“Sure, let's all go, together.”
“Ooh Rondo, can he go too?” Charlotte asks.
“He can go wherever. They don't even want him,” Lena says.
His wife looks at him, a flicker of doubt flashes across her eyes.
After their sugar rush and sugar down, they suit up. The wife checks hers and Charlotte's outfits, pulling and tugging at pads and wraps. “Okay mom, okay.”
Charlotte is tugged and tugged. She has her 22 and all the magazines. His wife is too small for a melee weapon. Any zombie that would charge her would bowl her over. She has the other 22 on a back strap, the .45 in a holster, and carries the 12 gauge shotgun.
Dad grabs some rope and bungee cord. “Lisa, Lena, tie these to any of the holes in the bed of the truck, like seat belts or grips, so you can hold on if need be. Okay?”
They nod.
“Honey, you drive the truck. Keep your guns close. Roll down the window to shoot.”
She nods, huffing.
“We are just heading to the grocery store. We'll drive along Sunset. The cars are pushed aside so we got more space to drive.”
“Dad, are you going to teach me and Lisa how to drive a car?”
“Ahhh, good idea, but not now.”
“Yeah, not now but soon.”
“Yeah, sure. But first, you gotta learn how to siphon gas, then I'll teach you how to drive one.”
“You mean the hose thing you do to steal gas from a car?”
“Yeah. But it ain't stealing.”
“Oh right. Okay.”
“Okay. Let's go.”
Dad walks down the driveway again. Their neighborhood street is clear. The truck is there. It's clear. He motions and the rest come down. He stands like a guardian statue as they shuffle down the driveway to the pick-up truck. Lisa and Lena open the tailgate and clamber up.
They get to tying the rope and hooking the bungee cords to the various utility holes along the truck bed. They pull and tug at them, figuring out on their own, how this will work.
Mom and Charlotte climb into the front seats. Charlotte buckles up, rolls her window down and sticks the 22 out.
“Charlotte, only if you have to,” Dad notices. He signals for her to roll it up. She huffs but complies, but not all the way. Dad looks. “Okay, but not enough for them to grab in, got it?”
Charlotte nods.
His wife sets her guns down behind the seat, to be safe.
“Ah, honey, you won't be able to access those guns back there.”
She realizes, pulls them out and places them on the seat next to her.
“Just don't put your finger on the trigger. They won't fire.”
She nods, nervous.
He motions to go. He begins walking down the street with Rondo at his side. The wife starts the truck. It sounds so much louder now than what it used to. Back when the sounds of the city used to emanate from all the structures, a million echoes that gave the hum of life in a busy bustling city, you could barely here the sound of a car. Now the silence of mist and sun rays and shifts of air increase the volume of a truck starting its engine. It's like a beacon reverberating however far. She is too afraid to find out.
Dad walks calmly, quickly in his clacking steel armor, down the street to Sunset Boulevard. Nothing yet. He turns the corner as his wife slowly drives onto the main thoroughfare. It's the first time she and the girls see the canyon of piled cars. It is now washed, weathered and dried in the sun, looking almost natural.
Lisa and Lena hold on to the ropes, sitting in the bed of the truck. They have their halberds, their swords and shields. At five miles per hour, it feels precarious even to their athletic prowess. They look around at the dead city, the grayness and the sun drying the days of rain, the puddles of built up decay in spots and the bone dryness of the open streets.
Dad continues down the street with the truck behind him. The noise of the truck and its wheels compressing on asphalt and his steel clanging are enough to attract zombies. He walks along breathing calmly, knowing the inevitable will come.
But they get to the grocery store without a single zombie attack. There are many cars out front. He can not tell if there was a raid on the store or if it was a last stand. Opposite the large grocery store and parking lot, is the pet food store he went to before. That place still has plenty of dog food reserves. But donuts and human treats are on his mind, not healthy dog biscuits.
Rondo remembers the store and goes sniffing at its entrance. He wags his tail in hopes of entering. Dad moves the other way, through the jammed parking lot. The main entrance to the grocery store is bumper to bumper with cars. He looks back. His wife can only drive up to the street entrance. There is no way to drive in. Some attempted to crash through or over the short cinder block wall running the perimeter. He waves for them to come.
He realizes that means Charlotte and his wife must get out of the truck. He turns and goes back to them, weaving in and out of the jammed cars, finding the right path to them.
“Okay, Charlotte, I know you got lots of armor, but that doesn't mean they won't try to bite you.”
She nods, now nervous.
“So you gotta use me and the girls, you gotta stay behind us, use us for cover, and let us know you're there, okay?”
She nods.
“Stay with me too, okay. We'll stay together,” his wife holds her hand.
Both are holding their guns awkwardly. They are not used to standing or walking with them. Dad puts his sword and shield down and reminds Charlotte about holding her rifle up, ready to go.
“Honey, you use the pistol. Remember, both of you, do not shoot where we are. We move around, so don't shoot near us. We might step into the line of fire. Just call out if you are in trouble.”
They nod. He's not sure if he knows what will happen or how it will unfold. By himself, with his prowess and skills, his determination to break through zombie lines and to take zombie charges, he felt so sure of the outcome. But with his small wife and smaller daughter, will they be okay? Will he be able to protect them? He's gotta deal with it now.
“Okay, let's go.”
He turns and moves ahead. “Lisa, Lena, you watch the back. Watch for any zombies lying around.”
They walk along, through the cars. At one spot, they have to go over jammed bumpers, stepping up, onto the pinging thin metal and along, then down the other side. They walk single file through parked cars. Dad wonders if many just raced in the lot, to run to get into the store for safety or for last minute shopping not realizing what was about to hit them.
Charlotte looks into the window of a car. A body seems there. Her gun taps the glass. The horrid teeth-filled face of a nightmare ghoulish woman leaps up and smacks against the glass. Charlotte screams and falls back. Her mother turns and screams reaching for her. Dad turns as Lisa and Lena have their halberds pointed at the greasy glass. The woman is stuck in her car, decayed and mottled, gray and moldy, a disgusting grotesque sight. And without pain or feeling, the woman bashes her own putrid face against the window. The glass does not give as the puss and mold-rotting flesh splatters.
“Okay, that is so disgusting. I hope it doesn't ruin my sugar fix. Oh my gosh,” Lena says.
They continue on. Charlotte sobbing, must look away.
“Charlotte, you gotta be strong. I know that was totally disgusting. Just imagine the stink inside, blah,” Lena says.
Charlotte nods, trying to recover, sniffling, trying to accept Lena's bravado disgust demeanor. His wife holds her up as they go.
They get to the entrance. The glass is broken and many, many shopping carts are spread about on their sides. Inside, shelves and more carts were definitely moved to blockade the front. But it looks like it was a losing battle. The barricades are toppled and disheveled up to the cashier lines.
Dad huffs, pushing carts out of the way. The sound is loud and reverberates in the dark grocery store. They are not used to seeing a dark grocery store, but then again, they have been seeing a lot
of new things lately. Lisa and Lena advance with halberds in front. Their eyes adjust from the hazy sunlight to the shroud of shelves and shambled stock.
Nothing comes out at them. Whatever zombies were in here must have left at some point. Dad is still nervous. There are so many aisles, piles of debris, and refuse. It is hard to tell. Could there be a sleeping zombie, one lying somewhere, rotting and decrepit, unaware until something comes up close? What if Charlotte was reaching for a bag of cookies and a zombie was just lying there. He shudders, but shakes it off.
“Okay,” he pulls up a shopping cart. “Charlotte, take this. Let's go. And be careful. A zombie could be lying around, half dead. Make sure you see what you are grabbing at. Look carefully around. Got it?”
She salutes, swings her rifle to her back, and pushes the cart. Mom stands behind her, to protect her. Lisa and Lena are not sure which way to go.
“Dad, should we go to the cookie aisle?”
“No, let's check out the bakery first to see if any of the fresh stuff is still decent. The packaged stuff will probably last forever but the bakery stuff we should eat first.”
Sounds good to them. Lisa and Lena, halberds in front, advance to the bakery area, just a few paces away.
“Be careful. With all the aisles and display stands, a zombie could be sitting behind them in the shadows.”
They pass the rotting sushi.
“Dad, it's worse than zombies! Go! Go!”
“Shhh!!!... Sheeee-it sushiiii-iit!” They hurry along.
They pass the specialty and brie cheeses. There are piles of green and bloated plastic packages. The wife pauses to consider some select ones that....
“Oh come on!”
She drops one and follows.
They get past the un-refrigerated deli meats. The smells are adding up. They may have to turn back. Finally, they reach the moldy fresh baked breads with a few flies and gnats.
“Dad, seriously, can't we just go to the cookie aisle?”
“Just hold on,” Dad clomps past them to the table display and cake counter. The sugared items look perfect. He eyes them with such desire. Though there is dust and some white chalk molding, the whole of it looks perfect, grand, even in the pale dark ambiance.
The girls hustle up. Charlotte pushes the cart to get past the museum displays of cheesy biological decay and stench. The wife brings up the rear.
Dad pulls out a carrot cake and some glazed donut boxes. He tosses them into the cart. Lisa and Lena examine the velvet cake. They are trying to see which one is best. His wife can not technically see his eyes. She smiles, knowing he is rolling them.
Charlotte examines the sugar cookies “Dad, it’s supposed to be Halloween!”
Dad looks, saddened suddenly, even though she is smiling.
“Uh, yeah, it was coming up. Maybe it's passed now. I don't know.” He doesn't say it, but a jolt of sadness flashes. Could it be Thanksgiving by now? Christmas?
“I'm getting me some!” She picks up one box. She looks coy at her mom.
“Honey, you can take a bunch now. It's okay.”
Charlotte loosens her stance. “Oh yeah, right, it’s not like we are getting fat or anything!”
“I think dear, we should at least get some more water, and vitamins. With all this and no vegetables, we should at least get them some vitamins, oh, and powder supplements.”
“Yeah, sure, sure, we'll go there next. Girls, let's just stack the cart up, get some water and vitamins and get out. We can always come back. I doubt anyone is going to come here.”
“Okay, but this one looks better. Look, there's no white powder.”
“No, you can see it on the white frosting. Get this one. It looks better.”
“Okay, but its smaller. We can just wipe off the mold on this one and it's still more.”
“Girls! Take both. Put both in the cart.” Dad motions with his sword. They turn to see the cart stacked full of carrot cake, glazed donuts, powdered donut holes, Halloween sugar cookies, and some wheat multi-grain crackers for the wife.
“Mom? Seriously?” Lena places her sheet of velvet cake in the cart, picking up the one package of wheat crackers.
“Well, we need something healthier than all that.”
“Dang mom, even in this zombie world you are the same!” Lena says.
“And so are you.”
Dad heads back to the front where the lighting is better. He makes sure they are following with the full cart. They stop at displays and see boxed items they would love to have. Dad has to turn and clack his metal, motioning them to keep going. It's as if they want to shop. He finally gets them to follow. Lisa and Lena take up the rear, pocketing smaller packages of something. Mom walks behind Charlotte as she pushes the cart.
Charlotte sees Lena and Lisa pocketing treats from a display. “Hey, I want some too!?” She crashes the cart into a stand of toothpaste. It topples over.
“Oh, call the store manager! Charlotte's gotta go to jail!” Lena jokes.
“Coming to arrest you!” Lisa chimes.
“Uh, I just want one too,” Charlotte says.
“Don't make a mess if you don't have to and pick some of those up. We'll definitely need them with all this sugar.”
“Ahhhh, okay mom. You happy?” Lena complies.
Her mom kicks her in the plastic armored butt.
They laugh.
“Be quiet!” Dad says from within his helmet. He listens. They listen. It seems deathly quiet. Dad appreciates the joy but keeps his eyes vigilant. He feels they have been too comfortable for too long. He shakes off the feeling.
“Let's get the water. We'll need another cart.” He grabs another and rolls it down the aisle of bottles of water and soda and the like. He ponders sodas, but not now. Waters are better. He grabs a lot of water bottle cases, whatever they have. The cart is heavy. They wait at the end of the aisle.
“Dad?”
“Yeah Charlotte?”
“Can we have some now?”
“Ahhhh, no, no, let's wait till we get back and are safe. I don't want you or me slowed by sugar right here.”
“Ahhh, okay.”
“Ahhh man!” Lena exhorts.
“Hey be quiet, shhhhh!!” Charlotte commands.
“You be quiet!” Lena says.
“Come on, still zees out there!” Charlotte warns.
“Whatever, that's a stupid name for the zombies.”
“Whatever,” Charlotte shrugs.
28. Return of The Horde
And the sound, it is distant, far, but there. A strange vast howl, with a resounding crescendo of bees, creates a massive echo that shakes the store. Of hundreds, no thousands, no more.
Dad quickly pushes the cart to the front. He stops, listens. He lets go of the cart and runs through the front entrance, around the fallen carts and outside.
The girls try to keep up. They feel a sudden terror but want to keep all they have in the cart. They push it through. Dad is far past them, weaving through the cars to the street.
“Mom, where's he going?” Lena cries.
“Just stay together!” she holds close to Charlotte. “Let's leave the cart right here, so we can come for it, okay?”
Charlotte nods, letting go of her tight grip on the handle.
Dad steps out onto the street and looks east down Sunset Boulevard. There is a building, far off, one of the larger bank buildings, with a large banner on it, 'WE ARE ALIVE'. Windows shatter as zombies swarm its floors. People leap from windows and the roof, flailing their arms, falling into a sea of grabbing hands.
Somehow, he sees a zombie, a taller and bigger one than the rest, yet far away, looking at him. And behind it, The Horde, massive, like an ocean rolling through, fills the shelled out building and devours all of it's living contents. But this one, it is pointing, at him.
Dad feels the first essence of The Horde, a foul stench of fear. It comes as an invisible pulsing force, suddenly sucking all moisture and oxygen from the air. Dad must breathe
faster to maintain his conscious state. He stares at it. What is it? It points at him? It's not like a regular zombie. It's larger, a taller one. It has grey skin and wears what looks like a tattered robe. It is far away standing atop a car. Is its face elongated or larger than usual, like a snout or goat's face? He can not tell for The Horde engulfs the figure as it rolls mercilessly down Sunset Boulevard.
“My God,” Dad says, “Get in the truck! Now!!”
They come out of the store, hopping and trotting through the cars. From the side of the store, as if on cue, several zombies suddenly run into the lot. Dad rushes.
“Lena! Behind!”
Lena turns. She is taken off guard, afraid. She screams as a zombie leaps on her, knocking her down. Lisa is too scared and turns, backing away, unable to help Lena.
Dad rushes past and slams into more zombies breaking through. He swings in swivels on each side of him, hacking an arm off one, gashing deep into the neck and shoulder on another, to then make a final twirl of blade and stab through the zombie pouncing on Lena. He pulls her up. She is crying and shaking. He grabs up her halberd.
Lisa screams. The one armed zombie is attacking her. She sets the halberd upon it but her emotional shock hinders her from effectively swinging.
“Come on, fight back!” Dad says, shielding a new on-comer, slamming it down between cars, then swinging at another. He stomps on the fallen one, holding it down as he skewers the other.
Lena uses her halberd to finish off the floored zombie, cutting deep into its head. She sobs but recovers her strength. They retreat to help Lisa.
Charlotte and her mother hide behind Lisa, between cars. But zombies come from the other side. She turns and fires on one. The bullet explodes the chest but doesn't stop the zombie. Charlotte pulls out her rifle but it's too late. The zombies leap upon them, pushing them down between the cars. Charlotte is slammed hard under her mother, who is assaulted by two aggressive biters trying to find any flesh to cut deep into, to taste the flow of living blood. There is much growling and barking and chomping and biting and mom's frantic hands being bit down on as she tries to defend her child.
Knight of the Dead (Book 1): Knight of the Dead Page 25