Almost afraid to ask I finally replied, “Yeah, what’s the one thing?”
“If you hurt my sister prepare for that ass whooping.” He gave me a friendly punch on the arm.
“You know Dan you’re alright no matter what Kurt says about you.” I laughed.
“That punk is always spreading lies about me I swear!” He winked and patted me on the back. “You’re going to fit right in with the rest of the family.”
As we walked back he told me that he would carefully discuss the situation with his brothers. He said that if they lacked the intelligence to comprehend that he would beat some sense into them.
My conversation with Jerod later that evening on the same topic went over well. He gave me sound advice on treating them equally in all things. He also told me that such a relationship would be more demanding because it would involve twice as much work to make it work. With his support I went to see how Starlette was holding up after the funeral. We talked for a while about various things like the weather. As awkward as it was I decided to test the waters on their view about the relationship topic.
“Seriously? Both of them? You lucky bastard…sorry no offense. It’s just like super-hot. Wow, congrats man.”
Starlette punched David on the arm pretty hard. While he rubbed his arm in pain Starlette motioned for me to follow her outside.
“I swear he can be such a moron sometimes. If I didn’t kind of like him I would kick him in the groin. Anyway, I think it is very romantic in a unique sort of way. I hope that all of you are happy together. By the way thank you for what you did today for Michael.”
I gave her a hug. “You need anything just let me know. That includes groin kicking for David.” That made her smile a little. “See you tomorrow Star.”
“I think I like the nickname. See you tomorrow.”
Leaving their place I ran into Dan on the way to see Jessie and Amy. Supposedly Sam was cool with the idea. Kurt was all for the idea of me dating his sister even if that unfortunately included Jessie in the equation. Apparently he had kind of crushed on Jessie until Amy came into the picture from what Dan told me. They of course passed on similar statements of hurting Amy would lead to kicking of the ass. Listening to everyone else made the choice of following my heart much easier. I told Dan that I would talk to him later before heading towards their cabin.
I knocked on the door inhaling deeply while I waited for an answer. Jessie opened the door with a partial smile. I could tell she was worried for what I might have decided. I put my arm around her waist pulling her towards me. I passionately kissed her as we stood there in the open doorway finally releasing her only to catch my breath.
“Happy to see you too handsome. Are you here to give us your answer?”
“That was my answer beautiful. Where’s Amy?”
“I thought the kiss might have been a good sign, but didn’t want to presume. Amy is taking a nap. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you waking her up with the good news though. I almost have dinner ready anyway. Hope your hungry” She kissed me lightly on the lips heading off to the kitchen.
I woke Amy up with light kisses until she smiled and opened her eyes. “Rye!” She threw hers arms around me giving me a hug. I told her the good news which lead to kissing and groping. I suddenly remembered Jessie saying dinner was almost ready. I had to pull myself away long enough to let Amy know food was likely waiting on us. “Better make it quick then!” I was definitely not going to argue already being turned on. We were finished and walking out into the hallway when Jessie called to us that dinner was ready.
Jessie looked back and forth at the two of us after entering the kitchen. “I see you both already had dessert without me sadly.”
“There is still plenty of time after dinner to enjoy yours love. I was just so excited with the good news.” Amy winked at Jessie in a playful manner.
“It’s alright, I have no doubt that you will both make it up to me before we go to sleep.”
“So what’s for dinner? Oh almost forgot, you mentioned moving in together. Did you want to move in at my place or me to move in here?”
“Dinner is comprised of a hearty beans and rice to go with the seasoned Pheasant I shot yesterday. Careful chewing may be some pellets from the bird shot. Have you noticed most of the birds seems to have vanished lately? And on the moving topic I will leave the choice up to the two of you. I am fine either way.”
“Well, our cabin is probably kind of too girly. Plus Rye’s place is much bigger. I know both of you put in a lot of work here mainly for me. I’m sure Rye wouldn’t mind letting us change a few things. Perhaps adding a little fashion or new paint to a couple of the rooms.”
“I wouldn’t mind at all. As long as you leave my office the way it is. I don’t mind what you wish to do with the rest of the house as long as we agree no pink walls.” We all had a good laugh.
Chapter 4
Where the Road May Lead
It has been a little over a year now since the massive explosion that changed the face of the planet and humanity. I suppose that you could call this Year One of a new time period since it was a major event that marked a new era. We have settled in to the community becoming a little more at ease with the environment we have become accustomed to. I am personally afraid that because there have been no problems of late that we will accidentally let our guard down. With that feeling driving me I decided that we needed to temporarily leave the community to remember how the real world has become. I suggested to the others that we should make an expedition trip as a group to search for other survivors and to stock up on supplies. The others agreed deciding to leave out a week later.
We found a large recreational vehicle that slept four comfortably in bunk beds. It had a small kitchen, dining area, television room (even though the TV was useless it gave us more room to be comfortable), a small restroom, and a large bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. Up front there was a bench seat behind the driver and passenger seats that sat three regular size people. I realize that it seems a bit much, but I wanted the extra space just in case we actually did come across other survivors. Jessie had us promise that we would let her interview any people that might be potential residents for the community because of her training in interrogation. We agreed so long as she did not treat them like an enemy soldier.
The day we left out it was a mild sunny day. By the time we made it to Arizona the rainy season returned with a vengeance. We saw firsthand the pinkish blue glow in the clouds. At one point we had to pull over as hail began to fall pretty heavily. The small quarter size chunks of ice that settled on the ground were mainly blue in color. If you looked really close it was almost like they were alive though. Tiny pink lines like veins moved through them like pulsing lightning. The ones that struck trees in the distance turned into little balls of fire on contact. The fires they created grew in size appearing to devour the trees eventually diminishing like the fire never existed. A sweet smell slowly started to come in the vents which Jessie and I immediately closed tightly. We even had the others hunt down a roll of electric tape from the many drawers. We commenced to completely covering the vents, window edges, and around the doors leading to the outside with electric tape. Might seem drastic, but we were taking no chances with whatever that weird aroma was that the storm was producing.
About an hour later the storm had completely moved to the west of us. We got back on the road traveling until we neared Phoenix. We had absolutely no plans whatsoever of entering a large city with likely massive numbers of
Fallen
. Finding an R.V. park we pulled over to get some rest. We carefully opened the doors leaving the tape as best we could in case another storm should arise. Everyone got out to stretch for a couple minutes from the long drive.
“I just saw someone use a lighter over in that bus!” Starlette pointed over towards a school bus the rest of us hadn’t really noticed about thirty feet away.
“Are you certain,” Jessie asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“She’s right. Look close someone is smoking. Star and David back inside. Amy and Sam keep an eye on them please. Everyone else lets go pay a visit. Might not be friendly so keep your guard up.” I slowly started walking towards the bus. The others all did as I requested. There were times when I knew someone had to lead. This was one such occasion.
To the right of the bus were laying two men who had been shot in the head. Resting my hand on the grip of my pistol ready to be drawn in an instant if necessary I lightly knocked on the main door near the front of the bus. There were several whispers from inside. I motioned for the others to fan out at the ready. They took up positions to not be all taken out easily without a fight. With the firepower we were holding we could keep a large mob of
Fallen
at bay for a little while.
A thin framed white man wearing glasses that appeared to be in his early thirties with dirty blonde hair and grayish eyes slowly opened the doors. He stepped outside with his hands in the air.
“We don’t’ want any trouble. We already have enough as it is. I’m Kyle. What is it that you want?”
I eased my hand away from my gun so he would know I hadn’t come as a threat. “Nice to meet you Kyle. I’m Rye. We are actually out looking for other survivors. You would be the first we have come across in a long while. We are not here to pose a threat of any kind. The individuals you see with me are armed only for our own protection. You said you have troubles. What kind of trouble?”
He showed a small relief in his gesture easing himself down into a sitting position on the bottom stair of the bus entrance. He lowered his hands looking up at me trying to decide if I was actually being serious.
“I’m not even sure where to start. A few months back we ran across a small group that robbed us of everything we had. They took a few of the women that were in our group captive. A few men tried to stop them, getting shot dead for their trouble. A couple of our group were infected from the storm somehow earlier this evening before getting safely inside the bus. They turned into Fallen shortly after. One of them actually bit one of the girls before we put him down. She has a bad fever and looks really pale. We of course have no medicine to help with the fever.”
“You’ve been through a lot Kyle and I’m sorry. I need you to listen carefully and trust me. I know it’s asking a lot. You need to get everyone away from the girl that was bitten right now. She is going to turn like the others did earlier.”
“What? How do you know?”
“The symptoms you described are the same as my deceased wife had before she turned. I have also seen others turn after being bitten. Please, it sounds like you don’t have much time. At least let me have a look at her. I can tell for certain if I see her. There will be a pale blue glow in her eyes that is barely noticeable.”
He stood up glancing back into the bus. “I don’t know the others are kind of frightened after seeing all the guns.”
I briskly walked up to him grabbing him by the arm. Yanking him away from the door I went inside the bus. He tried to run back into the bus after me. Kurt was quick to grab hold of him with a vise grip on his shoulder.
“He’s trying to help. He knows more about the infected than most of us have even heard until now. Let him do what needs to be done.” Jerod stood near Kurt trying to reason with Kyle so things didn’t get out of hand.
Inside I found a light skinned female in her late twenties with wavy red hair and dark sullen green eyes holding a sickly young girl’s head in her lap. A Hispanic male in his early twenties with brown hair and eyes aimed a pistol in my general direction. A white male with black hair and blue eyes sat at the very back of the bus looking a bit frightened. He appeared to be a little younger than the others. I held my hands out in front of myself palms first as a gesture that I was not here as a threat.
“Kyle told me that the girl was bitten by a Fallen. The reason she is ill is because she was infected by the bite. She is going to turn very soon. I’ve seen it happen before.”
“Her name is Sasha and I don’t believe you. What do you really want?” The two guys glanced at the woman as she spoke. They both appeared unsure which of us to believe was right.
“I can prove it to you. All you have to do is look for yourself. Sasha will have a slight pale blue glow in her eyes like most of the
Fallen
do if you look really close. It is the main indication that a person has been infected soon to change into one of them.”
I slowly walked closer while the man holding the gun had focused his sights more intently on the injured girl. Only a couple feet were now between us. He had lowered the gun a little until looking back my way.
“Don’t come any closer or I’ll pull the trigger”