Broken World (Book 6): Forgotten World (24 page)

I head for the kitchen. The person in question is upstairs, and I can’t make myself go near her, but I need to get out of the living room and away from Jim.

The kitchen isn’t much better, though. Not with the zombies still going crazy outside. Of course, now all I can think about when they moan is Ginny’s body.

My heart pounds wildly as I pace, cradling Megan in my arms. Each pass seems to take less time than the last one did, and I can’t help wondering if the walls have actually started moving. They seem closer. The room smaller and the air thicker, and even though the rational part of my brain tells me I’m imagining things, I can’t help wondering if I’m about to be crushed.

Parvarti steps into the room, and I freeze.

“Are they doing it?”

“I thought you didn’t want to know.” Her voice is less robotic than it was yesterday but still guarded.

“I don’t,” I say, keeping my eyes focused on the ground. I want to keep my emotions in check, and I’m afraid if I look at Parv I’ll start to cry. “But I think I need to.”

“You know she isn’t there anymore, right?” This time, the pain in her voice is so thick I’m forced to look up.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to stop caring.”

Parvarti nods once, and then her eyes go to the floor. For the second time today, she looks small and young and lost, and I can’t help wondering what’s going through her head. She’s the one who volunteered to run out and distract the zombie’s, after all. I thought our conversation had done its job, but maybe it didn’t. Maybe she’s decided to give up after all.

“Parv?”

She lifts her head and her brown eyes hold mine, and I’m suddenly catapulted through time. Back to the day we picked her up on Route 66, when she could hardly leave Trey’s side.

“I’m tired of caring,” she says. “Aren’t you tired of doing this every day? We never seem to make any progress, no matter how hard we struggle, and it’s
exhausting
. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?”

The last sentence is so loud it seems to echo through the room, but when the aftershocks have faded away, neither one of us speaks. Megan lets out a little cry, and my eyes move down to her pursed lips. She wiggles in my arms until her arm breaks free of the blanket, and she turns her head. Rooting for something that isn’t there. Something that will never be there again. The thought is so sad that it should cement Parvarti’s words in my brain, but instead, when I look at Megan, all I can see is hope.

“This,” I say, holding the baby out. “This is why we keep going. One of the last things Ginny said before she died was that it had all been worth it. Everything she’d gone through, everything she’d lost. It was all worth it because of Megan. But now Ginny’s gone, and it’s our responsibility to get Angus to Atlanta and to keep this baby safe.”

“And after that? After we get to Atlanta, then what?”

“We find something else to keep us moving, then something else. Good things can still happen. All the people we’ve met and loved since this thing started are proof of that. I know it hurt to lose Trey, but would it have been better if you’d never met him?”

Parvarti shakes her head. “No. I would never trade my time with Trey.”

I cradle Megan to my chest once again, holding her securely while Parvarti and I stare at each other. After a few seconds, a shaky smile turns up her lips.

“I’m going to keep my promise,” she says.

“You won’t give up?”

“Not as long as I’m still breathing.”

21

“WE NEED TO be ready for anything.” Jim glances our way in the middle of his pacing. “Everyone know what their part is?”

“We got it,” Angus says, shoving some things into a bag.

“Good.” Jim nods once, and his blue eyes move across the room. Across all of us. “I can outrun them. I’ll make it through this, and I’ll see all of you in Atlanta.”

I swallow, unsure of what to say. It seems impossible that Jim would be able to pull this off, but I’m not going to be the one who pisses on his parade. Especially not thirty seconds before he’s about to run out the door.

“Vivian.”

Parvarti’s voice draws my attention away from Jim, and when I turn, she holds a sheet up in front of me. It’s been cut into a square, but I don’t know what she expects me to do with it.

“What’s that for?”

“A sling.” She lays it out across the table and begins folding, her eyes focused on the fabric in front of her. “I had a big family. Not a lot of siblings, but cousins and aunts and uncles. Indian families are close, and we spent a lot of time together. We helped each other with everything.” She folds the fabric, her brown hands sliding over the creases to smooth them out. “I’ve taken care of babies since I was young, and a sling is the easiest way to carry them around. It will be safe for Megan and for you. Keep your hands free while you’re out there.” She turns, holding the now-folded sheet up. “Put Megan against your chest, and I’ll help you get this on.”

I cradle the tiny baby against me as Parvarti wraps the folded fabric around my body, expertly crossing one side over my right shoulder and the other my left side. She brings the ends of the fabric back around my waist, where she ties them, keeping the sheet tight enough that Megan is tucked inside. Warm and safe against my chest.

“There,” Parvarti says when she stands back.

I hesitantly move my hands away, marveling at how secure the baby feels. “It’s amazing. Thank you.”

“It will keep her safe.” Parv smiles.

“Everybody ready?” Jim calls as he heads for the kitchen.

“Ready,” I say, letting out a deep breath.

Axl heads for the stairs, shooting me a look on his way by. No one is looking forward to what we have to do, but we all know it’s necessary. Even me.

“It will be okay,” I say firmly.

“Let’s get this done,” Angus barks, following Joshua and Axl up the stairs.

Jim is already standing at the back door when I walk into the kitchen, his carpet armor making him look slightly crazy. Behind him, Parv stands with a knife in her hand, and I join her. Ready to take out any zombies that might not be drawn away from the door when Axl and the other two men throw Ginny out the window. I don’t want to think about what they’re doing, even if I know, deep inside, that it’s our only chance of making it out of this alive.

“How will we know when it’s time?” I ask, shuffling my feet. Patting Megan’s little back to reassure myself that she’s okay.

“They’re going to toss the body, then watch through the window to see if the zombies go running.” Jim’s eyes are on the door, so he doesn’t see it when I wince. “I’ll be able to hear them through the door, too. Once it sounds like the coast is clear, I’ll go. If our plan works, none of them should get in. If it doesn’t…” His eyes move toward me. “Be quick.”

“Got it,” I say tightening my grip on my knife.

“Where will you go?” Parv asks.

“I’m going to run like hell, and if all goes well, I’ll see you in Atlanta.”

Footsteps scratch against the porch on the other side of the door, drawing our attention that way. Jim reaches for the knob but doesn’t turn it. There’s more scraping and footsteps. Growls and moans break through the barrier separating us from the dead, and the hair on my arms stands up.

“They’re on the move,” Jim whispers, then glances my way. His eyes are on the baby, though. “Keep her safe.”

“I will.”

Behind me, someone runs down the stairs.

“They went for it!” Joshua calls.

Without a backward glance, Jim rips the door open and charges into the night. Parv and I rush forward together, but she reaches the door first. She throws her body into it, and the thing swings forward, slamming shut. The second it’s closed, I throw the deadbolt. I’m panting and my heart is pounding in my ears, but nothing got in, so
we
should be okay. Jim’s fate, however, is less certain.

Parv, Joshua, and I stand in the kitchen, silently listening. Through the door we can hear Jim’s voice as it fades into the distance, screaming at the zombies to follow him. It disappears, but we have no way of knowing if it’s because he’s stopped yelling or because he’s too far away for us to hear him now. If he’s dead or if he’s alive.

There’s only one way to know for sure.

“Up!” I say, dashing for the stairs, holding Megan’s head with my free hand so she isn’t jostled around.

I take the steps two at a time and charge toward the back bedroom when I reach the top. The room is so dark I can’t see where I’m going, and I end up slamming my knee against the bed, sending a sharp pain through my kneecap. I make it to the window without any other injuries and press my face against the glass, using my hands to block out the tiny bit of light in the house.

“I can see him!” I say when someone walks into the room behind me.

Outside, Jim runs through the field at the back of the house, already past the barn and heading toward the trees in the distance. Behind him dozens of zombies are hot on his trail. They’re like a wave trying to crush him. He’s moving fast, though. He could make it.

“I think he’ll be able to outrun them,” I say turning to face Axl.

“He’ll be good.” He grabs my arm and pulls me toward the hall. “We gotta go.”

I let him lead me out of the room and down the stairs, where the others are already waiting. Angus and Joshua have moved most of the furniture, and Parvarti waits at their side. The outside is startlingly silent after days of zombies moaning and pounding on the door.

“We’re gonna hafta be quick,” Axl says, stopping with his hand on the knob. “The truck’s ready to go, but who knows if they all ran. Stay close and keep your eyes open.”

“No problem,” Joshua says.

Axl nods once, then rips the door open. Angus and Parv are out first, and Axl shoves me out after them. I cradle the baby’s head with one hand, keeping the other wrapped tightly around my knife. Joshua and Axl are right behind me, but as far as I can tell, all the zombies have run after Jim.

We make it to the truck much faster than I thought possible, and Angus hurries to the driver’s side while Parv and Joshua climb in back.

Axl rips the passenger door open and shoves me forward. “In!”

I climb inside without arguing even though I’d usually want to stay with Axl. I have Megan to worry about now, and inside the truck is the safest place for her.

Once I’m in, Axl slams the door and heads for the back. Within seconds, the engine roars to life. I’m still cradling Megan to my chest when Angus hits the gas, and as we pull away, I catch sight of a few zombies heading up the drive after us. That’s it, though.

“We’re on our way!” Angus yells, slamming his hand against the steering wheel.

“Don’t celebrate yet,” I say, shifting the sling so I can see Megan’s face. Her eyes are closed and her expression is peaceful. Too peaceful for this crazy world. “We don’t have much gas and absolutely nothing to care for a baby. We’re going to need to stop before too long.”

“Hopefully, we’ll come ‘cross a town here soon,” Angus says, taking his eyes off the road long enough to glance toward the baby. “She ‘kay?”

“Sleeping.”

“Good. We’ll get her to Atlanta, don’t you worry. I told Hollywood that, and I meant it. Axl and me had a shit childhood, but at least we didn’t grow up in the middle of this. Gettin’ to a town with a wall ‘round it is her only shot at a real life.”

“I hope I can do it,” I say, voicing the concerns that have been nagging at the back of my mind since Ginny died. “I didn’t do such a good job with Emily.”

“Wasn’t your fault. We didn’t know what was goin’ on back then, and we weren’t prepared for the way things went down. We’re different people now. Strong and ready for anything.”

“You’re sure different,” I say, smiling despite the doubt still clawing at my insides. “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed.”

Angus chuckles. “Don’t feel no different, but I suppose you’re right.”

“Really?” I ask, arching an eyebrow at him. “Even after what happened with Winston, you don’t think you’re different?”

Angus purses his lips, keeping his eyes focused on the road in front of him. “I think it’s the world that’s changed, not me. I’m the same asshole I’ve always been, it’s just that I fit into this world a little better than I did the last one.”

“I think you’re selling yourself short, Angus.”

He grins my way. “Ain’t that what you’re always tellin’ my brother?”

I snort. “Yes, and he doesn’t listen to me either.”

Angus just chuckles.

We drive a few miles before a town finally comes into view, and by then, the sky has gotten lighter. It helps us see, but that isn’t always a good thing. Not when the things around you are nothing but death and destruction.

Angus slows as we roll through the center of town, and I instinctively hold Megan tighter. Almost as if it will shield her from what I’m seeing. Houses have been burnt down, and we pass a pile of burnt bodies. I try to convince myself they’re just zombies, but when we drive by a naked woman strung up on a fence, I have a tough time believing it. She’s been up for a while—weeks at least—but that doesn’t stop a shiver from moving down my spine. Just because she’s been up there for a while doesn’t mean the people who did this aren’t still around.

“Maybe we should try to find another place to stop,” I say, my eyes on the rotten corpse that used to be a woman.

“We got no idea how far away the next town is.”

He’s right.

I glance over my shoulder at the others. Axl and Parv are on their knees, scanning the area like they’re afraid we’ll be attacked at any moment. I can’t blame them. Every inch of this town feels hostile.

“This isn’t good, Angus.”

“Do we got a choice?” he says in a voice that’s a lot softer than I expected. His eyes are on Megan.

“No, I guess not.”

We reach the end of the block, and a drugstore comes into view. Just like all the other buildings we’ve passed, it looks as if it’s been through a tornado. The windows are busted out, and someone has spray-painted
The Watchers
on the side of the building. I don’t know what it means, but it sounds ominous.

Angus nods toward the building. “That right there’s gonna have what you need.”

“We’ll have to be fast,” I say, my heart pounding as I study the area. The road looks empty, but looks can be deceiving.

“I say you, Axl, and the doc go on inside and get what you need. Rambo and me’ll go for gas,” Angus says as he drives up to the drugstore. “Don’t wait for us. You drive the truck outside town. A mile out at least. Then you park it someplace outta sight. Rambo and me’ll get some gas one way or another, then head your way.”

“And if you can’t find any?”

“We’ll just come your way.”

Angus pulls to a stop in front of the pharmacy, and I inhale deeply, trying to steady my nerves. All I can think about is that damn ER in Vegas. What if this is a trap too?

I don’t have a chance to think about what will happen, because the second the truck is off, Angus throws the door open and jumps out. I follow, keeping one hand on Megan’s head. My eyes are moving so fast, looking between the store and the road and Axl in the back of the truck, that they feel like a ball in a Ping-Pong machine. I have to force myself to move toward the store. We don’t have time to goof off.

Behind me, the others jump out of the truck and head our way.

“You two are with Blondie,” Angus calls. “Rambo’s with me.”

“What’s the plan?” Axl asks when he’s jogged to catch up with me.

“Move fast,” I say, heading for the pharmacy door.

Axl steps in front of me before I can go inside. He sticks his head through the busted-out door and lets out a low whistle, causing me to tense all over. Nothing moves.

“Come on,” Axl whispers as he ducks inside.

Joshua and I follow him into the store, and together we move as one, stepping over broken glass and other debris. Moving though the dark pharmacy toward the back. The shelves are mostly bare, and what little is left has been scattered all over the floor. Just like outside, someone has spray-painted
The Watchers
across the wall.

“Who the hell are the watchers?” Joshua mutters.

“I don’t think we want to hang around to find out,” I say, moving faster.

It takes us thirty-seven seconds to find the baby aisle. I know, because I’m counting each breath I exhale, and they’re coming out so fast I’m practically gasping. I move down the aisle, making a checklist as I go.