It seemed like that had happened weeks, even months, ago, but it wouldn’t even be a week until the next day. So much had transpired, it was almost surreal to think of all the things that had changed in just a few days.
Out there somewhere, his parents were coordinating a search for him. He knew his father was ordering the men out into the streets to try to find him, but his mother would be demanding results. She probably hadn’t stopped crying since she realized he was gone. Part of him wanted to feel sorry for her, but she was just as guilty in this as his dad was.
He thought back to how he’d felt when he was about to use that knife to end it all. He’d never been in such a dark place before in his entire life. Thoughts of living a life without Ella in it had driven him beyond his breaking point. He prayed he never felt like that again.
They drove out of the woods, and Gus sat up. Rome pulled up off of the truck bed as well, and his phone vibrated in his pocket. He imagined it was likely Bart since no one else had this number. Hopefully, his friend was calling to report he was safely back in the US or maybe even back in LA, but he didn’t have time to check at the moment.
A large fence wound its way around King’s property. The man got out of the truck to open the gate. It took him a moment to get enough traction to push the large wrought iron edifice open, but eventually he got it moving and it was open enough for him to come back to the truck and drive it through. He then got out to reverse the process, and Gus jumped out to help. Before Rome could even think about doing the same, they were back in the truck, driving up a winding lane to a large brick structure.
The place looked like a compound. The closer they got, Rome could tell much of what he’d initially thought was part of the house were actually brick walls. Layers upon layers of them surrounded the building proper. Rome wondered just how big the place might actually be on the inside.
King got out again, this time to open a garage door. He drove them inside and then turned off the truck before he went over to close the solid wooden door. He locked it into place with several large silver bolts. Nothing was getting in that way.
“Welcome to my place,” King said, helping the guys grab the luggage out of the back. “You will be safe here, that I can assure you. No one comes in or out of King’s land without King knowing.” He gave a hearty laugh, and Rome felt safe for the first time since before the boat. He gave Ella a reassuring smile and followed King into his house.
He flipped a switch, illuminating a large room with a couch and a few chairs, a coffee table, and a wall full of monitors that showed various scenes of the woods and spaces around the house.
A solid wood door separated this room from the only other exit Rome could see. Setting their luggage down, King said, “Let me explain. Each room is separated by heavy wooden doors in case intruder does get in. I can keep them in one area. I have weapons in each room.” He gestured at the ceiling where Rome could see various spray nozzles that looked a bit like a sprinkler system, though more rudimentary.
“Kitchen is through here. Bedrooms are down staircase here.” He went over to the corner and lifted what appeared to be a section of wood floor up, revealing a staircase. “Entire house is made of brick so no worries about fires. Except wooden floors, and I am always very careful about flames in house. I will take you downstairs, show you other exit and your rooms. I only have three bedrooms, two guest rooms, so you will have to sort that out.”
Ella and Mary exchanged a glance that let Rome know he might not be rooming with his wife. Maybe Gus could sleep on the couch….
The basement was similar to the living room. Another couch sat here, with more monitors, but there was also a small television and a computer. There were five wooden doors here. “These two are guest rooms. This one is where I keep my disguises, and this is my bedroom. That is exit.” He pointed to the smallest door. “There is tunnel that leads up to barn in woods. I keep motorcycle there in case I need to get away.”
“Wow--it sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this,” Mary said.
King nodded. “When zombies come, I’ll be ready!” He froze for a second, and they all tried to puzzle through whether or not he was serious. When he started laughing, they all did, too.
No one asked his true reasoning for going to all of this trouble to keep society away from him, and Rome thought it was just as well that they didn’t because he was too tired to get into all of that at the moment.
“What about a restroom?” Mary asked.
“Restroom is inside bedrooms. It’s not fancy. You will not like.”
“That’s okay. I just need to use one,” Mary said with a giggle that indicated she was slightly embarrassed to admit that.
King unbolted the door closest to him and Mary went in. She made a sound that alarmed them all, but only Ella went in to investigate. She came back a few seconds later with an awkward smile on her face. “It’s a… bucket. With a seat on top.”
“Shower is in my bathroom in my room, but only have cold water,” King explained.
“Great. Well, I think… we’ll wait until tomorrow to explore that.”
“I make stew earlier,” he said. “You come upstairs when ready.” He patted Gus on the back and then headed back up the stairs.
“Well, at least we have someplace safe to sleep tonight,” Ella said with a smile.
“Yes, and someone to help us with our disguises,” Rome agreed. He had considered asking if they could stay for a week or so, but now he knew they’d have to move on soon. He couldn’t ask the girls to take cold showers and go to the bathroom in a bucket.
Mary came back a minute or so later. “How do I wash my hands?” she asked, spinning in circles as she looked around the room.
“You don’t,” Gus said with a shrug. “Ready to go eat?”
Mary wrinkled her nose, but when they headed up the stairs she came along. “Maybe there will be water in the kitchen.”