Z-Town

by Eden Darry

  “Hang on a second.” Teensy got up and came over to the table. “You’re trying to say this big zombie dude is a dead Viking who wants his treasure back?”

  “No, of course not. That’s what I was saying before. I don’t know anything about what’s going on in Provincetown.” Wendy gripped her bag tighter.

  “Why not?” Lane asked. “Why can’t it be a Viking zombie?”

  “Draugr,” Wendy corrected her. “Viking zombies are called draugr.”

  “You must have been dropped hard on your head when you were a baby,” Teensy said to Lane. “You think some Viking zombie is roaming around Ptown looking for his treasure?”

  “Well, what do you think it is?” Lane stood up. She was a head shorter than Teensy, but she wanted to be standing when Teensy decided to knock ten bells out of her.

  “Government shit. Probably the army testing some biological agent. It got loose, and now everyone’s turning into zombies,” Teensy said.

  “That doesn’t sound any less insane than my theory,” Lane said.

  “My theory has plausibility.” Teensy poked Lane in the chest. “Yours is just stupid.”

  “Don’t poke me, Teensy.” Lane felt her face heat. She’d had just about enough of Teensy Day.

  “Or what?” Teensy asked and took a step closer.

  “Lane. Teensy.” Meg pushed herself in between them. “Would you both just cut it out? We’re in trouble here, and the last thing we need is you two going at it. It doesn’t really matter where the zombies came from. What matters is they’re here and they want to eat us. We need to try to stay alive. Not fight amongst ourselves.”

  “It matters if it’s one of these draggers,” Lane said.

  “Draugr,” Wendy corrected her, shifting the accent on the word.

  “Whatever. The point is, if it’s a draugr, then we find the treasure and give it back. The draugr goes back to his grave. All’s well that ends well.”

  “Not quite that simple,” Wendy said. “According to my research, the Viking that may have been buried here would be Ivar Sigmarsson. I can’t find any mention of him after Eriksson’s boat arrives in Provincetown. If it is him, we’d all better hope Teensy’s right about government experiments.”

  “Why?” Meg asked.

  Wendy took a deep breath. “He was a nasty son of a bitch. He once burned a village in what’s now England to the ground and slaughtered its inhabitants because his favourite dog ate some rotten meat there and died. He wasn’t a forgiving man.”

  “Great,” Lane said. “So he isn’t keen on the English. Who is?”

  “I’m serious. If what’s going on is to do with Ivar Sigmarsson, we’re in a lot of trouble. He won’t go away just because he got his treasure back. He’ll want revenge. All draugr do. They hate the living,” Wendy said.

  “I thought you said it wasn’t to do with these draugr,” Meg said.

  “It isn’t. But if it is…Oh, how would I know?” Wendy stood up suddenly and slid out of the booth. “How can anyone possibly know? This just isn’t normal. It isn’t right.” She looked around. Her face was red and sweating.

  “Wendy?” Meg reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “Wendy, it’s okay.”

  “No, it isn’t. Not at all.” Wendy pulled away from Meg. “I need to use the bathroom.”

  “You want me to come with you?” Teensy asked.

  “No, I need some time to myself. Just leave me alone. All of you, just leave me alone.”

  Wendy hurried out.

  * * *

  “Well, what do you think?” Meg asked.

  She was sitting at the table with Lane beside her and Teensy opposite with Lois asleep on her lap.

  She watched Lane sigh and rub her face. Meg had the overwhelming urge to reach out and run her hand over Lane’s broad back. Her hand twitched with the want.

  “I still think it’s the government,” Teensy said.

  “But zombies?” Meg asked.

  “I wouldn’t put anything past those assholes,” Teensy replied and ran a hand over Lois’s head. “Main thing is to get this little one out of here. It’s been three hours now, and no one’s come to rescue us. Those zombies will be back. I don’t want to be here when they do. I think it’s time to go to the harbour.”

  “Lane? What do you think? You’ve been very quiet.” Meg bumped Lane gently with her shoulder.

  “I agree. It’s been too quiet. I still think Wendy knows more than she’s letting on. There has to be some way to stop this thing,” Lane said.

  “What do you mean?” Teensy asked.

  “Well, if these zombies are in Provincetown, there’s nothing to say they won’t get out and spread across the US. You saw how quick it happens. And presumably this chief zombie—Ivar Sigmarsson—is making new zombies out of living people. We need to do something.”

  Meg looked at Lane. At her earnest face. This was not the Lane she remembered. The Lane she knew only cared about partying and having a good time. Or maybe Meg had misjudged her completely. Was it possible she’d been so hung up on the fact Lane was rich—and she wasn’t—that she’d blinded herself to who Lane really was? Did she have a huge chip on her shoulder like Lane said?

  “We are doing something. Getting the fuck out of here and telling the authorities in Boston. Let them call the army in. The navy. They’ll blow these assholes to kingdom come,” Teensy said.

  “I thought you were convinced it was the government?” Meg said.

  “I don’t know what the hell it is, and neither do you. All I know is I want out of Provincetown, and I say we let the big boys handle it.” Teensy stood up with Lois in her arms. “I’m going to get Wendy, and then we’re leaving. You coming?”

  Meg looked at Lane. “We should go with them, Lane.”

  When had she thrown her lot in with Lane? When had she started thinking of them as an us?

  “Okay.” Lane nodded. “It makes sense.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Outer Cape Echo

  1 hour ago

  Something very strange is happening in Provincetown. Reports having been coming in thick and fast about military vehicles spotted on Route 6. Are they on their way to the town, and if they are, why? Just what is happening over there? If you’ve heard anything, let us know in the comments below. In the meantime, our fearless reporters are on the case and bringing you all the breaking news out of the Cape.

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  3 Comments

  Cory French: My mom lives over in Truro. She saw a bunch of military trucks heading towards Provincetown about an hour ago. Makes you wonder what the hell happened over there.

  Ingrid Turner: I’d bet it’s a military experiment gone wrong. Or aliens. I haven’t been able to get a hold of my sister since last night. I just tried to drive over there, and the military are blocking all the roads into the town. Won’t let anyone in.

  Phil Greenwood: Me and some others are driving over there now. We’re going to demand to know what’s happening. It’s not right they won’t tell us. If you want to join us, we’re meeting outside the beach cottages on Shore Road.

  * * *

  It was full dark now. Across the water, lights twinkled, but in Provincetown, there were none. The only sound was the waves crashing against the shore. It had turned cold too, and Lane’s hoodie did nothing to keep it out.

  They’d agreed to walk along the beach as far as they could and to stay away from the roads. It seemed safer that way. All the same, Lane didn’t mind admitting she was scared. Out here they were exposed and vulnerable. At least back in the Squealing Pig there was the illusion of safety. This was the right thing to do, though.

  “It’s choppy out there,” Teensy whispered, dropping back to walk with Lane. She’d zipped Lois up inside her jacket, deciding it was better to carry her. Lois had her head buried in Teensy’s neck. The child had barely spoken. Lane didn’t blame her. If she was scared, she couldn’t imagine what Lois must be feeling.

  “But you think we can still get a
way on your boat?” Lane asked.

  Teensy was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think we have much other choice. Ordinarily I’d say no, but the alternative is…Well, I don’t have to tell you.”

  Lane nodded. Everyone was aware of what the stakes were if they stayed. Lane still couldn’t believe the authorities hadn’t ridden into town yet. It seemed unlikely the outside world was still unaware what was happening here.

  Maybe Teensy was right. Maybe it was some big government balls-up. Maybe they were discussing nuking Provincetown right now. All the more reason to get the fuck out of here. Thank God MacMillan Pier was only a short walk away.

  “Okay, here it is,” Teensy said and stopped. “We need to get back up onto the street and get to the dock via Standish.”

  “Sounds risky,” Meg said.

  Teensy shrugged. “No other way.”

  “All right. We move fast. I’ll go first and scout the way,” Lane said. “Teensy, you come up last.”

  “Last? Now hold on—” Teensy said.

  “You’re the only one who can operate the boat. And you have Lois. I’ll go first,” Lane said.

  Teensy huffed, then nodded. “Makes sense.”

  “Not really,” Meg said. “Lane, you don’t know Provincetown well. I do. I should go first and scout the way.”

  “Absolutely not,” Lane said.

  “No way,” Teensy replied at the same time.

  “Don’t go pulling the butch card on me now, ladies. It makes sense.” Meg sounded tetchy.

  “It’s not a butch thing,” Lane said.

  “It’s kind of a butch thing,” Teensy said.

  “You’re both pissing me off. I know Provincetown, Lane doesn’t. Having short hair isn’t going to change that,” Meg said.

  “We’ll go together, then,” Lane said.

  “Fine.” Meg started off up the beach. “Teensy, Wendy. I’ll flash the light on my cell phone twice if it’s safe for you to come up.”

  “All right,” Teensy said.

  Wendy had barely said a word since they’d left the Pig. She was wrestling with something, and Lane hoped it was telling them the truth.

  She opened her mouth to say something to Wendy, something reassuring. But she couldn’t think of a thing to say, so she nodded instead and followed Meg.

  * * *

  Meg led Lane to the bottom of the pier. In her mind she’d planned for them to climb up rather than cutting through the parking lot. The quickest route, of course, would have been to come out of the Pig and walk down Commercial. But for whatever reason, the zombies seemed to be staying away from the beach, so it had made sense to come this way.

  But her original plan was going to be a problem now because there was no way Wendy and Lois were climbing up here. They’d have to go up past the Coffee Pot and cut down that way. They would still mostly avoid Commercial Street, but it was a risk all the same.

  “What are we doing?” whispered Lane.

  “Thinking,” Meg whispered back.

  “Oh, okay. Thinking about what?”

  “Wendy and Lois are never going to be able to climb up here.” Meg touched one of the wooden struts that held up MacMillan Pier. It was rough and cold under her hand. “We’re going to need to go up there.”

  “Back onto Commercial?” Lane asked.

  “Maybe not all the way, but at least to the end of the parking lot.”

  “Okay. Then that’s what we’ll do. We’d better hurry. It’s getting darker—if that’s possible.”

  Meg looked up at the sky. Thick cloud blanketed it as though it was the middle of winter. Lane was right. It was getting darker. Meg was also having reservations about their chances out on the ocean. The swell looked rough and unforgiving. But the alternative was being eaten alive in Provincetown.

  “Let’s go,” Meg said.

  Lane drew alongside her as they walked up between the buildings. Meg glanced at her. Lane’s jaw was tight, and her usually grinning mouth was set in grim determination. She clutched a hammer in one hand, and Meg had no doubt Lane would use it to defend both of them. The thought made her feel a little less afraid. Lane was no coward—she’d proved that today—and Meg felt ashamed for ever thinking she was.

  Before she could think about it, Meg reached out and squeezed Lane’s shoulder. “Thank you,” she said.

  Lane turned at her and smiled. “What for?”

  “For everything. I…I’m glad you’re here, Lane. I’m not sure I would have made it this far without you,” Meg said. She needed to say it. Suddenly, it seemed as though time was very short, and she had a lot of things to say to Lane. Most of them started with sorry. She wished they had more time.

  “Of course you would have made it this far. Just minus the eye candy,” Lane said and winked.

  Meg laughed and rolled her eyes. “Still the same old Lane,” she said.

  “No.” Lane stopped abruptly and reached for Meg’s free hand with hers. “No, I don’t think I am. Not at all. I have a lot of things to say to you, Meg. I just wish we had more time.”

  “When this is over, okay? We’ll talk. Properly talk, when this is over and we’re safe.” Meg squeezed Lane’s hand.

  Lane nodded. “Yeah.”

  And then, all hell broke loose.

  * * *

  At the sound of the first scream, Lane turned in the direction of the beach. In the distance, she saw five or six zombies rushing towards Teensy, Wendy, and Lois. There were more further up the beach.

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” she whispered and gripped Meg’s hand.

  A couple of the quickest zombies had already reached the others, and Teensy was doing her best to fight them off.

  “Come on,” Lane said and began to run. Meg came willingly.

  Lane was under no illusion that any of them was making it out of this alive, but she couldn’t leave her friends to die alone. They’d do what they could.

  Teensy must have said something to Lois and Wendy because they began to run towards her and Meg.

  “Don’t you dare come down here, Lane. I mean it—I’ll kick your ass,” Teensy bellowed from where she stood on the beach.

  “We aren’t leaving you,” Meg cried, just as Lois and Wendy reached them.

  Lane let go of Meg’s hand. “Meg, get them to safety. I’ll help Teensy.”

  “Lane, I swear to God if you come down here—” Teensy’s words were cut off as she launched a zombie away from her and into the sea. “I’m already bit. I’ll hold ’em off, but you run.”

  Lane could see the rest of the zombies getting closer. They were almost upon Teensy. She took another step towards Teensy.

  “Don’t you fucking dare, you tea-drinking, monarch-loving son of a bitch,” Teensy screamed. “Dawn’s Crack. Get to that when you can, but for now get out of here.”

  Teensy caught another zombie around the head with her hammer. The horde was almost upon her.

  “Okay,” Lane shouted. “Okay.” She wiped the tears falling from her cheeks.

  The zombies stumbled and fell as they made their way up the beach in huge numbers. Teensy had no chance at all. Lane took one look back as they ran to Commercial Street and wished she hadn’t. Teensy was gone. Lost beneath a writhing mass of the walking dead.

  Teensy had saved all their lives by giving up her own.

  Chapter Twelve

  Outer Cape Echo

  10 minutes ago

  BREAKING NEWS: You heard it here first. Something strange is happening in Provincetown. All day long military personnel have been flooding into the Outer Cape. Reports from eyewitnesses say authorities have quarantined the tiny town. All roads are closed out of Truro, and there’s talk that the cordon may extend even further as authorities get to grips with what’s going on.

  So far, they’ve been tight-lipped about what’s happening in Provincetown, but sources have pointed towards a terrorist incident which may have killed most of the inhabitants.

  Anyone making their way to the area should be war
ned that there are military patrols coming down hard on anyone who tries to get past the quarantine. Several people have already been placed under arrest. More to follow as we get information.

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  6 Comments

  Paul Thomas: It’s zombies and I know this for a fact.

  Marie Collins: Bullshit. My cousin is in the National Guard and nobody will tell them anything, but she’s seen people going in and out of there in those space suits with the masks. Everyone’s saying it’s some kind of chemical spill.

  Paul Thomas: It’s zombies. Marie, you’re an idiot.

  Michael Fish: Paul, are you related to Dolores Cab by any chance?

  Paul Thomas: [post deleted by moderator]

  Connie Smith: We’ll take that as a yes. Zombies. How ridiculous.

  * * *

  Meg watched as Lane nailed up boards on the back door of the Squealing Pig. Full dark had fallen, and there was no way they were getting out of town now. They’d have to wait until morning.

  Since they got back here, Lane had been totally silent. Lois had curled up on a bench in the bar under a pile of their coats with her eyes squeezed shut, though Meg knew she wasn’t sleeping. Wendy was hunched over on a chair with her bag clutched tightly to her chest. They were in a bad way, their little gang.

  Meg thought about Teensy and what she’d done for them. Meg wondered if she had it in her to give her life for others. That was the ultimate bravery, wasn’t it? Dying so that other people might live. Teensy hadn’t even hesitated. She knew what was going to happen to her, and she hadn’t even paused to think about it.

  Meg looked over at Wendy again. How could she just sit there like that? She hadn’t said a word since they got back. She’d been in a relationship with Teensy, for Christ’s sake. Meg knew she had the treasure in that bag, but she wouldn’t give it up. Not even for Teensy. Instead, she was still pretending like she didn’t know anything about what was going on in Provincetown.