Page 59 of Doomsdate

“It’s only ten a.m.,” Maisie says quietly as we turn into the hip residential area. “They’ll all be asleep.”

“Gemma will have the safety stuff figured out, I’m sure.” I stare out the window. There are zombies standing about on the sidewalks, under bus stop enclosures, idling in the middle of the multilane streets. “She’s always been the smarter one.”

“I’m excited to meet her,” Maisie says. She meets my eyes with a quick, albeit shaky smile, which I return.

“You’re going to love her.” I snort. “She hates the government, too.”

“Doctor Mouth,” Maisie says, then shakes her head, smiling. “I can’t believe I’m gonna get to meet the Mouth.”

“Can we not call her that?”

Maisie laughs as we roll to a stop in front of a renovated brownstone in an old neighborhood known for its excellent bars and restaurants. “Is this it?”

From first glance, nothing looks amiss. I’m honestly surprised that the windows haven’t been boarded up or fortified, though. I’d forgotten how low her windows are on the first floor. With how feral the zombies get at night? If they sensed her inside, they’d be able to bust right in. My stomach twists, but the windows are intact.

I step out of the car, and Maisie does, too, leaving it double-parked right in front of Gemma’s townhouse. The streets are crammed full of cars, not a parking spot for miles, probably.

Everybody’s home. Everybody’s here.

“Are any of these cars hers?” Maisie asks as we raise our weapons.

I look up and down the street, but nothing looks familiar. “I don’t know.” I frown, a sense of foreboding growing in my stomach as I stare up at the perfectly still townhouse before me.

Wouldn’t she be on the lookout for us? She knows I’m coming. Why hasn’t she come out yet?

“Come on,” Maisie says, nudging me with her elbow, but I’m frozen on the sidewalk, as lifeless as the zombies swaying nearby.

Why isn’t she out yet? My heart’s beginning to thump against my ribs. After finding Sandeep, I don’t—I can’t—

“Hey, breathe. Do you want me to go in first?” Maisie offers gently. “Check it out?”

That shakes me out of my stupor. “No, no. If…if something’s wrong, I need to be there.”

“Okay,” Maisie whispers, and suddenly I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that she’s here with me.

“Thank you,” I whisper back.

She leads me to the door, and I fumble with my keys for the first time since we left Durham. Gemma gave me her spare years ago, the last time Louise and I visited, so that we could come and go as we pleased. Gemma’s hours at the lab were long and uncertain sometimes; if she was caught in the middle of an experiment, she might not be able to leave for hours. She was so devoted to her work, ferociously so.

Ugh. Stop using the past tense!

My throat is unbearably tight as I bring the key to the lock.

“Wait.” Maisie puts her hand on mine. “We should knock. Ring the doorbell or something. What if she’s in there with an axe?”

I nod quickly. “Good thinking. Right.”

I knock first.

Nothing.

I knock again, and we both press an ear to the wood, our eyes fixed on each other’s as we listen for any movement inside.

None.

“Fuck,” I say, my voice already breaking.

“Not yet,” she breathes. “Stay calm. Let’s go in.”