Outbreak The Beginning (The Outbreak Series Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter 16

OMG looking around the trashed cabinets. Things are thrown all over the place. I bend down to pick up an orange bowl. Falling to my knees, looking around I can’t hold it in anymore the tears start to fall. My life is over. All I have is the memories. And I don’t know if it’s going to be enough. Leaning over I sit down and just sit there in the middle of my mom’s kitchen. The guys leave me alone to grieve and walk into the living room to let me be.

Looking through the tears, this isn’t my mom’s anymore. Where there once was tidiness and familiarity, the closeness, the feeling of home, is now cold, cool hatred, utter chaos. Standing back up I throw the orange bowl away in the trash can.

Wiping my eyes I keep looking around, walking into the bedroom. It looks the same, dressers open, clothes torn to shreds and Hank’s papers and magazines thrown all over the place. Looking at the wall someone spray painted an anarchy sign on it. I let that burn into my memory.

I walk into the bathroom and into the walk-in closet, my mom’s clothes are thrown all over the place. I feel a hand on my shoulder and whip around my gun at the ready. Sal doesn’t move or take his hand off my shoulder. I lower the gun and look back to where the shoes are just carelessly thrown around. I bring my hand up and put it over his. I know he’s just trying to comfort me. I squeeze it gently.

“Egypt it’s time to go,” he says.

Wiping my eyes I nod OK. I head into the kitchen where Mack is standing looking outside. I’m glad he’s not looking at me because I don’t think I could stand anyone’s pity right now. This is something I have to be able to deal with. No one can do it for me. We head out the door and don’t look back. I won’t be coming back. This part of my life is over. Sal helps me into the truck and we head out of the driveway, heading home to a future no one knows, to a life that is completely changed.

As we pull to a stop right in front of the house the gates start to open. “Hey let me out I’ll keep watch,” I say.

“Egypt you need that shoulder looked at. You don’t want to get an infection in it,” Sal says.

Looking at him I say, “I know I will once the gates are closed and everyone’s inside.” He doesn’t look convinced so I climb over him, open up the door and get out. I pull my 9mm and walk to the back of the truck. My shoulder does hurt. I’ll have to get it cleaned up. Nate comes out and walks over to me.

“Mom, what the hell happened to your shoulder?”

“It’s nothing, that woman and I got into a fight and I hit the pavement. It’ll be fine.”

“Mom that needs to be cleaned up,” Nate says.

“I know and it will be. Let’s head in. Everyone’s inside now.” We start walking up the driveway as the gate closes behind us.

Opening the front door we head in. Looking into the living room I see John, Tabby, Liam and Tomas watching TV. I head into the kitchen and everyone else is sitting around the table. Hank looks at me with questions in his eyes. 

Shaking my head, I say, “I know we all need to talk but right now I’m going to get cleaned up and by then we can have dinner. Then we can decide who is staying where, that kind of thing. I don’t think we will have any trouble with those guys. I know everyone has questions but I have to get cleaned up.”

I head down the hall to my bedroom. Opening the door I go in with Herk and Rufus at my heels. I close the door and grab a fresh change of clothes and head for the bathroom. Turning the water on, I start taking off my old ones. At this rate I’m going to be doing laundry two times a day. Tossing them on the ground I step into the hot water and almost immediately feel better. There’s nothing like a good hot shower to make you feel better. I finish up and hop out to dry off. Getting into the new clothes I brush my hair out. Ouch the brush just hit my shoulder. Moving my hair away from the injury I look at it in the mirror. Damn it does look bad I’m going to have to get someone to clean this up I guess. Pulling my hair up into a messy bun I head out to my room. Looking up, I stop dead in my tracks. Sal is sitting on my bed petting my traitorous dogs.

“What the hell are you doing in my room?” I say.

“I told you that shoulder needs to be cleaned and bandaged,” he says.

“Oh and you’re going to be the one to do it?” 

“Yes! Or I can go get Mack?” he says.

Letting out a sign I think he’s right I guess I can’t really stand Mack. He’s the lesser of two evils.

“Egypt I’m not going to bite!” Softer he says, “Much!”

I walk slowly over and sit on my bed next to him. “Let’s get this done,” I say. I sit straight up watching him open up the first aid box. He grabs a few things and looks over at me.

“This is going to sting a bit. It looks like you have some dirt in there,” he says.

He touches my shoulder and I jump.

Looking at me, he grins. “Oh stop fidgeting it’s not going to be that bad,” he says.

“Just do it already. We have to go out there and get things done. There’s a lot to do,” I say.

He starts cleaning my wound, yeah right it’s not going to hurt much. Watching him as he takes tweezers and picks stuff out of it. Hissing!! “Damn Sal, take it easy,” I tell him.

“I’m almost done with this part. You shouldn’t have let her tackle you in the first place Egypt!” he says grinning.

Glaring over at him, I keep my mouth shut. My mom always told me to pick my battles. And this one I couldn’t win because he’s right. I take the chance to really look at him. He really is hot. He’s got dark hair kind of long. I bet if he took it down from the rubber band it would come to just under his chin. His face is chiseled and lips full. Oh I’ve been caught checking him out. I can’t seem to take my eyes off him. I’m still looking at them lips and now they’re grinning at me.

Letting out a huff, I look at my shoulder and it’s bleeding freely now. Looking up at him, I ask, “Is it supposed to be doing that? I thought you were trying to stop it from bleeding!”

“It’s fine but deeper than I thought. You’re going to be sore today and stiff by tomorrow,” he says. He takes a couple of pads and applies pressure and takes gauze and wraps it up under my arm and finishes it off with some tape to hold it together. He starts putting stuff away.

“Are you done?” I ask. I move my shoulder its stiff now and hard to really move around.

He grabs my arm. “Stop moving it around like that or it’s going to keep opening up and bleeding.” He grabs a needle and fills it up with something.

Jumping up!! “OH HELL NO,” I say backing away from him shaking my head. “I don’t do needles dude!!”

“Egypt you don’t want an infection setting in there. NOW come here and drop them!” He says ginning at me. I can feel my cheeks flaming red. Looking at him like he’s crazy, I say, “No put that in my arm!”

“Egypt, I can’t it needs to go in a big muscle. So drop them!”

Giving him the most evil look I can muster I walk back over to the bed. “Sal you’re a dick,” I say.” He just shakes his head and chuckles at me. 

I look up into his eyes and unbutton my jeans and then unzip them. I know my face has to be 50 shades of red but I keep going. I wiggle them down just a little bit. Thank God I have my cute peach-colored undies on.

“Egypt really??” he says. 

“What I say?”

He comes up behind me and grabs me by the hip slowly he runs his hands around to the front of me. He hooks his thumbs in my jeans and slowly lowers my jeans a little bit more. I look up at him, his face just mere inches from mine. Those lips so close I could move just a bit, and they would be on mine. Shifting a bit I move away, this so can’t be happening. He chuckles. He knows he’s got me uncomfortable and not in a bad way. He wipes my hip and in goes the needle. Then he holds a piece of gauze there.

There’s a knocking on the door and Tabby walks in. She looks around the room and then at us.

I know how this looks really I do. Sal’s still right behind me with his hands on my hip. My face is even redder now.

“Oh sorry Mom, I er ah can come back when you guys aren’t so ahh busy,” she says smiling.

“It’s not what it seems Tabby,” I say. “He was just giving me an injection is all.”

“Yeah Mom I can see that. Like I said I’ll come back or when you’re done getting
medical attention
. Oh and Mom, don’t forget everyone’s waiting. Come out when you’re done.” She walks out and closes the door behind her with a snicker.

Turning around I look at Sal and he’s full on laughing.

“Ahh you could have helped out you know. Now she thinks we’re messing around,” I say.

Laughing even harder he walks up really close to me brushing my arm with his and says, “And would that really be a bad thing.” He grabs his bag and walks out the door, shutting it softly behind him.

Groaning I flop myself on the bed. Ouch that hurt grabbing my shoulder. I run my hands down my face. How did this all happen. We have two unexpected guys. Hot guys now staying with us. I ended up in a fight. Now Tabby thinks I’m sleeping with one of the new guys. Really not bad, though he is hot, sweet and cocky. Groaning I get up and button my jeans back.

Heading out the door I grab my 9 mm and close my door behind me. I really need to start locking it. People think they can come and go as they please.

Sighing I walk into the dining room. Everyone’s sitting or standing around the table. I go past and head to the kitchen. Grabbing a pop I head back to the dining room and Sal gets up and offers me his chair. I feel my face going red. This really has to stop, I’m not a teenager. Tabby is grinning from ear to ear. Glaring at her I mumble a thank you and sit down. Sal must be standing behind me. What is he my own personal medic? Grinning to myself, I look around. Everyone is looking at me to start. ME!!!

“Ok guys I know this has been a very long day. I realize that everyone wants to know what happened out there meeting up with Pete. And I’m sure you guys have already been talking. They were just regular people, trying to steal what they needed. Yes I did get into it with the woman there and yes I’m fine. Just some road rash from a very good tackle,” I say.

“Do you think they will come here looking for us?” Hank asks.

It’s a possibility. But I don’t think they will be the only one’s that’s going to try and give us trouble,” I say.

“Nate did shoot one of them in the knee!” I say. “Great job, babe.”

Hank looked at Nate. “You were going for extreme pain huh? Shit!”

Chapter 17

“Yep, the guy shot at Mom. I really just wanted him in pain you know.” Nate says.

There’s a murmur around the table.

“I guess we need to talk about where everyone’s going to stay.  I look at Sal and Mack. “You guys are welcome to stay but know this … everyone here helps out … period. And I’m in charge. If you don’t have any problems with that everything will work out.” They both nod. “So I take it you guys are staying?” I look at them making eye contact with Sal.

“Yeah we’re going to stay here with you guys,” Sal says.

“Ok you guys can have Pete’s RV to stay in. Is that ok with you Pete?”

“Yeah that’s fine … where are we staying then Egypt?” Pete asks.

“You and Gabby will have the bedroom downstairs at the end of the hall on the right. Everything should be downstairs that you need if not just ask. There’s no reason anyone should be going without anything for now,” I say.

“Tomas did you decide where you’re staying?” I ask.

“Yep, I’ll be in Nate’s room if that’s ok?” he says.

Nate nods and so do I.

“Ok Tabby, where’s dinner at? How long ‘til it’s ready?” I ask.

“About two hour’s mom,” she says.

“Ok great hmm Nate, Liam, Tomas, you guys help your aunt unload. She will tell you where to put everything. Nate the spare cot is downstairs, get that for Tomas. Mom you and Tabby get dinner ready and John go up top and keep watch,” I say.

Everyone gets up and goes about their duties.

Gabby comes over and hugs me. “Thank you Egypt. I love you!! I’m glad you kicked that bitch’s ass.”

Hugging her back for a little longer I let go. “We will talk later Gab and I love you to,” I say.

“Hank, Pete, Sal and Mack, I need to talk to you all. How about outside on the deck?

They all start out to the deck. I look at Tabby. “Can you get some drinks for everyone please?” 

Standing up, wincing, I grab at my shoulder. Ok it’s starting to hurt now. I look up and see Sal looking at me. He starts to walk back in towards me and I shake my head no. He looks at me and I mouth later. He nods and starts talking to Pete and Hank. Tabby walks up to me and hands me the drink.

Kissing her head, I say, “Thank you babe. Make sure Mimi doesn’t do too much.”

“I know Mom, she’s just snapping the beans sitting down,” she says.

“Good thinking Tabby. I’ll be back in at dinner. I’ve got to go talk to the guys. How’s John doing?”

“He’s good Mom. He’s happy that you trust him to keep watch,” she says. “Mom is your shoulder hurting you? You can get that sexy medic, what’s his name, ahh Sal to look at it?”

Smiling I say, “You know what Tabby, you’re just so bad?” Walking away I head to the doors to go outside. The dogs are right behind me.

Stepping outside I put the drinks on the table and walk to the steps and sit down.

Hank looks over at me and says, “Egypt here take my seat.”

“No Hank. Thank you I’m good here.”

He keeps talking to the guys and I just sit and relax watching the dogs play. Rufus really doesn’t like baby Herk so he’s off by himself. Herk is chasing a bug or something. Laughing, I stretch my arms up over my head.  UGH!! I can’t lift my right arm as high as my other one. It’s like it’s starting to dry up and crack when I do something with it. I put my arm back down and lean back on the post looking over at the guys.

“Ok guys we need to discuss some things and I thought that the others really don’t need to be involved in this.”

They stop talking and look at me.

“Hank already knows this but Tabitha’s pregnant. Yes I know it’s the worst time possible but it is what it is. We are going to have to go to some stores and get the things she’s going to need. I think the sooner the better on this. Also with three firefighters /medics I think she will be in capable hands.”

“I think one of us should look at her, make sure everything’s ok and going good,” Mack says.

“I agree. You guys can figure out who’s going to risk their lives and do that.” Laughing, I say, “She’s not the easiest to talk to.”

Pete just laughs because he knows how Tabby can be. Hank stands up.

“Do you think we should go out tomorrow Egypt?” Hank asks.

“The sooner the better … I really don’t know how the stores will be, I know that they aren’t open, everything’s closed. Martial Law is in effect or it was yesterday. Things can change really fast with something like this. In Youngstown the looting has started.”

“Pete, can you make a list of drugs we’re going to need for mom and Gabby. And stuff that we might need. Any first aid things. Hank you can take care of the guns and ammo and while you’re over there hit the camping section,” I say. “What else do we need to hit?” I ask, looking around at everyone.

Hank looks around to everyone, clears his throat. “Well Egypt we know you will hit the baby section but you need someone with you. And before you say anything, it’s not because you’re a girl. I know you can take care of yourself. It’s because of your arm. By tomorrow you’re going to be more, stiffer than you are now,” he says.

“I will help her,” Sal says.

What can I say to that? If I make a big deal all hell will break loose. “Ok Sal,” I say and smile at him.

“Mack why don’t you hit the food section and grab what you can. Food, water, etc?” I say.

“You got it Egypt. Do we have walkies or something we can keep in contact with each other?” he asks.

“Yeah we do I will have Nate get those charged and ready. We’re going to need the three trucks empty and ready to go,” I tell them.

“We will leave Nate, John and Tomas here to keep an eye on things and take Liam with us. I would rather him be with someone the first time out.”

“I’ll take him with me Egypt,” Hank says, nodding.

“Ok, hey after dinner, Hank will show you around the house and where things are then we’ll meet up to figure out who’s going to keep watch tonight. I’m going to go relieve John until dinner is done.”

Looking at Mack I say, “Hey guy’s thank you for staying, we’re going to need all the help we can get to keep this place safe and running. If you need anything, come to me and if you can’t find me Hank’s in charge as well,” I say.

Standing up I whistle at the dogs and they come running. I head into the house and walk through the kitchen to the garage. Stepping out I look around to see Nate really is on top of things. This looks like a command center. Taking the steps two at a time I reach the top.

“Hey John anything happening,” I ask.

“Just some people driving by, their truck was packed, no zombies though,” he says.

“Ok, that’s good you can go and help wherever you want to I’ll keep watch for a while,” I tell him.

“You sure Egypt, I don’t mind keeping watch?”

“Nope I’m good. Go on get outta here,” I tell him.

Walking to the railing I lean on it and look out over the place. Looking down I see the boys unpacking the RV of Gabby and Pete’s things. Hank is sitting out on the deck. He looks like he’s deep in thought. Walking to the front of the house I see Sal and Mack unpacking their truck they came with. Good we will need it tomorrow. Walking to the chairs I sit down and put my feet up.

The neighbor’s house is still smoldering but burnt to the ground. I see bodies scattered on the ground. I wonder who those people were. Did I know any of them? Well it’s a bit too late for that now. They’re dead. I wonder where the family went to, if they’re all ok. There’s nothing I really can do about it anyway. I have to think of the people here and keep them safe.

Hearing a noise I look over at the steps. Mack’s head pops up first then the rest of him. He looks at me and smiles.

“Hey Egypt,” rubbing the back of his neck he looks around. “Uh do you mind if I sit up here for a while?” Mack asks.

“Nope come on up.” I take my feet off the chair and he comes over and sits down. He bends over and grabs my feet and puts them on his lap.

Looking at him he just smiles. OK fine with me it’s comfortable. 

“So where ya from Mack?” I ask.

He lets out a whistle. “Akron.” 

“Family?” I ask.

“Nope single with my job. I’m gone a lot, not a lot of time to date,” he says, looking at me. “How come you’re so prepared for something like this?” he asks.

“Well I always liked to stock up and before you ask I’m not a hoarder, or crazy for that matter. I just always liked to be prepared for things like this. Maybe I’ve watched too many zombie, dystopian movies. Either that or reading too many of them,” I say, laughing. “Maybe one day I’ll write about this too.”

“Well I for one am glad that you did hoard. Thanks for letting us stay. I know you didn’t have to and I know that most of your family is here. But please let me know what I can do. I love Pete and his family. And in a way you’re my family too,” he says.

Er uh Ok!! And you’re welcome. “There’s going to be tons to do to survive this. I still have a lot of family out there. They think they can handle this on their own and that really worries me. They have young kids. But there’s nothing I can really do to make them come here. Just wait and help them when they get here,” I say.

He puts my feet on the ground and stands up. “Oh I talked to your daughter. She looks good for three months. I told Pete to add prenatal vitamins to that list for her,” he says walking away. Looking back he adds, “She’ll be fine Egypt. Don’t worry about the things you can’t change. Just change the things that you can.” Smiling he walks down the stairs.

That was weird. He hasn’t said really more them five words to me. Maybe I have him pegged wrong. Running my hands over my face I stand up and stretch a bit. Walking to the edge I look down. Sal looks up at me and smiles. He waves and I wave back. I can’t be rude really what would that do. I don’t know about my feelings for him and I really don’t have the energy to think of them right now.