Siege (As the World Dies #3)(90)

“I would really hate for these people to end up dead,” Raleigh said after a beat.

“I didn’t know you were such a bleeding heart,” the Senator teased him lightly. She watched as her men dragged in the unconscious guards from the main gate and laid them on the floor.

“Just none of this feels right,” Raleigh decided. He shook his head, gazing at the guards.

“They made their choice,” the Senator said, her eyes hard. “In one month we would have been out of food and the water is contaminated. Without the fort there is no point in us staying here.” “There should have been another way. This seems too risky.”



“Do you want to go to Central or not? Or do you want to go to the fort and be led by the hicks?”

Raleigh frowned, then shook his head. “I just want us out of here.”

“We’ll get control of the fort. At some point they’ll be begging Central for help and we’ll have to go and save them.” “Yeah. Yeah. You’re right.” He looked around nervously, his hands shaking slightly.

She always thought he was way too skittish. He was good at the campaign, but he liked to be apart from the process, ensconced in his privileged world. He hated dealing with the people that were behind his carefully monitored statistics and polls. The Senator didn’t care much for the people either. She was in politics for two reasons: power and the knowledge that the peons really didn’t know how the hell to take care of themselves. Without the government, she knew they would fall into chaos.

Mistakes had been made here. That was true. But she learned from her mistakes and she would move on. Once at Central, she would make sure the President understood her giving nature and her determination to stand with him and rebuild America.

“Ma’am, you ready?”

She flashed her perfect beautiful smile at the soldier in front of her. “Yes, sir. I am.”



He opened the door for her and she walked out to the waiting truck.





*

“You’re here for a reason,” Lydia’s voice whispered.

Katie forced her eyes open.

Her dead wife sat on the floor next to the air bed she was sharing with Travis.

“Lydia?” Katie sat up, the mattress rippling like a wave under her.

“Hello, darling.” “Lydia!” Katie stumbled to her knees and flung her arms around her wife. She could feel the softness of Lydia’s curves beneath the long black jersey dress and her long dangling earrings tickled Katie’s cheek. “I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry. I didn’t make it home in time!”

Lydia drew back and kissed Katie softly. “It’s all right, Katie. I promise.”

“I’m so sorry.” As Lydia gently wiped her tears away, Katie gazed at her, pleading with her gaze for forgiveness.



“Katie, it’s all right. I’m not trapped in that body. I promise. And my death…I barely recall it. But, darling, listen to me. Listen carefully. There isn’t much time now.” Katie blinked, her hands resting on Lydia’s shoulders. “What is it? I’m listening.”



“You came here for a reason,” Lydia started.

“To save these people,” Katie answered.

“No. For another reason. You don’t know what it is yet, but you will when the time comes.” Lydia’s expression was filled with sadness.

“Lydia, you’re scaring me. I don’t understand.” “When the time comes, you will know what to do.”

“What do you mean? Why are you telling me this?” Katie’s brow furrowed. Fear welled up inside her.

“Because, you will give the one you love the gift you never gave me,” Lydia answered .



Katie woke up with a start. Travis was deeply asleep beside her, his back to her. Shivering, she pressed herself up against him, her hand seeking out his. Her heart was thundering in her chest and she was terrified. Her gaze swept over the people in the boutique. Everyone was sleeping despite the excitement of the coming exodus from the mall.

Finally, she forced her eyes to close, her arm snaking around Travis’ waist. She clung to him, her heart still beating hard in her chest. He rolled onto his back in his sleep, his face tranquil. Snuggling into his side, she stared at his profile, trying to calm herself. It had been wonderful to dream of Lydia, but her words had shaken Katie. It may have been a dream, but she felt strongly that Lydia warned her. She did not want to even think about something terrible happening to Travis.

Beyond her husband, she could see Jenni curled up in a ball on the cot next to them, snoring softly. Her friend’s black hair fell around her pale face. Jenni looked like Snow White with her white skin and raven hair. Her red sweater set off her looks beautifully.

Closing her eyes, her heart still thudding in her ears, she tried to sleep.





*

The gate slid open soundlessly and the explosive detonated with a loud thump. Flames erupted, setting the zombies near the gate on fire. They staggered back, setting more zombies on fire and a small stampede followed as the primitive fear of fire sent the undead scrambling backwards. The secondary explosives, that had been tossed out on a line, also exploded, setting more zombies on fire. The two trucks roared out of the gate and down the street, crunching burning zombies under the tire treads.