Zomb-Pocalypse 4

Chapter Nine

My entire world shifts on its axis. I want to scream at everyone that they're lying but they aren't. I know it, I can't explain how, but I can feel it in some fundamental way that my Mom is really gone.

Tears leak down my face and the salt of my tears stings my lips. I lift my hand in confusion to prod at the source of the pain. Silas gently reaches out and grabs my hand, keeping me from touching.

"Tell me?" I whisper, my voice getting stronger with every word.

"You crashed the truck." Silas tells me in his perfect no nonsense way. "You hit a tree and the airbags deployed." I listen to him with zero expression on my face. I'm a little bit curious about what happened, but I'm here so obviously I survived. The rest doesn't really matter, but Silas keeps talking. "The force of the airbag put your teeth through your bottom lip. I had to sew you up when I got back."

It comes back to me in little pieces. The last thing I remember is being in Jacks cabin with Ryan- no that isn't right... we got Jack out and I was driving the truck...

I turn stiffly to search out Ryan in the crowd. He doesn't look hurt. "Is Jack okay?" I ask, and Ryan nods, a guilty expression crossing his face.

"I'm so sorry Jane. I should've never asked you to drive!" He blurts out, looking sick over the whole ordeal. He glances at my Dad still sobbing uncontrollably beside me and swallows visibly. "I'm sorry for everything."

I nod, still trying to process everything. "It wasn't your fault." I tell him honestly. "I shouldn't have gotten behind the wheel." Ryan's face crumples at my apology, but he doesn't argue.

Everyone is staring at me expectantly, like they want me to break down and cry like my Dad, and I know I should be, but for some reason I can't, I'm too numb. I glance down at my arm, to avoid their gaze, and squint at the tube that's taped to the top of my hand. I reach over and pluck at it and Silas once again grabs my hand. "Don't pull on that." He tells me. "It's your IV drip."

I look around again, I'm still in the cabin and this IV thing is still in my arm. "Why?"

"Silas left that night and cleaned out the local hospital of some of their supplies." Ryan surprises me by answering. "I think the saline drip is the only reason Abby made it." He tells me honestly and I know I'm not mistaken when I see a look of grudging respect cross his face.

"I wish I could've been back sooner." Silas tells me and I reach over and take his hand and give it a small squeeze.

"Thank you." I tell him, wanting him to understand that I don't blame him for not being able to save my Mom. I want to say more, but my eyes start to feel heavy and I let my head sink back down onto the pillow. Silas' face blurs in front of my eyes so I close them. My Mom's face pops into my head and I feel a horrible sense of loss.

Something cool and wet touches my forehead and pulls me awake. I glance up and am surprised to see Megan is washing my forehead with a face cloth. She shouldn't be taking care of me, not with her injury, but I seem to be having trouble stringing together words. I settle for grunting at her and she actually smiles at me. "You're awake!" She says and even though it's pretty obvious, I still nod my head. "Your Dad will be happy to see it." She tells me before reaching across me. I follow her arm with my eyes and see my Dad slumped over on the edge of the bed. Megan shakes him awake and he jumps up like he's been electrocuted.

"Is she okay?" He blurts out before his eyes have even had a chance to focus on me. He stares at me and his eyes fill with tears. "Thank God." He exclaims as he crushes me in a big hug. His weight forces the air from my lungs and I let out a weak cough.