The Z Word Read online

Gareth quirked his mouth but didn't answer.

  “You got a question, boy?” Malone asked.

  Gareth set the knapsack up against the wall with studied nonchalance. “I see two doors over there. Does this place have a basement?”

  Seffy wondered why he didn't ask about electricity.

  Malone leaned the rifle in a corner. “Yeah, but that's only worse case scenario. The walls here are concrete covered in corrugated metal unlike the last place, which was made of wood.”

  “Oh. And uh, no windows, I see.”

  “That's why it's called a safe house.”

  “What about a bathroom and running water?” Addy asked, tapping her foot.

  Malone motioned with his head to the opposite wall. “The one on the right, doll.”

  Addy stalked over, opened the door and slammed it behind her.

  “What's her problem?” he growled.

  “I guess she didn't like your zombie stories,” Seffy said.

  “They're not stories.”

  “Of course.” The real reason was Addy knew how bad she needed to pee and was making her wait on purpose.

  Lani walked over to the kitchen and opened the cabinets, exposing rows of canned goods. “Wow, you were right. More supplies.”

  Malone's chiseled features shifted into what could be called a smile. Seffy shivered, deciding she preferred his scowl.

  “Well, get settled and do whatever you gotta do,” he said unzipping his coveralls a few inches, revealing a dingy wife-beater topped by curly chest hair. A silver chain glinted around his neck. “There should be better water pressure here for showers.”

  “Why?”

  Malone frowned at Gareth. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean why would the water pressure here be better than at the last place?”

  He put his hands on his hips. “Because I said so, that's why.”

  Gareth raised his hands. “Hey, I was just curious.”

  “Well don't be. Ain't I doing enough, helping you people out like I am?”

  Lani beamed him a smile from the kitchen area. “Yes, we are so very thankful for you. Our muse.”

  Malone's eyebrows relaxed and he appeared mollified. Addy came out of the bathroom and flopped onto the couch. “Next.”

  ***

  After a dinner of canned chicken noodle soup and stale soda crackers, they each took showers and had to choose from gauzy flower child dresses from yet another mysterious box of clothes. Poor Gareth had to borrow a pair of Malone's coveralls until their own clothes could be washed and dried. After the tasks were all done, an awkward silence ensued. Addy sprawled on the couch radiating anger, Gareth seemed to find fascinating patterns on the matted indoor/outdoor carpeting, and Lani sat next to Seffy, her head resting on her drawn-up knees, humming one of those damn songs from the past they'd sworn to forget. Seffy watched Malone lean back in a chair and clean his rifle with a dirty rag.

  Home sweet home.

  She wanted to talk to the others, but couldn't in front of their benefactor. Questions like Is L.A. gone? Does anyone know we're missing? Will we still have our jobs when we get back? Will we ever get back? How the hell did we end up in Montana in the first place? Then again, saying the words out loud would give them validity, especially if she didn't like the answers.

  Lani turned toward Malone. “Why are all the clothes so old-fashioned?” She straightened. “Not that we're ungrateful, but it just seems odd.”

  Malone righted his chair and surveyed her for a long moment. “What do you mean 'old-fashioned'?”

  She plucked at the front her dress. “You know, from the 70s.”

  “The 70s. As in 1970s?”

  She nodded.

  A grin split his face. He jumped up, stowed the gun, and hooked his hands in his pockets. “You know, I apologize for being such a poor host. I think a drop would warm us right up and help pass the time.”

  Gareth glanced up. “Until what? What are we waiting for?”

  Malone went all squinty-eyed again. “Morning.”

  “And what then? We just keep walking from safe house to safe house?”

  Malone opened lower cupboard. “I'm keeping you safe, ain't I?”

  Gareth wandered over to the couch. “Yeah, you are, but there has to be some kind of plan, right? I mean, are we headed for some destination?”

  “Or maybe some epic battle that will end the whole living dead problem once and for all,” Addison said.

  Malone turned, an amber bottle with a worn label in his hand. “Lani, sweet thing, would you get some cups?”

  While she hopped up to help, he pulled the cork from the bottle. “Don't worry, there's a destination.”

  “Where?” Gareth asked.

  “Someplace safe.”

  “Safer than here?”

  “Yep.”

  Gareth sank onto the couch, shoving a hand through his damp hair. Seffy threaded her arm through his and gave him a little squeeze. He peered down at her, his frustration obviously deepening. Her heart thudded dully in her chest. Seffy realized she'd crossed some unknown line. Mortified, she pulled her arm away.

  Before she was free, he caught her. “Sef,” he said quietly.

  She shook her head, terrified of looking into his eyes. “No,” she whispered. “Don't say anything.”

  He leaned his head close anyway. “We need to talk about this, but now is just not the time.”

  Seffy backpedaled hard. “There's nothing to talk about, Gareth. I was just—” She couldn't claim she wanted only comfort—not after she kissed him last night. Oh, God, what had possessed her to make the first move? His response was exactly what she'd always been afraid of, and it had held her back until now. “I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable.”

  She got up from the couch and tucked her hair behind her ear, needing respite from the truth in his eyes. Seffy had a feeling she wouldn't like what she saw in the redhead's eyes either.

  His low exhale only made her feel worse. Of course I needed humiliation on top of being utterly displaced and chased by...creatures. Way to go, Sef.

  Malone filled chipped enamel mugs with the dark fluid from the bottle. After a deep drink from a mug, he held out the bottle. “Anyone else?”

  Addison made a noise of disgust and jumped up from the couch. She grabbed an extra cup and allowed Malone to fill it for her. Without bothering to sniff it, she gulped it back, then began to wheeze and gasp. Lani patted her back while Addy held out her cup for more.

  Gareth came up behind Seffy and touched her arm. “You want some?”

  Unable to face him, she shook her head. “Not really. It's undoubtedly nasty and probably poisonous.”

  “I'm gonna have some.”

  Seffy angled up at him. She could tell by his expression he was trying to get her to relax. “Yeah, me too.” It wouldn't be the first time she'd drowned her sorrows.

  Soon they were all sipping from their cups, back in their seats, trying not to grimace too much. It tasted like cheap whiskey but was thick like honey. Addy drained hers without any hesitation. Seffy followed right along, desperate to ease her embarrassment. By the time she had downed her third drink, a portion of her agony lessened. She noticed Malone had a second bottle out on the coffee table. Seffy hugged the corner of the couch and hoped there were many more. Tears stung her eyes.

  After a while Lani started to giggle. “I'm amused,” she said. “Get it? It has the word 'muse' in it.” Sending a flirtatious smile to Malone, she got to her feet and began a slow twirl.

  Seffy watched through a blur. Hope I'm not gonna be a weepy drunk this time. Kinda defeats the purpose.

  “You're our muse, Mr. Malone,” Lani said, drifting toward him, then running her hand along his arm.

  Addison smacked her forehead. “Here we go.”

  Lani closed her eyes and lifted her voice.

  “Hold my hand,

  maybe we've met before,

  at least in your thoughts.

  I'm aware of your niceness and t
hat you'll

  be leading us to a dreamland.”

  “Oh, God.” Addy groaned before taking another gulp. “And she's not even getting the words right.”

  Gareth watched Lani with tender concern, then shrugged. “She seems happy for the moment.”

  At least I'm not dancing around the room. Seffy cringed as the familiar song wormed its way into her brain.

  “Take us there now,

  only you know the way,

  you won't lead us astray,

  because you're in charge.”

  Malone stared at Lani with wide eyes as she undulated around the room.

  “We believe you have supernatural abilities—”

  Seffy choked and sputtered on her latest sip.

  “—we won't stand for any obstacles,

  we'll stay true to the path

  if our dreams are to be realized—”

  Addy burst into drunken laughter. “That's so not the song.”

  Lani didn't appear to hear or care as she spun and sang away.

  “If your dreams are to flourish,

  we'll make it to our destination.”

  She leaned down and kissed Malone on his stubbled cheek.

  “We're almost there, time collides,

  there's hope in the atmosphere.

  You're leading the way,

  and you'll grab us when we stumble...”

  Malone watched her with a predatory gleam in his eye. “Girl, you are lit.”

  Lani stopped and faced him. “Did you like my song?”

  “Sure, sugar.”

  “Because you're our muse,” she whispered. Tottering forward, she fell into his lap and started laughing. Malone put his arms around her and grinned.

  Seffy held out her cup to Addy, fighting a wave of despair. “Hit me again.” She took her refilled cup and drank it one gulp, trying not to gag.

  “Remember how we loved that music?” Addison asked, staring into the middle distance.

  “What music might that be?” Malone asked.

  “Zannytu.” Addy made a face. “That's a stupid name. What does it even mean?” She lapsed into giggles and repeated the word over and over until she was gasping for breath.

  Seffy found her laughter to be contagious but struggled to remain lucid despite five cups of Malone's grog. She pointed her finger at Addy. “That's not allowed. No talking about it, 'kay?”

  Addy stuck out her tongue. “You're a buzz kill, that's what you are, Sef. Always have been.”

  “What's that supposed to mean?”

  Jumping up, Addy tottered, then regained her balance. “I'm the queen! I'm in charge! You all have to lissen to me!”

  Seffy laughed. “Is that supposed to be me?”

  “Duh. Even when you're tanked, you're clueless.”

  Frowning, Seffy felt certain she should be offended, but couldn't think why. She glanced at Lani and saw she was draped across Malone's lap, her head on his shoulder, fast asleep. She turned to Gareth. He was leaning back against the cushions, his eyes heavy. The sight of him with his tousled hair and faint chin stubble twisted something inside her. An urge to cry welled up within her. He was too beautiful, too perfect.

  She'd never be good enough for him.

  A dark weight pressed on her chest and yet she longed to connect with him in some way. They were close friends...and she should apologize. For what, she couldn't be sure. On impulse, she leaned over to kiss his cheek as he dozed, but her grog-induced aim was off a bit and her lips landed on the corner of his mouth.

  “Stop that!”

  Seffy looked up at Addison, disoriented. “Why?”

  “Because!”

  “So, ladies...”

  They both turned with unsteady movements at the sound of Malone's voice.

  “Tell me why you think your clothes are old fashioned.”

  Seffy tossed him a sloppy smile. “I'm sure they were just the thing in their time.”

  “Their time,” he said. “As opposed to what time?”

  She concentrated to follow his line of thinking. “You know, modern times.”

  “Modern times?”

  “Is there an echo in here?” Addison burst out laughing.

  “Now times. Two thousand...two thousand...” Seffy tapped her forehead.

  “God, you're stupid. And deceitful and a liar and—”

  “Addison, what year is it?” Malone demanded.

  She glared at him for interrupting her. “It's 2006. Is everyone here as stupid as Seffy?” She snorted. “Stupid Seffy, Seffy Stupid—”

  “Hey!” Seffy protested. Her anger dissolved when she saw Malone slide out from under Lani and stand, a feral gleam in his eye.

  Someone hammered on the door.

  Seffy and Addison jumped in unison. Gareth groaned and forced his eyes open. Lani was dead to the world. Seffy watched with bleary eyes as Malone grabbed the rifle and stalked to the door.

  More knocks came, frantic. “Is anyone in there? Help us!”

  “Zombies!” breathed Addison.

  Seffy grimaced. “No sush thing.”

  Addison shooed her with her hand. “Oh go find your happy place!”

  “Help us, please! There are things after us!”

  Gareth struggled to his feet, his tired face tense. “Sounds like there's some breathers out there.”

  “More like a bunch of blood puppets,” Malone muttered.

  A long scream on the other side of the door went a long way to sober Seffy up. “Let them in, Malone!”

  “Brace yourselves,” he said in his harsh voice, then unlocked the door and pulled it open a crack. He stumbled backward from the force of several terrified people crashing their way in. The sound of nearby moaning sent shivers up Seffy's arms. She looked at the bedraggled newcomers. They didn't appear retro so maybe they were okay.

  “Don't let them in!” Addison yelled. “If they eat Seffy's brain, they'll still be hungry, 'cause she's so damn stupid!”

  Malone lifted the rifle to his shoulder and fired two shots in quick succession through the door. The moans ended all at once. “That's gonna be a mess to clean up in the morning,” he said, and slammed the door shut. After locking it, he turned to survey the group of strangers.

  Two women and three men, all twentyish, in obvious states of distress, stood huddled in the middle of the room. Her eyes widened at one of the woman's shoes. Diverted from terror by high fashion, Seffy leaned forward for a closer inspection—and crashed over the coffee table. Rolling onto her back, she pointed at the pumps.

  “Hey lady, are those Manolo Blahniks?”

  Chapter Seven

  The young woman with shiny brown hair stared at Seffy in horror. “Are you talking about my shoes?”

  Seffy attempted to get to her feet. “Uh huh. He's my favorite designer. But it's not like I can really afford him—”

  The woman burst into tears. One of the men, seriously fitted himself, patted her shoulder. “We've been chased by zombies,” he snapped. “Sorry if we don't want to talk couture right now.”

  She put up her hands. “Okaay, sheesh.”

  Malone held his rifle on the group. “Are you kids all right? How close did they get?”

  “We're fine,” one said through gritted teeth.

  Addison came up next to Seffy. “Hey,” she said in a loud whisper, “that blond guy looks like the dude from Underworld. He's totally staring at you.”

  Seffy weaved slightly. “Oh, is that the movie with the hobbits?”

  “No!” she huffed. “Forget it.”

  Seffy stared at the dishwater blond through unfocused eyes, who stared back, his gray eyes wide. She grimaced at the sight of his hair plastered to his forehead by sweat framing his stark, shell-shocked expression. She looked away. “Nah. That guy looks just plain mean.”

  Addison rolled her eyes.

  “Excuse me for not liking hobbit movies,” Seffy mumbled, and collapsed back onto the couch. Gareth sat next to her, apparently already forgetting the co
mpany, and looked at her with quiet intensity.

  “Did you kiss me?” he said in an undertone.

  Heat flooded her face. Which time? Seffy wondered if the redhead would spill, but Addison was too busy checking out the newbies. Gareth turned away, and after a moment, his head rolled to the side as sleep overtook him. Guess I've been dismissed. Gripping her cup, she took a long drink hoping the dejection would ebb away.

  One of the newcomers stepped forward. His dark eyes looked black in the low light, matched by the wavy hair tumbling over his brow. Seffy's mouth hung open. Whoa. He could be Gareth's younger brother. In fact, he looked the way she remembered Gareth back in the days before she'd done something stupid to displease him. And here she was in a butt ugly dress.

  He spoke to Malone. “We escaped. Thank you for taking us in. If you hadn't been here, we surely would've perished.”

  “Perished,” Seffy said. “That's a funny word.”

  The man sent her a quizzical look.

  “How did you come to be all the way out here?” Malone asked, suspicion oozing from his voice.

  The girl with kinky blonde curls, wearing an adorable T-shirt dress, stared at Malone with fearful eyes. “I was shopping on Melrose Avenue with Eva here when there was, like, an explosion. We woke up in some sparkly sand.”

  Eva, looking like the petulant rich kid she probably was, nodded.

  “Where's that?”

  “What?”

  “This Melrose place.”

  “Another one of Seffy's favorite shows,” Addison quipped, then guffawed.

  “Duh,” Eva said, ignoring her. “L.A.”

  “Los Angeles, California, right?”

  Underworld guy smirked, his eyes glittering with some weird light. “Dude, what rock did you crawl out from?”

  “Hey, Addy,” Seffy said, “I'm not the only stupid one around here.”

  Malone disregarded her. “What about the rest of you?”

  Gareth's little brother said, “I was in a sushi bar when the same thing happened.”

  Some of the grog sloshed out of Seffy's cup. “I love sushi!”

  One of the other guys spoke up, as dark as the other one. Not as cute and kinda weedy, but passable in a pinch. “The three of us were together at the sushi bar.”

  Seffy stared at the cute one, getting more nostalgic by the minute. How long had it been since Gareth's eyes hadn't been shadowed when he looked at her? She realized all three guys were staring at her, the dark ones with curious expressions, the blond with distaste and something else she couldn't identify. Oh well.