The Complex: (The Reanimates) (11 page)

             
“Just so you know, I haven't totally discarded the electricity idea. I'll let you know when I come up with more of a plan. I know we don't need the power but damn if we are going to give up yet another thing because of some shitty virus. Sorry Drew, didn’t mean to swear in front of you.”

             
Drew shrugged it off, not really caring. He had definitely heard more than that. I wouldn't be surprised if he had thought those words himself.

Power Alternative

             
While up on the roof on look out duty Trent kept thinking on the electricity thing. He said there was the nagging thought about the idea of using an alternator to jury-rig a generator. Yes it would work but the constant reminder of where are we going to get gas for the generator was weighing on him. Drew and I climbed up the ladder with dinner to have a picnic on the roof as a family. Trent was looking over the neighborhood with deep thought etched on his face.

             
“We could do a solar set up.” He finally offered as a window to his thoughts. “There are four buildings and I can see more houses than that with panels on the roof. We could take those panels and the set up of batteries and inverters and run them into the buildings. We wouldn't be able to run the air conditioners on it, but it should be enough to keep lights on.”

             
“Trent, that's out there though. We'd have to leave our complex to get them. We don't have the best track record on that. The two times we left brought zombies on us. Are we really ready to do that again?” I looked into his eyes to try to tell how important this actually was to him. “Besides, how do we even know those houses are empty? How do we know they aren't hiding out the zombie apocalypse themselves? If they have power that they know is going to stay put then why would they have left?” I didn't want to think about the fact that the houses we were talking about could easily have housed some of the zombies that we turned into firewood when they were still people. The thought wouldn't go away once it took root. It bothered me to think that the zombies were once people. It crossed my mind more than once that Mrs. Mendez was possibly one of them.

             
“Yeah. It would mean that we have to leave the complex. We can't turn an apartment complex in southern California into a fully self sufficient compound on what we have on hand. We can't really do it even if we had everything that Wal-Mart and Home Depot has to offer. Sucks, but it is the reality. As a whole southern California isn't the ideal location for this with the lack of rivers and temperature control. We will have to leave sometimes. You know, speaking of what Home Depot has to offer, we could go for broke and hit the home improvement store. They would have multiple types of generators giving us a variety of options so when the sun isn't out we still would have the gas one and when the sun is out the gas one can be shut down so we can conserve fuel. We could get some propane tanks while we're at it.”

             
It was a lot to think about. There were so many things we could use if we did another run. We could get a real power supply. We could get more of those five gallon jugs. We could get more gasoline for the truck as well as some back up gas cans. I didn't want to admit though that this could be our best chance. When Eric came back infected it shook me to my core. The reality of the infection hit way too close to home. I didn't even know Eric that well and it messed with me. My big fear was that the infection would take away Trent followed now with Jody or Daniel or Joey. These are people I was getting to know and really care about. Something about going through a zombie apocalypse really speeds up the bonding process. I didn't want anyone else hurt.

             
“You know, we could test the smell theory if we took this trek out to the home improvement place. On our way back we could pour out some bleach over our trail. I still don't think it will help at all to do that, but it's a theory to try.” Trent smiled his we really have to give it a try smile.

             
I still hated the idea but what else could we do to increase our odds? We had to do something. Joey climbed up the ladder to relieve Trent from watch duty. Trent decided to pitch his idea to him since it was clear that there was something on our minds.

             
“Hey Joey. We need to come up with a plan here. Lemme run the thought I'm having by you. We were talking about needing to do a home store run for some generators and propane and stuff. Cali thinks its too much a risk, I think the benefits could be worth it. What's your take?”

             
“Are you really asking me to be the tie breaker between you and your wife? Man. She is going to kill me when I agree. I know she can now that she learned how to work that Luger. Before I could have taken her, but now, I'm not so sure. My only real stipulation on that there agreement is that we have to stop by a place that stocks bullets. Our ammo situation has gotten pretty low.”

             
“Haha Joey. So you agree then that this is an actually needed trip?” I replied.

             
“It could be made to be. If it was just a matter of a generator I'd likely be on the fence but like I said we do need more ammo. We need to have more water on reserve just in case. We need more food always. In a group our size all the resources will go faster than we think it should. It is important to keep as ahead on this stuff as possible. If we need to make a run for something else we need to include food and water.”

             
“Damn it, Joey. You had to go and make sense. It doesn't mean I like the idea of anyone going out again, but yeah, it does make sense to keep on top of stuff.” I conceded. “So, when do you think we should go?”

             
Trent said with a totally serious there is no negotiation here sort of tone, “You're not going.”

             
“What? No. If we need stuff we need to have a team that works well together to make sure we all get out of it alive. We have proven that we can get in and get out and take care of business and no one gets hurt.” I was hurt that Trent was going to dismiss me so quickly.

             
“Yeah, we have proven that. But the fact remains that you are not going. We need a nurse here to take care of people if something goes wrong. You've also proven that you can handle a situation here if there is a zombie hit.” He leaned close to give me a kiss and in low tones, for my ears only, whispered “I need to know you are safe, especially since we've never done a multiple hit run. I need to know that if things end up bad that Drew won't be an orphan. I can't stand the idea that I could lose my wife and my son could be alone. I would be so wrapped up in that I know I would make a mistake and people would suffer for it. Please, Cali, please don't fight me on this. Just stay. Please.”

             
I had no response to this.

"So, when are you guys taking off?" I asked them both. I was working hard to keep tears in check. Trent and Joey looked at each other thoughtfully.

             
"Way I see it, the sooner the better. The longer we wait the more likely it will be that the things we are going to be after will be already gone from other survivors getting to it first or that the zombies will be more plentiful and/or more hungry." Joey responded.

             
Trent nodded. "I agree, although I don't have any interest in doing this in the dark. First thing in the morning then?"

             
Steven appeared at the top of the ladder offering to do watch. He explained that he had slept late that day and that there was no way that he was going to be getting any sleep that night anyway. Trent and Joey accepted the offer. They went off to talk about their plans.

             
After they had gone, I sat down on the flat roof and looked over the city while Drew was chatting with Steven about drums. I could see the freeway in the distance. The lack of a chain of tail lights fascinated me. The silence was disorienting for a moment. There was nothing. In the world before zombies there was always something. There were airplanes and car alarms and sirens. Air conditioners would click on and off, a too loud stereo would come from either the street or another unit. Right now there was nothing. Birds had even fallen silent. I felt suddenly alone in the world. It was all gone. Reality as it was before was over. What if everyone was gone and our little complex was it?

             
It hit me that I was starting to have a flair for dramatic right then. I stopped looking out on the town and brought my eyes back down to the complex. There were people milling about the common grounds enjoying the breeze that came with the setting sun. They were alive and thriving. Drew came up to me, sat down, and put his head on my shoulder.

             
"Hey mom."

             
"Hey kiddo. What's up?"

             
"Oh nothing. Just thinking on stuff."

             
"Like what?”

             
"Just that this wasn't what I thought my summer break was going to be like. I thought we would be going to the pool or having picnics. I thought we would be doing nature walks at the college. I never guessed we'd be hiding from zombies. I keep wondering if Grandma and Grandpa are OK at Aunt Kristen's house. I wonder if Nathan is scared. I worry we are never going to see them again. I keep thinking I should have just given him my truck that he played with every time he came here. I keep thinking my friends at school might be hiding out like us but then I start seeing that zombie Joey killed in the parking lot at the sport store and suddenly I don't see that man anymore. I see Kyle or Darren. What if they are all zombies? What if we are the only people ever again? What if I have to get married to Abigail. I mean, ewww."

             
I understood completely. I cracked a slight smile over worrying about having to get married to Abigail, but the totality of what he was saying sat heavy on me. I wished he wasn't so smart and observant for a moment. I wish he could be oblivious to it all. I felt insufficient as a mom for not being able to come up with the magic words to be able to set his mind at ease. This world we now lived in was shockingly short on platitudes.

             
I wrapped my arms around him tightly. I took a breath and said, "I totally get what you're saying baby. I really wish I could say something that would fix it. I'm pretty sure that grandma and grandpa are fine. Grandpa was in the army for a while same as Joey so I bet they have stuff pretty well safe. It helps that Idaho isn't stacked with people like California. Less people mean less chance to get infected with the virus. Kristen had a lot of space around her house. That will help. As for being the only people left here, it's funny cause I was just thinking that myself. I can't believe that we really are. There are a lot of people. If they were all zombies we would see more zombies. In all the movies and stories zombies are anxious to eat and infect. The handful that have come by would have been so many more. I bet that several houses around here have people hiding in it. We may see more of them come out in time after they run out of stuff. I'd hope they end up coming here to help make this place work better since everyone has something they are good at and maybe it will make complex life better for everyone. It's a hope but we'll have to wait and see."

             
"Yeah. I really hope so. This whole thing just sucks. So, did I hear that dad is going out again? Doesn't that mean zombies end up coming here? How does he know it won't end up like what happened to Eric?"

             
"Yeah he and Joey are going out. Honestly I don't know what's going to happen with this. I know your dad and Joey are really smart and that they are good at keeping an eye out on things. If this works like we hope it will then we are going to be happier. We can only hope it works out."

             
Drew sat quietly taking in everything. After a moment he said "Well at least Joey is going with him. He's nice enough and he is tough. He brought out your tough too, I think."

             
I liked that. The idea that I have become more tough was a funny one but I think in just a couple days I had become stronger than I was. I was definitely less prone to freaking out.

             
Drew and I stayed up on the roof for a bit longer and watched the sun set. It was nice just being up there with him. The sky quickly shifted its colors. It changed the bright blue into a sea of oranges and yellows and slid into beautiful violets. The stars started to peek out.

             
"Well kiddo, we need to get on in. The street lights flicked off and on. I don't want to figure out the ladder in the dark if the lights shut off completely."

             
I sent him down the ladder first. On my trek down on the next to last rung the lights shut off completely. I hoped that it was going to pop back on but it didn't. Drew and I made it back to the apartment carefully. We moved on the sidewalk almost driven by muscle memory. We moved up the stairs and in through the front door. Drew made his way to the couch and I made my way over to the bathroom where we kept the lantern.

             
Right after the lantern got switched on Trent walked in. When the power went out Trent knew we would come right here. I placed the lantern on the coffee table and we all sat down together on the couch. For a while no one said anything. Trent was the first to break the silence.