{"id":180,"date":"2013-07-21T12:23:19","date_gmt":"2013-07-21T12:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/?page_id=180"},"modified":"2013-07-21T12:23:19","modified_gmt":"2013-07-21T12:23:19","slug":"chapter-23","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/story\/chapter-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 23"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 23<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cI love you\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Every time I thought of those words, my heart stopped.\u00a0 I had to sit on the ground to collect myself, and then I had to hold myself together.<\/i><\/p>\n

I would never hear them again.<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

I would never feel my heart convulsing as I returned them.\u00a0 My heart was now a dead weight.<\/i><\/p>\n

I would never laugh over a movie I\u2019d seen hundreds of times ever again.\u00a0 Laughter sounded like a funerary bell.<\/i><\/p>\n

Even the sound of my own name is hollow now.\u00a0 And I thought that I would never hear it again.<\/i><\/p>\n

My weak, shaking hands would never hold anything again.\u00a0 Never rest lightly on his neck\u2026\u00a0 Never clasp her hands in expectation\u2026\u00a0 Never touch my father\u2019s cheek or my mother\u2019s stomach\u2026\u00a0 Never hold my little sister on the day she was born\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

My weak, shaking hands could only hold together my own weak, shaking body\u2026 and they weren\u2019t even very good at that\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

Remembering that\u2026 remembering the \u201cI love yous\u201d of the people I love snapped me into pieces\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

And that was when I remembered that I was all alone\u2026 trying to heal my wounds with my own feeble strength\u2026 and failing.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Saturday, April 14, 2012<\/b>
\n10:30 a.m.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Kayleigh\u2019s eyes flickered open lightly.\u00a0 A pale, eerie blue light flooded the room.\u00a0 She raised her head lightly to stare at the television, only to see the DVD screensaver.\u00a0 She shook her head with a laugh and nestled back into the bed.<\/p>\n

She jumped up suddenly.\u00a0 Brushing her hands through her hair, her fingers caught on dried chunks.\u00a0 She took in a quick gasp, and that was when she noticed the utter stillness of the room.\u00a0 Her gasp and her heartbeat were the only things she heard.<\/p>\n

She shook her head quickly and placed her hand on it to stop the onslaught of disorientation she was feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaturday morning\u2026\u201d her voiced quivered.\u00a0 \u201cSammy would probably still be at Ricky\u2019s from last night\u2026\u00a0 She\u2019d come home later in one of his big sweatshirts with her hair all bunched up and her eyes rimmed with black\u2026 and I would laugh and say, \u2018Sammy\u2026 You look like a raccoon\u2026\u2019\u201d\u00a0 A tiny, forced laugh escaped her lips.\u00a0 Kayleigh cringed at the strange sound before taking a deep breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Sammy would smile and say, \u2018Ricky always did have a soft spot for raccoons.\u00a0 And anyway, someday you\u2019ll come home and see me after letting Brad see you like this.\u2019\u00a0 And I would blush and cringe a little at the thought\u2026\u00a0 just like almost every Saturday morning\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears began to stream down Kayleigh\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cI should call Brad\u2026 I\u2019ll bet he\u2019s hurting\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She put her hand to her chest.\u00a0 The stillness of the room was betraying her confidence.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see if Sammy wants Starbucks before I head over.\u00a0 I bet she\u2019s on the mend from her twenty-four hour bug, and she\u2019ll want banana bread.\u201d\u00a0 Kayleigh began to smile to herself.<\/p>\n

She pulled herself from the bed lightly and noted her clothing.\u00a0 Jeans\u2026 and the recruitment shirt she\u2019d worn yesterday\u2026\u00a0 Kayleigh frowned briefly before her eyes locked on the purple bedding.\u00a0 Her heart stopped once more.<\/p>\n

Sammy\u2019s bed\u2026<\/p>\n

Kayleigh put her hand to her face while she tried to remember and tried to forget yesterday\u2019s events.\u00a0 Her head was spinning as she came to the realization that she had fallen asleep in Samantha\u2019s bed\u2026 because Samantha wasn\u2019t there?<\/p>\n

Kayleigh shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, because Sammy needed me here\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She ran her hand through the chunks in her hair once more before forcing herself to turn around.<\/p>\n

She had spent the night curled up with Samantha.\u00a0 The bed was covered in the same chunks as Kayleigh\u2019s hair.\u00a0 There were also a few spots of residue similar to dried hair mousse nearest to Samantha\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh clapped her hand to her face and began running through the signs of alcohol poisoning on default.<\/p>\n

Pale skin.\u00a0 The skin was more than pale; it was almost listless\u2026 not to mention being covered in purple sores the color of the bed spread\u2026<\/p>\n

Passing out.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t seem to be awake\u2026\u00a0 She could simply be asleep\u2026<\/p>\n

Vomiting.\u00a0 Kayleigh attempted to run her fingers through the chunks in her hair again.<\/p>\n

Seizures.\u00a0 Kayleigh stared at the residue on Samantha\u2019s pillow and shook the memory from her mind.<\/p>\n

Irregular breathing.\u00a0 Tears began to stream down Kayleigh\u2019s face once more.\u00a0 It was more than irregular\u2026 It was almost non-existent\u2026<\/p>\n

Kayleigh dried her tears, but they kept streaming down her face.\u00a0 \u201cDetox\u2026 I\u2019ve got to get Sammy to Detox\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Kayleigh stood and caught her hand on the edge of the bed before she fell to the ground.\u00a0 She supported herself as she tottered toward her desk, where her phone lay.\u00a0 She pulled it up and stared absently at the screen.\u00a0 \u201cSixteen missed calls\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Her voice was so low it barely interrupted the silence in the room.<\/p>\n

She started to examine her missed calls, but stopped short when her phone began ringing.\u00a0 She picked it up hurriedly.\u00a0 \u201cBrad!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKayleigh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

His voice was weak, but it really was his voice.\u00a0 A burst of relief washed over Kayleigh.\u00a0 Her tears kept streaming down her cheeks.\u00a0 It was a bittersweet mixture of fear, grief, worry, relief, and hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sound upset\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Kayleigh\u2019s breaths lodged in her throat.\u00a0 \u201cSammy needs to go to Detox\u2026\u201d she choked out quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cKayleigh\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He stopped momentarily.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re trying to distract yourself with a plausible lie.\u00a0 Samantha is sick\u2026 remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad\u2026\u201d Kayleigh stopped short.\u00a0 \u201cAre you crying?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Little Bro\u2026\u201d Brad started.\u00a0 It was hard not to notice that he was choking back tears, making his irregular breathing even more strained.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe tried to call the paramedics for both of us.\u00a0 No one answered.\u00a0 He stayed with me all night\u2026 even when he caught it too\u2026 and this morning\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh started sobbing.\u00a0 \u201cDerek\u2026 not Derek too\u2026\u201d\u00a0 She hiccupped.\u00a0 \u201cSammy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out of that house, Kayleigh.\u00a0 Call the paramedics, pray they answer, and then get out\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome to me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if I catch it too\u2026\u00a0 What if I already have it, Brad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll wait for the paramedics together\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be alone\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh\u2019s voice broke at that last request.\u00a0 \u201cOkay\u2026 I\u2019m coming\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh ran down the hall of the silent mansion.\u00a0 The only sound was her erratic breathing and the sounds of her keypad as she searched her recent call list.\u00a0 She focused her attention toward the stairs as she passed a few sisters slumped in the hallway.\u00a0 Their skin resembled Samantha\u2019s all too well.\u00a0 Right down to the purple sores and the lifeless skin tinted with chunks of vomit and spittle.<\/p>\n

She shook the image out of her head and pushed herself down the stairs and out the door.\u00a0 As she was running down Greek Park Drive, she stared idly at the cars stopped in the middle of the road.\u00a0 Zack had been right yesterday; Orlando really was a ghost town.<\/p>\n

Her phone finally connected.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve reached the Jackson family \u2013 better known as Andrew, Kim, Kayleigh, and Chris.\u00a0 Leave a message with your name, number, and the family member you want to speak to.\u00a0 We\u2019ll get back to you soon.\u201d\u00a0 There was a short beep.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy!\u00a0 I\u2019m sure you\u2019re asleep, but I wanted to let you know that I\u2019m okay.\u00a0 There\u2019s the thing going around Orlando that I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard about, but don\u2019t worry about me, okay?\u00a0 I\u2019ll call you later\u2026\u00a0 Tell Mama and Chris \u2018hi\u2019 for me.\u00a0 I love you all so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh pulled her phone from her ear as she reached the Kappa Sigma house.\u00a0 The door was oddly ajar.\u00a0 She took in a breath as she pushed the door open and headed toward the stairs at the front.\u00a0 \u201cBrad!\u201d<\/p>\n

She kept walking up the stairs.\u00a0 The mansion was also oddly quiet.\u00a0 \u201cBrad!\u201d\u00a0 She reached the top of the second flight of stairs and saw a brother leaning against the railing.\u00a0 His face covered with the same purple sores.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh let out a small shriek and ran up to the third floor.\u00a0 \u201cBrad!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKayleigh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It was weak, but the voice was there.\u00a0 His voice was really there!<\/p>\n

Tears were streaming down her face as she turned to the open door.<\/p>\n

A small gasp escaped her lips as she saw Derek\u2019s body crumpled in the corner.\u00a0 Dried blood matted his hair.\u00a0 A small smear of blood was spread on the wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome here\u2026\u201d Brad\u2019s voice was notably weaker than it had been on the phone.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh tiptoed toward the bed.\u00a0 All of her strength was fading quickly.\u00a0 She collapsed on the floor.<\/p>\n

Brad ran his fingers over her head. \u00a0\u201cKayleigh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour hand is wet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI slammed it into the bed frame while I was sleeping\u2026 before I called you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh took his wrist into her hand and ran a fallen cold compress over it.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s okay\u2026 I\u2019ll take care of you now.\u00a0 I\u2019m here\u2026 so let\u2019s stay together until this passes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brad gave her a small nod.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m so sorry\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t help being sick.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t your fault.\u201d\u00a0 The blood was beginning to clot with the pressure from Kayleigh\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

He closed his eyes lightly.\u00a0 \u201cKayleigh\u2026 I love you\u2026 always.\u201d<\/p>\n

A small smile spread across Kayleigh\u2019s lips.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

His hand started rattling within her grasp.\u00a0 Kayleigh looked up to see Brad\u2019s torso thumping against his bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad!\u201d<\/p>\n

Spittle began forming from within his mouth.\u00a0 A gagging sound emerged from his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad!\u00a0 Should I do CPR?\u00a0 CPR?\u00a0 I\u2019ll call the paramedics!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh put her hands to his chest to start compressions, but his convulsing body knocked her into the table beside the bed.\u00a0 When she regained the strength to stand, the convulsing had stopped.\u00a0 Aside from her breathing, the room was silent, just like every other room.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad?\u201d<\/p>\n

She reached her hand lightly to his neck.\u00a0 It was warm, but completely still.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

His weak voice was the only sound she could comprehend as it ran through her head.\u00a0 \u201cKayleigh\u2026 I love you\u2026 always.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cBRAD!!!\u201d\u00a0 His name turned into an incomprehensible scream.\u00a0 It shook the quiet of the looming mansion.<\/p>\n

Her house\u2026 her sisters\u2026 GreekPark\u2026 Derek\u2026 Megan\u2026 Zack\u2026 Alison\u2026 Josh\u2026 Christian\u2026 Jamie\u2026 Matt\u2026<\/p>\n

Sammy\u2026 Sammy\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you\u2026 always.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Brad\u2026<\/p>\n

Brad\u2026<\/p>\n

Adrenaline ran through Kayleigh\u2019s veins as her grief consumed her.\u00a0 Her body assumed the natural flight versus flight response.\u00a0 In the wake of a dangerous illness, one should run.<\/p>\n

No matter who they were running from.<\/p>\n

Kayleigh\u2019s body forced her to run.\u00a0 She ran away from Kappa Sigma, away from Tri Delta, away from GreekPark.\u00a0 She ran toward the university without stopping until her body succumbed under her.\u00a0 She fell to the ground as a car jerked to a stop behind her.<\/p>\n

Tears streamed down her cheeks.\u00a0 Why can\u2019t I die?<\/p>\n

A door slammed shut.\u00a0 \u201cAre you alive?\u201d<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t respond.<\/p>\n

Two feet stopped near her face.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re\u2026 not covered in the sores\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She remained silent again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you are breathing\u2026\u201d\u00a0 The voice softened.\u00a0 \u201cAnd bleeding\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh wearily pulled herself to her knees.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember you\u2026\u00a0 The girl with the office assistant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you\u2026 always.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Rather than face the pain again, Kayleigh\u2019s face became hard and cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re\u2026 not covered with sores either\u2026 Can you help me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was convulsing\u2026 covered in those purple sores and bleeding.\u00a0 His voice was so small\u2026 and his fever was so high; his cheeks were flushed even when they were sallow\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t help you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She managed to struggle to her feet.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re the only living person, and you can\u2019t help me?!\u00a0 I\u2019ll walk to the hospital, then!\u00a0 I\u2019ll get the paramedics to answer my calls!\u201d<\/p>\n

He grabbed her shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s no point in me helping him!\u00a0 He\u2019s dead!\u00a0 Everyone in this University is dead!\u00a0 Do you understand?\u00a0 There\u2019s no use in being spoiled or irrational now!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Dorough, sir, you\u2019re hurting me.\u201d\u00a0 Her voice barely whimpered as she pulled herself away.<\/p>\n

He dropped his hands from her shoulders and turned back to his car.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s someone I have to see.\u00a0 You\u2019re welcome to join me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh hesitated and looked toward the campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the only living person you\u2019ll find in the entire university.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh gave a slight nod and dragged her feet to the car door.\u00a0 She opened it slowly and slid in.<\/p>\n

The drive seemed to fly by, despite Mr. Dorough weaving in and out of traffic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are we going, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy house\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 Why?\u00a0 Do you need a change of clothes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot as much as you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh pursed her lips.<\/p>\n

Mr. Dorough cringed at the expression.\u00a0 \u201cI think you can appreciate this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kayleigh turned to face him, her interest slightly piqued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday, I was supposed to spend some time with my son, Bartholomew\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t come to your dedication?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis mother and I are separating.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re going to your son now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get you to a hospital after I grab him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the last the two spoke.\u00a0 Kayleigh decided to ignore the drive, preferring to stare out the window.\u00a0 Mr. Dorough didn\u2019t seem like he wanted to talk more anyway.<\/p>\n

Derek\u2026 Megan\u2026 Zack\u2026 Alison\u2026 Josh\u2026 Christian\u2026 Jamie\u2026 Matt\u2026<\/p>\n

Sammy\u2026 Sammy\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you\u2026 always.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Brad\u2026<\/p>\n

She closed her eyes as a few tears spilled on to her cheeks.<\/p>\n

Brad\u2026<\/p>\n

When she opened her eyes, the car was parked in front of another mansion.\u00a0 She turned toward the house, wondering how long Mr. Dorough had been gone.<\/p>\n

It was at that moment that a man exited the house.\u00a0 He tore a small stack of papers as he walked back toward the car.\u00a0 The scraps from the papers scattered to the winds.<\/p>\n

Mr. Dorough gripped the handle of the car.\u00a0 His hand shook violently.\u00a0 His face was notably pale.\u00a0 He opened the door and sat in his seat for a few minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Dorough?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t just the university\u2026\u201d\u00a0 His voice was quiet and muffled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there was a virus threatening your country, where would you go to get away from it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome other country\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the airports are probably closed\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Mr. Dorough revved the engine, and the car lurched forward as it started to run according to the speedometer\u2019s gage.<\/p>\n

When they had reached the highway, Kayleigh finally caught her breath.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Dorough, where are we going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far away from Orlando as possible!\u00a0 But first, we have to stop at Cape Canaveral!\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

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Chapter 23 \u201cI love you\u2026\u201d Every time I thought of those words, my heart stopped.\u00a0 I had to sit on the ground to collect myself, and then I had to hold myself together. I would never hear them again.\u00a0 I … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":23,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"onecolumn-page.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/180"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/180\/revisions\/181"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}