Fallen Grace (11 page)

“I’m headed to bed,” said the old woman once she caught her breath. “You young people enjoy the fire and booze. Stay inside. I can hear them out there.” She used a crooked index finger to tap on her temple.

I assumed she meant the dead. I stole a glance at Boggs, who still wore a look of irritation. I hated that he was hurting and wished we could find a balance.

Mrs. Jones shut the hallway door behind her and the room fell quiet. I was exhausted and my feet still hurt from running and walking barefoot on rough terrain, although I could feel that they were starting to heal.

“Danny, you should head to bed,” said Mack.

The younger boy yawned. “Yeah, I need to be up early. Check the traps.” He stood and excused himself.

I leaned against Gus, shuffling my legs to try to get comfortable. Despite the fire, I was growing cold. As if sensing this, Gus rubbed my back gently to try to warm me. I was suddenly overwhelmed with sadness.

“Nate,” said Gus. With my ear nestled against his chest, his voice sounded funny. “You should take Susan into the second room on the left. There’s a comfortable bed.”

As if hearing her name, Susan tossed in her sleep. I heard her whimper as if she were having a bad dream.

“Mack, we should hit the hay too,” suggested Marnie. “The rest of you can camp out in here and tend the fire if you don’t mind?”

“No problem,” said Gus. “We’ve already slept anyway.”

“Mind if I wait in the entryway to the place?” asked Boggs.

Mack sighed deeply. “I can tell there’s major tension here, guys,” he said, looking between Boggs and Gus. “But it’s cold out there and the dead are more likely to sense you by the outer entrance.”

“No problem,” I said quickly, while giving both Gus and Boggs a sharp look.

Nate stood, obviously not wanting to get involved, and gently woke Susan. She looked so tired and haggard. He helped her to the hallway and they disappeared into the deeper area of the hideout. Mack and Marnie followed them.

“Zoe, you go ahead and take the couch,” said Gus. “I’ve had enough sleep.”

“I’m glad you’re safe,” mumbled Boggs.

I wasn’t sure if he meant me or Gus or both of us.

“And I’m sorry about Bobby. And Linus.”

“Thanks, brother. So are we.”

“Do you guys mind if I just camp out on the floor?” asked Boggs, who suddenly seemed calmer. Perhaps the whiskey was helping his mood.

“Go for it,” I said softly.

I slowly stood, my legs half asleep, and stumbled to the sofa. It was still warm from Susan’s nap and I flopped down, ready to sleep for as long as I could. I grabbed the blanket with which she had been covered and wrapped it around myself. I watched as Gus curled up on the floor, his head propped on a toss pillow. Before long he was snoring.

“Mind if I blow out the candle?” asked Boggs.

“Sure. We should save it.”

Once the room was even darker, Boggs walked to the wood stove and opened the door. Putting a piece of wood inside, it popped loudly.

“Thanks, Boggs,” I said quietly.

“For what?”

“The fire.”

“No biggie.”

“No, it is. I know you’re pissed with me.”

He sat down on the couch near my feet, which I lifted to make room for him.

“
Yeah, I guess ‘pissed’ about covers it.”

I scooted back against the armrest so that I could face him. The newly burning wood cast a gentle flickering glow across his strong jawline. His dark hair was shaggier than usual, causing him to tuck it behind his ears.

“So much has happened,” I sighed.

“I still care about you, Zo. But what you two did…”

“I know. And I’m sorry. I really am.”

“It’s a fucked up world,” was all he had to say.

I drew my legs up to my chest and hugged them tightly.

“Get some sleep, kid.”

I closed my eyes and turned slightly toward the back of the couch, trying to get comfortable. I felt Boggs’ hand rest on my thigh and squeeze gently. Neither of us said anymore. I reached my hand down and placed mine over his. He held it gently, to my surprise. After a few minutes he leaned over and rested his head against my legs. I felt oddly content.

The sound of others milling around woke me. To my delight I could smell coffee and meat frying. I sat up and stretched. There were a couple of bright lanterns lit, and Abbey was busy helping Marnie cook on top of the wood stove.

“Morning,” said Danny to me as he brought an empty plate over to the girls. “We were just getting ready to wake you.”

I looked around. I was alone on the couch and didn’t see Boggs or Gus. Susan was sitting in a chair at a small table, eating something with a fork.

“How’s Susan?” I asked Danny.

“She seems ok today. She’s started talking and is eating eggs.”

“Good. Where’s Boggs and Gus?”

Danny held the plate out and Marnie began forking strips of meat onto it. It didn’t smell like bacon, and I wondered what it was.

“They’re out with Mack. He’s showing them the lay of the land. They’ll bring more eggs back.”

“What kind?”

He chuckled. “Chicken.”

“You have chickens?” I said with a little too much surprise in my voice.

“We sure do. We coop them at night when they’re quiet but they run loose during the day, otherwise they’d attract the dead. We found that out the hard way.”

A sadness fell over his face for a brief moment.

“We should eat while this is still hot,” said Marnie. “I’ll heat up more when the mighty egg hunters get back.”

“Zoe, you can sit with me and Susan,” said Abbey.

“Thanks. I need to use the bathroom first.”

“I’ll show you where it is,” offered Marnie. “Danny, can you get Abbey and Susan set up, and keep an eye on these potatoes?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a wink.

I stood and stretched again, my unhappily full bladder screaming at me. I followed Marnie back to the opening in the wall that we had entered through the evening before. She unlatched it and it swung inward toward us. I let her go first, following suit as she stepped up onto a single wooden step and hoisted herself up. Danny was there to close the hatch after I was through.

“Try not to be long,” he said.

“We won’t be,” replied Marnie.

I crouched down and followed her back through the tunnel to the chamber in which I had first awoken. It smelled of damp earth and the slight odor of decaying plant matter. I hadn’t noticed that the day before.

“Marnie?”

“
Yeah?”

“It smells wet in here.”

“Oh…it must have rained overnight. We’re built on the side of a hill, so haven’t flooded. Yet. But it’ll get moist in here after a good rain.”

She ducked down again, and I followed her into another cramped crawlspace. A cold drop of water splattered on the back of my neck, making me shiver.

“We’ll be out in just a sec,” she said quietly. “This is where we need to be extra quiet and listen for the dead. And never lead them back here.”

Marnie stopped and reached her arms upward, lifting on what must have been the main hatch to the hidey hole. “We tie it shut from this side if we’re all down below,” she explained. “Otherwise we only secure the hatch to the basement so anyone topside can get in in a hurry.”

As she moved a board aside, daylight streamed in. I rubbed at my eyes while they adjusted.

“C’mon. The pot’s not far.”

I climbed up toward the surface using a makeshift ladder that someone had fashioned. There were only three rungs and they squeaked slightly as I climbed with my feet. It was constructed of tree branches and rope. Marnie was waiting topside, kneeling on the ground. She reached a hand out to help me emerge.

The sky was overcast and a gentle breeze blew. We were indeed on a hillside, just as she had said. As I found my footing, I looked out at a view of a valley. The ocean was just visible in the distance. A few trees stood nearby, their branches just beginning to fill in with green leaves. In the distance, a good fifty yards away, was the topside of what had been a home.

“Is that where the basement is?” I asked.

“Yes. Only part of the house is still standing. We’ve noticed the dead are more likely to be attracted to a standing building, so we did a controlled burn of part of it.”

“How do you keep them from coming in through the top?”

“We used the dirt from the dig-out to cover weak spots that we had reinforced with salvaged lumber. Here, follow me to the outhouse.”

She began walking downhill toward an oak tree. At the base of the large trunk was a small wooden structure, rectangular in nature, with a toilet seat fashioned on top. A plastic Folgers coffee can was nailed to the tree right beside it, with a roll of toilet paper tucked inside.

“Clever,” I said with a smile.

“It was Danny’s design. Simple, and not very private, but effective,” said Marnie. “The hole’s only about three feet deep, so it won’t last very long. By then we’ll dig a new one.”

“I’ll be sure to compliment him.”

“I’ll wait a few yards away. We try to come out here in pairs.”

“Thanks.”

“Try not to take long, ok? You never know when the dead might wander through.”

“I’ll hurry.” I didn’t feel like explaining that if the dead were near, I’d likely know well before her.

***

After I had finished relieving myself, Marnie walked me to a natural spring that surfaced nearby. The walk downhill was steep, but several shrubs offered handholds on the way down. I helped her fill recycled plastic milk jugs. We worked quietly while listening for sounds around us that might not belong. The small stream was only large enough to allow us to fill half a jug at a time, so we would pour from one container into the others.

“We always try to bring a couple back inside,” Marnie said quietly beside me. “Just so we always have a good supply. You never know when we might be stuck inside hiding for days on end.”

“Has that happened?”

“Twice. The first time for four days, the next for almost two weeks.” She paused for a moment, seemingly spooked by something. “Let’s get back underground and eat breakfast.” She picked up her two jugs of water and began walking back uphill.

As we reached the half-way point, I noticed that Marnie seemed a bit out of breath. She paused to rest and smiled at me.

“I have asthma,” she explained. “It’s just been acting up lately with spring coming on.”

I nodded. “I can come back for your jugs of water.”

“It’s ok, I’ll make it alright. It’s good for me.”

She began walking again, and I followed. As we reached the top of the hill and the landscape flattened, I could feel Gus nearby.

“They’re almost back,” I said quietly.

Marnie looked at me questioningly. I turned in the direction in which I sensed Gus approaching. Within moments he and the other two men emerged from the surrounding shrubbery.

I caught myself smiling, just overall glad to see them all. Gus winked at me, to my delight. Mack walked to Marnie without speaking, and took the water bottles out of her hands.

“C’mon, you know I can get them ok,” she said while rolling her eyes.

“Not while I’m around.”

“We should grab a few more,” I suggested. “Boggs? Mind grabbing these from me and we’ll bring four more in?”

He looked at me sideways, obviously not liking that I’d be alone with Gus while he carried the water inside. After a moment, he walked to me and took the bottles from my hands. “Sure.”

As I watched the three others walk back toward the entry to the bunker, I slid my hand into Gus’. Once the others were a distance away, I turned to face him. His hand was warm in mine, his life force working its way up my arm in a slight tingle.

“Marnie said you were gathering eggs.”

He gripped my hand firmly and pulled me toward him. “Ayup.”

“Did you get any?”

“Ayup.” He kissed me sweetly on the cheek. “Ten in all.” His lips moved to mine, lightly and briefly. “Let’s get the water and head back inside. I’m starving.”

“Mm hmm,” I answered.

We walked back down the hill together and untied four jugs that were gathered in a pile with several others. They had been secured together with twine. I filled them while Gus watched. I had woken stiff and slightly achy all over, and moving around felt good. Once I was done, we each carried two back to the top of the hill and across the flat expanse that led to the secret entry to the basement.

“I’ll go first, darlin’ and you can hand the water down to me.”

“’Kay.”

He quickly ducked down into the opening in the ground and I handed down the water bottles one at a time. After the fourth I slid down into the darkness and dankness of the hole and instantly wished I could stay outside longer, despite the threat of rain.

“Gus?” I called, not quite sure where he was.

“Just over here setting the water aside, baby.”

“Ready for me to close the opening?”

“You bet. We should all be down here, so go ahead and fasten it shut.”

“Will do.”

I peeked my head back outside and located the board that would cover the opening. It was thick plywood that had been covered in roofing shingles, followed by camouflage netting with fabric leaves scattered about. It wasn't large but was on the heavy side. I struggled to drag it into place, where it fit tightly onto a makeshift wooden edge that had been fastened around the entry as a stopper. Two lengths of metal chain were looped on the sides of the rectangular lid as handles, which hung down above me. Two more lengths of chain hung down from the frame that the lid sat upon, which I looped through the handles and secured onto two hooks.

“Must be Danny’s handiwork,” said Gus. “Kids got some good ideas.”

“Looks pretty secure, huh?”

“Ayup. They all seem like good people too.”

“Think we’ll stay here a while?” I asked. I was actually hoping so.

“Might be a good idea. Spring’s almost here and they have some great plans for concealed gardens. Plenty of fishing nearby
  .”

“
Yeah. I really like them. Let’s go eat.”

He grabbed me suddenly, wrapping his arms around me tightly. Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine, kissing me deeply. I could sense his desire to make love to me again.

“We can’t, Gus,” I said, breathlessly. “Not here.”

“You have no idea how much you drive me wild, do you?”

He kissed me again, this time pulling me onto his lap. The space was crowded and darkness surrounded us. I returned his kiss and felt his desire press against me.

“You’re just horny,” I mumbled.

“You know it,” he said as he began lifting my shirt.

“It’s cold here,” I moaned as his warm hands worked their way over my skin.

“Want me to stop?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I helped him pull his pants down and leaned down, taking him into my mouth. I could feel his body tense as I began sucking on him, making the strokes with my mouth long and slow.

“Oh Lord,” he whimpered. “Have mercy!”

I teased him with my tongue while running a hand through the soft hair above his cock.

“Fucking A, Zoe.”

He wrapped my hair around his fingers gently while I maneuvered my mouth, tugging gently at the loose braid on the back of my head. His breathing quickened as his grip on my hair tightened.

“Darlin’, I can’t hold it much longer…so unless you want me to…”

I took heed of his warning and backed my head away. I kept a hand on him and continued to stroke. He wrapped one of his hands around mine and guided my motions. In short order, he groaned and I felt warmth spread over my hand as he emptied himself.

“Thank you,” he panted. “Here, use my shirt,” he offered.

I took it, gratefully, and cleaned my hand off. We got ourselves put back together the best we could and followed the tunnel to the basement.

***

We found Abbey waiting at the inner door for us.

“I was getting worried,” she said.

“We’re fine, Abs. Just stocking up on water.”

“Susan’s feeling better,” she said as she unfastened the hatch from the other side.

“
Yeah?” asked Gus.

“She’s started talking again. Said breakfast was good. Where’s your shirt?”

“Oh I ripped it coming back in,” he lied.

“C’mon, grab some grub while it’s still hot,” said a booming voice from near the small table. Mack.

I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling chilled.

“Where’s Susan?” I asked casually, noticing she wasn't in the common room.

“She’s just lying down,” said Marnie as she walked in from the hallway and gently closed the door behind her. “So is Mimaw. She says the weather’s changing and she’s feeling her bones ache again.”

“I’m worried about her,” said Mack as he shoved a chunk of fried meat into his mouth.”

“She’ll be fine,” said Danny, his tone harsh.