Impact (21 page)

“Let’s go, Dean,” Kirk said.

It was my turn to do the ignoring, and I was so angry that I couldn’t move anyway. It was as if hate and rage had my legs glued to the ground. 

“You’re clearly angry at me,” Kirk said. “I suppose I can understand that, but I would recommend that you do not do anything foolish. Remember that Jackie and Asia are still here.”

I still said nothing, but I made the mistake of glancing over at the red Toyota, perhaps silently giving my plans away.

Suddenly, Kirk came at me with a shovel and smacked me right in the side of the face.

Darkness consumed me, but in some way, it was a sweet relief.

D
ays passed, and Kirk idiotically assumed we were back on good terms. I pretended like we were, and he apologized for hitting me with the shovel.

We were still devastated by Eva’s loss. The city didn’t have her body, but they still held a memorial service for her. Many attended and said nice things, and it was clear to see how much they had cared for her. I was very grateful that Kirk found it in that empty cavity where his heart should have been to let Jackie, Asia, and I attend the services. He also said I could hang out with Jackie and Asia for the rest of the day.

As a woman sang about the new post-apocalyptic world, my thoughts drifted. I knew I was supposed to stay strong and in control, but I felt so much emptiness. I had lost so much, so many people over the last year that it was sometimes difficult to concentrate. Every once in a while, I still felt as if it was all some horribly long nightmare that I had to eventually wake up from, but that alarm clock never sounded. Anxiety, rage, and fatigue were my constant companions. 

I hated being stuck in Kirk’s self-proclaimed utopia; his paradise was quickly becoming my hell. I couldn’t believe how far humanity had gone, how much compassion and logic and common sense had disintegrated from the world, what people would resort to in those desperate times. The zombies were bad enough, but I’d witnessed so many human-spawned atrocities, from the Kingsville arena to nice old lady cannibals to fight clubs to zombie minefields. My life read like a horror movie script, and I was growing quickly tired of it. 

After the funeral, Asia and Jackie made their way over, and we talked secretly amongst ourselves.

“She’s gone,” Asia said, her voice wavering. “I say we make a break for it right now, get away from these crazy freaks once and for all.”

Jackie’s gaze shot to the exit gate. “Fifty armed guards? That’s suicide.”

She glanced over. “Most of them are stupid goons, not properly trained. I’m sure we could get past them.”

“How about later?” Jackie asked.

I swallowed hard. “The trouble is getting together, since they keep us separated most of the time.”

Jackie sighed. “Now would be the perfect time to leave, but we don’t have the cover of darkness.”

“It might be worth the risk,” Asia said, looking around. “The funeral is the perfect distraction.”

Jackie pointed up at the guard tower. “We might be able to give them the slip at night but not in broad daylight. Kirk’s on edge after that zombie fight, and I heard him order them to shoot anything that moves around the perimeter. We’ll be toast.”

“She’s right,” I said to Asia, blowing out a long breath as we sat down at a picnic table in the courtyard. “We’ve gotta bide our time and be smart about this. I don’t want to bury anyone else.” 

“My heart goes out to Eva,” Jackie said.

“Mine too,” Asia whispered. “She deserved better.”

“We could have healed her from that bite,” I said, looking away. “I promised her, guaranteed her that...” I said, unable to say anything more.

Jackie touched my shoulder softly. “He shot her before you had a chance to do anything.” 

“We need to continue with the plan,” I said.

“No, it won’t work. We need a Plan B,” Jackie said. “Eva was gonna unlock our doors and get us past some of the security, and she was lining up that Jeep. We have to fend for ourselves now.”

“The security part is nothing,” I said. “I can put them in sleeper moves or knock them out. The problem is all three of us getting out of our dorm rooms. No matter what we do, we can’t guarantee that we can all get out at the same time.”

“You’re right,” Asia said. “We need to be together to even attempt an escape.”

“What about the infirmary?” Jackie said.

“Won’t it look suspicious if we all get sick at once?” Asia asked.

“Not really. It could be something...universal,” Jackie explained, “like carbon monoxide or maybe food poisoning.”

“That’s brilliant!” I said, then looked around and quickly lowered my voice when I saw several teary-eyed mourners looking at me oddly. “We all eat the same things at the same time, and the infirmary is right next to the main gate. It’d be much easier to escape from there. We still need to make it happen Wednesday, like Eva said, because that is when security is at its weakest. Then we get to the gates and hotwire a car somewhere along the way.”

“It’s doable,” Asia said. “We can take one of the Jeeps they use to patrol the city. They’re always full of gas, and it would help us blend in until they figure out what’s up.” 

“I love it when a plan comes together,” I said with a grin.

* * *

W
hen I went back to my room, I thought a lot about Eva. She had saved my life the very first day I’d arrived, given me a second chance. I was indebted to her, and the only way I could think to pay her back was to do my best to live and fulfill that destiny she believed I was meant to fulfill. She had thought me extraordinary, but I hadn’t done much to save her, and I knew that would forever eat at me but also motivate me to get the most I could out of life. I hated that she was gone, but I knew she was finally at peace.

As I sat there thinking about all the death that had surrounded me and almost taken me, my hands began to tremble. I didn’t feel like the same person anymore. I’d survived the zombie apocalypse, only to be forced to live in a harsh, violent world. I still hoped I’d one day conquer the nightmares that plagued me, but my view of the world had changed. I wasn’t as naïve as I’d been that very first day I fought a zombie off in the forest. I now saw life in high definition, in living color, and each moment, each breath was a gift to be cherished. I had grown stronger than I ever thought I could be, but at the same time, I now had a colder, harder edge to me. My emotions were all over the place and I began to worry that I was damaged goods. Would I be as cold as Nick?

How do I survive all this without completely losing my mind?
I wondered. I feared I would always see zombies in my dreams, every time I closed my eyes. Those ghost-white eyes and rotting faces would be forever etched in my mind, like a deep scar on my psyche. I could only hope that the world would heal and that I would heal along with it. I had told Eva I wanted a normal life, but I wasn’t sure that was even possible anymore.

I
anxiously waited for Wednesday. After seeing Kirk so callously shoot Eva, I knew the man was a homicidal maniac who could kill without batting an eye. He’d always been cold with strangers since I’d known him, but it was quite a shock that he’d killed someone that he assumed to be a loyal follower. I knew from that that none of us were safe. 

The next morning, they refused to let me see Jackie and even fed me some bogus story about how she was deep in training and couldn’t be interrupted. That infuriated me, but I knew I could at least see Asia if I got to the gym at the right time. As I waited for her, I punched away on the bag, releasing my anger and imagining it was Kirk’s stupid face. I couldn’t stand being held prisoner. Worst of all, Jackie and Asia were prisoners too.

A little while later, I sparred with an opponent. I fought hard, jabbing him high, then hitting him roughly in the gut. 

Clapping erupted, and I heard a familiar voice cheering me on. 

“Good job,” Asia said.

“Hey,” I said, out of breath. “Thanks.”

“You almost done here?” she asked.

The other guy nodded, struggling to breathe in his own right. “Yeah, man, go on. I need a break.”

“I guess we’re done,” I said.

We chatted as we did our workouts, and no one seemed to mind. Even Kirk didn’t seem bothered by it, probably because he was too proud that we were working so hard, sweating up a storm. He didn’t tolerate laziness of any sort, and I’d seen him punch fighters in the face or gut for being what he considered slackers.

He watched us for a few minutes and smiled. “Hold up, Dean,” he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “I’ve got a new guy, and he’s really going to shake things up around here. He’s amazing.”

“Who is he?” I anxiously asked, noticing the excitement in his eyes.

His face lit up. “Want to meet him?”

“Um, sure,” I said.

Kirk smiled proudly. “He’s fast, smart, and has quick reflexes. I’ve never seen anyone fight like him. No amateur leagues for this guy. He’ll eat you for lunch.”

I swallowed hard, expecting Hulk Hogan to walk out and shake my hand, but what happened next absolutely floored me and Asia.

“Tony!” Kirk yelled.

My jaw dropped as the new fighter walked out of the office. I wasn’t sure if Asia was more shocked than I was, but we both had to struggle to contain our joy. Right there in front of us, in a clean t-shirt and shorts, was one of the best fighters I knew.

Lucas walked up to me and smiled. “Hey. I’m Tony.”

It took a minute for my voice to come back. Finally, I choked out, “Uh...nice to meet you.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Asia said, stifling her smirk. “Kirk’s been bragging about you.”

“Hmm. I guess my reputation precedes me then. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing,” he said with all his usual snarkiness.

“It’s a good thing,” she said. “Welcome aboard. I’m sure you’ll do well here.”

He looked at her and grinned. “I hope so. I already love the place.” 

“Great tat,” she added.

He looked down at his tribal ink. “Thanks. Got it in Afghanistan.”

“Cool.”

He turned to Kirk. “Please tell me who this beautiful woman is and why you haven’t introduced me to her sooner.”

Asia smiled shyly and introduced herself to someone she already knew quite well. “I’m Asia.”

Kirk clapped Asia and Lucas on their shoulders. “As it turns out, lovely Asia is currently...unattached. If you two would like to spend some time together, that is fine with me,” he said, looking over at Lucas. “We’ve got to keep our prize fighter happy! I’ve got some things I have to deal with anyway.”

Lucas stared at Asia like he was infatuated. “There’s nothing I’d rather do.”

“Then she’s all yours,” Kirk said, patting Asia on the head.

Asia smiled, but I could tell she was ready to bite his head off for treating her like property. I admired her for handling it so well, because she usually had no trouble flying off the handle. 

Kirk looked at her. “You don’t mind showing Tony around, do you?”

She flashed her perfect white smile and batted her eyes at Lucas like he was some sort of post-apocalyptic Brad Pitt. “Not at all.”

“Good. I feel more comfortable knowing he’s with you. He’s our VIP now, so make him...happy.”

Her face lit up. “Yes, sir.”

With that, Kirk smiled, then excused himself.

We pulled away from everyone and walked over to the bench press, which was situated in a deserted corner. 

Lucas smiled. “Surprised?”

I cocked a brow, still completely shocked. “How’d you find us?” I said under my breath.

“You didn’t think we’d track you down, buddy?”

Realization suddenly struck. “You’re that suicidal, Hulk Hogan fighter Kirk told us about, the one that joined up on his own.”

“Yep. I went undercover. I knew what they were looking for so I played the part up good. I just said what they wanted to hear. Even put a gun in my mouth when they found me. They told me there was a better way and that I could have a better life.”

“And Kirk fell for it line, hook, and sinker,” I said.

Lucas nodded. “Yeah, I should’ve gone into acting.”

“They kidnapped us,” Asia said. “We’re stuck here. They keep us locked up all the time, under heavy security. They also have numerous armed guards surrounding the outside of this compound. I tried fighting and even attempted escape in the beginning, but I got beaten up pretty badly. There are way too many of them to take on.”

“What clued you in on us being here?” I asked, stumped.

“One of their guys lost to Jim in a street fight. That Kirk guy was pissed and left him for dead. Before the guy blacked out, he told us Kirk’s goons were abducting people from Fairport. When we realized you guys were missing, we did everything to save him, because we knew he had vital information. We didn’t think he was gonna pull through, but he came to a couple weeks later and started singing like a canary. He was furious with Kirk for abandoning him, so when we told him who was missing, he was happy to elaborate. He had seen you, Asia, and Jackie fight before the other group took you. His group was left behind to nab Jim, because this Kirk idiot wanted him too. After his group isolated Jim from his buddies, our informant picked a fight like Kirk told him to, so they could test Z’s brother out. Jim roughed him up good, and nobody dared to stop the fight. They just left the loser behind in the alley, like a pile of garbage, and told him he was weak and pathetic.”

“That’s their motto,” Asia said. “The weak die young, deserve to be annihilated. Even if you lose fights here, you have to at least show them some killer moves. If you don’t get a few punches in, they throw you away with the trash.”

“Wow,” Lucas said. “Kirk made it sound like Club Med.”

“More like Club Dead,” Asia said.

“Well, the guy we found in the alley kind of warned us, and we decided somebody should come here undercover.”

“And you’re the guy, huh?” I asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

“Well, Val’s still too torn up about Max, and her head isn’t on straight. Nick’s trying to command the other people and keep everything in line since Max is...well, you know. And besides, do you know anyone else who can act like a suicidal gladiator and pull it off with a killer smile?”