Darlings of Decay

by Chrissy Peebles

  “Are you girls okay?” he asked in his deep voice. I’d almost forgotten how amazingly blue his eyes were.

  “We’re fine. Still haven’t found Allie or Paige’s mom and sister, though,” I answered.

  Bryce looked up at our helmets with the hint of a smile. “Nice touch.”

  Paige’s eyes grew wide and she nodded. “It was my idea, so they can’t get to our brains.”

  He bit the side of his lip to keep from cracking up then looked at the house. “So, you’ve checked everywhere, the entire house; basement; garage?”

  Paige and I looked at each other.

  “Garage,” we said in unison. Neither of has had even considered the garage.

  “Missed the garage? Okay, stay behind me and do exactly what I tell you.”

  Bryce started walking towards the side door to the garage, which was next to the cabana.

  Paige checked out his rear and gave me a “thumbs-up” approval.

  I smiled and shoved her forward.

  Bryce twisted the doorknob to the garage. “It’s locked. Stand back,” he said. He then lifted his rifle and blasted a hole into it.

  “Sorry, I’ll pay you back for that,” he said with a cocky grin. He then kicked the door open and the smell of decay hit us like a sledgehammer. It was also dark, so he grabbed his flashlight and raised the gun.

  “Oh, my God, it’s Dan!” screamed Paige.

  Zombie Dan was hovering around two Escalades, one a pearly white and the other black. His gray face was sunken and his skin was beginning to rot. He started shuffling slowly towards us, his dried-up lips pulled back in a deathly grin.

  Bryce aimed the gun at Dan, wiping away the creepy smile. He toppled to the ground, hard.

  “I never liked him,” muttered Paige. “He was really a pompous jerk.”

  “Looks like he was alone,” I said, looking around.

  “No, someone’s in the white SUV,” Bryce replied, stepping towards the vehicle. “Yep, a couple of females.”

  Paige and I rushed over; it was Kristie and Kylie! The windows were up and they were lounging in the front seats. There wasn’t any sign of Allie.

  “Mom! Wake up!” Paige cried removing her helmet. She began pounding on the window but neither of them budged.

  “Hold on,” said Bryce. He went to the back window and broke the glass. Unlocking the door, he climbed in and shook Kristie’s shoulder.

  Kristie’s eyes flew open and she screamed at Bryce, who probably looked like a mad serial killer in his bloody shirt.

  Bryce chuckled as he climbed back out of the SUV. “Wow, I’ve never had that reaction from a female before.”

  Kristie’s face lit up when she noticed Paige through the window. She removed the iPod earphones she wore and shook Kylie, who was also listening to music, until she was awake. Then she got out. Drawing her arms around Paige, she cried, “Oh, thank God you’re okay!”

  “Um, where’s Allie?” I asked in a strangled voice.

  “We don’t know,” Kristie said, letting go of Paige. “Dan attacked us and she took off running.”

  I heaved a sigh. “Alone?”

  “Yeah, I don’t know where she went. I ran after Kylie who ran towards the garage. That’s when Paige disappeared, as well as your sister.”

  I turned away and the dam broke. The pain of losing my sister was so great that I couldn’t stop the tears. I knew it would be nearly impossible for Allie to survive on her own in this nightmare. There were so many zombies in the neighborhood and Allie was no match for them. She couldn’t fire a gun or fight them one on one. She definitely wasn’t strong enough.

  Bryce pulled me into his arms and held me while I cried. When I finally ran out of tears, I remembered that everyone standing before me had lost someone within the last few hours, maybe even Bryce. I’d never even asked about Bobby.

  “I’m sorry,” I hiccupped, pushing Bryce away. “I didn’t even ask about your brother. We’re all going through this, not just me. I’m really sorry.”

  He grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. “Bobby’s fine and so was everyone else when I left them at your house.”

  “What about my parents? Where they home?” Deep down, I already knew that answer. They were both lost somewhere in this nightmare.

  He sighed. “I’m sorry, Cassie; they weren’t around when I got back there. But they’re very capable people from what I’ve heard. Don’t give up on them, okay?”

  I nodded slowly.

  Kristie walked over and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so sorry, honey. Dan just went nuts and chased us into the garage. I had to lock him out of the SUV so he wouldn’t hurt me or Kylie.”

  “It’s not your fault,” I sighed.

  “Yes, it is,” Kristie stated and threw up her hands. “You know, I just have the worst luck with men. The first one I married was a jerk and this one turned out to be a psychotic maniac. Anyway, we’ll find her. She got away from Dan. He’s been here the entire time so he couldn’t have hurt her.”

  She looked so optimistic that it hit me; she had no idea what was happening in the outside world. “Oh…you don’t know,” I said breathlessly.

  Kristie shrugged. “Know what?”

  “Show her,” said Paige.

  Bryce grabbed his gun and walked back to where we’d come in. He opened the door and motioned for Kristie.

  Kristie walked over and had her first glimpse of the carnage that was left from the zombie pool party massacre. She placed a hand over her mouth in horror. “Holy shit!

  Chapter Sixteen

  Bryce and I locked the gate this time to keep any other new zombies from wandering in.

  “I wonder how they happened to know we’re here?” I said to him as we watched more begin to navigate towards the house.

  He shrugged. “Not sure, but I think we should get going soon. It’s too dangerous staying here.”

  I nodded, trying not to breathe in the horrible smell. The smell of the rotting flesh was so pungent that I decided to ask Kristie for some Vicks to rub under my nose. I’d heard it was great for masking raunchy smells.

  We returned to the house and closed the blinds so we wouldn’t have to view all the corpses outside. It was getting warmer outside and now the flies were beginning to hover around the dead.

  “Nothing on television yet,” mumbled Paige, throwing the remote control. Bryce had been able to locate the house’s main generator, so there was power again.

  “Anyone hungry?” asked Kristie as she opened up the fridge. “I’m starving. Even those nasty zombie bodies outside can’t ruin this appetite.”

  I wasn’t really hungry but needed the energy from the food. “Sure,” I said.

  “The ham still looks good,” she commented as she sniffed it. She placed it on the counter and took out some bread. “I can make sandwiches. Sorry, Wild, I’m out of pickles.”

  I smiled. “That’s fine.”

  Kristie made sandwiches for everyone while I gave her a recap of what I understood about the zombies. They were insatiable cadavers who would do anything for a good meal. And we were definitely the main course. At least that was my version.

  Bryce’s reasoning was a little more scientific and straight from one of his military buddies. Those millions of people who received the flu vaccine were given a death sentence. The theory was that the vaccine caused some type of severe neurological damage; destroying what is the humane part of the brain. Eventually it begins to destroy tissue in other parts of the body including muscle and other major organs; basically, creating a walking vegetable. One with a ravenous appetite for protein, lots of it. He wasn’t sure if they were really considered zombies, but they were definitely something out of a horror movie.

  “Is the military going to be able to contain these things?” asked Kristie.

  “Most of the military are zombies by now, they were pretty much required to have them. The few remaining soldiers who didn’t get the vaccine have their hands full as it is. The point is, we’
re pretty much on our own.”

  “How long does it take for someone to turn into a zombie?” whispered Kylie. It was the first time she’d spoken since we’d found them. Kristie put her arm around her.

  “Not sure, although I think everyone is different, depending on their body mass. My aunt received the vaccine and it took only twenty-four hours for her to change, she’s pretty small. I’ve heard that others took much longer.”

  “Wasn’t your aunt caring for your mom?” I asked Bryce.

  His lips grew thin and he nodded.

  “Did you see your aunt when she was a zombie?” asked Kristie.

  “Unfortunately, I did. After work, I went to check on my mother to see if she was doing any better. She’d refused any medication at the clinic, including the vaccine. She never believed in the flu vaccinations, that’s why Bobby and I have never had shots either. Personally I think she just avoided any kind of medical attention because of her drinking problem. Anyway, when I got home, let’s just say they were both gone, but for different reasons.”

  “I’m sorry,” I replied softly.

  He shrugged then got up from the table to grab a bottle of water. His eyes were misty and he gazed out the window while the rest of us finished our sandwiches.

  “So, can the zombies infect others?” asked Paige, breaking the silence.

  Bryce cleared his throat and looked over. “The military believes that they can infect others. So try not to get bitten.”

  “God, I’d give anything for a cigarette right now,” mumbled Kristie as she rubbed her chin.

  Paige’s jaw dropped. “Mom, you quit two years ago. Control yourself.”

  “I think there’s a better chance of getting killed by a zombie right now then dying of lung cancer,” she replied dryly.

  I pushed myself up from the table. “I need to use your bathroom. Do you have any Vicks vapor rub?”

  Kristie looked at me strangely. “Go ahead. There’s some in the vanity.”

  “What? It helps mask the smell of rotting dead people,” I explained.

  She smiled with amusement. “Good thinking. How’d you come up with that?”

  “CSI,” I said matter-of-factly.

  “I see. Did you know that cigarette smoke can also mask different types of smells? Bryce…do you happen to smoke?”

  “Mom!” groaned Paige.

  I smiled as I went to the bathroom down the hall. When I closed the door, I noticed Allie’s favorite T-shirt was hanging on the back. It was bright pink with the words “Dare to Dance” scrolled on the front. She’d worn it constantly at home.

  I sighed. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, I thought, grabbing the shirt. When I closed my eyes, I could still smell her favorite lotion, some type of strawberry scent. I slid to the ground and closed my eyes, trying not to cry. Before long, someone began knocking softly on the door.

  “Cassie? Are you okay?” asked Bryce.

  I cleared my throat. “Yes, sorry. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  He paused. “Okay.”

  I stood up and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair was in disarray, streaks of mascara lined my face, and my tank top was covered in something I didn’t even want to consider. Sighing, I washed my face, neck, and hands, then removed my tank top. I slipped on my sister’s shirt, wanting to be closer to her. Then, I combed out my hair, grabbed the jar of Vicks, and went back into the kitchen.

  Kylie smiled sadly. “That’s Allie’s shirt.”

  I touched it and nodded.

  Bryce looked down at his own shirt and frowned. “You wouldn’t happen to have anything I can change into?”

  Kristie snorted. “You could definitely use a new shirt. Let me find you something. I have some new T-shirts in the closet down the hall. Throw that nasty thing away and follow me.”

  “Thanks,” he replied, removing his shirt, displaying perfectly defined muscles and a hard, flat stomach.

  “Work out much, Bryce?” asked Kristie as she led him out of the kitchen.

  I couldn’t help staring as he walked away. The word “chiseled” didn’t do him justice.

  “Wow,” whispered Paige. “That dude’s got one smokin’ body.”

  I shrugged. “Yeah, it’s not bad.”

  Paige snorted and pushed me playfully. “You’re such a horrible liar.”

  “Fine, okay, it was pretty…spectacular.”

  “You know, I think he’s graduated from being your karate instructor. The rules have changed.” She sighed and looked out the window. “The world’s changed.”

  I pushed my hair behind my ears. “Well, a relationship isn’t really at the top of my ‘to-do’ list right now.”

  “I’m just saying…”

  Bryce and Kristie walked back into the kitchen. This time he was covered in a new white T-shirt.

  “Sorry, girls, I had to cover him up so he wouldn’t distract the female zombies.”

  “Or the gay ones,” replied Kylie.

  Kristie’s jaw dropped.

  “You know, you ladies are starting to make me feel really uncomfortable,” said Bryce with a straight face.

  “Kylie? What do you know about being gay?” asked her mother.

  “Mom, I learned about sex in fifth grade. Come on!” she replied.

  “Okay, seriously…what do we do now?” asked Paige.

  “Well, I want to check around the neighborhood,” I stated. “I need to find out what happened to Allie. Find out if she’s trapped out there, somewhere, and needs help.”

  Bryce nodded. “I’m coming with you.”

  “I think we should all stick together,” said Kristie. “If there are zombies walking the streets, we need each other.”

  “That’s a good idea,” replied Bryce

  Kristie grabbed her keys. “Let’s all pack into Dan’s Escalade and go for a drive then.”

  We found a large cooler and filled it with water, soda, chips, and granola bars. Bryce and I grabbed our guns while Paige grabbed her metal bat.

  “This might come in handy,” said Kristie, holding up a war hammer she’d found in the garage. It had a sharp spike in the back and hammer head. It looked pretty deadly.

  “Yeah, that could do some damage,” I agreed. “Where’d you find that thing?”

  “From this renaissance convention that Dan visited last year. He collects medieval stuff like that. Or…he did, rather,” said Kristie. Her eyes became moist and she smiled sadly. “Poor Dan. He was a little bit of a dork, but I loved the man. He didn’t deserve to die this way.”

  “Nobody deserves this,” I said.

  Kristie cleared her throat. “I’ll let you drive,” she said to Bryce, handing him the keys. “I’m not sure how rational I’ll be if I see one of those things on the street.”

  It turned out that the street was crawling with zombies, some of them walking around aimlessly in a state of confusion, while others were actually attacking their own kind. From what I could tell, the zombies that were at a farther stage of decomposing seemed to be the most vicious. They’d actually feed on zombies that looked like they’d just turned, somehow sensing that their victims still had some fresh protein available.

  “How in the hell are we going to get out of here? I can’t imagine they’ll just move out of the way for us,” said Kristie.

  “We’re not going around them,” said Bryce tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “We’re going through them. Sorry, Kristie, but you may need a little body repair after this.”

  Kristie snorted. “Just get us out of here safely, screw the paint job. Dan’s not going to be around to complain about any scratches.”

  “Okay, everyone, keep your windows up and lock your doors,” he said.

  We started driving slowly onto the road towards the crowd of zombies who were beginning to take notice of us. As we approached, some actually did move out of the way while others decided to get a closer look.

  “It’s odd how some are pretty docile while others are so violen
t,” Paige said.

  “I think it depends on what stage there at,” I replied. “The ones who are crazy and more violent have probably been zombies longer. At least that’s my opinion.”

  “Now we know why some of them are so bloody and torn apart. They’ve been attacking each other, too,” said Kristie, who looked rather ill.

  When we reached a point where we couldn’t move the SUV anymore, zombies were standing all around the vehicle, running their hands all over it. Some stared with longing at us and eventually began climbing onto the hood.

  Bryce sighed. “Okay, I’ve had enough of this. Close your eyes if you have a weak stomach, kids.”

  The SUV barreled forward, jerking some of the zombies off of the hood. I covered my ears to block out the groans of the zombies and the sounds of their bones crunching under the tires.

  “Oh, my God,” gasped Kristie, holding firmly onto the dashboard. “This is…I’m going to throw up!”

  “No!” cried Kylie. “Don’t throw up or you’ll make me do it too.”

  When we finally got past the mob of zombies, we drove down several streets to try and find my sister. Most of the neighborhoods were quiet, without any signs of life. Even the park was empty. It was frustrating and I knew there was no way we could search all of the homes, it was too dangerous. When our gas tank started getting low and the zombies started getting even more zealous, we had to leave.

  “Sorry, Cassie. I wish there was more we could do to find your sister,” said Bryce.

  “Me too,” I sighed, looking out the window towards the community’s front entrance gate.

  “Hey,” Kristie gasped, pointing ahead of us. “There’s someone trying to run over there. Oh, my God, it’s a girl and she needs some help!”

  My heart began to pound and I opened my window to see if it was my sister. Unfortunately it wasn’t, but I did recognize the mass of vibrant red hair.

  “Eva King,” I mumbled.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Is she a zombie?” asked Paige, lifting her bat.

  I snorted. “No.”