Roads Less Traveled (13 page)

“What’s that?” Jake asked beside him. Ben looked down the road to the spot Jake was pointing to, but saw nothing.

“I don’t see anything,” he said. He squinted his eyes against the afternoon sun, but the only thing he saw was the pavement and the leaves rustling in the trees.

“No, I hear somethin’,” Jake said again. He tilted his head and frowned in concentration. Zack stood and came over beside Ben, his eyes narrowed and his lips set in a humorous smirk.

“Is that Metallica?” Zack asked. All three turned their heads to see Kasey’s red SUV coming into view. Ben laughed as “Enter Sandman” pumped out of the open moon roof.

The SUV skidded to a halt a hundred feet from the store and sat there idling. He could see Kasey moving inside and watched as she popped up through the roof.

“Holy shit,” Jake said in a hushed voice as Kasey pulled herself onto the roof and reached back inside for her rifle. She crouched on one knee and opened fire on the deadheads directly below the guys. Three sets of shoulders jumped and hunched in surprise as they dropped to their knees. They pressed their backs to the ledge behind them and motioned for the two ladies to stay put, cringing and jumping in spite of themselves with each measured and deliberate report of the rifle. Ben tried to count them, but was thrown off when Kasey stopped to reload. He popped his head up over the wall to take a look. A guitar solo was drifting out of the car, followed by a heavy drum riff. Zack was singing along beside him.

“
Hush little baby, don’t say a word,”
he mumbled with that smirk still plastered on his face. Ben shook his head and looked down over the edge, gasping with surprise at what he saw. Kasey had cleared the path between the store and the vehicles, and the remaining zombies were stumbling towards her. He jerked his head up and found Kasey working the bolt of her rifle and taking aim at the closest one to her. He stood this time and watched, making sure to count each shot. Jake and Zack slowly rose next to him, both pulling keys from their pockets. She reloaded again after five rounds, bringing the total to ten. The six lingering deadheads were almost to the SUV, causing Kasey to adjust her position to shoot lower. “The Unforgiven” was beginning to rumble through the air as she took her next shot.

“Damn, girl is good,” Jake commented as he turned to wave his grandma and Kyra over to the edge.

“Or she’s simply crazier than you,” Zack said from Jake’s left side. He grinned at this statement, but it quickly faded when he saw that Zack was frowning.

“She said to wait until she gave the all clear before we broke for the vehicles,” Ben said. Nancy and Jake nodded, but Kyra and Zack only frowned, their eyes still locked on Kasey and the ever-decreasing distance between her and the three or four zombies that remained. She continued firing, though, never showing any doubt or fear. “Wherever I May Roam” was thumping through the car speakers as she fired her fifth and last round. Ben expected her to reload and almost shouted at her when she didn’t.

Kasey lowered her rifle back onto the seat below her and pulled her handgun. The last zombie was banging its fists against her driver’s side window and moaning up at her. Kasey simply leaned over and leveled the barrel at the dead bastard’s head. She squeezed the trigger and the force behind the shot sent the zombie flying backwards, congealed blood and gray matter spewing from the exit wound. She turned and twisted on her knees, scanning the area all around for movement. Ben and the others did the same, but could see nothing. They all heaved a collective sigh of relief and returned their gaze to Kasey, who was re-holstering her handgun and sitting back on her heels. She grinned and gave them a thumbs-up before waving them ahead with one arm. Ben clapped Jake on the back and laughed, seeing a huge smile break out on his best friend’s face.

“C’mon, let’s get movin’,” Jake finally said and led the others off the roof. The store was small and the large front windows had remained in one piece, even though they had started to crack. They stopped as Jake pushed the door open and took a look outside. Kasey had returned to the wheel and pulled around to their vehicles, stopping in front of the Jeep.

“You waitin’ on an invitation?” she asked. Jake smirked at her as Ben shoved him aside and rushed out. He hugged her through the SUV’s open driver’s side window for a long time, and as the others loaded themselves into the Jeep and truck, Jake stood at his door and watched them.

“Hey, let’s go!” he finally shouted. Ben pulled back and kissed Kasey’s cheek. She said a few words to him and leaned back in the window, rolling it up and pulling out slowly. Ben jogged over to the Jeep and got in the passenger side. Jake said nothing, just shook his head and laughed at his friend as he turned the Jeep in a slow circle and followed Kasey. He glanced in his rearview and saw the truck behind him, Kyra driving and Zack sitting beside her. Nancy was chattering in the backseat behind Ben (mostly asking questions about Kasey), and Ben was replying in excited tones. But Jake was tuning it out. He was overcome with relief, knowing that their long journey was about to come to an end and he could finally get some sleep and maybe something to eat. He figured, if his best friend trusted this girl, then so could he. After all, they had indirectly created and consolidated their zombie plans. Plus, he’d just witnessed how efficient she was with a gun, all the while keeping her cool.

He hoped Kasey had some meat in the freezer. He had a hankering for a big, fat, juicy steak.

* * *

On the way to the house I talked back and forth to Ben over the radio, who filled me in on how they came to be trapped inside the store. Every mile that brought us closer to home also brought me closer to pulling over, yanking Kyra out of the truck, and beating the dogshit out of her. Ben had only laughed and told me to please not take it out on her. They had all decided to stop, and none of them had seen any indication of danger. It was then that I realized Kyra was probably listening to the entire conversation on her radio in the truck, but I was so mad, I didn’t give a shit.

The sun blinded me for a moment as I broke through the tree line. Everything looked just as I’d left it. I slowed and hit the button on the visor, stopping in front of the garage as the door opened. I had instructed Jake to pull in beside the garage, and Kyra to park on the other side of him.
Little ducks, all in a row,
I thought as I pulled inside and shut off the ignition.

I sat there for a few moments after the garage door shut behind me, relaxing back and trying to enjoy the last moment of peace I would probably have.
You’ve been chomping at the bit for company, and now you want to be alone?
that pesky inner voice chided. It was a real pain in the ass sometimes. I sighed and pushed the door open. I grabbed my gun and pulled it out with me, taking the sling in one hand and sliding the strap over my shoulder. Gus met me at the garage entrance, his tail wagging as he jumped up on me. I propped my rifle in the corner and hurried to the front door.

I could hear their footsteps as they stomped onto the porch. I swung the bars back and opened the door just as Ben was about to knock. I cocked my eyebrow at him and he smiled sheepishly.

“Well I felt awkward about just barging in,” he said. I smiled and hugged him tightly, then stepped aside and motioned him in. He was wearing a backpack and had another bag slung over his shoulder. I noticed as they entered one by one, they were all carrying pretty much the same gear. I nodded to each of them as they passed, approving of their organization and readiness. Gus was ecstatic, running from one to the next, his tongue hanging out and his tail beating frantically. Once they had all gathered in the living room, they stood in a half-circle around me, still holding their bags. I realized they were waiting for me to tell them what to do.

“Hello all, if you don’t already know, I’m Kasey Stratford and this is my home,” I said and felt very foolish for the introduction.
Hell yes they know who I am, and what do you think they think, that this is the governor’s house?
What can I say? I was nervous as shit. So I smiled and held my palms up, then shook my head and laughed.

“If you can’t tell, I’m not used to company.” This drew a chuckle out of them. Ben stepped forward and took my hand.

“Kasey, maybe I should introduce them to you, then. This is Jake,” he held his open hand out towards his friend, then went down the line. “That’s Zack, Nancy, and Kyra.” He squeezed my shoulder when he finished, the others simply nodded and smiled when he called their name. I was surprised when he introduced Zack and Jake; I’d had them reversed in my mind for some odd reason.

“Thank you so much, Kasey, for allowing us into your home,” Nancy said. I liked her immediately.

“Yeah, and thanks for savin’ our asses back there,” Jake said. Nancy walked over and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly in a way only a grandmother can. I smiled and told them both it was no problem, then stepped back and cleared my throat, crossing my arms and shifting my eyes around the group.

“Alright, before I show you upstairs to your rooms, there are a few ground rules I should get out of the way. Ben and Jake may have already gone over these with you, but in case they haven’t, I will now. Number one, nobody gives Gus cookies before dinner,” I smiled and looked down at my dog, who stared up at me intently at the mention of the word ‘cookie,’ while everyone chuckled. I was happy that this seemed to break the ice, for the time being anyway.

“Number two, we all pitch in around here. If you can’t cook, you’ll learn. If you don’t like it, you’ll learn to like it. Same goes with keeping this place clean. Pick up after yourselves ‘cause I’m not your momma. Number three, no one leaves this house alone. If you go outside, which we will to patrol and whatnot, you’ll go with a buddy. Go at least in pairs, if not more. Number four, if we all have to leave the house for one reason or another, someone will always stay behind to monitor the radio. I’ll give the tour later, don’t worry. Number five, whoever is left behind at the house will make sure these bars,” I walked over and grabbed one of the steel bars across the door, “are closed. They are to remain closed at all times. No exceptions.” I rubbed my chin, trying to remember if I had left anything out.

“I think that’s all the important things I need to say right now. If we all follow these, we’ll stay safe. Oh, and rule number six. I know you think being out here in the sticks is safe. But don’t let your guard down. Not for a second. That’s why I want everyone to keep the noise level down to a minimum. I’ve already hung heavy drapes in your bedroom windows, so if you need a light at night, not much will shine through. But just try to keep quiet. Don’t run around laughing and raising hell, okay?” I looked around the group, letting all I had said sink in. They looked around at one another, then back at me.

“No disrespect, but why should I go along with your rules?” Zack asked. Kyra was the only one nodding along with him. The others were looking at him with slack jaws, as if he’d just told me to stick my rules up my ass. And in a way, he had. I’d been expecting this; I couldn’t assume that everyone Ben brought along would just fall in line like good little soldiers. Well, technically, Jake had brought them along. But it didn’t matter. They were here, and I had to deal with this before it became a real problem.

“The rules, Zack, are part of the Plan. And as far as I know, you and Kyra both have been on board with it, or else you wouldn’t have ridden with these three,” I hooked a thumb at Ben, Jake, and Nancy, “all the way from northwestern Pennsylvania. This isn’t one of those ‘If I say jump, you say how high’ deals. But we,” I motioned to Jake and Ben, “worked on this plan for a long time, and these rules are here for a reason. It just so happens you’re in my house, so you’re hearing it all from me. If our roles were reversed, how would you be behaving right now?” I tried to keep my voice as reassuring as possible, even though my mind and heart were racing. Zack stared at me for a long time before finally answering, a series of emotions flashing across his face as he considered everything I’d said. It seemed to me that he finally settled on cautious acceptance. Kyra, however, looked like she was about to have an aneurism.

“Alright,” he said slowly. He crossed his arms and rubbed his chin, clearly not finished yet. I groaned inside my head and glanced at Ben, hoping he would back me up if Zack jumped my ass in the next twenty seconds. Lucky for me, the ass-jumping never came.

“But if, at any time, I start to feel like you’re going to get me killed,” Zack said, pointing a finger at me, “I’ll stop you, even if they won’t.” He jabbed the same finger in Ben and Jake’s direction. I had
not
been expecting that, so it took a moment for me to come up with a reply that didn’t begin with a big ‘fuck you’. I cleared my throat, never breaking eye contact with him, and firmly nodded once.

“That’s fair, Zack. I don’t expect anything less, from any of you. This isn’t a dictatorship, and it’s gonna take some time for us to get to know each other. All I’m asking for is patience, and that you follow the Plan.” I kept my eyes on Zack, letting him know through body language alone that he couldn’t intimidate me.

“No problem, Boss,” Jake said, breaking the silence. Ben and the others smiled and nodded, except for Zack and Kyra. The former was watching me closely, and the latter was evidently trying to kill me by giving me the stink-eye. I dipped my head once, then gestured towards the kitchen.