Zombies Don't Ride Motorcycles

by Melissa Leo-Pahl

  “It can’t be.” He whispered to himself.

  “What is it, Jace?” Ellie finally regained the courage to speak.

  “I don’t think he means to go against his word.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  “I thought I had imagined it. I thought I was so far gone. Delusional. I wrote him off . . .” he trailed off into a whisper.

  “You okay bro?”

  “I think I have met this Harland once before.”

  “But how can that be?”

  Jace pumped his hands and paced back and forth, still stewing, still marveling in his aha moment. Finally it bubbled over and he could not hold the answers in any longer.

  “It was him. He was the one I saw come for me in the dark. Right before you rescued me, sis.” He chuckled. “I could have sworn it was the devil himself creeping out of the shadows to drag me down to hell personally. I guess that little trick Harland does was how he managed to get down there. I assume since he is a vamp he was running around, trying to scrounge up a meal.”

  Ellie nodded. “Yeah, but what stopped him? I mean he could have easily cornered you. And me, I would not have been any trouble to him whatsoever. I just don’t get it.”

  “Maybe he has been sizing us all up. Watching us all from a distance.”

  “Why do all of a sudden I feel like a duck in a pond and this guy is the one who's been hiding in the duck blind all this time watching us?” Tren offered.

  “So. What do we do now? I really don’t feel like waiting here for this crazy ass to show back up again. The guy just gives me the creeps,” said Cross.

  Charlie dropped her head to her chest and closed her eyes. Even now she felt the pressure of all of her companions looking to her to make the next call. They needed answers. The zombie apocalypse was upon them, but they had no clue why they had been excluded from the dark side of the madness that had overcome everyone else. At the same time, they needed a safe place. A defensible place that they could survive without having to fight and swim through the hordes. Perhaps they could even find some measure of normalcy. Heh. What was normal nowadays anyhow? Maybe they could find this place in their search for answers.

  Contrary to the others, her mind had not only been focused on survival. She too had wondered why they had been left to fend for themselves. Had it been all by design? Zombies needed something to chase and eat upon. Maybe they were left behind to be the cattle that fulfilled that need. That did not make any kind of sense. Surely the government had some kind of hand in what was going on. Either they caused it or were trying to prevent it. Somehow her and her group escaped the taint that had taken a hold of everyone else. It had been gnawing at her this whole time. She wanted to know. She knew in her heart that the answer probably was not going to change anything, but at least she would know where the blame rested.

  Yes, she thought. And she realized where they were going to have to go to get those answers.

  “Boys and Girls.” She paused. Everyone looked up and gave her their full attention, holding their breath waiting in earnest.

  “Let’s go to D.C.”

  Black. The darkness that swallowed him was complete, eerie and final. He felt the sharpness of each gravel piece, if only peripherally, like a million push pins holding him down against fresh cork. The air had rushed away, leaving him only with stale gravel dust to breathe in. It took him a moment to realize that he had stopped breathing. This was nothing new. He had stopped breathing before. This changed nothing. The gravel shifted as he stretched and reached forward with his hands in the dark. A rising anger began to boil within him.

  That bitch! How dare she? Does she not know who I am? I am her king!

  His hands strained to form hooks as he made an effort to claw his way forward. The gravel shifted again as he pulled his body forward, but only the barest of an inch. He felt the rocks fall in behind him as he pulled himself again forward and in a direction that he could only hope was up. The pain he felt started to pass into a dull throb and faded away into nothing. Were it not for the lack of air, he would have chuckled. Oh, he would have her for his own.

  Oh yes, she will be ours!

  His cracked mentality sided with him in this fully. Vengeance, yes! But not only that. He would feast upon her slowly. He would draw lines upon her flesh and plan out his meals methodically. He was to course her into meals until the pain tumbled her into madness. She will beg, yes. But such fresh food was so hard to come by. He planned on making her last. While Charlotte was unfit to be his queen, his thoughts turned to the child prodigy.

  Ahh, but the little one. She could be bent and broken over our will. She will grow to be a most lovely bride. And ally!

  Spurred on by these thoughts, and with the fading humanity of his body, he focused on doubling his efforts. His mind, his coherent thoughts began to slip. He began to panic.

  I don’t want to lose ME! Not again!

  He struggled to hold on to one thought. It would be his one key to bringing his plans of vengeance to fruition. The one word that might bring him back in due course to deal out the wrath that boiled just beneath the skin. He repeated the one simple word over and over in his mind, hoping to dedicate it to some kind of memory. Soon the word would be lost, but its essence, its potential energy would drive him onward and upward until he burst back through to open air.

  As the group above ground broke camp, they could never in their worst nightmares have imagined the word repeated from their still undead adversary so many feet below them.

  Brains . . . . Brains . . . . . BRAINS . . . must eat . . . . . BRAAAAAAAAINSSSSSS!

  1) Absolute Zero - Stone Sour

  2) Hail to the King - Avenged Sevenfold

  3) Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

  4) Fix Me - 10 Years

  5) Down With The Sickness – Disturbed

  6) Monster – Paramore

  7) Alone Together – Fall Out Boy

  8) Sober – Kelly Clarkson

  9) Heart of Fire – Black Veil Brides

  10) Fallen Angels – Black Veil Bride

  Like what you’ve read so far…please leave a review.

  And stay tuned for more to come in the ZDRM series:

  ZDRM: EAT. PREY. ZOMBIE (book two) Coming Soon

  ZDRM: Byron’s Novella

  ZDRM: Fayte’s Novella

  Acknowledgements

  It is difficult to pin point where my love and reading and writing began. You could say that there was definitely, in hindsight, a stream of events that has moved me, and continues to propel me on the path that I now walk on today. I remember my first picture-free book, ‘The Black Cauldron’. It was one of those book fair books, an impulse buy to be sure. The cover was all cartoony, as it was a still from the Disney movie. I remember the pride I felt when I finished it. I remember my first short story. It was about ninjas that came rappelling through the windows of a McDonalds. Ahh, simpler times. I only know that the truth of it all is, I have always wanted to be a writer. I am forever drawn to it, like light to a black hole. There is something ineffable about the written word. The writer, especially the really really good ones, can be proud that they have created something from nothing, well . . . almost nothing. In a sense they have gained a sense of immortality that others can never truly understand. I honestly want to be able to leave something of myself behind for generations to come to enjoy. Only time will tell if I will ever be remembered as a really good author. Just know that this scribbler thoroughly enjoyed each and every moment he had scratching out stories on paper and tapping out allegories through his fingertips.

  It is hard to pinpoint and thank only one person, as my life has been replete with many people that have added to and made me the writer I am today. I would like to thank my Aunt Cyn, whose gift of a mother load of adult fiction opened so many doors in my imagination that can never be closed again. For that I can only repay you in kind with some of my own.

  To my sister. Despite being separate by several years in age, sometim
es I feel we share the same soul. We talked about writing a book together for years, but the days and years passed without incident. I suppose the world was just not yet ready to hear our voices in harmony. As Leo’s we finally realized that sometimes we just can’t wait for the world to be ready. One phone call conversation that linked us across the miles put those voices back in sync, and the discussion for what we planned to write finally took off. It ended up being an argument. Well two. And a strange but true tale it is. For those who are interested, ask us. Our fan page links should end up in this book somewhere.

  To my mother, my biggest fan. I still remember long time ago, when you used to make me sit at the bar, on a stool and made me practice my cursive. You were relentless in the time you invested in me, explaining how to move my hand and how to practice control. Granted my handwriting never evolved into anything spectacular (doctors are jealous), but you made me practice. You gave me the tools, and encouraged my imagination. You were the fan to my flames. So, just like so long ago, (and I am tearing up even as I write this), as I sit my newest creation in your hands, I say to you: “Look Mom. Look at what I just made.”

  For my father. From you I inherited your impeccable work ethic and perfectionism of quality, and I for sure have inherited some of your story telling knack. I was stubborn enough to stay the course with finishing the book. There is definitely some of your take no shit attitude in this book, and certainly hope that it shows.

  I have no doubt that I would not be even here today writing these acknowledgements if it were not for my “Wordsmith Triumvirate”. On Facebook, I have to dear friends from high school, who great writers in their own right. Our group conversations kept me inspired as we all traded word counts for the day and some great shop talk. I have known this guys for years, and without their incessant “Butt-in-Chair” rallying cries, I do not think I would have ever made it over the hump. David G. and Billy B., I am honored by your friendship and camaraderie. I cannot wait to read the wonderful stories you have crafted when you are ready to unleash them on the unsuspecting world. Wordsmiths United!

  To my moxy-girl, Crystal F. You already know from my wedding present how much your friendship has meant to me, especially these last few years. Your work ethic and drive rival that of Donald Trump himself. It was you that reignited my spark and caused me to ponder the possibilities of what I could be. Truly, when one does what they love, IT IS NOT WORK!

  To Michael D., the Master of Light and Shadow. Like Crystal, you, too, followed your passion in photography. I follow your work with the wonder of exploration and I admire your empathy and genuine friendship with your muses. From you I have learned to chase my dream and write unapologetically. This is not something I take lightly. It the gift that has opened up my closed chakras and enabled me to hone my craft in such a manner as an ever evolving art. You will understand probably most of all the value of your motto of GNFs. I know you will understand. Thank you for simply doing what you do, and being you.

  To the lovely Brianna, who graces my first cover, and, if she did know already, the second book cover in the series as well. Like Michael, you had your dream. Have your dream. You were not satisfied with the status quo of slaving and making money for someone else, doing a job that would eventually, slowly, snuff out your life forces. You would not be tamed. You would not settle. Look at you now. Owner of your own business! Your own dream! You showed me that it is indeed possible to break the bonds of servitude and work doing something you love and have passion for. It was my wisest decision to choose you as my muse for my story. You are the embodiment of my Charlie. My Charlotte. You are fire and ice, and strength and defiance. You are exquisite. You are more than just the basis of the character. You are that character’s spirit, her voice. Thank you for letting me use a little of your spirit to bring this heroine to life. Charlie lives!

  To my Crystal R. We will keep the details of the Zombie Apocalypse photo shoot a close to the vest secret for now, but the pics you took were extraordinary. I cannot thank you enough for the time you took out of your day to help me bring our ‘Charlie’ to life. I could not have asked for a better shot. I apologize that it took so long for your work to grace the cover and be shown across the world. Thank you Crystal. You were amazing.

  To my cover artist Jennifer F. You not only took the picture I chose and turned it into a cover that is amazing beyond words (badass, epic, legendary, apocalyptic, rock and roll) but you helped named my sister’s and my publishing moniker: Graveside Publishing. All of my dark fiction (zombies, vampires, steampunk) will be published using the name you created for us. You are talent and beauty all wrapped in a sassy hair band loving package, and I truly cannot thank you enough for the support, the words of encouragement, and the laughs. Remind me to thank Ms. Foy for introducing us.

  To my dear cousin Tara. You have been my rallying cry and one of my biggest supporters, starting from the instant you heard I was writing a book. You showed me that there were people that were truly interested in and wanted to read what I created. Where there is one, there could be thousands. You made me dare to believe this, and gave me the courage, and the occasional kick in the ass to keep going, even on those days where everything else in my life wanted to take over. Thank you.

  To my sister-in-law Crystal. I want to thank for supporting us and sharing resources on book blogs and your wonderful info on self-publishing. You have made my first little foray a little easier to swallow and for that I am grateful.

  To my Spectacular Street Team, who are out being busy pimping out my novel in so many ways it is making my head spin. Melissa, Patricia, Ron “The Mayhem”, Jennifer, Elizabeth, Ali, Christina, Lyndsey, and Sarah. I cannot thank you enough for all of the time and effort that you have all put in, (and WILL put into!!) getting the word out about this new ZomPoc novel.

  To the countless others that I have told about the book, who got very excited, who in turn got me revved up even more to write it. For those who have so ever patiently waited me and my sis to finish turning, what I hope is the best Zombie story I could tell. Well . . . this is for you. Your wait is over.

  Enjoy.

  Matthew Charles Leo

  ***

  First I would like to thank my family for all your support through the writing of this book. It took a while to finish but the end product was well worth the wait. To my husband for always pushing me to write no matter what obstacles were thrown in my path. You are the driving force behind my creativity. Thank you for always making me laugh with your hilarious and out of this world one liners. I love you. To Margaret – Thank you for your creative eye when I needed help with graphics on not only this book but countless others. I appreciate everything you have done for me and wish you all best on you path to become a photographer. You’re gonna rock it!

  To my best friend Amia, thank you for taking care of me when I first moved to Washington and sitting in on the beginning plot conversations of ZDRM. You helped with more than just declaring the title. Your friendship and loyalty was put into each character as well as the bond between sisters you and I share. Even though we are not related by blood you will forever be my sister.

  To MS_Brannon – Words alone cannot express my thanks to you for not only your insight into this crazy author world I’ve found myself emerged in but your friendship as well. Thank you for being my sounding board for not only my writing but my life in general. I love you twin!

  To Brianna, Jen, and Crystal – thank you for bringing life to our Charlie and creating a kick ass book cover. It leaves me speechless every time I look at it.

  To my parents – this book is for you as well. Mom, thank you for supporting my creativity in everything I do. Whether it be drawing and spray painting my bedroom walls with a gang of characters, to starting my own graphics design business to writing how I really wanted to write. You told me to just do it. And just like you told me before, why the hell not, there is no one going to stop you but yourself. Thank you for pushing me past my comfort zone and into the unk
nown. Love you momma. To my Dad – You are immortalized in this book. Your famous “Leo Salute” will live on forever. Thank you for treating me equally with my brothers and to teach me not to let anyone stand in my way. To not only reach for what I wanted but to grasp it in both hands and never let go. I love you daddy. Oh and thanks for letting me graffiti my bedroom walls in high school and I’m sorry it took six coats of primer just to cover it up. 

  To my sister-in-law Crystal – Thank you for all your support and I wish nothing but the best for you and continued success in your writing. Let no one stand in your way and I am proud of everything you have accomplished.

  To Chelsea Camaron – Thank you for all your support and advice. For believing in me when I did not, thank you.

  To Michele, Christie, Mary, Liz, Natasha, Marcia, Becky, and Miss Deb, thank you for all your support throughout this past year with the writing of this book. Being able to talk with you all about the book kept me going with the creative process and for that I’m grateful.

  And to my brother Matt– with whom this crazy ass endeavor would not have happened. We have talked over the years about combining our imaginations and seeing what chaos could be made from it. And here we have created our version of the zombie apocalypse. Our writing styles are unique and flow together effortlessly. I can finally say that I can check this off my bucket list of things I’ve always wanted to do. Thank you for taking this journey with me. Love you bubbee.