End Zone

End Zone (Book Five)-2

Belinda parked the car across the street from the C.D.C. and shut off the lights. She looked over at the sleeping boy next to her and his furry companion, the young pup who never left Bobby’s side.

Closing her eyes, she sighed, yearning for a cigarette. It had been thirty-six hours since she’d smoked her last one and was now completely and totally out. It was making her edgy and more than a little frustrated. A zombie apocalypse was never a good time to stop smoking. If anything, it was a reason to start.

Bobby’s eyelids fluttered open. He sat up and looked around.

“The prince has risen,” she said, ruffling his dark brown hair.

“Are we there, Linny?” he asked, stretching his short little arms.

She wrapped her own arm around the boy’s shoulders and pulled him in closer. He smelled of baby shampoo and the cherry sucker she’d given him earlier. “Yes, honey.”

He hugged her back and closed his eyes. “Good.”

For the past few days, he’d insisted that she drive him to this place, never letting up. Originally, she’d said ‘no’, shocked that he’d even been aware of the C.D.C. But he’d thrown a few fits, which wasn’t like him. In fact, Bobby was normally so mild mannered and sweet, that she hadn’t been prepared to deal with such tantrums. Grown men with tattoos and beer bellies, yes, but not a small boy with Down’s Syndrome, one who’d wrapped her around his finger already. In the end, because he’d been so adamant and Belinda hated to see him upset, she’d caved in.

“I love you, Linny,” he whispered.

A wave of emotions made her eyes burn. She blinked back tears, not wanting him to see them. “I love you, too, Bobby.”

He smiled up at her and her heart swelled.

“Oh, Bobby,” she said, kissing the top of his head. “How did you get to be so damn cute?”

His face grew serious. “I don’t know.”

She chuckled at his innocence, loving him even more for it. In just a short period, she’d grown so attached to Bobby, loving the child like he was her own. In fact, the truth was, although they were in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, she’d never felt more alive. Caring for him had opened up a part of her life that she hadn’t even realized she’d been missing.

Motherhood.

Now, she wasn’t about to give it up for anything. As far as she was concerned, Bobby was now her responsibility until Bryce returned.

She touched the boy’s cool cheek. “Bobby, do you know why we’re here?”

He looked up at her, his large almond-shaped blue eyes unusually serious. “Yes.”

“Well, would you mind sharing it with Linny?”

Bobby nodded solemnly. “Friends.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh?”

“Yes.”

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed three zombies stumbling down the block toward the Cadillac, and grew tense. She quickly locked the doors and grabbed her gun from the glove compartment. Although Atlanta was still riddled with zombies, she’d never get used to their constant presence.

“It’s okay,” said the boy, smiling up at her reassuringly. “They won’t hurt you.”

“Right,” she said, expecting the zombies to surround her car, drooling and moaning like they usually did. Instead, this time, the creatures ignored the car and walked aimlessly by as she held her breath. Belinda released a ragged breath and slid the gun under her seat.

Goldie, who’d been sleeping in the backseat, raised her head. She turned and growled toward the back window at the retreating forms.

“Yeah, you tell them,” said Belinda, reaching back to pet her fur.

“Tell them what?” asked Bobby.

Belinda grinned. “Nothing, honey. I’m just trying to be silly.”

He giggled. “Yes, because Goldie can’t talk.”

“Well, not like us.” Belinda looked at her watch and frowned. It was almost six-thirty in the morning, and the sun had not yet even begun to rise. It was very odd. She turned to Bobby. “Wow, I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming out here this early in the morning,” she said. “And without my morning coffee.”

His smile fell. “I’m sorry.”

“Why you ought to be,” she teased, tickling him.

Fortunately, the generators were running in the hotel at a bare minimum, and she was able to still have her coffee in the morning. That, along with the other small luxuries she’d enjoyed at the hotel, like warm meals and hot baths were a privilege. She knew they weren’t going to last if things didn’t change soon. The government, whatever was left of it, hadn’t been able to contain the virus or the zombies as of yet, Professor Schultzenheimer wasn’t having any luck coming up with a cure for the infection, and from what she understood, the generators ran on fuel and that had to be getting scarce. Luckily, the night before, some of the other survivors had been able to confiscate a fuel rig that had been abandoned just outside of town and bring it to the hotel. When that ran out, however, she wasn’t sure what would happen. She could only hope that Bryce, Henry, and the others returned soon.

Henry.

Admittedly, she had a soft spot for that old fart as well. He was a little past his prime, but he certainly had charm. And his stories, she could sit and listen to him talk about his days in the rodeo for hours. She hoped he made it back in one piece as well. She’d grown very fond of him.

“There,” pointed Bobby.

Belinda sat up straighter and stared at the tall headlights creeping toward them. Her eyes narrowed. “Now, who is that?”

“Friends,” said Bobby, with a wide smile.

Friends?

No, this had been a bad idea, she thought to herself as she reached under the seat and grabbed the revolver. What in the hell was I thinking, coming out here with the boy and the dog?

“It’s okay,” said Bobby as a black Sierra, with a large grill-guard in the front, pulled up to the curb on the opposite side of the road.

“I guess they haven’t noticed us yet,” said Belinda, watching the truck nervously. She pointed to the seat. “Why don’t you get down, Bobby.”

But Bobby had other ideas.

Before she could react, he threw open the door, jumped out, and ran over to the pickup.

“Bobby!” hollered Belinda, opening her door quickly and scrambling out.

Goldie, barking excitedly, leaped out and chased after the six-year-old.

She caught up to the boy and the dog just as the door opened up on the passenger side of the truck.

“Do you need help?” asked the middle-aged woman as she climbed out of the truck and scanned the streets nervously.

Belinda smiled at the stranger, who thankfully, looked about as threatening as Goldie. “No, we’re fine.”

The driver of the truck, a man with glasses and dark hair, leaned over and smiled wryly. “I take it the C.D.C. is closed for renovation?”

Chuckling, Belinda glanced at the building and nodded. “We wish. No, as you can see it’s been abandoned. Either the employees turned into zombies, or just plain took off.” She decided not to mention the professor, just in case these people weren’t as friendly as they appeared. Besides, the military was probably still looking for him, and from what she knew, he didn’t want to be found.

Goldie jumped onto the woman’s knees and began licking her hands.

“What a sweet puppy,” she said, bending down to pet and hug the dog. Smiling, she turned and looked at Bobby. “Is she yours?”

“No. I’m watching her for someone else,” he replied, gazing at the woman in fascination. “You miss yours, don’t you?”

She looked surprised. “Well, uh, you could say that.” She smiled sadly. “It’s certainly hard saying goodbye.”

Goldie, her tongue hanging out, decided she wanted more attention and leaped into the truck.

The man laughed and started petting her. “Never thought I’d get to see another dog,” he said as she licked his face. “Doesn’t she look like Maggie, Irene?”

Tears filled the woman’s eyes. “Yes... she kind of does.” She turned to Belinda. “Maggie was our last Golden.” Her voice grew thick. “She passed away last year, before any of this happened, thank goodness. She wouldn’t have made a very good zombie killer.”

Belinda smiled and pulled Bobby closer. “I reckon so. Where you from?”

“We’re from Minnesota,” replied the woman, brushing at her tears. “We came out here to find our family.”

Belinda’s eyes widened. “Oh really?”

“Yes. I just hope we locate them,” she glanced toward the C.D.C. “It’s not looking very promising right now. We thought for sure they’d be all over this thing. But, obviously, nobody has a handle on anything.”

“It looks that way. I’m Belinda, by the way,” she said, holding out her hand.

Before the woman could take it, Bobby introduced himself. “I’m Bobby De Luca,” he said proudly, extending his hand like his brother had been teaching him.

The woman smiled and shook it. “Hi Bobby, I’m Irene Wild and that’s my husband Steve.”

“See,” said Bobby, turning around to look up into Belinda’s eyes. “Friends.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” whispered Belinda.

***