The Zombie Zovels (Book 1): Zombie Suburbia (13 page)

Those were just a few of the many thoughts running through my head.
I made a quick dash for the door, as quietly as possibly. I didn't get very far before a pair of strong
arms grabbed me from behind. I tried to scream but a large hand covered my mouth and my scream
came out muffled.
“Alex, shh... it's just me,” Lane whispered in my ear.
I stopped struggling and he put me down. I turned around in his arms to face him.
“What are you doing in here?” I asked.
“I couldn't sleep, I kept hearing these weird moans coming from the corridor.”
A laugh escaped me.
“What's funny?” he asked.
“Must be your imagination.” I said, trying not to laugh again.
“I saw Tammy in the corridor and she said you were up here, she's gone to get a First Aid kit or
something.”
“Yeah, for my foot. It's still sore, she thinks there's a piece of glass in it.”
Lane tilted his head, and looked down at my foot, not that he was going to see much from up there
and in the dark toilets.
He leaned down, I wasn't sure what he was doing and I was about to smack him, but he quickly
scooped me up into his arms.
“You shouldn't be putting pressure on it.” he said.
I put my arms around his neck, and he carried me over to the sinks and set me down on the side. He
took the flashlight from me and had a look at my foot.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“I think you have glass in your foot. Why didn't you let me look at this before now?”
“I dunno, it hasn't bothered me that much, and I didn't want you poking at my zombie infected
wound.”
Lane straightened up, placed the torch on the side and took my face in his hands.
“Lane, don't,” I said, trying to pull his hands away.
“Why don't you let me look after
you
for a change?”
“You can hardly look after yourself.”
“We're going to be all right here.” he said.
“I hope you're right.”
“Do you want to know the real reason why I couldn't sleep?”
“I think I can guess,” I said.
“It doesn't feel right falling asleep without you.”
I reached up and held onto his wrist.
“I don't think I like this place.” I whispered, afraid the walls would hear me.
His hands dropped away and he placed both hands on the counter, he sniffed, and coughed, a deep
chesty cough.
“You need to stop smoking.” I said.
“You need to stop telling me what to do.”
“I can't, it's the only thing that keeps you alive some days.”
“Alex,”
“Don't look at me like that.” I said firmly.
“Like what?”
“Like that!”
It was a look that said everything I felt. I cared for Lane more than I liked to admit.
He moved closer to me and nudged my legs apart and took my face in his hands again.
“No,” I said.
“You didn't say no the first time I kissed you.” he said.
“A lot has changed since then.”
“Not the way I feel about you. You still drive me crazy... in a good way.” he said, tracing his thumb
along my lip.
He leaned closer to me and every inch closer, I moved further away, but he pulled me back to him
and crushed his lips to mine.
I placed my hands on his chest and slowly slid them over his broad shoulders... and, in my moment
of weakness, I gave into him. Every time Lane kissed me he left me breathless. I devoured his kiss,
desperately wanting more of him.
The bathroom door opened and we quickly broke apart.
“Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt,” Tammy said, shining her flashlight in our direction.
“It's okay.” I said, gently pushing Lane away.
“Right let's take a look at this foot.” Tammy said, placing the First Aid kit on the side.
Fifteen minutes later of me squirming around, Lane trying to restrain me, and Tammy prodding my
foot with a pair of tweezers, we finally got the minutest piece of glass out.
Tammy wanted one more smoke before we went back downstairs. I managed to get Lane out of the
bathroom and said goodnight to him, he was reluctant to leave me, but I wanted five minutes alone
with Tammy.
Tammy sat on the counter the other side of the sink and I sat on the side with my foot up on my lap,
picking at the band-aid on the sole of my foot.
“Thanks again,” I said.
“It's no problem, you two seem all right.”
I smiled and looked at her. The bathroom was dark but I could just about make out her features.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” she said.
“How did you get those marks on your ankle?”
She didn't answer and stubbed out her cigarette in the sink.
“Did one of them chain you up?”
She hopped off the counter and picked up the First Aid kit.
“A word of advice, don't step out of line and do as you're told. If one of them asks you to do
something just do it and don't answer back... and you should be fine.”
She turned to leave.
“Tammy... how
did
you get those marks on your ankle.” I asked again, sliding off the counter.
She opened the door, switched on her flashlight, and turned to look at me.
“Don't ask questions you already know the answers to.”
Then she let the door swing shut.
That night I didn't sleep much, I tossed and turned all night, waking up in cold sweats, with a knot
in my stomach. I didn't feel safe here.

“Get up,” Lane whispered, gently nudging me.
I knew it was Lane, but I was still half asleep and couldn't bring myself to look at him.
He started shaking me, and I reluctantly opened my eyes.
“What are you doing? You shouldn't be in here.” I said quietly, sitting up in my sleeping bag.
“We need to get out of here. Now!”
“No. We decided to wait another week. We talked about this. What time is it anyway?”
I was still groggy from sleep and yawning.
“5.50am.” he replied.
“This is-is a bad idea, we're not prepared enough.”
“Well, my rucksack is already full of supplies from the kitchen.”
“What! Did you steal them? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“We're leaving. Get dressed.”
Lane was already on his feet, pulling my jeans from my bag, and chucking them at me. I caught
them and looked around. All the other girls appeared to still be asleep. I wriggled out of my sleeping
bag and stood up, tugging on my jeans. I quickly found my hoodie and denim jacket.
“I can't believe you. We said we'd stay another week, then go over our options.”
“There are no more options, Alex. There is no way I'm letting that scumbag lay a finger on you.”
“Very chivalrous of you, but I don't think waking me up in the middle of the night and dragging me
out into God-knows-where with the possibility of being eaten by zombies is any better.”
“Ssssh!” he hissed, pushing my bag into my hands.
I started to follow him and looked back over my shoulder one last time at my bed. It wasn't really a
bed, a sleeping bag rolled out on some old mats, but it was the closest thing I had had to a bed in
ages. On the way out I managed to trip over one of the other girl's sleeping bags. I quickly tiptoed
the rest of the way and found Lane waiting for me outside in the corridor.
“That Rhianna girl is a light sleeper. She might have heard us.”
Me and my clumsy departure.
“Okay,” Lane breathed out.
“Where are they all?” I asked, lifting my messenger bag over my head.
“In their
off-limits
area, except Scottie, I don't know where he is.”
I looked both ways, then at Lane. He lifted his hoodie to reveal a gun tucked into his belt.
“Is that my gun?” I asked.
“Yep, nabbed it during dinnertime when no one was watching.”
“Well, give it here,” I said, holding my hand out. “You don't even know how to use it.” I added.
“No.” he said, standing up straighter, shadowing me.
“No? Lane, as soon as they figure out we're trying to escape and that we have also stolen from
them, they will either shoot us or chain us up. We will be considered the enemies. The only pair of
idiots willing to risk their lives to go back outside.”
“Shut up!” Lane said firmly.
“Did you really just shut me up?”
A figure appeared from the girls' room. My heart jumped into my mouth, panicking it was Carmen,
but I think her sleeping bag was empty when I left the room.
“Tammy,” I breathed.
“You're really leaving?” she whispered.
I looked at Lane then back at her and nodded.
“Come with us,” I said.
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself.
“I can't go with you. He's already tried to talk me into it.” She smiled at Lane.
“Why not?” I asked.
“I don't want to go back out there. I can't do it.”
I chewed on my lip. I didn't like the idea of leaving Tammy here.... with the
real
monsters.
“You go, I'll be fine,” she said, looking back into the room. “Go now, Amy's stirring.”
I quickly pulled her into a hug. “Be careful of the fence on the way out.” she whispered in my ear.
She took one last look at me, glumly smiled, and shooed us away before disappearing back into the
girls' room. I turned around to look at Lane but he was already skulking away.
I followed him to the end of the corridor and we slipped through the double-doors. I thought I saw
movement at the other end through the windows. Lane must have seen it as well because he grabbed
my arm and pulled me around the corner. He let go and ran to the end, ducked down, and looked
through the glass window, checking both ways. There was supposed to be patrols on the floors
during the night... they were a bit lax, though, and usually the whole lot of them ended up in the
games room playing cards or taking one of the girls to the back rooms. That was the main reason
Lane wanted to get me out of here. But even with the prison-like atmosphere and us under
lockdown, I did feel semi-safe here and was reluctant to leave. My pace slowed down. I was having
second thoughts, trying to rationalize why we were doing this. Lane had noticed I was dawdling and
jogged back to me.
“What's wrong?”
“Are we sure about this?” I asked.
“What, you're not?”
“Lane, if we leave, we can never come back.”
“I don't want to come back. I want to get as far away as possible.”
“It's suicide. We might get eaten outside.”
“This coming from the tough girl that lived in the woods, washed in the river, and survived day to
day. You never complained about being eaten back then.”
“I've just gotten used to not sleeping in a tree, that's all.”
“You've changed your tune, I thought you wanted to get out of here? You were dead set on it last
week. I'd rather be eaten than spend another day in this place!”
He stalked ahead of me and ducked down again near the last set of doors before the main ones. He
peeked through the glass window and I kept my eyes on the corridor behind us, expecting one of
them to come after us at any minute.
“It's clear.”
“Really?” I said. Not really believing breaking out would be this easy.
“Yeah there's no one there.”
We stopped at the main doors. The locking system no longer worked so the doors were unlocked. I,
at least, expected a guard or some sort of extra security measures.
“Wait,” I said, stopping him, grabbing his arm before he opened the door.
“They're probably outside patrolling.”
“Then we'll be careful.”
“Have you even thought this through? How are we going to outrun these guys? They have
transport.”
“For a start, it's dark. I don't think they're going to risk their lives for a few bottles of water and a
handful of protein bars.”
“Protein bars?”
“Don't complain. It's all I could get my hands on.”
He stared at the door handle, hesitating. I crossed my arms waiting for him to make a move.
“Well, genius, what next?”
“Will you just trust me for once?”
He looked desperate, I knew he was doing this for me.
“Okay,” I mumbled.
He pushed me behind him and pulled the large door inwards to open it. It creaked loudly, and he
quickly stopped moving the door, leaving just enough of a gap for us to squeeze through.
Outside was pitch black.
“Worst idea ever!” I said to myself, following Lane as he led me around the side of the building
with a flashlight.
“Where are we going? The gates are back that way.” I said.
“Transport.”
“Transport?”
“I figured we wouldn't get very far, even if we got out of the gates. You're not a fast runner.” he said
over his shoulder.
“I have tiny legs.” I replied.
It was the only smart thing I could think of to say.
We stayed close to the building and every time we heard a noise Lane switched the flashlight off.
When the vehicles came into view Lane ran ahead and disappeared with the flashlight, and left me
stumbling around in the dark. I walked into the Jeep. At least, I think it was the Jeep, it was so dark.
“Lane...” I whispered. “Where the hell are you?”
“Over here,”
I spun around looking in the direction I thought I'd heard him.
“That's not helpful.” I muttered, cautiously walking toward him.
“Oi!” he called, flicking the flashlight on and off to get my attention.
I was walking in the wrong direction. I hurried over to him and managed to lose my footing on a
stone. I quickly regained my balance and walked the last few steps, deciding it was safer to walk in
the dark.
Lane was already pushing a motorcycle along the ground when I reached him.
“You got the keys?” I asked.
“Obviously. I'm not pushing this thing for the fun of it. I thought this would be easier to roll out
than the Jeep.”
“Good thinking.”
He handed me the flashlight, but I didn't switch it on. I knew someone had to be around here
somewhere. At least, that's what I thought. The only reason I got any sleep in this place was because
I was told it was secure and there was always someone patrolling. We made it to the main gates and
I hurried over with Lane to help untie the rope, which wasn't very difficult.
“Whoever was the last one in, didn't do a very good job of securing these gates. A toddler could
have undone this.” Lane grumbled. “I think it's a good job we're leaving, we could have been
attacked in our sleep and we can't even defend ourselves properly without any weapons.” he
continued.
“It's freezing out here! We're probably going to die from hypothermia before we even see a
zombie.” I said, bobbing around to keep warm.
“Take this,” Lane handed me his rucksack, I slipped my arms through the straps and turned to walk
back to the motorcycle, leaving Lane behind me to open the gates. I was only a few steps away
from the bike when a flashlight shone into my face, blinding me. I was so stunned and confused, it
took me a moment to realize it wasn't Lane as I was the one holding the flashlight.
“What are you doing?” Scottie asked, lowering the flashlight to the bike.
I cursed under my breath.
“Alex, what the fuck are you doing out here?”
“Leaving,” I said barely above a whisper.
“Why? It's not safe out there.”
“It's not safe in
here
either.”
He didn't respond. He knew what I was talking about.
“You can't go,” he said, moving closer to the bike.
“You can't stop us,” Lane said from behind me.
“I'm sorry, but I can't let you leave and I can't let you take the bike.” Scottie said.
I went over and over the current situation in my head while Scottie tried to reason with us, but I
knew it was too late for that now. Lane grumbled under his breath and I heard the jingle.
We're so screwed.
A couple of the guys kept a whistle, and I knew that familiar jingle was that of a whistle. I waited
for the whistle. Instead, I heard the safety click off from a gun.
“Lane... What are you doing?” I asked, looking at the gun that was pointed at Scottie.
“Don't do it, man. I don't wanna hurt you. Just let us leave with the bike and they'll be no
problems.” Lane said.
“Scottie you don't have to stay here, you don't have to do everything your father tells you to do.” I
said.
“Alex!” Lane hissed near my ear.
“Scottie,” I pleaded.
“Move now!” Lane ordered, taking over the situation.
I looked at Scottie, I couldn't see his face properly, but he could see us as he had the light on us.
“Scottie, please,” I begged.
“I'm sorry, Alex,” Scottie said. “It's not up to me.”
I heard gunfire and immediately ducked down out of reflex. Scottie's flashlight rolled across the
ground... I slowly straightened up.
“What did you do?” My voice came out broken and shaky.
Lane walked around the bike and over to Scottie. I shuffled closer, flicking my flashlight on and
shining it over Scottie.
His body lay lifeless on the ground. Lane bent over Scottie, patting his pockets down for anything
useful.
“You killed him!” I spluttered.
“He was reaching for a gun, Alex.”
“No, he wasn't.”
“Yes, he was.” Lane said, retrieving a gun from behind Scottie's body.
I stood motionless, in shock, horrified at the fact Lane had just killed a healthy human.
Lane laughed. “This thing's not even loaded.” Lane said, chucking the gun on the ground beside
Scottie.
I continued to stare at the ground where Scottie was lying, even after Lane had pulled the flashlight
from my hand and shoved it back into the rucksack along with Scottie's flashlight.
A single gunshot snapped me out of my temporary daze and I fell to my knees, and crawled behind
the bike. A moment later another gunshot went off and Lane slid up beside me, leaning over me,
shielding me with his body.
More gunfire ricocheted around us.
“Where's it coming from?” I asked.
“I dunno,” he replied.
After a few more rounds of gunfire, it stopped, and all I could hear was Lane breathing heavily
above my head. Then we both heard the main door slam against the wall.
“Come on, we need to go,” Lane said, pulling me to my feet.
He climbed onto the bike and I held onto his shoulders and lifted my leg over, and slipped my hands
around his waist. The bike roared to life and we sped off just as I heard shouting and more gunfire
behind us. We made it out of the gates and I looked back over my shoulder. The doors were open,
lights inside the building spilled out and flashlights bounced around in the dark. I crossed my
fingers and prayed they wouldn't follow us. Lane gave the chained up zombies a wide berth and
weaved the bike around the long windy road and out through the main entrance, and back onto the
main road. The bike picked up speed. I turned to look back once more before we disappeared
behind the trees.
There were no vehicle lights following us.
I huddled closer to Lane, trying my hardest not to cry. I hadn't cried since I'd lost my parents. I'd
killed zombies, seen humans eaten and humans killed by zombies and never shed a tear, but after
having witnessed Lane killing Scottie I couldn't help it. I silently sobbed into Lane's back.
After twenty minutes of driving the sun was rising. I felt numb with emotion and tired from getting
up so early. I sat up and blinked my sore eyes. Trees lined the road either side with not a house or
town in sight. I rested my face against Lane's back and noticed it felt damp. I held on tightly with
one hand and felt over his back with my other hand. It wasn't raining, so why was Lane's hoodie
wet? I found a tear in his hoodie and pressed my finger against it and Lane jerked his shoulder away
from my hand. I pinched his waist with my other hand, signaling I wanted him to stop the bike. He
slowed the bike down and pulled off onto a narrow dirt road. He didn't drive too far away from the
road, only far enough to conceal us from view.
The bike stopped and I hopped off and looked around at our surroundings. The trees looked still and
the only sound I could hear was that of the birds chirping. Lane was already off the bike and had
flipped the kickstand on. He walked over to a large rock and sat down staring at the ground. I
walked over to him and dropped both bags on the ground. Then I ran my hand over his shoulder and
examined my hand.