Refuge: Tales from a Zombie Apocalypse

  ***

  Lanie awoke to a delicious feeling of warmth and safety. Keller was spooned up against her back, and the air in the bunker was warm from the wood stove. She had some inkling of bad dreams, but it faded along with her awareness as she let herself relax back into sleep.

  The next time she woke, it was because she was too hot, and thirsty, and hungry, and sore all over. Memories surfaced as her mind woke more fully, and she sat up as quietly as possible, turning to look at her bedmate. It was Keller after all, and she found herself smiling with a sense of fondness as well as relief. The sight of her gun on the table next to his head brought back more memories, though, and she looked to the door for confirmation.

  It was there, the deformed metal wedged into its former opening and held in place with two of their food bins. She rose and padded over to peer out through the gap where the intruders had pried it open.

  Keller came up behind her, draping a blanket over her shoulders and wrapping his arms around her. "You were hypothermic just a few hours ago," he said. "It's important to stay warm."

  Her spine stiffened for a moment, then she held the blanket close and leaned back into him. "What happened?" she asked, staring out at the body parts strewn across the clearing. Two crows fought over some choice piece and then took flight, squabbling in the air.

  "You don't remember?"

  "I remember... being angry," she said. The words didn't even start to touch on the intensity of what she remembered, but it was better that way. She wanted that distance.

  "It's not important," Keller said, giving her a squeeze. "What matters is that they're dead, the zombies are gone, and you're ok."

  Am I? a little voice inside asked. What am I? What did I do?

  "Of course I am," she said out loud, pushing the voice away. She turned to Keller and opened the blanket to put her arms around him. "And you're ok too."

  They would need to rework their plans, now that the bunker was broken and they had been reminded of the threat a simple human could pose. All that could wait, though. For now, she just wanted to feel alive.

  Keller's lips parted under hers, and he held her steady for the few steps back to the bed.

  ~~*~~