Page 21 of Demon Shock

“You don’t think they will?”

“I hope they do, but I do not think they will,” he said.

He sounded sad about it, which made me sad even though I still had a hard time believing that many people had died. I would have been in complete denial if I hadn’t seen Silver Bay for myself.

Bram was already heating something for lunch on the stove when we returned to the kitchen. Zach sat at the table with a board game.

“Are you ready to waste some time?” he asked.

It’d been ages since I had played any board game, and I quickly agreed.

We ate lunch and played games as the snow fell heavily outside. Gyrik left occasionally. The others explained he was checking the area to ensure the lights and noise weren’t attracting any infected. However, based on the amount of snowcovering Gyrik every time he returned, I doubted the light and sound from the house carried beyond the immediate area.

Before dinner, Bram pulled out the map to plan their route for the next day. He pointed to where he thought we were, a section of Highway 23 south of Duluth, then brought out a spiral-bound book with all the states in it to show me where we were going.

“Is there any chance we could check Shakopee?” I asked. “It’s a little out of the way, but not more than a few hours.”

Will and Bram shared a look.

“I already know my family won’t be there,” I said. “I’m just hoping they might have left a message for me.”

They exchanged another glance.

“I need subtitles for these looks you’re giving each other,” I said.

“They’re worried about what will happen if your familyisstill there,” Zach said. “Right now, ignorance can give you hope. That might be taken away from you if we go there.”

I understood what he wasn’t saying. They were worried I’d lose my grip on my sanity if I saw my family sick. And that added another notch of fear. Zach had tried to prepare me for what I might see.

Zombies, just like in the movies.

I’d heard him, but my doubt lingered. I was just like that, though, having a hard time believing what I couldn’t see.

“For some people, ignorance would be bliss. For me, the unknowns are hell. I closed myself off from the world, and it fell apart without me even knowing it. Now I need to know what that ignorance actually cost me.”

Zach reached out and patted my shoulder. “I hope they aren’t there.”

I looked from him to the other two. “Does that mean we can check?”

“We will check,” Gyrik said.

Bram flipped back to the Minnesota map so I could point to Shakopee. I watched him plot the route, noting all the back roads he was choosing. And the planning didn’t stop there. They made backup route plans in case roads were impassible.

“The infected don’t make roadblocks anymore, but some of the old ones might still be there. And humans like to make them too to ambush for supplies.”

“Great,” I said faintly.

The weather let up a few hours after dark. Unfortunately, the heat quit just as we settled in for the night.

“It happens,” Bram said. “I think the lines run out of pressure or something. If we shut off the gas, sometimes the pressure can build again, but I think it’d be better to leave it off while we sleep. We’ll be gone at first light, anyway.”

I shut off the gas first while everyone used the bathroom one last time, then shut off the water and drained the lines so the pipes wouldn’t freeze.

When I came back upstairs, Zach explained their routine. They split up in the bedrooms, sleeping in pairs with the door closed and locked.

“Never leave a closed room until Gyrik gives the all clear in case an infected breaks in while we sleep. And keep the lights off at night so the infected aren’t drawn in.

“If it’s all right with you, the three of us will take the master, and you and Gyrik can take this room. Gyrik will be able to hear through the walls. Oh, and he doesn’t need much sleep, so he’s fine sitting against the door while you take the bed.”

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