I should explain about the mob turning on Garret. We owed that to Melanie, some other kids from school, and an idiot with a smartphone. One of the townspeople who'd burned Shantytown had recorded the whole thing, including the deaths of my friends Allen and Kallie. He'd also captured his own involvement in burning down Steven's house. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, he'd uploaded the video to the Internet.
Melanie and some others had been trying to rally people to our side when they saw it. Afterward, they went to everyone who'd expressed disapproval over what Garret had done and convinced them to meet the next day. Showing them the video had been the final nail in Garret's coffin. About an hour before we'd arrived, they'd barricaded the mob participants in their homes and taken out the other Zombie council members. They'd just finished when we walked into town.
That video had one other serious repercussion. Fifty-six adults and ten teenagers were arrested on a variety of charges including assault, attempted murder, and murder, all with hate crime status. Two of the teens would be tried as juveniles and sent to a detention center until they turned eighteen. Everyone else would likely receive sentences ranging from ten years to life. It was being called a precedent-setting trial and no deals were offered to the defendants. I'd probably have to testify, but I wasn't worried about it. After everything I'd been through the last few months, appearing in court was the least of my worries.
No one was charged in the deaths of the council members. As far as the law was concerned, Garret had killed them once they'd found out his secret. As for the pastor himself, nearly thirty people testified they'd seen him trip and fall on the plastic shard. Osborne was at peace for the first time in twenty years.
As for how the whole peace thing worked out, well, Mom and I moved back into the trailer even though some people suggested we take Garret's mansion. We declined, but were grateful for the help cleaning up, including the men who came by and scrubbed the big red X off the door. Instead, Garret's house became a shelter for all of the now-homeless Zombies. The church donated clothes, food, and other essentials, promising to take care of them until they were able to get back on their feet.
The salon rehired Mom with an official apology, a raise, and her own space to do styling and whatever else she wanted. The tips alone were more than she'd ever made back in the city. Her customers and co-workers were super-friendly and, for the first time, I think she enjoyed going to work.
As for us kids, well, we headed back to school for the final few weeks. Kieran was made interim principal and got the school board to pass a statute allowing us to take finals on just the material we'd already covered. Those who were seniors, like me, would get to graduate. The others would receive tutoring over the summer so they'd be ready for regular classes in the fall. Oh, and the prom committee decided they liked our band idea so much that they hired us to play the prom the weekend after we came back.
As soon as I heard we were allowed at the prom, I asked Lilly. Not only did she say yes, but her dad didn't shoot me, which was a huge relief. Rob was going with Melanie...shocker! And, to my surprise, Benjamin-the guy who'd sat with me that first day I came out-asked Megan, one of the Zombies who used to come by the trailer and listen to me play. Overall, everyone showed such solidarity that it even caught the attention of the media...who, as it happens, were still hanging around hoping for another story.
On prom day, Mom surprised me with a van big enough to pick up all my friends and haul our gear around. She'd had it detailed with a giant guitar-a Gibson of course-painted on the side with the words "Zombie Rock" in large letters. It was perfect. She rode with me to Lilly's house so she could take pictures of us. I offered to take her back afterward, but she said she'd wait there until Kieran picked her up. She was going to be his date to the prom...as chaperones. I had a feeling I would catch some grief from my friends. After all, nobody wanted their mom dating the principal. Oh well...at least Kieran was cool.
When I saw Lilly, I immediately forgot about everything else. I almost forgot who I was. As she walked down the stairs, my jaw dropped. I just stood there, practically drooling, and stared. Her hair was pinned up and small curls hung down, framing her face. The dress she wore was dark-gray, which I'm sure had a more specific name like storm or charcoal. Whatever it was, it complemented her hair and eyes perfectly. She wasn't wearing much makeup-just enough to highlight. Honestly, she didn't need any...she was naturally beautiful without it.
"You're gawking," she said with a grin. "Is that for me?" She pointed at the corsage.
"Huh...oh...yes." I felt like an idiot.
After I slid the corsage on her wrist, she gently touched the petals and said, "It's beautiful, Jack."
I'd chosen a white rose with blue tips...I guess I'd done okay.
After the requisite barrage of photos and a stern reminder from the sheriff as to what I was and was not allowed to do, Lilly and I left to pick up the rest of the band.
The night was perfect. We played everything from classic rock to power ballads to some of the new slower stuff that people could dance to. We took breaks and played some records too, so Rob and I could dance with our girls. As Lilly and I swayed in the center of the dance floor, she rested her head on my shoulder. I thought about everything I'd been through and how it had all been worth it to be there in that moment, with her in my arms.
After prom was over, we loaded the equipment back into the van and went our separate ways. Rob and Melanie headed back to her house, and the others went to an after-party. Lilly and I hadn't decided where we were going. She'd just said that she wanted me to herself for a while.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous as I drove back to her house. Okay...I was a lot nervous. You'd think after everything I'd done over the past few months, following a girl into her backyard wouldn't be that difficult. You'd be wrong. Aside from the fact that her dad had put the fear of God into me, I was terrified of getting the let's-be-friends talk. Maybe I was being a little silly, but I was a Zombie, after all. There weren't a lot of inter-whatever couples.
We sat next to each other on their porch swing, rocking gently, each lost in our own thoughts.
"I've been debating for a while about this," she finally said. "But it never seemed like the right time, what with Garret and the mobs and everything."
I stopped rocking. Here it came, whatever it was she wanted to say.
"There's this little secret that my dad and I have been keeping," she said. Then she whistled and called out, "Digger! Come here, boy!"
A moment later, a shaggy little dog came bounding out of the garage. In the dim moonlight, I couldn't get a good look at the black-and-white fur ball until it got right up to us. Only then did I see its dark eyes had a hauntingly familiar look.
"Lilly..." I couldn't get the question out. It wasn't possible. Any animal suspected of carrying the Red Plague was immediately put down. No one kept a Zombie pet.
"Yes, he is," she answered before I could finish. She crouched down and scratched behind the dog's ears. "Now you see why my dad and I have always been sympathetic to Zombies."
I laughed. I couldn't help it. Here I was thinking that she was going to tell me that we couldn't have a relationship because I was a Zombie and instead, she brought me to meet her Zombie dog. I crouched next to her and held out my hand for Digger to sniff. As I stroked the dog's wiry fur, I began to let myself accept that things were going to be okay. My life wasn't over because I was a Zombie. If anything, my life had just begun.
Lilly looked at me and, before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned in and kissed her. For a moment she had a look of surprise on her face, then her eyes closed and she was kissing me back.
THE END
That's it. I hope you enjoyed the story. If so, you will definitely enjoy Zombie Rock 2, which is now available on Amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017RRAF8A ).
Zombie Rock 2
It's been months since the terrible events in Osborne. Things have slowly returned to normal. Then, out of nowhere, the world breathes a collective sigh of relief. A vaccine has finally been discovered for the disease. It takes a few more months for production of the drug to ramp up, but eventually Jack, Susanna, Rob, and the rest of the infected, are cured.
Life moves on. Jack and Lilly get married and have a son of their own...Les Paul Gibson. Everything is going right for a change. Then, the unthinkable happens. Robs wife, Melanie, goes missing. Then Rob. Then Susanna and Kieran. Then Lilly and Les...and finally, Jack.
When Jack wakes up, there's an old familiar feeling in his head, and he finds himself back in Shantytown. But that couldn't be right, had someone rebuilt it? It gets worse. He soon realizes that all of his friends and family are there too, and they're all infected...even his young son.
After scouting the area, the Zombies soon realize they are in the middle of nowhere, far from Osborne, or any civilization for that matter.
What happened? Where are they? Who did this too them...and why?
Find the answers to these and many more questions, when Jack's story continues.
Thanks!
- Joe
Add yourself to my email list at http://www.jrcleveland.com to be notified when my new books come out. Besides Zombie Rock 2, I also have a YA Sci-fi series that is published. The first book... Abducted - Escape from Kraile, is available here on Wattpad.
Thank you for your support! :)