Zombie Attack! Rise of the Horde (29 page)

“Does that answer your question?” Her voice had a slight
tremble in it. It blew my mind that a celebrity like Felicity Jane could be
worried in any way that I would reject her. In that moment she was totally
vulnerable.

“It answers a lot of my questions about life,” I said with
an impish grin. She punched me playfully in the shoulder and bit her lip. I
laughed. She took me by the hand again and we walked down to Jonah and Darren.
I felt more confident than I can ever remember feeling in my life. Darren, on
the other hand, looked sick to his stomach. His face looked pale and he avoided
making eye contact the rest of the way back to camp. Jonah was just as
oblivious as he had always been; blissfully unaware that anything had changed
when, as far as I was concerned, everything in the whole world had just changed
back up on that hill.

Bryan and Benji were waiting for us when we got back. They
looked almost like a father and his son talking about the birds and the bees on
a camping trip. Bryan rubbed Benji's head, messing up his hair, and they both
laughed. Smiles lit up both their faces when they saw us coming in.

“There they are,” Bryan said. “How are you feeling this
morning?”

“Great,” I said, meaning it for the first time I could
remember.

“Fantastic . . . and you?” Bryan eyed Felicity with an
unspoken intensity that made her squirm. She gripped my hand tight.

“I'm fine,” she said as pleasantly as she could manage.

“So,” he said, sounding like a used car salesman getting
ready to wrap up a sale, “you've seen our lands, come to know our people and
our way of life . . . what do you think?”

“It's really amazing,” I said. “I admire the way you've
managed to put all this together and keep everyone content.”

An unexpected smile flashed across Bryan's face while
Felicity turned and gawked at me in shock.

“That's wonderful to hear,” Bryan said, bursting with glee.
“The others will be so pleased to hear you're staying with us. You're going to
love it here. I can get you set up in your own dwelling by the end of the
festival and then we just have to find you a job.”

I held up my hand to stop him.

“That's not necessary,” I said. “We're not staying. I need
to get to my brother and let him know I'm okay. I appreciate your hospitality
and ask for your blessing to leave.”

Bryan stared at us with a smile frozen on his face. He held
his silence as if he was thinking hard—right up to the cusp of the
exchange being truly awkward, before he spoke again.

“Does he speak for you as well?” He turned his full
attention to Felicity who seemed to almost wither under his glare.

“Yes,” she said. “I'm not staying here. I'm with Xander.”

Suddenly, Darren turned and stormed off toward the road. I
followed him with my eyes but the rest of the group just ignored him.

“Of course,” Bryan said, the fake note of sympathy returning
to his voice. “I understand. I give you both my blessing. As of last night you
may consider yourselves honorary members of our church. Please feel free to
return any time you like and visit.”

This is too easy
, I thought.
There has to be a
catch. It's almost like he's trying to get us to leave but I can’t figure out
why.

“Okay then,” I said. “Now if we can just have our vehicle
back, we'll be on our way.”

“Jonah,” Bryan said. “Would you please bring their car
around?”

Jonah wordlessly jumped to obey his command, running off
toward the tree line. We all sat there for a while in awkward silence trying
not to look at each other.

“What have you been up to?” I said to Benji to try to
lighten the mood.

“I've been having the most amazing time,” he said excitedly.

“That's great,” I replied, feeling glad to know that Bryan
had kept his word about not hurting children, other than the ones he illegally
married.

“I've been playing in the woods and made all sorts of new
friends,” Benji said. “It's wonderful here.”

Bryan smirked at his words, cocking his head toward us in an
I told you so
look.

“I'm glad you've been having fun,” I said.

“I've been learning a lot too,” Benji said.

“Like what?” Felicity asked.

“Did you know that my family is alive and well right now in
heaven? It's true. I'm going to get to see them all again when Jesus comes back
to lead the armies of the righteous against the children of the damned.” It was
like something from a horror movie come to life. They'd used the kids against
us to turn Benji’s head and fill it full of religious nonsense. They were
manipulating Benji over the death of his family. I glared at Bryan who returned
my burning gaze without shame or remorse. How could they do this to children?
How could they fill him with fairy tales over the death of his family, then use
that hope to make him do what they wanted?

That's the real sin
, I thought.
Giving Benji false
hope to use him against us as a weapon
.

Bryan seemed so resolute in his faith. That's what made it
all work. I realized as he held my stare for an uncanny length of time that his
real power was that he didn't just say these things to his followers, he truly
believed them. In his mind not only did God speak to him but he guided him to
this place and kept him and his followers safe from the end of the world.

“Grab your stuff, Benji,” I said. “We're going.”

Bryan Crowe didn't offer a word.

“No,” Benji said. “I'm staying here.”

My head spun around in shock and anger.

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“I like it here,” Benji said calmly. “There are plenty of
other kids my age and we get to play together, and best of all the zombies
can't hurt me anymore.”

“These people are strangers,” I said. “How do you know they
will protect you?”

“You were a stranger once too,” Benji protested. “And you
took care of me.”

“That's right,” I practically shouted. “I did. I've watched
out for you since those kids picked on you at Vandenberg and I still am looking
out for you now. It's my job to keep you safe.”

“This is where I belong now,” Benji said. “It's safe for me
here. At last I don't have to worry.”

“You said we were family now,” Felicity said softly,
kneeling down to his level and brushing the hair out of his eyes. “You sure you
don't want to stay with your family?”

“All of these people are one big family too,” Benji said,
getting a little overexcited. “Just like we are. Xander has to go to find his
brother, but you could stay here with me. Maybe when Xander is done fighting he
could come back and live here with us.”

“That sounds like a wonderful plan,” Bryan interjected.

“No,” Felicity said, looking up and into Bryan's eyes. “I
can't stay here.”

“Why not?” Benji was practically pleading with her.

“You're just going to have to take my word on it, little
man,” Felicity said kissing him on the head. “It's not safe for me or Xander
here anymore.”

“Enough,” Bryan said in a firm tone. “The child has decided
to stay of his own free will. You must respect his decision.”

I turned to look at Felicity and she shrugged.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” I asked Benji and he
nodded that it was. “Okay then. I guess this is where we part ways.”

I walked over to Bryan. He puffed out his chest as I
approached and several of his guards readied their weapons just in case I
started a fight.

“Please take good care of him,” I said.

“You have my word,” Bryan replied. “His soul is in my care
now.”

“I will be back to check on him,” I warned. “If anything is
out of place, you'll have to answer to me.”

“There is no need for threats here,” Bryan simpered.
“Particularly on this holy day. I've already told you that you are welcome to
visit whenever you like. “He looked over to Felicity and she scowled at him in
contempt. “Both of you,” he added.

“You can count on it,” I said.

Jonah pulled up in our Lexus and stopped, getting out. He
signaled to Bryan who turned back to us.

“A full tank of gas as promised,” he said. “I give you my
blessing and wish you peace and love in the Lord's name as you head on your
way. Amen.”

The entire congregation behind us sang out a matching chorus
of
amens
that practically shook the leaves from the trees. I couldn't
believe we were really going to leave Benji behind, that this was actually
happening. There was nothing I could do about it. I climbed into the Lexus and
shut the door. Felicity kissed Benji goodbye one last time then joined me. We
pulled out slowly back onto the road heading out of town. Felicity made a quick
sweep of the vehicle to check for our belongings. They were all there,
including the bear she had given Benji named Rasputin. She held it in her lap
as we drove and didn't say anything. A tear escaped her eye and she quickly wiped
it away. I pretended not to notice as I was dealing with my own feelings as
well.

The tents on the side of the road were abandoned now. The
roads were virtually empty of people as we made our way out of town. I turned
to Felicity.

“Don't you think it's weird that Darren ran off like that?”

“I thought you didn't like him,” she said, not looking at
me.

“I can't honestly say that I do,” I said.

“Maybe it was just too painful for him to say goodbye,” she
offered. “Or maybe Bryan wouldn't let him come. Maybe after he heard about
Bryan trying to convince me to be his sacred seventh bride he was afraid he
might flip out on him . . . or on you. For all we know, he could be locked up
in cult jail right now somewhere back there.”

“That's true,” I said taking her words in. “Did we do the
right thing back there, leaving Benji behind?”

“I don't know,” she sighed. “He said it's what he wanted but
he's just a kid. He doesn't understand how dangerous those people can be. It's
like he's blinded by their sense of community.”

“He lost his entire family right before his eyes,” I added.
“I can understand the appeal of wanting to believe they are in heaven and that
he is going to see them again one day, of wanting a loving, supportive family
that repeats that message over and over again. That's pretty irresistible
stuff.”

“But why do they want him?” She asked. “Why go to such
effort for just one kid?”

“I don't know,” I said. “I guess it's just what cults do.
They recruit people and convert them. It's their only function really if you
think about it. Spread the message.”

“Like a virus,” Felicity added.

We drove for a while longer in silence until we reached the
end of the winding canyons that led out to a straight stretch back to the 101
freeway. I was just getting ready to punch it when, without warning, a man came
running out onto the highway in front of us, waving his arms. I hit the brakes
and the Lexus came to a halt, skidding past and nearly clipping him. A few
inches to the left and he would have been tagged by the tail end of the SUV.

“What the hell was that?” Felicity screamed.

“I don't know,” I said, then amended my statement. “A man
waving his arms. He looked normal, you know, as in alive.”

Felicity looked in her side mirror.

“It's him,” she said. “It's Darren.”

“Jesus,” I gasped. “He scared the hell out of me. Why did he
do that?”

She was out of the car before I was finished talking. She
ran up to him and shoved him hard in the chest. I unbuckled my seat belt, threw
open the door, and hurried over to join them.

“What was that for?” She looked angry with her whole body as
she shoved him again. “You trying to get us killed? Huh?! Or are you just
trying to kill yourself by taking the coward’s way out?”

“I had to stop you,” he panted, scared and out of breath. “I
couldn't let you leave.”

“Why's that?” My blade was unsheathed in my hand, reflecting
the fading sun light. I hadn't noticed taking it out. Must have been force of
habit.

“Your friend, Benji,” he panted.

“What about him?” Felicity demanded. If she still had
feelings for this guy they were fading fast.

“They are going to sacrifice him,” he said. “That's why they
wanted him to stay.”

“Start explaining fast,” I said in a threatening voice, my
hand gripping my sword harder.

“The Harvest festival,” he said, gulping down air with his
hands on his knees and a terrified look on his face.

“We know,” Felicity said. “We were both drugged then
baptized last night, remember?”

“But they left Benji alone because he's just a kid,” I said.

“Wrong,” Darren said, finally straightening up as he spoke.
“It's because he's an outsider, a stranger no one will miss. Do you remember
those zombie pits I showed you this morning?”

“Where you wife is,” Felicity said as she shook her head.

“What about them?” I asked.

“Bryan doesn't believe in killing zombies,” Darren said. “He
says they are the damned but that we should have mercy on them.”

“You kinda covered all this earlier,” I said impatiently.
“Get to the part where they want to hurt our friend before I cut you in half
for almost running us off the road.” I took a step toward him and he held up
his hand to fend me off.

“Hold on,” he said. “My wife wasn't just attacked by a
zombie at our house on Z-day and rounded up. She was sacrificed during a
Harvest celebration to them. An offering is selected and placed in the pits for
them to feast on.”

“That's horrible,” Felicity gasped, covering her mouth with
her hands.

“Bryan says it's God's will and that when Christ comes back
he will redeem them. The others believe it helps keep us safe from zombie
attacks, but I know what it's really about.”

“What's that?” I loosened my grip on my weapon. He was
obviously in a great deal of emotional pain thinking about his wife as he
spoke.