6. Surprises

For dessert, Robert gave Daria two Snickers bars and took two for himself. "Normally, I limit myself to one of these a day, but this is a celebration."

"I was taken from my hometown and brought here against my will," Daria said, her voice petulant. "I don't think it's anything to celebrate."

He blushed, sighed and said, "I apologize. But we still have something to celebrate. God knows I have little to celebrate anymore. But you are alive, unbitten and really all you suffered was some embarrassment."

The memory of wetting herself made Daria blush and she ate one candy bar in silence.

He ate one candy bar quickly and sighed in contentment. "They're still pretty good, considering they're more than a year old," he said and looked at her. "I owe you another apology."

She looked up at him and asked, "Oh?"

"I held onto your thigh during our run to my shelter," he said. "I'm sorry about having to do that, but I had to hold you in place so I didn't drop you. I don't think you could have run very well in those Doc Martens anyway."

"I don't run at all," she said. "It's against my beliefs. Do those things run?"

"No," he said and shook his head. "They don't really have to. Once they're aware of you being nearby, they're able to home in on you. They also have the ability to work together to cut off escape routes - without any communication. That's how so many people died at the beginning."

"How many people did Fostoria have before...?" she asked.

Robert laughed, a short and bitter laugh. "Nearly fourteen thousand."

Daria blinked. "Are you the only one left?"

"As far as I know. The thing is that there are so many dead here in the city, and I don't know how many of them were originally from Fostoria. Many of the dead here could be from the surrounding communities. Hell, some of them could even be from as far away as Findlay or Tiffin or even Toledo." He ate the second candy bar, finished his soft drink and stretched. "I now apologize for being a rude host, but I'm going to bed."

Daria looked confused. "But the sun's just now going down."

"I know that," he said. "I used a lot of energy today and anymore, I find that when it gets dark out, I get very tired. I'm not as well fed as I used to be." He stood up, yawned and stretched again. "I used to make do with five hours of sleep. Now I get ten to twelve hours a day. I understand that you aren't tired. Tomorrow morning, I'll fit you for some chain mail and get you some weapons. Do you like to read?"

"Yes." She stood up as well.

"Come with me." He closed the curtain before they left the room. Then he led her to an office that had an already-made bed as well as a desk and a couch. It looked like a private college dorm room. "I anticipated having other survivors living with me. After Lauren and Janelle left, it was just me and Buster."

"Who were Lauren and Janelle?" she asked.

Robert looked out the window at the setting sun and blinked. "They were the only other survivors from our first rescue shelter," he said and turned to her. "The Holiday Inn Express on the north side of town was the rescue shelter for our neighborhood. Two hundred of us were in there. Some of the people there were already bitten, but hid it from us. When they died..." He closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands.

Daria stood embarrassed as he cried into his hands. She touched the back of his right shoulder and said, "I'm sorry."

He waved his right hand and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't put your through my loss like that. Not only did I lose Maggie there, but my three children as well."

"How did you survive?"

"I was on corpse disposal duty," he said. "When the truck came back to the hotel, the zombies were going in and out of the building. The driver of the truck took off and left me out there with a pistol and a crowbar." He took a deep breath. "The realization that my family was dead made me...I...I went beserk. I don't know how many I beat down with the crowbar. Janelle showed up with an arsenal and shot up a bunch of them, then forced me into her truck. I fought her and she cold-cocked me. If it was for her and Lauren, I'd be dead right now."

"Where did Lauren and Janelle go?"

"Montana. Clear, open spaces, few people - few zombies. They made it, cause they called me on the cell phone. Damn thing still worked, even though we had no power. It took them almost a month, but they made it. I hope they don't get bothered. They're vicious when they're pissed."

"Why would they get bothered?"

Robert sighed and glanced at her. "They're bisexuals. They killed one yahoo here because he pushed them over it." He yawned again. "Daria, you know where the bathroom and the books are. Use a candle for light, but keep the curtains closed, please. I still fear the possibility of a mass attack by the dead." He rubbed his right eye. "Good night."

"Good night."

Daria watched him disappear in the office where Buster hid earlier. The dog watched her cautiously and followed Robert in his room. He shut the door and she moved to her room. She lit the candle in the holder and shivered as she found herself alone. I don't like being all alone right now. But he scares me, too. What if he gets horny? After all, beggars can't be choosers and I could be the main course on his menu. What do I do then?

Quietly, she walked to the room with the books and began her search for something interesting to read.

oooooooooo

"I'll make a deal with you," Dr. Stone said from the floor of the van.

"Oh?" Jane said and smirked at him from the chair. "What makes you think you're in the position to bargain?"

The old man gave her a smile and said, "I know how to operate my machine. You do not."

"What kind of deal?" Trent asked and crossed his arms over his chest. "All we want is Daria, safe and sound."

Stone nodded and said, "I'll help you get your friend back and you let me go - with my van and my machine. We'll be even and you'll never see me again."

Jane stared at him for several seconds, then looked at Trent, who asked, "What if Daria's dead - like Dr. Casey?"

"We do not know that Dr. Casey is dead!" the old man said quickly. "Is your friend a smart girl?"

Jane nodded. "She's very smart."

"That's good," Stone replied. "She'll be O.K., then. Don't worry, I'll help you get her back."

"We'll see about this deal," she said. "We'll see."

oooooooooo

Daria sighed as she moved on to the fifth (or was it the sixth) stack of books. Damn, I miss Jane. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I miss Mom, Dad and Quinn, too. I...I hope I get back home.

Though she wasn't a religious person, she debated praying to get home. She finally shook her head and continued her search.

Halfway down the stack, she saw the words "...When Parents Pounce! When Makeup Smears! When Milk Starts Getting That Smell!" on one book, but couldn't see the artwork with it.

"Sounds interesting," she said and pulled it out. When she turned it over, she froze and her mouth dropped open in shock. The cover showed an auburn-haired teen in round glasses, a green jacket, orange pullover blouse, black pleated skirt and Doc Martens. When she read the words The Daria Database, she exhaled and muttered, "Oh, shit!"

After several seconds, she turned to dig through another stack. The look on her face showed a strong determination.

oooooooooo

Nearly an hour later, Daria sat up on the bed, the covers pulled up to shoulders. The book she had found laid on the bedside table. She blinked as she thought about what she had read.

I need Jane more than ever now, she thought as she set her glasses on the table. I don't know what the hell to think anymore.

The door to her room was not only closed, but she had locked it and placed a chair against the doorknob.

She grabbed her bookbag, opened it and placed the books in with her school gear. Then she set the bag back on the floor, blew out the candle and then laid on her left side. After several seconds, she adjusted the covers and partially covered her head.

oooooooooo

It took Daria almost two hours to fall asleep. But she opened her eyes as she heard the door open. Before she could move, she felt a strong hand clamp onto her mouth. Oh, no! Oh, shit no!

"Relax," she heard Robert's voice in her right ear. "No need to get tense. I'll be gentle, I'll be kind. I won't hurt you at all."

Then she felt the back of the nightshirt tear down and tears escaped her eyes. She moved her right hand to his arm, but he moved as if her hand wasn't even there. He grabbed the front of the ruined shirt and pulled it away from her.

"Nice," he whispered. "Very nice indeed."

Daria shook her head as she felt him kiss her right cheek. She then screamed into his hand.

oooooooooo

Daria quickly sat up in the bed, her eyes wide open and her breaths hard and deep. She felt down and saw that her nightshirt was still on and intact. Damned nightmare!

She put on her glasses and moved to the door. It was still locked and the chair was still braced against the doorknob.

As quietly as she could, she moved the chair and opened the door. She moved down the hall to Robert's room and heard him snore through the door.

After a minute of listening, she quietly moved back to her room, shut and locked the door and went back to bed.

(To be continued...)