Bloody Sunrise: A Zombie Apocalypse Romance

by Gwendolyn Harper

  “Mama died of cancer a few years back. And Dad… I think he died of a broken heart. Found him in his Laz-y Boy two months later. Doc said it was a heart attack.”

  Caitlin’s gaze lifted to his profile. “I’m… I’m sorry, Booker. That’s terrible.”

  He nodded minutely. “They were meant to be. Real soulmates. Couldn’t live without the other. And now… I think they were lucky. Lucky in love, and lucky in death.”

  He said it just as they spotted the strip mall in the distance, abandoned and surrounded by evidence that the world was no longer what it was.

  Reality came crashing back down on Caitlin. Talking with Booker had helped her forget, alleviated the mental burden she’d carried on her own for the last month. But seeing broken down cars, buildings with smashed windows, blood splatter on concrete… It all was a brutal reminder life had changed forever.

  “There she is,” Booker said. “Alright, here’s the plan. We go slowly, we stay alert, and we do not separate. If you see something to check out, tell me and we go together. Got it?”

  “Sir, yes sir,” she teased, but his jaw was locked and gaze level.

  “I mean it, Meadows. I don’t need you runnin’ off and gettin’ gnawed on. We’ll look for food first, then gasoline.” He looked over at her, waiting for her to nod in agreement before saying, “You got a weapon?”

  “Uhh, just a knife I picked up. It’s not very sharp…”

  Stopping to lower his pack, Booker dug around for a moment and pulled out a revolver. “Here. You’re not trained enough yet for hand to hand. This one’s trusty, not too much recoil, but she’s louder than a thunder clap, so don’t spook yourself. Y’know how to cock it?”

  Caitlin took the gun from him gingerly. “Um, it’s this thing, right?” She pointed to the hammer and he nodded.

  “Just make sure it’s pushed back like that—” he demonstrated for her “—and you’ll have a live weapon. While we’re walking, it needs to be like this, and tucked in your belt.”

  “I’m not wearing a belt.”

  “Then your back pocket.”

  “What makes you think skinny jeans from Forever 21 are gonna have pockets big enough for that?”

  Booker rolled his eyes and tugged her around by the shoulder. “Lemme see.”

  “What are you—Hey!”

  He flicked up the hem of her shirt to look. “Eh, it’ll fit. You’re fillin’ those out though, so don’t wiggle too much or the gun’ll fall out.”

  Caitlin turned again, glaring up at him. “Did you just say I have a fat ass?”

  He grinned down at her, brown eyes sparkling. “Not a bad thing.”

  “Oh my God,” she muttered, walking away from him. “Careful jackass, I’m armed now.”

  “Oh yeah, I’m shakin’ in my boots.”

  The walk up to the strip mall was quiet as they kept their eyes and ears peeled for Geeks or threats of a more human variety. She spotted a couple Geeks shuffling around by the dumpsters of an abandoned KFC, seemingly oblivious to them. There wasn’t any wind to carry their scent and, given how sluggish they were, Booker jerked his head, signaling they’d leave them.

  Making it to the parking lot, they stuck close together as they weaved between cars and silently jogged towards the SAV-MOR discount store. No Geeks yet, but Caitlin wasn’t optimistic about their odds of finding much. The store’s front windows had been smashed and trash littered the front. Still, Booker and she covered each other as they made their way inside.

  One Geek in a store uniform shuffled and grunted down an aisle. Booker made quick work of dispatching it.

  “Sweep first; then we’ll look for supplies,” he whispered to her, and she nodded.

  The store wasn’t large and clearing it took less time than either of them expected. When Booker declared it safe, they started down each aisle, searching for anything edible or useful.

  “I don’t know Booker, this place looks pretty wiped,” she said, inspecting a few cans without labels, trying to figure out if they were SPAM or peaches.

  “Don’t lose hope yet, darlin’,” he told her, nodding to a door marked ‘Employees Only’. “Store room.”

  “It’s either crawling with Geeks or empty too,” she muttered, following him. “You think people wouldn’t check back there?”

  “Maybe. People tend to be idiots when they’re in a rush.”

  Opening the door slowly, he searched for any undead, but the place was clear.

  “And whaddya know…” he said, holding the door for her.

  The stock room was full. Pallets of food, drinks, paper products… all untouched.

  Caitlin gaped. “People are idiots.”

  “God bless ‘em.”

  She felt a little giddy staring at food she’d only dreamt of—Pop Tarts, Pringles, bottles of Coke, Lucky Charms.

  “Damn,” Booker said, looking around. “None of this’ll do.”

  “What are you talking about? This is as close to a cornucopia as we’re ever gonna get.”

  “It’s all sugar,” he said. “Food is fuel. Eatin’ this trash’ll just spike your blood sugar and leave you starvin’ later.”

  “Okay Doctor Atkin, you keep telling yourself that when you’re hungry tonight and I’m stuffing my face full of Doritos.”

  She tore open the plastic wrapping, shoving mini bags of chips and pretzels in her bag. After a few moments she heard him make a noise of surprise.

  “Ah, they’ve got jerky.”

  “See? There’s your balanced diet right there.”

  She moved on to the peanut butter, the Gatorade, and then Pop Tarts. She couldn’t pass those up even if she tried.

  Booker came around holding plastic bags loaded down with bottles of water and jerky. Caitlin spotted the bright green of a Pringles can and had to bite her tongue to keep from mocking him.

  “I think we’ve got enough to last us a while,” he said. “You get anything of nutritional value?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes. Four jars of peanut butter and more pretzels than you could dream of. And Gatorade.”

  “Well look at you,” he said, lips curving.

  “Gasoline?”

  “Yep. Need anything else from out there?”

  She shook her head and he took the lead out to the parking lot. They both spotted the small group of Geeks across the road at the same time, and Booker motioned for her to stay low by the cars. They’d try to work without engaging if they could help it.

  Most of the cars were dry but a fancy looking Prius was a surprising goldmine with almost a full tank. Booker was almost done syphoning the gas into the cans when he stopped, head tilting like he was listening for something.

  “What is it?”

  “Shh,” he murmured, squinting as if that would help him hear. “Down the road a ways…”

  “What, Booker?”

  Keeping an eye on the shambling Geeks that still had no idea they were there, she listened intently. All she heard were insects and… an engine?

  “Humvees,” Booker said, motioning for her to duck behind an SUV. “Stay low.”

  “Humvees… as in the military?” She crouched down, and Booker followed, pressing his shoulder into the side of the car. “I thought the military flopped, what with the whole Zombie virus outbreak and ensuing chaos.”

  “Military’s about the size of a grade school now, but they’re still around. And they’re not what they once were.”

  He said the last sentence with a conviction held only by someone who’d had firsthand knowledge. She didn’t doubt it for a second.

  Booker looked over at her. “Listen to me. The guys rollin’ up in those Humvees any minute now are not men you can trust, do you understand?”

  Caitlin held his gaze as she nodded. “Don’t trust the government. Got it.”

  “Armed forces bastardized into goon squads with tanks.”

  The roar of the Humvees grew closer and Booker ducked down, making sure to stay out of sight.

 
“You know you’re gonna have to tell me this story later, right?”

  “Sure, I’ll tell ya over a Gatorade and Snickers.”

  The ground beneath their feet vibrated as the convoy drove up, engine noise tearing through the quiet.

  But instead of moving on, the Humvees stopped. Male voices called to each other, barely audible over the machines. Caitlin could hear one of them say something about ‘hostiles’ before a machine gun fired.

  Yelping, she nearly fell back, but Booker steadied her, shielding her momentarily. The gun wasn’t aimed at them, but at the small group of Geeks on the other side of the road.

  When the gunfire stopped, the men yelled something else and she thought they were driving off. Booker shifted to look, just as something flew across the parking lot towards the building.

  “Shit, get down,” he ordered, lunging for her.

  Arms, hands protected her head, pushing her down to the ground. She cried out, but it was muffled by his chest as his body covered hers. Before she could comprehend what was happening, a deafening explosion engulfed the strip mall.

  Caitlin screamed into Booker’s shoulder, hands feebly covering her ears. She fought to push him off, her body reacting as it always had—Run.

  But Booker kept her pinned, arms cradling her head to shield her from shrapnel. He leaned into her, silently explaining. No, don’t. Not yet. They’ll see you. Stay down. You’re safe. Don’t move.

  Smoke billowed out from the burning shell of a mall. After a few moments, the convoy started up again, driving down the road and out of sight.

  Booker continued to cover her until he knew they were safe, that the Humvees weren’t doubling back. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he peeled himself off her and lifted her to sit upright.

  “Y’alright?” He asked, checking her over.

  Caitlin nodded, ears ringing painfully. “What the fuck was that?”

  “Gentrification,” he said, standing up slowly and offering her his hand. “Military’s way of clearing the grid.”

  “But… There’s… There was food in there. Supplies. Stuff people could have used. Why…”

  “C’mon, I’ll tell ya on the way back.” He stooped down to gather their bags and gas cans. “Groaners ain’t the only things we gotta worry about out here.”

  As they trekked back the way they came, Booker told her what he knew. About how evacuation teams had cordoned off sections of the country, shipped people there. At first it was for relief shelters, meant to be where everyone went when they could find their way. But soon things got out of hand. Supplies dwindled, people got sick, and more were still coming… All terrified, and lost, and in need. It became a Noah’s Ark situation. Only the selected few could stay. No more could enter. Everyone else outside the gates were damned.

  What was left of the military was given orders—Kill on sight, undead and stray humans. Someone up top thought population control would stem the virus, give the rest of the people a fighting chance, keep food sources from getting over-taxed as they tried to rebuild. Barbaric, no matter the logic.

  Buildings in designated “hot zones” were to be demolished, burned; how it was done didn’t matter as long as Geeks and people alike couldn’t hide out in them.

  Thankfully, Booker was right about the size of the military. They were spread thin and not nearly as ever present as the zombies. Still a threat, but one that was rarely an issue unless you were near bigger cities or coming up to one of those Ark camps.

  They were just about to the car when Booker slowed, cursing under his breath.

  “What? What is it?” Caitlin squinted, dusk making it harder to see.

  “The car…” He said and that’s when she saw the thin stream of smoke.

  “They… burnt the car?” She stared up at him, horrified. “But…”

  “Exterminators. All of ‘em.” He trudged closer to be sure, but he was right. Someone had torched the car. It was still on fire in places.

  Caitlin watched the upholstery melt, realization twisting in her gut. “They thought we were in that building, didn’t they?”

  Booker nodded. “Anybody not inside an Ark camp is just as good as a groaner to them. They’ll use us for target practice and not think twice.”

  Taking another moment to look over the blackened remains of their vehicle, Booker said, “Guess we’re walkin’.”

  “To where?”

  “That shed ten minutes back up the road looked alright. Might be cramped though.”

  “I’ve been sleeping in trees for a week. I can deal.”

  “Atta girl.”

  ***

  Caitlin wriggled on her makeshift bed, grunting. “Okay, see, when I said I could deal, I meant with an even division of space. Not this.” She bumped her shoulder against the side of the shed. “What the hell, Booker. I’m not claustrophobic but geez…”

  “I told you, you’re better off with me between you and the door. And if something busts in, gotta have enough room to react. Therefore—”

  “Therefore, you put baby in a corner.” She shifted again, trying to figure out a way to lay down that wouldn’t put her right up against the dirty shed wall or pressed against Booker.

  “Stop that, you’re makin’ the whole place rattle.”

  Exhaling roughly, she brushed a strand of hair off her damp forehead. “I’m not completely helpless you know. I can stand guard too.”

  “Never said you were helpless.”

  “Oh yes, you shoving me into a corner to sleep just screams confidence.”

  Booker sighed, leaning his rifle on the wall next to him. “Just try to settle down, you’re gettin’ yourself all worked up.”

  “I’m trying,” she said. “But if I lay this way, I’m uncomfortable. If I try the other way, I’m right up on you, so—”

  Booker’s laugh cut her off. “You mean you’re throwin’ a hissy fit ‘cause you’re tryin’ to respect my personal bubble?”

  She paused, looking up at him in the dim light. “Well. Yeah…”

  He laughed again, and she pushed herself up. “We just met. I know the world’s gone to hell in a decorative handbasket but I’m still trying to keep some semblance of politeness—”

  “This is you bein’ polite?”

  “Shut up, you know what I mean.” She could just make out his profile in the darkness. “I don’t know your deal and I don’t… I don’t know, I don’t want to offend or…”

  “Get caught in a nasty situation with a strange man.” He said it without any hint of being affronted by the insinuation. The world wasn’t picture perfect before there were zombies, they both knew that.

  After a moment, he shifted over to give her more space. It wasn’t much, but it gave them a small area of neutral territory.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, laying back down.

  It was quiet, the only sounds coming from their breathing and the crickets outside. She was just starting to feel like sleep might not be far off when Booker cleared his throat gently.

  “I, uh… I just need you to know,” he started, voice raspy. “I’d… I’d never.” He paused, and she wasn’t sure if he was searching for words or affected by something only he knew.

  He started again. “Doing that to someone… It’s evil. Rips the soul outta person. I just… I need you to know I’d never…”

  “I know,” she whispered, hand lifting to reach for him but pulled short. “Well, at least I do now.”

  She heard more than saw him nod. “Alright then.”

  “Thank you, Booker.” She said it slowly, so he’d catch everything she implied.

  Thank you for reassuring me.

  Thank you for looking out for me.

  Thank you for being good.

  “Night, Meadows.”

  “Night, Booker.”

  ***

  Run, run, run, as fast as you can.

  Caitlin bolted upright, gasping for air. That same dream… Like running and falling at the same time. The plane crash. S
eeing Geeks eating someone. Running. Always running.

  “Hey, hey,” Booker’s voice cut through the fog of panic. “Meadows, you’re alright… Hey…”

  She heard him sit up, felt him tilt towards her.

  “I’m… I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice cracking. “I… It was a… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “Y’didn’t.” He bent his knee to lean his arm on. “I only sleep for about two hours at a time anyway.”

  She tried to take a deep breath, slow her heart rate. The shivering started, just like always. Too much adrenaline flooding her system with nowhere to go.

  “Cold?”

  She muttered a ‘no’, barely able to form words with trembling lips.

  When she was alone, she’d gotten used to handling the nightmares herself. She’d wait until the worst of the shaking was over and then start humming to herself. Whatever song she could think of, anything to take her mind off the flickering horrors in her mind. She’d hum until her throat was sore and she was tired again. A self-soothing lullaby of sorts.

  But now, with another person around… It seemed juvenile. A tough guy like Booker probably would think she was being ridiculous. Think she was too soft.

  “Nightmares, right?” He asked, voice soothing. “You wanna talk about it?”

  Caitlin shook her head, hoping he could see her. She didn’t trust her voice just yet.

  “You… You need a distraction?”

  She glanced over her shoulder, able to make out the line of his rugged nose and brow line in the dark.

  “Buddy of mine used to turn the tv on when he’d get a nightmare. Play Nick-at-Night or somethin’ to help him fall back asleep.” He huffed out a laugh. “Not like we have a tv but… You want me to talk or somethin’? I can recite state capitols to bore you back to sleep.”

  Caitlin laughed—a short burst of sound that surprised her. It was a kind offer, especially given that they’d barely gotten to know each other.

  Jesus, had it really only been one day?

  She paused, thinking it over.

  “That… That song from earlier,” she started, voice weak. “The one you were humming in the car.”

  “Willie Nelson?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded. “Can… Would it be okay if…”