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Chapter 54


So, I guess I should try to write about that day.

It’s not that I can’t talk about it. I can, actually. Better than I can the day the dead rose. Far better. I have no problems talking about it. At least, as far as anyone can tell. I just – it’s like my pen runs out of words every time I start this entry. It still scares me, you see. It’s still such a fear I have. I know what I want to write, or to say; I just can’t find the way to actually put it out there.

I think I’m not making any sense again.

That day scared the hell out of me. It was like a lesson, though. It definitely showed me something, taught me something. It kind of made me see things. See myself, see… others. It opened my eyes. Everything is different now. Not just in the undead ruling the world sense, either. The way I am; the way people are, in general. As crazy as some of them drive me, the people I’m with now, the others, they’re my family. Kevin’s like this protective father figure, even though he’s not that much older, while Jo’s become a mother to us all. I love them all, really. We’re family.

Except Nick.

… Except Nick.

And see, I just… Nick is, well…

Forget it.



Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Week Two

She stared at her journal, almost expecting it to talk to her, as she tapped it impatiently.

Riley hated the fact that she’d been left behind. She understood why she was and knew that Kevin felt she was capable of going out, unlike Howie. It was just the fact that she was forced to wait in the church. It felt like she was babysitting, even though she knew she wasn’t. It irritated her a bit and had made her grab for the notebook she’d been jotting in since she’d found it in the Sunday school room. Only instead of just writing random thoughts, she found herself writing about everything that had led up to her current situation. She wanted to do a retrospective journal of sorts.

She was sitting against the wall in the kitchen, wanting to be away from the others in the multipurpose room, her notebook propped up against her legs as she chewed on her pen cap thoughtfully. Hair fell into her face, and she blew it aside impatiently, trying to think of how to write the tale she wanted to tell.

“And the ironic thing about it all? I have too much time for my personal life now, and my former achievements now mean jack shit.”

She stared at what she’d written so far. What to say next? In a sense, it had all started with the interview she’d done with Kevin, hadn’t it? The story started there for her, all leading up to Infernal Friday. She supposed that was why she’d started where she had. Writing a journal also meant there’d be something left behind if the worst happened. Something people could come upon, to show that there had been survivors, that there had been life.

Just in case.

It wasn’t easy, constantly thinking of the worst, but in a sense, it came naturally to Riley. The worst in life was what had made her career before her world was destroyed. It was what she’d thrived on, a calamities provided the best stories to cover and really were career-makers. Yet now, thinking of the worst really did nothing more than to psych a person out. And when one was facing the worst enemy possible, one that never rested and never quit, she didn’t need help in that by considering every bad scenario.

“What are you doing?” Gretchen asked, as she took inventory of the food in the kitchen. They were running low on the last of the supplies they’d brought with them as they arrived. They had already acquired more clothing, but they’d have to go on a food run, and soon.

Howie gave them a quick look as he walked by, before going back to whatever he was doing. Riley wasn’t sure what that was and, honestly, didn’t care much. The man was still a bit of a snob after two weeks, to put it mildly, and it irritated her now and then.

She glanced up at the other woman, giving her an easy smile. She didn’t know Gretchen that well yet, but she felt comfortable with her. They were close in age, and she was far more mature than Kayleigh, so it was nice to have another young woman to relate to. Riley hadn’t had a lot of girlfriends growing up – far too much distrust amongst teen girls, in her opinion. Then, later, when she’d been old enough to have girlfriends who were past that, she had let her career consume her before everything else. If nothing else, she now had the chance to create bonds with people. Maybe she could make up for all the mistakes she’d made in the past, mistakes that still stung.

She motioned towards the notebook in her hand. “I’m making, like, a log of everything. Journaling everything that’s lead up to this, and us together now. Just, ya know, in case. If we leave, and other survivors come, they’ll know there are others. Or, in case something happens…”

“You want to know we left a sign that we were here. I understand. That’s not a bad idea.”

“I was thinking of suggesting we all do it. It would kinda help us deal, too, you know?”

“Like therapy.”

She shrugged. “As a kid, it used to be how I’d get it out. Writing, telling stories…” Riley felt herself grin. “… that or beating up my younger brothers and playing sports.”

Gretchen laughed, sinking down into a chair beside her. “No brothers here, just a little sister, and I always sucked at sports. But I had a diary. Not that I ever kept up with it that well. It was basically for the crush of the month.”

Riley chuckled. “Crush of the month, huh?”

“Well, you know, junior high. Whatever boy I suddenly thought was just oh-so-hot.”

“See now, I had the ‘one of the guys’ problem. Just friends, all of…” She found herself trailing off when the loud squeal of tires across the pavement caught her attention. The two women shared a glance before quickly heading outside, where Kevin and Jo were standing guard.

Riley could feel it: something was wrong.

“Jo! It’s Nick!” Kayleigh cried, as she ran over, completely frazzled.

She felt herself suddenly go on autopilot as she ran over to them. “Wait, Nick? What the hell happened? Kayleigh, where’s Nick?” Feeling several pairs of eyes set upon her, she fell silent shortly after.

“He, he collapsed… and he was twitching, and just… oh my God, what if he got the virus? What if we can get it, too?”

For a moment, it felt like Riley’s heart had stopped.

“Where’s Brian?”

“He stayed with Nick… We didn’t know what to do…”

Kevin looked between them, appearing to think for a moment. Riley glanced around at them all, feeling the wave of panic rise in a way she hadn’t expected. “Alright, Kayleigh, I need you to lead Jo to where Brian is. Riley can drive and help keep a watch out. Gretchen can help me guard the church till you get back.”

As the others headed to the car, Riley paused by Kevin. “Thanks. I…”

“I know you need to go with them. It’s alright.”

With a nod, she raced to the Hummer, catching the keys from Kayleigh, who, much to Riley’s relief, said she was too nervous to drive. Driving gave Riley something to focus on right then. She started the engine, glancing back at Kayleigh in the backseat. “Which way?”

“Left, then right… and, and then… it’s just, we were…”

“Spit it out, Kayleigh!”

“We were out… out by the tennis courts.”

With a nod, she thrust her foot against the gas pedal. The short ride felt like an eternity, despite the crazy driving she knew she was doing. She felt the walking dead she ran over as she drove, bumps on the road interfering with getting to her destination. She thought of the time she’d known Nick – three weeks, tops. Yet he was the closest person she had to her now, and she couldn’t handle even the idea of something happening to him.

“Riley! There they are! Stop!” Jo yelled, shaking her fiercely out of her thoughts.

Her foot slammed the brakes, and she hardly noticed the jerk forward, as she cut the engine and jumped out of the Hummer. There was no thought; she was running on pure adrenaline, running to where Brian sat. She was just dimly aware of Jo and Kayleigh following behind her. She spotted Nick lying unconscious on the ground. Brian looked up, as he fired off a shot to an incoming undead. The shot missed the skull, but caused it to stumble as it hit it in the neck. He took advantage of its hesitation and fired again, killing it this time.

“What happened?” Riley asked, kneeling beside them. “Nick?” She nudged him gently.

His eyelids fluttered as the Hispanic woman kneeled beside her. Brian stood. He nudged Kayleigh, and the two kept their guns at the ready, in case of any sign of danger. Kayleigh shivered at bit at the sight of Nick once more, while Riley leaned over him, her eyes filled with concern. Jo glanced back at Brian. “Tell me what happened.”

“We were taking some marks out. He looked at Kayleigh for a few minutes. The next thing we knew, he was on the ground convulsing.”

“How long was he like that?”

“Probably a few minutes, I think. He’s been out since.”

Jo nodded; there was a knowing look in her eyes when Riley turned to look at her. She knew the older woman had a good idea of what had happened. Before she could ask, however, his eyes opened, and Riley hugged him tightly before letting go. “Nick! You’re awake.”

“Um, yeah… what happened?” He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples.

“Nick, do you know where you are?”

“Uh, yeah, I’m at MacDill Air Force base. But how’d I get out here? How come we ain’t at the church?”

“Do you know what day it is?”

“Yeah, it’s Wednesday, Jo. May second, right?”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Are we playing twenty questions?” he asked with a tired smile. “The last thing? Riley and Kayleigh fighting again… I had to pull down Rye bread so she didn’t get all toasted.”

“Rye bread?” Riley heard herself asking, fighting back a laugh despite herself. Only Nick could be this random and this odd, after going through what he just had. It was official: that boy was truly one of a kind.

“Yeah, that’s your name now. It’s been decided… it’s official.” He yawned. His face looked worn. Perhaps it was Riley’s mind playing games with her, but he suddenly seemed to look older. “So… can’t anyone tell me what’s going on?”

“When we get back, okay? Jo will explain everything there.” Riley helped Jo assist Nick up off the ground. He was shaky on his feet, unsure of his footing, and she didn’t like the look of confusion written so clearly in his eyes.

“Let’s go then,” Riley commanded, as she let Nick lean upon her and followed Jo and Kayleigh back to the Hummer. He gave her a weak smile, and she gave him one in return. They walked slowly. Brian trailed behind them at a distance, still looking behind them to make sure they weren’t ambushed. They shared several glances before either of them broke the quiet between them.

“Do me a favor, Nick.”

“What’s that?”

“Never scare the shit out of me like that again.”

***

“He had a Tonic-clonic seizure. I suspect it’s because of his old injury.”

“But it’s likely a one time thing, right?” Riley heard herself asking, wishing that to be true. She wasn’t sure if she could handle seeing Nick like that again. Or, even worse, seeing Nick actually going through it next time, if a next time happened.

“No, he’s had one before. It may be a pattern. In fact, that’s why I abandoned him at the hospital, when the virus hit,” admitted Jo. “I found him having a seizure in his room, and I mistook it for the virus, as seizures were one of the symptoms. I believe Nick’s, however, are a result of his head injury the night before the virus hit.”

Brian nodded in understanding. They were all gathered in the back hall of the church, away from the Sunday school room where Nick was supposed to be attempting to rest upon a couple of the sleeping bags. “Hey, he did hit his head against the roof of the Hummer before we got out of the car.”

Jo nodded. “Sometimes that can set off a seizure to someone who has a history of them or had a recent head injury.”

“Wait, he’s hit his head before… a couple times actually. And nothing happened like this then,” Riley interjected as her eyes skipped back to Nick, who she could spy through the open door frame.

“There’s no set way to cause a seizure. Every time he bumps his head, it doesn’t mean he’ll be having one moments later.”

“He’s a liability now, you know,” Howie pointed out, almost looking smug, as he brushed off his arm.

“I’m sure he’ll still be more useful than you,” AJ replied with a smirk. Riley shot him a grin; she was really beginning to like AJ, even if he was a bit strange.

“We’ll have to be careful, though…” Kevin said, as she stood and walked away. Riley headed into the room where Nick was lying down. She didn’t feel like being a part of the discussion anymore. It was stuff she knew already, and she felt bad that Nick was now isolated from the others. Jo had explained what had happened to him first, away from everyone else, so that way, he could rest, while everyone else talked. She knew he wasn’t because of the way his eyes kept making their way over to the door.

She doubted Jo had told him it was likely to happen again, and she understood why. All it could do was bring him down, make him worry about being a bother, like what Howie’d had the nerve to insinuate. All this gathering away from him likely wasn’t helping, either. It wasn’t his fault this had happened, and she figured he may need some cheering up. Or at least a companion. If not, well, then, she’d tried anyway. She was never any good at this sort of thing, but after everything that Infernal Friday had caused, her whole mission now was to change. It was to be a better person, to be a better friend to her new surrogate family.

But Nick wasn’t exactly what she’d consider a brother.

What was he, then?

She wasn’t exactly sure.

He smiled as she sat beside him, getting comfortable on the edge of the sleeping bag. “So I scared you, huh?”

“Yeah, so don’t do it again.”

He chuckled. “Why, what are you gonna do?”

“I’m gonna royally kick your ass all the way back to Hollywood.”

He propped himself up a bit, stifling a yawn before answering. “You would not.”

Riley gave him a questioning look, trying not to smirk as she stared him down. “Oh? And enlighten me as to why I wouldn’t, oh wise and musical Nick.”

“Because you love this ass.”

She scoffed at him, laughing softly. “One too many knocks to the head, Nick.”

“Nah, I’m right. I have a completely lovable ass. So much that kicking it would just make you cry because you damaged such an enjoyable and lovable ass.”

“You definitely need some rest.”

He smiled at her. It was a full one, winning and charming, as all his smiles seemed to be. He watched her for a few moments, looking as if he was debating something with himself. Nick stuck his tongue out at her as he lay back down again. His arm yanked hers, pulling her down next to him. “Keep me company till I doze off, then?

“Sure.”

***