Fighting to Survive (As the World Dies #2)(6)

Eric nodded. “I know. I do. I understand. We're all just-” He motioned to all the people watching them from below. “-scared to be on the other side of this wall.”

Juan and Travis looked back toward the line of stores. Juan knew they were both thinking the same thing.

They had no choice.

“I know that they sent you up here for reassurance. I can promise you, and everyone down there, that we will not move anyone over into the new area until we're absolutely sure its clear of zombies. We'll also make sure the zombies won't be able to get in,” Travis said in a very firm voice. “We have no choice. With the summer storm season just around the corner and the temperatures sure to start hitting in the hundreds, we need to have a good sound shelter for everyone.”

“Yeah, one fierce storm and we're flooded out down there. City Hall can't be a permanent home for everyone. It wouldn't be sanitary for long,” Juan added.

“I guess the way things are set up right now just feels so safe. Risking anything is just scary. I'm not dissing what you guys are saying or insinuating that you don't know what you're doing, just some of us...” Eric faltered as he gestured down into the construction site.

Juan looked down as well. A good-sized group of people huddled together. Eric's still emaciated girlfriend was holding her Jack Russell Terrier, Pepe, and looking up at Eric with a worried expression. Juan thought she was a pretty little thing. She had long tanned limbs and pale blond hair, but her cheeks were hollow and her shoulders bony. He could understand Eric's desire to protect her. The people gathered around her were also looking worried. Juan realized Eric was a spokesman for more than his own fears.

“Man, we got loved ones, too. We're not going to risk them. Okay?” Juan tried to give the man a reassuring look.

Eric looked toward Travis. The man gave him a firm nod before Eric turned to look at the Dollar Store. He seemed to come to some sort of peace about the situation and sighed. “I'll let them know,” he said, and climbed down the ladder.

“You can't blame them,” Juan said once Eric was down below and talking to the group. “They weren't here to see this construction site get made into a walled-in fort. They weren't here, man.”

Travis looked calm, but Juan could tell he was upset by the set of his jaw. “We're just doing our best to keep them all safe and in sanitary conditions. We're damn lucky the power is still on.”

“It's that new hydroelectric power station they built a few years back. I betcha anything.”

“But for how long will it stay operational?” Travis lifted his sunglasses, rubbing his eyes before setting them back into place. “I guess it doesn't matter. Right now, we get a secure location for them while we go into the hotel, then we claim it, and go on from there.”

“And hope the bandits don't show up,” Juan added.

“Let’s not even talk about those bastards right now.”

Juan shrugged. He supposed now wasn't the time to talk about the marauders who killed Nerit's husband. There was fear that they were still more out there. It probably wasn't time to bring up the vigilante in the fort, the one who had thrown someone over the wall, bound and gagged with duct tape, to feed the zombies. Yeah, the victim was the local drug dealer and the scum of the earth, but someone had taken justice into their own hands. That fact put everyone on edge.

“Just another day in zombie land,” Juan said with a wide grin. “Gotta love it.”

Travis chucked. “Yeah, ain't it grand?”

2. Waiting

Despite herself, Katie slept a few more hours in the small room she shared with Nerit. When she awakened, Nerit was gone. Yawning, she pulled on her shoes and headed to the community dining room.

Katie poured more milk onto her cereal, staring at the watery milk filling in around the flakes. She was slowly getting used to the powdered milk. It didn't taste bad; it just looked off. Picking up her spoon, she dug into the corn flakes, wishing there were a banana to add.

The salvage team from the grocery store had brought back tons of food in cardboard boxes, cans, and bags, but the fruit had all gone bad. Rosie, Juan's mother, had salvaged seeds from the rotten fruit to be planted in a garden she was planning with Peggy, the city secretary. Katie hoped it was successful; she missed fruit desperately.

With a sigh, she reached out and picked up her small paper cup of vitamins that everyone was required to take in the morning. She downed it with orange juice made from a powdered mix.

Jenni crashed into the chair across from her. “We're heading in!”

“Huh?”

Jenni gulped down her vitamins dry. “Dollar Store. We're heading in.” Jenni poured Fruit Loops into a bowl and reached for the pitcher of milk. “Travis says I can go in with Ed, Bill, and Felix.”

Katie tried not to frown, but it came automatically.

“Oh, c'mon. You volunteered to go into the hotel. You and I have more experience with zombies than most of these guys. You know, from when we were out on the road. You so cannot get into my face for volunteering for this. It's probably empty!”

“I just worry,” Katie admitted.

Jenni snorted. “You're such a mom.”

“I just had a bad night last night. I worry about the ones I love.”

“You love someone other than me?” Jenni widened her eyes playfully. “Oh, wow. I have competition for best friend? I'll cut 'em!”