Page 94 of 10 Things I Hate About Zombies

Zoey trembled when she saw him.

It was a mutual feeling. Nick’s heart twisted at what had become of this woman he’d so desperately fallen in love with. The syringe wavered in his hand.

He thought about what Reba had said about love during a quiet moment over the fence-mending bonfire. How if you spent enough time with the person you loved, you’d see each other at your lowest. How you’d love each other through illness, through loss, through all the very worst things. But how the very worst things somehow felt more manageable when your person was there to share them with you.

Nick had always believed in the power of community. But with Zoey, he’d found something different and special. The two of them were so perfectly complementary in every way. She made every moment richer and better. She brought a spark to everything. He adored her.

‘Zoey, it’s me,’ he murmured, trying to keep his tone even. He didn’t want to scare her. However much of her was still inside there, anyway.

Next to him, Alice whined sadly.

‘And Alice,’ he added.

Zoey cocked her head, blinking as she tried to place the two of them. She wore a strange half-outfit of a silver skirt and a pyjama top, with a puffer jacket thrown over the top. There was some effort there – although who knew how much she’d changed overnight and since she’d escaped the house this morning. In her arms, Romero hissed.

‘We can help you,’ said Nick, trying not to think about why there was dirt under Zoey’s fingernails and what that red stain on her pyjama collar might be.

It was a phrase that always made Zoey recoil, and now was no different.

She scuttled backwards, staring at him with wary eyes.

All right, so there was at least some of Zoey in there.

‘Of all the times to accept some help, I think this one might be the one,’ he said gently. He pulled up the cuff of his plaid shirt, revealing the Toad tattoo Joaquin had given him at InkWell. Now more than ever, he wished that Zoey had joined him in getting one, but it was too late for that. Well, not too late, he supposed. Because like it or not, she was going to get that tattoo.

It was a public service. A vaccination. A truly Portland-style vaccination.

‘We have an antidote,’ he said. ‘Joaquin’s ink counteracts whatever’s in the mushrooms. It’s why the rest of us – me, Ainsley, Celeste, Reba – are fine.’

Zoey’s cracked lips parted … in confusion? Hunger?

Nick forced back a sob at the sight of her. A mere day ago she’d been his beautiful Zoey, so smart and cheerful, so full of life.

But she was still that, he told himself. She was still that person. She’d always be that person. That was the thing about choosing someone to be yours for as long as they’d have you. You’d change together, grow sick and old and wrinkled together. Like Reba had said. Glorious Reba, with her Frank always with her, and with her attitude that love was always, always worth it. That if you loved your person and they loved you back, you did what it took.

‘Will you let me help you?’ whispered Nick.

There was a beat as Zoey’s red-rimmed eyes regarded him.

Then she lunged.

25

Zoey

Zoey blinked. For some delightful reason she was on top of Nick, who was lying supine beneath her. They were outside, somewhere damp and tree-filled and with a high preponderance of moss, even for Portland.

And she was so thirsty. Not to mention that she could really go for a grilled cheese. (She’d really come around to grilled-cheese sandwiches since Reba’s arrival.)

Also, why was her wrist stinging like that? Were there mosquitoes? Had that weird bite from June become infected?

She didn’t have time to think about it, for suddenly Alice came barrelling in, all but drowning her in doggy kisses.

‘Alice!’ she giggled, rolling off Nick so that she could give her favourite girl a hug. Today Alice wore a cute branded Zombie Shuffle bandana, and the biggest smile she’d seen on the sweet dog in a while. ‘Alice, you’re going to scare away Romero!’

At that, Romero yowled. No wait, it wasn’t at that – it was because Nick had grabbed him. Weird, Romero was being suddenly … docile.

‘Zoey?’ The way Nick said it made it sound like he’d just emerged from a cryogenic sleep pod and was seeing the world again for the first time. ‘You’re all right?’