To Hell And Back (Zombie Apocalypse Series, Book 2)

By C.M. Chidgey

Her health begins declining for reasons unknown to anyone and her sleep is filled with nightmares of Lucian being locked up and tortured. Determined to get to him she leaves the hotel alone with only one plan. Save Lucian. Taylor Mckenzie must walk into the very depths of hell to get to him, but no one just walks straight into Lucifer's domain and back out without their being consequences.
New allies will join them, the worst enemy you can imagine will try to claim her and someone she loves will be used to send her straight into a trap. No one ever said an apocalypse would be easy to live in, but the things Taylor must face takes difficult to a whole different level.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.M. Chidgey
• Release date: Dec 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310492884

C.M. Chidgey

C.M. Chidgey published her first book, Fallon Mansion in 2013, but did a lot of writing long before that knowing that she wanted to be a writer since she was younger. She has now published nine books and will soon be publishing the fourth book of the Zombie Apocalypse series.Her books are influenced by her love off all things paranormal and many of her ideas comes from dreams she has had. She then uses them to create characters before using her imagination to make them into novels.Spending time with her family and writing are her favourite things to do. She has lived in England for her whole life and is thankful for all the support she receives from her family on writing her books.

Book preview

To Hell And Back

(Zombie Apocalypse Series, Book 2)

By C.M. Chidgey

Copyright 2013 C.M. Chidgey

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Discover other titles by C.M. Chidgey at Smashwords.com:

(Gladden Halya Saga, Book 1)

Shades Of The Iris: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/331726

(Hidden Descendant Series, Book 1)

One Of The Enemy: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/331736

(Zombie Apocalypse Series, Book 1)

Demon Hotel: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/331683

Chapter 1

We've got another one. Bethany announced walking into room 215 where me and Gordon had been waiting silently for the news.

She's pregnant too? I asked in disbelief. Why can’t they stay in their own rooms or keep it in their pants?

Gordon snorted. Like that's going to happen.

It was crazy, I mean I didn't have anything against pregnancy, but she was the tenth woman this week that had found out and when I was partly responsible for making sure these people had enough food to live it made it twice as difficult when women suddenly had to eat twice as much because they had another mouth to feed.

Lucian had not been joking when he had told me in that letter that leading people wasn't easy, it was downright difficult and now women were just getting pregnant to make things worse. He had been gone for over a month, but it felt to me like it had been years. I never thought I could miss someone so much until he left that day. Every night since then I had slept in his room, in his bed and in one of his t-shirts just to be surrounded by his scent that still lingered there even after all this time. I know, it probably seemed a little creepy to be that obsessed, but I couldn't help myself.

It will make things easier when the vegetables have grown. Bethany pointed out.

Yeah, when they've finished. I murmured.

With a lot of help from Gordon's demon powers (I had finally accepted they were real after a week of talking to Bethany and a few demonstrations from him, he couldn't do as much as Lucian, but it was enough to be convincing) we had used an area out behind the hotel that used to be a garden and created a vegetable patch, the need for the help with powers had come when we had surrounded the area with electrical fencing including the whole hotel building. Lucian had warned me about there being more zombies and he wasn't wrong, every night zombies had tried to break in, at least they had until the fence was up, now they just ran into it, got an electric shock and shot back. It would work against soldiers too, but as promised they hadn't come to the hotel since Lucian had killed Michael. Gordon had, had to use his powers to convince (well he called it convincing, but it seemed more like messing with minds to me) the people at the hotel that the fencing had been there all along so they didn't wonder about the sudden arrival of it.

Bethany and I had scouted to a garden centre and retrieved some vegetable seeds after the patch had been dug out, but now they were in the midst of growing and still not ready. It turned out that they took about a month to grow, they would help, but it wouldn't provide enough food until another batch grew so we definitely needed other food and with all the extra being eaten we were going to run out quickly.

Can’t you just, you know make food? Bethany asked Gordon as she walked over to him and sat on his lap.

Oh, and those two were a thing now and absolutely head over heels for each other. I felt like a bitch every time I saw them together because I felt jealous as hell that they had each other and Lucian still wasn't back. All of the times I asked Gordon how long he would be must be doing his head in though because no matter how many times I asked he didn't know the answer. What made it worse was that I could see the frown of worry creasing his forehead every time I asked him. Did that mean that he had expected him to be back by now?

No, we can't make food. At least not proper food, you could eat it, but it wouldn't give any nourishment. Gordon answered kissing her on the cheek.

I groaned and stood up before walking over to the window and staring outside just in time to watch a zombie run at the fence and tumble backwards, it had been funny to watch to start with, but after seeing it everyday it had gotten old.

A sudden pain in my head made me wince and squint, I had been getting the headaches more and more frequently. At first I thought I had something bad like a brain tumour, but it didn't take long for Jason to rule that out, I didn't know how he had ruled it out, but I trusted him so I didn't question it. All he could put it down to was just migraines, which was weird since I had never gotten them before, but there was nothing I could do besides deal with it.

Man, you got a headache again? Bethany asked.

Yeah. I mumbled rubbing my head as if it would help. They just get worse.

Is Jason sure it's just migraines?

There's nothing bad wrong with her, I can tell when a human is dieing from something like that and she isn't. Gordon said.

I groaned and sat down in the chair heavily before dropping my head onto my arms. I feel like I am and you could have told me that before I ran to Jason in a panic.

He snorted. In case you forgot, I was sleeping, so was the whole hotel until you practically banged Jason's door down saying you were dieing.

Bethany started laughing at the memory and I sighed. I had been suffering from another bad headache when I had recalled someone who had lived on our street having bad headaches and finding out they had a brain tumour and only a few months to live. To say I had freaked out would be an understatement.

Scout team incoming! Jack yelled as he burst through the door as if his ass was on fire.

Without responding I grabbed the sniper rifle from next to the window and took aim after opening the window facing the clearing. There were only five zombies out there shuffling around and probably making groaning noises that I couldn't hear from up here. Without any hesitation I took down each one within a few minutes, thanks to my migraine I missed a few times, which was unusual for me, they were easy targets and I was lucky it was so few. We had, had several occasions when we had needed a few people shooting them because there were so many blocking the way for the team to get back to the hotel. When this happened I went out and took them down with my sword not willing to waste so many bullets.

Clear. I told Jack before he relayed the message into his headset.

I waited by the window in case of a surprise attack while I saw the group who had left this morning consisting of five people running out of an alleyway and towards the hotel. The guards were already turning off the electrical gate and opening it, by the time the team had crossed the clearing it was open enough for them to run in. The minute the gate was closed behind them and turned back on I relaxed my hold on the sniper and pushed the window down.

Only eight? Jack asked.

Five. I muttered leaning the sniper against the wall and sitting down.

His eyebrows rose in surprise. You missed?

I glared at him daring him to say anything, but he raised his hands in surrender. Just saying, you never miss.

She has a migraine again. Bethany explained.

You can go and lay down if you want, we’ve got this. Gordon said.

I'm fine. I murmured, Lucian had left me partly responsible for these people and I wasn't going to go and lie down when I didn't have to.

I guess I still needed to sort out that part of me that was still stubborn as hell. If Lucian had been here we would have had so many arguments lately due to my stubbornness, but he wasn't so I was left to act stupid without question.

Is there any point in arguing with her? Jack asked.

Gordon snorted. Not unless you're Lucian and he can't even sort her out most of the time.

I didn't bother making a comment.

When is he coming back anyway, how long does it take to find his Dad?

We had told everyone that Lucian had gone searching for his Dad to explain his sudden absence, but that explanation was only going to last so long. It wouldn't be long before people would start to think he had been killed or something.

He wasn't sure where he was, I don't know how long it will take for him to find him. Gordon lied easily.

I was glad I had stayed up when it turned out that the scouting team had, had a good day. They had found a basement in a house stocked with loads of food, the five of them hadn’t even been able to make a dent in it after filling their backpacks.

We began planning to send a bigger group the next day, but Bethany suggested using one of the trucks we had from the soldiers so we could get it all at once. It wasn't long before the decision was made to drive the truck there.

Not having to worry about food as much for the time being was a huge weight off of my shoulders, but I knew it wouldn't be too long before we would be in the same situation. There had to be a way to start getting more food, because we would eventually run out of food in the city. I wish we could have had some animals or something, but it hadn't been long into the apocalypse before the zombies had pretty much wiped them out. Apparently zombies didn't mind eating animal brains as well as human ones.

Oh, and Elizabeth wanted me to tell you that the children need more clothes. Jack said before leaving with the team

Again? I said to Gordon and Bethany. What do they do with their clothes?

Bethany chuckled and Gordon answered. Children grow fast Taylor, Lucian used to make the clothes a little bit bigger, I think Elizabeth thinks he's just an expert at sewing.

I snorted and winced as my head exploded in pain. Well, can you make them a little bigger?

He shrugged. Sure, that sort of thing is easy to do. I'll see to it later.

I nodded and murmured. I think I'm going to take that lie down now.

You should get something for dinner first. Bethany said as she stood up.

I'm not really that hungry.

Gordon groaned. Come on Taylor, give us a break here. Lucian will kill us if we don't make sure you're looked after.

I sighed and reluctantly nodded. Ok, I'll eat first.

That a girl. Bethany shouted with a grin making me chuckle.

It wasn't until I stood up though that I realised I wouldn't be having dinner after all. The pounding in my head increased and the world tilted making me grab for the table to hold myself up. It was as if the table had suddenly moved because my hand didn't come into contact with anything. Bethany or Gordon spoke to me, I wasn't sure which because I couldn’t seem to differentiate their voices or understand their words, maybe both of them were talking. My feet disappeared from beneath me suddenly and I was falling. Everything went black.

It was hot, really hot, even hotter than it had been when I had, had that fever. I was laying down on what felt like concrete, I had slept on it enough times to recognise the feel of it beneath my body. My head wasn't hurting anymore so that was a plus, but since I seemed to be dreaming it wasn't too surprising. This had been the first dream I had arrived in since my nightmares about Eric had stopped over a month ago so I was curious about what it was going to be.

My eyelids felt heavy, but I managed to force them open despite the stifling heat here that made them sting. I pushed myself up into a sitting position and looked around to find myself in a cell. At first glance it appeared to be empty, but the sound of someone breathing from the shadows made me second guess that thought.

I looked out of the iron bars to try and identify where I was, but I didn't recognise the place, how could I be dreaming about somewhere I had never been? There was a large empty area in front of the cell and then some stone stairs opposite that were leading up, in the other direction was a long corridor that looked like it contained more cells, the first one was empty and joined to this one, I had no idea why a place like this would have come up in my head. I suppose it was similar to the cells I had been in with the girls at that camp, but it was like some sort of old prison that you would find in a castle and the heat was so intense that I was sweating. Was it normal to sweat in your dream?

A ragged breath coming from the darkness drew my attention back in that direction. I grabbed one of the bars on the cell and pulled myself up slowly keeping my eyes trained in the same direction worried that something was about to jump out at me. The fact I was in a dream didn't stop me from going into a defensive posture as I crept towards the back of the cell. When I heard movement and the clink of a chain I froze on the spot.

Tinkerbell? If he hadn't called me that I didn't know if I would have been able to identify his voice, it sounded so husky and weak as if he hadn’t spoken for weeks.

Lucian? I asked walking quickly towards him until I could see him through the shadows. Even then I could only make out part of his face and his dark eyes.

What are you doing here? He asked seeming panicked.

I don't know. I said dropping to my knees on the ground in front of him. I passed out and then I was here.

You passed out, are you ok?

I don't know. I admitted looking around the cell again. This is a really weird dream though. I mean it makes sense that you're here because I missed you, but I don't know where we are and why are you in here? I kept looking around before reaching out for him only to come into contact with manacles around his wrists. Are you chained up, what the hell is going on?

I don't know sweetheart, maybe you're just worried that this is where I am. He said taking my hands in his.

I really miss you. I murmured. It's so hard with you not there.

I miss you too Blondie. He said before leaning forward and kissing me.

I kissed him back, he tasted just the same as I remembered, he even smelt the same. My hands slid up his arms and to his shoulders making me realise he wasn't wearing a t-shirt, but that was as far as I got before a wince from him made me stop and pull away. He tried to cover up the look of pain on his face, but it was too late I had already seen it.

What's wrong? I asked him.

Nothing. He said quickly.

I glared at him. Don't lie Adams. I grabbed his hands and stood up before moving backwards tugging on him. Come into the light.

I'm fine Tink, this is silly, it's just a dream. He sighed.

Please Lucian.

He was reluctant, but he stood up, his chains rattling as he did and let me pull him towards me until he was no longer in the shadowy part of the cell. The moment I saw him I dropped his hands and slapped mine to my mouth with a gasp. He was covered in marks ranging from scars to partly healed marks and fresh ones, blood was smudged next to some of them and bruises were splattered over his body. His hair was damp and there were signs of dirt everywhere as if he hadn't taken a shower since he had left. Jogging bottoms covered his legs and there were more manacles wrapped around his ankles.

Lucian. I whispered feeling tears sting my eyes, if it hadn't been for the wall I had managed to build up against my emotions again I would have already been crying.

I'm ok. He assured me lifting his hands up and pressing his palms against my cheeks. It's just a dream remember?

Why would I dream about this? I whispered pressing my hands over his.

It's just your fears. He said.

I need you back. I muttered gradually raising my voice. I need you to stop me from making stupid choices, you're the only one who argues with me. Leading everyone is so hard and we need you back Adams.

Shh Blondie, I wouldn't have left you guys in charge if I didn't know you could do it. I'll be back soon sweetheart.

As he reached the end of his sentence his face began to blur in and out of focus as if I was watching a television with a bad signal.

Lucian. I murmured, I didn't want to leave him, I didn't want to go back to the real world where he was still gone.

What had given him all of those injuries and why would I imagine him with them? He said it must be my fears, which made sense because I was terrified of what his Dad was doing to him. He was meant to be a mean demon after all so could he really be doing that to his own son?

Taylor, can you hear me? His voice started to sound far away.

I reached out to try and grab onto him, but he slipped between my fingertips, he disappeared. The dream was ending and with it Lucian was going again, I just hoped that my dream hadn't been true and he wasn't really locked up in a cell chained up somewhere being tortured because there was no doubt in my mind that the combination of being chained up like that with that many marks on him meant that someone was responsible for making him suffer. It was like I had walked into my Eric nightmare, only Lucian had been the victim instead of me.

The boiling heat I had felt in the cell was the last thing to disappear before all of my senses shut off and there was nothing.

Chapter 2

When I woke up the sun shining in through the window of my bedroom window let me know that it was morning and reminded me that I hadn't put myself here because I wasn't in Lucian's bed. It didn't take long for the strange dream to come back to me. The whole thing seemed so real and I still had sweat on my skin as if I had really been there.

Shaking off the weird feeling, I got up and took a shower glad that the headache wasn't bothering me at the moment. I wasn't in the shower for long before getting out, pulling on some jeans and a top and then strapping on my weapons that had been taken off and left on my desk.

When I was in the elevator I noticed some discomfort in my stomach, but put it down to hunger so putting it out of my mind I headed to the dining area. Most of the tables were full up, but Bethany and Gordon had saved me a space at theirs. I stopped at their table on my way to the line for breakfast.

How you doing girl? Bethany asked.

I shrugged and frowned. Not bad, I don't know what happened.

The doc said he couldn't find any reason for it. Gordon said.

I sighed. I'm fine, people just pass out sometimes.

I turned to go and grab some breakfast, but before I could even head in that direction Susie turned up in front of me and smiled sweetly at me before giving me a bowl.

I got you some too. She said.

I took it from her with a thanks, it was still weird, even though she had been doing it for the last few weeks. She wasn't the sort of girl to get your breakfast just to be nice, but from what I could tell that was the only reason she was getting it. At least she was still holding back on her bitchyness to everyone too, so maybe she had actually changed or something.

Susie walked off silently and I turned back to the table before taking a seat.

She still being a creep huh? Bethany asked. I think you scared her with your threats.

I grunted. It's just not normal for her to be nice. I mean I get she's trying and everything, I guess it just takes some getting used to.

I'm not sure I trust her. Gordon said.

I chuckled as I began eating. I think she just has that affect on people.

He frowned still looking unsure, but didn't say anything else and I didn't ask. There wasn't really any reason to be suspicious of her at the moment, she was only bringing my food, it wasn't like she was sneaking around.

Taylor! I recognised Cora's voice before she wrapped her small arms around me just as I ate the last of my breakfast.

I hugged her back. You ok Sweetie?

She nodded and pulled away as Edward strolled up behind her. I gave him a smile, which he returned before saying.

Peter went in the truck with the team to get all that stuff they found.

I glanced at Bethany and Gordon with a frown. They left already?

Cora answered instead. "Yep, they left at first light so they could get back before dark.

I had hoped to go with them, it had seemed like forever since I had left the hotel, when in actual fact it had only been around two weeks. It didn't matter though, there would be plenty of other scouts that I could go on. I hoped that I wouldn't have a repeat of collapsing though or that could be a big problem in scouting and I wouldn't be able to go.

You look really pale lately. Bethany pointed out after Edward and Cora said their goodbyes saying they were going to play monopoly.

I frowned at her. I've always been pale.

She's right, you're paler than normal. Gordon said. We should get Jason to take another look at you.

I groaned. Look, I know you two feel you have to look after me, but I'm fine ok? Getting headaches and being pale is hardly a reason to panic.

And passing out. Bethany added.

It was only once. I muttered.

Gordon sighed. Ok, but if anything else happens, Jason is checking you over again.

Fine. I agreed reluctantly.

The rest of the day passed by quickly, the team came back with the truck and there was even more food and water than I had first thought. A lot of us helped to unload it meaning it didn't take long before the food stock room was overflowing. Despite my assumptions that the stomach pain had been due to hunger it bothered me on and off for the rest of the day along with my headaches.

When we were done with the unloading we had a quick dinner and I had played monopoly with Peter and the twins for over an hour before Peter eventually won the game. After that we all retired to bed, this time I went straight to Lucian's room and was soon surrounded by him. I hoped I would dream about him again, but to my disappointment no dreams came to me that night. Luckily I only had to wait until the next night to see him again.

Upon opening my eyes I realised that this time I had arrived in the shadowy corner of the cell, Lucian was sitting in the brighter part still looking like hell and I could already see new marks on him even from this distance. Why did I have to keep dreaming about him like this?

Lucian. I mumbled as I sat up.

He turned around immediately, the sound of the chains echoing loudly.

Tink, are you ok, did you pass out again? He asked, his voice still sounding terrible.

I shook my head and stood up. No, I just went to sleep and then I was here again. Why do I keep being here and who keeps hurting you?

Don't worry about that. He answered walking over to me and wrapping me in his warm embrace making me forget about everything.

It's so hot. I whispered. I know you don't sweat, but not sweating in this heat is just ridiculous.

He chuckled. Like I said, temperatures don't affect me.

Yeah. I mumbled wiping the sweat away from my forehead with the back of my hand. Is there any water here, or is that a really dumb question to ask?

Tilt your head back.

I frowned at him. Why?

He just raised his eyebrows at me so I sighed and did as he said. Open your mouth. He added after lifting his hand above me.

Rather than argue with him I simply obeyed him and opened my mouth. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting, but it certainly hadn't been for water to suddenly start trickling into my mouth. I gasped in surprise making me choke on the water and start coughing.

Lucian laughed shaking his head. You're meant to drink it sweetheart, not spit it out.

You could have warned me. I grumbled slapping him on the arm, careful to avoid any of the injuries.

He snorted. Well I thought you might figure it out.

I didn't know you were a human water fountain!

He smirked. I'm not a human.

Smart ass. I mumbled.

He put his hand at the small of my back and pulled me towards him before raising his hand again. Come on, are you ready this time?

I nodded and leaned my head back before opening my mouth. This time I was prepared to swallow it and the small stream of cool water sliding into my mouth and down my throat felt amazing. When I had taken seven swallows I tried to tell him I had, had enough, but when water was being poured into your mouth that was a little difficult. Closing my mouth turned out to be a bad idea when the water went up my nose making me automatically snort to get it out. Rather than pull his hand away he chuckled and poured the water all over my face before stopping when I shoved him away only making him laugh harder.

That was mean! I shouted as I wiped the water and my wet hair out of my face.

Oh, come on Tink. I bet you don't feel as hot now, I was doing you a favour. He said trying to stop laughing.

I glared at him, then sighed and my eyes softened before I mumbled. I miss you annoying me.

He gave me a small smile. Same Blondie.

Is this really happening, because it feels so real?

He chuckled. You think you can teleport in your sleep now?

No. I grumbled crossing my arms. Just, I don't know, it was a stupid question I guess.

He didn't respond to that, instead he said. So I take it you believe the demon thing now?

Yeah. I mumbled absently as I glanced around trying to figure out why I would have come up with this place in a dream.

Hey. He grabbed my chin gently and turned me to face him. Stop thinking so hard, you're not meant to think so hard in dreams.

Dammit. I murmured as his face started to go fuzzy.

What is it? He asked.

Think I'm waking up. I managed to say just before he disappeared and I woke up on my bed.

The first thing I realised was that my face and the front of my hair was soaking as if he had really poured that water on me. Secondly I realised that I didn't feel at all rested, it was as if I hadn’t even gone to sleep. Something really weird was happening, but I didn't have any explanation for it either. Like the dream Lucian had said, it wasn't as if I could teleport when I was asleep.

Instead of laying there and driving myself crazy thinking about it I got up and took a quick shower before heading downstairs. I had convinced Bethany and Gordon to let me go on a scout today so I was going to have to eat quickly. It wasn't until Susie had given me a bowl for breakfast that I actually realised how much my appetite was lacking today.

Thanks Susie, but I'm not really hungry today. I said hoping if I got rid of it before Bethany and Gordon turned up they wouldn't know. Here, you two can have extra. I pushed the bowl towards Edward and Cora.

Before they could even think about taking it though, Susie snatched it away from the table seeming panicked. When we all looked at her questioningly she stuttered out.

Uh, I just, it's just this was yours and….. She didn't even bother finishing the sentence before walking off quickly with the breakfast meant for me.

What was that about? Cora asked at the same time Edward said.

She's weird.

I frowned after her and muttered. Yeah, that was pretty strange.

I didn't think anymore of it when Peter drew my attention by