Parish (10 page)

              “I’m not hungry, Mom.” Jamie frowned.

              “Jamie, please, try.  Ok?” She sat down before him.  Involuntarily her leg brushed against Jack’s causing him to pull back as if her touch burned him.  Emily’s hand tightened around the can.

              “Jamie, listen to your mother.” Jack muttered, his attention still on the radio. Emily’s eyes jumped to her husband and for a brief moment he looked up and held her gaze, before dropping it down again.

              “Okay.” Jamie gave in.

              “Okay, here, honey, drink some water.”  She held the water bottle to his lips, and he sipped slowly.  A few small streams of the clear liquid escaped the corners of his mouth and dribbled down his chin and onto his shirt. He dropped his head back down as Emily wiped his chin.  Static filled the air.

              “I got it!  I got it going bud!  Let’s see if we can find a channel that’s up and working. Okay?” Jack looked to his son, beaming with excitement. Jamie smiled and weakly gave him a thumbs up.

              “My name is Max.  I’m…I’m just the coffee guy here at the station…I don’t know if anyone out there is still left to hear me.  I’m locked in the broadcasting booth.”  The voice named Max laughed gruffly.  “Amy in the AM and Bad Brad are both, well…they’re looking at me through the glass like I’m a juicy steak.”  He laughed again.  “I’m… uhh… I’m still getting some reports in over here.  I thought, what the hell, if anyone is out there and looking for some kind of update, well maybe I have the news you’re looking for.  Alright?  Let me just…grab these papers….alright I got ‘em.  Okay so here’s the latest of like…two minutes ago.  Reports are saying that Chicago fell earlier today, so…that sucks…sorry if anyone listening has you know…family or whatever there.  There are rogue groups running around killing and stealing, you know, the usual stuff that happens when shit hits the fan.  And…we still have no clue as to what the government is doing, but what else is new right?” Max laughed again.

              “Maybe you should turn that off, Jack.” Emily frowned as she spooned the soup into Jamie’s mouth.

              “No!” Jamie swallowed the mouthful.  “Please.”  Emily furrowed her brow and dipped the spoon back into the can.

              “I have been sitting here for hours, alone.  I have had some time to think, people out there who are alive and listening.  I have come to a conclusion.  Maybe, we as a species deserve this, whatever the fuck that caused dead people to come back and pick at us like a rack of baby backs at a barbeque.  Now before you get mad, hear me out.  Humanity as a whole is like a cancerous tumor on the ass of the planet.  Sure, maybe not all people are ass clowns, but sweet fuck, there sure are a lot of them.  Right?  I know I’m right.  You know how I know I’m right?  I was one of them, hell maybe I still am an ass clown.  I don’t know, I’ll leave that judgment up to you fine people.   But really think about how really shitty we are as a species.  We’re the worst!  Anyway, that’s just my two sense…hey folks, wait a second here.  I think I may have another update here.  Yeah, hey, yeah I sure do.  Oh man, on top of some undead bastards trying to eat your face off there is a pretty bad storm coming.  If you aren’t somewhere safe, man, get there, somewhere now.”

              “Artemis!” Emily yelled, as softly as she could.  A few seconds later Artemis walked in.

              “You called, doc?” He put his hands on his hips.

              “I found a radio in here and got it working.  They said there’s a really bad storm coming.  You, me and Wade need to double check and then triple check everything to make sure we’re safe in here.” Jack stood up and sat the radio next to Jamie’s hip.  Jamie put his hand on it, and smiled gratefully up at his father.

              “Alright.  I think your daughter’ll want to help too.” Artemis motioned with his head back to where the twins were waiting.

              “Yeah, that’s fine.” Jack hiked his pants up a bit before turning around.  “Jamie, you be a good boy and do as your mother says.  I’ll be back after we make sure everything is secure before that storm hits. Okay?”

              “Okay.” Jamie nodded, opening his mouth for the spoonful of broth his mother was trying to give to him. 

Chapter Nine

The lightning struck first.  It illuminated the night sky making it appear as though the sun has risen for a moment before the sky bathed in darkness again.  Over and over again this happened until the sky seemingly opened up and began to pour torrential rain down up the city.  To a person of faith it may have appeared that a higher being was taking mercy upon those who managed to survive thus far by trying to drown the undead who wandered up and down the streets hunting like animals.  Animals that ran on nothing but smell or sound.  The thunder started last.

              Wren had moved over to sit next to Wade, his arm around his twin, she had her hands up over her ears.  She had never liked storms, ever since she was a little girl.  She jumped with every clap of thunder, squeaked at every blast of lightning.  Wade had always taken it upon himself to make her feel safe during the storms.  Emily sat watching them, smiling to herself.  They may be sixteen years old, but it was obvious that some things didn’t change, even during the zombie apocalypse.

              Jack had demanded to sleep next to Jamie, and after everything that had unfolded between him and Emily she thought it best not to argue with him, and instead she was sitting watching her older children as the storm raged on.  Artemis was sleeping atop his boxes. None of the noise caused by the storm seemed to bother him and he snored on. 

              Doubt began to creep into her thoughts.  Perhaps she and her team hadn’t created this problem.  Maybe it was something else, and she had confessed for nothing.  Emily closed her eyes and tilted her head back to lay against the wall.  If they came out of this alright, she may not have a marriage anymore.  Laughing internally, a clap of thunder pulled her back out of her thoughts.  It seemed silly to be worrying about the state of her marriage. 

              Another hour passed before the storm began to disperse.  Wren and Wade and fallen asleep, her head on his shoulder.  Emily finally closed her eyes, trying to clear out her mind so sleep could find her.  When the sun poured over the horizon a few hours later, and lazily dripped through the dirty windows to dance upon her eyelids, she awoke.  Grimacing, it felt like she had only just fallen asleep.

              As the situation they were in jumped back into her thoughts she sprung up.  Bolting upright she looked around.  The twins were still fast asleep.  Artemis was standing on an overturned crate peering outside.  He turned as he caught her movement from the corner of his eyes.

              “Mornin’, doc.” He gave a nod before returning his gaze outside.  “Everyone’s good, checked on ‘em when I woke up.  The little one back there is snoring and so’s your husband.”

              “Thank you for checking on them.” Emily tried to smooth out her bed ragged hair.

              “Ain’t nothing, we’re a team, remember?” He replied, his tone light.

              “I couldn’t forget if I tried.” She shook her head.  “I’m going to go and see if Jamie is awake yet.”

              “Alright.  I’m just keeping watch.  I ain’t seen no one, well no one living I should say.  Saw a few zombies, but they just shuffled on by.  Didn’t even give this place a second look.” Artemis cleared his throat, causing Wade to jump in his sleep.

              “Well, thank god for small miracles I guess.” Emily had turned and was making her way back to the office.  She turned the corner and saw Jack sprawled out on the floor, mouth agape.  His snoring seemed to vibrate the floor, and she smiled.  Shaking her head she wondered how Jamie managed to sleep through the racket.  Stepping lightly over her husband’s sleeping form she made her way to her child.

              Emily pressed her hand to his forehead, he was no longer burning with fever but he still felt a bit too warm.  She smiled as she watched his eyes fluttering beneath their lids.  Stooping down she continued to watch his face.  Emily hoped he was having a good dream.  Maybe he was dreaming of playing on the playground with his friends, or running through the sprinkler on a hot summer day.  Maybe he was simply dreaming of a few days ago, when everything was still normal.

              “Jamie?” Jack’s gruff morning voice startled her.  She spun around and hushed him.

              “He’s still sleeping, hush your big mouth.”

              “Is he ok?” Jack scrambled on his hands and knees to come to her side and regard their youngest child.

              “He’s still a bit warm, but it’s not as bad as it was yesterday.” Emily replied.

              “Is this normal, you know, with the…shot?” A flash of anger flickered through Jacks eyes.

              “No, actually.  But that’s a good thing.” Emily moved to put her back against the wall so she could face Jack but still keep her eyes on Jamie.

              “What’s normal?” Jack asked.

              “Normal would have been for the fever to get worse.” Emily looked down, brushing off her pant leg.

              “There’s still a chance though, right?  Whatever caused this fever could have just been a bug and he could still get…the effects from…” Jack let his voice trail off.

              “No, I don’t think so.  The timing isn’t right.  I was up awhile last night thinking about everything.  The virus had an activation time.  I really think that if it were that it would be painfully obvious by now.  He’s getting better, I think it was just some kind of bug.” Emily’s face pinched as she spoke.

              “Really?  Or are you just saying that because you are trying to make me feel better?” Jack’s tone turned accusatory.

              “He’s my son too.  I wouldn’t give you false hope, I wouldn’t give myself false hope.” Emily narrowed her eyes, before forcing herself to calm down.  Jack had every right to be angry with her.  She had hid her jobs purpose from him since day one.  It didn’t matter that she was sworn to secrecy, she should have told him.  Not just because he was her husband but for the safety of her children.  “You haven’t asked about your other children.”

              “Is something wrong with one of them?” Panic washed over Jacks face.

              “No their fine, I just thought I should mention them to you.” Emily sighed.

              “Don’t do that to me.  Worrying about those things out there and Jamie, it’s enough to give me a stroke as it is.”

              “Artemis is keeping watch right now, and the twins are passed out.  I think it would be wise to let all the kids try to get some rest.  I hope they’re all having good dreams, escaping from this hell even if it’s just for a little while.” Emily stood up.  “I’m going to go put some breakfast together for everyone.  If he wakes up before I come back, make sure he drinks some water.”

              “Water. Got it.” Jack nodded.  He didn’t look at her as she walked to the doorway, instead he turned his attention to Jamie.  Emily rolled her eyes. 

              “Doc! Doc!” Artemis was harshly whispering for her, trying to get her attention.

              “What?” She ran on tip toe towards him.

              “It’s another one of those groups we saw from that first day.  They’re surrounding us.  We need to be quiet.” He continued to whisper.

              “Okay.” Emily nodded.

              Wren stretched, letting out a loud groan.  Emily dove at her, clamping her hand over mouth.  Wrens eyes went wide and Wade jumped, his eyes flying open.  Before he could mutter a word, Emily’s free hand reached up and clamped over his mouth too.

              “Shhh…there’s a mass of those things outside.  Be very quiet.” Emily explained.  Wren and Wade nodded their understanding of the situation.

              “I think we may have some trouble, doc.” Artemis stepped down from the crate and walked over to them.  “There is a group of about seven outside, they’re picking off the zombies.  I think they’re scavenging.”

              “If we’re quiet, they’ll leave us alone won’t they?” Wren asked.

              “We’re in a grocery store.” Wade interjected.  Emily’s eyes went wide.

              “Do you think we could fight them off if we have to?” Emily asked.

              “It’s hard to say.  I don’t know what they’re armed with.” Artemis answered truthfully.

              “Is Jamie better?” Wren looked to her mother, Wade’s eyes settled in on her as well.

              “Yeah.  His fever is coming down.  He’ll be fine.” Emily smiled reassuringly.

              “We may have to make a run for it out the back door.  I can carry the little guy if we have to, but if we have to run it would be better if we could get in a car.” Artemis looked back to the front of the store.