The Town of Last Haven: A Zombie Novel

Part 10

Julia hadn't hesitated to protect her sisters, her brothers--they were the only family she had left. When her family was threatened, she came to help. She came by storm.

After Julia pulled Austin away from the window, the dead beneath them feasting on the still living flesh of the stranger, the two raced back upstairs to check on the frightened Clarise.

She was sobbing in Natalie's arms, Trent sniffling himself from the fear of losing their sister. Julia dropped to her knees and held Clarise in her arms.

"Are you okay?" Julia asked quickly. "Tell me you're okay."

Clarise was sobbing still. "I-I'm okay... I'm okay." She repeated that a few times, but Natalie still held her close. Julia's heart was still beating out of her chest in fear, but she gathered herself together quickly enough. "I'm sorry I left you." Clarise wiped her tears from her face. "I only wanted... wanted food. I was hungry. I swear I was going to bring some up for you, but I didn't... didn't want to wake you all up."

Natalie brushed Clarise's hair with her fingers. Julia simply embraced Clarise until she stopped tripping over her own words. When Clarise was calm enough, Julia looked to her sister with a smile. "You were so brave to do that--bringing food to us? That's a selfless act. Mom and dad would be proud."

"I wanted to bring food to mom and dad, but..." Clarise paled. "I know I don't have to do that."

"Clarise--" Before Julia could say another word, her cell phone vibrated from inside her jacket pocket--she'd forgotten all about it since those few days ago. "What the hell?" Julia's brows knitted into one as she wondered how in the blue blazes her phone had been on all this time.

Trent asked with curiosity, "Is it anyone we know? Is this a prank call or something?" He was getting all worked up about nothing, and Austin shushed his brother as Julia picked up the call.

"Who is this?" Julia asked.

"Tell me you're okay! Please, Julia, do this for me. Are you safe?"

Julia's blue eyes widened as she heard the voice. Her ex-boyfriend.

"I'm fine," was all Julia said before she hung up.

"Who was that?" Clarise asked Natalie, who did not answer her. "Who was that?" she asked again.

"The boy who broke my heart," Julia said softly, tossing her phone onto her bed. "He wanted to know if I was okay." Julia's face paled more, her blue eyes going grey and distant. "At least I know he's okay too." She took in a breath and rubbed her arms as if the temperature in the room was too cold for comfort.

"Luke?" Clarise and Trent asked together.

"Hush!" Natalie scolded, but Julia nodded anyway.

"Yeah... Luke." Julia cleared her throat. "If he actually did care for me, he'd be up and running to our house--" And there came a breeze that rattled the leaves on the tree outside Julia and Natalie's bedroom window. "Oh, my God..." Julia murmured.

"I came as soon as I figured my family was safe!" Luke was climbing up the tree, looking from where he'd climbed to where he'd been. "My brothers are alright, but I had to make sure you were, too." Luke's shouts through the window were loud--he was drawing too much attention to himself and the rest of them. There were zombies already at the base of the tree.

Julia opened the window and stared down at the dead. "You idiot," Julia murmured. "Get in here before you fall." She was less than pleased to see him, lesser still as she welcomed him into her bedroom.

"Thanks, Julia," Luke said breathlessly. "I was worried you weren't going to let me in."

"Let me tell you," Julia said coolly, "I was considering that." She smirked, her arms crossed over her chest. Before she even knew what was happening, Luke gave her a strong hug. Opal barked, and Julia pushed Luke away from her. "Do that again? You'll lose whatever manhood you have left."

"I don't mean to rain on your parade, but there are real problems outside beyond your little issue in here." Austin looked to Luke coldly. "Do you want me to throw this piece of trash out the window? Or should we string him up and--"

"Don't do what I know you're thinking. Please." Luke held up his hands in a surrender position. "I just... I know I hurt you in the past, but I needed to make sure you were alright."

"I'm not zombie chow." Julia said bluntly. "And how did you get from your house to mine so quickly?" Julia looked out the window again, seeing the dead already chasing after another living being. Not one she or Luke knew, that was for sure.

"My dad--he's dead. I stole his car to get to you." Luke paled, running a hand through his hair. "Julia, you have to believe me on this. I had to make sure you and your family were okay. I couldn't live with myself if anything bad happened to you."

"I don't believe you," Julia said coldly.

"Julia," Luke turned to her. "Forgive me for breaking your heart. I didn't realize what I had until I lost it--lost you." Luke reached for Julia's hand, but she pulled away faster than he could snag her.

"Don't think I won't throw you out the window for what you did to me," Julia threatened.

"What did he do to Julia?" Clarise whispered to Natalie, who looked equally infuriated by Luke.

"This isn't a story for children," Luke said slowly.

"Never is, huh?" Julia asked with raised eyebrows and the tilt of her head. "Stay or leave. It's your choice. Just know that I'll kill you the second you try to betray me or my siblings again. Do you hear me?"

"Absolutely," Luke said, sweat protruding on his brow. "I'd expect nothing less of you."

"Whatever," Julia said, her back turned. "Come with me to the kitchen. It'll be... private there."

Natalie could tell her sister was in pain--could see it plain as day. Julia had her heart broken by Luke a mere year ago... and Julia still loved him. Even now--even as she spewed her hate-filled words at him. Julia would not let him leave again--Natalie knew that.

For better, for worse, Julia still loved Luke Wallace.