Quarantined in Chaos (Nova Nocte) (14 page)

             
I’ve been in and out of awareness. The world outside my mind is a messy collection of glimpses. Sitting around a campfire with the group while Sunny and Chase try to talk to me. Meals being cooked. Daemon pleading with me aloud and with his mind as he holds me against him through the day. Cal begging me not to retreat from reality again. Chaim bouncing on Chase’s knee during a break in the travelling. Reggie and the others eyeing me with suspicion. Margot comforting Daemon with a hug that lasts too long.

             
Get away from him!

             
The woman is flung away by a blast of energy I’d forgotten I had. Daemon looks at me and smiles. The interloper’s brothers help her to her feet. Garret stops watching the horizon with Vincent and stand up.

             
“I heard you, Squirrel. I know you are in there.” He embraces me and nuzzles against my cheek. “Please come out of this trance. If you have enough power to toss a person off me, you can fight through this state. I know it. Just snap out of it.”

             
The desire to put my arms around him pulls at me as strongly as the tug to withdraw. I see the camp more clearly: open cars to sleep in, lizards and bugs stewing over the embers, light dancing off the faces of the people nearest. The world grows closer. More memories of the last dozen days wash over me.

             
Reggie and Cal discussing my future. Another swarm of Dead put down costing us Lorcan; his blade forgotten and his gun jammed brought him to the mercy of the burly zombie dressed in fatigues and a Power Rangers beanie. The Nurse checking me for signs of injury. Feeding on a hunter in the woods. Bubba and Vincent sneaking off during a break to make love. Sunny reading to Chaim.

             
The flood of life drowned my concentration and I was swept under. Margot stood with her arms crossed and pursed her lips. Daemon kept whispering to me. Cal looked away. Sindbad sat beside Chaim and growled. Chase shooed the canine away and wiped the toddler’s brow.

             
How is the kid warm; it’s freezing out here? He must be sick. That’s why Sindbad is growling, he smells the disease...

             
“Chaim.”

             
Wow, was that my voice? Not loud enough. Force the words. Have to warn them.

             
Daemon’s face lit up. Sunny’s dropped. Chase stopped wiping the child’s head and put the rag aside.

              “That’s right, Chaim is right over there. We’re all here, Squirrel. Just stay with us.”

             
“Chaim...” I struggled to make my mind and body connect properly. “...sick. No...”

             
I lost the connection and sunk back into my head. I was exhausted. Had I remembered to sleep during this retreat into my head?

             
The camp faded away again as I tried to remember what I was saying.

              I woke from the nightmares with a start, clinging to Daemon and nearly lifting us off the bed. Voices filtered in from the other room.

             
“Who would kill the dog?”

             
“Anyone who didn’t like splitting the food rations, probably.” Sunny answered.

             
“Sindbad didn’t eat much and it was mostly what he caught. There has to be a better reason.”

             
“The Nurse is right. Besides, if it was about food, wouldn’t they have cooked the dog for food instead of dumping it behind the apartment building?” Vincent chimed in.

             
Daemon was looking into my eyes.

             
“Did you just jump or was I dreaming?”

             
Daemon, warn them.

             
His eyes got glassy.

             
“I can hear you. Warn who about what?” He hugged me before pulling on his shirt. “How about you wake all the way up and help me warn them. C’mon Squirrel, you can do it.”

             
I pulled my eyes from his chest and concentrated.

             
“Chaim...” I fought against my body to sit upright. “...he’s infected. Sindbad growled. Gonna turn fleshie. Warn.”

             
I collapsed back into the full bed and stared at my love.

             
Go, hurry.

             
Daemon’s eyes went wide and he helped me to my feet.

             
“Not going anywhere without you; not sure what the triplets or Reggie might do.”

             
I willed my muscles to action. Almost out of the fog and dressed, we went into the living room of the apartment. I scanned for Chaim. He was being gently rocked by Sunny while Chase sat beside them loosely holding a sword. The couple watched me as intently as the triplets to my left.

             
Not going to be a good day.

             
“Hey guys, look who’s back with us.” Daemon propped me up next to him.

             
“Hi. We have problem.” I ignored my weakening resolve. “Chaim is infected; dog was warning. He smells Dead. Chaim has to be...”

             
“No!” Chase jumped to his feet, his sword pointed at me. “You are not going to lay a hand on this boy. Sunny and I are taking care of him. He’s just a little sick.”

             
Sunny kept rocking the bundle in her arms. A pale leg hung from the fleece and swayed limply. Vincent and the Nurse inched closer to the sleeping child.

             
Margot took out a dagger.

             
“We need to put that kid down if he’s got the z-bug.”

             
“Back off all of you!” Chase wheeled on them with the blade. “This kid is ours. He’s just fine. He just needs some more rest. Forget about the damned dog. You can’t believe a mutt and a crazy leech like Squirrel over us. Chaim is fine, so back off.”

             
Tension made the cold room heat up. Everyone moved back but Daemon and I. I watched the energy leap off the tense foster dad as his eyes darted from person to person. Margot kept her dagger pointed at the silent toddler. Sunny appeared calmer than I’d ever seen her as she moved to a steady rhythm and sang a lullaby to the boy. I listened to the pounding pulses in the room; the ragged breaths played their own melody. One heartbeat was missing.

             
“He’s already dead from the infection isn’t he, Sunny?”

             
She stopped rocking. Panic masked Chase’s face as Margot and her siblings closed in on them.

             
“He will be fine. He’s just asleep. He’s a little sick, but when we get out of the quarantine, they’ll be able to help him. Chaim is alright. You’ll see.”

             
I waved off the triplets and found my footing steadier. I took a step forward.

             
“Just let me check on him. Maybe we can help. Some medicine or something.” Chase adjusted his grip on the sword and backed up. “The two of you have barely slept; you must be tired. Just let Nurse and I take care of Chaim for you. It can’t be good for your baby for you to go without rest.”

             
Instinctively, Sunny’s palm went to her belly and her husband lowered the weapon a little. Cal and Daemon moved the crowd out of the room slowly. Margot didn’t follow her brothers, but stayed to my left. I could almost hear the couple fighting their personal demons in their heads as I inched closer with glacial movements.

             
“He’s our kid, too. We just want to take care of him.” Tears streaked down Chase’s face as his hands shook. “Sunny and I just want to keep Chaim safe. He’s just a little kid, he deserves to be safe.”

             
“I know. I know he does.” I pushed down the memory of me draining the boy on the highway. “You two are good people. I know you will be wonderful parents when your child is born in a few months. But right now, Chaim is sick and needs someone to take care of him. Just hand him to me and the Nurse can look after him while you guys catch some Zs.”

             
I held my hands out.

             
My arms are either getting cut off or filled with a probably dead zombie toddler. The fuck kind of day is this to wake up?

             
Sunny whispered to the bundle and kissed the child’s forehead before holding the limp form out to me. Chase crumpled to the floor and dropped the sword. The clatter resonated in harmony with the weeping of the would-be parents. I held the bundle carefully. The body was rigid and ashen.

             
“We’ll take care of Chaim for you. Just rest and take care of each other. I’m sorry, guys. I’m so sorry.”

             
I backed out of the room with my parcel. Margot moved to follow me; her blade still at the ready. I pictured the particles of air between us growing denser and shoved the invisible barrier at her with my mind. She was tossed a few feet backwards. When she sat up, red trickled from her lip. I smiled at her and carried Chaim out the door.

###

              As I looked at the innocence wrapped in blankets, Chaim’s clouded eyes blinked open and doll fingers reached up at my face. I felt a tickle in the back of my throat where I stifled the waiting onslaught of tears; there will be time to mourn later, but not now, while there’s work to be done.

             
I hold his hand in mine and walk him out of the red brick and white siding building. Taking care to keep his tic tac sized baby teeth from making contact with my skin, I speak to the Dead boy.

             
“I’m sorry, Chaim. I hope that you can forgive us for not being able to keep you safe. Forgive me for not being in my mind enough to protect you and the others.”

             
I ambled past Cal and Garret. Nurse looked away as I passed him, Bubba, and Vincent. I set the writhing bundle on the overgrown grass and looked at the gray sky. “I hope that what we have to do will give your spirit some peace.” I reached out and took someone’s spear without looking. “May you find rest in whatever lies beyond in the arms of your family and God if he’s listening.”

             
I closed my eyes and drove the spear tip through its mark; I tried to blot out the sound of the impact and the silence that followed. The feeling in my forearm confirmed the act’s completion. I opened my eyes, released my shaking hand from the staff, and left the spear in place.

             
Keeping my gaze above, I turned from the scene to face my people; the tug was strong to withdraw but I battled it. Snowflakes began to tumble from the starless heavens, waltzing their way towards the hard earth. Several of us stood in the cold to witness the flurry of silver-gilded nature traipsing over us.

             
Exhaling a breath I didn’t remember holding, I zipped up Daemon’s leather jacket and returned to our shelter to check on my friends. They’d adopted Chaim in their hearts and now he was gone. They’d even killed Sindbad to buy them time before saying goodbye. I plodded up the narrow stairs.

             
What can I possibly say to them? I’m sorry I failed you and had to destroy your toddler? I don’t know if there are words for this...

             
Victor and Claude stood outside the door to the apartment; they stopped speaking when I neared. Pushing past them, I found Margot holding a gun on Sunny and Chase.

             
“What do you think you’re doing? Put the pistol away. No one else is dying here tonight.”

             
I sensed two people entering the room behind me. The door shut and a bolt slid into place.

             
Not good. I guess someone is dying tonight.

             
I mentally called out to Daemon and Cal.

             
Problem up here guys. Triplets have a gun on our favorite couple and I think they have their blades drawn on me. Little help, please?

             
“Is this the plan?” I slowly turned to get a view of the brothers. “Kill all of us and keep moving north on your own with our gear?”

             
Victor lifted his machete to neck level.

             
“We didn’t want things to go this way.”

             
“Speak for yourself.” Margot adjusted her aim to Sunny’s stomach to halt Chase’s gradual advance.

             
“Okay, Margot wanted you dead immediately, but Claude and I didn’t want to have to hurt anyone else.”

             
“So don’t then. Just put away your weapons and let’s talk out whatever problems we have. You don’t want to hurt anyone and none of us want to be hurt; I think the math works out here.”

             
Claude’s rifle dropped to waist level. I hoped Victor and Margot would copy him. Margot clicked off the safety.

             
“The problem is you. You are too weak to run this crew and too powerful to be so crazy. You leeches suck us weaker to keep us your cattle. I wouldn’t mind a tumble with your boy toy, but I’d stake him after.”

             
I tensed my muscles and felt my fangs digging into my lower lip.

“And then these two want to pick up strays during this trip
.” Chase sidestepped between the gun and his wife. “How stupid are you people to want another mouth to feed? You don’t add useless people to your group, you cull the herd. That kid getting bit was the best thing that could've happened and you folks are all solemn.”

             
“Sis...” Victor’s blade wavered as he swayed with nerves.

             
“Shut up and keep that bloodsucking bitch covered.” She spat at him.

             
Feet clamored up the stairs. A pounding at the locked door. Bubba’s voice punctuated the knocking.

             
“Y’all doing alright in thar? Why’s the door locked? Let us in, it’s getting cold outside and we need to get moving ‘fore we’re stuck in a blizzard.”

             
A shadow crossed the darkened window. Victor’s blade pressed against the back of my neck; one thrust and I’m done. Chase’s eyes hold a madness I haven’t seen since we found his brother’s body.

             
“You are not going to hurt my wife. Put the gun down or I swear I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

             
“You mean hand, Stumpy.” Margot aimed at his head and cocked the hammer. The click echoed in the sparse room.

             
Victor, your arm is tired. Just lower the machete for a second. It will be fine; you just need to rest it for a second, that’s all.

             
The point disappeared from my spine and I lunged for Margot. Chase dove on top of Sunny. The pistol fired as I grabbed the shooter’s arms and lifted them to the ceiling. The window burst open and three vampires pounced on the brothers. Weapons clanked on the faux hard wood floors.

             
“Sunny!” Chase examined his wife for signs of injury while I kept her attacker pinned to the wall by the throat. Her pulse throbbed against the heel of my hand. It was electrifying.

             
Her siblings were lined up next to her while the rest of our gang was let in the front door. We’d all managed not to draw any blood in the skirmish.

             
That had to earn us some brownie points with everyone. Surprise the vampires aren’t monsters! Well, not really I hope.

             
“Is everyone okay?”              I asked no one in particular.