cost, she will get out of here with their child.
The mourning done, we spoke haltingly about our concerns about enemies in the area. Gear was prepped and loaded for the search for Daemon’s family, but the atmosphere of death and doom permeated the troupe. Daemon twitched and hurried to help everyone with their tasks.
“Are we ready yet? I want to have plenty of time to reach home and see them. It’s been a couple of years.”
Reggie frowned but held his tongue. The rest of us took our places in the convoy. I tapped the roof of the pickup twice.
“We’re off. You three clear a path and we will follow.”
Daemon grinned and levitated a foot into the air.
“Got it; I’ll lead the way.”
“Daemon...” He paused to look at me. “...I hope this works out. But, well, if not remember that we are here for you.”
He swallowed and clenched his jaw as he swiped hair from his face.
“I know. Thanks, Squirrel. But they’re alive; I’m sure of it.”
The fledgling took off and the engines revved up.
I sat between Lorcan and Hannah and closed the tailgate.
###
We reached the little brick house around 9:30PM. The road had been lined with the remains of zombies thanks to our trio of Undead. We tumbled out of the transports like water off a cliff. Daemon stood as a statue staring at the darkened two-story with a wraparound porch. The gardens and grass was overgrown and the screen door hung from the top hinge only. Caelinus put a hand on his shoulder.
Daemon shook it off and approached his former residence. I tried to imagine him growing up playing in the yard or climbing the oak trees. The moon cast too little light to see by with the trees so near. Flashlights came out as we followed. Reggie stayed by the cars with a few others. Cal and I were first in after our host.
The living room was immaculate except for a layer of dust. A trail of footprints led us into through the hall and into a bedroom. On the bed lay two forms; Daemon sat on the floor next to the female reading a note. Both people had been long gone. An empty bottle of sleeping pills and a thirty year bottle of scotch sat on the table. Their hands were entwined showing the matching gold bands.
“They left a note.” Tears began to flow from Daemon’s eyes. A vibrant green emanated from them. “It says they left food and other emergency supplies in the kitchen. They just ask that anyone who finds them buries them at the cemetery two miles away next to their son.” I moved to him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders as he recounted the note. “They say... they decided to rejoin him; life hadn’t been the same since he died a few years ago and they feel others would be better off with the supplies. They wish us all the luck and love in the world.”
He lowered the paper and sobbed against my chest. Cal and Marley Guy stood quietly while Daemon grieved for his lost family. I hugged him tightly and ran my fingers through his hair like my mom always did to calm me as a child. I cried along with him for the loss of my own loved ones. After some time, a gentle knock at the door shook us from our reverie.
Wiping our eyes, we saw Bubba in the doorway. I released my grip on Daemon.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got a little company outside. Could Cal lend a hand?”
The Roman moved to leave but was halted by a hand on his elbow.
“I’ll go.” His fledgling popped his neck. “I need to
The mourning done, we spoke haltingly about our concerns about enemies in the area. Gear was prepped and loaded for the search for Daemon’s family, but the atmosphere of death and doom permeated the troupe. Daemon twitched and hurried to help everyone with their tasks.
“Are we ready yet? I want to have plenty of time to reach home and see them. It’s been a couple of years.”
Reggie frowned but held his tongue. The rest of us took our places in the convoy. I tapped the roof of the pickup twice.
“We’re off. You three clear a path and we will follow.”
Daemon grinned and levitated a foot into the air.
“Got it; I’ll lead the way.”
“Daemon...” He paused to look at me. “...I hope this works out. But, well, if not remember that we are here for you.”
He swallowed and clenched his jaw as he swiped hair from his face.
“I know. Thanks, Squirrel. But they’re alive; I’m sure of it.”
The fledgling took off and the engines revved up.
I sat between Lorcan and Hannah and closed the tailgate.
###
We reached the little brick house around 9:30PM. The road had been lined with the remains of zombies thanks to our trio of Undead. We tumbled out of the transports like water off a cliff. Daemon stood as a statue staring at the darkened two-story with a wraparound porch. The gardens and grass was overgrown and the screen door hung from the top hinge only. Caelinus put a hand on his shoulder.
Daemon shook it off and approached his former residence. I tried to imagine him growing up playing in the yard or climbing the oak trees. The moon cast too little light to see by with the trees so near. Flashlights came out as we followed. Reggie stayed by the cars with a few others. Cal and I were first in after our host.
The living room was immaculate except for a layer of dust. A trail of footprints led us into through the hall and into a bedroom. On the bed lay two forms; Daemon sat on the floor next to the female reading a note. Both people had been long gone. An empty bottle of sleeping pills and a thirty year bottle of scotch sat on the table. Their hands were entwined showing the matching gold bands.
“They left a note.” Tears began to flow from Daemon’s eyes. A vibrant green emanated from them. “It says they left food and other emergency supplies in the kitchen. They just ask that anyone who finds them buries them at the cemetery two miles away next to their son.” I moved to him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders as he recounted the note. “They say... they decided to rejoin him; life hadn’t been the same since he died a few years ago and they feel others would be better off with the supplies. They wish us all the luck and love in the world.”
He lowered the paper and sobbed against my chest. Cal and Marley Guy stood quietly while Daemon grieved for his lost family. I hugged him tightly and ran my fingers through his hair like my mom always did to calm me as a child. I cried along with him for the loss of my own loved ones. After some time, a gentle knock at the door shook us from our reverie.
Wiping our eyes, we saw Bubba in the doorway. I released my grip on Daemon.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got a little company outside. Could Cal lend a hand?”
The Roman moved to leave but was halted by a hand on his elbow.
“I’ll go.” His fledgling popped his neck. “I need to
Similar Books
