Page 38 of Hollow Child

“That’s really great,” I said. “Are you happy here?”

“I am.” He nodded and smiled. “Me and Nova have this tiny farm on the northern end of town. Still inside the fence, of course, but it’s just a great little bit of land to take care of. Our daughter Sage just turned four, and she’s growing up so smart and strong.”

“When you and Nova had your baby, was it here?” I asked.

“No, we had her on the homestead, but Nova had a really easy pregnancy,” Lazlo clarified. “We were also in our mid-twenties. So I don’t blame you for getting her help. Jovie has been really good with Sage when she’s gone to see her.”

We walked down the roads between small buildings made of found materials, like reclaimed wood and scrap metal, and they had been turned into surprisingly quaint homes and shops. I had forgotten about how loud life in a town could be, especially in a cramped one with livestock. People were riding bikes, horses, and donkeys down the roads, along with the other pedestrians.

“Jovie’s clinic is just over there,” Lazlo said.

But I already knew. It was a cute little two-story house with a barn roof, and Boden was standing on the covered porch out front. His expression was grim, and my heart sunk.

“Boden?” I called and jogged away from Lazlo. “Where is Stella?”

“She’s inside, and the midwife is helping her,” Boden said, and he was speaking with that tone and had that look, like what he actually wanted to say was,Don’t freak out, Remy, but he knew that would only make me freak out faster.

“Is she okay?” I asked as I went up the front steps, and Boden stood blocking the door. “Let me see her.”

“Just give me a minute. Max and Serg are with her now, so she’s not alone. But I have to tell you something first.” Boden was still speaking in that irritatingly soothing tone, and I could see the pain and fear in his eyes.

“Just fucking tell me then!” I snapped.

Boden let out a shaky breath. “Stella was bitten.”

I blinked, not understanding. “By what?”

He waited a beat. “A zombie. Earlier today. One must’ve gotten her somehow during her seizure.”

“No. She wasn’t bitten.” I shook my head. “I would’ve known. I would’ve seen it.”

He just looked at me, and I knew he was telling the truth, no matter how badly I didn’t want to believe it.

“Let me see her.” I tried to push past Boden, but when he touched my arm, I started shouting at him. “Let me see her! I raised her! She’s my kid!”

“I know. She’s my kid, too!” Boden yelled back, and he grabbed my arms to keep me from barreling into the house. “But you’ve got to calm down! Stella and Max don’t need to see you like this. So get ahold of yourself.”

Finally, I relented. I leaned against him, and we held each other. “What are we going to do?”

23

Stella

I told Max and Jovie the moment I was alone with them both. Jovie had brought me to the clinic on the back of something she called a “rickshaw,” where a person pedaling a bike pulled us on a wagon through town.

The clinic had obviously been an ordinary home before. The living room was set up like a waiting room, and Jovie led me into a dining room that had been partitioned with wood and converted into a few small patient rooms.

I had only just laid down on the wooden bench in the patient room while Jovie laid a blanket over me, when Max came running into the house, breathless and frantic.

“Stella!” he said as he raced over to join me at the bench. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, and when I opened my mouth to say that I was, I instead heard myself blurting out, “I was bitten by a zombie.”

Max and Jovie both froze in place for a moment, too stunned to do or say anything. I pulled up my shirt and moved my belly, so they could see the bitemark for themselves. I had been hoping that I was wrong about it, but when Max flinched at the sight, my worst fears were confirmed.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I said, and Jovie finally pulled her gaze to meet mine. “I didn’twant to risk hurting anyone, but I need to make sure that you save my baby.”

By then, Max was crying softly, and he squeezed my hand. I looked at Jovie, because the only thing that really mattered in that moment was ensuring that she would take care of our baby.

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