Page 31 of Doomsdate
“So D.C. is…”
“D.C. is full of zombies.”
My stomach drops; I hadn’t realized how much I’d hoped to hear that it was just Durham overrun by the undead, or North Carolina. Hell, even the whole South. But if our nation’s capital isn’t safe, is anywhere?
“Have you talked to Mom and Dad?” My fingers grip the corner of my bedroom’s mattress, compressing the space foam or whatever it is as though I could somehow transfer the pressure in my chest into it.
“Yes, they’re fine, too,” Gemma says, and my fingers slowly release. “Maybe we’re immune? Something in our blood? If only I could get to my lab…I could take some samples, study this thing, and figure it out before it destroys everyone.”
“Gemma, are you serious? Don’t leave your house!” My other hand flies up to the phone, too, clutching it double-handed to my face. “Wait until I get there, and then—then we’ll figure out what to do next.”
“You have a plan to get to D.C.?” Her voice fills with excitement. “Is Sandeep driving you?”
The question hits me square in the sternum. “No, he—ah. He got sick.”
“Jesus,” Gemma says, softly swearing under her breath. “I’m so sorry. What are you going to do, then? Steal a car or something?”
“No. I’m getting a ride with—”
I hesitate.
With the way Sandeep sprang last night’s date on me, I haven’t had a chance to tell Gemma about Maisie yet, and I don’t particularly want to now.
“—a friend,” I finally settle on, though Maisie’s by far the most intimidating friend I’ve ever had. “She’s going to drop me off on her way north.”
“You have a friend?” Gemma’s tone instantly downshifts into a girlish tease. “And it’s a she?!”
I sigh. I knew this would happen.
“Gemma. Are you really going to give me hell about this when the world’s literally gone to hell?”
“I have to have something to live for, don’t I?” Gemma huffs. “What’s her naaaame?”
“Oh my god.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Maisie Bennett. Now can you please stop?”
“Mai-sie,” Gemma purrs. “Is she pretty?”
“She’s terrifying.”
“So, yes, then,” Gemma says, satisfied. “This is so great, Everett! I didn’t know you were dating again.”
“A date. One. Singular. Not dating. And it ended in the zombie apocalypse, so I can’t say that it was a very successful one.”
“Wait.” Gemma’s voice gets much louder in the earpiece. “You met this woman last night? Did you spend the night together?”
“Jesus, Gemma—no! It’s a long story. Can we please stay focused on, oh, I don’t know, the end of the world?!”
Gemma audibly sighs. “You’re asking a lot of me right now.”
My god. Is there anything more frustrating than a little sister?
“And you trust this Maisie enough to go on a road trip with her?”
I glance at the closed bedroom door, considering Gemma’s question, and not for the first time. “I…think so. She’s already saved my life twice and Chicken’s once. She’s—nice, if a little strange.” I pause. “She owns a mace.”
“Wow.” Gemma whistles. “That red flag’s gone temporarily green, hasn’t it?”
“Don’t I know it.” I adjust the phone, switching it to my other hand as I start pulling out clothes from my dresser. “Listen, I need you to stay put until I get there. You should be safe if you stay inside, especially at night. Keep your doors locked. Stay on the highest floor of your house. And no going to the lab!”
