The Swamp

by Yates, R

  When it was obvious that everyone was done, Joe again addressed the group, “My friends, it is so good to have our entire congregation together. This happens so rarely, but we must get cleaned up and prepared for when the hunter groups go out again in the morning. We also mustn’t forget our manners. We have guests who must also eat.” He indicated a few of the men. “You guys make some plates for them, while the rest of you clean up and help our brave soldiers prepare for their departure.” The followers jumped to their task without question.

  The indicated men piled food onto plates and started towards the cages. Sam felt the wire against his back and realized he had subconsciously been backing away. A man walked to the door of his cage and kneeled, sliding the plate into the gap under the door and grunted at Sam before walking to the next cage and sliding another under the door to the brunette.

  Sam heard a commotion from Mike and looked over to see him kick the plate back under the door at the kneeling man. The sudden violence surprised the man and he fell backwards onto his butt. Mike was holding the small door and shaking it violently, spewing rage at the man. The captor, a large muscular man with an acne scarred face leaped to his feet and pulled a wicked looking knife. He brandished the knife while Mike clung to the chain and screamed something horrible about the other man’s mother.

  The big man lunged forward and jabbed the blade at Mike, but Mike was able to leap out of the way in plenty of time. The man put the knife in his teeth and reached into his pocket and came out with a set of keys. The commotion had drawn the attention of the crowd at the table. Sam looked up to see Joe running over, “Stop right now and back off!” he yelled as he crossed the distance. The big man glared again at Mike, and Mike glared right back, but the man obeyed.

  The leader arrived huffing and ordered the man to return to the group. “That was uncalled for Michael! That man was just trying to show you some southern hospitality.” He said in calm, scolding voice.

  “That asshole was trying to serve me my fucking friend, you psychotic mother fucker!” Mike raged “Let me the hell out of here you bastard!”

  Joe let a shocked look spread across his face, “Now Michael! I will ask you to watch your language; there are children within ear shot”

  “Fuck you!” Mike screamed at the man and through himself at the bars again.

  Joe turned to a nearby man, “Mr. Michael would benefit with some calming.” He said and the man ran towards the house.

  “Let me the fuck out of here! I am not anyone’s fucking dinner!” Mike bellowed as he repeatedly rammed his body against the door, it bent a little, but the chain was holding.

  Within a minute, the man had returned and handed something to Joe. Joe looked at the item and pointed it at Mike. “I am really very sorry about this. He said and Sam saw him pull the trigger.

  A loud popping noise sounded, immediately followed by a crackling sound as the tasers barb struck Mike in the chest. Mike screamed and fell stiffly to the concrete floor. The sound stopped and mike sat motionless for a second.

  “I’d advise you to stay down and be very quiet, “said Joe sternly, “I'd hate to have to do that again, and it’s not very pleasant.”

  Mike groaned, but put his hands under himself and started to push up. The sound rang out again and mike went back down. This time the trigger was held for almost a full minute as Mike writhed on the ground. This happen twice more, before Mike stopped moving. Satisfied, the crowd wandered off, leaving the prisoners to think about what they had seen. Sam walked to the door and gently pushed the plate back out with his foot. He saw that the woman in the next cage had done the same, but the other prisoners sat quietly in corners of their cages eating timidly.

  Joseph had taken a seat in a nearby yard chair and watched as the two refused their meals. “I see that some of my guests have started to come around.” Joseph said, as he watched the men in the other cages eat. “I do so wish you would, Rebecca. We have a place for you at my right hand.”

  The brunette answered politely, “No, thank you.” Sam could see anger in her eyes as she looked back at the man. “I will not be joining.”

  “Brother Samuel, What about you?” The preacher asked.

  “Not a chance in hell would I join a bunch of religious loonys.” Sam said, unable to hide his disgust for the group.

  The man laughed, “Religion is just a means to an end, my good man.” With that he turned and walked back towards the house.

  Once he had entered, Sam turned to the girl in the next cage, “Rebecca I assume that is your real name?”

  “Yes,” she answered, and you are Samuel? Pleased to meet you.”

  “Just Sam, please, whenever someone calls me by my full name it makes me think I am in trouble.” He looked from cage to cage; All of the men had finished eating and sat silently in their prisons. “What can you tell me about the other prisoners?”

  “None of them have spoken or answered me since I was brought in, they all just sit there, and I’m guessing they have been here a lot longer than me.

  “How long have you been here? Sam asked

  “I got here when they jumped a bunch of us coming down the interstate, about a week ago.” She responded, “I was with a group of about ten trying to find somewhere safe. They were hiding behind some vehicles and jumped us when we stopped our bus to clear the cars out of the way, we tried to run but there were just too many. I was one of three they brought back. They are all dead now.” A single tear flowed down her face.

  “I am sorry, were you with family?” Sam asked feeling bad for her.

  “No, my family is all in south Florida. Well, were in south Florida, I guess I need to accept that they are probably dead by now. I was with some people I met on the road. I started out alone, and ran into a few people, then ran into a few more, and we just kind of stuck together. You know how it is.” She explained.

  “That is Mike” Sam said as he hooked a finger at the form in the next cage, whom he was relieved to see was starting to stir again.

  “I’m Rebecca, nice to meet you.” she said across the gap to Mike, and then turned her attention back to Sam “Is Mike your family?”

  “No, we saved him and a bunch of others from a group of rogue military a few days back. My brother was one of them, but we helped them get away from this mob before we were taken, at least I hope they got away. If they did and got lucky they could be all the way to our hideout by now, safe and sound.” Sam said hopefully.

  “You going to save me, Sam?” she responded dejectedly. “I sure could use it.”

  “Me too.” was Sam’s response

  The night came and they settled down to sleep. The night was long and very warm. The bugs were terrible, and the sound of buzzing flies came from where his plate still sat. He lay awake for a long time that night, trying to plan his next move. When he looked over at Rebecca’s cage, she also was awake and staring back. He watched her for awhile and eventually went to sleep.

  The dreams came again almost immediately. He found himself still in the cage, but when he looked, Mike and Rebecca were gone. In their place, each cage was filled with the faces of the people from the farm and his family staring back at him.

  “It’s not my fault,” he said to them after awhile, “I did all I could to save you.” The staring faces were motionless. He could feel all of their eyes on him, their gaze like a laser burning into his soul.

  “I did everything I could!” Sam yelled at them. “Leave me alone!”

  The people continued to stare at him, as if blaming him for their situation. “I’m sorry!” he finally yelled.

  Finally, the figure that had been his mother said, “It’s too late for that, Join us!” He woke up as the others joined in her chant.

  Chapter 12

  He gasped as wakefulness brought him out of the dream. His attention was drawn by sounds from the camp nearby. He glanced to see several groups of about 20 men lifting packs to their back and heading down the long drive.

  “What�
�s happening?” asked Mike.

  “I have no idea.” Sam said and glanced towards Rebecca’s cell, but she was still asleep. “I guess these are the groups he talked about last, those he sends out to capture more like us.”

  “We have got to get the hell out of here.” Mike said “I don’t care if we die in the attempt. I just want to take some more of those bastards with me.” The rage still glinted in his eyes.

  “Take it easy man,” Sam urged, “I want to get out of here also, but don’t think of this as a suicide run. We might find a way to get out of here without us having to die.”

  “Yeah, maybe you are right, but I keep thinking of Ted. He was a good kid. He didn’t deserve to go out like that.”

  “I know Mike, I know. I liked him too.” Sam said “But getting yourself tazed again isn’t going to bring him back. Do you think you could pick these locks?”

  Mike chuckled. “Not a chance, we have a better chance of breaking the chain link or prying loose the tie wires. But we can’t do any of that by hand. We need tools of some kind, a screwdriver or pliers maybe.”

  Sam patted all of his pockets and found absolutely nothing. “Fresh out,” Sam said “I don’t have anything on me.”

  “Well, I guess we sit and wait.” Mike said and settled back against a corner of his cell.

  They did wait, for several hours they watched the house, the tents, and the groups of leaving hunters. By the time the foragers had gone, he counted only about 20 people left in camp, mostly woman and small children.

  Around noon, Joe came out and spying the captives, walked over to them. “How are you gentlemen holding up?” he looked at Mike, “Feeling a little less hostile today?”

  “Oh just you wait, I will get out of here, and when I do…” Mike swore. Joe just shook his head and moved off to Sam’s cage.

  “And you Mr. Samuel? How are you feeling today?”

  “I would like to help Mike get out of his cage personally.” Sam responded coldly.

  “Tsk, Tsk Mr. Samuel, this pointless hostility will get you nowhere.” Joe scolded and moved another few steps down the line.

  “Ms. Rebecca, How have your new neighbors been treating you?” he said to Rebecca as if they had bumped into each other at a ball.

  “Fine sir, they have been very nice.” She responded demurely. Then added “I’m sure their tempers would be greatly improved by a refreshing beverage.” She actually batted her eyes at the man with that last part.

  “Why certainly my lady, how forgetful of me,” He snapped his fingers towards a woman nearby. “Be a dear and bring my friends some water if you don’t mind.” She scurried off to do his bidding and soon returned with a tall pitcher.

  She moved up the line of cages filling small bowls that would fit under the doors. When everyone had been watered, she looked to Joe for instructions.

  “If you would be so kind as to find Brother Caleb and have him come clean up these plates and have the guests buckets emptied.” Again she ran off, looking for the one he had asked for. Joe spent the rest of the time until Caleb arrived moving up and down the line talking to the people in the cages. Sam was pleased to see that he was generally met with anger or by being ignored, but he did notice a couple that talked to Joseph cordially.

  When Caleb arrived, he approached his leader, and was told what was wanted of him. And set to work. He took away the empty plates and latrine buckets and replaced them one cell at a time. When he reached Mikes cell, Joe stopped him.

  “Mr. Michael, are we going to have any trouble today?” He said as he pulled the tazer from a pocket.

  “Not today.” Was all mike would say and moved away from the door. Caleb went to work and hurried out.

  “I’m very proud of you Mr. Michael, much improved attitude today.”

  Mike answered with an extended middle finger, but Joe just smiled.

  “I like you Mr. Michael, you’ve got a fighters spirit. If you could just learn to control that temper, I could use someone like you in our little community here. Of course we have some recent openings thanks to you and your friend Mr. Samuel. If you joined us, we may even take him in as a way of showing gratitude and spar his life. And Rebecca, as I’ve told you before, we could use a few more women around here.” Mike seemed sincere in his offers, but Mike just spit at him. Only the distance saved Joe from being hit.

  “What about you Ms. Rebecca, care to join us in gods work?”

  “I will not serve as whore to one of these brutes.” Rebecca replied calmly. It was obvious she had been asked this same question before.

  “Have no fear of that. These men have taken a vow of celibacy.” Joe answered, “God has chosen me to be the father of the new world.” Rick glanced around at the several pregnant women or the group.

  “No thank you, I would rather stay here.” She said, with a touch barely concealed revolution in her voice.

  “You will change your mind, I have little doubt.” He said finally and walked away.

  “That is one crazy mother fucker,” Grumbled Mike.

  “Agreed” said Sam.

  “He has done that every day, propositioned me like that I mean.” She went over and drank some of her water. Sam did the same and ended up gulping it down. He hadn’t realized how thirsty he had been.

  “It’s just water, right?” asked Mike, eyeing the bowl suspiciously.

  “Tastes fine to me” Sam said and watched Mike down his bowl as well.

  The spent the remainder of the day in idle conversation. There was nothing really else to do. Sam watched as their captures went about their tasks. Cleaning, cooking and a variety of other chores kept them constantly busy. They only saw Joe one other time. He sat of the porch of the house in a large swing and sipped something in a tall glass and watched them. Mike never noticed him, and Sam didn’t see a need to point him out, it would only anger Mike and throw him into another bout of rage.

  They learned that Rebecca had been a college student in Tallahassee when the end of the world came. She had spent the first few weeks trapped inside a Wal-Mart with a group of other people until a gang of men on motorcycles had rammed open the front doors with a semi. They had rushed in and loaded up with everything they could grab and left. The dead soon found the opening that they had made and streamed in. Rebecca had lost several good friends then, and had barely escaped by going through the big loading bay doors in the back. Of the thirty of them that had found refuge at the store, only four had made it out. They had found an employee’s car out back that was unlocked and one of them knew how to hot wire, so they had been able to drive away.

  They had driven south almost to the coast before they had run out of gas and found an abandoned seafood restaurant to hide in.

  It had plenty of canned food so they had stayed there for a few weeks. When they food ran out, they started walking. The dead had started to thin out by then, drawn to the cities by the numbers of people, so they were able to get along pretty well. They stayed in abandoned houses at night and traveled during the day, avoiding people and the undead... They managed to make thirty miles the first few days on their trip south. After a week on the road, they had come across a car lot. They decided to steal a car, which was when it all went bad.

  She and her friends had decided to break into the office and steal the keys. They elected her to keep watch from the road, in case someone had picked that moment to drive up. They were terrified to encounter people after the gang that broke into the Wal-Mart. She had watched as her friends broke down the glass window at the front and then gone inside. It wasn’t for almost a minute that she heard the screams. She had called for her friends, but instead a stream of walkers had poured out of the window. She had known that her friends were done for and had run. She ran until she couldn’t run anymore.

  She had found a broken down car that was empty and slept in the back seat, and when she woke up she heard voices. That was when she had met the people on the road that had died at the hands of the crazies.

  Sam
was impressed with how she had held up, and told his and mikes tales as well.

  “This swamp sounds pretty nice, if we ever get out of here, id like to see it.” She told Sam.

  “You are welcome to stay with us if we get out of here.” Sam replied. He was beginning to think that would never happen, but he tried to keep his voice upbeat.

  “You two would make a cute couple,” Mike said, “already making plans of moving in together. He laughed after saying this, but Sam noticed Rebecca blushing.

  “Leave the lady alone, Mike” Sam defended her. “Besides, I don’t think my wife would approve.” Sadness filled Sam as he thought back to her.

  Rebecca’s voice interrupted his melancholy, “Do you think she is still alive?”

  “I don’t know,” Sam answered, “Part of me does, but I know how rough it is out there. You figure three hundred twenty million people in America, then this all started. Maybe one in a thousand are still alive, maybe one in ten thousand or less. Take into account all the people that have snapped like this crew and the soldiers at the farm. The odds can’t be very good.

  “I feel the same way about my parents. They were older people and not in the best health to begin with. I have nightmares about them being out there as those things…” She started to cry quietly.

  Sam wished he could comfort her, hold her and tell her it would be all right. He knew that it wouldn’t be, she was probably right, her parents and his wife were probably out there right now, stumbling around looking for people to eat. He thought of his children and joined her in crying.

  They sat in silence until well after dark. Mike had laid down to sleep just at dark, and the other prisoners had done the same. Just Rebecca and he were left awake. The spoke in hushed tones about things they missed. Rebecca wanted sherbet, Sam wanted a cold beer. Eventually she stopped talking and Sam looked to find she had dozed off. Sam decided it was time for that himself, and fell asleep almost immediately.

  That night, the faces of the survivors thankfully did not come to him. Instead he dreamt of Rebecca. They were walking together on a beach, hand in hand. The setting sun gave her face a golden hue that brought quickness to his heart. The watched as the sun fell behind the horizon, and turned to head back wherever they had come from. After they had walked for a few minutes in the growing dark, She had stopped and softly said “Sam, look at me.”