Waking Up Dead

something that made her happy. What concerned him was where she was doing it.

Pete’s words rung in his ears—we head straight back out—competing with the things Jackson had told him. How badly she had wanted to find safety. The fact she had walked for years on the slim chance that there might be something more. And yet as the minutes ticked by, as he thought about Pete’s words and Jackson’s behavior the whole time he’d known her, his certainty that she was somewhere in camp began to wane.

Images filled his head as he walked past another trio of houses. Images he’d never really even considered before. The rubbing of the blade’s wooden hilt over and over again—probably she didn’t even know she was doing it most the time. It was obsessive. Like the actions of someone with OCD in the old world. The emotionless look in her eyes as she cut through zombie flesh. Luke had never seen her scared or even angry when she had beheaded them. Sure, beforehand, maybe even afterward, but during? No. She locked it all away and just did what she had to do. And the lack of sleep—four hours a day, at most. Surely no one could live on such little rest forever, not without some sort of effect?

She’s good at this life. Why hadn’t he realized that before?

“Sorry, didn’t see you there…oh…”

Luke turned the corner to see a tall, skinny, gray-haired dude dodge out of his way, a pile of papers in his hands, a pen hanging out of his mouth.

Dr. Sebastian in the flesh.

“Not a problem,” he told the doctor, his jaw practically grinding. Keep calm. “I’m Luke, by the way.”

“Ah,” Sebastian said, pushing the pen into the front pocket of his shirt. It was such a geek gesture that Luke wanted to roll his eyes. The guy was like a fucking walking cliche. The gray hair, the abstract air to him. Really he only needed a pair of glasses to be the epitome of a man of science. “Yes, Luke. Of course. It’s good to meet you.”

He held out a hand, which Luke took. The other man had a firm grip and Luke raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t expected that.

“I’m glad I’ve bumped into you, actually,” Luke said and Sebastian dropped his hand.

“If it’s a medical issue, you’re better going to Layla,” Sebastian said, taking a step back. “She’s a fully qualified nurse, and I only deal with our major injuries.”

Luke shook his head. He was fit and even the hole on his stomach was beginning to turn a dull pink now, the skin stretched taut across where the wound used to be. Jackson had taken the stitches out for him two weeks ago. She’d done a poor, poor job of it, but Luke had not complained. He never did when she had her hands on him.

“Not a medical issue,” he said. “I’m just wondering. Someone mentioned you were with Jackson earlier and I wanted to know where she is.”

Sebastian shifted and moved the papers he was holding from hand to hand. “Last I saw she was heading for the main house.”

“I checked there.”

“Oh, well I headed back to my room after,” Sebastian said, finally settling on which hand to hold them in. “So I don’t know. She’s probably here somewhere, though. It’s not like there’s anywhere else for her to go is there?” He ended on a laugh and Luke’s eyes widened as he took in the doctor’s feeble attempt for a joke.

“Right…”

“Maybe check your room again?” Sebastian suggested. “She’s probably waiting for you there.”

“Will do.”

The doctor nodded, muttered something unintelligible, and strode off in the opposite direction to the way he’d been going. Luke shook his head and let the other man go, before turning and heading back to their room. Hoping to God Jackson had actually returned.

As angry and worried as he was, when Luke approached their room he opened the door slowly so Jackson wouldn’t be startled. Relief—pure, unadulterated relief—filled him as Jackson turned from where she’d been unlacing her boots and shot him a smile. It seemed both happy and relieved—and maybe a little bit guilty. He couldn’t help but notice she’d reached out for her machete too.

“Hey,” she said, “you all done?”

A million thoughts hit Luke then—each wavering for prominence. Pete’s words of warning. Her flushed face and sparkling eyes. He closed the door and leaned against the closet, taking a deep breath as he did so. She was back, that was the main thing, safe and well. The rest could wait for just a fucking moment.

“Where have you been?” he asked, trying to keep his voice calm, but realized almost immediately that actually the words sounded the demand all by themselves. They hardly needed a tone to make them worse.

She frowned and tilted her head. “Finding something to do, of course. It took way longer than I thought. I’m so sorry I’m late. I didn’t want you to worry.”

“I did worry though,” he said. “I thought we were going to meet at midday? I came to find you, but you were nowhere to be found.” He knew he sounded ridiculous. Like some sort of possessive idiot, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

“Oh, well. I got kinda busy,” she said, kicking one unlaced boot off before making a start on the other. “It took longer than I thought it would. I’m sorry, Luke.”

“I’ve been looking everywhere. I was worried about you.”

She frowned and shifted. “Again, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. You know I’d never do that on purpose.”

“You did though, Jack,” he said. “I’ve been fucking panicking.” Deep breath. Don’t get worked up.

“About what?” she asked. “What did you think would happen?”

He growled, his anger increasing with her words. Had it really not occurred to her that he’d be concerned? That after their weeks together he’d want to make sure she was okay? Ah but you left her this morning, his mind whispered, you went first. He told it to shut the fuck up.

“Luke?” she prompted. “Do you think there’s something off about the camp? Are they planning to feed us to the zombies?”

He started and shook his head. “No. Of course not. It’s fine. Everyone’s good. But Christ, Jack, I checked everywhere. We live in the world of the dead. Many things could’ve happened. I surely don’t need to list them for you because it all kind of starts and ends in one. Zombie.”

“You keep telling me we’re safe here,” she said slowly. “And you encouraged me to go out and about and find something to do.”

“Yes…” Fuck. She was totally twisting his words and Luke scowled, his mind a whirr of confusion, before latching onto the only thing he really had to complain about. “I thought we were going to meet at midday?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Like I said, I am sorry. I tried to get back here in time but it was just madness. But I’m here now.”

She stepped forward, her movements accentuating the sway of her hips and Luke groaned inwardly. Now was not the time for this. He wanted to know what the hell she’d been up to!

“Jack—”

“I’ll tell you about it later, okay? For now, how about you put your arms around me?”

Luke rubbed a hand through his hair and tried to hold onto the anger. Jackson had to realize that she had to consider him, just as he’d resolved to consider her. “We need to talk first,” he insisted. “About what happened today. About what you were up to.”

She shook her head. “No, we don’t. Not yet.”

“But what have you been doing? Why were you so late? What did you find to do?”

She closed the distance between them, tilting her head to look into his eyes.

“Later. I need this right now, Luke. Take me in your arms, please.”

How could he possibly refuse that? With a sigh, Luke reached forward and pulled her the last foot or so to him. She was so slight that his arms completely enveloped her.