Page 16 of Desiderium (Devil Dogs of the Apocalypse #2)
Aly
Four days after the rain started, it finally stops.
While the past couple of days have been absolute Heaven with the guys, it’s time to keep moving.
We’ve replenished our packs with whatever else we felt we might’ve needed from the farmhouse, but when I put my pack on, it surprisingly feels lighter than when we first got here.
Huh, I must be getting stronger then…
It’s early morning as we continue our journey north, foregoing a sit-down meal at breakfast for simple protein bars to be eaten on the way.
Hawk steps up next to me on my left and gives me a wink, kissing my temple.
Cole does the same on my right side; the small gesture from both of them bringing a very large smile to my face.
I swear, being surrounded by these guys is always overwhelming but never gets old. They dwarf me in size and stature and I can’t help but try to not drool all over myself as I look up at their gorgeous bodies and faces .
Stop it, stop it, stop it! You’ve been getting dicked-down every day for months you thirsty bitch. Time to give the poor cookie a break!
I mentally calm my over-active libido down and focus on what we’re going to need to do.
Which is walk…
A lot…
Fuck my life.
I decide to jump up and down on my toes, my arms swinging back and forth as I try to psych myself up for another long day.
It’s ok. This is nothing. I can totally do this. No problem. It’s just a little walk.
Yeah... and a marathon is just a fun filled sightseeing tour through the city... I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS!
I shake my head, trying to purge the negativity from my thoughts.
“Shush! If fucking babies can walk, then I, a grown ass woman, can do this without whining about it... too much... or not at all. Nope, totally gonna make this walk my bitch!”
I catch the guys laughing to themselves but I don’t pay any mind to it. I’m in my own little world, kicking ass and taking names. Oh yeah, they’ll see. I’m going to Rocky Balboa this shit. Get to the end then run up to the estate screaming, “Adrian! ”
You honestly think we’re going to have the energy to ‘run’ when we get there? Ahem, bitch, thou art mistaken.
Fuck off, skank!
Ok, let’s do this. No better time than the present to put the past behind us.
Time to get my ass in gear. It’s not like I didn’t walk all over the damn place before meeting these guys.
I mean, I did walk from New York all the way down here, so that’s saying something.
But what I’m also saying is that I leisurely walked town to town.
There was no rush. At one point I even managed to keep pace with a butterfly and was just as whimsical about it.
Thinking back to last fall, I can’t fathom what was going through my brain.
How in the hell did I think walking my ass all the way down the entire length of the lake was anywhere close to a good idea?
Come on now. It was the complete opposite on all counts.
Not only was I a teeny tiny bit reckless, putting my delectable ass on display for not only the zombie population but also the douchebag residency, I severely underestimated the distance and my lacking ability to perform the task.
A lot.
It was stupid. Plain and simple.
But walking with these guys? Holy fuck! Didn’t anyone ever teach them how to stop and smell the roses? This isn’t a race. There’s no marshmallow extravaganza at the end of the road. There’s no gumdrop candy mountain, either. At least none that I’ve been made aware of.
Not to mention their legs are twice the length of mine. For every one step they take I have to take at least two. I’m practically running the entire time with these short, stubby, little legs.
My only saving grace is that we were able to make it to the farmhouse on the first leg of the trip. According to Jax, it’s at about the halfway mark. But either way you look at it, it’s still a glass half full/ half empty scenario.
Maybe I can suggest we change the pace from a quick march to, I don’t know… An amble? A stroll? A frolic? Any of those will do.
Oh shit, can you imagine Jax’s broody butt frolicking?
Unfortunately, there’s no time to picture that awesomeness as Jax steps in front of us with Sadie by his side.
“Ok. Game plan. If we keep up a decent pace, we should reach the estate by this afternoon. Upon arrival, we need to scope the place out, see what’s left, take what there is and move out.
We obviously can’t spend the night there, so plan on continuing to the adjacent town to borrow a house for the night.
“Now, when we last left that place, we were swarmed with a horde of undead.
Most of them followed us back to the cabin but they may have since returned; we all know they like their patterns.
With that being said, keep in mind there may be some lurkers between here and there, so keep a look out and make sure you have your weapons at the ready at all times.
“We’re going to do an arrow formation.” He tents his fingers together, making a triangle shape as he issues us our positions.
“I’ll take point, while Cole and Hawk take the left and right flanks.
Aly, you’re going to keep your cute little butt right in the middle of them.
It’s looking like it's going to be a nice, sunny day today so we’re going to take it a little slower than we did coming this far since we don’t have to battle the elements just yet.
” He looks to me and gives me just a little smile that I’m not sure the others noticed.
Oh, my Eeyore just earned himself some brownie points!
“ Is everyone clear on today’s objective?” We all nod our agreements before he continues. “Alright, let’s move out.”
***
A few hours and a couple of minor pitstops later, we finally arrive at Jax’s old estate. I’m sore and tired, but thankfully not all huffy and puffy like an asthmatic chasing down an ice cream truck for once. Since Jax slowed the pace down to a lovely amble, I’m, happily, not dead on my feet.
Now, did I pull a Rocky and run up the steps like a champ when we got here? Hell to the no. But I still managed to make it here in one piece so I’m calling that a qualified win for me.
The four of us plus Sadie stand there on the edge of the property and take in the charred remnants of a life’s work. Soot, ash and debris fill the space where Jax’s home used to be, even after months having passed.
We’re not going to mention that the remnants include varying levels of decaying bodies unlovingly provided by Earl’s brother’s super dead crew, which are perfectly layered amongst said debris, are we…?
“…………………… No…We’re not going to mention that.”
Good… Great… Awesome… Oh look! A quarter!
I look around at the estate as so many memories bombard my tired mind.
I remember the first time I met Cole through the closet door of my room.
How gentle and kind he was with my terrified self.
I remember waking up later to Hawk and his words of reassurance and possessive nature to have me stay with them rather than battle the world on my own anymore.
I remember Jax, the shower, and then what happened each time I went into his room.
The sheer, raw power behind his emotions—both the good ones and the bad.
And how now, I find the second floor, where all those memories were born, completely obliterated and nonexistent.
Realistically, it’s all unnecessary frivolities in the world we’re currently living in, but I can’t help wiping a stray tear from my eye as I turn to see the boys’ reactions.
Officially, this place was owned by Jax. But it was their home… All of theirs. They told me how they would all meet up here every summer ever since Jax got the place. It wo uldn’t have been the same if those summers never happened. The loss they must be feeling, I can’t even imagine.
Cole and Hawk are quiet yet reflective, softly kicking their boots into the dirt, their hands in their pockets in surrender and defeat.
While Jax lived here year-round, Hawk and Cole only usually came to stay on holiday.
That is until the virus spread. It was then they brought whatever they could of their old lives to reside here permanently.
Jax still had the cabin down the way with some bits of his life left to cling to. But Cole and Hawk?
They lost everything.
I turn my gaze to Jax who looks just as determined as ever, his face alluding to anger but also peace and resignation. With his eyebrows drawn together, he sucks on his cheek before nodding and says, “Alright, let’s get to it.”
Jax leads the way, motioning for everyone to follow him to the little shed over by the lakeshore on the other side of the beach. There’s a lone zombie ambling across the property but Jax signals that he has it.
The scraps of clothes left on its decaying body are barely covering the putrid flesh underneath, leaving very little to anyone’s imagination, much to my repugnance. The last thing anyone needs to see is rotten nether bits.
Lifting his knife, Jax takes out the straggler with efficient ease, not even slowing his steps as he clears the path forward.
Cole, Hawk, and I follow behind him and Sadie but exchange a skeptical look as we walk, wondering what he might be keeping in there.
As far as we know, it’s just a home for towels, a few bits of extra clothes and some gasoline and replacement parts for the boat that’s no longer here. Nothing we really need.
At least the walk to the shed is easier than I expected.
The small area of ground leading to the lake is a mixture of dirt and sand.
On any typical day, it would be soft and somewhat difficult to cross without putting some sort of effort behind the movement.
But today, it’s firm, hardened by the four days of continuous rain that fell on us.