Hiding From the Dead

Chapter VIII

Hiding From the Dead: Chapter VIII

The next morning, we decided to get back on the road after Nina cooked the rest of the lion. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of eating lion again, but when there's hunger, I'll eat anything in my plate. Nina finished at 10 according to Ricky's pocket watch, and after that we went back on the road.

We kept driving until 12 when I decided I needed a place to rest. I needed to close my eyes for at least 5 minutes, and everyone else did too.

We had noticed there weren't too much zombies around, so whatever house we chose was fine.

Liam pointed at a neighborhood with three floor houses that could be safe. We chose the first house. The door was aluminum, which meant the zombies couldn't break it and it had a balcony in the third floor that was good to keep watch.

The only bad thing was the crystal windows. As long as the zombies don't see us, they won't try to break in... I hope.

Ricky parked the pickup truck in front of the garage and got out with all our guns and bags. Liam and I walked in front with guns and knives to check the house. Nina stayed in the middle with the kids and Ricky stayed behind, watching the street.

As we stood in front of the opened door, we both looked back at Nina and Ricky. I looked at Liam, gesturing towards the door, and he nodded when he knew what I wanted to do.

I started hitting the aluminum door with the butt of the gun, making noise. Two zombies ran downstairs, startling me as I heard their growls.

"Don't shoot." Liam said. What do you mean don't shoot? He went in front of me with a knife. The zombies got closer and closer and one of them jumped on top of him. He fell on the floor and Ricky shot the other one. "Don't shoot!" Liam screamed with the zombie fighting to bite him. What the hell is wrong with him?

I leaned against the door, frozen. I wanted to do something but my body wouldn't let me. Ricky pointed the gun at the zombie's head and shot. Liam closed his eyes as blood and brains fell on his face. He pushed the zombie aside, stood up and started spitting. "I said don't shoot!" Liam seemed mad Ricky had killed the zombie.

"Why? So it could kill you?!" Uh, Ricky's mad. Ricky stood in front of Liam which made him lean against the wall behind him. Ricky was taller than Liam and he seemed scared Ricky would hurt him. "Let me tell you something, my friend, rule number one in a zombie apocalypse: don't play hero. Even if you are trying to impress her."

He pointed at me. "You'll end up dead." I head Liam gulp, his eyes trying to not seem weak. Ricky looked at me and entered the house. Nina looked down and walked to the kitchen with the kids. I got close to Liam and hugged him. The blood on his face got on my clothe, but I didn't care.

"That was stupid of you." I told him. "You could have gotten killed."

"Sometimes I do stupid things. Ricky was right. I was trying to surprise you, and if I keep trying to do that I'm going to get killed. But the problem is, I can't help it. I want you to see that I can be brave." Stupid feelings! Stop trying to enter my body! I don't want to have feelings!

"I know you are brave, Liam. You don't have to prove anything. I like you just the way you are." He looked at me and did a naughty smirk. Oh god, are you trying to kill me? "As friends." I made it clear for him.

"Right." He said and we chuckled.

"Guys, there's food and water!" We heard Nina's voice coming from the kitchen. Water?

"You mean in bottles?!" I asked her, still standing in the entrance.

"No! I mean tap water!" I looked at Liam to see if he understood the same thing I did. He locked the front door and we ran to the kitchen. Water was falling from the faucet.

"Oh, thank god." Said Liam and started washing his face. Blood and water fell down the drain.

"Baby! Check if there's water upstairs." Nina screamed at Ricky who was checking the house.

"There's water in the bathrooms!" We heard Ricky and I looked at Liam. Fuck yeah! I really need a shower. Ricky walked downstairs. "There are three rooms and two bathrooms. The master room has a bathroom of itself and the other bathroom has a door that connects the other two bedrooms. And both bathrooms have water." Seriously, I don't care. I just want a shower.

"Jayden, Steel and I call dibs on one of the rooms. Ricky and Nina can take the master room with Vale. Liam will take the other one. We don't mind sharing a bathroom." I said and we all nodded. I looked at Liam and we walked upstairs.

Both bedrooms were decorated exactly the same. They had plain blue walls and a queen size bed with white, clean covers. It seemed like no one ever slept in those beds. Like they were for visitors only. In front of the beds, there was a closet with no clothe and next to them, nightstands.

I had the last room, whose windows led to the back, to another house, as big as the one we were in. I heard Jayden's laugh behind me and he hugged my legs. I looked down at him.

"Hi, baby, what are you doing?" I looked up and Nina was entering the room. She had underwear, shirts and pants.

"I found these in the master room. They fit me, I'm guessing they fit you." She handed them to me.

"Thanks." I really hope they fit, or it's going to be really embarrassing for me.

"Ricky just finished checking the last floor. He said it's like an attic, but it has a balcony where we can watch. And it's completely safe." I nodded and she smiled. "We are going to take a shower."

"Yeah, I'm going to give Jayden a shower too. What if you and Ricky watch on the third floor after we all take showers while Liam and I sleep? I'll take care of Vale. Liam and I will watch at night while you sleep and you take care of Jayden." I suggested.

"I love that idea, it's perfect. I'll tell Ricky." I nodded and she left. Liam brought Jayden's backpack, where there used to be food. I took some of Jayden's clothes and looked down at him. He was still hugging my legs.

"Time for a shower." I smiled.

"Yay!" He screamed. Jayden always loved showers, and now that he had been almost two weeks without taking one, he would love them even more.

•••

I gave Jayden his shower. As soon as I turned on the faucet, he started laughing and jumping. The water in my hands made me want to get in, so I told Liam to take care of Jayden while I took a shower.

I took the clothe Nina had brought which was a plain black shirt and jeans. I put them on top of the toilet seat and looked for a towel. I took off my shirt in front of the mirror and cringed in pain when I saw a huge bruise where the shotgun hit me.

I looked my hair and face and cringed even more. My dark brown waves were now a complete mess. There were tangles everywhere and it smelt like dirt and sweat. My face was dirty and sticky and I had small stains of blood on my cheek and forehead.

I shook my head and got inside the shower. As soon as water fell on top of my head, happiness ran though my body.

"Yes!" I couldn't help but scream. After I washed my hair and body, I stayed like half an hour under the shower. This feels so good!

That was the best I've felt in weeks and I never wanted to get out.