Situation Z

by Semple, A. M.

  Marjie could hear the desperation in his voice. Wilson was at a crossroads of sorts. She was starting to understand that at times his logic failed him. Marjie knew the woman was dead. She could hear the teeth clicking, and Riley and Fred had no doubts. Since logic wasn’t working, she decided it was best to try something else. “Would you like me to get some rope so we can tie her up?”

  “Good thinking, Marjie. There’s some extra hanging off Larry’s hands.” Wilson placed a pocketknife in her hand while maintaining a grip on the hoe.

  She was back moments later, having hated to be around Larry again. Out front, the ruckus was getting louder. “I’ve got the rope, Wilson.”

  He stared at Marjie. She was staring at the ceiling. She was something out of his fondest dreams. “Thanks, Marjie.” He grasped the rope from her outstretched hand, dropped the hoe, putting a knee in the blonde’s back. He tied her hands then grabbed a towel and tied it over her mouth. “I’ll just put her in the bathroom with Larry.”

  Marjie’s eyebrows shot upward, but she didn’t say anything.

  ****

  Wilson deposited the blonde next to the tub. “Larry, you’ve got company. Stay away from her teeth.” Larry’s breathing got loud, but he kept quiet. Wilson closed the door, grabbed his hoe and headed to the front. Fred and Riley were pulling one of the dead through a broken out window. It was much harder to see in the living room, but the guy looked like he was wearing sweats, and seemed to be missing a foot. Wilson thrust the hoe in his back and tapped Fred on the shoulder. “Can anyone join this party?”

  Fred’s relief was evident. “Glad you’re back.”

  “I’m getting pretty good at this if you would rather secure the back window.”

  “You got it, Wilson.” Fred left, taking Sadie with him to help him look for supplies.

  Riley spared a precious moment to stare at Wilson. “What’d you do with the blonde?”

  “She’s keeping Larry company.”

  Riley wasn’t sure whether to laugh or strangle Wilson. “Hold this guy. There are two more behind him.”

  ****

  As they left the room, Sadie suggested they grab some supplies from the garage. Fred thought of the horror that waited for them in the kitchen. “Maybe I better get rid of the bodies while you get supplies.”

  Jennifer and Marjie walked up and whispered their offer to help.

  Fred turned toward Marjie’s voice, not able to see her in the dark hallway. “No offense, Marjie, but Wilson would kill me if he knew I let you help. And Jennifer, there’s no sense in both of us having to see this...”

  Sadie interrupted. “You guys work it out. I’ll grab some duct tape and cardboard from the garage for the windows. We can’t chance hammer and nails.”

  Jennifer turned toward her. “Hold on, Sadie, I’ll go with you.” She turned back toward Fred and Marjie. “I don’t think she should go alone. This will only take a minute.”

  That settled, Fred whispered to Marjie. “It would probably be best if you stay here.”

  After Fred left, Marjie stood a moment, unsure what to do. While she had deeply appreciated Wilson’s protectiveness and Fred wanting to not involve her or Jennifer, she wanted to help out wherever she could. None of them should be dealing with dead bodies. She knew that it was no easier for Fred than for her. She quietly walked into the kitchen, slipping on blood and catching her balance. All of her good intentions momentarily abandoned her as she threw a hand over her mouth. The smell and sight of three dismembered bodies were overwhelming. Shutting her mind to all thoughts, she walked over to Fred and grabbed one of the stiff arms of the corpse he was dragging.

  Fred jumped. “Marjie...”

  She patted his arm. “Let’s just move this guy, OK?”

  He hesitated only a moment. “All right, I appreciate it, but Wilson will be dragging me out of here if he finds out.”

  “Let me worry about that.”

  ****

  The garage was dark except for a thin sliver of light from the side door. Sadie whispered almost inaudibly in Jennifer’s ear. “I think I left the side door open.” Both women stood listening. Finally, Sadie hesitantly took a step. Something that sounded like a box being dragged startled them both.

  Jennifer’s whisper was just as quiet as Sadie’s. “Do you think that was Mr. Jingles?”

  Sadie grasped Jennifer’s arm. “No, I don’t. Maybe we should...”

  The dragging sound was closer. Both women went for the side door, closing it gently behind them.

  Breathing heavily as she leaned against it, Sadie reached behind her and clicked the lock. There was an audible thump somewhere close, followed by a sliding sound, then nothing.

  Jennifer clutched her throat and whispered. “I’m wishing I would have volunteered to move bodies.”

  Sadie shook her head. “I hope to god that isn’t another one of my neighbors.”

  Another thump had them rushing out of the garage, back into the house and into the living room where Riley and Wilson were finishing with the small group.

  Wilson saw them first and did his best to stand in front of the bodies. “You two may want to...”

  Sadie cut in. She quickly filled him in on the garage intruder.

  Wilson turned to Riley. “Sounds like a slow mover, maybe a crawler, we’ll have to watch our ankles.”

  Riley grabbed the shovel. “Let’s check it out.”

  Jennifer grasped his arm as he started to walk by. “Take this.” She reached into her pocket giving him her flashlight keychain. “It’s lowlight and won’t attract a lot of attention.”

  Riley and Wilson stood by the door leading to the garage, listening to the thumping sound.

  Wilson shrugged. “Maybe we should just leave um be. Whoever that is can’t get through the door.”

  Riley’s first response was to agree with Wilson. That in itself had him concerned.

  Wilson nudged Riley. “How bout I knock on the door just to see what happens.”

  Riley rubbed his neck. “This isn’t a game of truth or dare.”

  Wilson ignored his comment and knocked delicately on the door. The thumping increased. The door rattled on its hinges. Both men jumped back.

  “Christ,” Riley whispered between thumps. “It’ll attract more of them.”

  Wilson leaned in toward him. “There’s two of us. You hold the light. I’ll swing the door open.”

  Riley agreed. “Just be ready to hit it.”

  Wilson unlocked and swung the door wide, then jumped back. Something landed hard just in front of him grabbing his foot. He yanked it away.

  Riley held the shovel in front of him with his right hand and used the squeeze light with his left.

  Wilson had backed up as well but was peering over Riley’s shoulder. “Jesus...”

  Riley pushed him back a couple more feet. He was staring at a legless, overly large woman wearing nothing but a bra. Her jaw was dangling.

  Wilson was quick to come up with an explanation. “I’m thinking car accident.”

  Riley was fighting off her outstretched arms with the edge of the shovel. “What the hell happened to her clothes?”

  “She lost the pants with her legs.”

  “I’m going to be sick.” Riley shoved the flashlight and shovel in Wilson’s hands.

  Wilson squeezed against the wall to let him pass, then took one last look at the woman. Her end hadn’t been good. He angled the shovel and with several blows, severed her skull. He attempted to drag her body back out to the garage with little success. Even without legs she was at least twice his weight. He’d need help moving her. He was about to get Fred when Riley returned.

  “Just keep the squeeze light off and hand me an arm,” Riley whispered. A very cold, slippery arm was placed in his hands. “Thanks.”

  He was dry heaving as they struggled to turn the body around. They managed to pull her back to the other side of the garage. Wilson used the light off and on to check their path and guide them toward the
side door where they left the body.

  ****

  Riley felt himself being jostled awake. After everyone worked together to secure the broken windows, things quieted down. They had lost a lot of time with the latest attack and decided that they would have to make shorter shifts on watch. Wilson and Marjie had resumed the first watch while the others rested. Riley and Sadie would begin the next shift.

  Wilson was standing over him. “Sleep well?”

  Riley didn’t bother to respond. In the hour he’d been given to rest, he’d dozed for about fifteen minutes. Wilson pulled him on his feet.

  “It’s been real quiet outside,” Wilson said softly. “A couple of lurkers. I think Larry finally dozed off. His girlfriend’s been quiet.”

  It was already a day from hell, and it hadn’t even started. Daylight was in just two hours. Riley waited while Marjie roused Sadie. He and Sadie slipped on their shoes, then headed to the kitchen.

  ****

  Wilson waited while Marjie took off her shoes and got settled in. He was debating whether or not to take off his boots and decided to leave them on. “Marjie, I hope you don’t mind if I leave my boots on, just in case.”

  “I don’t mind. Should I keep my shoes on?”

  “It’s probably a good idea.”

  She put her shoes back on and got settled in again.

  Wilson moved over till his shoulder rested against hers. “Do you want me to hold onto your glasses?”

  She handed them to him. “Wilson?”

  Wilson was carefully stowing the glasses in a shirt pocket. “Hmm?”

  “I can’t imagine this day without you.” She grasped his forearm.

  He placed his other hand over hers. “Marjie, I feel like a snow globe that has just been turned upside down and righted again.”

  She smiled in the darkness. “Is that a good thing?”

  “I feel as though I have been brought to life. You’re like snow on Christmas, pure magic.”

  Riley was returning from the kitchen. He slowed when he overheard Wilson’s whispers. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Just over an hour ago, the man had moved a two-hundred-pound legless body. Now, he could talk about magic. He was different.

  As Marjie slowly drifted off to sleep beside him, Wilson was glad she seemed comforted by his words. His arm was burning and his leg was itching, but he was holding her hand. He had never felt better in his life.

  Chapter 15

  It had been a quiet hour. Fred stared outside as the horizon started shifting. The sun wasn’t up, but the sky was getting lighter. He and Jennifer had taken over for Riley and Sadie. He’d dozed off and on before their shift but hardly felt rested. When Jennifer walked up next to him, her voice was filled with concern.

  “I guess it’s time to wake the others,” she said.

  Fred turned, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Remember what you said about hope.”

  She leaned into him. “I’m not feeling it right now. I’m not sure I want to see what’s out there.”

  “But we are a group now. We’ve got Wilson. And whether you feel it or not, there is hope.”

  “When did you get so optimistic?”

  “Just now. Is it working?”

  She laughed. “A little. We better wake the others.”

  ****

  Everyone got up fairly quickly, not wanting to waste any time and concerned about what daylight would bring. Larry’s chair had been relocated to the living room. The young woman was moved there as well. She looked far worse in the dawning light than she had in the moonlight. Even Wilson was prepared to admit that it was possible she was dead. Sadie, with the help of Fred and Jennifer emptied and packed some more essentials from the kitchen and prepared more sandwiches for breakfast. Everyone agreed that they should use Sadie’s jeep. She didn’t want to drive, so Wilson volunteered. Marjie and Jennifer would go with them as well.

  “What do we do with the young woman?” Fred whispered the question to Riley, and Wilson was quick to answer.

  “We bring her with us. She can keep Larry company in the back of Riley’s truck.”

  Riley turned toward him. “Wilson, she’s dead.”

  “Yeah…I know, but she doesn’t seem as violent as the others.” He scratched his leg where he’d been bitten. “Maybe she’s different.”

  Everyone turned to look at the blond. She was quietly staring out into space.

  Jennifer still had hope on her mind. “Wilson’s right. Maybe she is different.” She started toward the woman, but Fred put out a restraining hand. “Jen, don’t get too close.”

  “Yeah!” Wilson chimed in. “Let’s just move Larry closer and see what she does.”

  Everyone agreed. Fred and Wilson placed Larry directly in front of her. Larry looked around frantically but didn’t utter a word. At least she was tied up and couldn’t grab him. Her demeanor didn’t change.

  Riley was losing patience. “Look we already got Larry being tied up in the back of the truck. A second...” He hesitated a moment, glancing sideways at Wilson. “…a second person is only going to make things harder. I don’t care if she is different. We have to stay focused. And, most importantly, if she gets loose, she could bite somebody.”

  Wilson shrugged. “Just Larry.”

  Everyone started whispering at once. Wilson gave a low whistle. “Let’s flip a coin. Heads she stays, tails Larry stays. That way if she wins she will be alone in the back of the truck. She can’t bite anyone, and she is certainly no worse than Larry.”

  Riley exhaled. “Fine.”

  Larry began shaking his head vigorously, side to side, but everyone ignored him in favor of the coin toss. They all were reaching in their pockets. Marjie was first to produce a coin, a penny.

  Wilson smiled. “Toss it, Marjie.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to be responsible for anyone’s fate.”

  “No problem.” Wilson grabbed a coin of his own and tossed it in the air. He let it land in his palm and flipped it over.

  Everyone moved closer to the window to see what it was.

  Jennifer smiled. “She needs a name. I’m thinking Jane.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they had finished packing up Sadie’s jeep. The sun was over the horizon. Everyone took turns cautiously peaking outside. It was quieter than they’d expected, almost normal with the exception of the bodies stacked up on the lawn. Riley and Wilson were carefully securing Jane in the back of Riley’s truck. They’d left Larry in the living room but had loosened his knots so that he would eventually be able to untie himself. Beyond that, there was still some food and a couple gardening tools he could use for weapons. No one wasted any sympathy on him. Wilson ruffled his hair on the way out and wished him luck.

  ****

  Riley took the lead as they backed out of the driveway and drove down their first street. They were all braced for the worse. He scanned their surroundings before turning onto the street they’d come in on. There were dead wandering everywhere, but unlike the night before, they were scattered in all directions. He stepped on the gas and headed toward the center of town.

  They were immediately spotted and a steady stream of dead poured out of what was left of the storefronts. Riley easily dodged the ones that were already on the street and continued past the center of town before the rest could catch up. He had to drive over all sorts of debris. He purposely avoided looking too closely at exactly what it was he was running over. He glanced in his rearview mirror. Wilson was practically on his bumper and talking quite animatedly to his group.

  Riley turned to Fred. “Wilson’s probably treating this like a tour, giving the town’s history, while passing around beef jerky.”

  Fred laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s the most dangerous, well-prepared person I have ever met in my life.”

  Riley nodded. “I agree. Being with a guy like that could either get you killed or save your life.”

  “You got that right. Right now, we’re even. He saved me, then
I saved him.”

  Both men wondered silently what the score would be by the end of the day. They unconsciously glanced back at Wilson. Then Riley turned his attention to the houses beyond the main street. Many of them had boarded up windows and dead surrounding them. Riley jerked the wheel to the right to avoid a slow mover that had fallen into their lane.

  ****

  Wilson hadn’t had time to swerve and was fairly certain the slow mover was now missing a head. He checked the rearview mirror and was surprised to see the crawler was still crawling. They were resilient. His stomach was growling, and he took out a strip of beef jerky, asking if anyone else wanted some. He was answered with a friendly chorus of nos. Seconds later, Marjie stuck her hand out. “Well, maybe one piece.”

  Wilson happily took out another piece and handed it to her. “You know, Marjie, I cook my own deer jerky...” He swerved onto the shoulder avoiding some large debris as he continued. “I have my own recipe.”

  Sadie listened as Wilson continued on happily. Since she hadn’t seen any of the disastrous, road conditions, she’d been warned about what to expect. She had insisted that Marjie sit up front. She knew how Marjie felt about Wilson, but more importantly, she had no desire to take in any of the scenery. She decided to keep her eyes closed till they were out of town. But as she listened to Wilson talk, she gave Jennifer a questioning look.

  Jennifer shrugged her shoulders and leaned toward her. “You get used to it.”

  Wilson rolled over something large, and they all yelped in surprise. “What will you get used to?”

  Sadie stared at him for a long moment. “You have amazing hearing.”

  “Thanks.” Wilson hoped Marjie was taking all this in.

  Sadie continued. “I was thinking your attitude is unusual under the circumstances.”

  Wilson was silent, waiting for her to continue. He hit his brakes and swerved around an abandoned van.

  Sadie grabbed the back of the seat and decided not to mince words. “You’re awful damned relaxed under the circumstances.”

  “Oh, well...I have been...” He braked hard as Riley came to a stop up ahead. “Thanks.” He wasted no time hopping out of the jeep and sprinting to Riley’s truck.