Through the Zombie Glass

Chapter 16 We’re All Mad Here

The next few weeks passed in a blur. I no longer hung with the slayers, and I wasn’t willing to patrol the streets on my own. So, I got a part-time job at the coffeehouse down the street, determined to make as much money as I could before I... Well. I worked Wednesday through Sunday, from five to ten. I walked there and back, and had yet to come across a zombie. My coworkers were nice—at first—but my distant attitude eventually got to them, and they soon stopped trying to be my friend.

Thanksgiving came and went, and I realized I was all out of to-do lists. I was living one minute at a time.

Nana tried to draw me out of my “protective shell,” bless her heart, but I was too firmly entrenched. Besides, I hated the holiday. Emma visited for half an hour, but Mom, Dad and Pops didn’t, couldn’t, and celebrating without them sucked.

School started up just a few days after the “illness” hit. No one else had gotten sick, and doctors were still baffled. I wondered if the slain had turned into zombies. I wondered if the slayers had had to kill people they knew.

I wondered—but I never asked.

Reeve avoided me as if I’d contracted social leprosy, and though it was for the best—what I wanted, needed—it wounded me.

The slayers kept their distance, as well. Frosty especially. He couldn’t get over what I’d done to Cole, and now he and Kat were at war because she refused to end our friendship.

For her safety, I confessed my problems to her, explained Frosty was simply concerned for her well-being, and that she would be better off listening to him and staying away from me, and for the first time in our acquaintance, she got mad at me.

“You’re my friend,” she said. “That means something to me.”

“Yes, but why do you like me?” I asked. “I’m nothing special.”

“Nothing special? Everyone makes fun of love at first sight, but, Ali, that’s what I felt for you. Love, not like. You’re the sister I never had, but always wanted. The day we met, when I walked into your hospital room, I saw a scared, pale girl with the most haunted eyes. You’d lost everyone, and I understood. I had to bury my mom, my world, too. So, why don’t you do me a favor and think about why you love me—or if you do?”

“I don’t have to think. I love your loyalty, your sense of humor, your smile, your courage, your total acceptance of me, your support, your dedication, your positivity, your...everything.”

She laughed and hugged me, and then she said ten little words I couldn’t get out of my head. “Good. Now, what are you going to do about Cole?”

Cole...

Oh, that boy. What was I going to do with him? He’d come to my house a few times, and he’d come bearing gifts. A stuffed alligator. Dinner from my favorite hamburger joint located nearly an hour away. A protective cover for my great-great-great-grandfather’s journal.

What the heck did he think he was doing?

I doubted even he knew.

Each time, he’d thrust the gifts at me, almost angrily, before stomping away.

Gavin had come over twice, but I hadn’t opened the door. He’d want to talk about our vision, and I wasn’t sure what to say to him.

I’d poured a Blood Line around the new house. I’d also turned the garage into a gym, using the treadmill and wrestling matt Nana had bought at a thrift store. The stronger I kept my human side, the longer I’d live. At least, that was my hope.

I hadn’t heard any more whispers, thank God, but I also hadn’t had the courage to look at my reflection. I’d tried to call Dr. Bendari, using the new number on my caller ID. Unavailable yet again, I inwardly cursed.

“—paying any attention to me?” Kat asked.

I blinked into focus. She stood on the other side of the wrestling matt. Today was my day off from the coffee shop, so, after school, she’d driven me home and we’d decided to work on her self-defense. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I’m easily distracted lately. Maybe it would be better if Frosty took over your lessons.”

Exasperated, she spread her arms to encompass the entire room. “Do you hear this?” she said to no one. “Ali, you know I’m not speaking to him ever again, right? Every day he commands me to stay away from you.”

“He’s just trying to protect you,” I reminded her.

“Well, there are better ways.” She unwound the tape from her knuckles. “Come on. Let’s wash up and head out. I feel like punishing you for your continued negativity.”

“And just how are you going to do that?”

“You’ll see.”

Well, all right, then. As if I could deny her anything—even the right to punish me. I used Nana’s shower, and Kat used mine. Nowadays, we worked out so much she always brought a change of clothes with her.

We found Nana in the kitchen.

“You’re getting Ali to go somewhere other than school and work?” she said to Kat. “It’s a miracle.”

I kissed her on the cheek. Her arms wrapped around me, and she held on for a long while, as if she couldn’t bear to let go of me... As if she knew I was slipping away. When finally she released me, there were tears in her eyes.

“Nana...” I said, a lump growing in my throat. I hated that I was hurting her.

“Go,” she said, waving me off. “Have fun. Be a teenager for once in your life.”

Kat and I climbed into her car and headed north. The sky was gray today, the sun shielded by heavy clouds. I didn’t allow myself to search for a rabbit. I didn’t want to know.

My phone rang. I checked the screen, but I didn’t recognize the number. I chewed on my bottom lip, hopeful.

“Hello,” I said, a tremor in my voice.

“Would you like to set up another meeting, Miss Bell?”

Dr. Bendari.

I nearly whooped with relief. “Where have you been?”

“Out of the country, if you must know. Do you have an answer for me?”

“Yes. And yes, I would.”

“Will you actually make this one?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now that you’re away from the surgeon, I can pick you up at midnight.”

He always knew my every move. How? His source, whoever it was, couldn’t watch me 24/7...right? “Okay,” I said. “I’ll be ready.”

“See you then.” Click.

“Who was that?” Kat asked.

“Do you remember the SUV that followed us that day with Reeve?”

“The one you threw knives at? Nope. I’ve totally forgotten.”

Har-har. “The old guy... He gave me his card. I called him. He called me back. And so on and so forth. We’ve now set up a meeting.”

Paling, Kat tightened her hands on the steering wheel. “Ali, you don’t know this man.”

“Yeah, but I know I need answers and he might have them.”

“Answers about...the dark side?”

“Yes,” I replied softly.

She reached over and patted my knee. “You’re going to overcome this. I just know it. You’re strong. You’ve lost so much, and you’re going to fight with everything you’ve got to keep from losing more.”

I wanted to believe her, but I was fast losing hope.

She parked in front of—

Colluctor Park, I realized. It was a Tuesday, close to dinnertime and as cold as ice. No one walked the manicured lawn. The trees were barren, but there were benches, a swing set and monuments. There was also a creepy mausoleum.

“How is this punishment?” I asked as I unbuckled. “You planning to make me strip and streak?”

“You’ll see,” she said in a singsong tone.

We stepped into the harsh winter winds, and I shivered. Someone had staked Merry Christmas signs along the side of the cobbled path leading from the parking lot to the park.

Another holiday fast approaching. I’d do better with this one, I vowed, and make sure Nana had a fabulous time. Of course, I would need to buy her a present. And one for Kat. And maybe Cole.

No, not Cole.

Kat linked our arms at the elbows and tugged me forward. “Something wrong? Your face got all pinchy.”

“Is pinchy even a word?”

“If it’s not, it should be. And don’t think I don’t know you avoided my question. I know you’re nervous about what I have planned, and you totally should be. Behold.” Over the hill, she pointed to—

A moan slipped from me. Reeve sat on a bench, Ethan beside her. The two were talking and laughing, happy to be together.

“You have to face her sometime,” Kat said sternly.

“She has no interest in a reunion,” I whispered.

“Only because her dad told her you hated living with them and had demanded your own space.”

He’d what?

Well, that altered things, didn’t it? I marched forward, determined.

“—you will love her,” she was saying. “Everyone does. Just ask her yourself,” she added with an affectionate chuckle.

Ethan glanced up, saw me and stiffened. “Can I help you?”

I ignored him, saying, “Hey, Reeve.”

She twisted to look up at me and flinched. “Ali,” she said with a reluctant nod. Then, as Kat moved up beside me, “Kat. You were supposed to come alone.”

Kat shrugged. “I’m supposed to do a lot of things. That doesn’t mean I do them.”

Ethan stood. I was five-ten, and he was a few inches taller than me. His hair was disheveled from the breeze, and his features now closed off.

He held out his hand to shake. “I’m Ethan. It’s nice to meet you.”

His grip was weak, as if he was afraid he’d break me if he squeezed too hard. “You, too. I’m Ali.”

He turned to Kat, shook her hand, as well. “Reeve’s told me so much about you guys,” he said as he sat back down.

Kat claimed the spot next to him, but I remained standing, suspecting Reeve would throw a fit if I encroached. “Look, I’m sorry I moved out without saying goodbye.” I hated doing this in front of a guy I didn’t know, but I wasn’t sure when I’d have another opportunity. “And I didn’t move out to get away from you. I loved living with you.”

Dark fire snapped to life in her eyes. “Are you calling my father a liar?”

Yes! “I’m saying he was protecting you from the truth.”

“And just what, exactly, is the truth?”

Ethan’s attention zinged between us.

I remained silent. There were some things I still couldn’t share.

“Of course. More secrets,” she muttered, the fire in her dark eyes replaced by hurt. She looked at Ethan. “Do you see? This is what I have to deal with every day.” She gathered her purse and stood. “Let’s go, Ethan.”

Stay calm. “Please, don’t go.”

Ethan reached out and tugged the lapels of Reeve’s jacket closer, a total boyfriend move. “She’s your friend, sweetheart. I’ve had to hold you while you’ve cried about her. Stay and hear her out.”

The support surprised me.

“Hey, Eth—you don’t mind if I call you Eth, do you?” Kat asked. “Why don’t you escort me to the pond? I want to see the ducks, but I’ll need someone to throw in their path if they turn violent.”

He looked at Reeve, then looked at me. Reeve, me. As if he was considering every possible thing that could go wrong, and wanted to take measures to prevent it. Finally he nodded. “It would be my pleasure,” he said and offered his arm.

The two strode away, and Ethan only glanced back twice to check on his girlfriend.

Sighing, I took his seat and removed the bag from around my shoulder and waist. “Look, Reeve. I moved out because...I’m sick. Really, really sick, and I have these violent episodes.... We don’t know a lot about what’s going on, and your dad wants you safe. I want you safe. It’s not contagious, or anything like that, but...it’s just better this way.”

Her features immediately softened, and she eased beside me. “Oh, Ali. I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

“I just wish you’d told me. I would have told you not to go,” she said, patting the top of my hand. “I don’t care about any violent episodes, and I know my dad won’t, either, if I talk to him.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Please, don’t talk to him. Don’t talk to anyone about this.”

“But—”

“Your dad will be mad that I told you this much, and—”

“Why would he be mad?” she interjected. “Unless something else is going on. And there must be. There’s a reason Bronx runs so hot and cold. A reason so many of my friends go to bed without any injuries, but wake up covered with them. A reason my dad has a horror dungeon below the house. A reason he tolerates Cole’s dad—a man he once hated.”

Mr. Ankh and Mr. Holland had once hated each other? “Look, Reeve—”

“No. I’m tired of being in the dark, Ali. So very tired. I need to be enlightened. I crave it. It’s become an obsession.”

Dark. Light.

Lies. Truth.

“If I tell you, you might long for the days of blissful ignorance, and I think that’s what your father fears most.” But then, she’d finally know what was out there and would be able to take measures to protect herself. Measures Mr. Ankh would never be able to take from her.

“Please,” she said.

“Let me think about it, okay?” I said. “I could get a lot of people in trouble.”

That was more than I’d ever offered before, and she nodded gratefully.

“So...Ethan seems nice,” I said, taking the conversation in another direction.

I was relieved when she said, “He is, he really is,” without pressing me for more.

There was no dreamy sigh from her, no smile. “I sense a but coming on.”

Her shoulders sagged the slightest bit. “He really likes me. He’s sweet, attentive and last year his mother died, and now his little sister is dealing with leukemia, so he’s learned to appreciate life and live every day to the fullest, but...I can’t get you know who out of my head.”

Yeah. “Believe me, I get it. When it comes to Cole, I’m the same way.”

Kat cleared her throat. “We’re, uh, back. Ethan was missing his girl.”

Reeve jumped guiltily, her cheeks flushing.

“You guys make up?” Ethan claimed the seat on the other side of her and snuggled up, offering his warmth. If he’d heard Reeve’s words about Bronx, he didn’t act like it.

“We did,” she replied.

“Thank God,” Kat said. “It’s about time, and seriously, go me for setting it up.”

Ethan nodded, kissed Reeve’s temple. “I agree.”

It was obvious he cared for her, and I could see why she had chosen him. Despite her feelings for Bronx, they could have something normal. No secrets. No midnight battles with the undead. No suspecting everyone they met of foul play. No worrying if the other would come home every night—or be eaten.

Hungry...so hungry...

As the words whispered through my mind, I jolted to my feet and spun, searching, trying to squash a sudden bead of panic. My emotions had been under control. This shouldn’t be happening.

“What’s wrong?” Kat asked.

Hungry, hungry, hungry.

HUNGRY.

Hurt. Maim. Kill.

Soon...

“Ali, your eyes,” she said.

No! I gasped for breath as I stumbled away from the group. Reeve stood, already reaching for me. Ethan grabbed her by the wrist and jerked her behind him, as if I’d sprouted horns, fangs and a tail. Maybe I had.

HUNGRYHURTMAIMKILLSOON.

The whispers... So loud... Blending together, somehow calling me, drawing me.

Kat withdrew her phone and started typing. Texting Frosty to come help me?

“No. Don’t,” I said, and tried to turn left. Somehow I’d lost control of my body and turned right. My feet moved one in front of the other without any command from my brain. I drew closer and closer to a creepy mausoleum, the whispers continuing to escalate. Surely my eardrums would burst, unable to withstand the chatter. “Syringe. Purse.”

I halted at the double doors.

HUNGRYHURTMAIMKILLSOON!

I leaned forward—until I could go no further and my spirit separated from my body, ripping from me with painful force, as if pushed. Inside the building, cold air nearly flash-froze my skin.

HURTSOON!

HUNGRY!

The small enclosure was dark and dank, but smelled of wildflowers and sunshine. I shifted to the side, and what seemed to be a thousand red eyes opened to track the movement. A gasp of horror escaped me.

I’d just found a zombie nest.