Surviving This Life (10 page)

Grant comes strolling out of the house with the two forks in his hands. I can’t stop the laugh as he swings them around making stabbing jabs into the air.

“I couldn’t leave these babies behind. They come in handy,” he says as he hops in the front seat.

Cade rolls his eyes and starts the ATV up.

“You’re such a dork,” I laugh out to Grant.

He looks back and smiles at me. “This dork and his forks saved your life, so hush.”

I shake my head and watch as the house disappears from my view as we make it back out onto the road.

Chapter Ten

Liv

I grip my bat and nod to Becky silently asking her to cover me as we make our way down the small inclined road toward the screaming Melody.
I can’t believe I am trusting Barbie with a gun to cover me.

I chuckle at the thought. Tony agreed to let Becky have the gun but wouldn’t stay back with the ATV in case we needed a quick getaway. He insisted on going down and watching my back too even though we know Becky is a better shot.

“Liv stay close to me,” Tony says as he walks along beside me.

“Tony I am not helpless. I have killed more flesh eaters than you, so maybe you should stay out of my way and help Becky. We both remember how scared she gets around these things.” I roll my eyes and march on ahead of him.

The first flesh eater goes down with one blow, but is quickly followed by another then another. My arms are getting tired and I wish I would have taken that gun by the time I reach Melody. She slings her arms over my neck.

“Thank You! Please get me out of here!” She begs.

“Let’s go, stay close.” I quickly knock a flesh eater in the side of the head sending him to his knees.

I hear the shots ring out as Tony and Becky quickly drop eater after eater. The ones that Becky doesn’t hit, Tony takes out with his club. The shots are dropping them but just as quickly as they fall more are coming out and filling the streets back up. I grab Melody’s hand and practically drag her through the closing gap of street in front of us.

“LOOK OUT TONY!” I yell as I see a flesh eater reach out to grab him.

Becky swings her gun around and puts a bullet right between his eyes dropping him before he gets a hand on Tony. He smiles over at her and she beams back at him.
I think I am going to be sick.

I hear Melody scream and slam her body into the back of me causing me to stumble and fall on my face. She takes off running toward the ATV. I quickly get up and instantly realize I don’t have my bat any more.

I look over to Melody who is swinging it wildly in front of her to clear a path for her to run.

“Shit!” I jump around as I feel hands on my shoulder. I pull out of the flesh eaters grip and punch it as hard as I can in the face. It stumbles backwards but doesn’t fall. But that’s all I need, just a window to run by him. I see Tony running full speed toward me.

“Tony! I am out of bullets! What do I do?” I hear Becky scream.

“I’ve got to get to Liv! Liv needs me!” he yells back over his shoulder as he dashes for me.

I watch as Becky empties her clip of perfectly good bullets on the ground then runs straight into an eaters arms.

“TONY! HELP ME! TONY!” She screams. Tony glances over his shoulder and looks right at Becky.

“Oh Shit! Hang on!” He turns to run to her at the same time a big burly flesh eaters slams into me knocking me back on the ground and falls on top of me.

Tony turns and looks in my direction as I am trying to fight this monster of a man off of me. With me on my face and him laying on my back, my arms pinned under me, it is a real struggle.
I am going to die!
I panic and start screaming and flopping my body around trying to free at least one arm.

Tony stands in the middle of the street looking back and forth between me and Becky. She has her walker by the face and is desperately trying to keep him from biting her. He shakes his head and runs full force to me yanking the big man off of my back and beating him in the face with the handle of his club.

I am frozen to the pavement as I watch Becky. The look on her face goes from anger to fear as another flesh eater grabs her from behind and bites down on her shoulder.

“TONY!” she yells again but he doesn’t stop his attack on the flesh eater that had me.

“She is mine! You can’t hurt her!” He screams as he brings the club down on the mangled eater’s face.

He finally falls to the ground not moving or making any noise. Satisfied Tony stops and quickly snaps out of it. He reaches down and pulls me up into his arms.

“Are you okay baby? Please say you are okay?” he says as he pulls me back out of his arms to look me up and down.

“I..I,” I am interrupted by Becky’s screams. We both turn and look in her direction as a third eater latches on to her leg.

I flinch and try to get out of Tony’s grip to run to her. She may be a bitch and started it, but no one deserves to die like that.

“Tony we’ve got to save her!” I yell and try and fight my way out of his arms.

“She is gone Liv we can’t save her.” He pulls me closer to his chest.

The streets go fuzzy and the last thing I see is flesh eaters coming up behind Tony.

Chapter Eleven

Wil

The ride to Cade’s driveway seems to take forever. We radioed to Liv's group and Tony said something happened and he would see us soon and explain. To say that my heart is in my stomach would be an understatement. All the worst possible things that could be wrong flash through my head. If something happened to Liv I don’t know how I will make it through this damn apocalypse without her.

She has been my rock for so many years. When life became too much she is the one who would make it all make sense again. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Cade’s driveway in the distance and I wipe my sweaty hands down my pant leg. As soon as Cade parks I jump out of our ATV and run towards Liv’s parked ATV.

Liv is sitting in the seat with blood running down the right side of her face, her eyes are closed and her breathing is slow. I feel the tears rise to the surface as I look to Tony who is pacing the ground around the ATV.

“What the hell is wrong with her? Why is she bleeding?” I runs towards Tony and punching him in the chest.

“We got over ran by eaters one fell on her and knocked her to the ground. I got him off as quickly as I could, but when she fell she hit the pavement pretty hard. I am scared Wil. What if she doesn't wake up?” He asks with tears rolling down his own face.

Cade and Grant come running over to us. Melody quickly hops out of the ATV and into Grant’s arms.

“Where is Becks?” Cade asks, looking around.

“Sh...She didn’t make it," Tony says looking at the ground.

“What do you mean she didn't’ make it?” Cade demands as he stalks toward Tony.

“We don’t have time for this! Liv is bleeding out of her head! We need to get her inside and lay her down,” Tony says as he pushes past Cade and gets back into the ATV.

I jump in beside Liv and hold her close to me as Tony speeds down the driveway. Once we make it to the gate Jose is quick to open it for us and we speed through. Not waiting for Cade and the others we hurriedly get out. Tony comes over and effortlessly lifts Liv into his arms. I rush over to the front door and yank it open for Tony and he runs inside.

“Where is her room?” He asks looking at me.

“This way,” I say and lead him up the stairs straight to her room. He gently lays her on the bed and I run over to the conjoining bathroom and wet a washcloth in warm water. I dab and wipe her face and with the dried blood out of the way I can clearly see the jagged cut across her temple.

“What exactly happened out there Tony?” I ask looking up at him.

He paces the floor rubbing his hands over his head and face. “We found Melody in an over run town. She was running for her life and you know Liv, she has to be the hero.” He pauses and stops pacing to look at the unconscious Liv. “So we go down. Liv takes the lead, Becky and I were following close trying to shoot most of the eaters out of her way. For every one we dropped it seemed like four more were popping up in its place. She got Melody out of the heart of the eaters and as they were making it back up toward us Melody got spooked by one touching her and took off running away from Liv. That’s the first time she fell. We were emptying clip after clip to keep her clear until Becky ran out of bullets and one got to Liv. He tackled her knocking her to the ground. Her arms were pinned under her and she couldn’t fight back. I raced to her, only to have Becky screaming for my help. I look back and an eater has her too.” He pauses and bends down and gently tucks a stray hair behind Liv’s ear. “I couldn’t choose Becky and lose Liv again. So without hesitation I sprinted over and yanked the eater off of Liv and beat his brains in. By the time she was safe it was too late for Becky.” He shakes his head and looks away. “If I would have lost her today I don’t know what I would have done,” he stutters out as he covers his face with his hands and sobs.

I walk over to him and pull him in a hug, “It’s going to be okay Tony. She is going to be okay. You saved her.” I say as I rub small circles on his back as I hug him.

Just then Emily comes running in the room and straight over to Liv laying on the bed.

“Liv. Liv,” she says as she gently shakes Liv’s shoulder.

I release Tony, who quickly wipes his eyes, and go over to Emily.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” she asks, looking up at me with her big, sad, blue eyes.

I bend down until I am eye level with her. “Liv fell and hit her head so she is sleeping right now,” I say in a kind voice.

“M…My mommy was asleep before she tried to bite me.” She backs up away from the bed. “Is Liv going to wake up and try to bite me too?” she asks with a scared look on her face.

I look over to Tony who is tearing up again and I have to fight the tears back to answer her.

“No baby, Liv will never try and bite you. She promised to protect you remember? So she would never hurt you.” I pull her into a hug and she wraps her little arms around my neck and I stand with her in my arms. She pulls back slightly so she can look me in the face as she talks.

“Can I go color Liv a picture so when she wakes up she will have something pretty to look at?” she asks in the sweetest little voice.

I smile. “Of course you can pumpkin.” I give her a quick kiss on her forehead and set her down. She turns to walk out of the room, then quickly turns around and runs back over to the bedside.

“Get better soon Liv,” she says and kisses her on the cheek. Emily darts out of the room and into her own.

I wipe the tear that falls down my cheek and lean over and talk to Liv.

“You see baby girl you have to wake up,” I say as I rub my hand over her forehead. “You have so many people depending on you. Me, Emily,” before I can say more Tony steps up and grabs her hand.

“And me baby. We all need you to wake up.” He kisses her hand and instead of placing it back beside her side he cups it in both of his hands as he gently rubs his thumb up and down the top of her hand.

“See Liv all of us need you. Wake up baby girl please,” I beg as the tears I was trying to hold back come crashing down my face.

Tony wraps his arm around my shoulder and we cry together until we are both out of tears.

Cade, Tony and I are all sitting around the kitchen table as Tony goes over what happened to them out there for the tenth time. Cade isn’t understanding anything he is saying except his sister died out there because Tony didn’t save her. He keeps demanding Tony to go over and over the story.

“Tell me again why you couldn’t save my fucking sister?” Cade commands as he glares over at Tony.

“I…” Tony starts again but I cut him off.

“Look Cade, no matter how many times he tells you it’s not going to change what happened. I am sorry your sister is dead but she knew what she was getting into like all of us did when we went out looking for Melody. Liv knew too and she is laying up there unconscious and may never wake up. As much as it hurts to see her like that I don’t blame Tony for it and neither should you. He made a choice and seeing as your sister was on her feet and in a position to fight back he went to Liv who was on the ground face down with her arms pinned under her. If it wasn’t for him we would have two dead people on our hands.”

“Let me get this straight you’re telling me that my sister’s life didn’t matter?” He cuts his eyes toward me and I can see the hurt along with anger swirling in his eyes.

“That’s not what I am saying at all. What I am saying is Tony couldn’t save everyone. He is just one man and couldn’t be in two places at once.” I try to reach over and take Cade’s hand to try and get him to understand I am truly sorry for his loss, but he yanks his hand away like I am poisonous.

“Just fuck it! Fuck all of this!” He jumps up and flips the table over. He stalks toward Tony, “AND FUCK YOU!” he says as he wraps his hands around Tony’s neck almost picking him up off of the ground. I run over and yank on Cade’s arm to try and get him to let go.

“CADE!” I scream. “Cade this isn’t going to bring your sister back!” I pull on his arm again as Tony’s starts to turn blue. “CADE FUCKING STOP! YOU’RE GOING TO KILL HIM!” I wrap my arms around his and pull with all of my might but he isn’t budging.

Grant comes running in there. “What the fuck is all this ye…” Grant stops as he takes in the scene he just walked into. Then he runs over and yanks Cade off of Tony.

Tony falls to the ground gasping for air and I stumble back and almost fall over Cade’s upturned chair. I put my hands out and cling to the wall keeping me from falling over. I steady myself before running over to Tony.

“Oh my God! Are you okay?” I ask as I bend down next to him.

He nods his head as he is sucks in lung full after lung full of air.

“What the fuck was that about man?” Grant asks after he has Cade a safe distance away from Tony.

“He killed my sister!” Cade yells out.

Tony finally stands after finding his breath. “I did not kill her man. I thought she could handle one eater. How was I supposed to know two more would grab her too? I did everything I could man, I swear.” Tony looks away from Cade as tears fill his eyes.

I know he had to have some feelings for her or he wouldn’t have cheated on Liv with her. But seeing it in his face right now I am glad Liv isn’t here to see it.

“Cade,” I speak softly and walk over to him gently placing my hand on his shoulder. He looks down at me and his face softens so I continue, “I am sorry about Becky. I really am but it wasn’t Tony’s fault.”

His mouth quivers and he starts bawling, “That was my little sister. The only family I had left. I am supposed to be the big brother and I couldn’t protect her,” he bellows out between sobs.

Seeing him come apart I don’t know if I want to hug him or fuck him. The burning between my thighs tells me it’s the latter. There is just something about a grown man crying that is so damn sexy. Especially one who looks like Cade. I wrap my arms around him the best I can and pull him down to me so his head is resting on my shoulder. I look over to Grant and Tony and nod my head signaling I got this so they can go.

“Shh Cade it’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay,” I coo in his ear as I rub his back and let him come undone on my shoulder.

“What will I do without my family? I have no one left,” he sobs.

“That’s not true you have me, Liv, Emily and as much as you don’t think so you have Tony. We will be your family,” I reassure him.

He pulls back from me and looks me in the eye. “You really mean that? I thought you hated me especially now that I basically tried to kill your friend.”

I reach up and wipe the tears from his cheeks. “Of course I mean it Cade. And what you did to Tony, well I understand. I probably would have acted the same way if it would have been Liv. He doesn’t hold a grudge for it I am sure and neither will I. But if Liv wakes up.”

He corrects me, “When Liv wakes up,”

“Yeah when Liv wakes up, let’s not mention it to her because that girl can hold a damn grudge,” I chuckle and he smiles.

“Yeah I can see that with the way she is with Grant. But I am on her side with that one.” He grins down at me and I swear my panties are soaked.

“The world has gone to shit, so I figure I have more important things to worry about than Grant. Besides he did save my life, so I think his good outweighs his bad right now, don’t you think?”

“Well I am pretty glad he saved you,” he says as he wraps his big arms around me. “I mean now I have a sister again.”

A sister? Does he really think of me as a sister? Ugh this is just great.
I roll my eyes at myself.

He must sense my uneasiness about that statement because he pulls me back and looks at me. “Liv is going to make one kick ass sister,” he beams down at me and winks.

I can feel my face getting warm and I know I am blushing. His smile gets wider and no doubt my face gets redder so I look down.

He tucks his fingers under my chin and gently lifts my face, “You look beautiful when you blush.”

I feel my cheeks flush more at the sound of his words and my heart starts to race a little.

“I don’t think anything about zombie goo all over me is beautiful.” I reply

“You are beautiful goo and all.” He skims his fingers over the side of my face.

I close my eyes and let the feeling of his hands on me overwhelm my senses.

He brings his head down to mine, “I want to kiss you,” he whispers in my ear.

The tingle from his beard and his hot breath on my ear causes me to squeeze my legs together and I let go of the breath I was holding. “Then do it,” I say whispering back.

He runs his lips from my ear, across my cheek until he makes it to my lips and then he pulls back looking into my eyes before he leans in and presses his lips gently to mine. I lean up on my tip toes and press my body against his, wrapping my arm around his neck and grab a handful of his hair. His hands rise to each side of my face and he deepens the kiss licking my bottom lip, asking for permission to enter. I open my mouth on a moan and squeeze my arms around him just a little tighter as if he is going to disappear and this will all be a dream. He groans into my mouth and I can feel the effect the kiss has is not lost on him as he presses against me.

The sound of someone clearing their throat has us stepping apart and a blush rising to my cheeks once again. Just from a simple kiss I feel like I need to bend over and catch my breath or smoke a cigarette.