Finding Humanity: Book 3 in the Saving Humanity Series

CHAPTER 17

*

Caleb sat in the middle of his living room. The windows had been boarded up, shrouding the house in shadows, with only a few slivers of sunlight piercing through the cracks. They illuminated the small flecks of dust floating in the air. On the couch and recliner around Caleb sat his parents and his sister. Darkness covered them, but he felt their stares boring into him. They leaned forward in their seats, ready to pounce if he made even the slightest move.

Caleb took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm and security being in his home. He had no intention of moving, so he didn't find his family threatening. He wiggled his butt from side to side, settling into the carpet and preparing to stay as long as it took. He pushed the thoughts of the dead rising from their graves out of his mind and pretended a storm had trapped them in their home. It was the only way he could retain his sanity in this situation.

A glass clinked in the kitchen, pulling Caleb's attention over his shoulder. He had every intention of ignoring the sound, but it was followed by the sound breaking glass and a loud whump! Curiosity got the better of him, and Caleb couldn't stop himself from rising. His parents and Nina slid from their seats and crouched on the floor.

Caleb stepped cautiously toward the kitchen. More breaking glass sounded, accompanied by thuds, and the sounds of cupboard doors opening and closing. Caleb stopped at the entrance. In the room beyond was an RBZ. It barely fit in the space. Its shoulders brushed the walls and cupboards; it had to stoop to keep its head from going through the ceiling. Every time it moved, it knocked something off the counter. It noticed Caleb in the doorway and turned to face him.

The creature's muted brown eyes twinkled, daring him into their foggy depths. Caleb found himself transfixed by the sparkle that somehow found its way through the haze of being undead. There were answers there; the twinkle promised that. He had to know what those answers were; how they pertained to him and the rest of the world. He stepped forward.

A shuffling sounded behind Caleb, pulling him out of his trance. He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze falling on his family. They were still crouched on the floor, cloaked in darkness, and crawling toward him. Their movements seemed jerky and unnatural. He narrowed his eyes to get a better view, but it didn't help. They scrabbled closer. He began to crouch, to be on the same level as his family.

Pressure wrapped around Caleb's body, and he looked down to see yellowed, rotting fingers engulfing his body. He tried to move away, but the grip closed around him quickly and pulled him backward. His family hissed as he was pulled into the kitchen. The grip tightened, making breathing difficult. Caleb reached for his family, but they were too far away to grab his extended hand. He struggled and strained against the RBZ's grasp, but only succeeded in getting the creature to tighten its hold. Ribs snapped, sending excruciating pain throughout his entire body. He wanted to yell, but all the air was squeezed out of his lungs.

*

Caleb opened his eyes and drew in a slow, steady breath. He let the air expand and fill his lungs until they couldn't stretch any further, then he let the air out in a stream through his lips. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and an unsettling feeling chilled his skin. Visions of his family crawling after him ran through his mind. The temptation to look behind his recliner coursed through him, but the thought of what he might find back there kept him from turning around.

The door across from him opened and Doc stepped into the room. Relief flooded through Caleb. The presence of another person gave him a sense of comfort.

"How are you feeling?"

Caleb did a quick assessment of his body. Aside from the creepy feeling coursing through him, he felt really good. His mind was alert and focused; his body felt capable and strong.