The Fall (Book 2): Dead Will Rise (3 page)

He gave her a smile that didn't go past his mouth and went to work tying off the undead. Just as he finished with the last one, an unmistakable sound froze him in place. Tires crunched over the gravel of the long driveway, and as Kell looked to see who the visitor was, he felt the tension all across the yard. Every person stood still, tasks and lessons forgotten.

A Jeep rolled into view, slowly to avoid provoking a reaction. Two men rode in the vehicle, which parked at the edge of the yard closest to the road. The driver poked his head out, nodding to Kell.

“Word came in this morning,” the man said. “You're to leave day after tomorrow. Meet with your people at the main complex. You're being given a guard for the first leg of the trip, just to the Michigan border. Be there at dawn. Probably best to show up the night before.”

The driver put the Jeep in reverse and turned around. Briefly Kell wondered if the man considered the effect his morning task had on the people he spoke to. The guy was probably annoyed he had to drive out here just to deliver a thirty-second message, uncaring that doing so would uproot people who had desperately wanted to build a home here.

To their credit, the group didn't break into hysterics. There were no overt reactions, no shocked conversations. Instead they looked to Kate, who had prepared them for this eventuality.

“You know what to do, everyone. Class dismissed,” she said.

The students broke off into groups and vanished into the trees. Their camps were designed to break down, to be ready to leave on a moment's notice. They would likely be ready for the journey long before Kell, Kate, and Laura were. The three of them still had to haul some things out of the house, including a few of the more sensitive pieces of equipment they wanted to keep safe until the last minute.

Kate watched the rest of the group leave, standing apart until she and Kell were the last people in the yard. The small woman walked up to him, eyes scanning his face for a reaction. When she found none, she sighed and slapped the back of her hand against his armored belly.

“Come on, Stretch,” she said. “We've got work to do.”

As Kell looked over the mass of people gathered in the vacant lot just outside North Jackson, he felt a stirring of pride for the people who had chosen to join him. To his surprise, they weren't the only group leaving today. Three other gatherings of migrants surrounded them, but even to the laziest observer, the differences were easy to spot.

Kell's people—who had taken to referring to themselves as 'the unit'—were well-ordered. Between the group they drove six vehicles. A tight fit, but most of them were large
and had their gear stored on top or in trailers. Those vehicles sat in a tight group, evenly spaced, as every person in the group checked their preparations for the third time that morning. Tow straps in case a vehicle died or became stuck, extra rope and cord in case luggage tore free, and a dozen other details from checking the newly-delivered gasoline brought in from the small refinery in the south to making sure everyone had enough water.

They did it methodically, efficiently, and all the while wearing full armor. Preparedness had become a way of life for each of them since choosing to join up with Kell's tiny crew. Even those few students fortunate enough not to have much experience fighting wore their handmade armor with familiar comfort.

The other migrants were on the other end of the spectrum.

Those groups weren't terrible; it wasn't as simple a difference as that. Where Kell's people wore armored clothing even within the safety of the soldiers waiting to escort them, the others didn't. Many of them wore small pieces over their vital areas, but in his reckoning a piece of armor over your neck while wearing a t-shirt was idiotic. It was easy to understand why, of course; even this early in the morning it was unseasonably warm. The full suits of protective clothing were heavy, hot. Not something you wanted to sit or walk in all day.

Of course, being killed because you wanted to wear comfortable clothing was a bit much as tradeoffs went.

Nor did they have the discipline his own people showed. They milled around in aimless packs, unarmed and chatting. A few had their vehicles idling as if gasoline wasn't a commodity to be conserved at all costs. The unit—he would never get used to thinking of them that way—treated every moment as if they were on the verge of attack. They were cautious, careful, organized. The rest seemed to be treating the move south like a vacation.

Laura joined him as he watched, the two of them leaning against the fender of their RV.

“Look at them,” she said. “None of them lived outside North Jackson. Not like our folks in their isolated little homes. Those people got comfy.”

Kell nodded. “I'm kind of proud, to be honest. But now I'm worried New Haven is going to be the same. Full of people who've had it easy for too long, protected by guards...”

She grinned. “Not a chance. I've asked around. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.” Laura peered up at him. “You should say something to our folks before we go.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

“They need a little reassurance from their leader.”

Kell scowled. “I'm not their leader. You and Kate are the ones teaching them, giving them orders. I don't
want
to be their leader. And I really don't want them seeing me that way. The whole point is for me to lie low, Jesus.”

She didn't roll her eyes, but there was an obvious effort restraining the urge. “And you'll notice none of them even look at you twice. They would tell anyone who asked that Kate and I run the show, that you're just one of the gang. Because they aren't stupid, Kell. Stupid died out two years ago. They know how private you are, that you've got a secret. You don't trust them and you damn well should. Because they trust you.”

He shook his head. “I don't understand.”

Laura sighed. “They watched you go into that marauder camp, alone and basically unarmed. You told them we'd get those prisoners back. Against the odds, that happened. They saw you fight in the streets, risk your life for them. That's leadership. They trust you. They like you. And while they're as prepared as anyone can be for this trip, it still scares them.”

Kell mulled that over for a second and surprised himself with a smile. He caught Dan's eye, motioning him over.

“What's up?” Dan said as he approached.

Kell tilted his head toward their group. “Have them come over here, all of them. I want to have a word.”

Dan grinned. “Sure thing.”

The group gathered quickly, nearly three dozen people huddled between vehicles. Kell pitched his voice higher than normal to be heard, but not loud enough for it to carry to the other groups.

“I didn't know we were going to travel with other people,” Kell began. “I assumed since we're supposed to be the test run for this migration it would only be us.” He scanned the crowd, saw the determination on their faces parked right next to fear. “Even those of you with no combat training are better prepared than the best of their people. In fact, since we were planning on having people on the roofs as watchers anyway, I want those folks to be up there. When we get to Kentucky and get settled in, we'll catch you up with hand-to-hand fighting. For this trip, you're best suited to keeping an eye out for the rest of us. Make sure you've got your rifles loaded and ready.”

The handful of students nodded at their new assignments. Kell flashed a brief smile at them.

“The rest of you know your jobs. When we camp or if we have to stop, I know you'll get the work done without me or anyone telling you. I'm not thrilled we've got these other folks to worry over now, but unless they get violent, which I doubt, or do something so ridiculously stupid we can't help, we're going to watch out for them. If anything happens out there, you protect yourselves first. But help them if you can. Understood?”

There was a general murmur of agreement. Some of them straightened at his words, fear turning into confidence. They knew it was true, after all. They
were
better than the rest. They'd chosen to brave the countryside and stayed there after zombie incursions, even after their people were taken by bandits. They'd worked hard to give themselves every possible advantage to survive. Couching it in terms of helping others, in using what they knew to protect, appealed to their sense of vanity.

If it was a deception, it was only a small one.

The group dispersed, standing near their vehicles. It was another thirty minutes before the commander of their escort finally called to move out, three short blasts of his car horn.

Kell was in the passenger seat of the RV when the call came, Kate driving. Spear on the floor beside him, friends at his back, he blew out a breath.

“Time to go,” he said.

“This is a lot more boring than I expected,” Kell said.

“Boring is good,” Kate replied. “Boring is safe and alive.”

He grunted, too absorbed in the scenery to form long, cohesive thoughts. The same sense of being watched he'd felt at the house followed him now. Twenty miles into the trip, and they hadn't seen more than a handful of zombies. It was quiet.

“I don't like it,” Kell said. “North Jackson should draw the dead like flies to honey. We know they follow the smell of people trading between here and Kentucky. So why aren't there any out here?”

Kate sighed in exasperation. “It's like you want trouble, man. Were you not listening when the escort soldier briefed us this morning?”

Kell frowned. “I was listening, sure, but it was mostly stuff we already knew. How to stay in groups, what to do if we're attacked--”

“And what measures North Jackson took to make this trip safer,” Kate said. “They've had people up from the south to help, even. Ammonia and gunfire all up and down the route. It's as safe as it can be, Kell. Stop worrying.”

For a moment he considered arguing, but something vital seemed to drain away. The tension in his shoulders lessened as he leaned back into his seat, constantly darting eyes finally coming to a rest. Large as he was, Kell seemed childlike as he slumped in his seat.

He glanced at Kate. “Sorry. Really. I'm just on edge. I was sure someone was watching the house. Feels like the same thing now, you know? The way you know someone walked in the room even though you can't hear or see them?”

Kate studied his face for the second he looked at her. It wasn't especially dangerous; they were going a steady twenty miles an hour.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “You look tired. You've been so high-strung lately, and quiet. What's going on with you?”

Kell said nothing, fingers twining together in a display of nerves. He caught himself, but it was too late. Kate saw it as well.

“Funny,” she said. “I think that's the first time I've ever seen you fidget. You must be really worried about something.” She flashed a bright smile. “Don't fret, I won't let your emotional confession turn into some awful commercial about getting your period.”

Despite himself, Kell laughed. It felt good. How long had it been...?

“You know, I don't think I've really laughed since the dreams started. Nightmares, really.”

Kate was quiet for so long he began to think she'd never answer. When she finally spoke, her voice was flat. Dark. The even stoicism of a person gripping the edges of some deep pain with all their effort, unable to spare the energy for inflection in their words.

“When my husband was killed, I dreamed about it for months. I'd wake up so angry I couldn't think. Laura even stopped me from killing you once, after you freed us. You were still unconscious, and Laura made me nap for an hour. When I came around all I saw was the camp and all the memories that came with it. I saw you. Laura knew I'd been having nightmares, violent ones. She was ready for it.”

“I had no idea.”

Kate nodded. “You saw how I was when you first showed up. Angry, quiet. I didn't trust you.”

“Can't really blame you for that, not after...” Kell trailed off, cleared his throat. “You warmed up to me eventually.”

Again, she nodded. “I did. But it took a while, and all that time I was dealing with the dreams. Reliving his death every night. I guess what I'm saying is, you can talk to me about it. I've heard you in your room. I know what you're going through.”

Ice flooded his stomach. “I don't know if you want to hear it. I'm not...I'm not proud of what goes on in my head.”

Kate chuckled. “They're dreams, Kell. You can't control them.”

“It's not just nightmares,” he said with a frown. “It's how they affect me afterward.”

For a few minutes they were silent. It wasn't uncomfortable, the three of them were far beyond that reaction. It was the deep, companionable quiet of people who knew when to speak and when to let their thoughts drift. The understanding between friends telling you not to push too hard.

“Do you really want to know?” Kell said, his voice too small for his huge frame.

Kate looked at him, concern etched in her features. “I joke a lot. I know it's hard to take me seriously. But I want you to deal with whatever is eating you up. If talking about it helps, I'm all ears. No matter how bad it is.”

Closing his eyes, Kell breathed deeply. In the darkness behind his lids, thoughts and memories swirled in chaos through his normally highly ordered mind.

“I haven't been sleeping well,” he began. “You know it. I go to bed late, then lay there and read until my eyes can't stay open any longer. I wake up early and stay busy all day. Anything to occupy my brain.”

Eyes forward, Kate flipped a hand on the steering wheel. Go forward, the small gesture said, but at your own pace.

“I dream about them, of course. About Karen and Jennifer. I see them alive sometimes. Others, not.” His voice creaked, stopping him for a breath. “It's on me, you know. It's my fault. My research. I did this, and I killed them.”

“No, Kell, you--”

He raised a hand, cut Kate off. “I'm not blaming myself entirely. Men took the work I was doing and ran with it before it was ready. I was the one pushing for primate testing. I was the one creating three or four variations of Chimera when whole teams struggled to make one. I made it seem viable. Without that, the idiots who made this mess happen wouldn't have had the ability. I know it's not entirely my fault, but I'm not blameless.”

“Okay,” Kate said slowly. “So you feel responsible. That's natural. But you were trying to help people, Kell.”

He shook his head. “You don't understand. I know I had good goals. That's not the part driving me insane.”

Closing his eyes again, he sighed. “I keep having this recurring dream that I have to choose between you and Laura or them. Sometimes it's just a choice about who lives and who dies. Other times they're already gone, but I have the ability to trade you two for their lives.”

Kate frowned. “Okay, a little disturbing, but still. It's a dream. Your wife and child were your world, of course you'd want to save them.”

His eyes opened halfway, hooded in exhaustion. “I love you, Kate, and I love Laura. I'd kill for both of you. I'd die for you. Without your support I'd have been dead long ago. If not from enemies, then at my own hand. You've made my life worth living.”

Kate shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “We love you too, but--”

“The thing bothering me,” he said, voice like a knife. “Is that I'd do it. It's terrible and I hate myself for it, but every morning when I get out of bed, I wake up knowing I'd kill both of you to get them back. I'd murder half the survivors in the world. Anything. Anything at all to have them alive again.”