I’d been forced to kill healthy humans, and even if it had been in self-defense, I didn’t like it. We had so few people left in this world, and it was such a horrific waste.

“We lost… someone.” Harlow sniffled next to me.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” London said earnestly.

“Why don’t you get cleaned up and get some rest?” Hope suggested. “You all look so exhausted.”

“We have plenty of room for you all,” London said when we hesitated. “We try to look after the people who are left.”

“Would you like something to eat?” Hope asked, and she held her hand out for Harlow.

Harlow looked up at me, checking to see if it was all right, and I nodded. Somewhat reluctantly, she let go of my hand and let Hope take her. Hope took her into the next room, with Vega.

“Are you coming, Remy?” Blue paused before following Hope and the others into the other room. I shook my head, and he nodded understanding. “Don’t take too long.”

Blue left with Harlow. Since I didn’t go, Lazlo stayed behind. I thought about telling him to go, but I didn’t want to tell anybody to do anything anymore. Sam eyed us up, and I couldn’t tell if he trusted us or not.

“You’re the leader?” I asked London.

“You could say that.” London leaned against the table behind him and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Do you know anything about government quarantines?” I asked.

“Not much,” London shook his head. “I haven’t been to one.”

“Do you know if there’s one nearby?”

“There’s supposed to be one in Idaho.” He turned to the map on the table behind him. “I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard there was one near the Wyoming border.”

I walked over to him to inspect the map myself. It was covered in circles, some black, some red, some green.

“There might be one there.” London tapped the map. The one he pointed to in Idaho was red.

“What do the colors mean?” Lazlo asked, peering over my shoulder.

“Red are quarantines, green are safe zones, and black are … lost causes,” London said. That explained why the map was almost entirely covered in black circles.

“Thank you.” I took a step back. “I have to go.”

“Right now?” Lazlo looked up sharply.

“You are welcome to stay as long as you want,” London reiterated.

“I know, and I thank you, but I can’t.” I shook my head. “My brother was taken to a quarantine, and I have to find him.”

“We should at least get some rest,” Lazlo said. “You always say we shouldn’t travel after dark, anyway.”

I hesitated, hating the truth in his words. I didn’t want to stay here. I didn’t want to wait anymore. I just needed to get to Max and know he was all right. Then… I don’t know. But after what happened today, I didn’t want to slow down anymore.

“Who took your brother to a quarantine?” London interrupted my internal debate.

“Soldiers,” I said. “We were at another quarantine that was infiltrated by zombies. They organized some kind of attack and destroyed the base.”

“Yes, we’ve been hearing about that,” London said sadly.

“Hearing about what?” My heart sped up.

“Zombies working together. They’re still raving monsters, but they seem to have a more cohesive system,” London elaborated. “The virus has been evolving and adapting, and they’re able to communicate somehow. Perhaps using pheromones like ants. They group together and find the hidden pockets of human life.”

“Well, that’s pleasant,” Lazlo muttered.

“When your quarantine was attacked, why did they take your brother and not you?” London asked, returning to the topic.

“He was in medical care, and I wasn’t. They evacuated him, and I escaped later, but I haven’t been able to catch up to him,” I said hurriedly.

“He’s sick, and they evacuated him first?” London questioned.

“Yeah. He’s eight. He’s just a little kid.”

“Hmm,” London said, but then nothing more. There wasn’t anything judgmental in his eyes, but I could tell he’d figured out there was more to the story than I was telling.

– 12 –

London didn’t know any more about the quarantines, and he didn’t have any other insight into the evolution of the zombies. He did explain a little more about the compound. They were made up mostly of people from the town. Since it was so isolated, they had been one of the last to get hit with the virus and had a chance to prepare.

Unfortunately, the town split into two camps; London and his people trying to live quietly, and the marauders who wanted to live out some kind of Mad Max fantasy where they robbed and murdered at will.

The people in the compound survived on canned goods and hunting. A water filtration system in the basement kept the virus out of their drinking water. Kerosene lamps and wood burning stoves allowed them to have heat and cook food.

Over fifty survivors were able to live here comfortably, and London insisted they would be happy to take on a few more.

The facility itself was divided up into many rooms, with hallways connecting them like a labyrinth. It was designed to keep both zombies and marauders from being able to infiltrate.

I wasn’t given a full tour, but I didn’t really want or need one. London showed Lazlo and me to the dining hall, where Blue and Harlow were already. Vega never ate before sundown, so she’d gone back to a room to rest. The food seemed to be of the canned vegetable and whatever they could shoot variety.

A few other people were eating down there, looking as mangy as Sam, and they introduced themselves. Other than polite salutations, I didn’t talk to them. I was not staying here long enough to get to know people.

Lazlo, on the other hand, was chatting with anyone who would let him. From what I could gather, the people seemed friendly and as sane as the situation would allow.

“You guys won’t believe this,” Sam said. He came into the dining room after checking the perimeter, and he looked about as shocked as his blank expressions could manage. “There’s a lion outside.”

“A real lion?” a woman asked in a hushed tone.

“Oh, yeah, she’s Remy’s,” Lazlo said, and I lowered my head.