Broken World (Book 6): Forgotten World (16 page)

Dax moves closer to me, and his chest touches mine, pinning me against the wall. Setting warning bells off in my head. “I
don’t
know it, though.”

I slip my hand behind me, fingering my knife while I try to decide what to do. Dax licks his lips, making the hair on my scalp prickle. I don’t like him, but that isn’t the point. We have to get Angus to Atlanta, and we’re going to need every able-bodied man or woman we have to make it. Which means, asshole or not, we need Dax.

“Step back,” I say coolly, allowing my hand to fall away from my knife and wiggling my toes. Preparing to knee Dax in the crotch. “I said no.”

Dax presses his lips together, and I hold my breath while I wait to find out what he’s going to do. Finally, after a few seconds, he exhales. “Fine.”

Before he’s had a chance to take a step, hands close on his shoulders, and he’s ripped away. In the blink of an eye, Dax is across the hall, laying on the floor in a heap.

“Thought you was smarter than that,” Angus says, glaring down at the bigger man. “When somebody says no, you best listen.”

Dax climbs to his feet, dusting his pants off like he’s wearing a thousand-dollar suit instead of someone’s throwaway sweatpants. “Nothing happened.”

“Ain’t what it looked like from where I was standin’.”

“Come on!” Dax yells, throwing his hands up. “I had to give it a shot. He may be your brother, but you can’t tell me you haven’t thought the exact same thing. How many women are left in this world? Not enough, and the ones that are left sure as hell don’t look like
that
!”

I cross my arms over my chest, torn between the urge to hurl and laugh. Even though Dax is being an ass, he isn’t far off. Angus tried to make a move on me once, back in San Francisco. Sure, Axl and I weren’t together, but he knew something was going to happen and he tried to get his foot in the door first anyway.

“Forget it,” I say, pushing myself off the wall. “Just don’t try it again. You hear me, Dax?”

Dax nods even though he doesn’t look very happy about it, and I shoot Angus a grateful smile before heading back into the sanctuary.

“Keep an eye on Angus since so you’re so worried about everyone’s safety,” I call over my shoulder.

The next time I wake, it’s because everyone else is already moving around. Even Dax, who probably didn’t get a whole lot of rest. When I manage to get to my feet, I see why. Someone found a map.

“Where’d you find it?” I ask as I head over to join Dax, Jim, Angus, and Axl.

Dax flinches at the sound of my voice—something I’m sure doesn’t escape Axl’s notice—but he doesn’t look up. “Went down the street to a gas station.”

“Thank God,” I say, raking my fingers through my blonde hair so I can pull it back. “Do we know where we are yet?”

“Here.” Axl points to the map, and I lean closer, making Dax shy away from me even more than he did a few seconds ago. “Not too far from St. Louis. Little more than halfway to Atlanta, which settles the argument I was havin’ with Joshua this mornin’.”

“What argument is that?” I ask, tracing our route with my gaze. Even on the map it looks daunting, and there are no zombies in this little paper utopia.

“He wanted to head back to Hope Springs and regroup. Thought it was closer, but it ain’t. Best thing we can do is push forward. Hopefully, we’ll find us a vehicle.” Axl looks up, but he isn’t focused on me. He’s looking at Ginny, who is awake but sprawled out across a pew. “Gonna be rough if we gotta go on foot.”

“We’ll find something,” I say firmly.

Dax lets out a deep breath. “She should stay here.”

“What?” Axl and I say at the same time.

Jim shakes his head, which is something he seems to do a lot when Dax talks.

“She’s going to slow us down and it’s too dangerous,” Dax says. “I didn’t want her to come to begin with and this is why. She’s a liability and a distraction we don’t need.”

“Out of the question,” I say, shaking my head. “You can’t leave her here on her own.”

“The doctor can stay. Hell, Parvarti can stay for all I care. I’d say you could stay too—” Dax turns to Axl, “—but I have a feeling you wouldn’t leave Angus.”

“Wouldn’t,” Axl says.

“Then there’s no point in arguing about that. Ginny, though, is something I have to insist on.”

“Don’t be an ass!” I say, taking a step closer to Dax.

“It’s not going to happen,” Jim says from behind me, his voice low and firm and way more terrifying than I’ve ever heard him sound.

“I’m in charge here,” Dax replies, puffing his chest out so much that it reminds me of a rooster. “And my priority is getting Angus to Atlanta safely. I said that all along, and that hasn’t changed.” Dax pauses, looking me over for a second before saying, “In fact, you stay, too. You’re as much of a distraction as she is.” His eyes are still on me when he jerks his thumb toward Ginny, who is now staring at us. Along with everyone else.

“Fuck you!” I yell, shoving my finger into Dax’s chest. “You’re not leaving me behind just because I rejected you and you can’t handle it. You knew before you played that card that you didn’t have a chance in hell, but you decided to go all in anyway. It isn’t my fault it backfired.”

“What the fuck did I miss?” Axl growls from behind me.

I shake my head, refusing to take my eyes off Dax. “Nothing. That’s what you missed. This asshole came on to me, but nothing happened, which is what has his panties in a twist.”

“That isn’t what this is about and you know it!” Dax says just as Axl grabs his arm and spins him around.

Axl’s fist slams into Dax’s nose before he’s even had a chance to blink, and the big man goes down. I jump back, waiting for Axl to pummel him the way Angus would. But nothing happens. Axl just stands over the other guy with his hands clenched at his sides. Panting. Blood seeps from Dax’s nose, but neither one of the men moves.

“I ain’t gonna beat the shit outta you this time, but if you ever go near her again, you’ll be sorry. Understand?” Dax nods. “Good. This discussion is over. We ain’t leavin’ anybody behind. We’re a family, and family don’t run out on each other, and we don’t screw each other over, neither. So keep that in mind.”

Axl turns and walks out of the room, but everyone else just stares at Dax, who is still sprawled out on the floor.

“You alright?” Joshua asks, heading over to check the big man out.

“Does it look like I’m fucking alright?” Dax growls as he climbs to his feet.

“Don’t act like you aren’t the asshole here,” Jim mutters.

Joshua shoves Dax’s hands away from his bloody nose so he can give it a once-over. “Jim’s right. You knew what you were doing and you knew what the consequences were going to be. Hope it was worth it.”

Dax snorts, which makes him wince, and then he looks at me. “Would have been worth it if she’d said yes.”

“You’re an ass,” I mutter, heading after Axl.

I find him leaning against the wall and a lot less furious than I thought he’d be.

“Anythin’ happen?” he asks, not even looking my way.

“No. He put himself out there and I shot him down. I was all ready to kick him in the balls if he didn’t back off, but Angus showed up and saved the day.”

“He’s been a regular hero lately,” Axl says, letting out a bitter chuckle. “Still don’t seem right.”

I’m glad he still has a sense of humor, and I’m glad he isn’t going to make a big deal of this thing. Dax got what he deserved, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s now over.

“Angus is finding his place in this world,” I say, anxious to move onto a different topic. “Better late than never.”

“Guess so.”

“You know where we’re heading?”

Axl finally looks my way, and the little smile on his face is one I haven’t seen before. Playful for such a serious moment. “Route 66.”

That explains the mood change.

I laugh. “You have to be kidding me.”

“Nope. Since it was blocked off for travel, it should be clear. Plus, with all them people tryin’ to get places last fall, we stand a better chance of findin’ an abandoned car there than any place else. Assumin’ we can find gas. And we ain’t too far. Just a couple miles, it looks like.”

“Well, it’s not exactly what I expected, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Route 66 isn’t going to be any more dangerous than anywhere else.” This time it’s my turn to smile. “So I guess it’s back to where we started.”

“Guess so.”

“When do we leave?”

14

“WE DON’T KNOW how long we’re going to be on foot. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I ask, studying Ginny as she shoves her things into her pack.

She shoves one last thing in her pack before zipping it shut. When she looks up, she sighs. “Do I have a choice?”

“I guess not.”

“I’m not sure any of us are going to be okay,” she says, looking away. “But if you’re asking whether or not I can make it, I can.”

“Ginny.” I put my hand on her arm, and she tenses for just a second before turning back to face me. When her green eyes meet mine, they’re shimmering with tears. “I’m so sorry. I—I wanted to do more than just hug you yesterday, but I didn’t know what to say. Still don’t. Maybe I should keep my mouth shut, I don’t know, but I want you to know that I’m here if you want to talk, and that I understand. That I’m sorry and I wish things hadn’t happened this way.”

“I know,” she whispers, her voice crackling with unshed tears and emotion too deep to express with words. “He was so happy about this baby and what the future could mean for us. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

“I think fair is something we’re going to have to get used to doing without.” Not that I was ever under any delusion such a thing existed.

“Yeah.”

She turns back to her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. It’s bulging at the seams, and I have serious doubts about her ability to carry it down the street, let alone across hundreds of miles of possibly hostile terrain.

“Where are we headed?” Ginny asks when she turns back to me.

“Route 66,” I say, a laugh forcing its way out despite the pain of a few seconds ago. I still can’t believe that’s where we’re headed.

She gives me a strange look. “What’s so funny about that?”

“It’s where I met Axl and Angus. Where we picked up Joshua and Parv and Trey. It’s weird to think we’ll be back on that road after all these months.”

“That is weird. You traveled all that way just to end up where you started.”

“Story of my life,” I say with a snort.

“You girls ready?” Axl yells from across the room.

“Yup!” I call back, my eyes still on Ginny and her overstuffed pack. With it on her back and her belly as round as it is, she looks like she has a couple major deformities.

Together we head to the front door, where the others are already waiting. Parvarti is outside with Angus and Jim, smoking, but the other three men are waiting at the door for us. Dax’s nose is swollen and turning purple, and he’s standing away from the others with arms crossed, looking more like a solemn child than a fearless leader. Hopefully, he doesn’t let his hurt pride get in the way of doing his job. Because Dax is right: getting Angus to Atlanta is still the most important thing in the world.

“Let me know if you get tired of carrying that,” I say as Ginny and I join the men.

Axl shoves the door open, and his gray eyes sweep over Ginny, stopping on her pack. He frowns but doesn’t say anything. He’s probably biding his time. Trying to pick the best thing to say to her at the best time so she’ll admit she needs help. She’s always been tough, and I’m glad to know that Jon’s death didn’t destroy her the way Nathan’s destroyed Moira, but that doesn’t mean she has to struggle alone.

The view on our walk to Route 66 is really no different than anything else we’ve seen over the last few months. Empty streets dotted with the occasional abandoned car, as well as miles and miles of utter nothingness stretching out in front of us. Trash blows down the street, and the doors to houses and businesses hang open like the people just walked out and left everything behind. The life they had before totally forgotten.

Seeing it all fly by as we barreled down the road, hidden in the safety of our bus, made it possible for me to ignore the utter stillness that has taken over the world. This is more unsettling. The empty streets are too quiet to feel real, even after all these months. There should be some noise. The hum of electricity or the roar of an engine as a plane passes overhead or even the motor of some distant car. Instead, there is nothing but silence, and the burden of it seems so heavy that I find myself wanting to scream after less than an hour of walking.

“Do you really think it’s possible to rebuild all this?” Ginny asks out of nowhere.

I shrug and glance toward her, shielding my eyes from the bright morning sun. “We can’t restore it to the way things used to be. Not exactly. But making
something
has to be possible. Right?”

“Yeah,” she whispers. “I guess you’re right. I mean, we started out with nothing. Hundreds of years ago when the first settlers came here. Look at us now. It may take centuries to get somewhere substantial again, but we can do it.”

There’s little hope in her voice, despite her words.

“We can do it,” I say, attempting to sound more positive than I feel. I don’t think it works.

Ginny rubs her hand across her belly and lets out a deep sigh, and I expect her to say something. About the baby or Jon or what she hopes life will be like for her child. Instead, she goes back to walking in silence.

We break for a bit when we reach Route 66, giving Joshua time to take Ginny’s blood pressure and force some water down her throat. All of us take the opportunity to rest except Axl and Dax, who pace—a good distance from each other. Axl’s gaze is focused on the surrounding area, keeping an eye out for zombies or anything else that might be a threat, whereas Dax alternates between staring at Angus and staring at me. His gaze makes it difficult to relax.

When we get ready to head out again, Jim takes Ginny’s pack and starts walking before she even has time to protest. He’s silent most of the time, but it hasn’t escaped my notice that he’s keeping a constant watch on his partner’s widow. It makes me like him—and trust him—even more than I already did.

By the time we start walking again, the sun is right above us. I’ve begun to sweat, causing my shirt to stick to my body, and before long, a tingle has started in my exposed skin, slowly morphing into a feeling that’s a little too close to burning for my comfort.

“We should try to find some sunscreen next time we pass a gas station or convenience store,” I say, rubbing my arms like that will somehow brush the sun’s rays off me.

“And hats.” Joshua sweeps his dark hair off his forehead, and a drop of sweat falls to his cheek, rolling down to his chin before he’s had time to brush it away. Like me, his shirt is drenched in sweat.

“Sun’s hot,” Dax mutters, pulling his shirt over his head to reveal a body that’s so chiseled it doesn’t look real. More like a statue carved from marble that you’d see in an art museum.

Axl snorts but doesn’t say a word.

I fall back until I’m standing at Ginny’s side. “Take a drink,” I say, holding the canteen of water out to her.

She shakes her head and pushes it away. “There isn’t much left.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re thirty-four weeks pregnant. If anyone needs it, you do. Don’t make me give you a lecture about how you need to do it for your baby, if not for yourself.”

She sighs as she takes the bottle from me but takes a big gulp anyway.

When she hands it back, she says, “Before Jon and I worked things out, I didn’t want this baby. It was a curse because I couldn’t know for sure who it belonged to, and it was a constant reminder of what had happened. Of that asshole—” She swallows. “But Jon and I made something of this life. Together. Before long, I found myself actually enjoying the idea of having a baby. It was easy to be happy when I thought of Jon and who he was and the kind of father he’d be. But now…I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“This baby is Jon’s,” I say firmly.

“We’ll never know that for sure, and I’m terrified that when I look into its eyes, all I’ll be able to see is that monster.”

She clenches her hands into fists, and suddenly Hadley Lucas is standing next to me. Only she isn’t Hadley the movie star. She’s the Hadley who walked out of the Monte Carlo, damaged and almost beaten. Angry and bitter. I was sure that woman had died and been buried, but it seems she might have suffered the same fate as all the other poor souls who died from the virus.

I wrap my hand around her fist and give it a gentle squeeze. “No matter what happens, all you need to know is you won’t be alone. We’ll get through this together.”

Ginny just nods.

The sun slips through the sky, getting lower and lower the farther we walk. It’s almost touching the horizon by the time a building comes into view. The blue sky surrounding it has morphed to bright orange, bleeding into pink and purple the higher it goes. Soon it will be dark, but even if night wasn’t closing in on us, I know we’re done for the day. We need rest.

Ginny and I walk at the back of the pack, but the others aren’t too far ahead. Parvarti and Jim seem to have taken to walking in the lead. Maybe their mutual appreciation for silence is good for bonding. Dax keeps close to Angus, while Axl tries to keep his distance from our
leader
. Joshua stays toward the middle.

Ginny shields her eyes so she can get a better look at the building in front of us. “What is that?”

“Looks like a diner,” Jim throws over his shoulder.

“Might be a good place to stop for the night,” Joshua says from only three feet in front of Ginny and me.

“And look for a car,” I mutter.

We get closer and I’m able to get a better look at the building, and a strange feeling of nostalgia comes over me. The diner has to be over fifty years old, but by the time the virus hit, it probably wasn’t much more than a truck stop. There have to be dozens—or hundreds—of diners that look like this along Route 66, but to me, this one is different than all of them. Special, even. Because I’ve been here before. Back when I was a different person living in a different world, still hopeful that I’d be able to have a future with my daughter.

This was where I first saw Angus.

“Angus!” I call, laughing as I jog to catch up with him. “Do you recognize this place?”

I’m grinning so much my cheeks hurt, which of course makes Angus look at me like I’ve sprouted a couple extra heads. Not that I care. There’s something about coming back here after all these months that has made me almost giddy.

“Should I?” he asks, spitting before turning back to study the diner.

“I stopped here on my way to California and ordered a cup of coffee. It’s where I saw you for the first time. Remember?” I elbow him playfully. “I know you remember the first time you saw me. You looked at me like I was on the menu.”

Angus snorts but runs his hand over his head, still looking at the diner. “Oh I remember, but this here looks like a million other shitholes on this strip of highway. You sure this is the right place?”

“I’m sure,” I say, turning back to face the diner. “I’d bet my life on it.”

“If you say so,” he mutters.

We reach the diner a few minutes later, and I wait close to Ginny’s side while Dax and Jim go in to check the place out. Joshua leans against the wall while Angus and Parv smoke—a habit that’s gotten more and more common as time goes by—and Axl stands with his knife out like a horde is bearing down on us. After less than five minutes, Dax comes back out. Alone.

“Where’s Jim?” Ginny asks, glancing past the large man so she can look through the open door.

“Inside.” Dax waves for us to go inside. “The place is clear other than a couple bodies in the kitchen. We’ll have to drag them out. Can’t say it smells that great, but it’s pretty much par for the course these days.”

“As long as there’s a place to sit and put my legs up, I don’t care.” Ginny pushes past Dax and heads inside, practically running. Her feet must be giving her more trouble than she’s letting on.

Parvarti goes next, not saying a word, and I follow behind her, oddly excited to see the inside of the diner again. Even though Angus isn’t sure about the place, I’d know it anywhere.

Just like Dax said, the air is stuffy and carries the faint scent of decay. It isn’t just bodies, though. The stink of rotten food is just as strong, which makes sense. It is a diner.

The place is dark, and the little bit of light shining through the windows only serves to highlight the dust floating in the air, but it’s exactly the way I remember it—minus the mass of terrified people clogging the place. The red-and-gray vinyl booths are cracked and covered in duct tape, and the grease coating the grimy walls is visible even in the dim light. I remember standing in front of the bathroom sink, trying to see myself in the cracked and filmy mirror but also not wanting to see myself. Back then, my reflection always betrayed me. It would smile back, looking pretty and put-together. Young and fresh. But on the inside, I was always searching for something more. Hoping that if I just hung on long enough, things would get better. That I’d end up with a life filled with happily-ever-afters.

I was too naïve to realize those things didn’t really exist.

Axl stops next to me and puts his hand on my lower back. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just thinking about how much has changed since the last time I was here.”

My gaze moves over the dark and dusty diner, stopping on the register. The handwritten
Cash Only
sign hanging above it is a reminder of what the world had come to before most of humanity disappeared. Above that, an old tube TV is mounted on the wall, and I can’t help smiling.