by N. M. Black
It’s been three days since I’ve been here and since Lochlan warned me that he was going to kill me if I got in his way. As turned on as I was, I also knew with every fiber of my being, that he meant it.
I could feel the heat radiate off his skin, creating a physical friction that charged the air around us. I could tell he was fighting to hold himself back from lunging at me and I don’t blame him one bit. I know what I’ve taken from him and what he has to lose here. I’ve experienced what an amazing place it is and how far they’ve come since the outbreak.
Creating a civilization as close to normal as you could get considering the circumstances. They have power in their homes from solar panels and generators that have been converted. They have a fully functioning medical clinic, a police station, green houses, and barns full of non-infected livestock.
They have created something great here, and I will do whatever it takes to help them survive this attack. Not just because I owe it to Lochlan, but because this could be where the future begins.
So today, Grey asked me to sit down with the security team to go over all the different types of zombies and what it takes to kill them. Granted I don’t know all the breeds that have evolved since the beginning, but I know the more dangerous ones.
Being that I am still under probation and staying at the jail since being released from the hospital, the meeting is being held here in the station. They have a chalkboard set up for me to put up pertinent information and writing material for everyone to take notes. It astounds me to what modern conveniences they still have here.
As everyone begins to file in, I see faces that I haven’t been introduced to before and some, I’m almost positive are not on the security team. Like the sixty plus year old lady that just came in, chatting and laughing with Lochlan and some young girl.
It bothers me that they get his smiles and I get nothing but hostility. I’ve tried to apologize and talk to him, but he just walks away, only addressing me when it’s absolutely necessary. Three days he has avoided me and as much as I pretend it doesn’t bother me, his aversion towards me is beginning to mess with my already fragile psyche.
“Everyone, this is Adira. She will be educating us on the different breeds of zombies we have yet to come across and how to kill them. I have also brought in Bea and Lucie to help fill in gaps or provide any experience they too might have on protecting ourselves, should a threat present itself in the near future.” He looks directly at me while stating those last words, venom practically dripping from each syllable.
I refuse to let him bully me into submission in front of everyone, so I don’t bother to address his snide remark and instead I face the rest of the group and ignore him completely.
“Hey everyone. I know you all don’t know me well and I’m sure you have not been given a whole lot of information about why I’m here, but I w-”
“That’s not why you’re here. Get to the point.” Lochlan blurts out, dramatically cutting me off, trying to make his authority over me known to the entire group.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I fight my urge to flip him off, and turn back to address everyone else.
“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” I glare at Lochlan, and see Bea chuckle beside him as I continue.
“I will be giving you a rundown of the most common breeds and their weaknesses. There have been many strains generated as the virus continues to transform and adapt to change, so not all the information I have will be one hundred percent up to date. The most common ways to kill any zombie is destruction of the brain or spinal cord, decapitation or a clean headshot” I flinch, now realizing why Lochlan didn’t want me to go over those details.
“First we have Uno’s or Gen One zombies. They're "normal" for all intents and purposes with no special abilities. Their appearance and physical traits remain the same, aside from the pale skin coloring. Easy to kill.”
Not wanting to get too far ahead, I pause as I see everyone jotting down the information I just gave. Well almost everyone. He doesn’t write a single word down and sits in the corner sulking, as if this is all just a huge inconvenience to him. But I continue anyway because he is not the only reason I’m doing this.
“Next we have sprinters. They’re incredibly fast, not smart and very weak. It doesn’t take much to overpower them. Again, a single shot kill is achievable.” Pausing once more to let everyone keep up, I glance around the table to everyone, and all things considered, these people are happy. And I mean why wouldn’t they be?
Lochlan and the others have managed a miracle of epic proportions creating this place, and seeing their faces and how, even though we are sitting here going over the different breeds of zombies and how to kill them to ward off the upcoming ambush, they aren’t sad or depressed nor are they crazy and deranged. Like the virus itself they have learned to adapt and created a place to exist.
A throat clears, bringing me back from my reverie, and I realize I’m smiling. I see everyone’s look of confusion at my reaction but it’s Lochlan’s expression that has my attention. He is staring at me, the corner of his mouth tipped up, into what can only be described as the closest thing to a smile he has ever graced me with.
My stomach flips at his change in temperament, and I lose my train of thought. I become flustered instantly and begin to fumble with the papers sitting in front of me. I feel my cheeks redden in embarrassment, having been caught by the entire room, making eyes at Lochlan. If I didn’t know better, I could swear I heard him chuckle.
I see a few people shuffle awkwardly, so before I have time to make a further ass of myself, I clear my throat and start going over the information on the next breed.
“Next, we have tanks. Slow but strong. Picture that giant from the shower scene in Resident Evil. The only way to kill them is to sever their head from their spine. A bullet will not stop them. Don’t play the hero. If you see a tank you better run or hide because you’ll just waste your ammo and really piss it off.” A few chuckles sound around the room as some of the guys rib each other in good fun.
“Also, we have Pukers or Boilers. Exactly how they sound, vomits on attacker, quickly infects if gotten into eyes, mouth, nose, or open wounds. Not as easy to kill unless you have long range weapons. Distance is key with these types.”
“Lastly, we have Addicts and crazies. Do not underestimate them, their narcotic of choice or their mental diagnosis, will determine their special abilities. Some have bursts of energy, others are very slow. Some can even jump and scale objects and buildings. Their most pronounced feature is the bright red rim around their irises and their veins are highly visible. Never count them as a one shot kill, and always keep your distance. They are highly unpredictable.”
“What about demon z’s?” Lucie asks. She sounds so young, maybe 16 years old and a wave of nostalgia washes over me at all the milestones she’s gonna miss because of this fucked up world we’ve created.
“I’m sorry, what?” Chris titters at her like an older brother would. I too look to her for clarification, as this is a new one for me.
But it’s Bea who pipes in, shocking us all with her colorful characterization of the newest zombie breed.
“Oh, those little assholes are the worst. They're smaller than Gen One zombies, as you call them, thin and pale, with fully blacked out eyes. Rather than the typical grunts zombies make, they have a banshee-like screech that can debilitate anyone or anything in close range. They're also extremely fast which makes them hard to kill. Another clear trait of a Demon is the black tar it’s constantly spewing. Filthy little bastards.” Bea shivers.
“How do you know about all this stuff?” Lucie asks me, even though she seems to have just as much experience as I do. But before I can answer, the walkie talkies in the room make an alert sound, gaining everyone's attention.
“Zombies incoming!”
“Where’s my backpack?” Adira shouts above the commotion as everyone gears up to go help the fence.
“It doesn’t matt
er, because you’re staying here.” I growl back at her. I see Grey give me a dirty look, and ya we could probably use the help, but I still don’t trust her. And for some fucked up reason, I don’t want her out there where I can’t protect her. With that, I turn on my heel and head out to where Tripp is waiting on his ATV. We pull around to the back and load the mini trailer we have attached with as much ammo and weapons we can get on it.
Pulling up to the fence where the commotion is, I see everyone kinda standing around in a daze, mesmerized. Tripp is slowing down and he’s looking in the same direction as everyone else.
I stand up behind him on the ATV to get a better look and it feels like my heart has stopped beating in my chest. There, in the middle of a swarm of walkers, is Adira showing an incredible display of force, holding them at bay right at the fence opening. I don’t know how she got here so fast or who let her out, but with the amount of infected that are breaching that tree line, I’m glad they did.
She’s slashing out with a sword, probably Chris’s, wielding it like an expert, fast and with deadly precision. Limbs are literally flying through the air as she hacks into the frenzy of zombies, fighting back the oncoming attack. But she’s losing ground and quickly. Their numbers are just too great, forcing her retreat.
She tries to take a step back but loses her footing in the snow, giving the zombies the break they were waiting for and they surge forward. My rifle already in motion, my trigger finger ready for the workout, as I start taking out the ones closest to Adira giving her a chance to get up. Fucking Deja-vu.
That seems to be the signal all the boys were waiting for as they start unloading clips of ammo into the swarm of infected, taking down the zombies and leaving a path of death leading right to the forest.
But that’s not the end of the fight. There are rows and rows of zombies, different sizes and breeds all heading in our direction. I hear Tripp radio to sound the town alarm and get everyone indoors and to send anyone who can fight to come now. We all line up and take our stance to keep them contained to one area and give the town time to get to safety and for those to get weapons and come help.
I see Adira still close to the fence, bottle necking as much of the group as she possibly can. Fuck she’s fast, and watching her is like art in motion. The lithe movements of the sword and her body as she slices through them like warm butter, making it look effortless.
In the next moment, I see a sprinter come up behind her and no one can get a shot off fast enough. He’s just too close and she hasn’t seen him yet. Dammit!
“Adira! Your six!” I shout, and I think someone else does as well, but she doesn’t get turned in time and he jumps on her back. I hear her scream of pain as the zombie takes a large bite of her shoulder and pulls away, taking flesh and whatever else with it, blood dripping down and staining her clothing.
I stare in horror as he goes in for a second bite when a bullet pierces right between his eyes knocking him off of her. I turn to see who took the shot when I see Dr. Tanner stand and reload a large sniper rifle. She just winks at me and starts taking shots at some of those further out.
I jump down and start towards Adira, when she suddenly leaps up with a new burst of energy. She rotates around, looking for the closest threat, when her eyes lock on mine. That golden yellow that I saw the other day in the hospital and in those eyes, I can see a darkness that mirrors my own.
I feel my body respond instantly and a pull inside of me makes me take another step forward, needing to be closer to her, to be sure she’s ok. I lift my gun and shoot directly beside her head taking out the walker that snuck up behind her. Fighting to protect her, even though she was the one made into a weapon.
A blood curdling scream breaches the noise of battle, wrenching my attention from Adira. When I turn around and see a zombie bent over a little girl, I feel like I’m reliving the worst day of my life, all over again.
My head swims and all I see is Olivia’s little face. Her dead eyes staring right at me as though I weren’t even there. Out of nowhere, Adira comes crashing through a mass of zombies, creating a path of destruction as she fights her way to Olivia. I’m too far away and all I can do is watch as she struggles against the infected and Adira coming to finish her off. Raising her sword, she brings it down fast and lethal, as I roar in agony for the life of the little girl she just murdered.
Again.
Her scream is all I hear in the chaos that is unfolding all around me. I can’t let this happen, not again. I snatch my eyes away from Lochlan to find where the sound came from.
I run as fast as I can, practically floating above the snow as I swing my sword up and slashing it down across the neck of the zombie that has bitten Lucie. The head rolling to the side, painting the snow and everything around it crimson. Lucie completely frozen in place, her eyes full of fear as she clutches her arm where she was bitten, knowing full well the consequences of what has just happened.
I grab my head in frustration as the little girl appears next to Lucie as she shakes her head in disappointment, forcing me back in time to a year ago when my whole world changed. And not for the better.
I couldn’t look at the little girl, not that I wanted to look at her father but if I dared to look at my Commander and he saw the tears, he would have made me do so much more. He fed off shit like that. He was the only one who smiled when the news broke of the outbreak. Hell, he practically skipped to suit up.
Even though I knew it had to be done, I just didn’t want to be the one to do it. She was bitten, and it wasn’t long after, they became rabid. But that didn’t lessen the fact she was a small child and someone’s daughter. Someone who witnessed me do it.
I watched his face change right before my eyes, the determination and pure unfiltered rage and hate that he now projected was astounding. I could tell that even my superior was nervous around him.
I didn’t want to do this, and this is not what I signed up for. Never in a million years did I think my training would be used for something like this.
I looked up again at my commander, pleading with my eyes, begging that I don’t have to do this. I know that this will literally destroy me as a human and fuck with my head. But he just nodded his head in confirmation to pull the trigger and effectively ruining four people's lives in the matter of a second.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath my hand shaking as I squeezed the trigger ever so gently, feeling the recoil all the way up my arm and into my soul. A part of me died the moment that bullet left my gun.
What can only be described as the most painful sound in the world breaks through my self purgatory, swiftly bringing me back to reality, which is no better.
Lochlan’s furious roar springs me into action. Carefully picking up Lucie in my arms, I cradle her to my body as I try to figure out my next move. I need to get her to the clinic and get the doctor to amputate her arm before it’s too late.
I take off in a sprint in the direction of the clinic, when I hear an ATV pull up beside me.
“Give her to me!” Dr. Tanner yells over at me. I shake my head at her, not completely confident in my voice right now.
I pick up my pace, knowing that even though she’s on an ATV, she will struggle to keep up with me right now.
I run straight into the hospital going directly to the room I was held in when I first got here and lay Lucie down. But her eyes snap open and her pupils are no longer their natural blue, but are now beginning to glow yellow.
I’m too late.
Misery clouds the air around me, swallowing me whole. I don’t think I can survive this a second time. A tear slips free as I feel a shooting pain in my arm and look down to see Lucie has latched onto it. Staring up at me, she doesn’t look feral like most of them do, but more curious than anything. Almost serene.
Before I have time to process what’s happening, Dr. Tanner and Lochlan come crashing through the door. They immediately halt all movements when they see what is taking place and stare with shock and concern.
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“Adira, you need to step away from the infected so that we can deal with it.” Dr. Tanner says in a placating tone that does nothing but piss me off. It? Lucie is not an It. The venom is starting to work its way through my system from all of the bites I’ve sustained, as my adrenaline pumps it furiously through me, making my anger amplified.
I growl, a feral animalistic sound in her direction, and she stops her forward motion.
“Adira, you have to listen to the doctor. Lucie needs help.” Lochlan tries to get my attention away from the doctor to give her time to get to us. But my eyes track their every move, and no one is getting near Lucie, unless it’s to help her.
I know what they’re trying to do and it’s not happening. I sit down on the bed with Lucie, and I can hear her stomach growl as the hunger starts to take over. I know her body can’t fight back much longer, and I begin to panic trying desperately to think of a way to help her.
My frustration is beginning to build when suddenly it clicks. I look down at Lucie’s arm and then to mine, and back again. The bite mark looks the same, not infected. Since she consumed my blood, it seemed to have slowed the effects of the change.
“Give her my blood!” I shout immediately rolling up my sleeve and thrusting my arm towards Dr. Tanner.
“DO IT NOW!” I scream, causing everyone to jump at the volume of my voice.
Having just been bitten, my body has begun to release all the antibodies, giving it what it needs to fight off the virus. If we can inject Lucie at the right time, those same antibodies will now be in her system and will make her immune just like me. I hope.
I don’t wish upon anyone the torture that I endure every time I’m bitten and my body’s brutal reaction to it, but I will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means allowing to happen, the one thing I didn’t want.