Chapter 7.2

Georgi stopped the truck and jumped out. She reached in and pulled Alex out quickly.

“Alex, grab some snacks and go into the treehouse,” she ordered.

She went into the cabin, came out with a gun and followed Alex to the treehouse.

Neil and Rosemarie dragged the stranger out of the truck. She ran into the cabin to get a blanket and the first aid kit. Laying the guy on the blanket, she started cleaning and bandaging his wounds.

“We were attacked,” the man said. He looked like he was holding back tears. “My family….”

“Were you bit?” demanded Randy. He had his gun pointed right at the guy.

“Yes…” said the man.

Randy cocked his gun. “Stop!” Rosemarie yelled and shielded the man.

“Get out of the way, Rosemarie,” said Randy.

Staring down at the man she said, “No. You can’t just kill people.” “Dude,” Neil held up his hands. “It takes ‘em awhile to turn. It doesn’t

happen all at once.”

Randy growled and began pacing around at the edge the yard, all the while keeping his eye on the injured man.

Rosemarie heard footsteps coming across the ground from the treehouse. She looked up.

“Can I help?” asked Georgi.

“I need some water to wash away the blood,” Rosemarie said.

“On it,” Georgi said as she turned to grab a gallon jug of water near the outdoor kitchen.

“What is your name?” asked Neil.

“Mark,” he said. “Mark Somerset.”

Georgi sat the water down then pulled out her journal from her pocket and began to write. “Mr. Somerset, what happened?”

“Some men attacked us on the road,” he said. “They took everything and left us for dead.”

Randy stopped and walked closer.

“Where is your family?” asked Neil.

“They…” he started to tremble as his eyes filled with tears. “They’re dead....We were trying to walk to Fayette. Mary, my wife, has family there. It got dark,” he said looking up at Rosemarie. “We spent the night outside in the woods, just off the road.”

“How many guys attacked you?” interrupted Randy

“Three,” he answered.

Rosemarie glared at Randy. “Go on, Mark.”

“We were sleeping when a thing...killed my wife.” Tears were starting to stream down his face. “I...I couldn’t save her. My son had a wound on his hand. It was bad...”

Mark began sobbing.

Rosemarie had never felt as helpless as she did in that moment.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I tried to help my son…” he rolled on his side and curled into a ball. “I tried…”

“We should let him rest,” said Georgi. “He’s had a difficult time.”

“It’s going to get more difficult,” Randy said, adjusting his grip on the rifle.

Georgi narrowed her eyes at him then sighed heavily. “I’m going to work on the toilet, if anyone wants to help.”

“Mark,” Rosemarie took the rag and wiped his forehead.

He sniffled then twisted a little to look back at her.

“I am so sorry you lost your family. We will try and make you as comfortable as we can until…” she stopped.

“Until I turn,” he finished.

This sad surreal moment knocked the wind out of her. She stared at him, mouth gaping like a fish out of water. Tears burned her eyes as she looked away.

“Neil,” she choked back the tears as she spoke, “will you ask Georgi to show you where my couch cushions are?”

“We need to talk,” Randy said after Neil left earshot. “Now.”

“I’ll be right back,” Rosemarie patted Mark’s arm before she got up and faced the asshole with the gun.

She followed him to the corner of the cabin where he grabbed her arm and jerked her out of sight of the others.

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