“Oh my god, oh my god,” I whispered, frantically pulling off my shirt and gloves. Had his flesh touched mine?
“Pants too,” Jamie said in a rush and helped me unbuckle my belt which fell to the ground. Seconds later I stood in the middle of the Sheriff’s office, completely naked save my bra and underwear, my entire body shaking.
“Did it touch your skin? Did it get any saliva on you?”
I shook my head. “No, no, I don’t think so.
Jamie grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to the sink where we washed down my arms and legs with the icy cold water. I scrubbed my arms while Jamie scrubbed my legs and waist. Something made my stomach lurch with an emotion far different than fear as I felt Jamie’s wet hands sliding gently around my body. My eyes fluttered closed.
“No signs of contamination. Skin looks good,” Jamie said, eyeing me over. “Oh my god, Layla.”
I stood shaking. Too many emotions overwhelmed me.
“I’ll go to the back and get you something to put on,” he said.
Shivering, I waited. Minutes later he returned with a standard issue police uniform, fingerless leather gloves, and a brown leather jacket. I pulled the clothes on and, still shaking, went back out front.
“Christ, my heart is still beating in my throat,” Jamie whispered.
I nodded. “I’m okay. We can go.”
“You sure?”
I nodded.
Jamie grabbed the keys, and we headed toward the car.
“Go to the end of Main Street, and we’ll start from there,” I said, trying to refocus. “We’ll need to use the PA speaker system, but we’re bound to attract company.”
Jamie set two guns on the seat beside him. “We’re good.”
He drove the police cruiser toward the end of town, and we made the turn back. He slowed the car. I grabbed the CB and flipped the speaker system on.
“Test. Hamletville citizens, test,” I said into the speaker as Jamie adjusted the volume. “Are you alive inside? Hang a white cloth out a window if you are alive. Hang a red cloth if you are injured. Hang black if there are undead inside with you,” I projected.
“Assuming their clothes aren’t in the wash,” Jamie said.
Finally relaxing, I punched him playfully on the shoulder.
And so we began to make our passes, street by street, repeating the message. It was not long until the aimless undead were drawn by the sound of my voice. When we hit Briar Street we found ourselves facing a small horde of ten or so. At the front I recognized Paul Lacombe, the town’s mailman. My grandma used to leave a tin of cookies in the mailbox for him every year at Christmas time. With regret, we jumped out of the police car and took Paul and the others out. We cruised up and down the street, announcing all morning. By noon or so, we had hit every street. We then stopped by the community center and rang the fire alarm twice. After, we headed toward the elementary school.
We found a dozen people already assembled inside the gym. Tom and Jeff were standing guard at the door. Those inside had been busy stocking the place with supplies.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Mrs. Finch said when she saw us. “We have a minor problem,” she added and pulled us to the side. “Jamie, I didn’t want to tell Tom, but his little niece, Karie, has gone bad. We locked her in Mrs. White’s classroom. I just didn’t know how Tom would take it. He’s lost everyone else. I think he was holding out hope for her. Can you please take care of her?” Mrs. Finch told us.
I looked at Jamie and shook my head. “No, he should know.”
Jamie looked back and forth from Mrs. Finch to myself and then to Tom. “It may break him. That guy is mush on the inside.”
“Should we let him have false hope while one of us executes his niece?”
“Oh Jamie, just do it,” Mrs. Finch said, ignoring me.
I shook my head. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Layla,” Mrs. Finch grumbled.
“He should decide, not us,” I replied and went to Tom.
Mrs. Finch was clearly angry but said nothing. She went back to work, slamming boxes from one table onto another. I approached Tom carefully.
“Hey Tom, can you come with me? Jamie will take your post for a minute,” I said, taking hold of Tom’s arm.
“Well, good morning, Layla,” Jeff said with a raunchy smile. “Hey, wasn’t that Ian’s truck I saw going up Fox Hollow Road last night?”
I glared at him.
Jamie raised a questioning eyebrow but said nothing.
I pulled Tom away.
“What is it?” Tom asked as we passed through the gym and into the classroom hallway.
“You heard my grandma got sick?” I asked him.
“Yeah, someone mentioned it. Sorry.”