The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(55)

The first chance she got, she would find out what was really happening to Katie.





3. Beyond





Travis sat in darkness. The only light came from a small night light on the far side of the room. Katie lay curled on the bed, her blond curls in disarray around her face. She looked waxen, pale, and frightfully drawn. On the dresser next to him was a revolver. Ralph had instructed him very precisely how to handle it. And Nerit had very intently insisted that he could not falter, he could not flinch. If Katie rose from that bed as anything other than a living breathing human being, he had to put her out of her misery.

Rubbing his hands together, he let out a low sigh. This was hard. Very hard. Harder than it should be. To sit here and wait for this woman to fade from the world into the world of the dead just to put a bullet between her eyes seemed a cruel fate considering the absolute joy he had felt in meeting her just two days ago.

It had been one of the oddest moments of his life. He had just looked at her and knew her. He felt he should know her name and that they shared a past. It was as though they had been friends who had endured much together and then were separated by life. He had felt strongly he should open his mouth and say her name, but he didn't know her. But somehow he did. Even when she had mentioned her wife, and yeah, that had kinda threw him just a bit, in a way he had known.

It was odd considering that Jenni, with her long flowing raven hair, pale skin, and luminous eyes was everything he had ever found desirable physically about a woman. In fact, she looked startling similar to his exfiancee Darlene. But it was the tall blond with the long, lean body, intense features, and wickedly sharp gaze that had instantly grabbed his attention.

He had even noted how her eyes turned up slightly at the ends, speaking of Nordic blood in her genes.

I know you, he wanted to say. And she had seemed to want to say it back to him.

Raised a good Protestant, he didn't believe much in miracles or the mystical. But he did now. Zombies had pretty much settled that argument.

They weren't natural, he knew that much. But seeing Katie and knowing she was important to not only him, but also all those in the fort, that had surpassed anything his logical mind had ever grasped before. But now he sat in this dark room, listening to her breathe, waiting for the end. He was convinced of it now.

At times she called out softly for Lydia. At other times her father. Once or twice for Jenni.

"Please," she had begged Travis once during a lucid moment. "Take care of Jenni."

He knew he would take care of Jenni. And Jason. And all the others. For Katie and her memory. She had endured more than he had. Seen things he could not imagine. His loss had been a Dear John letter left on his pillow.

Hers had been seeing Lydia as one of those things.

There was a sharp intake of breath from the bed…then nothing.

Tears, hot and angry, filled his eyes and he picked up the gun.

It was time.

Travis stood in the darkened bedroom gazing down at the gun. His tears were fierce in his eyes and his anger burned even hotter in his throat.

He heard the bed creak and through his lashes saw her rise.

"I'm sorry," he said, and lifted the gun.

"Why?"

He blinked and tears fell down his cheeks. "Katie?"

"Yeah?"

Travis flipped on the overhead light and she sat blinking in the sudden brightness. She still looked pale and frail, but her eyes were bright again.

Clear. Alive.

"Oh, God, Katie! I thoughtShe kept blinking in the bright light, shielding her face with her hand. "I told you nothing bit me."

"Katie, you've been so sick," Travis looked down at the gun and set it upon the dresser. As the heavy weight of it left his hand, a heavier weight lifted from his spirit. With great relief, he walked toward her.

For a crazed split second, he saw her with empty eyes, mouth opened in a scream, rushing toward him, then it was gone and Katie was giving him a look that said pretty much what she was thinking.

She thought he was nuts.

"Sorry, about the gun, but you were burning up and we couldn't get the fever down for the longest time…"

"That's what I get for not getting the flu shot," Katie pushed a hand through her hair, wincing at the grubbiness of it. "Gawd, I must be a sight."

Travis laughed suddenly and impulsively leaned down and hugged her.

In just two days, she felt so tiny and frail. Already slim, the drain on her body resources had been powerful. She awkwardly hugged him back. She tried to stand up. Her body was determined to keep her seated.

"Okay, I guess I was really sick." She fell back onto the bed and looked a little woozy.

"Scary sick." Travis responded and sat next to her on the bed. He took hold of her hand and looked at her arm. "We couldn't figure out if it was the zombie infection or not. Your scrape happened on one of the trucks. I didn't know if the blood and guts from the zombies may have infected you." Peeling back the bandage, he revealed a nicely healing wound. "But we saw no signs of infection but you were burning up and we couldn't keep anything in you."

Katie grimaced and shook her head. She touched her hair again and made a face. "Gawd, I'm so gross right now. None of you could have known this, but when I get the flu I go down like an elephant. I always have and that is why I usually get the flu shot. I skipped this year due to a big case and just never finding the time. Who knows what diseases all those dead bodies have unleashed into the air?" She shivered at the thought. Looking down she saw she was dressed in a nightgown that was probably Nerit's.