Free The Real Night of the Living Dead by Mark Kramer, Felix Cruz Page B

one was Clara’s bed. She led me to an alcove in the corner and pointed out the bed. I left roses ― that I asked Melvin to pick up for me from the florist around his home ― on top of the pillow with a note attached that read:
    To Clara,                                                                          a                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Would you ever consider forgiving that dumb kid who made the worst mistake of his life when he bailed on an angel and left her to fly without her wings?
    Love,
      The Dumb Kid
    That night, as I was wrapping up my shift, I was taking the tunnel alone from N-5 back to N-3. She must’ve found out from my super where I was working, because, as I neared the end of the tunnel, her arms reached out from the darkness and pulled me in.
    We kissed for what seemed like ten years, making up for the time we spent apart. Then we made love right there in the dark, filthy, damp tunnel…and it was beautiful. The best experience that I ever had in my life.
    We were a couple after that night. We did our best to keep it a secret, only a few friends knew, but we planned on staying together. Clara said, then, “I love you, Veimer . And I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll wait for you until your time here is over.”
    We were dedicated to spending an eternity together. That’s why I was determined to reach Clara. Even if it meant fighting my way through hundreds of living dead maniacs who wanted only to rip my body apart and feast on my flesh.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Sixteen
     
     
    I told them about Clara, my “childhood friend”, and how I wanted to be sure that she was safe.
    The only person still holding out on going to the children’s camp was Hank. The doctor’s only reason for coming with us was that he knew he wouldn’t be safe here. He just wanted to be sure we took the safest route possible to get there. And, since he was responsible for him, he was bringing the older patient along for the journey.
    For the past twenty minutes, we were resting. Then the older patient opened his mouth, “I am a very smart man, you know? I am a professor at Beaver College.”
    We stared at him, Billy smiling. No one said a word.
    Hank said, “Who the hell asked you?”
    The professor ignored Hank and said, “Do you know that Shakespeare created the name of Jessica?” No one said a word. Hank shook his head. “The name, as it is spelled today, first appeared in The Merchant of Venice . Jessica is the daughter of Shylock. I would bet you did not know that to be a fact?”
    “Hey, I got one for ya ,” said Billy. “I bet ya ain’t know Garrett didn’t kill me. No sir. I got him though. He cried like a lil ’ girl when he saw me, but I ain’t show no mercy on the sorry lil ’ rascal. Shot’im and left’im for dead. The double crossing runt.”
    “My daughter is named Jessica,” said the professor, acting as if Billy didn’t even open his mouth. “She’s attending Temple University. I haven’t seen her since my wife passed.” He raised his eyes and looked at the group of us; I was sitting on the floor, between Melvin, who was sleeping now, and the nurse; Billy was on the other side of the nurse; the doctor and Hank were sitting across from us, leaning against the racks of food. “I don’t believe I am crazy. If I am, I have good reason, you see? This is my sixteenth day here at Byberry . Just last month, February sixth to be exact, my darling wife, who I love so very much, was robbed of her life. She was on the train that