Situation Z

by Semple, A. M.

  Larry was sitting up. “I never meant to shoot you.” He tried to sound humble, but it came out whiny.

  “Didn’t you?” Wilson grabbed his tied hands and hauled him to his feet none too gently. “My mistake.” He jumped down taking Larry with him. “Although, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Fred hadn’t wrestled you for the gun.”

  Larry remained silent, having already dug himself in too deep.

  “I have a shit list. Fred was on it. You’re not on it.”

  “I’m not?”

  “You’re on another list.”

  “What list?”

  Wilson didn’t say anything but shoved him inside the house.

  “What list?” Larry asked again.

  “Where’s Marjie?” Wilson whispered, scanning the darkness.

  “I’m here. We were just meeting Sadie and getting Mr. Jingles settled.”

  “Good, very good. I just need to put more knots in Larry’s rope, and I’ll join you.”

  Sadie was alarmed. “Has he been bit?”

  “I wish. He can’t be trusted, but don’t worry we’ll keep an eye on him. I’m Wilson. It’s good to meet you, Sadie. Thanks for putting a roof over our heads.”

  There was a low murmur of agreement that lifted Sadie’s spirits considerably. “To be honest, I’m relieved to have you here. I’ve been alone for the last twenty-four hours.”

  Marjie moved next to her, putting a hand on her arm. “I was too. They picked me up at a grocery store where I worked. I don’t know what I would have done if they hadn’t shown up.”

  Wilson, overhearing her while securing Larry to a kitchen chair, was quick to argue.

  “I’m sure you would’ve managed. You’re a smart one, Marjie.”

  Riley who was bracing a chair against the door quietly agreed. “You’re also very practical. You know when to listen, which is rare under these circumstances.”

  Sadie decided she already liked this group, with the exception of Larry. “I take it Larry wasn’t so smart.”

  While everyone filled Sadie in, Fred stared hard at Larry. Fred found himself standing over him speaking in a voice not loud but dangerous. “You made me kill somebody.”

  Wilson had secured Larry well, including a gag made out of a kitchen towel. Larry tried to look apologetic, but Fred wasn’t buying.

  Wilson turned in time to see Fred grab Larry’s collar. “Hey, hold on Fred…Fred.” Wilson pulled at Fred’s arm, finally getting him to release Larry. “He’s not worth the effort.” Wilson looked around, then asked Fred to follow him to the adjoining room.

  Fred went reluctantly.

  Wilson thrust his hand out. “Thanks for saving my life. You’re off my shit list.”

  That seemed to snap Fred out of his trancelike state for a moment. “Hmm…you’re welcome.”

  Wilson stared at Fred. “I saw the guy before you shot him. I saw his eyes, Fred. They were vacant. He was dead before you shot him. You know praying mantis can walk around without their heads. It’s all instinct. You just kept that guy’s body from moving.”

  Fred nodded, feeling only marginally better. “I don’t regret what I did. Larry left me with little choice. I just…I don’t have the stomach for it. I have never felt so useless in my life. You and Riley…”

  Wilson was quick to interrupt. “Riley’s a cop, he’s used to violence. And I have been training for this sort of thing for years.” He thumped Fred on the shoulder. “This is the second day, and you already saved my life. Look at Jennifer, she idolizes you. And Fred, she needs you.”

  Fred glanced back to the kitchen, searching out Jennifer’s silhouette.

  “Go to her. Let me take care of Larry. I’m going to talk to Riley. In the morning we can drop him off in the first vacant area we find, but we’ll have to keep an eye on him till then.”

  “Thanks, Wilson. And for the record, we’re even. You saved Jennifer and me today.”

  “You two might have gotten a better ride, you never know.”

  “I don’t think so, Wilson.”

  “Well then, you’re welcome.”

  Fred couldn’t see Wilson’s expression, but he was sure it was cocky. He returned to the kitchen and grasped Jennifer’s hand. “I managed to get off Wilson’s shit list.”

  She laughed, relieved that he was sounding more himself. “Good.” She squeezed his hand. “We have been deciding on shifts. We are going to take turns watching for intruders and keep an eye on Larry. Marjie said that she and Wilson can take the first two hours. You and I can take the second shift and Riley and Sadie the third.”

  Riley turned to join the conversation. “If that’s all right with you, Fred.”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Riley handed him a gun. “I doubt you’ll need it. The house is dark. As long as we stay quiet, we shouldn’t attract any attention. It’s just a precaution. Wake us if you see anything, and we’ll do the same.”

  Sadie stepped in. “We’re going to move a couple mattresses into the dining room since there are no windows there. There’s a bathroom down the hall. Be careful walking around in the dark. There is a claw foot tub that has caught my toes more than once.”

  While Fred and Riley went to get the mattresses, Larry had a chance to study Sadie. She was making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone. It was hard to get a good look at her with the small amount of moonlight filtering through the windows, but he was guessing she was attractive and close to his age, fifty-one, give or take a few years. He figured she would probably be easy to coerce. He tried a pathetic whine that was slightly muffled by the gag. No sooner had the sound left his mouth, when his chair was yanked back at a dangerous angle. Wilson’s voice in his ear was all menace. “Don’t even think about speaking, mumbling, or even blowing wind in anyone’s direction or you and your chair will be sitting outside. This is your only warning.”

  The chair was thrust forward. Larry thanked God it was dark as a small puddle formed at his feet.

  Chapter 14

  Riley sat on a mattress, eating his sandwich next to Sadie. “I can’t tell you what it means to have a place to stop and regroup.”

  Sadie smiled in the darkness. “I have to say that after the day I’ve had alone, this place felt like a prison. To have you all here is…” Her voice failed her. She grabbed her pillow and hugged it hard, glad for the darkness. Everyone’s emotions were running high, and they were relatively strangers.

  Riley struggled to find the right words. “I’m glad we could be here for you, Sadie. After what we’ve seen today…we are fortunate to be alive. Hopefully there are many others still alive out there…”

  His voice was like sandpaper in the dark. Sadie realized that being holed up alone in her house was no worse than what any of his group had been through. And for so many like her dead neighbor, it had been even worse. Though she wondered already, if in the end, the dead might be the lucky ones. “I can’t help wondering just how bad things will get before they get better.”

  Riley thought about Wilson and smiled in the darkness. “Sadie there is definitely hope for us.” He wondered if he could trust this woman who’d gone through the trouble of making everyone peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in addition to sharing her home.

  “Just tell her, Riley.” Jennifer’s voice sounded both sweet and amused in the darkness. Her and Fred’s mattress was only a couple of feet away. Fred had just returned from the bathroom and was taking his shoes off.

  Sadie grasped at that kernel of unknown information like a lifeline. “Tell me what?”

  “I’m immune.” Wilson’s voice was whisper soft next to her ear, scaring the bejesus out of her.

  “Wilson,” she whispered harshly. “You can’t just sneak up on people like that…what did you say?”

  Everyone shushed her, then Riley spoke very softly. “Larry doesn’t know.” He leaned in closer to her. “Wilson’s immune. He was bit yesterday morning, and his wound is healing normally.”

  “Is h
e sure that…”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Well, that is good news! I think I may be able to fall asleep thinking about that.” She laid down on the mattress, fluffing her pillow. “Good news indeed.”

  They all laughed softly, glad to impart something good after a horrific day.

  ****

  Wilson inhaled deeply, hardly believing all of his good fortune. Not only was he immune, but he had helped every one of these people with skills that he had been honing for years but never tested. And most importantly, he turned to face her silhouette as she finished her sandwich. He’d met Marjie.

  “Hey, Marjie,” he whispered as he joined her in the kitchen.

  “Hi, Wilson.” She had been nervous about standing watch until she found out Wilson would be with her. He seemed to be everywhere at once, and it was very reassuring. “Did you get enough to eat?”

  He stood to the side of the window and scanned the darkness. He thought he heard screams in the distance but couldn’t be sure. They probably would all be hearing screams long after they stopped. He turned to her. “I could use a couple more sandwiches, but Sadie’s spent.”

  “I’ll make a couple more for you.”

  “Nothing doing, we’re on patrol together. I can wait.” He thought of a flirtatious line he could use. It was something along the lines of feasting his eyes on her, but decided against it. There was something about Marjie that had him on his best behavior. “I’ve got beef jerky. Would you like some?”

  “Yes, if you’re sure there’s enough.”

  “I’ve got plenty.” He unzipped a side pocket and handed her several strips. “Larry giving you any trouble?”

  “Hmm...umm.”

  Larry could not believe she hesitated. He hadn’t moved a muscle nor breathed a syllable. The only thing he’d done was suffer listening through their entire conversation about jelly sandwiches and jerky. Now, he was scared he would do worse than a puddle under the chair.

  Wilson turned angry eyes on him. Larry nearly started bawling when he watched as Marjie whispered something in Wilson’s ear.

  Wilson nodded. “Keep your distance, Marjie.” He turned and walked into the dining room.

  Larry turned, trying to look back and forth, but there was very little slack in the rope. Marjie moved behind him to avoid making eye contact. When a small amount of moonlight had reflected off the puddle under his chair, she thought it would be best to tell Wilson about it.

  A little later, Fred and Riley came back together. Larry’s eyes were frantic as they lifted the chair.

  Wilson glanced back at Marjie. “We’re putting him in the tub. We can’t have him stinking up the place.”

  She followed him out of the room. “What if we need to use the bathroom?”

  “There is a second half bath in front of the house.”

  Minutes later, Wilson came back. “You don’t have to worry about Larry any more. I’ll show you the bathroom.”

  Riley watched as the two walked away. Wilson was talking to Marjie, but his eyes were continually scanning their surroundings. Riley laid back down, thankful to be among such a good group. Every one of them, with the exception of Larry, had contributed in their own way.

  ****

  Larry sat in the dark. Exhaustion and fear had his nerves screaming. He hated Fred as much as Wilson. If it weren’t for Fred, he would have taken the truck and maybe Jennifer, leaving the rest behind. Instead, he was tied to a chair, soaked in his own urine. Noises outside caused him to jerk his head to the side every few seconds. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been sitting there. The minutes dragged on forever. He tensed at what sounded like a light thump just feet from him. A moment later something soft landed in his lap. His scream was muffled as he jerked backwards, the chair landing hard against the back of the tub. The old metal tub reverberated like a drum. The sound pierced the silence both inside and outside the house. Loud whispers came his way. “Christ! Christ!” He screamed into the towel.

  Wilson and Riley soundlessly opened the door and strode forward, weapons drawn. Wilson yanked the gag out of Larry’s mouth and whispered next to his ear. “What happened?”

  Larry had trouble finding his voice. “Something landed on me.” Too late, he realized it was probably the cat.

  Before Wilson could respond, they heard the tinkling of glass breaking close by. He and Riley left the bathroom, and everyone scrambled in the dark, looking for the source of the break. It was in the back of the house. One of the dead was flailing his arms through the kitchen window.

  Wilson whispered to Riley. “I counted six of them wandering near the house and street. They hadn’t shown any threat until now.”

  Riley ran a nervous hand over his mouth, then whispered. “We can’t shoot them. The noise will attract others. Sadie, do you have anything we can use?”

  “I gathered a bunch of gardening tools this morning when all hell broke loose. They’re behind the couch.” She ran to the living room to get them. Fred followed. They came back with two shovels, a hoe and a small axe.

  Wilson and Riley asked the others to keep watch in the other rooms while they dealt with the window breaker. It was helpful that he was in bad shape already. He had the looks of a heavyset politician with most of a shoulder missing on one side and a hand missing on the other. Wilson grabbed the hoe and Riley a shovel.

  Riley glanced sideways at Wilson. “Are you sure a hoe is the best choice.”

  Wilson stared at it a moment. “I’m trying to expand my toolset. I can’t always depend on there being shovels around.”

  Riley decided to ignore that. “You shove him backwards as I go out.”

  Wilson shook his head. “No good. There are probably several behind him. We could pull him inside.”

  “How do we do that without getting bit?”

  Wilson set down his hoe. “I’ll grab him by his hair and you take the good arm.”

  Since one arm was missing a hand and the other a shoulder, it was a crapshoot which one Wilson was talking about. Riley took the handless arm. Wilson grabbed two handfuls of hair. More glass broke as they pulled the guy through. He landed hard on the kitchen floor. Wilson grabbed the hoe, shoving it in the center of the guy’s back, effectively holding him down.

  Riley shook his head. “Now I’m wishing I’d taken the hoe.”

  “Next time.”

  While Riley grabbed the axe and began the nightmarish process of smashing the skull with the blunt end, two more dead filled the open window. Wilson did a double take. One was a young woman who looked very much like a normal, live person despite the groaning. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her clothes seemed perfect, though it was hard to say with just moonlight.

  He turned to Riley. “Think she’s faking?”

  “I seriously doubt it. Let’s deal with the guy first.” He looked to be in his early twenties. His shirt was blood soaked and peppered with holes. After they pulled him through, Riley grabbed the hoe, and Wilson crushed his head.

  They both turned to face the woman. She groaned, but that was it. Wilson tapped her shoulder with the hoe. “You faking?” he whispered. She started clicking her teeth.

  Riley was losing patience. “If she’s faking, she’s doing a damn good job. Let’s pull her through.”

  Wilson carefully grabbed the back of her head and Riley her arm. “She’s light.”

  As they pulled her threw, Wilson kept hold of her hair, gently holding her on the floor with his knee. “Check her for injuries.”

  “Wilson, she’s ice cold and clicking her teeth...” Riley’s words slowed to a halt. “Fine.” He felt along her back and arms and then her legs. They were stiff. “Wilson, rigor mortis has started. She’s stiff as a board.”

  “Maybe she’s cold.”

  “Hand me the axe.”

  Fred walked into the kitchen. The scene in front of him was like something out of a horror movie. Not surprising, Wilson and Riley were arguing. He didn’t know what it was about, but he
was already on Riley’s side. “Hey, what’s going on? We got three more around the front.”

  “Wilson’s convinced she’s not dead. We haven’t found injuries. But she’s stiff, cold and clicking her teeth.”

  Fred stared down at the woman and scrambled for an explanation. “Maybe she wasn’t bitten but died of natural causes.”

  Fred and Riley both turned to Wilson, hoping Fred’s reasoning would convince him.

  Wilson was studying the woman intently. “Well, that’s an awful big coincidence, that she happened to die so young and in the middle of all this.”

  Riley shook his head. “Maybe she was sickly.”

  Wilson stared down at her again. “She doesn’t look sick.”

  Riley huffed. “You can’t tell a thing in this little amount of lighting. Wilson, please, just grab the hoe and hold her down. Trust me on this.”

  Wilson looked up, pained.

  Fred jogged out of the room to get Marjie, hoping she could talk some sense into Wilson.

  Moments later, Fred rejoined them with Marjie in tow. He told her to avert her eyes as much as possible. She stared at the ceiling while grasping his arm.

  Wilson immediately stopped arguing and turned in their direction. “Everything all right, Marjie?”

  “Wilson, are you OK?” Her whisper was tinged with alarm. Wilson handed Riley the hoe and hurried over to her.

  “It’s this woman. She has no injuries. I think we should tie her up until we’re sure she’s dead.”

  “Would you like me to take a look?”

  Glass could be heard breaking in the front of the house. Fred ran out of the room to check on Jennifer and Sadie. Riley grabbed Wilson’s arm and handed him the hoe. “Don’t let her up for any reason.”

  Marjie started to glance down, and Wilson’s whisper was a near shout. “Marjie, don’t look.”

  She jerked her eyes back to the ceiling. “How sure are you that she might be alive?”

  Wilson pursed his lips. “Can’t exactly put a percentage on it.” He stared down at the woman on the floor. He was also listening for more noise in the other room. Riley would be needing help. “Marjie, I’m not sure...”