“It’s too late for stitches, I’m afraid, but I’ve wrapped it up as best as I can,” Ethan said, securing a bandage firmly in place with tape. “Can you tell me what happened to you? It must be quite a story.”
“I suppose.” Dylan told him about her trip to the supermarket, getting bitten, leaving town, finding Frankie, and even Maddie and Kyle. It took her mind off the pain while he worked.
“They burned people alive?” he asked, shocked by that part of her story. “I knew things were going to hell, but that’s murder!”
“I know. It’s crazy out there. They’d burn me too if they could. So would Maddie,” Dylan said.
Ethan shook his head as he examined the cut on her head. “She tried to kill you, that’s for sure. That is one nasty wound. You’re lucky she didn’t fracture your skull.”
“I wouldn’t call it luck.” Dylan went on to tell him about Kyle saving her and spending the night with a dead zombie in the car.
“No wonder it smells like death in there. Should I add a can of air freshener to your supplies?” Ethan asked with a grin.
Dylan laughed, appreciating his attempt at levity as he injected the area around the gash. “Anything but roses, please.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Not a fan?”
“Nope, I’m an amber and musk kind of girl.” She gasped as the anesthetic burned away all feeling until her eyes watered. “Holy crap, that hurts.”
“This will only take a minute.” With smooth efficiency, he disinfected her scalp and stitched up the wound. Afterward, he cleaned the other, smaller cut that Frankie’s boyfriend had given her before stepping back. “Right. I put four stitches in there. Have someone take a look at it as soon as you reach Fort Knox, and for God’s sake, try not to get injured again.”
“I can’t make any promises,” Dylan said with a rueful smile. “Trouble seems to find me.”
“Yes, that’s what worries me,” Ethan said, as he slid back the sleeve on her arm. “Now, let’s take a look at this zombie bite of yours.”
Dylan swallowed when she caught a whiff of rotting flesh and quickly looked away. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“The flesh around the edges is decomposing, and the infection seems quite advanced. I’d say you’re almost at the halfway point now,” Ethan said in somber tones as he swabbed the area with alcohol before wrapping it up.
Dylan looked at the timer on her wrist. “Sounds about right. I’ve got about forty-five hours left.”
He injected her with a cocktail of antibiotics and handed over a bottle of pills with strict instructions. “Here, take these. It will help to control the fever. You’re burning up. There’s not much more I can do for you, though. I wish there were.”
Dylan stared at the pills before meeting his gaze. “You’ve done more than enough, thank you.”
A long moment of silence passed as they stared into each other’s eyes. Dylan was the first to look away, uncomfortable with the energy flowing between them. She couldn’t afford to care. Not now. Like this.
“I’ve got to go,” she whispered.
“I know. I’ll drive,” he answered.
As they walked outside, Dylan couldn’t help but reflect on the unfortunate timing of their meeting. If only it had been before the outbreak. Things might have been so different then. But it wasn’t, and she was running out of time.
Tick, tock.
Tick, tock.
Chapter 19 - Dylan
Ethan drove her through town, and she couldn’t help but notice the ongoing activity. Houses were being torn down, and the material was driven away while people rushed along the sidewalks with hunched shoulders. Others queued at shops for groceries doled out in brown paper bags.
Trucks with armed men policed the street, and they were stopped more than once and questioned. Luckily, Ethan was well-known and held in high esteem, so they got no trouble.
“It’s like a concentration camp,” Dylan said after a while.
“Really?” Ethan asked. “Why do you say that? We’re securing the town against zombie attacks.”
“Maybe, but I’ve seen how quickly things can go wrong. Ray is your first example. He’s driving around with a gun and feeling important. He’s the man, in charge of the safety of other citizens. Soon, he starts feeling like they owe him, while outsiders are nothing but trash. In no time at all, girls are forced to give it up to Ray and his cronies while the best supplies go to feed and house them.”
“That’s just Ray. Maybe one or two others. The rest of us aren’t like that,” Ethan protested. “We just want to keep people safe, fed, and healthy.”
“I know. You’re a good guy, but how long will it take before you’re outvoted? Ray’s dad wasn’t thrilled with my actions despite having good cause. That means he leans toward his son’s ideals. Hell, he probably taught them to Ray. And Maddie. How long do you think it’ll take before her dogma spreads through the rest of the town?”
Ethan was silent for a long time after she spoke. Finally, he said, “I hope you’re wrong. I grew up in this town. I’m their doctor. I’ve nursed these people through sickness and health, caught countless babies, seen others pass away. Your vision of the future is a nightmare.”
“For your sake, I hope I’m wrong. But I just drove through a town who burned an innocent girl on the stake. These are terrible times, Ethan. And people are capable of terrible things.”
“I guess you’re right. I’ll have to make sure it doesn’t come to that,” Ethan said.
“I hope you succeed.” Dylan stared ahead as they neared another roadblock. “Is this it?”
“Yup. This is where we part ways,” Ethan said. He stopped in front of the barrier and spoke to the guards, telling them to let her pass.
The guards seemed kind enough and even greeted her while Ray and his friends were nowhere to be seen. A decided relief. “Thank you for everything, Ethan.”
“It was my pleasure, Dylan. Your supplies are in
