CHAPTER 41
ZOE
In all of the excitement after posting to the website, Chang grabbed my hand and held it. I wasn’t sure what he meant by it but I knew it wasn’t how he normally behaved with me.
He turned around and gave me a gentle hug and told me a quiet congratulations. When he pulled back he kissed me on the cheek and then walked away.
I wasn’t sure what that all meant but it felt kind of good. I was very comfortable with Chang. He didn’t give me the creeps like most men did. He wasn’t like most men though. He was much more than that. He was my friend, my hunting buddy, my crush. He was my crush. It was time for me to be honest with myself. I liked Chang. That is why it felt so good when he kissed me on the cheek. I liked him in that way.
I had had an epiphany. I had feelings for Chang. I had feelings for Chang! I thought of him more than just my best friend. I wanted more. This epiphany would change things. Maybe this was the love manor. Maybe, just maybe it was the house. Maybe if we got away from here I would feel differently.
I needed to find a reason for us to leave. Alone. This house had a spell on us, I was sure of it. Maybe I could convince him to drive to the beach with me for the day. I know he would go with me. Maybe we just needed a change of scenery. That’s what I would do; ask him to drive with me to the beach.
“Hey, Chang!”
“Yeah?”
“Hey, what do you think about taking a day trip? Maybe to the beach or something? Maybe we can find a place that isn’t infested. Or maybe we can just drive and look at the coast line? I need to get away from here. We’ve been stuck here too…”
He cut me off. “Yeah, when do you want to go?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Ok. Get your stuff ready. We leave at 5am.”
Did I really just do that? Did I really just ask Chang to go to the beach with me? I would have a whole day alone with him to explore these feelings. They could just be a fluke. Maybe it was the excitement of the day. It was probably nothing. I guess we will find out in the morning.
5am came early. I hadn’t slept at all last night because I was worried about my epiphany. We hopped in Bre’s Civic and headed to the beach. The 3 hours it normally took to get there was nothing. We actually made it in 2. Chang liked to drive fast.
Nobody questioned us when we said we were leaving for the day, not even mom. They were used to us being together 24/7. We made it to the Morro bay hills and I could smell the salt air as we approached the ocean.
I licked my lips and could taste the salt air on my tongue. Clouds covered most of the sky but I could care less.
We drove through the city. Morro Bay was exactly how I had remembered it. Well, the one exception was the zombies running around. We did have to do a bit of dodging them at some points. We couldn’t drive through town with our windows open but I was ok with that. I just enjoyed being in Chang’s company.
We drove the little curvy road through the mountains to the rock. The rock was big and glorious. I loved seeing it. It was a monument that once you seen it, you never forgot it. We pulled into the beach parking lot only to see a tall gate covering the entrance to the water. Several men in hazmat suits stood there waiting with breathalyzers and machine guns. Apparently we weren’t getting in without proving that we were human.
We passed their tests and then began to walk the beach. Chang grabbed my hand and held it. I was beginning to think he was trying to tell me something.
He stopped, dead in his tracks and turned me around to face him.
“Zoe, I have something to tell you.” He paused, unsure of himself.
“Yes?”
“I think I am falling in love with you.”
Then he kissed me, and I passionately kissed him back. The feeling was strange. There was no going back after this. Chang could no longer be just my friend.
Just then I felt the flesh tear from my shoeless ankle. Suddenly my mood changed from love, to horror. Searing pain radiated through my body as I broke my grip from Chang. I frantically looked to the ground and found the undead, latched at my bloody ankle with his gruesome, bloody teeth. I was that zombie’s next meal.
INFECTED
Book 3:
THE CURE
CHAPTER 1
CHANG
I was in a panic. I had just confessed my love to Zoe and then she was bitten by a zombie. I needed to get her to the cure for zombie-ism and I needed to get her there fast.
We were 3 hours away from the cure. Our time at Morro Bay was interrupted by a flesh eater. Zoe was afraid but she tried not to show it.
We ran, as fast as we could away from the zombie. It had come up out of the water. I wasn’t quite sure how that thing was swimming but I really didn’t care right now. All I cared about was getting Zoe to safety.
Her long brown hair shimmered in the sun. Infected or not, she was beautiful. I loved her not just for her looks because she was beautiful on the inside too. And how many men can say they’ve hunted zombies with the woman they loved? She has no fear. I think that is the first thing that attracted me to her.
I say that she has no fear but I’ve seen it on a few occasions. Most things that would scare someone to their wits end wouldn’t frighten her in the least.
The cure waited for us just 2-3 hours away back at Westwood manor in Porterville, California. I prayed that we could make it before she started to change. If we didn’t make it then I would change as well.
This was an unexpected turn of events. I wish we had never come here at all. If we hadn’t, I would still have Zoe intact. I held back tears as Zoe and I sped back onto the highway to get her home. I couldn’t believe I had allowed that to happen. I should have been more careful.
For the first hundred miles I barely spoke except to ask her if she was ok. I beat myself up over and over. Zoe started to vomit as her body changed with the virus. She began to shiver uncontrollably and that scared me to death.
I reached over and felt her forehead. She was burning with fever. I stepped on the gas pedal to gain some extra speed. The engine roared with the added demand. This little Honda Civic was at the peak of its speed capabilities and I was at the peak of my anxiety. Zoe needed to live. I wanted her to. No, I needed her to.
CHAPTER 2
ZOE
Everything was blurry. I was vomiting uncontrollably. I was suddenly very cold. Dizziness took over me and I was worried the virus was taking me on quickly.
I grabbed the bucket that we took to the beach and hurled into it. I hated that Chang had to see me that way. The curves around the mountain made the nausea so much worse. I hoped that I could make it home like this.
The dizziness nearly overtook me. I could feel myself drifting in and out.
“Zoe! Honey, don’t leave me. Answer me. Let me know you can understand me!” Chang’s excitement was apparent. He shook my shoulder in attempt to keep me awake.
“Please stay awake. I need to know that you are ok. Please. Just answer me Zoe.”
“I’m here,” the sound of my weak voice frightened me. I knew I was not doing well but did my best to hide it.
Chang let out a sigh and tried to keep me talking to him. I just couldn’t hold on anymore. I was really sleepy. I fought back the urge to close my eyes and drift off but it was overtaking me. Before I knew it I was headed toward nothingness. I was headed for sweet sleep.
CHAPTER 3
BREANNE
Brian and I cuddled on the couch watching the news to see if the government had responded to Aunt Brooke’s webcast. Any day that we got to cuddle on the couch for the greater cause was a good day.
Suddenly the front door swung open with force and left our ears with a loud THUD.
Startled, Brian jumped off the couch and ran over there. Chang stood there with sweat on his brow and held Zoe who was limp in his arms. He looked like he was about to
pass out. The fear on his face was apparent.
“What happened?” Brian ran over to Chang and grabbed Zoe out of his arms. He laid her on the couch and waited for a response.
“We were walking the beach and she got bit. I didn’t know what else to do but bring her right home. She has a fever and has been vomiting. Well, at least until she passed out.”
“How long has she been out?” I asked frantically.
“At least an hour.”
Just then Aunt Brooke walked in the room. She noticed Zoe lying there lifeless and ran to her side. Chang gave her the run down and then she jumped to her feet.
“I need a needle, STAT!”
Brian ran to get a dose of the cure while Aunt Brooke and Chang dragged Zoe by her shoulders upstairs to her room.
“How long ago was she bit?”
“2 hours.”
“Good, then we have time. Let’s pray this works.”
Brian handed her the syringe and Aunt Brooke plunged it deep into Zoe’s rib cage and straight into her heart.
“Now we wait.”
“I’ll go get a lock,” Brian moped.
“No. I’m staying with her. I’m not leaving her side. Somebody get me a hazmat suit,” Chang volunteered to sit with Zoe through the change or the cure. We weren’t sure which it would be yet. The cure only works on 98 percent of people and we were all frightened Zoe would be in that 2 percent.
“Why would you do that Chang?” Mom asked with a curious look on her face.
Chang began to cry and said, “Because I’m in love with her.” He busted out in sobs and Aunt Brooke opened her arms to hold him.
“It’s going to be ok honey. I promise. She is going to pull through this,” she said as she patted his back.
Chang had just confessed his love for Zoe. I knew they were good friends but I had no idea that he had feelings for her. I wondered if Zoe knew about this.
Chang pulled himself together and put on the hazmat suit. Brian and I brought him some food and drinks so that he wouldn’t have to leave the room for any reason.
He laid there on the bed with her, holding her in his arms. He rocked her and cried and told her she needed to get better. I could see the genuine concern and the love he had pouring from him. If she died it would crush him.
I left the room. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I couldn’t stand to see my cousin in pain or sick. My cousin couldn’t leave me. She was my best friend. I don’t know what I would do without her.
Brian noticed the internal struggle on my face and pulled my hand to our bedroom. He sat on the bed and pulled me in for a hug. It was his turn to comfort me.
It was a long 24 hours. I didn’t sleep. I didn’t eat. I couldn’t. I needed to know that Zoe was ok.
CHAPTER 4
CHANG
I held Zoe in my arms and I cried. Crying didn’t make me feel any less manly. I was the type to show my emotions no matter what they were. Growing up in a military household, I was expected to suck it up if I ever had an outburst but I just wasn’t like that.
If I needed to cry, I cried. If I wanted to scream, I screamed. Right now, holding Zoe, I needed to cry. I wanted her to get better. I needed her to get better so we could be together. I loved her and I needed her.
Zoe didn’t move for almost 24 hours. She slept and she slept hard. I was worried about that since we all remembered when Zeke had become infected. Zeke was a mess. He thrashed around the room and tried to claw his way out of his window.
Zoe and I had sat outside his room with a gun the night he was infected. She was my partner in all things Zombie and now here I was with her, either becoming a zombie or being cured. I wish I knew which it was.
It was close to 24 hours and she had not stirred. I watched my clock. That’s all I did, watch my clock. I began to wonder if I should wake her. I wanted to. I needed to see if the cure had worked. But she needs her sleep. Maybe I will wait another hour.
Another hour had passed and she hadn’t moved. She was still breathing but her fever was breaking finally. She began to shiver uncontrollably and then started to sweat. This had to be a good sign. Maybe I would wake her soon.
Just then a knock came at the door.
“Chang?” The sound was muffled behind the big oak door.
“Yeah?”
“Everything ok in there?” It was Brooke.
“Yeah, she’s breaking her fever right now. I think she might be ok.”
“That’s good. Let me know if anything changes.”
And then she left.
Then I heard something. A gentle moaning.
“Zoe?”
Another gentle moan.
“Are you ok?”
“hmmmmm, yaaaaa.”
“Do you feel sick? Is there anything you need?” I frantically asked.
“Water,” She spoke finally. She was ok. I finally could breathe. She was cured. I began to cry happy tears. I couldn’t help myself.
“Whhhhere arrre wee?”
“Home. I brought you back to the cure.”
“Thannnk yoouuu Channnn…”
“Don’t talk. Just rest. I am going to go get your mom and Bre.”
“Okkkk,” her weak voice cracked.
I opened the door and went down to the top of the staircase and yelled for them. They wasted no time getting up here to Zoe.
“What’s wrong?” Bre asked, out of breath.
“She’s ok.”
“She is?” Bre exclaimed.
Brooke ran into the room to check on her daughter. I really liked Brooke. She loved her kids and would do anything for them, even if it meant her getting infected.
Brooke came back into the hallway and smiled a huge smile.
“She’s going to make it.”
“Oh thank god. I was so worried,” Bre responded.
“She just barely woke up. I think hearing you is what did it.”
“Ok, we should try to get her to eat or drink something and then let her rest it off. I am going to need that medical kit though Bre, I am going to have to stitch up that ankle.”
Bre left without hesitation. She was back with the medical bag, a bottle of water and some bread.
“Let’s go,” Brooke demanded. I assumed she wanted our assistance.
“Bre, try to get her to drink. I am going to get her ready for stitches.”
I propped Zoe up on her pillows. She was hardly coherent but I could see that she knew something was happening.
“Zoe, honey, Listen. I am going to need to stitch up your ankle. Do you want me to numb it first?”
Zoe nodded.
“Chang, take off the suit and come here. I am going to need your help. First go wash up.”
She sent me away to wash to my elbows. Then she handed me some alcohol prep pads and asked me to clean the wound while she prepared the needle.
As I touched the pad to her wound she flinched. I knew it couldn’t feel good to her. She began to move her leg but she wasn’t strong enough to kick me away.
Out of precaution, Bre held her leg down and Brooke plunged the needle into her ankle. Zoe flinched hard but only for a second. The worst part was over. She wouldn’t feel a thing after this.
We waited a few minutes for the numbing to take effect and then I finished cleaning the wound.
“It looks like a superficial injury. All it did was take a small chunk of her skin. She won’t need anything more than 10 stitches.
“Zoe, I am going to stitch you now. If you feel anything try to speak.”
Zoe blinked and tried to nod. Brooke went to work on her ankle. She was skilled and very precise. Zoe was stitched up in no time.
“Try to get her to drink again.”
Bre held the bottle of water to Zoe’s mouth and tried to get her to drink while I
felt like I was going to pass out. I hadn’t slept in 30 hours and it was starting to take its toll on me.
CHAPTER 5
ZOE
I was awake but I barely knew what was happening. I knew Bre was trying to get me to drink something but I couldn’t make my mouth move. Mom was stitching up my ankle and even though it hurt like crazy, I couldn’t let them know that. I wasn’t a weak person.
I was happy mom, Bre, and Chang were there with me. They were my 3 most favorite people in the world besides Chris. Where was Chris anyhow? Maybe mom made him stay away just in case.
I tried to muster up some strength to drink and was able to move my lips into a puckering motion. The cold water burned my throat but was a welcomed relief.
I was still very weak but I needed to be strong for them. I forced myself to stay awake. Chang walked over to me and pet my hair. I could see the concerns that lie in the wrinkle of his brow. He loved me. That is what he had said just before I was bitten.
He confessed his love for me and then he kissed me. I still couldn’t believe it happened. It was like a daze to me. Maybe I had dreamt the whole thing. Maybe it didn’t happen. Maybe we had never left the manor.
“Chang, what happened?” I forced the words through my sore throat.
“You were bit by a zombie.”
“How?”
“We were at the beach and one came up out of the water.”
“The beach wasn’t a dream?”
“No,” he stated matter of factly.
“You love me?”
“Yes. You love me too?”
“Yes.”
Brooke and Bre both started to cry. The aura of the room was very emotional.
“Don’t leave me.”
“He hasn’t left your side since you got home. It’s been over 24 hours.”
I smiled at Chang. I knew I had to look bad. I probably smelled bad too. But he had stayed with me through my sickness. He had stayed with me though I might turn. He never left my side. He loved me.
I suddenly felt very sleepy and I couldn’t hold my eyes open anymore. I began to drift to blessed sleep.
CHAPTER 6
BREANNE