The Town of Last Haven: A Zombie Novel

Part 12

Luke stayed with Julia and her siblings the whole morning and early in the afternoon. He stuck by Julia's side, not wanting to leave her--but did he truly mean it? Natalie, Austin, Trent, and Clarise wondered... and Julia wondered, too.

"So," Austin was less than pleasant to have Luke here. "What do you plan to do about getting back home?" He asked, arms crossed. Trent and Clarise both stood by their brother with watchful looks, the two of them now crossing their arms too.

"I'm not leaving my girl--" Luke cleared his throat--he was about to declare he'd not leave his girlfriend... but Julia was his ex-girlfriend. "I'm not leaving you all to die." Luke looked to Julia with pain in his eyes. Natalie knew her sister and her ex still had that unspoken bond.

"Luke is free to stay, free to leave when he chooses," Julia said quietly, "but if he betrays any of us, he's booted out faster than a matador riding a bull." Julia crossed her arms over her chest. "Unless you have a better idea of what to do?" she asked her ex.

Luke nodded slowly. "You all know my dad." That wasn't a question, but the Brown siblings nodded anyway. Luke's dad was the Police Chief of their town--good friends with Julia's father and the Mayor, too. They'd all grown up here together, full-blood stay-in-townies. "My dad has more guns than anyone here--guns for work, guns for hunting trips, you name it."

"What's your point, Luke?" Trent asked, arms still crossed. "Get on with it."

"If we go back to my house, we might be safer."

"But we have food here," Clarise said quickly.

"Yeah, but what happens when the food runs out? What then? Danger lurks at every corner--isn't that was Nancy Drew taught you?" Luke asked in return, Clarise thinking hard.

"What happens if we get caught by the zombies when we go to your house?" Julia asked, fear in her eyes. She didn't want to lose any of them--her sisters, her brothers, or the boy she still loved oh-so-desperately.

"We won't get caught." Luke swore. "I'll protect you."

"I want to believe you," said Julia.

"Julia, if it takes the rest of my life to make up to you everything that I did, then that's the way it'll be." Luke ran a hand through his hair from his stubbled chin to the top of his head. "I need you to know, though, I..." He took her hands in his, held onto her tight. "...I still love you."

It was as if the world stopped entirely, Julia staring into Luke's perfectly mesmerizing eyes. "I love you, too, Luke... I always have... and I always will." Julia whispered, mouthing the words that were too quiet for any of the rest to hear.

"Come on," Luke slowly released Julia's hands. "Let's get everything we need, then we'll be off to my house. We'll be safer there, I think. I hope so."

Julia ushered her sisters and brothers upstairs to grab what they needed before heading to Luke's place. Julia poured the rest of the gun's ammunition into one of the pockets in her duffel bag, then grabbed a few books. She planned to come back--she always did--but this would be some time. She knew that much. She tried to sort out her thoughts as she packed, but all she was thinking of was protecting her sisters and brothers over the thought of protecting Luke.

As much as Julia still loved Luke--and as much as he still loved her--Julia's first duty was to her family. That was that.

Julia was the first downstairs, waiting by the blockaded door with Luke until the others appeared. Natalie had a small bag slung across her shoulder, holding Clarise's hand as they walked down the stairs before putting on their shoes again.

Opal was with Trent, eyes fixed on Luke. Julia gave Opal the 'down, girl' look, and Opal bowed her head--she'd not be attacking Luke just yet. She'd not been commanded yet.

"Are you sure there's room in your house to save us all?" Austin asked, pulling on a blue jacket.

"If there's little room, we could always bunk together." Luke looked to Julia, who simply rolled her eyes. She blushed madly when Clarise asked what exactly that meant.

"Remind me to explain that one to you when you're older," Natalie said quietly.

"Okay." Two seconds passed. "I'm a few seconds older--will you tell me now?" she asked hopefully, but Natalie merely laughed.

"Later, later," she said again. "Shall we go?" Natalie swallowed hard--this apocalypse was putting her seriously on-edge.

Julia and Luke looked outside through the windows before opening the door. "Coast looks clear," said Luke, "but don't hope for this the whole way to my house. It's never this easy."

"Right!" Trent and Clarise whispered, hands locked on either side of Natalie. They were frightened--and well they should be! Natalie's skin was just as cold and clammy as her brother and sister's hands, but her throat went dryer. When she felt the need to clear her throat, she held her breath and recited another prayer in her mind.

"How far until we're at your house?" Austin asked Luke as they peered around the corner of another neighboring house.

"With a car? Not long. Without a car? It'll take a bit longer." Luke's hand went to Julia's, squeezing hard. Julia felt her heart in her throat, but she said nothing.

"Shit," was all Austin said. "I don't like this."

"None of us do, Austin," Natalie reminded her brother. "None of us do..."