Beautiful Death (Bella Morté Trilogy Book 1) (13 page)

“No. That’s not very safe. What if we drew attention to the room? When she got close enough, we lock her inside?”

Thinking about it, he nodded. “That might work, but what if other people go in at the same time? How do we keep them out an’ her in?”

“Hmm, good question.”

“We’re here. Let’s work some magic.” Turning to the group, he smiled while pointing to the room. “Here we have our private suite.”

Rachel looked in through the door. “Like what makes it a private room?”

“Because there’s a door for privacy. If ya step inside, you’ll see it’s quite roomy. Lots o’ space.”

Popping his head in, Trevor nodded. “Wow! This could be the ultimate room, ya know?”

Brandon agreed. “Oh hell yeah. We could fit two people in here. You know, in case ‘at one wanted to share with someone.”

Trevor turned to Erica. “What about you, Erica? Want a room to yourself? Ya seem like a
private room only
kinda girl.”

She shook her head. “No.”

Brandon grinned. “I dunno. It looks like a sorority room to me. Check it out! You could hang a couple of posters on the wall an’ really make it yours.”

Looking around, Rachel whispered to the others. “Did he just say she could like hang posters up on the wall?”

Ian nodded, whispering back. “Yeah, but I’m not sure where she’d get them. It’s not like she can stroll to the local Walmart.”

Brandon winked at Erica. “You could even get one o’ us in here for some cuddle time.”

Trevor smirked. “Hang it up, Romeo. She’s totally all over me.”

“Dream on Casanova. She’s been checkin’ me out since ‘ey arrived.”

Glaring at the two of them, Erica grunted, rolling her eyes. “Stop arguing about me. Neither of you is my type. Ew.”

Brandon put a hand on his heart. “Oh, I’m totally crushed. No one’s ever said that to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Like I believe that.”

Looking from Candice to Erica, Brandon gasped. “No way. Dude, are you gettin’ the same vibe I am?”

Looking at Brandon, Candice arched her brow. “What?”

Trevor nodded. “I sure am! I think the sorority sister might be into another
type
.”

Bumping fists with Trevor, Brandon laughed. “That is too hot!”

“I know, right?”

Candice cringed. “Ew! That’s not happening,
dude
.”

Erica nodded. “Yeah. Not happening.”

Walking in the room, Sophia looked around. “You’re right! This reminds me o’ my dorm room. It could make ya feel at home, Erica.”

Backing away from the door, she shook her head. “No. I don’t want it. Give it to someone else.”

Shrugging, Rachel walked in, glancing around. “It’s like nothing fancy. I’ll take it if she doesn’t like want it.”

Candice groaned.
That
wasn’t supposed to happen! She walked through the door, looking around, before turning to Brandon. “Fuck it! If she doesn’t want it, I’ll take this gold mine.”

“You mean
we’ll
take it,” Zach said, correcting her.

Rachel turned, looking at Candice, suspiciously. “Like excuse me. I said it first.”

“Yeah, but they wanted it for Erica.”

“So?”

“If she’s not going to take it then I want it,” Candice told her.

“Fine. I say we like draw straws since we both want it. Even though, I called it first.”

Zach shook his head. “Candice and I should have it because we’re a couple. We need a room with a door.”

“You think just because you’re like part of a couple, you should like get special privileges?”

“Well, there are,” he motioned his hand back and forth from him and Candice, “two of us versus your one.”

Sophia shook her head. “We thought Erica could have ‘is room.”

Arching a brow, he looked from Erica back to Sophia. “Why?”

“She’s lost the most people at one time.”

He shook his head. “Fuck that! We’ve
all
lost someone.”

“She needs privacy to mourn.”

He glared at her. “It should be by the degree of need. I think it’s perfect for us.”

This was really getting out of control, and Erica kept getting further from the room. Thinking fast, Candice looked in the corner. She hid the half-smirk before anyone saw, squealing, “Oh my God!”

Hearing Candice screech, Zach took a step back. “What?”

“Check out the baby mouse! It’s so cute. It’s pink and little. Aw, it looks like it’s gonna die.”

Rachel raced out with wide eyes, shaking her head. “Ah, hell no! You can like have it if this place has like mice?”

Brandon shrugged. “Most places do. Usually, ya don’t see ‘em, but they’re there.”

Ian ran out of the room. “I don’t like mice. Good thing the health department isn’t here. You’d get closed down.”

Howard smirked. “Careful now. Someone might claim you planned this to make sure no one found your mice infestation.”

Turning, glaring at Howard, Rachel gasped. “Wait, we have like a
mice
infestation? In other words like
more
than one?”

“Where there is one…”

“I’m not like sure which is worse. Be out there in a tree safe, or like in here with the mice. I don’t like mice.”

Racing to the corner, Trevor pushed Candice out of the way to see. “Where? I wanna see!” Furrowing his brows, he turned to look at her. “I don’t see--”

She nudged him with her elbow. “Look harder. It’s right there!”

“Ow!” He rubbed his ribs.

She pointed to the corner. “You can barely see it. It’s the tiny pink thing.”

He peered closer, smirking. “Oh. Wow. That thin’ is tiny. I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s just a mouse. Someone give me a shoe.”

Walking over, Brandon peered over his shoulder, looking in the corner. “Aren’t they good for eatin’? It shouldn’t be hard to skin. We’ll just chop it up an’ watch for the bones.”

Shaking her head, Rachel gagged. “Ew, you’re like sick. Did anyone like ever tell you that?”

“Put it between two slices o’ bread. There’s a sandwich for someone.”

“Are you like serious?”

He nodded, looking back at her. “Hell yeah. Throw some honey mustard on it an’ we have a ham sandwich. Eat that shit up an’ not know the difference.”

She rolled her eyes. “Anyone who like thinks a mouse can be disguised as ham like isn’t cooking for me without supervision.”

“Baby, you can ask anyone. I’m one o’ the best cooks.”

Trevor grinned. “He means anyone who’s lived. It’s not half bad when he doesn’t fuck it up.”

Rachel shook her head. “Please tell me it wasn’t like a mouse sandwich.”

Irritated, Zach backed out of the room. “
Anyone that’s lived
… encouraging. Is he going to be our cook? I think I’d rather take my chances outside.”

Brandon shrugged. “They don’t count. They were durin’ my experimental stage.”

Candice chuckled. “You had an experimental stage with guinea pigs?”

Rachel looked on in horror. “Oh my God! You like cooked guinea pigs too?”

Trevor leered. “Guinea pigs were the people tasters makin’ sure we weren’t gonna die.”

She looked around with a puzzled expression. “I’m like so confused, but still like not going anywhere near the mice.”

Trevor smirked. “Mouse. Singular. It’s just one.”

“You’re like gonna correct my grammar at a time like this?”

Noticing all the activity, Erica slowly entered. “Really? There’s a baby mouse in here?”

Trevor backed out of the room, leaving Candice bent over the corner. “Over there in the corner.”

“How do you know it’s a baby?”

Brandon shrugged. “It’s pink an’ wrinkly. It’s gonna die. It might be best.”

Rachel recoiled. “Oh God, if like there’s more we should move on. Like, fuck this room.”

Rushing forward, Erica ran to the corner. “No! I love mice! I used to have a bunch. I know how to take care of them. I’ll take it and make it a nest so it gets better.”

When she sprinted forward, Candice turned, allowing her the corner, hurrying out the door. Anyone still in the room, she shoved out with force. “It’s all yours.”

Rushing over, it didn’t take long to see the corner was empty. Turning, she grabbed at Candice as she raced past her. “Bitch, I don’t see a fucking mouse!”

“Quick, shut it and lock it!” Candice ran so fast she crashed into Brandon.

The door slammed shut as Erica ran into it. She found herself locked in. The rest of the group, confused, looked from one to the other unsure of what just happened.

Brandon allowed her to fall into him before steadying her. “You okay?” He smiled, pulling away. “Good job!”

“Thanks. I was worried we weren’t going to be able to pull it off.”

“I know. Me too!”

Confused, Rachel looked from one to the other. “Like what the hell’s going on?”

Erica beat on the door, screaming at the top of her lungs. “You can’t do this to me!”

Sophia looked through the window. “I’m sorry, but ya might be infected an’ we can’t take that chance.”

Rachel looked shocked. “What?”

“Fuck you!” Running, Erica hurled herself into the door. She pounded, kicking, trying to break it open. “Let me out! I’m fine.”

Sophia backed away from the door. “No, you’re not. You’re sweatin’ like a stuck pig.”

“It’s just hot in here!”

“Ya
could
be contagious. You’ve got somethin’ an’ I don’t know what it is.”

Turning, Brandon looked at Candice. “How did ya know she’d run
in
the room an’ not out like everyone else?”

She shrugged. “I heard her talking about a pet mouse she had. Apparently one of the neighbors had a cat… mouse disappeared.”

“Ten to one odds where ‘at mouse went,” Trevor said.

Erica hopped up, running for the door again. This time she threw her weight into it, kicking in a rage. “Please let me out! I promise I won’t hurt anyone.”

Rachel backed away. “Like don’t open that door. I don’t believe her.”

Looking at Montana, Sophia retreated. “Are ya sure that’ll hold her?”

He nodded. “Yes. It’s a steel door.”

Brandon sighed. “That’s a real shame. She’s a real knockout.”

Candice scowled at him. “Stop saying that because it sounds like if she were ugly, it would be okay.”

“That’s not what I said. However, I am a guy. We’re visual so if there’s a good lookin’ girl, I notice.”

Trevor nodded. “He’s not normal, but he is a guy.”

Candice grunted. “Normal is overrated, but maybe you should be considerate about what’s happening.”

Brandon nodded. “I am! I’m thinkin’ how I didn’t get to tap ‘at ass first.”

“Oh. I feel so sorry for you,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“What? I am a healthy, hot-blooded, horny man. I think about it all the time.”

“Okay guys, let’s go. We’ll show you where you’re gonna sleep. This was just to get Erica in ‘at room,” Montana told them.

Sophia nodded. “Yes, because we think she’s infected.”

“What do you mean by
infected
?” Howard asked, confused.

“We’re not sure, but all the signs are there.”

“How many people knew?” Zach glared at Candice.

Montana shrugged. “Me, Sophia, Candice, an’ the boys, but don’t worry. We had it under control.”

“Wait. That girl has a virus and no one told us?” Ian questioned, angrily.

“That’s just bullshit!” Howard roared.

“Are you like one-hundred percent sure it’s not airborne? I like talked to her! What if she like dribbled on me?” Rachel argued.

Sophia put up her hands, silencing them. “We had the situation under control. We did what was safest for the group.”

“Why didn’t you tell the rest of us?” Zach asked.

“Yeah, why pick like individual members of the group?” Rachel shrieked. “Oh my God. I feel like something is crawling on my skin. What if like we touched her?”

“Did you touch ‘er?” Sophia probed.

“Like I’m not sure. Like I think I did.”

“Our,” she pointed from Candice back to herself, “job was to observe while they worked on the room. You didn’t go near her. My eyes might be old, but they aren’t bad.”

“Like I
thought
I did.”

“Regardless, it’s what
could
have happened that put us at high risk,” Howard wailed.

“Do you see how you’re acting now?” Candice screeched, and everyone looked at her. “You really think you could’ve been calm knowing there might be a dangerous infection around you?” She stood in front of Howard. “You hoot and holler because you might have been around it. How would you have acted if you knew?” He shrugged. Continuing around the room, she stopped in front of Rachel. “You would’ve acted the same fucking way you are now. Any plan of a surprise would’ve been gone and someone would’ve gotten hurt.” Embarrassed, Rachel looked down at the floor. She continued, standing in front of Zach. “
You
didn’t know because
we
had it under control.”

He shook his head. “It still would’ve been nice to have been told!”

Turning again, she stood with Brandon. “Only those of us who could handle the truth were told.”

Turning to look at the group, Brandon nodded. “Harsh, but she’s right.”

“Yep, the surprise was the essential element. If it wasn’t for Candice,” Trevor told them.

She shrugged. “I don’t know about all that. I was lucky. I heard her talking about her love of a mouse. No big deal.”

Howard shook his head. “Yes. It’s a damn big deal! You took a chance with our lives.”

“How did we do that?”

“By not knowing what the hell was going on, you endangered my life!”

“Melodramatic much? We handled it the best way. Our way caused little to no danger to anyone else. The only danger was to us.”

“If ‘is had been a real emergency, ya would’ve been instructed where to tune,” Trevor said in a computer-like voice. Everyone looked at him. He shrugged. “What? That’s what this reminds me of… in a roundabout sorta way.”

Montana stared at Trevor. Though his interruption caused a few giggles to fall around them, it did lessen the intensity of the conversation. He looked at Candice. “Modesty suits you.” He turned to the rest of them. “Follow me. We’ll get y’all to the other rooms.”

“So, do I get my own room?” Ian asked, following closely behind him.

“We have to move some things around later. Right now, we figured out one side for men, an’ one side for women. It works for now.”

“Not for all of us,” Zach muttered.

They continued. The guides had created an area for the men and one for the women. It was mainly just sleeping bags on the floor. One was closer to the bathrooms. The other filled with comfortable furniture. The women wanted both.

Montana looked around. “Tomorrow we’ll go down an’ barricade the doors. I also would suggest that we guides go clean out a couple of the local stores. We might even wanna ransack the fast food places. We’re gonna need more food. We have enough for a little while.”

“Don’t like forget cigarettes,” Rachel said, pulling one out of her half-empty pack. “I really don’t like want to see a bunch of chain-smoking fools without their vices.”

Zach pulled Candice to the side. “I found a spot where we can sleep together. It’s a beautiful, quiet little corner away from everyone. No one will hear you scream from pleasure.”

Shaking her head, she pulled away from him. “No. I’ll sleep with the women.”

“What’s going on, Candice?”

“Nothing.”

“Why the hell are you pushing me away?”

She shrugged. “I’m not. I just don’t feel like sleeping with you!”

“Bullshit! You have been hanging out with the guides all day. Is there something going on?”

“Are you serious? I’m so sick and tired of your fucking jealousy.”

Furrowing his brows, he scoffed. “I’m not jealous!”

“Sure you’re not. I could understand if I cheated on you, but I haven’t. I’ve never given you a reason to doubt me.”

“I
don’t
!”

“Yes. You do! It’s almost like,” she shook her head. “Oh wow.”

“What?”

“Are you so insecure because you cheated on me?”

“What the fuck? Where is
that
coming from?”

“I’m serious, Zachary. What’s the deal?”

He rolled his eyes. “You're ridiculous. I don’t treat you like that.”

“You get mad when I’m having a conversation with another man. I had to deal with you going off with women to conventions. Places where you were staying in a hotel. I never accused you once of cheating on me. I trusted you.” She stopped and looked down while shaking her head.

“I don’t know where you got this horseshit, but that’s exactly what it is.”

“I was so stupid. You cheated on me. Now you think because you got away with it that maybe I did too.”

“I’m not going to dignify that with a response and just say goodnight,” he said, turning and walking away from her.

“You’re not going to because you can’t!”

“You should
know
the answer.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I should, but you get jealous. What other reason is there?”

“I don’t know who filled your head so full of shit, but I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Candice.”

“That’s right. Run away! It’s what you always do when things don’t go your way. You know what, fuck off, Zach.”

He stormed off to the men’s section.

She stormed off to the kitchen.

They decided the men were going to keep watch, allowing the women to sleep. Montana grabbed a bunch of straws that were in the kitchen and cut them down into sections. Each of them drew from the pile in his hand. They had their designated watch hours from the shortest going first, to the longest going last. They each had to keep watch in four-hour rounds. Trevor was the first on the lookout. For the most part everyone slept, but some of the men snored loudly.

He sat down looking out the window, sipping on coffee to help keep him awake. He felt his eyes grow heavy. Before long, his head gently hit the window and he joined the snoring.