Emma Shortt - Waking Up Dead

Chicago

Without a doubt the house with the pretty green shutters had food inside of it. Pasta, canned vegetables, tinned meats, hell, it could have a five course, good-to-go, gourmet meal in there for all Jackson Hart knew. Crouched down behind an overturned SUV she could practically hear it all screaming from inside the pantry, and she narrowed her eyes as she assessed the best way to get at it.

Not through the front door. It was probably barred tight with planks of wood, or barricaded with piled-up furniture. Maybe through the back? But the skinny, shadowed alleyway that ran between the house and its fence screamed, horror movie showdown, and for all Jackson knew shed be risking it only to find a blocked-up back door too. The shutters then. How thick were they? Was the glass behind them intact? Jackson hefted Mandy-the-machete and considered the possibilities.

Youre looking thoughtful there. For the record it doesnt suit you.

Those words came from Tyrone, her friend, her only friend, if you wanted to get right down to it. He joined her behind the SUV, swinging his ax as he did so, and making absolutely no attempt to stay hidden.

I was being stealthy, Jackson said with a sigh. You totally just ruined it.

Stealthy for who? he asked. The rats? Theres only them and us. We checked the street. Its all quiet.

Jackson frowned as she looked away from the house and down said street. A backpack, probably a childs by the size of it, caught her attention, and she frowned as she noticed what looked like a rusty toy truck sticking out of the zipper. The things people had thought to take when they tried to runit still baffled her.

Quiet or not, theyre here somewhere, she said softly. Its been almost a day since we saw any of them.

Lets hope for another day and then maybe another. He paused. Better yet, lets hope for a week.

Jackson almost laughed. Might as well wish for a working car.

I do, sweetheart. Daily. Were surrounded by wheels and not one of them worth a damn.

Two years and then some pretty much kills everything.

Everything but us, Tye said.

Jackson nodded slowly at the truth of those words, tore her gaze away from the truck, and pointed her machete at the shuttered house. Enough with the reminiscing. Take a look at that.

Tyes gaze followed the line of the blade. A frown spread across his face as he assessed the building from top to bottom. It looks

Like it probably did two years ago?

Yeah.

Weird isnt it? Jackson said. I dont know about your end, but down there, she tilted her head to the south of the street, the rest of these million-dollar houses are rocking the post-apocalyptic-makeover vibe. Broken glass, doors hanging off their frames, trash all over the place.

And this one stands alone, Tye said, his frown deepening. Could be Obamas. I heard he has a house around here.

Had, had a house, Jackson said. And Im pretty sure the dead do not make dining distinctions based on fame, or, she added when Tye opened his mouth to speak, government office.

Unless he went rogue in the beginning. He could still be hanging around. Tye paused and shook his head. Thats a weird thought.

Weird but not outside the realms of possibility, Jackson said. Hence the stealth you just ruined. Something is off, and we cant ignore it. If theres food anywhere, its hidden in that house. The rest have been picked clean, and this one looks like its been protected.

Tye shot her an incredulous look. Youre seriously not suggesting there are actual people inside?

She snorted. Yep, Im betting theres a whole family just waiting to open their arms to us. Theyll have a meal all laid out, hot baths running

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Jack.

Jackson shook her head. You goad me into it. Seriously though, Im thinking there were people still living in there. Not for a while and not now, she added, holding up her free hand to halt whatever words Tye had been about to say, but maybe they lasted out longer than the rest of the street. Itd explain why things look different. Better yet, it might mean food.

Tye stomach gave a grumble. It was far louder than it should have been and Jackson caught his eye.

Keep it down. That was loud enough for a pack to hear.

Cant help it, he said. You keep talking about food. When was the last time we ate, for fucks sake? I still cant believe the university campus was picked clean.

Its crazy, Jackson agreed, thinking of all those dorm rooms theyd crept through. Each had been viler than the last, full of blood and pus and a million other unidentifiable fluids. Worse, theyd stunk of teen sweat, though how that could be two and more years after those rooms had last been occupied, Jackson didnt know. Took a brave person indeed to wander those rooms and clean them out, she added. End of the day though, it doesnt leave us much choice but to hit up Creepyville here. We need some calories in our system as soon as possible, and Id rather not chow down on rat again.

Theres nothing wrong with rat.

Theres so much wrong with it I cant even begin. She swung Mandy in the direction of the biggest window, forcing Tye to lean back to avoid the super-sharp blade. Im thinking we go through the shutters there. Well chop through them and then the glass too if theres any left.

Thatll make a bit of noise.

Less noise than trying to go through the front door. You know itll probably be barricaded up, and besides, didnt you just say we were okay?

I said we are okay for the moment. Lets not push our luck any more than we have to.

So well be quick.

He hefted his ax, giving it a swing of what Jackson assumed was agreement. Im always quick, sweetheart.

I bet.

Youre not funny.

They made their way out from behind the SUV, around a Prius that seemed to have collided headfirst with a Dumpster, and across to the sidewalk. It was slippery and Jackson swerved to avoid what looked like a splatter of vomit. It was probably just decomposing vegetation but she shot it a nasty look as she passed.

Waist-high grass and weeds, Tye said with a scowl. Does any look trampled to you?

She shook her head. Youre thinking zombie hide-and-seek? Theyd have been on us already.

That they would. Bastards have no subtlety.

Amen for that.

It took just a few moments to wade through the scraggy vegetation and approach the biggest window. Up close Jackson could see that the house did not look as pristine as it had from the street. The white of the stone was discolored in places by mold, and the wooden slats of the shutters were showing signs of wear and tear. She gave them maybe another year or so before bugs ate their way completely through.

Theyre starting to rot, she muttered. Should be easy enough to get through.

Along the vertical? Tye asked.

Yeah. You take the top hinge. Ill take the bottom. One swing each should do it.

The left side shutter came off easily enough, with minimal noise, and they lowered it to the ground, propping it up against the side of the house. Once it was safely out the way they stepped forward and peered through the window frame into the house.

No glass, Tye said softly. And no pieces or shards of it either. At least none that I can see.

Its like someone just carried them awayor cleaned up the mess. Their eyes met and Jackson frowned. This is creepy.

Creepier inside. Theres no fucking light.

Jackson tightened her grip around Mandy as she looked into what would once have been a living room. Tye was right; although strips of light came in from the shutters, it was nowhere near enough to illuminate everything. She could make out a couch, a table, and what might be a TV stand, but nothing apart from that. I wish I still had my flashlight, she whispered. Id sell you for it right now.