Daniel told Lasa and Brian to get into the Jeep. He helped Lasa get buckled as I climbed in the passenger side.
“I’ll follow you,” I heard Luther call out as he got in the driver side of the Explorer.
Gerald, Kent, and Phoebe got in the other vehicle with Luther.
Daniel climbed in the driver’s seat and started the Jeep. It kicked into life quickly. Daniel threw it into gear and began maneuvering us away from the growing horde.
The Explorer was right behind us, having no issues getting started and heading out of the chaos.
I looked back at our former safe haven. I could not help it. The line of cars was holding the zombies back. It was unbelievable to see them gather at the line of cars. Their teeth chomping at the empty air; hoping in vain to somehow get a taste of flesh.
Chapter 12
Once we were a few miles away and in the clear from the likes of the dead, Daniel pulled over. Luther followed suit and pulled over behind him.
They were the only two to get out of their respective vehicles. Even though we seemed to be in the clear, it was safer to not have so much tempting zombie food out at a time. Plus, with how quickly that horde had come from the ocean, it was best to be on the safe side.
I pulled my dead phone from the glove compartment and plugged it into the Jeep’s lighter knob. I wasn’t even fully conscious of doing it. It was like a ritual I did to keep some kind of normalcy in my life.
“I’m hungry,” Brian said.
“How can you be hungry after seeing that?” Lasa asked.
This started an argument between them. Their voices screeching and growing louder in the small enclosed space of the Jeep.
“Quiet,” I said. A headache piercing its way into my brain. I couldn’t listen to them argue at that moment.
I reached into my bag and handed Brian a breakfast bar.
“Thank you,” he said and quietly added, “Sorry for fighting.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured him. “It’s been a long day for all of us. You need some water Lasa?” I asked.
She just shook her head and held Chippy tightly to her chest.
Daniel opened the door a slid into the driver’s seat. He didn’t turn it on.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“We’re going to sleep here tonight,” He stated. “Head for the Air Force Base in the morning.”
“Why not now?” Lasa asked clearly scared of staying where we were.
“It’s getting dark,” Daniel said sweetly. “The headlights will attract attention not to mention the roads might be a little rough to navigate. Better to have daylight on our side.”
Lasa nodded at his explanation but said nothing more. She just continued to hold on to her stuffed animal.
Luther came to check on Brian before it got dark out.
“How you feeling?” He asked me before heading back to the Explorer.
“I’m okay,” I said.
That was true mostly. Physically I felt fine but emotionally was another story.
Once darkness set in, we all tried to get some sleep. Daniel and I split up watch shifts while Brian slept in the back in the cargo area and Lasa slept in the backseat.
Daniel offered to take the first shift, so I closed my eyes. Sleep wasn’t restful. I know I slept some, but it wasn’t good sleep.
Daniel woke me up after a few hours to take over watch.
“You alright to take over?” He asked.
Though I was still tired, I agreed since I knew Daniel needed some rest.
The watch was mostly uneventful. I heard frogs in the distance and the moon was full. It was an eerily peaceful, well-lit night.
I saw a zombie making its way down the road. It was growling to itself and walking slow. I had my hand on my gun ready to fire if needed but the zombie paid no mind to the cars. It never even looked in our direction.
My mind kept going back to the scene at the beach. How did that even happen? It made no sense. Thinking about it made my head hurt but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was like everything I thought I knew about those creatures was wrong or at very least misguided.
“You okay?” Daniel asked, startling me from my thoughts.
“Yeah,” I said and nodded.
“Shelly, are you okay?” He asked again.
I shrugged, “I don’t know. What was that back there?”
I immediately looked back to see if the kids were awake. In the moonlight I could see Lasa sleeping peacefully and I could hear Brian snoring.
Daniel took my hand in his, “I don’t know what that was or how it happened. I don’t even know how they could do that. I guess it explains the zombie fish.”
I nodded, “I guess.”
He rubbed his thumb along my knuckles. We sat silently for a bit.
He was staring into the void.
“You alright?” I asked.
He chuckled a bit, “Yeah. Just I had this plan. Idea and it didn’t work out.”
“Plan?” I asked.
He nodded, his brown hair falling into his eyes. “The day Phoebe got bit; I was planning this really nice dinner for the two of us.”
“Were you going to bust out the spam?” I joked.
He laughed, “I was going to go even fancier, the Vienna sausages.”
I let out a gasp, “Wow, you were going fancy.”
“Only the best.”
I laughed. “What was the occasion?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. Even in just the moonlight I could see the shine of it.
My heart forgot to beat. I was in shock. Even with the baby I just wasn’t expecting him to propose.
“I mean I have no idea when we would get married. I
