Save Me (3 page)

Will walked around checking the place out and seeing what supplies we could use. There was still plenty of canned food and water, a ton of oatmeal and rice, and quite a bit of medical supplies. Since mom was a nurse, she managed to clear out the supply cabinet at the doctor's office she worked in before the quarantine went into effect. She brought home bandages, pain meds, antiseptic, and more latex gloves than anyone could ever use. I had taken some of the stuff with me when I left but there was still a lot left. Will looked at the horde like we had just hit the jackpot. I guess the group he was with was much less prepared. Just wait until I showed him the weapons closet.

"So, you were here with your parents?" Will asked, trying to make small talk.

Something I was definitely not interested in.

"Yes, and some others."

I walked away hoping he would take the hint that I wasn't in the mood to talk about it. The basement was quite big, spanning the whole area of our modest two-story colonial. There were three rooms converted into bedrooms, an area we used as a kitchen and for laundry, a bathroom, and common living area, not a bad place to be trapped in a zombie apocalypse, I suppose.

Walking into the room I shared with the other kids brought back a lot of memories. The bunk beds I insisted I had to have when I was seven, sat in the corner. That had been where Zach and Jacob slept. The wall opposite the bunk beds was the queen-sized bed Amy, June and I shared and across from that was the small twin bed the Allen kids shared. It was a bit crowded for seven, but none of us ever minded being in that room together. We would stay up late talking and telling stories. For awhile, it was like being away at summer camp. We were able to pretend that the world hadn't gone to shit outside the safe haven of our basement. We really made the place feel like home. There were posters on the walls and toys for the little ones. Amy's set of Twilight books still sat on the nightstand where she left them. She must have read those books a dozen times each. I hadn't allowed myself to think of Amy in so long. Usually it was too painful to remember my once human best friend, but as I saw those books sitting there, warm feelings spread inside me. For the first time in awhile, I didn't feel so angry.

Will stood in silence behind me looking around the room. Luckily, he kept his big mouth shut because I was not in the mood to have some deep conversation with him. He didn't need to know my life story anyway. In a few days at most, we would go our separate ways.

"I'm going to go clean up. There should be some clothes in that closet that will fit you." Will was about the size of Zach only taller but the shirts should be a good fit. "So you can ditch the little girl shirt."

"What? You don't like my shirt?" Will grabbed his chest dramatically. "I'm wounded."

"Sorry, there may be some little girl's clothes in there too, but I doubt they will fit you. We could check the attic for the stuff I wore when I was six."

He smiled, probably imagining me as a six year old from that goofy look on his face. "I'm taking a shower. Don't let anything kill me while I'm in there."

"Wait, what?" He asked clearly confused.

"Shower, ya know, water, washing. Shower." I left him with his confusion and walked into the small bathroom. He of course followed me. This was becoming a really bad habit.

"How? There hasn't been running water in houses in forever." Will's confusion reminded me just how lucky I had been in the early days here in this basement.

"The water is from a well and the solar panels on the roof out back run the pump. Didn't you notice them? They are all over this neighborhood." I wondered how he'd survived this long with his lack of observation skills.

"Yeah I noticed them but most places I've seen they don't work well and I've never seen any running water." Will walked over to the sink and tried the water as if he couldn't believe it was true. His green eyes lit up as the water ran out on to his hand. It was like he had never seen anything so amazing.

"Okay, don't waste it. And get out so I can shower!"I couldn't help but smile at him. Even after I left home, the group I met up with had a generator so we managed running water. It was severely restricted so there was no showering, but it had to be better than wherever Will had been.

I showered as quickly as I could to leave enough power for Will to take one as well. There hadn't been much sun in the last several days so I wasn't sure how much power we would have. It would also be great to charge my mp3 player without spending two hours with that little hand crank generator Dad had put in my stocking that last Christmas before the world turned upside down. At the time, I thought it was a dumb gift. It was one of those things I'd never use, but I smiled and thanked him anyway. I wish he could know just how much that gift meant to me now.

Will was putting two steaming bowls of food on the table when I came out of the bathroom. As good as it felt to shower, hot food trumped everything right now. The last thing I ate was a stale energy bar from an abandoned Spiderman backpack that I found last night. Next to that, canned pasta and meatballs was a gourmet meal.

"God that smells good!"

I dove into the food, savoring every last bite. The only thing that could have made it better was some bread to soak up the last bits of sauce.

"Should I make you another?" Will seemed to be getting more enjoyment out of watching me eat than from the food itself, making me a little self-conscious.

"Thanks, I'm fine."

I took both bowls over to the sink and quickly washed them out.

"You can take a shower if you like."

I noticed he was still wearing his pony shirt, but he had laid out some clothes to change into. I wondered if he picked out something of Zach's or Amy's after seeing his current choice in apparel. He nodded and disappeared into the bathroom.

While Will showered I looked through the books along the wall in the living room. I should probably take a couple different titles with me when I leave. I hadn't found anything new to read in a few weeks and I couldn't stand to read the same ones again. As nervous as I was about coming back here today, I felt like I was going to miss it when we left. As screwed up as the world was outside, in here it always felt like home. These books, the quilts on all the beds that Mrs. Allen had hand sewn, even the mural of a lush green park us kids had painted in the kitchen, all of it was home. Knowing they were all gone for good made it difficult to be here but the thought of leaving it behind again somehow seemed harder. I picked something off the shelf and settled on my old bed to read.

When I woke up I was wrapped up in one of Mrs. Allen's quilts. I didn't remember going to sleep but I guess I must have. I looked around in the dark to see if Will was in one of the other beds but I didn't notice him. My mind drifted back to the three people I met up with right after I left the basement on my own. They seemed like really nice people. They even helped me get past a large group of zombies that would have been nearly impossible for me to take on by myself. They invited me to travel with them, to be part of their group. I was happy to have others to be around, rather than being on my own. After being sheltered for so long I wasn't prepared to be alone. When I woke up that first night and looked around in the dark for them, I knew right away that something was wrong. I could hear the grunting of flesh eaters close by. When I reached for my gun, it was gone. So was most of my stuff. They were nice enough to leave me with my mostly empty backpack and the books and pictures I took with me from home. If it wasn't for my mp3 player being in my jeans pocket, I bet they would have taken that too.

I felt that same feeling of panic, wondering if Will had left, as I did that night I was left in the woods. I don't know why it would affect me so much. I mean, I did try to get rid of him, repeatedly, less than 24 hours ago. Besides, I had learned to be on my own and take care of myself since then. I wasn't helpless. In fact, I preferred to be alone. He couldn't have locked the basement door securely if he had left, so I went to check if he had gone. Not that it really mattered, other than making sure the door was locked of course.

I grabbed the flashlight from the nightstand and made my way into the living room area. The basement was still and quiet. I really didn't expect to see Will at all but his bare feet stuck out from under one of the quilts draped over the sofa. I shined the flashlight on the other end to make sure the feet belonged to Will's body. Hey you could never be sure about anything these days. Sure enough, there was his face, sound asleep. A little too soundly if you ask me. I mean, he's in a strange place, with a girl he doesn't even know, and a flashlight is shining in his face, but he doesn't even budge. Good thing I was a light sleeper. I mean who wasn't these days? How could you survive this long nowadays sleeping like that? Will looked like a young boy while he slept. Normally I would have guessed he was about 20 but here sleeping, it was hard to imagine him a day over fifteen, not that his age really mattered. Since we wouldn't be staying together, it really didn't matter how old he was, or how adorable he was when he slept, or how small curls of black hair fell over his face making me want to brush them aside. Get a grip, Andi.

I wondered why he had chosen to sleep on the sofa rather than in one of the beds. I had spent enough time in this basement to attest that this sofa was not meant for sleeping. The beds weren't the most comfortable in the world, but after the way most people spent their nights these days, they were the best thing you were going to come across. There were two other bedrooms he could have picked if he didn't want to stay in the room with me. I narrowed my eyes at his sleeping form. Why didn't he want to stay in the room with me? Did he think there was something wrong with me? I was no beauty queen, but I did okay. I mean, before the world went to crap I had been asked out by the best-looking boy in school. Not to mention since then, I had been hit on plenty. I wasn't beating them off with sticks or anything, wait, I guess I did have to beat them off a couple of times, but not while they were still breathing. I had inherited Mom's dirty blonde waves, and crystal blue eyes but I looked more like Dad. I had his nose and eye shape and even the same full pouty lips. Dad always said I was cursed with his looks. Mom usually slapped him for saying it. I may not have been drop dead gorgeous like my mother, but I wasn't hard on the eyes either, at least in my opinion. Things were different in the world now though. You couldn't always be sure if a boy was just being nice, flirting, or if he was looking for something he had every intention of getting, whether you agreed or not.

Will started to stir a little, probably because I was still standing over him shining the flashlight in his face. This dumb boy was going to get himself killed on his own. Finally, his eyes opened and he looked around, shielding his eyes from the harsh light.

"What's wrong?" He jumped up and looked around, grabbing his bag from where his head had been laying and pulling out his crossbow.

"You sleep on top of that thing, loaded?" He really did make me wonder how he survived this long. Will grabbed the flashlight from me and scanned around the room.

"Are you okay? Did something happen?" He shone the flashlight up and down me checking for harm.

"No I'm fine. I woke up and didn't see you so I was checking on you."

You know, since clearly he could sleep through just about anything.

"Oh." He sat down, relieved.

"So, aren't you afraid you will shoot an arrow into your face or something sleeping on that?"

Will's face relaxed into a smile and he stifled a laugh. "If I had it pointed up toward my face, maybe. Besides, an unloaded weapon is of no use when you wake up surrounded by undead looking for their next meal."

I was really getting sick of him laughing at me.

"Well maybe if you didn't sleep like you were home in your bed and your mamma was in the next room to protect you, it wouldn't be an issue."

"I guess I was pretty tired. I'm sure you know, being on your own makes it really hard to get any sleep at all. This place seems secure enough though. Why did you ever leave here?" He walked over to the table to get the portable lamp and turned it on.

Staying here had not really been an option. After that last day it was the only thing I could do. Dad and I had dragged the last of our friends' bodies outside and buried them in the back yard next to my pet hamster, Moriarty, from seventh grade. After we cleaned the mess, Dad told me to take a shower and get cleaned up while he made some lunch. I guess I was still kind of in shock because when I emerged from the bathroom, I was actually hungry. Then I found the letter.

Will watched me patiently, waiting for an answer. He didn't look like the same little boy sleeping soundly just minutes earlier. His jet-black hair was perfectly disheveled around his face framing his green eyes which sparkled even in this dim lighting. He really was beautiful, even if I had no intention of looking at him that way. He took my hand into his and sighed.

"Andi, you can trust me. I know you've been through some bad things. We both have." He looked away as if to hide his pain. "I know it's hard but it's our best shot at surviving."

He was probably right of course. Having someone you could trust to watch your back gave you a much better chance of survival, than trying to get by on your own. The problem was, you couldn't trust anyone. Most people I had met since the outbreak were only out for themselves. They only cared about what they needed and if they had to lie, beat or kill you to get it, they would. I had come across a lot of people who seemed like good people and maybe before all this, they were. Things were different now though. People who may have once helped out a stranger were the same ones stabbing you in the back and taking your last can of green beans. I looked at Will and part of me wanted to trust him but I had felt that way about people before and it never turned out good. No, it didn't matter if it was easier to have another person around. I didn't need easy. I could do just fine on my own. I wasn't going to let my guard down. Not even with Will. Sweet, adorable, Will, who saved me from the flesh eaters and crept around like a ninja because he didn't think I could take care of myself and slept like a rock in my basement because he trusted me. Which was stupid since we just met. I had no idea what Will had been through before, but I could tell from the way he became quiet and looked away at times that he had his own share of painful memories. Yet still, he trusted me, a girl he only just met and who clearly was not the friendliest girl a boy could come across. I couldn't even imagine what it was he saw in me that made it so easy for him to trust me. He could not possibly know that I wouldn't have shot him in the head while he slept and stolen whatever it was he kept in that messenger bag that rarely left his body. Clearly, he was just too trusting and being with someone who trusted so easily put us both at risk. I just needed to stick with my original plan and keep in mind that this arrangement was only temporary.