Urban Decay

by Paxton Matthews

  The corpse grabbed Howie and sunk her teeth down into his left bicep. Howie screamed out in agony. He pushed the dead thing off of him and tried to get back inside the building, practically diving into the window. The corpse grabbed his legs and bit down into Howie's left calf. Theo and Jones pulled Howie into the building, the rotter tried to grab Theo, he slammed the window down on her arms, severing both of them at the elbows.

  Jones pulled the window open and hopped outside to deal with the rotter. Dark red, almost black blood was oozing out of the wounds in her arms from where Theo severed them. Jones pulled out his Bowie knife from the sheath tied to his right leg and sent the blade into the corpse's right ear. Out of anger, Jones began stomping the rotter's head into a mixture of viscous brown brain matter and skull fragments.

  "Son of a bitch!" Jones shouted at the top of his lungs.

  "Jones, get back in here before more of them show up!" Theo yelled.

  All of the commotion downstairs awoke the rest of the group. They steamed down the steps with Erica at the front of the pack, clutching the AK. "What the fuck is going on?!?" She asked. Erica saw Howie on the ground, writhing around in pain. "Oh shit!"

  Howard was clutching at the bite wound on his bicep. His blood was soaking the front of his t-shirt. "Damn thing got me," He said to Erica.

  "Theo, what is going on?" Silvie asked.

  "They were....I......" Theo could hardly talk. One minute he was saying goodbye to Jones and Howie, the next minute Howie was being bitten into.

  "A fuckin eater got Howie!" Jones said when he got back inside the building. "She must've been lurkin round the corner."

  "Oh man, she got him good," Jennifer said.

  Howie sat up from the ground and looked at the pool of blood that had formed underneath his left leg. "I can't believe this shit. Jones, I'm sorry man."

  Jones just shook his head, "I don't know what to say, Howie."

  "You know what's going to happen, right?" Silvie asked Jones.

  "Yeah," Jones answered bluntly. "We both do."

  "I don't wanna be walkin around like one of those bastards. Do what you must," Howie told everyone. He then looked up at Jones, "Take care of yourself."

  "Howie, tell me where your sister is. I'll get to her."

  Howie shook his head ever so slightly. "Don't worry about them. I know deep down that they're fine. Jones, just worry about yourself. It's been a hell of a ride, hasn't it?"

  "Yeah, it has," Jones replied. He tried to muster up a smile, but he couldn't. He pulled the revolver out of his front pocket, aimed at Howie's forehead and fired, hitting Howie right between his eyes. Howie fell backward. Howie laid there on the floor with his eyes still open and staring blankly at the ceiling.

  Everybody stood there in shock, looking at Howard's lifeless body. The gunshot didn't appear to attract any more eaters to the building.

  Theo was the first to snap out of his trance. He looked at the corpse's arms still resting underneath the window. He ran upstairs to grab his crowbar. Using the hooked end, Theo scooped the two severed limbs up off the ground and dumped them out of the window.

  Silvie looked up from Howie's body. "Okay, so now what do we do?"

  "We get the hell outta here, that's what," Jones said. "If it's alright with you guys, I'd like to come along to Beakman's park."

  "Yeah, of course," Theo replied.

  Macey ran upstairs to grab a sheet for Howie's body. Her and Sonya wrapped it up tightly.

  "What would you like to do with him, Jones?" Sonya asked.

  "Who knows what kind of eater's are round these parts. I don't wanna risk buryin him out there," Jones answered.

  "We can take him up to the roof," Theo suggested. "We've seen something like that before. Me and Erica."

  Erica nodded. "Yeah. That might be a good place for him. I'll help with the body."

  Theo, Erica, and Jones carried Howie's body up the two flights of stairs to get to the roof. It was hot and windy up there. There wasn't a single cloud in the light blue sky that morning. The three of them set Howie's body down in the center of the roof.

  Theo climbed up on the edge of the roof and surveyed the area. He wanted to be sure none of the dead things were charging towards the building. All around them, it was eerily quiet.

  "I'm sorry Jones," Erica said quietly. "Howie seemed like a good dude."

  "He was," Jones answered.

  "What happened? You guys didn't check for any rotters?"

  "My guess? Complacency."

  "Huh?"

  "Me n Howie have probably crept out of dozens of buildings by now and something like that's never happened. We used to be careful, but I guess Howie let his guard down a lil. The one eater that was round here managed to get him. It blows."

  "That's one way of putting it."

  "I guess Howie's number got called."

  Theo hopped down from the edge of the roof. "It's clear all around us. With the exception of some crashed cars and lifeless bodies lying in the road here and there, it looks normal."

  "Think it's safe to start loadin up the truck?" Jones asked.

  "Probably. But we've got to be careful. I don't give a shit if the Blazer's two feet away, those dead bastards can be anywhere."

  Before the three of them exited the roof, Jones looked back at Howie's body one last time. It was resting in the center of the roof and wrapped up in the white sheet. "Rest easy bud."

  Back on the second floor, the group packed up their belongings. Sonya and Jennifer left behind most of the sleeping bags, not wanting to be reminded of their fallen friends. Erica, Silvie, and Jones watched out for the others while they finished loading up the Blazer.

  "Okay, we're all set. Sure is a tight squeeze now," Theo said to everybody.

  "Who wants to sit on my lap?" Jones asked the group. "What about you, Theo?"

  "I'd rather walk."

  "What about you, Silvie?"

  "I'd rather die."

  "You're just playin hard ta get is all."

  "Jones, you're getting in the back with Jennifer," Erica said. "And that's not negotiable."

  "And Jones? Don't forget, I've got a loaded shotgun," Jen told him.

  Erica turned to Theo who was trying his hardest not to laugh his ass off. "Theo, are you sure you want to bring him along? Can we just drop him off on some random street corner?"

  Theo smirked and started the truck and drove away from the office building. He was hopeful that they wouldn't have any more detours on their way to Beakman's park. That this would be it.

  "What's this park like, Theo?" Jones asked from the back of the truck. "Any good fishin spots?"

  Theo scoffed, "Do I look like the outdoorsy type to you Jones? I couldn't catch crabs from a ten dollar hooker."

  Jones giggled, "I could."

  "Oh yuck," Silvie said.

  "Anyways. It's smack dab in between two big empty factories. Well at least I hope that they're empty. With any luck, there should be some boats still in and around the boat launch. We can get on the water, and away from the rotters."

  "And then what?" Jones asked.

  A quiet fell over the group. "Then we just survive," Erica said.

  "By staying in a boat like a buncha castaways? C'mon, seriously?"

  "Just long enough for this shit to calm down, Jones, "Silvia answered. "We can always get back to shore to venture out for supplies if need be."

  Jones rubbed his stringy light brown goatee, "Yeah, I guess you're right. I see what you're gettin at Theo. But what if the park's filled with all them eaters?"

  "There's a row of houses right across the street from the park. If the park's screwed, we get in one of those homes and plan our next move from there."

  "I like the sound of that. And hey, I know how to fish."

  "So do I," Sonya said.

  "Me too," Jen added.

  "You all right back there mom?"

  "A little cramped, but Jones is keeping his hands to himself...thankfully."

 
"Don't worry. Don't worry," Jones said. "After three divorces, I ain't lookin for nothin."

  "Damn Jones. Three divorces?" Theo asked.

  "Yup. Think I'd learn my lesson the first time, but nope."

  "I'm up to two myself."

  Jennifer interrupted, "Theo, we've got eaters on our tail."

  A group of fifteen corpses began to chase after the Blazer. "Don't worry, they'll lose interest," Theo replied.

  Jen was confused, "What?"

  "Watch this," Theo said and he pressed down on the accelerator. The truck gained speed and most of the corpses stopped chasing after the Blazer; all but one dead thing.

  "There's still one of em Theo," Jones said. "Must be starvin."

  Without warning, Theo slammed on the brakes of the vehicle. Everybody inside jerked forward violently. The rotter that was giving chase smacked against the back of the truck, its head jerked backward and the corpse fell down to the street. Theo and Jones began laughing hysterically, as did Silvia.

  "That was great, Theo," Jones said. "Brilliant."

  Erica looked at Theo and shook her head at him, "What kind of messed up childhoods did you have?"

  "How much time ya got?" Jones asked.

  Erica put her hand up to Jones. "Nope. I'm not doing this."

  Before the undead could get back to his feet, Theo drove away, continuing on towards Beakman's park. As he drove, the area became more and more familiar to both Theo and Macey. Jennifer even remembered some of it from when she was a teenager. Naturally, Theo looked around for any landmarks that would be helpful to him.

  Then, Theo spotted it; an M48 Patton tank that had been donated to the city by a Vietnam Veteran's group. "Look," He told the others. "We're minutes away from Beakman's!"

  "Whoa, nice tank," Jones said.

  "I remember it from when I was a kid. Believe it or not, I wanted to be a tank commander when I grew up."

  "Why didn't you?" Erica asked.

  "I never grew up."

  "Ugh."

  There were several rotters wandering around the tank and the surrounding area. The small park where the tank was situated had a small group of around thirty dead things mulling around all together.

  "What are we waiting for?" Jen asked.

  "I take it we have to drive down one of these streets on either side of the park, don't we, Theo?" Silvia asked.

  Theo nodded, "Yep. Unfortunately, we do."

  "Just barrel on ahead then," Jones told Theo.

  Theo scratched the dark brown stubble that had accumulated on his neck, thinking about what Jones said. "We don't know what could be down either of these roads. If I fly down one and the dead fucks give chase, we could crash right into a wrecked car or something."

  "Well there's no other way around, what do you want to do?" Erica asked.

  "I know. We mow them all down!" Jones said.

  "As fun as that may sound, I don't think that can work. It could ruin the truck," Theo replied. "You feel like walking, Jones?"

  "No, not really."

  "How are we on gas?" Macey asked.

  "Still pretty good," Theo answered.

  "Theo, why don't you just do what you did back at the market?" Sonya suggested. "Lay on that horn and lure them all away, and then just circle back."

  "It's a good idea, but I'm really not up for doubling back. I just wanna get to the damn river. Tired of these damn delays."

  "I heard that," Erica said.

  Theo was growing frustrated. The sooner the group made it to Beakman's park, the better. If the park was loaded with dead things, they could still try and get into one of those condos that Theo told everyone about. They had to do that while there was still daylight, however. Luring the rotters out of the park and down the road could waste minutes if not hours.

  Theo shook his head. "Alright, we're barreling past these fuckers," He told the group.

  "Sweet!" Jones yelled.

  "Everyone hang on tight," Erica said as she tightened her seat belt.

  Theo revved the engine a few times and then floored the gas pedal. The undead in the small park heard the engine and saw the vehicle heading towards them. The dead things gave chase after the Blazer. Theo drove the truck down the road on the left side of the park, hoping that the street wasn't clogged with debris and who knows what else.

  The first dead things began to slam up and bounce off the vehicle. An unpleasant sight for Macey who was sitting next to one of the windows. Her, Sonya, and Silvie all huddled together closer to the middle of the back seat.

  In the back, Jones taunted the dead things as they ran after the truck, "No dinner for ya'll today!"

  Jennifer looked at Jones, "What is wrong with you?"

  "Lots."

  "I noticed."

  Theo raced down the street, then slowed down once the Blazer came to a T- section. Theo recognized another landmark; a baseball field. Right then, he knew they weren't far away from Beakman's park at all. "Guys, we're almost home free!"

  Erica was there to bring Theo back to reality, however. "Don't get too excited."

  "Thanks, Ms. Wet Blanket."

  "You're welcome."

  The Blazer was clear of the dead things from the small park. However, the corpses that were lurking inside the baseball field noticed the truck. The group heard the shrill wails of the rotters when the corpses noticed the vehicle driving past.

  Silvia sighed, "Enough already."

  "Tell me about it. We just wanted to watch a damn ball game," Theo quipped as he made a right hand turn down the street and sped away from the field. But just like all the other dead things that chased after them, the corpses from the field stopped after only a few seconds.

  "You think they might be getting smarter?" Jen asked.

  "Who?" Jones wondered.

  Jen pointed to the corpses that had stopped running after the Blazer, "Them, the eaters."

  Jones shrugged a shoulder. "Who knows with those things. Maybe we can capture one and do experiments on it someday."

  "Jones, when we get to the river, I'm tossing you into the water," Erica said.

  A dead thing bolted out from in between two homes, Theo didn't notice the rotter, and he plowed right into it. The corpse rolled onto the hood and then the windshield, cracking it. The eater fell off of the Blazer and collapsed to the ground.

  Theo was forced to stop the truck, he couldn't see out of the shattered windshield. "Dammit!" He yelled. Theo and Erica began kicking at the windshield to knock it free from the frame. After three big kicks, the glass was knocked loose.

  "Oh no," Erica said once she was able to see again.

  Another mob of rotters was wandering down the street. Smaller than a horde, but large enough to cause big problems for the group. Theo had no choice but to put the Blazer in reverse and head down a different road.

  "Keep an eye on what's behind us you two," Theo said to Jones and Jen.

  "No problem there, Theo," Jones replied.

  "All clear so far," Jen added.

  Theo stopped the Blazer in the middle of a residential area and the group waited for the mob of eaters to move past the street. They hunkered down low inside of the truck once the first few undead stumbled across the road. First, it was two, then five, then a dozen. Then some of the corpses wandered down the road the Blazer was on.

  Theo winced at the sight of the corpses that were stumbling towards them. "Perfect. Just perfect," He whispered.

  "Now we really can't plow into em," Jones said from the back. "Unless you want one of them dead fuckers resting in your lap."

  Theo let out a sigh of relief once he saw that the three wandering dead things shamble on over to the sidewalk. One of the corpses began to aimlessly slap at a street light pole while the other two rotters made their way in between some homes and disappeared into the backyards.

  "Thank fuck for that," Erica murmured.

  Theo drove right past the corpse that was playing with the street light and turned towards the river. "Five minutes wa
y," He said to the group.

  Chapter 25

  Theo turned the Blazer onto the road that would lead them to Beakman's park. It was an empty two-lane street that seemed to stretch on forever. The group couldn't even see any debris in the road. Theo and Macey expected that the road would be relatively empty; there was nothing around but abandoned factories.

  To the right of the group was a tall chain link fence that stretched on for as long as the road did. It was a tall rusted thing with barbed and razor wire at the top, and dense overgrowth poking out. The group could see small sections of the river Rouge if they looked hard enough. The water was a beautiful light teal color, it looked inviting.

  "We're here. Now, where's this damn park?" Erica asked Theo.

  Theo looked up and down the fencing, trying to find the sliding gate that would lead them inside of Beakman's. "It's gotta be around here somewhere," Theo said. "Hey Macey, do you see anything?"

  "No, not really," Replied Macey. The overgrowth was making things difficult to see.

  "On the positive side, there's the row of homes I told you guys about," Theo said, pointing off to his left.

  "Yeah, you were right," Erica said.

  "Holy shit, Theo was right about something?" Silvia asked sarcastically.

  "How about that, Silvia? Once we get on the water, I'm gonna drown you in the river!" Theo shot back.

  "Oh Theo, you are such a romantic."

  Theo drove down the street slowly so the group could spot the sliding gate. The first factory began to come in their view. A large hulking beige building with two gigantic smokestacks sticking out of its roof. Theo knew that the fence would be close by. Sure enough, Macey spotted it first.

  "There!" She said excitedly.

  Theo pulled up and Erica examined the fence. There was a thick chain wrapped around it and it was padlocked shut.

  Erica sighed, "Of fucking course."

  "I can just take care of it with the crowbar," Theo said.

  Erica shook her head at Theo. "No, I don't think so. That lock is massive."

  "What do we do then?" Sonya wondered.