"Listen," he whispers. "Don't panic. We don't need that. If people are really coming here, then you need to tell me the truth. Dalton also said something along those lines. And you told him."

He's making out like he's with the Coalition. Possibly the whole good cop, bad cop mumbo-jumbo. Either way, I don't believe him. "You know Jack?" My voice is quiet with the closest thing I can think of to Mac.

"Yes," he says too quickly. "Are they coming?"

"I don't think so. They would have been here by now. Please tell Jack I miss him."

Gray nods, "Come on. I'm sure they are going to be holding you in a cell."

I spend a whole day and night in an isolated cell before they let me out. What about this injection? They must want to keep me sedated if I get out of hand. From here on, I need to keep my wits about me, no more outbursts. Needing more information, I have to be patient. Patience isn't really in my top list of quality characteristics. I know Rudy won't leave Julie. He will come, I hope. If they aren't here by the end of the week, I'm making a new plan. Now, they won't hesitate to feed me to the famished. This new revelation has my head spinning. The doctor created this virus to better the planet of the old, sick, and criminals? All the while, knocking out terrorists, and the big hole in the ozone at the same time? Give me a break, I might be scattered brained, but I'm not stupid. Thinking of Donna's "Battle of wills" comment, I know this is all some big power play. I just don't know the details.

I'm pacing my dorm room. Creamy coffee, Shia, sits on her bed wearing a light blue sweater. I take the plunge.

"Hey Shia, you have the vaccination yet?"

She smiles. "No, you don't get one until your pregnant, or get someone pregnant. I'm surprised you know about them. It takes them a while to feel someone out. You must be deserving."

"They told me yesterday. Dr. Finnegan is amazing," I gush. Apparently no one knows about my little homicidal fluke.

"Wait until you meet the priest. I wish he was single."

"Priest?"

"Yeah, he knows his stuff. I think I live to hear him talk."

"Religious, huh?" I'm not interested in their religion. I've had enough religion talk to last me a lifetime, plus some.

She looks at me with brows drawn. "Mago, the Voodoo Priest."

A cold chill sweeps down my back, stopping me dead. Voodoo? "MMago? The guy who controls the zombies?" I throw out with a sudden, dry mouth. It's not a bust.

She beams, "Yeah." She figures if I know that, then it's okay to talk to me about it. "He is amazing."

"How many priests are there?"

"Several, even priestesses. They're better because they're female. They travel to other places, to speak to people in our situation. We're safe as long as we have them."

That's how they control the famished, with voodoo. The mechanics of it frightens me. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it for myself. I remember Mago's dark eyes scrutinizing me after I shot Lucy. Yeah, I was in a drunken haze, but you don't forget something like that. Was he there when I was taken from the cult? Shia watches me, so I nod and smile.

She can tell something's wrong. "I'll introduce you this week. He holds a biweekly service for our convenience."

I smile again and slide into my covers. Grabbing Mac's shirt under the pillow, I hold it tight, feeling a great sense of hopelessness thinking about him. I think about the team. I think about Rudy and his now complicated situation.

I have my answer. Do I believe it?

I'm a serious wreck the next day, not knowing what to think about anything. The hopelessness still invades me. Donna tells me I'm to start working in a greenhouse immediately. They apparently think I need something to keep me busy.

At breakfast, I stare at the oatmeal in front of me with no appetite. I glance around for Dalton. When I can't find him, alarms bells ring through my head. They obviously questioned him, and probably anyone I've talked to since being here. Kale talks to a group of girls, and I leave my oatmeal.

I tap him on the shoulder, "Hey Kale."

He turns, sees it's me and smiles wide. "What's up, Kan?"

"I need to talk to you." I glance at the glaring ladies. "Alone."

Kale gestures for me to lead, and I go back to my empty, lonely table.

"Not making a very good impression on everyone," he comments, but he's smiling like he expects no less.

I shrug and look around. "Um, yeah. There are some weird things going on."

"I should say so." He gets serious. "The guards were asking questions about you. They wanted to know if I was involved in some terrorist plot to the compound."

My eyes go wide and I laugh. "Terrorist plot? Kale, do you believe what they tell you?"

His face turns to stone, "We shouldn't be having this conversation, but no. There's nothing I can do about it."

He looks ten years older right then. I don't know if I can trust him. He's not exactly on my top-ten trustworthy list. "Oh, I guess you like it here. Living normal and all that. Furthermore, girls are falling all over themselves for you."

His eyes narrow. "No, I hate it here," he snaps. "And none of these people deserve this. Like I said, what can I do? Nada damn thing."

"If you had an opportunity to leave, would you?"

Looking sad, he nods, probably thinking there's no chance of that.

"You know anything about the priest?" I ask him.

"The guy that does the services? Hmm, just that he comes to preach and leaves."

I want to tell him everything I've learned, but chicken out, not knowing what the crazies will do if they know I'm plotting, or how much longer I can wait for the team. What I truly need is knowledge about voodoo. Usually, I know a little bit about everything, but this is beyond me. The only things I know about voodoo are the little doll's you could buy in New Orleans in the old life. I'm guessing Disney's version of voodoo is a little low on the totem pole.

Feeling eyes on me, I bring up my hand, and sweep Kale's hair out of his eyes in a flirtatious manner. He usually does this on his own, but it's the only thing I can think of to do. His eyes widen in surprise. I forgot how innocently cute he can be, so I grin.

He laughs nervously, making me think he does feel something for me, in turn causing me to feel guilty for using him. I can't help his naivete. The person turned, and I peer to see Donna leaving the cafeteria. Kale notices, and his face crumples. I'd apologize for my fallacious behavior, but he did it to me once upon a time.

"Kale... I want to trust you. Can I?"

He stares at me for a long time before nodding. A bell rings like we're all in high school.

"Kan, I need to tell you something."

"Okay," I draw out the word. Kale always comes out with things I don't like hearing.

He swallows, and shakes the hair out of his eyes. "Remember when you helped us with those zombies?"

It takes me a minute, but he means when him, Harley, Nadine, and Bridget were getting attacked. I don't want to hear this because they had weapons I didn't know about until they turned them on me. I nod slowly.

He sees my reluctance, and looks down. "They knew you were there. We faked that attack, so you would think we were helpless."

I wait for this to bother me. It doesn't, seeming like years ago. It also explains the older zombies I had to kill the night before they showed up. My ventilation system leak was just a coincidence. They drew zombies to my bunker. On purpose. I think about asking him why. I will later, if I get the chance. I do want to know something else now. "Kale, did they ever eat anyone?"

He looks me in the eye. "Once, there was no food. We had another person with us, but he was sick..." His gaze turns distant, "Not zombie sick, just ill with the flu or something."

"Did you?"

He jumps up. "What? No way! I didn't agree with anything they did. Honest."

I put my hand over his. "It's okay. I believe you."

He looks relieved to get this off his shoulders, and onto mine. Glancing around, everyone makes way to their work duties.

"I'll talk to you later. I got greenhouse duty." My face pinches.

He laughs, "Good luck with that. They work you to the bone in there." Great. Yes, Kale's very good at saying things I don't want to hear.

He is right, they work me hard. The greenhouse is five times the size of Linnie's. That's saying something, since Linnie's greenhouse has trees, although, this one does too. Linnie would be proud to know the vegetation in here doesn't look as good as hers. The only weeds growing are the kind you can't smoke. I dig holes, pull weeds, water, and pick fresh vegetables and fruits. They also put me on starting a new section. I till. Manually. I curse. I sweat. I ache. Fortunately, the day goes by fast with no incidents. Julie never comes to give me the rest of the tour, and I never once see Dalton.

I take a long, hot, steaming shower, knowing I'll be sore in the morning before going to the greenhouse again. Seeing it as a good thing, my body will harden up from where it's softened from not tending my own garden and cranking the generator. Needing the comfort of a weapon, I steal a trough at the end of the day. Mac and Rudy are both just as good as me about having them. For some reason this adds to both of their sex appeals. Real men carry various weapons in weird places. A smile stretches across my lips, thinking of them.

Making it back into the room, I'm exhausted. I need to go talk to Kale, but that can wait till tomorrow. Climbing into my bunk, I realize they want me exhausted, but I don't really care at the moment. Now would be a nice time for Rudy to play his guitar, the song he changed various times. He never told me the name. Yawning deep is the last thing I remember.

Light taps on my face wake me. When I peek through heavy lids, Julie puts a finger in front her lips and motions to the door. Groggy, I get up, noticing everyone's asleep already. It must be middle of the night, sleeping through playtime and dinner. How about that? To avoid the discomfort of the cold floor, I pull on my boots.

When we enter the hallway, she rushes me outside.

"What the hell?" I grumble.

She spins on me. "You have to leave and tell Rudy not to come!"

Chapter 31.

This might be another Gray trick, but I doubt it. Dressed all in black, Julie's eyes are wide, and dart around as if she doesn't want to be caught.

"And how am I supposed to do that, Martha Stewart? Thousands of famished roam outside the base. They will eat me alive."

The look on her face confirms she knows something. She squashes it. "I know where a motorbike is, and they have this ultra violet spotlight that clears a path because the infected don't like it. I'll turn it on for you."

Seriously considering this, it might be my only chance to leave, but I need to do something first. She holds out her hand, offering me something. I can't tell what it is right away. "I want you to tell Rudy...that I found someone else, that I'm married," she tells me just as the diamond flashes in the moonlight.

"Ah!" I jump away. "No fucking way!" The ring signifying Rudy and Julie's engagement falls from my hand as if it burns me.

"Shit!" she exclaims, bending over to look for it. After picking it up, she holds it up, like maybe I didn't see it before. "That was uncalled for!" I stare at it without seeing it, not wanting to see it.

I have an idea so suddenly, Julie can probably see a light bulb over my head. Plus, I don't want to argue about Rudy. "You're going to show me where the medical building is, and get me in." I grab her arm. "Show me where the bike is, first. Weapons too. Guns, preferably."

She struggles in my hands, and then looks at me, considering. "You'll leave? And tell Rudy I'm happy?" Her eyes plead with me. "Before the outbreak I was going to end it with him anyway," she blurts, like it will make a difference. Tears sting my eyes. Damn her. I blink them back. I can't believe she's only thinking about herself, and can look cute doing it.

I let go of her and say, "One thing at a time. Take me to the bike."

She turns, and I follow her in my skimpy nightshirt and little cute shorts the most decent thing I found to wear to bed. They're serious about people doing the nasty. I need to find something to tie my hair back, it drapes down my back in a tangle. I'll deal, getting to leave and telling the team everything takes precedence. Julie doesn't know it, but she's coming with me.

The deal Rudy and I made, comes to mind help Rudy get Julie, and then I'm on my own. Now I know what I need to do.

The darkened building we enter rumbles with male laughter. Somehow, this strikes me as the guard's dorms, smelling like a smoky bar. The white brick walls are yellowing from it. We make our way to the end of a big hall, she opens a door, and motor oil immediately fills my nostrils. We stand in a garage.

I stop her and whisper, "They should have a room with weapons. Where is it?" She picks up something leaning against the wall, and hands it to me. A freaking baseball bat.

I blink at her through the darkness. Moonlight streams in through some windows making her hair stand out like a halo. "You do know these famished are under some kind of voodoo spell. What the hell is a bat supposed to do?"

Her shoulders lift, but she clearly doesn't care. "The bike is right here." I've already seen it. It's a crotch rocket Ducati, though I wouldn't call it a motorbike. "When I open the door and flip the switch, just drive straight until you hit the main road." She tosses me a set of keys I don't need, but am happy to have. She just wants me out, gone.

Taking in my surroundings further, I spot several vehicles, and an open closet. "Where is the medical building?"

She sighs, frustrated. "It's the only white brick building. Right behind this one, we passed it on the way here." I nod, remembering. "You don't have the time. You need to go, now," she says with authority. Like hell. She doesn't know I don't like authority.

"Tell me what you know about Mago."

She doesn't want to answer, so I cross my arms to wait, my lips hardening as she realizes I'm not going anywhere without all my questions answered. "Uh... I don't know how he does it, but I do know that he travels around, probably to other bases. He goes to New Orleans a lot." I study her, with no reason not to believe it.

"Good. Thanks." I grab her around the waist. Her round stomach is hard as a rock. What the hell does she feed this thing? Quickcrete? She screeches, and that's when a distant sound catches my attention. Still holding her, I shush. We're both frozen, listening. The men in the building spring into action, making a lot of noise. Another explosion booms, clear as day, as are the small vibrations under my feet. A thrill shoots though my limbs and up my spine. My lips spread into a wide, open-mouthed smile. "Too late," I croon.

"What have you done?" she squeals loudly as she struggles against me. "I have to get to Jonathan! He'll be worried I'm not there. He went to bed thinking I was knitting."

My smile slips as something inside takes over. "You aren't going anywhere, Julie. You are coming with me." I tighten my hold on her. "I haven't gone through what I've been through just for the adventure." I'm pissed, yelling at, and man-handling a pregnant woman. I shouldn't even care, but wanting to strangle her won't do. Then, I say through clenched teeth, "You want to come back? Fine, but you're coming with me while I take care of some business." No way I'm playing messenger. I'm shaking her with no abandon. Does this count as shaking an infant? I don't know, so I stop. A look of surprise crosses her face before I shove her in the closet. It's not easy with her screaming and clawing my arms. I finally have her in and barricade it with a metal locker.

A set of running footsteps comes closer. I grab the bat, popping a squat beside the door. The light flicks on as the door swings to the wall. I hit whoever it is in the stomach. My arms scream from the labor I've done in the greenhouse.

Gray pitches forward. Raising the bat, I hit him in the upper back, and he goes sprawling to the floor, face first.

I take this time to get ready to leave in a hurry. I look around for that switch, which was right beside the garage door.

I'm climbing on the Ducati, when a hand clamps down on my shoulder, spinning me around as a blow lands on my face. Spots dance as I try to blink them away.