door was slightly ajar. I knocked, waited a second and then pushed it open. The stump of Argo’s tail wiggled back and forth as soon as he caught sight of me.

“Hey,” I called to Padraic, dropping to my knees to let Argos lick my face.

“Hi, Rissy,” he said back, sitting up. He turned the volume down on the movie he was watching. “Whatcha doing?”

“I missed my dog,” I told him, still petting Argos.

“Your dog?” he questioned with a laugh. “I like to call him mine.”

“I found him!” I teased. “So therefore he’s mine.”