by Thomas Baker
Hannah jumped, so startled she dropped her pop tart, and turned around.
"Oh my god, Ashley! Are you OK?"
Ashley limped across the clearing, Gus and Tyrone on either side of her, helping her along. Dusty and Alan followed in the rear. Hannah and Ashley latched onto each other, crying and laughing at the same time. JT pulled Gus to the side.
"Did she get bit?" JT asked
"No, no. Nothing like that. Think old Dusty would bring her back here if she was? He went over her with a fine-tooth comb. Her ankle is swollen prettybad and she can't hardly put weight on it right now. Must have twisted it during the attacks last night."
Hannah found a tree log that Ashley could prop up against. She rolled up one of her shirts and put it under Ashley's ankle. She let Ashley rest as she went back to scavenging through the campground remains.
"What a mess!" Tyrone stated, looking around.
"Thank you captain obvious." Dusty replied.
"Why don't we save the mouth and use our hands to help pick up," JT said, already irritated by Dusty's attitude.
He could hear Dusty mumble under his breath. He let it slide, for now.
"Damn, I had forgot about my uninvited house guest," Said Gus, looking at the dead zombie collapsed on top of his tent.
"Let's just get this done, Gus," Dusty said, grabbing the zombie by the legs and dragging it off. "Then we can take alook at what we got left."
"Well shit boss." Gus said, inspecting the tent now that the body was gone. "Looks like our tent has a few small skylights in it now. Won't that be romantic?"
Gus made kissy noises at Dusty. Dusty frowned. JT laughed until his belly hurt.
It was mid-morning before all their remaining equipment was gathered up. Most of the lighter stuff, like extra clothes, had blown away in the storm. Most of the food was ruinedas well, crushed or soiled during the attack in the night. They were down the tent Gus and Dusty had shared. It was even more damaged once they had inspected it further. The strangest thing was they couldn't find Gus's bag that had the handguns and extra ammo. It was too heavy to have blown away.
"It's a damn shame," Gus commented. It was the first time JT had seen Gus actually angry. "Haven't we been fucked over enough already?"
"Agreed," JT said. As he had been picking up that morning, he had been getting angrier at this whole situation. "I have been thinking. We need to find someplace to hole up for a while. If we can find this Safe Haven place, and it turns out to be real, I think it would be just what we need."
"No, it's not," Dusty chimed in. "That's a terrible idea. We need to keep on the move, on the road. For all we know Gus's bag got swiped by another group of survivors that happened by here and now they could be armed and dangerous. You want to find a camp of people like that?"
"How can you say that?" Hannah asked. "Isn't this what you Army guys would call exposed?"
"Yeah, look around here, stupid," Ashley added, "I lost some of my clothes. I had to sleep in the mud under a bridge. I almost got eaten." Ashley's voice rose as she continued. "I don't want to keep doing this. Plus I think I might have broken my ankle in that stupid storm."
"Fuck your clothes and your comfort," Dusty said, really getting worked up. "I am thinking about survival here. I think it's a bad idea to settle down in one place. In case you didn't think about it, the dead slightly outnumber the living. Any place would be overrun."
JT took a few steps closer to Dusty.
"Look at us man," JT said, spreading his arms wide. "Seriously, you think we are going to keep going like this? How long do you think we can keep this up? Yeah, they outnumber us and if they came across us now, we wouldn't stand a chance."
Dusty stepped towards JT until inches separated them. His voice got louder.
"Ever hear of attrition? Even if only ten percent of the population is infected, we are talking 3 million of the dead. They can keep coming and coming. If we were pinned in some house, or in some cave, what makes you think we would last any longer? Here at least we have multiple directions to outrun them. You should leave the thinking to a tactician. It's obvious you aren't smart enough to be in charge."
JT raised his voice to match. "You think you're such a badass Sergeant Dustin. You have all the answers, Sarge. In fact, I think you should be promoted to Major. Major Asshole."
Dusty shoved JT. JT stumbled back a few steps, then raised his fist to take a swing at Dusty. Gus jumped in front of Dusty and Tyrone and Hannah got in JT's way.
"I'm done with your fucking attitude and your fucking mouth always running. Never contributing anything!" JT yelled, struggling against Tyrone and Hannah.
"I am tired of you running us around in circles, with your head up your ass because it's obvious to meyou don't listen!" Dusty yelled back.
"Both of you shut your traps!" Gus hollered over both of them. "Jumped up Jesus, you two. We need to get our shit together and get somewhere tonight. We can worry about where we make Barbie's Dream Castle later."
"I think Gus is right," Hannah jumped in. "Let's find someplace safe tonight, then we can worry about what we are going to do next."
"I sure hope it at least has a bed." Ashley said, tossing back her hair and grabbing her backpack. "Come onguys." She brushed past JT and Dusty, favoring her wounded ankle but giving them as much attitude as she could muster.
The rest shouldered their things and followed.
They marched on the rest of the day having had zero luck finding a vehicle in working order. JT and Dusty stayed as far away from each other as they possiblycould and still keep in the group. JT was pissed the whole day. Of all the people to run into in a zombie apocalypse, why did it have to be this annoying son of a bitch?
JT's thoughts of his argument with Dusty went around and around in his head, like a hamster in a wheel. The more it went around, the angrier he became. His stomach began to feel like an acid pit.
Dusk had started to fall when they came to the outskirts of some small town in nowhere USA. They found a little no tell motel, where the doors opened out to the parking lot. Everyone was dirty and tired by this point. Without a word they each just split off in their own direction. Each person took their own room, except Ashley and Hannah. JT noticed that Ashley was limping pretty badly now. That girl has more spirit than I gave her credit for.
Tyrone came up to JT as he was just about to enter room seven. "Hey, can I share a room with you. After being alone, trapped in a bus surrounded by things that want to eat you, I would rather not sleep on my own. If you know what I mean."
JT popped the door open. Inside were two queen sizes beds, a dresser with an old TV on top, and a night stand between the beds. A big window with a wall unit under it was next to the door. Pretty standard stuff. At least it looks clean.
"That's cool. You don't have to explain yourself to mekid. Just don't plan on spooning with me."
Tyrone laughed, throwing his backpack on the second bed as they entered. He jumped next to it and sat back against the headboard, his hands behind his head.
"Think they got anything good on TV tonight?" he joked.
"We're living a movie right now. 'Dawn of the Dead'," JT sighed. "I'm exhausted. I can only put up with so much dick in one day. How about we just sleep?"
"Hey let me ask you something first. You think it will be long before things go back to normal?"
JT laid back, closing his eyes. "From what I have seen so far, it will be awhile. We aren't exactly rushing to a police station or military base. No one's come to our rescue either."
Tyrone was quiet for some time. JT was glad, he reallyneeded to crash. Just when he felt like he was dozing off, Tyrone spoke up again. "Hey, do you think my Mom and my family are alright? Well alive anyway? I'm worried about them."
JT felt irritated, but he tried to be kind, keeping it from his voice. "You're okay right? Then I'm sure they are too."
"You're right. My mom don't take crap from nobody. She's the strongest person I've known. She probably is leading some gr
oup or shelter right now. I wouldn't be that surprised if we found her in charge of Safe Haven."
Tyrone went quiet again. JT rolled over, facing the window. He began to doze off for the second time.
"JT, I wish I could listen to some music," Tyrone said. JT had to restrain himself from wanting to go over to Tyrone and smash a pillow in his face. "My iPod is dead. I need to listen to some Jay-Z or some Metallica, get my mind off of things. If you know what I mean."
Even though JT was getting annoyed, he couldn't help but laugh. "That sure is two totallydifferent styles."
"I am an equal opportunity listener. As long as it's good, I like it. I get that from my mom. Don't tell the girls but I am also in my church choir and high school show choir."
"Your secret is safe with me," JT chuckled. "I agree with the Metallica. I wonder if they are even still alive. What a wild thought, that James or Lars could be walking the earth as zombies." JT shook his head, as if that would clear out his disturbing mental picture." Lookman. Not to be rude, but I am trying to sleep over here. It's been a busy day."
"Coolman. That's cool. I saw a pop machine out in front of the lobby. I might try to pry it open, see if there's anything good left inside." Tyrone bounced up.
"Alright. If you think a hint of trouble is at our doorstep, you make sure towake me up," JT said. He was asleep before Tyrone even made it out the door.
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In the adjoining room, Ashley and Hannah were settling in for the nightas well.
"It's so nice to have a roof over our heads." Ashley said.
A grunt of agreement was Hannah's reply.
Ashley continued." You know what I was thinking about as we were walking. That time when we went andgot our ears pierced. Even though your Mom was totally against it."
"Yeah. Thanks to you, and my brother, I got grounded for a week. He said hey Hannah, what is that in your ear? My Mom flipped out. That was one of the many times I got the Ashley is a bad influence lecture." Hannah couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"I still stopped by anyway, every day. I snuck in, sometimes with a treat. Brought you over a second pair of earrings, so the holes wouldn't close up."
"Yeah you did," Hannah had to admit.
"We said we would be friends for the rest of our lives, no matter what," Ashley said, her voice turning serious. "Yet when you started college and moved away, I thought that was it. Then I decided I wasn't going to let it be the end. I'm sure you figured it out, but that's why the next year, when I graduated High School, I applied for the same college. If I wasn't going to let that stop me, I am sure as hell not letting this crazy zombie shit break up our friendship."
Hannah laid quietly in bed, digesting what Ashley had said. Being separated the night before must have bothered Ashley as much as it bothered her.
"How is your ankle, Ash?"
"By the time we got here, it was hurting so bad, I wanted to fall down and cry. It was so swollen I was afraid to take my sock off and look at it."
"I wish we had some ice, or even some cold water. Let me look through my bag, I picked up some Advil from the truck stop. At least you could get some relief." Hannah leaned over to the nightstand and rummaged through her bag.
"Thanks, Hannah," Ashley whispered, smiling.
"You need your rest," Hannah said, bringing over two pills to Ashley. "We all do."
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JT woke to someone shaking him. He grunted, waving his arm around as he turned over. Then he heard the pounding on the door. He bolted up. Tyrone was standing over his bed.
"Man you told me to wake you. You sleep like the d...well like.."
"Never mind," JT said.
He slipped out of bed as the pounding continued. It stopped, then the doorknob turned back and forth. JT turned on the Coleman lantern, giving them some light. He snatched the bat he had left leaning by the door.
"Tyrone, I am going to open the door. You ready?"
He turned to look when he didn't get an answer. Tyrone's eyes were big with panic, but the kid was holding the tire iron high over his shoulder.
JT unlocked it, swinging with all of his might. The guy in front of the door screamed and ducked. JT change his momentum at the last minute and angled up. The bat bounced off the door, splinters flying. The man half rolled into the room.
"Quick, shut the door. Shut the door!" the man shouted. "They're coming."
That is all JT had to hear. He slammed the door shut, locked it, and drew the chainas well. He peaked out the curtain. He wasn't able to see far into the darkness. We sure took electricity for granted he thought.
"Hey what's your name?" Tyrone asked, helping the man up.
"Richard," he said, breathless. He sat down on the edge of one of the beds. He bent over with his head between his knees, trying to get control of himself.
"Tyrone, come over here and keep lookout," JT motioned him to the window. "Now Richard, can you tell me how many you saw?"
"Oh man...huh...at least ten or...maybe more. I didn't really have time to take a census." Richard laughed, his voice breaking.
He sounded like a loon from one of those insane asylum movies.
"It is like they are joining togetherin bigger and bigger groups."
He began breathing a little more normal. Richard bounced up and began pacing the small room.
"Oh God, there were six of us. They came up on us like darkness. So silent. I didn't even know what was going on until the screaming started. We had no chance, we had no fucking chance."
"Hey man, we got some coming in. I see movement across the parking lot."
Tyrone walked backwards from the window.
Richard shrank into the corner. He started sobbing.
"Time to get out the guns. Tyrone, pound on the adjoining door, get Ashley and Hannah in here. Richard you got any weapons?"
"Oh shit, oh man. This is it."
Richard sat on the ground. His arms were around his knees and he rocked back and forth, lost in his own world.
"Richard. Richard!!"
"Oh shit, oh man."
JT lost his temper. He gave Richard a kick with the toe of his shoe. "Richard. I need you to focus. You brought the fuckers right to us, you damn well better help us. Do you have any weapons on you?"
Richard, propped back up on the palm of his hands, looked up at JT. JT thought it was like looking into the eyes of a child, scared that a whipping was coming. Shit, this guy is going to be no use to us.
JT turned around, giving up on Richard. Tyrone had gotten the girls up and into their room. Hannah and Ashley were wearing the type ofpajamas you saw college girls go to the grocery store in. It was jarring to see them dressed like that while holding guns.
Tyrone handed him the last gun in their possession. JT took it, gun in one hand, bat in the other, and readied himself. Tyrone tightened his grip on the tire iron.
They were sprayed by shattering glass. A zombie ran full speed through the window. It flipped over the air unit below the window, landing flat on its back. Without hesitation, Tyrone swung down with the tire iron, splitting the fast mover's rotted head open.
From behind him, JT could hear Richard pleading. "Save me. You have to save me." He was standing between the beds now.
There were several loud thumps along the walls as the zombie pack ran mindlessly into the front of the building. JT heard shots fired farther down the parking lot. Must be Dusty and Gus. Leave it to Dusty to have been keeping watch.
JT stepped out of the room, firing shots into the heads of the nearest zombies. Looking left and right, that appeared to be all the zombies that wereclose to them. Like Richard had said though, a large horde was coming across the parking lot.
"Tyrone, Hannah, Ashley. Pack up everything now! It's going to be a quick dash out of here."
JT was cut off as another fast one lunged for him. He was just able to dodge out of the way. The momentum of its charge carried the zombie into the motel room. JT turned and saw it crash into Richard, knocking them both over the bed and into the sink area. Ashley let out a scream as the undead bastard clamped down with its broken, jagged teeth. It tore out Richard's nose. Richard struggled and moaned. The zombie kept ripping and tearing. JT aimed and popped a round into the back of the zombie's skull. He aimed at Richard as he screamed, blood pouring out of the new hole in his face. He couldn't do it. He couldn't just murder the man. He dropped the pistol limply to his side.
"All of you, get everything and get out of here!" JT saw Ashley make an ugly face at him. "What else can I do? It's too late for him. Just keep up with me."
JT ran towards the sound of more shots being fired across the lot. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the rest were right behind him. Ashley was trying to carry her bag, her gun, and block her ears with her hands at the same time. She hobbled as fast as she could, wincing in pain. Hannah was right beside her.
JT's bum knee was throbbing when he reached Dusty and Gus. Don't give out on me. It's not like there is a doctor nearby to fix me up. Around the two laid seventeen of the dead, now dead again.
"Where is Alan?" JT asked.
"He said wait here, he would be right back," Gus said. "You ask me he is crazier than a squirrel in a nut factory."
"Old timer, that makes no sense," Dusty replied, scanning the lot and taking another shot.
"I don't know if we can wait much longer." Hannah broke in. "Look!"
JT followed her pointing finger. In the moonlight he could see more of the pack that Richard had been running from. He thought ten was a terrible estimate. It looked like a hundred. They moved in a semi-organized fashion towards the motel.
"Well shit on me," Gus said, jaw dropping.
A sudden flashing of headlights blinded JT. A vehicle rapidly approached them. As JT's eyes adjusted, he could make out it was a van. It turned right before them and stopped, the side of it facing them. The door slid open, it was Alan.
"Everybody get in," he said, frowning.
"Alan I could kiss you, but that would make Dusty jealous," Gus said.