Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles 2)

“Ali.” Gavin this time.

“Get out of here.” Cole scooped me up in his arms and carried me toward the bed.

Gavin was trying to lead my Nana away.

“Is she going to be okay?” she whispered.

“Yeah. I’ve got her now.” Cole lay down with me still locked tight in his embrace.

He held me for a long while, whispering to me, smoothing his hands through my hair.

“I hate this,” I said.

“I know.”

“She took over, Cole. She used my voice, controlled my actions.”

“The new antidote stopped her.”

“For now. But we both know I can’t take the antidote forever.”

He kissed my temple.

“Cole.”

“Yes?”

“If she takes over and the antidote doesn’t work, I need you to—”

“Don’t say it,” he growled.

“—kill me,” I finished anyway. “Please.”

“That’s not going to happen, Ali.”

That wasn’t what my instincts said. Maybe it was time to bring back my original to-do list, version two, but with a slight tweak. Find a way to disable the zombie inside me. Kill the zombie inside me. Addendum: even if I have to die, too.

* * *

I made it through the school day without incident. I hadn’t wanted to go, but Cole had insisted, citing I couldn’t afford another absence. He watched over me, making sure my zombie side didn’t try to take over.

He even dropped me off at work, only to return an hour later and remain inside the coffeehouse for the rest of my shift. My coworkers stared at him, the guys frightened, the girls excited. Everyone whispered, speculating about who he was, and why he was there.

I think I blew their minds when I left with him.

“Any zombie sightings tonight?” I asked. The moon was high, full.

“So far, none.”

“Shouldn’t you be out there searching?”

“I traded nights with Gavin.” His voice tightened. “He owed me.”

“Don’t fight him over me. Over what happened.”

“I want to, but I won’t,” he said tightly. “You aren’t mine. Not officially. Technically he didn’t do anything wrong.”

He dropped me off at home but didn’t try to kiss me. I couldn’t blame him.

I received a text from him the next day. No party tonight, I’m sorry & I’m not ditching U this time, promise. My dad is sending me out of town. Will U miss me?

Me: I plead the 5th.

Him: I will definitely miss U.

Sappy girl. My heart soared.

I could have gone to the party with Kat, but after what had happened with Gavin, I wasn’t going to risk it. And, to be honest, I was kind of bummed that I wouldn’t be seeing Cole.

As the week passed, I received at least one text a day from him.

Friday.

Him: I can’t stop thinking about our last kiss. U were topless.

Me (blushing): Thanks 4 the reminder.

Him: If U needed a reminder, I need 2 work on my technique.

Saturday.

Him: Are U eating properly?

Me: Yes, Dad.

Him: I kind of like the sound of that. How about a spanking??

Sunday.

Him: I actually watched the Hallmark channel 2day & thought of U. The main couple went at it like monkeys.

Where was he? Who was he with?

The questions began to plague me, but I never asked. I wanted him to offer the information freely.

Monday.

Him: I hear Z’s were out last night in Bama. U being careful? I know U walk home from work—when I get back I’m teaching U how 2 drive, no more excuses from U.

Me: I’m being careful, swear. Are U?

Him: When I’ve got something precious 2 come home 2? YES.

How did all caps make me feel so warm and fuzzy?

Tuesday.

Him: I’m in a bunkhouse with six other guys, & 3 of them snore. Am considering offering myself 2 the Z’s on silver platter just 2 escape.

Me: No girls there 2 soothe UR pains?

What a subtle hint.

Him: Why, Ali B, is that jealousy I detect??

Me: NO!

It was. It so was. Lying? Really? Over this? I kind of sucked.

He didn’t respond, and I reeled with guilt.

Wednesday.

Him: There’s only 1 girl 4 me.

After that, the texts stopped coming. Another week passed. I couldn’t allow myself to worry. The more stressed I was, the weaker my body was, and I needed my body at top strength.

Mr. Ankh had managed to duplicate the antidote, so I had an unlimited supply. And as long as I injected myself three times a day, all signs of Z.A. were kept at bay.

Check off the list: disabled.

Side note: for now.

How long would the reprieve last? Not much longer, I didn’t think.

But I wasn’t going to worry about that today. Nana and I stood on Kat’s doorstep, a glass partition between us and warmth. Just as Nana raised her hand to ring the bell, an apron-wearing Kat stepped into view. She smiled when she spotted us.

She was pale today. I’d gone to a few of her dialysis appointments and knew she’d had one late last night. She had three a week, sometimes four, and they were grueling on her, but she never complained—more than a dozen times.

“Hurry up before you freeze us all!” she said, waving us in. Flour streaked her cheek, and there was a smear of something red on her chin. “Oh, and Merry Christmas.”

This morning, I’d called for Emma, needing her face to be the first I saw on Christmas, just as it had been when she was alive. She’d arrived with a huge smile and hadn’t seemed to mind that she was dead (in body) and that our family wasn’t together. I was trying not to mind, as well.

Nana had given me a glass heart, with tiny pictures of my mom, dad, grandfather and sister peppered throughout. I would cherish it forever. I’d given Nana a bracelet with a charm to represent every member of our family.

Two guys sat in the living room with Kat’s dad, Gary. All three guys stared at the TV, riveted by the football game. My attention became riveted on one of the guys and I stumbled to a halt, nearly dropping the pumpkin pie I held.

“Cole,” I gasped. He was back. He was here.

He hadn’t called or texted me.

Three pairs of eyes swung in my direction.

Gary stood and grinned. “Nice to see you again, Ali.”

“You, too,” I said with a distracted nod.

My gaze remained locked with Cole’s, my heart careening out of control. I waited for a vision, hoping, praying, but...no. Not this time. “When did you get back?”