Last Another Day (9 page)

Several more shots rang out and the crowd rippled as some of them fell. They rolled away like a tsunami towards the unknown attackers.

More infected dropped, black blood puddling around the wounds. As the last one fell, a muted shout reached her ears.

In the distance, a man waved at her. “Anyone in there?”

Tentatively, Morgan cracked the door open, checking for lurkers. Then she waved a trembling hand at her rescuer. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and jogged over.

As he neared, her heart jumped. No. Impossible. That smile, those eyes.

Can it be?

She jumped out and screamed, “Max? Is that you?”

He faltered. “Morgan?”

“Oh my God. It
is
you,” she cried, sprinting towards him. How many nights had she tossed and turned, wondering if he was still alive?

He met her halfway and swept her off the ground. She cried as his familiar scent enveloped her, his voice booming with laughter. A year younger, they'd been close as siblings, always getting into trouble together. He dwarfed her at six foot three and she always felt safe around him, protected.

“Max, I can't believe it's you. I’ve missed you so much. I thought you were dead,” she said, alternating between crying and laughing.

He whooped, swinging her in a circle, “I'm here. Takes more than a few zombies to get rid of me.” He set her down and inspected her at arm's-length, “Are you okay? Where's Mom? And Meghan?”

“I'm fine and they're safe for now. But if you had shown up two seconds later, I'd have been a goner.” She stared at the bodies littering the parking lot in the ugly aftermath of death. “Speaking of which, we'd better get out of here. Those shots are going to draw more of them.”

Max nodded, “Let's go. You've got a ride?”

She walked over to where the keys lay and picked them up. Dangling them between thumb and forefinger, she grimaced. “Now I've got these, I'm good to go. Go ahead, I'll follow.”

He shook his head, herding her to the passenger side. “I’m driving.”

He jogged back to the Nyala and had a brief conversation with the driver. Next moment he was back, sliding in next to her.

Although they followed a rather circuitous route, she recognized the riot police's quarters when they got there. It didn't look at all the same. The walls were reinforced with barbed wire and sheet metal on the outside and an assortment of vehicles on the inside. The gate was heavily fortified, a barrier extending out from the sides on top of which two young men stood guard. They each had an R4 rifle slung across their backs and carried long metal spears.

As Max drove inside the barriers, the men scanned their vehicles and the surroundings before giving the all clear. Only then did the gate open, swinging inwards on its hinges.

Once inside, Max cut the engine. “Can you get out for a moment, sis?”

Hesitating, she stared at the unfamiliar faces surrounding her.

“Don't worry. It's just procedure. Anybody who's gone outside has to be checked for bites.”

The driver from the Nyala jumped out when she did. Morgan looked on in silent appreciation as he walked over to join them. Tall and well built, he was handsome with black hair and steely eyes.

“Logan, this is my sister, Morgan.”

“Nice to meet you.” She smiled and stuck out her hand, feeling awkward beneath his intent stare.
Have I got something on my face?

He shook her hand and his touch sent a tingle up her spine. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Morgan could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks and stepped back.

How embarrassing.

Max carried on with the introductions and Morgan took the opportunity to get away from Logan. The man was dangerous. She could sense it. She also didn't like her reaction to him. It felt like a betrayal of Brian.

The two men on the wall gave her a wave as Max introduced them. “That's Armand and Jacques,” he indicated, “and this is Angie.”

A petite, young woman with dark eyes stepped forward to shake her hand. “Hi there. If you don't mind I'd like to check you for bites and scratches.”

With a nod, Morgan let her.
Makes sense
, she thought. The last thing anybody needed was for the infection to hitch a ride inside.

Her amazement increased as they got back into their vehicles and drove around the back. The cars parked alongside the fence had been formed into a makeshift walkway with an assortment of material with little guard towers dotted at intervals.

Max explained it all to her on the way. “We have at least two people guarding the walls at all times. The zombies stumble across us often and have to be dealt with swiftly before they draw more of their kind. We’ve found the spears are a good way to kill them from a height.”

“When did you get here? How did you do all this?”

“I arrived here the day of the outbreak. I must have missed you and Mom by a matter of hours. As for the rest, I'll explain inside.”

“All right. But we must hurry. Meghan is sick and needs medicine. I have to get back.”

He turned to her, face sober. “She's sick? How bad is it?”

“We don't know. She's got a cough and a fever. It's getting worse. She needs antibiotics.”

He nodded. “Right, let's hurry then.”

She followed Max inside, surprised to find it so cosy. A little girl sat at a table coloring in pictures. A large Alsatian lay at her feet while a blond woman prepared sandwiches in the kitchen. The smell of fresh bread filled her nostrils and her mouth watered.

“You've got electricity?”

“Yes. Courtesy of a generator. The fuel won't last forever but for now, we're comfortable enough. Water is the main problem here.”

“Elise, this is my sister, Morgan.”

The blond smiled from ear to ear. “Your sister? You found her? So nice to finally meet you.” She shook Morgan’s hand. “Where's your mom and the little one?”

“They're on a farm,” Morgan explained. “I came to town for food and medicine. Meghan's ill.”

“We're going there now,” Max interjected.

“Have you got food?” Elise asked.

“Not much,” Morgan admitted.

“Well then, give me a moment and I'll pack some to take with you. How many people?”

“Four and the little one, excluding me.”

Elise sat them down at the table with a sandwich and a cool drink each before packing a hamper.

Morgan crammed the bread into her mouth, nearly fainting at the taste of ham and pickled onions.

After a moment of silence, Max asked, “What happened to you? And Brian?”

She swallowed, tears rising unbidden. “I don't know what happened. He went to the shop and got bitten the night before. The next morning he tried to kill me.”

“How did you escape?”

She shrugged. “Luck and a shower rail.”

“I went to your house, you know.”

Startled, she stared at him. “Did you see Brian?”

He nodded, unable to meet her eyes. “He attacked us and...I had to kill him or more accurately, Logan did. He had to save me. I'm sorry.”

“He did? Brian's dead?”

“Yes.”

“I'm glad. I didn't want him to be like that forever. Now he can be at peace.” She sniffed and looked away. “You know about Dad too?”

“I saw. I can't believe he's gone.”

“I have a hard time believing it myself.” Morgan swallowed the last of her sandwich and took a sip of her cool drink.

“All of this,” she waved a hand around, “is surreal. I can't believe what's happened. It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from.”

“At least, we're together again. We'll survive. We have to.” Max gave her a smile, determination shining in his eyes and Morgan could feel her tension recede. It was true. They would survive.

“Here's your food, love. Now hurry over there and bring back your family,” Elise said, handing Max a large basket.

“Thank you, Elise. You're one of a kind,” Max said, grinning. “Ready to go, Morgan?”

She jumped up, wincing as her legs cramped. “Let's go.” She turned to Elise. “Thanks for everything.”

“Oh, it's no bother. Just make sure you all get back here safely, okay?” She pointed at the little girl and the dog. “Anna could use a friend and so could Buzz.”

“Buzz?” Morgan asked, perplexed.

Elise shrugged. “They named him after Buzz Lightyear.”

As they walked out, Morgan thought about that. Perhaps, there was still hope for a future.

Kids, dogs.

An ordinary world.

Julianne’s back was sore and cramped from sitting on the little chair next to Meghan's bed. Smoothing a hand over the sleeping child's forehead, she chewed her lip in worry at the fever blazing there. Meghan's breath whistled in and out of her lungs through the phlegm. Julianne felt tears well up in her eyes.

What will happen to my little girl? And what happened to Morgan? It's been hours.

She knew deep down inside that Lilian was gone even though she still clung to hope. Max was in the army, so he might still be alive. Not John, of course. At times she missed him so much, it physically hurt.

When she lay alone in her bed at night, stifling her sobs, it felt like broken glass was being ground into her heart. She missed her home. She missed her rose garden and her kitchen. But most of all, she missed her family.

Princess Sophia lay at the foot of the bed, looking sad and lost as she stared at Meghan.

“Don't worry, Princess. She'll be fine.” Julianne smiled as she rubbed the dog's head, not sure if she believed a single word, but it felt good to say it anyway.

“Oh, my dear. You shouldn't wear yourself out so much. Let me sit with Meghan for a bit,” Hannelie exclaimed, bustling into the room. “Why don't you go have a bite to eat?”

Hannelie was warm and caring but took no nonsense. Resisting her was futile and Julianne obeyed out of sheer exhaustion. Joanna, Morgan's mother-in-law, was already there, seated at the table with a pot of tea. Julianne and Joanna never really had much to do with each other in the past, but they had gotten to know each other well as of late and Julianne was glad they got along.

Miserably she sat down and poured herself a cup. She wasn't really a tea person, but they ran out of coffee days ago. That was something else to add to their long list of worries. The supplies were running low, and she knew Henri was worried about the fuel. She could understand why Morgan had gone to town, especially when Meghan needed medicine but at the same time, she wished her daughter hadn't left.

Rubbing her throbbing temples with her fingertips, she hardly noticed the bowl of soup and crackers Joanna placed in front of her.

“Eat something, Julianne. You need to keep your strength up,” Joanna coaxed.

Julianne picked up a cracker and ate mechanically without tasting a crumb. She kept glancing at the clock on the wall, each second seemed like an eternity. At ten minutes past four, Morgan still hadn't returned. Perhaps, she was dead already, eaten alive by a mob of monsters. Graphic images filled her head, and she almost choked.

She sipped a spoonful of soup and tried not to think of Lilian, Jonathan, and their two children. Her grandchildren. All gone now. She finished her food and sat back with her hands wrapped around her tea to bring warmth to her frayed nerves.

“You shouldn't be so worried. Morgan will be fine. That's one tough girl you've got there even if she doesn't realize it herself yet,” Joanna reassured.

Julianne couldn't help but smile a little. It was true. Morgan was as tough as nails and had overcome many obstacles in her life. She was beautiful and smart yet never seemed to believe in herself. She lacked confidence in her abilities, but Julianne was sure that would come in time.

She's still young after all.

“I know, but I can't help worrying about her and Meghan as well. They're all I have left and I don't think I could carry on without them.” Then she blushed in shame, realizing how insensitive she was being.

Six weeks ago, Joanna lost her son Brian. She had heard nothing from her other son Neil since the outbreak began, and Julianne guessed she empathized quite well. How many other people had she lost? Yet the old lady never complained.

As if Joanna could read her thoughts, she smiled sadly and said, “It's a terrible thing to outlive your children, Julianne. And these are terrible times. We will all have to be strong if we hope to survive.”

“You're right. May the Good Lord have mercy on us all.”

Julianne got up from the table. She needed fresh air. Outside, she shaded her face from the sun with her hands and looked around. Henri was puttering around in the yard as usual. As small in stature as his wife was big, he twitched with nervous energy.

Julianne stepped off the porch and walked with no idea of where she wanted to go or why. She needed to move and clear her head. As she was coming up to the fence, a sudden noise startled her. It came from beyond the fence, but trees and shrubs obscured her view.

With her heart in her throat, Julianne stood immobile as she tried to decide what to do. Then she heard it again. Wet, tearing sounds punctuated by snarls and growls. She knew those snarls. Remembered them clear as day.

No!

Everything inside her screamed to run back to the house, but she had to know if those things were inside the fence. Lives depended on it.

Creeping forward on rigid limbs, Julianne tried to get closer without making a sound. A bead of sweat ran down the side of her face and a fly buzzed around her face, but she didn't dare shoo it away.

It was well into November if she guessed correctly and so far it had been a hot and dry summer. Barely a drop of rain had fallen to relieve them of the stifling heat or to nourish the dry earth. The grass and leaves were brown and parched, crackling with the slightest movement so she had to be extra careful when she moved. She spotted a gap in the brush. It allowed her a clear view to the front.

Just beyond the fence, two infected crouched in the grass. They were decayed to the point where it was difficult to know what they once were. The stench was overwhelming, hanging in the air until she could almost taste the rot.

They were feeding on something and she prayed it was an animal. Revulsion filled her, and Julianne retreated the same way she came. Once she was certain enough distance separated them, she jogged back to the house at a rapid pace, heart pounding.

“Henri,” she whispered. “There's infected on the other side of the fence.”

He straightened up, dead serious. “How far away?”

“Right over there,” she pointed. “Not far.”

“Well, I don't think they can get through the fence. We should be fine,” he chewed on his lip and seemed to think it over. “Let's stick close to the house and keep quiet, just to be safe.”

“All right.”

Julianne wasn't so sure. Who knew what those things were capable of? Yet, Henri had a point. The fence was high and strong.

Morgan checked it yesterday.

“Warn the others, would you?”

Julianne nodded and rushed inside. After telling Joanna and Hannelie, she scrounged around until she found a cricket bat and laid it down next to Meghan's bed.

I'm not leaving her side with those things around.

At least, Meghan's room had small windows, situated too high up for an infected to climb through.

Meghan smiled when she walked in before breaking into another fit of coughing. Julianne tipped her onto her side and rubbed her back whilst holding a tissue in front of her mouth.

After a while, Meghan subsided and fell back onto her pillow. She was hot to the touch and Julianne didn't like the glassy look in her eyes. Taking a wet cloth, she pressed it to Meghan's forehead, wishing she could do more.

An hour after dark, Julianne stared at Meghan in the light of a flickering candle.

Am I going to lose her? Have I lost Morgan already?

The sound of a car penetrated her depressed thoughts.

Wild hope filled her and she shot to her feet, racing to the kitchen door where she was joined by the others. Two sets of headlights shone in the night, blinding her. Julianne wavered. Had Morgan found other survivors? Or had strangers come to their door?

A door slammed shut and footsteps crunched around a large truck. Then a figure appeared silhouetted in the light.

“Hey, Mom, it's me.”

“Morgan?”

With a cry of relief, Julianne rushed forward, clutching her daughter to her breast. Joy filled her heart as she crushed Morgan against her, sending up a silent prayer of thanks to heaven.

Another prayer was answered when Max stepped into the light. With a gasp, Julianne released of Morgan and rushed forward.

“Max!”

Max swept her up into his embrace, laughing with abandon as she sobbed with happiness. “It's okay, Mom. It's just me.”

“But how? Where have you been?”

“It's a long story,” he grinned, setting her back on her feet.

Little Princess was going ballistic, her body quivering with excitement. Julianne scooped her up, soothing her with a calming hand. Remembering Morgan's original purpose, Julianne gripped her by the arm.

“Did you get the medicine? Meghan's not doing well at all and I'm worried sick.”

“I got it, along with food and other things. Sorry it took so long to get back but we couldn't risk luring infected here,” Morgan explained. “Go ahead. We'll bring the stuff inside.”

Behind Max, two more figures appeared from a second vehicle and were introduced as Logan and Angie. They were armed and moved with a certain wariness that foretold of previous brushes with death.

Hannelie seemed to burst out of her skin at the thought of having guests while Henri watched her rush about with dry amusement.

He winked at Julianne, “Go to your little one. We'll take care of the rest.”

Feeling that everything was in hand once again, Julianne took herself and Princess back to Meghan's room.

“Hey, guess what, sweetie? Morgan's back.”

Meghan's eyes brightened. “She is?”

“She brought you medicine. Now you'll feel much better soon.” She smoothed a blond curl away from Meghan's forehead. “But I've got an even bigger surprise for you. Max is here too.”

“Really?” Meghan struggled upright in the bed. “I want to see him.”

“Now, now. Relax,” Julianne soothed. “He'll be here any moment.”

A minute later, Morgan walked in with a bag full of medicine, followed by Max carrying a teddy bear.

“Max!” Meghan squealed, launching herself at him despite her illness.

Max laughed, swinging her up into the air as she giggled. Julianne got a lump in her throat. My family. The reunion didn’t last long before Meghan broke into a fit of coughing. Max set her down on the bed, bringing Julianne back to the present.

Julianne scratched in the medicine bag and came up with antibiotics, cough syrup, something for pain and fever, and a nasal spray. With the expertise learned through years of motherhood, she dosed Meghan with each, then wiped off her hot, sticky body with wet wipes. Laying her back in bed, she rubbed vapor rub on her chest and placed a cold compress on her forehead.

“There we go, sweetie. Go to sleep now and when you wake up, you'll feel much better.” She covered Meghan with a thin sheet and sat back. “I'll be right beside you.”

Meghan smiled and reached for her new teddy. “Can Max and Morgan stay too?”

“Of course they can. We'll all stay.”

Meghan smiled with content, one hand on the teddy and the other on Princess who lay next to her, watching the family gathered around her bed. Morgan fiddled with a small battery operated fan Elise had given her, getting it going in the corner. It wasn't much but relieved the stifling heat in the cramped room.

For a while, everything felt right in the world. Weeks of grief and worry seemed to fall off Julianne's shoulders, and she relaxed for the first time in days.

A gentle knock on the door announced Hannelie with a glass of juice and a sandwich for Meghan. “I thought she might try to eat something.”

“Thank you, Hannelie. I don't know what we'd do without you.”

“Don't thank me. This is courtesy of your son.” Hannelie flashed Max a grateful smile. “Thanks to him and a lady called Elise, we'll be dining like royalty tonight.”

Julianne shot Max a questioning look as Hannelie left, retreating to her kitchen and guests.

“I'll tell you everything once Meghan is asleep,” Max said. “Let's just talk about...better things for now.”

“Agreed,” Julianne replied. For the next half hour, they chatted about anything and everything except zombies. Meghan's eyes drooped as the medicine kicked in and after a while, she fell asleep.

By tacit agreement, the adults snuck out of the room, joining the others in the kitchen where they discovered everyone relaxed around the table. Julianne sat down and accepted a mug of sweet coffee. She took a sip and savored the aroma.

It's been a while.

Hannelie distributed plates and everyone dug in. The first bite transported Julianne to heaven. The bread was fresh, topped with ham, pickles, and cheese. She could even detect real butter and mustard.

“Oh my God. This is the best sandwich I've ever had,” she mumbled around a bite. “Who baked the bread?”

“Elise did. She’s our resident cook slash house mother,” Max laughed.

The rest agreed. With nods and murmured gratitude, the food disappeared. Swallowing the last bite with a big swig of coffee, Julianne sighed and picked at the crumbs on her plate wondering when she'd get to have a meal like that again.

“You must have a ton of questions,” Max said.

“Of course. Where have you been these past weeks? What have you been doing?”

Everyone gave their attention to Max. He cleared his throat and began at the beginning—the day he met Logan. The minutes passed as he told their story and Julianne's amazement grew.

“You've got electricity?” she asked. “That explains the bread. This Elise, she baked it?”

“Yup. She manages the kitchen. The ham, pickles, and cheese, it's all frozen or preserved.”

“I see. Well, thank her for me, please. For all of us. That was the best meal I've had in days.”

“You can thank her yourself, Mom. You are coming back with me, aren't you?” Max asked.

“I suppose so, yes. Is it safe?”

“As safe as it's possible to be. We've got a strong fence, barricades in the streets and guards twenty-four hours of the day.”

“Have you been attacked yet?” Henri asked.

“We have. Lone infected and small groups find us from time to time,” Max replied.

“But there's so many of those things in town. Why haven't they attacked you in mass yet?” Morgan asked with a puzzled frown.