Tomorrow Land (20 page)

Chris just stared at him. “You know Mrs. McCormick, right? From down the street?” When Trey nodded, he quickly related her disappearance. “And I found some other reports, too. So me and Peyton Anderson decided to go check out Mt. Holyoke Hospital to see what was going on.”

Trey looked bored. “And?”

Chris related the rest of the story. About sneaking around the back of the hospital. The sick people. The dumpster. “And Peyton thinks she saw some kind of creature like a zombie!”

Trey started laughing.

“I’m serious!” Chris cried, frustrated at his brother’s reaction. He should have known.

“I’m so telling Mom to take your media player away,” Trey said, his face full of mirth. “Those old movies you watch have obviously warped your fragile little mind.”

Chris frowned. “I’m trying to tell you there’s something really wrong going on. People getting sick. And dying. And I think the government is trying to cover it up.”

“You’re beginning to sound like Peyton Anderson’s dad. Is she like this, too? ‘Cause, man, she is kinda hot, but if she’s spouting end of the world bull she’s likely to be a drag in bed.”

“
I don’t care about that.
” Chris slumped into an armchair, realizing he’d never be able to convince his brother to take him seriously. At least not when he lacked any evidence. “I just wanted to make sure we’re all safe.”

But his brother just patted him on the knee and went back to his sim.

Chapter Twenty-two

The wasteland that was once the Eastern Seaboard of America stretched out endlessly before them. Highway 95 was the least depressing part, just a parking lot of rusted-out cars, broken glass and debris. Peyton supposed most of the people had gotten out of their cars and staggered off into the wild to die and be disposed of by nature. It was when her group left the highway that they truly felt the horror of the apocalypse. Ghost towns with nothing but wind whistling down the vacant main streets and skeletons lying everywhere.

They’d been traveling for three days, and everyone was starting to get cranky and saddle sore—though they were relieved they hadn’t had any more difficult situations. Peyton knew at some point they’d have to take a day off to rest and recover, and maybe with the kids even have a little fun. Somehow. Otherwise this little band of travelers was bound to mutiny.

When they’d started out, she’d been hopeful they’d run into more people. Other pilgrims, perhaps. Maybe rag-tag refugee camps. Small makeshift societies built up from the rubble. But so far they’d seen nothing. Absolutely no one. The only signs of life anywhere were occasional mutilated animal corpses, likely compliments of roving bands of Others.

So far they’d been lucky and hadn’t had any more run-ins with Others. But the creatures were out here. She’d seen glimpses out of the corner of her eye, only to have them disappear when she turned her head. It was disconcerting to say the least. For what were always depicted as brainless creatures in the movies, these seemed awfully patient.

But the worst part was Chase. Since that night of their shared kiss, he’d kept his distance from her, riding far in front of her during the day and hanging out at the opposite end of the camp at night. And he’d go out of his way to make sure they were never alone together. That they never touched. Their conversations were stilted and when she tried to get him to laugh, all he’d do was give her a half smile before walking away. It made her heart ache, even though she knew this was, in a sense, what she’d asked him for. She should have known there was no way the two of them could ever be just friends. There was too much history between them for that.

Which was too bad, because she could have used a friend right about now. For one thing, Chase was the only person in their ragged band who really remembered much of the world before the plague. The world they’d lost. She’d see something familiar—maybe a sign for an old fast food restaurant they used to eat at or an advertisement for a band they used to enjoy listening to—and she’d be dying to point it out to him, to reminisce about the world they’d both lost. But he wasn’t interested. He kept his distance. And the closer they got to their destination, the lonelier Peyton felt.

“Hey, Peyton, can I ask you a question?”

Peyton glanced over. In her musings she hadn’t realized that thirteen-year-old Starr had ridden up alongside her. Darla sat in the front of her saddle, playing with her doll, and the older girl sat behind.

“Sure,” Peyton said.

“How do you know when you’re in love?”

The question took Peyton by surprise. She looked at Starr, raising her eyebrows. “Is this a rhetorical question, or do you have someone in mind?”

“I don’t know what rhetorical means,” Starr said, blushing furiously. “But yeah. I think I might be in love with Torn.” She stole a glance in front of them, where the boy in question was riding beside Chase.

Peyton almost laughed. Of course it was Torn. There wasn’t anyone else Starr’s age left in the world, as far as they knew. And he was indeed cute, what with that shock of brown hair which refused to lie flat, his bright blue eyes and lanky frame.

“Well, I’m not really an expert on love,” Peyton confessed. “I was still pretty young when I had to go into the fallout shelter. And I was stuck inside with only my mom for four years.”

“So you’ve never been in love?” Starr said, wide-eyed. “But you’re so
old
.”

Old. At nineteen. Now Peyton knew she was blushing. She tried to figure out the best response. “I was in love,” she admitted at last. “Once.”

“Did the person love you back?”

She paused for a moment, her eyes falling upon Chase’s back. A thousand memories threatened to consume her and she had to fight to suppress them.

“I believe he did,” she told Starr softly.

“But how did you
know
?” Starr demanded, sounding anguished. Obviously her crush had been raging for some time. Peyton was surprised the two kids hadn’t acted on it. She wondered if Tank had taken Torn aside and given the boy a lecture, or if he was simply clueless as to his friend’s affections.

How
had
she known Chris loved her, all those years ago? Part of it was what they’d shared during the turbulent times. “It wasn’t what he said, necessarily,” she explained slowly. “It was more… what he did. Words are just words, you know,” she added. “It’s everyday actions that show if someone cares.” She found herself reaching into her pocket and fingering the diamond. She’d been doing that a lot lately. As if it was some kind of good luck talisman. Or maybe just her last remaining link to her old life.

Starr rode along quietly. Then she grinned. “He gave me his apple yesterday,” she said, her voice full of pride. “Without me even asking!”

Peyton smiled. “That’s a good sign,” she said to the girl. “A very good sign.”

Darla suddenly perked up. Peyton had assumed she wasn’t paying any attention, but she’d clearly been wrong. “I think Chase loves you, Peyton!” she cried.

Peyton turned tomato red. “Um, I don’t think so,” she said.

Starr grinned, quickly latching on to the idea. “
I
do,” she exclaimed. “And I think, from the look on your face, that you love him, too.”

“Stop it! Both of you!” Peyton hissed, hoping Chase couldn’t hear. “It’s not like that at all.”

“Chase and Peyton, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” sang the two girls. Peyton swatted at them. They erupted into giggles.

“Everything okay back there?” Chase called out, evidently hearing the ruckus. This only caused the girls to laugh harder. Peyton sighed.

“We’re fine,” she called up to him. “Definitely fine.”

“Aw, your boyfriend’s worried about you!” teased Starr.

Peyton rolled her eyes. “If you don’t shut up right now, I’m going to tell Torn about you. I’ll tell him you want him bad.”

Starr’s eyes looked like they were going to bug out of her head. “No, no, no!” she cried. “I’ll be quiet. Really!”

Peyton nodded. “Thought so.”

*

That night they set up camp at a rest area off the highway. It wasn’t the most secluded, safest spot in the world, but darkness had fallen before they’d come across any place better, and they’d decided to make the best of what they found. So they pitched tents, built a great bonfire and settled in for the night as best they could.

The kids passed out early, even the older ones, exhausted after the day’s journey. It was Chase’s turn to stand watch. He was tired, too, but wasn’t about to admit it. Not to Super Peyton, who never seemed the least bit worn out. Must be nice to be half robot.

He stifled a yawn as he poked the fire with a stick. He’d rise to the occasion, of course; he always did. Even if she didn’t appreciate his efforts.

“It’s been a long day,” she remarked, coming up beside him. She must have seen his yawn. “Maybe we should split the watch tonight. I’ll take a shift, too.”

Chase shook his head. She was always trying to get him to admit weakness. “Nah,” he said. “I’m fine.”

She frowned. “There’s no need to be all macho,” she reminded him. “If you start feeling tired, just wake me up. I really don’t mind.”

Of course she didn’t. “I will, I will,” he said. “Now go to sleep.”

She finally complied, curling up in a sleeping bag under the stars, refusing a tent just in case. Chase watched her close her eyes and waited until her breathing became regular to get up and begin his patrol.

He walked the perimeter of the camp, frustrated. Did she really see him as so pathetic? So weak? He’d bent over backward trying to make things better for all of them, and it was as if she didn’t even notice. And no matter what he said, he couldn’t seem to get through to her. After that first kiss, she’d completely turned off. Radio silence. It was like traveling with a robot. She avoided him, preferring the company of the damn kids. He could hear them laughing behind him on the road, making inside jokes that only they understood. It wasn’t fair. They were
his
kids. Well, sort of his kids. He’d certainly known them longer. But lately they all seemed to prefer Peyton to him.

Maybe it was the pills. He’d started upping his daily dosage to deal with the pain of his cheek. He’d figured when the pain went away—or he ran out of his stash--he would quit taking them again. Still, they left him groggy and lethargic and not a hell of a lot of fun to be around. Some days he could barely stay on his horse. Luckily, with everyone ignoring him, he could get away with it.

If only Tank were here. Chase missed his brother like crazy, and every day it got worse. He missed their casual banter. Tank’s amazing way with the kids. If there were any justice in the world, Tank would be here now, leading everyone to Florida—not stupid, irresponsible Chase, who was flying by the seat of his pants, making it up as he went. No wonder the kids didn’t talk to him.

He’d promised to protect the children, to get them to somewhere safe. Now he had to make good. And he had no idea how that was supposed to happen.

After all, he’d never been able to save anyone else.

He thought about his adopted sister. Her gap-toothed smile. Her high-pitched giggles. He’d been supposed to protect her from all the danger. Instead, he’d left her alone. It had just been for a few minutes, but that was all it took. A vision of her broken body, lying backstage, blood seeping out of her thousand bites, slammed through his brain. He swallowed a lump in his throat that felt attached to his heart.

Yes, Tara had believed in him and he had let her down. Now here he was again, thrust into another position where he was expected to protect the innocent. What if he failed? Tara’s face faded and in its spot he saw Darla. Then Sunshine. They were bloodied and bruised and it was totally his fault.

He shook his head, a feeble attempt to keep the inner darkness at bay. He fingered the pill bottle in his pocket, desperately wanting another dose. But the last score had been a small one, and he’d had to take more and more medication these days to get results. He needed another score like the government lab one he’d once found. The high-grade stuff that was built to last for years.

A sudden thought occurred to him. What if he couldn’t find another batch? What if what he had in his pocket was everything left in the world? His hands shook as he pulled the bottle out for another look. Were these his last pills? Would he have to stop taking them after they were gone? How on Earth was he going to function sober?

Panic throbbed through his veins as he popped open the top, and he felt like he was going to throw up. It would be fine, he told himself. He’d make up some excuse tomorrow to have the party wait for him while he went “hunting and foraging.” Peyton would never know, just as Tank had never known. He’d travel until he hit some pharmacies or houses, stock up good and then he’d be okay. When he came back he’d just say he hadn’t been lucky finding game. The plan would work.

And for now, he’d just take one. Just one pill wouldn’t do much. After all, these were super weak. One pill would calm him down and he’d be able to stay up and guard the group without feeling so freaked out. It was in everyone’s best interest.

He upended the bottle. Two pills fell out. He’d only take one. Except he took two. But they were weak. No big deal. He dry-swallowed them, feeling a sense of peace wash over him as they scratched down his throat. He’d be okay. He’d find more tomorrow. And tonight he’d keep Peyton and the children safe. Tank was gone, and Chase was the main man now. But that was okay. He could do it.

No big deal. He’d just close his eyes for a second, then make another circle of the perimeter.

Chapter Twenty-three

“Hi, honey, how was school?”

Peyton’s mom’s smile seemed strained as she set colorful plates down on the dinner table in preparation for supper. Dad was down in the basement again, not surprisingly. He’d been down there almost constantly for the last week, ever since Peyton told him about the monster in the dumpster. When she’d questioned him later, when he came back from checking it out, he claimed to have seen nothing. Nothing but dead bodies, stacked high. He said perhaps the shock of that nightmare itself was enough to make Peyton’s mind go a little crazy. To cause her to see something that wasn’t actually there.