Living After: Book Two

Chapter Eight: Troy

  Troy tossed and turned underneath his wool blanket. The night air coming through their window was chilling and there was no way he would be sleeping. They should be back by now. I should be with them. I should be helping. I need to see Nick. Its only been three hours. The sun just set. This room is getting old. His thoughts were racing with no intention of slowing down. Troy decided it was time to wander down stairs, he knew everyone would be huddled around the fireplace. He wanted tea, and conversation with Tasha was always enjoyable. He hadn't been around much this last week, he felt like he needed to catch up with them.
  Downstairs was warm and inviting, candles lit the large swirling staircase. Troy found himself at the table making tea when the group finally noticed he had snuck down. Madison, Strand, and Tasha all sat in the large living room talking amongst themselves.
  "Hey Troy," Madison said, "Why don't you sit and let me get that for you?"
  "I've got it. Why isn't anyone on guard?" Troy asked, genuinely curious. He was sure Madison was already beginning to break the very rules she had put into place. He stirred a small scoop of sugar into his tea. No one answered him. "I just feel like someone should be out there waiting."
  Madison stood up, "He's right - You're right. I was just here checking in. I'll go."
  Troy watched her leave and sipped at his tea. The warmth of it made him feel better almost instantly. The dark leathery couch was half empty so he sat to chat with two people who seemed like strangers now that he was alone and without Nick.
  "I've got some tequila - why don't we celebrate your well being? I feel like you haven't joined us for dinner in ages," Strand went to stand up but Troy stopped him, shaking his head.
  "I don't drink. I'd like to respectfully decline that offer. Medication and booze don't sit well anyway, Elyza would kill me. And then Nick would kill me twice over. My mom -"
  Troy stopped himself, he was awfully bad at small talk.
  "Your mom?" Tasha asked, "Did she drink? Is that why you don't?"
  Victor laughed nervously, "No need to pry at the man, Tasha, give him a break."
  "It's okay Victor," Troy gulped down the rest of his tea and smiled to them, "My mom drank heavily, yes. On the side, she enjoyed her pain medication and benzos too often. She over dosed when I was about fifteen. That's why I don't drink," Troy said. The two of them stared at him, unsure of how to respond to such a morbid story. He perked up,"Plus it burns my nose."
  That got Victor laughing. He clapped his hand on the arm of the chair, "Nick said you were a rough man," he made a parenthesis sign with his hand as he spoke, "And here you are, sitting in front of me with a cup of tea. Claiming that tequila burns your nose."
  "Nick said that?" Troy turned his head sideways, "Wait.. what else did he say about me?"
  Suddenly, screams came from outside and Troy jumped to his feet. Madison was yelling for them. She wasn't using her walkie, telling Troy something had caught her off guard.
  "The dead. Madison!"  Troy didn't think, he just moved, running out the door. He grabbed the shovel sitting on the porch and took off towards the gates. Madi's flashlight lit up the dark ahead. The gates were open and three infected had her cornered on the barbed wire. 
  Troy could hear Tasha behind him, feet hitting gravel. "Hey! Let me - Nick told you to rest !"
  "She's in trouble," Troy yelled back, he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Not a chance.
  By the time he had reached the gates, two of the infected had fallen on top of Madison. She was small and hidden underneath their squirming figures, but Troy could still hear her. He grabbed an infected at it's waist, throwing it off and away from her body. He felt ringing in his ears as he heaved the shovel into it's face. Gravel crushed under the weight of metal, making a terrible noise. Troy spun around to kill the other but Madison had already kicked it off, shooting it with her silenced pistol. Tasha finished the third just before it grabbed at Troy's shirt, slicing it's arm off with her sword before stabbbing the brain. She whipped blood off of her sword and glared at him, "You aren't supposed to be out here."
  "What happened to no guns Madi?"  Troy gasped for air, "What are you doing outside of the gates - you need me to take over your shift? I can," Troy said. She instantly shook her head, no.
   "I was looking down the road for signs of the kids.. They.. they tripped me up," Madison said, "Thank you, Troy," she nodded to Tasha, "Thank you. We need to get these fences built up."
  "Ma'am," Troy laughed and put the shovel against the gate, "You shouldn't have done that. I thought the both of you stayed back to watch me, not the other way around."
   Madison's smile dropped, she turned to him, "I'm aware. Go back inside."


  Troy sat on the couch with Strand for what felt like hours before Tasha finally came inside to tell them the bus was coming over the hill. He had almost fallen asleep, waiting on them had drug throughout the entire night. Maybe he had dozed off, Troy thought to himself. His sleepy brain wondered what happened and what took so long. Troy fixed his hair and sat up, smiling to Tasha, "So it's the bus - our bus?"
  "Yep, they're coming down the road, I wanted to wake you. Stay inside, okay?" She smiled and touched Troy's shoulder. The kindness of this group's members never failed to shock Troy.
  He shook his head at her, "Why - I want to come and greet them."
  Strand kicked his boot, "Just in case. Do what she says. Here, have some tea. Wake yourself up. I hope mine is up to your professional standards." The tall, grinning man handed the cup over with his good hand and sat down on the couch, sinking them both towards the floor.
  "I don't have very high standards," Troy said, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He looked towards the door. Hurry up. He felt his heart starting to race. "I'm sure the tea is just fine," Troy said.
  Victor noticed him looking, "Don't worry man. Any minute -"
  The door flew open, cutting Victor off, and Nick was the first person through it.
  "Finally. Jesus Christ Nick. Should I expect you late every time you leave the camp? I was starting to think you'd bailed on me," Troy joked, trying to keep himself together. He was overjoyed to see him. He couldn't let Victor see the tears of joy in his eyes. He felt glued to the couch, all of the sudden overwhelmed by emotion. Nick shook his head and walked across the room, not even allowing Troy to get up. He sat next to him, practically in his lap, laughing. Troy spoke first, "Is everyone okay? Why are you laughing? Scoot over -"
  "They're fine," Nick breathed into Troy's chest, "They're unloading the ammunition we just so happened to find. We lead the horde away too, you don't have to worry. We can stay." Nick looked up at Troy, a huge grin on his face. Troy felt dizzy looking at him, but after the shock of seeing him wore off, he started to notice more. Nick was covered in blood, the palms of his hands appeared to be bleeding. Troy saw exhaustion in his eyes, despite the smile. Something else had happened to them that night. It hadn't been as easy as Nick made it seem. 
  Victor had stood up to greet the others while Troy and Nick were too infatuated with each other on the couch to notice. They were all alone, if only for a moment. Troy hesitated, "Something else happened, didn't it?" He took in Nick's long, frail figure, he looked weary.
  Nick looked away and nodded, "Yeah, yeah, something always happens. We're all okay though.. This time.. I won't go back out there Troy. I won't. Not without you. My sister could have died - Blake and Elyza almost died," his voice was pleading. Nick was brave and he wasn't afraid of anything, but Troy knew the thought of losing him or his sister was unbearable.
  "But you didn't die," Troy said, sitting Nick up on the couch. He kissed him, trying to take away his pain. He'd never kissed him in front of anyone, he wanted to show Nick that he wasn't afraid.
  "Stop," Nick laughed and pushed him away, "Stop, let me clean up first. They're coming in- "
  "Woah."
  Troy's pale cheeks flushed pink, Madison.
  "I'm - I'm sorry mom. I didn't know you - Do you guys need help?" Nick stammered, clearly just as embarrassed as Troy was. He backed away from him and Troy felt his heart drop.
  "It's okay, you're okay. I'm just not used to - You know what, never mind," Madison dropped a tub on the floor, "Put this in your room. The other one is going in Alicia's and I want it to stay there until we need it. I'm going on a walk around the perimeter with Tasha."
  Nick spoke sternly to her, "Mom, it's late, wait until the morning."
  "I'll be back Nick. I'll be back. I love you. Tell your sister."
  Troy watched her walk away and wondered if he had upset her again. Sometimes her moods were too much to keep up with, Nick and Alicia knew that more than anyone. He had no idea how to satisfy a mother figure. Troy made a mental note to talk to Nick about that. He shook his head and smiled to the silent boy next to him, "Well that was weird. Can I get you anything?" Troy stood up and poked at the dim fire in the fireplace. It spit sparks and embers resituated themselves under the pressure. He watched the fire rekindle and brighten, waiting for Nick to respond, but his eyes were still glued on the door. Troy asked again, "Hey, do you need anything Nicky?"
  "Huh? No," Nick said, "No, I'm going to go clean up in the other house. Wait up for me."
  Always, Troy thought.