The Deepest Red (21 page)

“He- Tom is dead,” I stutter on the painful truth.

The pang in my heart nips at my bones.

At that moment, footsteps shuffle through the leaves. I glance up to find Jay stepping out cautiously into the clearing.

“Thanks for waiting, brother.”

His tone is light and unconcerned until he observes me and the bodies beyond. His face pales at the infected scattered among the yard.

“How goes it, Millie?” Jay says and steps closer to us, his eyes glancing from me to his brother.

I step away from Lonnie’s hard grip.

“He can’t be dead,” Lonnie says dazed.

“Who’s dead?” Jay asks, peering vigilantly behind me.

“Tom,” Lonnie replies non believing.

Jay halts as curses fly from his mouth. 

More footsteps remind me we’re not alone. I motion behind me, keeping my eyes on Lonnie and Jay.

“Guys, these are my friends Connor and his cousin Clover.”

I pause, watching Lonnie still trying to absorb my earlier words. I don’t blame him. Jay, on the other hand quickly recovers scrutinizing the strangers.

“They’re the reason I didn’t die by this horde of infected,” I state to Jay as I motion to the fallen. 

Connor stands, arms folded, glaring toward the twins, his body stiff and rigid. Clover’s eyes rest on Jay- her head tilted as if curious.

“Lonnie?”

I put my hand on his shoulder and squeeze.

“Did you hear me?” I ask.

“Sorry,” he replies, gathering up his emotions. “Yeah, Sorry.”

He straightens.

“I’m Lonnie and this is my brother Jay.”

He tries to introduce himself and Jay normally but his voice is thick. Connor smirks at his emotional state causing Lonnie’s eyes to narrow. I can imagine what he sees. A strange man, muscled, obviously skilled and sporting a bad attitude.

“Thanks for watching over our Millie,” he says while being mindful of Connor’s behavior. Connor nods and steps closer to me.

“How did Tom die?” Jay asks abruptly.

I swallow hard.

“He was injured by a fall and couldn’t walk. I went out scavenging for first aid supplies and the next day we were attacked by an infected,” I say.

Lonnie’s eyes turn to the bodies scattered in the tall grass. Him being not surprised by their presence, further proves my suspicion of the prison’s knowledge. My stomach twists into a tight knot.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” he replies, reaching out and drawing me back into a hug. “Tom was very proud of you and after what I just witnessed, I’m sure he would be even prouder.”

I embrace him back, reassuring myself if Lonnie knew about the infected he would’ve told me. The dark clouds in the sky dissipate, banishing the threat of rain, although the smell of dampness and wet earth still remain. A soft light illuminates the house’s front yard while a breeze races by the tips of the weeds. Connor steps beside me staring down at Lonnie, his gaze icy and commanding.
Seriously?
I watch Jay take notice and draw a knife from his belt.

“Thanks,” I say, releasing my hold on Lonnie’s shoulders.

“We could’ve used y'all an hour ago. Were you tracking the horde?” Connor’s words leave his mouth in a smooth challenging tone. His whole body appearing as if readying to pounce.
Oh hell no.

“Yeah. We found the tracks a few miles back. Thought maybe they were another community moving to the area. We ran into a few of the stragglers and realized they weren’t,” Lonnie answers.

“Convenient,” Connor replies, flicking his lip ring with his tongue.

I reach out and hit Connor’s shoulder with my fist, hard. He doesn’t flinch.

“Do you want to take Clover to the prison?“ I warn. He doesn’t nod but I know the answer. “Then, I suggest you behave,” I finish.

For a split second I fear he’ll challenge me but instead his body visually relaxes- his eyes sweep over my new clothes appearing stern.
He’s angry. Good.
 

“Don’t do that again.”

His low voice sounds deep with concern mixed with enough arrogant flavor to piss me off.

“What?” I straighten defiantly and glance up into his unsympathetic face. “I told you I was trained. You didn’t believe me?”

His eyes narrow.

“I never said you weren’t but it’s better to work as a team.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Funny, I thought the same thing when my ass was up there in that tree,” I say and vaguely point to the woods, not breaking eye contact.

Being this close to him, I feel my heart flutter at the memory of his lips on mine. I raise my chin a little higher. Lonnie’s cough breaks the staring contest between Connor and I.

“Ok. Now, let’s take a moment and reflect,” Lonnie says, voice warm, mournful and lacking Connor’s arrogant tone. “Do you want to tell me what happened here? Help me out a little bit Millie.”

He waits for me to answer. I attempt to compose myself the best I can but it’s difficult after the events of the last few days.

“A horde of infected came out of nowhere and attacked us. Connor killed them and I took out three stragglers.” In a whisper I continue. “Four of the infected were part of the scouts, two I recognize. I don’t remember their names.”

Lonnie’s head shoots up- eyes searching the bodies for familiar faces. He starts to speak but is interrupted.

“What the hell is this?” Jay says in a surprised voice from across the yard.

Ignoring Connor’s eyes still on me, I peer at Jay who is walking closer to the abandoned house. His preferred weapon of choice, the bow and arrow, is held taut in his hands. A few feet away, Chevy with his tail wagging, hops back and forth- all eleven pounds of him, fearless as the arrow points toward his fluffy hide. I hear tiny growls coming from the back of this throat.

“No!” Clover yells and races over, pushing the pointed arrow away from the puppy. “What’s wrong with you?” she asks. “You don’t go around shooting someone’s pet!”

Jay stands perfectly still staring a hole into the hand placed so unyieldingly on his elbow.

“Pet?” he asks, baffled at her grip.

Clover lets her hand drop as Chevy rushes toward them playfully sniffing Jay’s muddy shoes. He lets out a non threatening bark and scurries away.

“Jay,” I call out. “Don’t hurt the dog. He just killed one infected all on his own.”

Jay let’s out a snort.

“No kidding?” he asks.

I smile.

“Chevy is an excellent guard dog,” Clover states still weary of the arrow.

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Connor mumbles quietly.

“How could that dog kill an infected?” Jay questions before changing his mind. “Nevermind. I don’t want to know.”

He searches out his twin and in a brief moment they share a look, one I recognize. The narrowing of the eyes asking if they should go along with the situation or rebel. The subtle differences between Lonnie and Jay become apparent as Jay’s brows furrow. The way Jay’s face mirrors how much more serious he is than his brother, as if he’s years older and not only moments. His hair instead of wavy like Lonnie’s is straight and falling carelessly into his face. Little details I never cared to notice before, I’m noticing now. Lonnie responds to Jay’s silent questioning by quirking an eyebrow. I relax, understanding at least this gesture. They will play along at least for now.

“Why would you want this thing as a pet, anyway?” Lonnie asks, genuinely curious.

“Seems like a hassle.” Jay remarks, vocalizing the rest of Lonnie’s thought.

Clover hitches her head in her bird like manner, looking straight into Jay’s face. She has recovered herself- her spunky attitude shining through her embarrassment.

“He isn’t a hassle,” she says.

The sarcastic tone drips from her lips as she crosses her arms in front of her body.

“Chevy is Millie’s pet too. Just so you know.”

She glances in my direction, the spitting image of her cousin who is still beaming his stare into my forehead. I continue to ignore him. I won’t be intimidated anymore.

Jay releases the tension on the string while a crooked smile appears on his face. His eyes warm as he scans Clover for the first time. I imagine what he’s seeing, a tiny fifteen year old girl, trapped into a eleven year old’s body- someone in need of protection. Oh, if he only knew what I knew. I can’t remember the last time I saw him smile. Briefly, I recognize the glint in his eyes as similar to Lonnie’s. It’s a glimmer of teasing humor, something I thought Jay was the void of. And just like that, he remembers himself and frowns.

“Hm.”

The small sound escapes me as I watch a light blush cover Clover’s cheeks. In lightning speed, she bends down and grabs for Chevy- her hands disappearing in his fluffy hair. A tiny yelp escapes from the surprised puppy but is quickly calmed by her frantically petting hand.

I turn to glance back at Lonnie who has witnessed the exchange. He appears as off guard as I feel at Jay’s reaction. Jay has always be stoic- always quiet and withdrawn from all others but Lonnie. It’s pretty sad when you can’t remember the last time a person cracked a smile.

“Lonnie, I told Connor and Clover I would take them back to the prison,” I pause. “After seeing the remains of this horde. I’m sure you will agree we need them.”

My voice seems to shake him out of his trance.

“As long as they agree to answer any questions, I can go along with that.” Lonnie remarks.

I glance at his makeshift bandage again.

“You weren’t bitten were you?”

His eyes follow mine to the bandage.

“No. It’s nothing,” he says.

I want to ask for more details but he motions to the gore behind me.

“What about you?”

“No, she isn’t bitten,” Connor states flatly, “She’s been with me.”

He sneers at the twins. I can’t help the chipped laugh that shoots out, in a breath, from my mouth.

Connor’s eyes focus back on me as I try my hardest to ignore him.

“Tom was bitten,” I say to Lonnie leaving out all the horrible details that scratch at the surface of my sanity. “I left a lot of supplies at the site where we buried him. I marked it on my map.” I finish, not understanding why the particulars slipped from my mouth.

“When we get back, I’m sure Mrs. Emerson will set up a retrieval mission,” Jay replies for Lonnie, who doesn’t manage a response.

“I hated to leave so much supplies but I didn’t have a choice.” I comment while Lonnie glances over to Connor and Clover.

Reading his thoughts I whisper, “I didn’t trust them at the time with the extra supplies but I trust them now.”

Lonnie nods his head.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think anyone is going to blame you for missing supplies,” he says softly.

With his reassuring comment, my words follow quickly like water escaping a destroyed dam. I tell him of the information Connor had shared about the infected and the masked army- wanting someone from home to also share the weight of this knowledge. Jay and Connor remain quiet as I reveal everything I’ve learned, everything but my dreams. When I’ve finished, Lonnie stares, eyes wide and filled with so much sorrow.

“Millie, Please. No more,” Lonnie mumbles, turning from me.

I wait for him to meet my eyes again. He does and the knowledge visually weighs heavy on his shoulders.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have-”

“No. You should have,” Lonnie interrupts then breathes in deeply.

I wait patiently. The expression on his face is why I never wanted to know about the horrors of this world. I regret telling him but I needed someone else from home to know incase I didn’t make it.

I imagine myself being weighted down with all the unwanted stories people have told me in the past and now with the memories of the last few days. However, I understand now why so many of the community had told me things I never wanted to know. Talking about it helps. If someone else knows, anyone else, you can breathe a little better- a little calmer. I felt better. Lonnie, however, doesn’t.

Strong arms fold around me drawing me near. Lonnie rests his chin on top of my new hat.

“Damn Millie,” he whispers to me. “Hell of a first week, huh?”

He gives me a slight squeeze holding me still. I hold my tears, refusing to cry.

“Yeah.” I whisper back.

He releases me but stays close. Jay stands beside his brother searching the woods with his eyes. He briefly glances my way, the expression on his face telling me he heard everything. His hand reaches out, gripping my shoulder briefly before falling away. It’s the closest thing to comfort Jay can give. I hold his stare until he breaks eye contact.

“Everything is going to be alright,” Lonnie says as Clover holds Chevy to her chest and tries to resistant staring at Jay.

Connor rest, relaxed against a tree, though his muscles strain under his skin as if he’s ready to attack. His eyes meet mine and my nerves stand to attention as if they’re greeting their drill sergeant. I hate that my body responds so easily to him.