State of Grace by M. Lauryl Lewis

Author:M. Lauryl Lewis [Lewis, M. Lauryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Zombie Apocalypse, zombie, the walking dead, m. lauryl lewis, prepper, survival, dystopian
Publisher: M. Lauryl Lewis
Published: 2017-01-12T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

The ride away from the old concrete building was somber. Few people spoke for the first several miles. Hope remained on Hoot’s lap, with Autumn and Flower at her side. My darling had calmed once Autumn was safely aboard, but her pale little face still wore a look of deep sadness.

“Hope? Do you want to sit with me?” I asked.

She shook her pudgy little face side-to-side and clung to Autumn. In that moment, a sadness fell upon my heart. Looking around, I saw weary faces and broken people. Gus stood near the front of the bus, talking with the driver. Once we left behind the dampness from the prior rain, ash began to billow behind us, leaving an unsettling trail. The dead walked aimlessly in the distance, albeit much slower than we’d grown to expect. I knew they were all Roamers by the way they walked haphazardly. At one point we passed a Roamer crouched down on the side of the road eagerly eating what looked like a skinned chupacabra. Gray Henley slowed the bus to circumvent an old abandoned vehicle that was covered in a thin layer of ash.

I turned my attention to Hope when she made a noise of disgust.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

She plugged her nose and looked at me. “Flower pooted.”

As she spoke the words, the burn of dog flatulence bit my nose.

“He probably needs to go to the bathroom,” I said. “I’ll let your Papa know.”

I smiled at her and walked to the front of the bus, where Gus was busy talking to the driver.

“Gus, I think the dog needs to go to the bathroom.”

“It’s probably as good a time as any to stop for a break,” said the driver.

Gus turned to face everyone and cleared his throat.

“We haven’t seen the dead in a while. Now’s a good time to take a break. If you need help getting on or off the bus, raise your hand. If your hand isn’t raised, try to help someone who needs it.” He sounded so tired. “Stay within fifty feet or so.”

“Hope, let’s go,” I said quietly.

She shook her head. She looked fearful. “No Mama. No touch.”

I was perplexed. “Hope, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“No Mama. No.”

My heart broke as I looked at my daughter, not understanding what she was afraid of. She clung tightly to Autumn, trying to put distance between herself and me. Hoot stood and set his hand on my shoulder.

“Let Autumn take her?” he said, not quite asking and not quite instructing.

I looked at him, doing my best to keep my face neutral.

“I’ll stay with them. She’ll be safe,” he said, trying to reassure me.

I reached to touch the top of Hope’s head, a gentle gesture I had done since she was just new. She flinched and shrunk farther away.

“Hope, it’s okay,” Autumn said lovingly.

“No, Aum. No hurt Mama.”

Gus joined us at the rear of the bus. As others began to leave the safety of the vehicle, he wrapped an arm around my waist. Hope sniffled and tightened herself against Autumn.

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