The Dark Trinity (Book 1): Shuffle (31 page)

"Goddamn it," Ronnie said with a sigh.

"So if we're going to turn into useless flesh bags,
what's the plan?" Nathan asked, also disheartened by what Bataviah just
described.

"The one you seek is near," said Maalik. "We
will accompany you to where she is hiding. With the Horde in the Sleep, we
should be able to penetrate their perimeter and reach your beloved."

Ronnie chuckled. "You said penetrate."

Nathan ignored his friend's remark. "Eve? She's still
alive?!"

"Yes," Maalik answered.

"But we're just like all those other things, yo,"
Ronnie said. "If you're sayin' that they're all pretty much useless, then
how the hell are we going to just stroll on down the road?"

"The Sleep doesn't render your brethren useless. They
are all still dangerous. They can still move, they can still turn you, and they
can still kill you. They just become more...manageable."

"It is time," Bataviah said, looking out from under
the overpass.

Maalik kept talking, more urgently this time. "We
suspect that since you have managed to keep your cognitive abilities after the
Change, you should still be aware of what is going on."

At that moment, the first rays of sunshine broke over the
hills and flooded the valley with its morning light. The warmth touched the two
young zombies. Immediately the sun bathed them in a veil of fatigue the likes
of which neither could have fathomed. It was if they stood within a bright fog.
They could see Maalik, Bataviah, and Boomer, but not clearly. They appeared
blurry and out of focus. The hunger within them amplified. The urge to feed was
overwhelming. Their bodies felt as though they weighed a ton. Nathan took a
step forward towards the others and paused. His balance was horrible and he
almost toppled over. He took a second step, then a third.

"Can you hear me, Nathan?" Maalik asked.

The words echoed in Nathan's head. He could hear them, but
the meaning behind them eluded him. He tried to focus harder on the words.

"Nathan, can you understand me?” Maalik asked again.

Finally the language clicked in his brain. "Yessss,"
he replied in a labored voice.

"Good!" Maalik replied with obvious satisfaction.
"Then let us be on our way."

Bataviah led the group out from under the overpass and onto
the on-ramp that merged onto McKnight Road. Maalik went next, followed by the
now defunct dead duo. Boomer brought up the rear, keeping a watchful eye over
his master and friend. The pace was excruciatingly slow, as neither Nathan nor
Ronnie had any real control over their motor functions. They shuffled behind
their allies ahead, thinking of how delicious it would be to gorge on their
entrails.

CHAPTER 41 
  HOMECOMING

Evelyn sat on the floor, her back against the wall near the
front door. Shawn's head still stared its vacant gaze at her; an empty sentinel
standing guard to provide a warning to others who dared to venture out. She
stared at nothing in particular; her mind reeling from the night's events. Her
heart ached for Nathan. Not knowing whether he was alive or dead was weighing
on her.
Did he make it out alive? Is he infected? Is he hiding somewhere
downtown?
Questions without answers bombarded her thoughts. A tear ran down
her cheek.

She wiped it away quickly. Looking into the store, she saw
the remaining humans with their own personal struggles. She needed her to be
strong. Someone had to be. Carlos leaned against the front counter, still in
disbelief that their plan failed.
Her plan.
God she felt so stupid;
suggesting a stunt that she saw on television. Still, Carlos had backed her
plan with convincing scientific rationale. The group had decided. Nobody in the
group would point fingers of blame. Unfortunately, that didn't comfort her in
the least.

Sam stood behind the counter, taking stock of ammunition,
food, and medical supplies. The look on his weathered face was solemn, yet
determined. Evelyn could count on the old coot to be steady during this crisis.
Alison and Theresa huddled on the floor in front of the register. They consoled
each other as best they could, but they wore their fear on their faces. Daniel
helped Sam with the supplies in an attempt to busy himself to distract him from
the hopeless situation that they faced. Pete leaned over the counter at the far
side opposite the register. He was staring at the graphic novel that Bill, his best
friend for over fifteen years, had been reading yesterday. Chatty stood at the
front of the door, staring outside. He didn't seem the least bit fazed by what
was going on. His face was as stone; expressionless and resolute.

Evelyn sniffed back the snot that had started to flow with
her tears. Chatty looked down and regarded her for a moment, then spoke in a
quiet, even tone.

"It was a good idea, Eve."

She half chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, some great
idea. Someone died because of me, so pardon me if I don't share your
sentiment."

Looking up to meet the gentle giant's gaze, she couldn't read
his expression at all. "You don't seem scared at all by what's going on,"
she observed.

He looked back out into the parking lot, which was now
sun-drenched by the morning light. After a moment, he responded.

"I grew up in a village outside of Bengal," he
started. "When I was a child, an adult tiger who had developed a taste for
human blood terrorized our community. Day and night, the men of the village
stood watch for the beast. Their efforts to trap and kill the tiger were met
with failure every time. Days passed into weeks as the thing continued to kill.
Our numbers diminished with no end in sight. To be frightened in broad daylight
was surreal, but the night...the night was truly terrifying."

He paused, lost in his thoughts as he remembered the events
from his childhood.

"That's awful," Evelyn said. "It must have
been horrific to witness as a child. How did you get through it?"

He turned and met her eyes with his own icy stare.

"Fear," he said. "Fear kept us alive. Fear
motivated us to try harder."

She didn't know how to respond to his answer.

"Fear can paralyze. It can sap your strength. It can get
you killed," he continued. "If you own your fear, then you control
it. Fear loses its power to enslave you.”

“What ever happened to the tiger?” she asked, contemplating
his responses.

"A hunting party finally cornered it and put it down,"
he answered, turning his attention back to the parking lot. "After four
long months and thirty-seven deaths...it was over."

Silence fell over their conversation. After a few minutes,
the quiet bodybuilder from Bengal knelt down beside Evelyn and placed a
powerful hand upon her shoulder.

"You own your fear and you will survive."

"Thanks Chatty," she said, managing to crack a
smile.

He smiled back, gave her shoulder another gentle pat, and
stood to return to his lookout. Evelyn got herself off the ground and pulled
herself together; wiping the tear trails away. Walking over towards Sam and
Daniel, she smiled at the others as they made eye contact with her.

Sam looked up at Evelyn as she neared the register.

"Hey there little lady, how you holding up?"

"Just fine, Sam. Thanks," she replied, offering a
confident smile. "How are we looking here?"

Sam's face dropped. "I wish I had better news. We've got
enough food and water to last about four weeks, maybe five if we really buckle
down. We're actually doing good on ammo, but in all honesty, there's too many
of them; we'll run out long before we kill them all."

"Assuming we live that long," Daniel interjected.

Ignoring the comment, Evelyn continued. "So what you're
saying is that assuming they are going to wait us out, we have five weeks at
the most before we have to leave?"

Sam nodded. "Correct. After that, staying isn't an
option."

Evelyn pondered this a moment. "Alright, then we need to
come up with a new plan."

"Uh, guys?" Chatty asked from his post at the front
door. "There's somebody here."

****************

"What do you mean there's somebody here?" Sam asked
as he moved towards Chatty's position. "It's probably one of those
creepers pretending to be human. Maybe they're trying the old Trojan horse
trick on us?"

Evelyn followed behind Sam.

"No, he's definitely not one of those things,"
Chatty replied.

Sam reached the door and pulled the blinds wide so that he
and Evelyn could see this new stranger. Standing before them was a tall,
muscular man dressed all in black, His clothing had a strange sheen to it, as
if it were an exotic animal skin.

Sharkskin?
Evelyn thought to herself.

The man's piercing blue eyes leered at the door. A beautiful
woman, also clad in the same strange black material, walked around the bus. She
stopped next to the strange man and also began to stare at the door.

"How the hell are they standing out there alive?"
Sam asked in bewilderment.

"Shouldn't we let them in?" Evelyn asked.

Before she received an answer, the man in black took a step
forward towards the door and spoke in a clear voice.

"My companion and I need to speak with Evelyn
Gray."

Evelyn's heart seized. This stranger knew who she was and
called her out by name.
Who were these people?
The man in black
continued.

"It is of the utmost importance that we speak with her
immediately."

Chatty was the first to open his mouth. "I don't think
we should open this door. These people are hiding something. They are not what
they appear to be," he said in a whisper.

"Do you know these folks?" Sam asked Evelyn,
keeping his voice low.

"I have no idea who these people are," she replied.
"But they obviously know me. I vote we see what they want."

The strong voice outside continued. “I bring news of Nathan
Ackland.”

Evelyn’s heart stopped. The sound of her fiancé’s name seemed
foreign to her coming from the stranger’s mouth.
How does he know Nate? How
does he know ME?
she thought as the man’s blue stare bore into her through
the glass. The stranger turned his head towards the dark-haired woman next to
him. The woman in turn, looked towards the front of the bus. Evelyn’s eyes
followed the gaze of the two. She could see a small, furry form walk around the
corner. She was in utter disbelief.

“BOOMER!” she gasped.

She was certain the dog had perished in the night. Pushing
past Sam and Chatty, Evelyn burst through the door and into the parking lot.
She knelt down to accept the oncoming dog, oblivious to Maalik and Bataviah.
Boomer ran to his Lady and showered her with as much canine love as his tongue
could dish out.

“Holy shit, boy! Where did you come from? Are you okay?” she
exclaimed, as she ruffled the dog’s fur.

“May I suggest we move things inside?” Maalik asked, eyes
looking in all directions. “It is still too hostile for you to be out here. I
can assure you that my companion and I pose you and your friends no harm. We
will not be a danger to you.”

Standing to meet the strangers eye to eye, Evelyn stared at
the two intently. They carried no weapons that she could tell and their
clothing was impeccable; not dirty, ripped, or disheveled in any way.
How
had they managed to stay alive?
They certainly didn’t appear to have
weathered many harrowing experiences, if any. She didn’t trust them, but they
harbored news of Nathan and finding out what they knew about him overrode any
rational thought.

“Of course, come on in,” she said, turning towards the door
flashing the thumbs-up to Sam and Chatty.

“Aw shit,” Sam muttered. He and Chatty backed away from the
door and raised their guns. “We have visitors, folks. Be ready for anything.”

Evelyn opened the door and Boomer was the first to trot
inside; tail wagging, happy as could be. He immediately greeted all the humans
inside with enthusiastic tongue lapping. Evelyn entered, followed by the two
strangers. She walked between Sam and Chatty, who kept their weapons trained on
the new arrivals.

“That’s far enough, friend,” Sam said in a calm voice.

Maalik and Bataviah stopped. They raised their hands in a
show of compliance.

“There is no need for those, sir. We are here to help you and
your friends,” Maalik stated in his usual commanding, yet calming tone.

“Well, you’ll have to excuse us if we’re a little on edge,”
Sam replied. “We have some questions for you.”

Maalik smiled. “But of course, all in due time. I will answer
your questions to the best of my ability,” he said. “Although, I’m afraid that
will have to wait. There are things I must discuss with you and your people
first.”

Evelyn spoke up. “You said that you had news of Nathan
Ackland. Is he alright? Have you seen him?”

Maalik turned to address Evelyn. “What I have to say is
relevant to your entire group and it is imperative that you all listen.”

“You’re getting pretty mouthy considering you have two guns
pointed at you,” Sam said, holding his gun a little firmer.

Maalik’s blue eyes shifted to Sam. “Sir, I’m no more afraid
of your weapons than I am a harmless butterfly. Your threats are empty and your
weapons are useless. Again, I urge you and your companions to listen to what I
have to say.”

Chatty took a step towards the two strangers, his gun trained
on Maalik’s head. “You don’t take directions well, friend,” he said in a firm
tone.

Bataviah was a blur; spinning around to flank Chatty. In one
sweeping motion, she had disarmed the hulking Bengali and disassembled his
pistol; dropping it to the floor. Before the pieces touched the linoleum, the
strange woman in black pushed a long, slender dagger to his throat.

Maalik sprang into action the moment his comrade made a move
for the large man’s weapon. He ducked down and lunged towards Sam. Reaching up,
he grabbed the shotgun single-handedly. He twisted the shotgun out of the old
man’s grip and spun it around, aiming it a mere inch away from Sam’s right eye.

Everyone in the room froze. Boomer wagged his tail. Sam and
Chatty were stunned at the ease the two strangers disarmed them. What amazed
them further was the speed at which they did it. The tall, muscular stranger
lowered the shotgun from Sam’s face and dismantled it in a flash. The woman
kept her odd blade trained on Chatty's neck, but eased on the pressure,
allowing the man to breathe a little easier.

“Listen to me. All of you,” Maalik said in a loud and
confident tone. “My name is Maalik and my companion here is Bataviah. We are
here to help you, but you must listen and do exactly as we say.”

Evelyn interrupted; still determined to learn about Nathan.
“Why help us? Who are you people? Where did you come from?”

Maalik’s intense eyes locked with Evelyn’s as he continued.
“In a matter of moments, two more visitors will arrive. They will not be
welcome, but you will permit them to enter.”

****************

Nathan and Ronnie shambled along McKnight Road. Their muscles
were heavy, stiff, and uncooperative, causing them to move slow and jerky.
Nathan was aware of how the Dead Sleep was affecting them. It felt as though
all his energy escaped from his body, even though in reality, he and Ronnie
still possessed their inhuman strength. Their thoughts, although still their
own, were clouded, as if a heavy fog had settled on their consciousness. It
seemed to take a tremendous amount of effort to do anything. The worst part was
The Hunger. It had flared to the point of unbearable. Nathan wanted to feed. On
anything.