All Is Silence - Deserted Lands #1

Chapter 8 - Part III

“I can’t understand why we haven’t found more people. How many people are still alive?” Zach counted on his fingers. “You, me, Saj, Jess, and your ‘Spike’. Are we it?”

“And the Doctor.” Lizzie yawned. “Think I’ll sleep down here.”

A frown shadowed across Zach’s face. “Uh... Lizzie?”

“Spit it out, Zach. You wanna sleep here, too? Okay.” Kill the snake. “But not like last night.”

He shrugged. “But, I-”

“No. I’m sorry, Zach.” Lizzie watched his eyes go puppy-dog. Dammit. “I shouldn’t have slept with you.”

Zach nodded; his eyes didn’t mask the hurt.

“I should have followed my own rules.”

“It’s okay,” he said.

“It’s not okay. I can tell from your voice and see it in your eyes. But it has to be.” She felt bad, but she hadn’t done it by herself. “How many times did you tell me we could fool around and not get serious. Now we have and…” Her voice trailed off.

“Yeah,” Zach said, picking up the glass of milk and the plate. He strode out of the room. “Really ought to do the dishes,” he hollered back.

“Dump ‘em out back. We can always get more tomorrow.” She pulled the comforter up around herself and the little boy in her arms. She wasn’t his mama, and he wasn’t Jayce. But she would love him and care for him, for all those who would never be found.

A few minutes after she heard the crash of dishes, Zach slipped in behind her. His hands wrapped around her and Saj. She patted his hand. Sorry, my friend.

                                                                      *        *        *

The silence again woke Lizzie. It felt like an alien world without noise. When would this be normal? She reached down to the little bundle in her arms. Wet diaper, wet mattress. At least he’s hydrated.

She rolled out of bed, Saj stayed asleep as she lifted him off the mattress and kissed the fuzzy soft spot on the top of his head.

Playing house wasn’t all fun and games with a real baby. She’d learned that with Jayce. Lizzie had always been the kid who couldn’t sit still. She wanted to explore, to discover, to live, not have kids and an endless string of partners who didn’t live up to their end. Being more a mother to Jayce than Mama was enough.

As Lizzie stripped the soaked diaper, Saj woke, staring at her with eyes too serious for a baby. Exposing him to the air triggered the usual response; a stream of urine rose over the baby’s shoulder and onto Zach. He stirred in his sleep, but did not wake.

Lizzie cracked up. “Zach. Probably want to wake up.” She shook his shoulder until his groggy eyes opened. “Don’t be pissed off, but you’ve been pissed on.”

“Damn.” He scooted away and climbed out of bed.

“Besides you could use a regular shower.” She added more ointment to sore spots. Saj stayed wide-eyed and quiet.

After Zach showered, he joined them in the living room. He focused on Saj and didn’t meet Lizzie’s eyes.

So it’s going to be the silent treatment. It could be worse.

Lizzie left him in charge of feeding Saj a plastic tub of baby peas while she took a shower. When she closed the bathroom door she could hear them both giggling.

In the shower Lizzie reveled in the heat, she’d turned up the temperature in the water heater—her house, her rules. She felt a calmness she hadn’t felt in days as the water washed over her. Then the door burst open.

“LIZZIE!” Zach yelled.

“What the Hell, Zach. Get out!”

“Lizzie,” he said, “I’m not looking.” His arms covered his face.

The tone in Zach’s voice made her forget modesty and with a belly full of dread she asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Nev’s alive!”

“Jeez, Zach, you scared the shit out of me! Is it too much to ask not to feel like the sky is falling for half a second?”

Zach stammered an apology.

“Never mind, where is she?”

“Tumwater. She started at Evergreen State in September.”

“Can she get up here?”

“I don’t know. I just got her message online.”

“So what are you waiting for? Get the hell out of the bathroom and call her!

“Okay.” Zach left, closing the door behind him.