“Lyn! Come on!” came a shout from the van.
As I gazed around, I listened attentively. Dying because you weren't paying attention is a bad way to die. I didn’t hear any moans yet so I hoped it was fine at the moment, but I still had to get going. I waited for one more moment before hopping in my van, turning it on, right as the moans began. I slammed my foot on the gas not bothering to buckle my seatbelt. The van sped over the rough terrain, a pack of what looked like ten, following. I gritted my teeth and focused on getting away from the infected.
I sighed as the road came into sight and I jerked the wheel, turning the van onto it to follow it back home. I looked behind me and found the infected had fallen farther behind, much to my relief. I nodded to Caeden, who was sitting in the passenger seat and he rolled the window down, and leaned out, aiming his rifle. Bang, went the rifle and as it continued, more zombies fell till none were left, and we were within sight of home.
“Got ‘em” Caeden rolled up his window and I slowed down.
Two men stood at the gate, each holding testing kits. We held out our hands, and they clamped the kits shut. I began humming, intertwining my free hand with Caeden’s, before looking back at both of our lights. Green. The men waved us forward as the gates opened and we rolled along the driveway to the garage, which opened, allowing us to park the van inside.
“Mom, Dad!” I called as we opened the door into the house. “We’re home!”
Caeden and I didn’t wait for a response, climbing the stairs to our rooms and separating from there. I entered my room, and began examining my clothes, no blood on any of the layers but they went in the hamper to get sterilized. This is standard procedure any time you enter a hazard zone. I then crossed the room to the bathroom and entered.
“Lyn Wright.” I said, confirming my identity for the house system.
“Welcome, Lyn. Accessing travel records.” the house system responded. “Please enter the sterilization chamber.”
I stepped in and the door shut behind me, “Starting decontamination procedure.”
Tiny jets of water turned on, coming from all angles. They lasted about 30 seconds before the house system said, “Please close your eyes.”
The water switched to bleach almost immediately. Thankfully, I managed to close my eyes just before they did. After 20 seconds, bleach switched to air. Once I was dry enough, I stepped out of the shower which was now open, put on my robe, and went back into my room. I sat down at my computer and checked my email.
“What-” my eyes widened as I clicked on one email reading Urgent, and I knew it was. People stopped flinging that word around when the dead started walking.
I must’ve been sitting there staring for a while because Caeden opened the door saying, “Lyn, dad says if you don’t get down-... Lyn?”
He crossed the room, resting his hands on the back of the chair, reading what was on my screen. He then leaned over me and flicked a switch on the wall, turning on the intercom.
“Mom, dad” he said, his voice lined with awe as he said, “We got the job.”
“Which job?” came mom’s voice over the intercom, as if she didn’t know.
“The job.” I turned my head, looking up at Caeden with a smile.
“Get ready. We’re going out for dinner. Call Tia, ask if she wants to join us.” came dad’s voice this time.
“Phone, call Tia.” I said after shoving Caeden out of my room. There was a beep as it began ringing then instantly stopped, replaced by Tia’s voice.
“Yes?”
“Are you up for going out to eat with us?” I asked, searching through my dresser for a skirt.
“Depends. Why do you want to know?”
“Well, it’s the parents. They want to celebrate.” I paused, waiting to hear her reaction.
“Celebrate wh-” she abruptly broke off before exclaiming, “YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!”
“I am. We got the job Tia." I smiled, before pulling out a black skirt with white flowers and a matching top.
“Of course! I’ll be ready in fifteen, pick me up then.” Tia announced before a beep signaled her ending the call.
“The call has ended. Would you like to place another?” my phone asked.
“No thanks, disconnect.” I said, before exiting the room, making sure my cameras were in place.
See, me, Tia and Caeden all have hidden cameras in our clothing and in Tia and I’s case, jewelry as well. Caeden is the one who makes the cameras and other tech, while Tia makes outfits for them to hide in, which makes him able to hide even more. Me? I am the one who tests them. Meaning, I make sure the cameras can only be found by Caeden, and I make sure the outfits Tia makes are durable enough to wear in the field. Besides that, I am the one that takes the most risks, giving me the title of Brayler.
Caeden is the Nelyer, meaning he does go out in the field, but he doesn't take as many risks. Nelyers make reports based on facts, not opinions. Tia takes absolutely no risks if she can help it. She is the Realer of our group, which focus on writing for fun as well as their reports.
As I got downstairs, mom smiled at my effort to look nice. Her hand was resting on her purse, which would seem like a normal posture, except her bag was stuffed with guns. She was only allowed to do this because of her license. Dad was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking totally normal except he had been able to buy guns that collapsed and fit in his pockets, which were probably there now. Caeden was standing arms crossed next to them.
“You know that someone might have called ahead to tell the restaurant we are coming.” Caeden and I shared a glance, that someone was probably mom and dad.
“We figured. I get out first, followed by Tia, to distract the press as much as possible to let Caeden make his way to the table.” I rolled my eyes, “We know the drill.”
Dad nodded and walked to the door, holding it open so the rest of us could climb in the van.
A few minutes later we had picked up Tia, who was wearing all pink, with her hair in a braid, and “jewels” studded all around. Then we were at the restaurant, the press was already there. I nodded to Tia who promptly opened the door and bounced out, drawing a great deal of the press away. Then I got out, smiling and drawing a big amount of the press away. That left my parents to draw away the rest. Caeden quietly slipped out of the van and headed for the doors of the restaurant.
As we sat down I whipped out my phone and tapped on Caeden’s number, texting did they get you??
Thankfully, no. was the response.
Good. I set my phone down as the waiter came up, handing out menus for us. We all looked at the menus for a second then ordered drinks and food. The press had moved so that they could get more pictures of us eating, though only mom and dad paid attention to them.
“Mrs. titania.” I said, smiling and shaking her hand, “Thank you for choosing us. It means a great deal to us.”
“Of course. And no need for formalities. Just call me Titania.” She responded, then nodded to the doors, “Seems like the rest of your team is here. Ready to get this show on the road?”
Me, Tia, and Caeden nodded in response, following her out to the van, no other cars in sight.
We did it.
We are now heading to meet Mrs. Titania in Nashville. Let’s hope she wins the race to be governor. If she doesn't, we are going to do all of this for nothing. Lyn Wright – The Wright Way – December 13th, 2050