Still Alive (Book 7): Zombie Perdition

by Bonds, Javan

  “Here they come. Get ready!” Mary yelled unnecessarily.

  Sherry put her free hand up. “Hang on. Why didn’t we just go to another floor?”

  Angie answered before Roark opened her mouth. “If we did, they would’ve found us eventually.” McIntire shrugged, realizing there was no point in postponing the inevitable. If they were going to die today, at least they’d go down fighting.

  ☠☠☠

  McIntire and Regier were the first two hit by the blue wave. They both fought valiantly but were killed on the spot. The undead would eventually consume the human flesh in its entirety. At the moment, though, there was only one target on their collective mind. Pale ones came second compared to the treat of vinegar!

  Rachel stepped to be in the way of the initial charging blunatic. She stabbed it in the shoulder with her improvised weapon. Screaming, it jerked away, pulling the champagne bottle with it. As it rose up on its hind legs, the razor-sharp glass fell from the front of its deltoid, rolling down the chest towards the floor. It caught the container at about waist level. Glancing down at what it held, it then looked back up at its closest foe, a knowing gleam in its eye.

  Before Rachel could do anything, the beast slammed the broken base of the glass container under her chin. The impact was so forceful, jagged edge sliced into the roof of her mouth, cleanly splitting the tongue. Voicebox, tonsils, trachea, arteries, and everything vital in the neck were irrevocably destroyed. Absently, the vile creature only watched the hot, dark, now plague-ridden crimson gush from the mouth of the bottle. Even if a blood transfusion were started at that instant, she would be dead in just a few minutes. And the worst part of it was, she knew it.

  Every movement caused excruciating pain. Because the bottle had been used to injure the peevie now wielding it, it had just inadvertently tainted her meat while killing her. As the reanimant continued on, she could do nothing but wish torment on it, unable to form any sound. Rachel Regier would soon fade away into eternal nothing, her last memories being how she was infected and murdered in the same action.

  ☠☠☠

  Another of the blue skin monsters came within Sherry’s reach. She stuck the broken Chardonnay bottle into its side, just above the hip. Caterwauling, it pulled the cutting glass from its flesh, reaching a hand down to the neck of the bottle. A perfect circle leaked stinking red as it spun to clench its fist around the throat of its attacker.

  Gnashing its teeth, it grinned sadistically as it pushed her onto her back. With the broken end of the container pointing up, the mouth of the bottle hovered just above her eye. In disbelieving horror, she let out a bloodcurdling scream. Sherry knew it knew what it was doing. No amount of fighting would stop the sinister demon from dragging her slowly to eternity.

  “No, no, no, no!” Sherry McIntire belted out as she clenched her eyes and shook her head. Regardless, the thick glazing dug through everything between her eyelid and the back of her skull. When she went limp, the thing was satisfied with its brutality.

  ☠☠☠

  As one of the animals walked past the grievously injured, quickly fading Rachel, it lost the little bit of food in its stomach, and the filthy excrement packed into its colon. An aluminum baseball bat collided with it square in the belly button. Spraying a slosh from both ends, it toppled. Most of the digestive system had surely been ruptured. Not that it would live long enough to discover that.

  Doubled over the piece of sporting equipment, Spence pulled it out, up, and over, just above the back of the head of the ghoul. When it lifted its chin, she raised and slammed the slugger down onto the brain casing. The weak skull burst like an egg under intense pressure. What looked like rotten yolk erupted along with fountaining arterial spray. Everything that was above the lower jaw was now a mess on the floor. Orbless zombie collapsed in a twitching heap, infected rectum sputtering a final, sad song.

  Using all her strength to kill the revenant before her, the other hand’s grip on a second bat slackened unnoticeably. Just finishing McIntire, that demon stood and jerked the bat from Angie's grasp at just the right moment. The playing field was now level.

  She turned to ask why one of her comrades had taken her weapon. Understanding the truth, she was unable to speak. Whitening with fear, her eyes did plenty of screaming.

  The reanimated corpse, using every ounce of its strength, flung the bat up, colliding with her chin. Skin split, bones shattered, and every tooth in her mouth shot through the top and into her sinuses. Her nostrils were destroyed, and eyeballs squished into gelatinous objects. Everything in front of the uvula and below the forehead just became a jumbled pile of remains.

  Though protected by the skull, the frontal lobe received a massive concussion. Angie collapsed, unable to see but still conscious to a point. With a grunt, the animal looked down at the skeletal visage. Next, it raised the bat and repeatedly hammered it down onto the brain casing.

  Angie Spence remained able to feel every sensation of immeasurable suffering until this final volley of blows began. Meat and bone flew as the blue zombie continued beating the contents of her skull into a thick paste. Nothing substantial remained of Angie above the shoulders. Feeling the threat was eliminated, the peevie allowed the oozing mucus to drip from the bat and turned back to the direction of its prize.

  “Hey, you!”

  As it swiveled its head, the monster took in Jenyfer Conaway.

  “Protect this!” she mocked, repeatedly stabbing the reanimated corpse in the somewhat healthy abdomen.

  In shock and pain, it drew back, emitting an ear-splitting shriek. It swung the bat up, colliding with her temple. Though she would probably suffer brain damage from the new indentation just placed into the side of her head, Conaway could have undoubtedly survived. That is, if not for its next move.

  She toppled to her left, bleeding from the already swelling bruise on her head. As the woman was knocked unconscious, she wasn’t able to control her bowels, the collapse, or the steak knife already loosed from her grasp. Happily, the monster stepped closer to the downed human to pick up her blade. Sighing, it wiped the tainted fluid off on the carpet and ran the edge across her throat, huffed, and stood to continue on its original path.

  Wickedly smiling, the blunatic grew even more aroused, soaking in the scent of the gushing Jenyfer Conaway. Maybe not hot, but her delicious flesh would be somewhat fresh on its return trip from the intoxicating vinegar. It had her in one way earlier and would do so again...completely. While the others were devouring the bodies of the other pale ones strewn throughout the current enclosure, this one would go for that one, especially.

  ☠☠☠

  In less than a dozen seconds, four humans fell dead. Mary Roark was the last standing, ready with her double-bladed, bloodied fire axe. Not noticing the living Homo sapien swinging a piece of sharp steel at its throat, it didn’t know what was going on...until it couldn’t. What goes around, comes around, at least once.

  As the disconnected head flew away from the body, a look of fright momentarily crossed its features. Just as quickly, they grew slack. Crimson rocketed from the decapitated body while burnt chocolate frosting expelled from the other end. So forcefully, it nearly pushed the cadaver forward as it toppled.

  Mary now faced a rushing zombie horde, charging with elated glee. There was vinegar...plus gallons of somewhat fresh blood, not to mention the pounds and pounds of not yet cooled flesh. Only one angry pale one to deal with and insatiable hunger would be sated for the time being.

  Accepting her fate, she was ready to meet oblivion. Just then, she heard the actions of semiautomatic pistols being pulled behind her and a command. “Hit the bloody deck!” As she dropped, bullets started flying.

  ☠☠☠

  20

  Beware

  Later that afternoon, after hours of “seeking holy guidance from the Lord and studying the Scriptures,” Brother Brown exited the pastoral study. Entering the sanctuary, he found it just as packed, with followers, as it had been when he lef
t. Shit! Did these people even go fucking home? It’s like they just stand around out here while I take a nap. Good thing I came in through the door at the back of the stage. They’d be goddamn fighting to put their hands on me.

  The one-armed man stood at the pulpit, merely grinning from ear to ear until the excited roar died down. Once there was silence, his microphone enhanced voice boomed through the auditorium. “Brothers... sisters... my fellows in Christ... our heavenly Father has shown me how we must deal with the intolerable workers of the devil!” Manic- screaming and incessant chanting shook the walls.

  Pushing down the enamored chants with his hand, he again waited. “Wasn’t it George Washington who said, “Give me liberty or give me death?” not realizing... Or just not caring... it was actually Patrick Henry, the audience shouted agreement. “Well, it’s time for us to do the same. Just like that Christian hero over two centuries ago, you... we must be willing to sacrifice everything to bring about the reign of the Almighty on this earth. Though some of us may be in heaven sooner than the rest, at least you will know you provided a place in this mortal life for your brethren to worship freely.” Pausing for a moment of contemplation, he had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing.

  I love how goddamn stupid these people are. I’m not even sure why they treat me like the fucking Messiah. Gotta have something to do with the meat I’m feeding them. Should’ve tried this years ago. But then again, that would mean less for me. That’s not fucking happening!

  I wish I thought about taking down an adult last week when I was giving them the good stuff. Some of the parents could’ve conveniently been abducted along with their children. Since, you know, the government makes a fucking habit of kidnapping family groups. I could’ve just told Jones that God wanted him to murder people in their sleep... and he would’ve been going Zodiac on these motherfuckers!

  Nah, seriously. I wouldn’t do that. Adults are usually too much trouble. Even if they’re out before I get a hold of them, they have a lot of shit to dispose of... and I mean besides the actual shit. Plus, I’ve got younger ones to string up.

  After last night though, that gives me a fucking idea! I might be having more couples over to the house... all to provide for the church. Plus, it’s just fucking fun! We gotta enjoy doing the Lord’s work, right?

  Smiling, he appeared wise and prophetic. “And the Lord said, ‘This too shall pass.’ We must stand up against His enemies and drive them from the temple in His name! We shall not abide by these tools of Satan, for they seek what you hold dear. You love your family, your community, your church. That is what they covet. They must not be allowed to gain what you prize!” That’s only for me, you stupid fucks.

  The congregation roared with a righteous shout of praise for Reverend Brown.

  This shit is nothing but mumbo-jumbo. It’s words strung together to form mostly complete sentences. Yeah, it’s English. But fuck if it makes sense! I think they just like to hear me talk more than I do.

  After a pause, he thought of more to add. “Remember when you prostrate yourself before God tonight, you beg for forgiveness and seek His protection during the coming dark days. We will need the whole armor of God to overcome these sinners that have set themselves in a high place. They now see themselves as beyond our grasp. With the help of Jesus, we will prove to them a crown of thorns will fit on their wicked heads nicely!”

  Looking over the assembly, his eyes didn’t land on any new blonde children besides the one he already had his eye on. Fuck! It looks like I’m going to have to abstain tonight. This will be two nights in a row I ain’t got to slaughter anything. At least, not for myself.

  Barely keeping his jaw from dropping, his eyes bore into Eve Peacock. You gotta be worth it! Smiling at the sheep, he began his closing statement.

  “When you go home this evening, confer with the Savior, as I plan to. Verily I say unto you, He hath commanded us to battle the forces of Satan on a Holy Crusade. Fear not, My chosen sheep, after we have striven through this tumultuous upheaval, and overcome this present darkness, we shall see Deliverance from evil.”

  Thereafter the guiltless shall see deliverance, and the wicked will see eternal punishment. He will tell you how He will use you as a righteous vessel. The power of God will keep you watchful and wary of the true enemy! I don’t think I need to tell you where these pawns of the devil will be spending eternity. They’ve already lost their souls. It’s time for them to realize what Perdition truly means!”

  ☠☠☠

  21

  I’ll Never

  Get Out Of This

  World Alive

  Ready to be swallowed up by the blue wave, she opened her arms to greet death. Suddenly, a voice came from her rear. “Hit the bloody deck!” Dropping, a crescendo of nearly constant gunfire accented by the terrific screams of the infected filled her ears.

  ☠☠☠

  “What you think happened to them girls?”

  Paul refused to think about it. “If any of them are still alive, they probably won’t want to be here soon.”

  With this summation, Rawlings moved to the door, pulling it open just enough to see their last known location. He took in five nearly naked women futilely battling the malicious undead. All but one of them was killed within the span of a dozen heartbeats. A solitary human remained, gripping the fire axe she obviously wrenched from her former master’s halved skull.

  Facing the swelling mass growing in her direction, she simply dropped her weapon. The woman understood there would be no more escaping. The Protectors were finally going to take her. This is it!

  The Brit at the door dropped the AA12 shotgun on its sling, pulling the action of a pistol back and spoke to his mate. “There’s one of them left. We have to save her

  He bounded out the door, quickly followed by Saunders. As ready as they would ever be, three handguns were pointed at the growing swarm. Rawlings yelled at the woman. “Hit the bloody deck!” As if scripted, she collapsed so both men could open fire.

  ☠☠☠

  Mary could hear what had to be metric tons of lead zipping over her head. Watching countless zombies fall in shrieking surprise almost made her smile. If not for the horrid stench accompanying the truly dead reanimants, she would’ve definitely cracked a grin. All she could do was keep her eyes in front of her, watching The Protectors’ numbers be decimated. Though she didn’t yet know her Saviors, the tables had turned in favor of humanity.

  Finally, a figure appeared at the left corner of her vision. Soon, he was followed by another individual on the right. By choice or otherwise, she couldn’t be certain, her gaze remained fixed on the mayhem in front of her. The man on her left dropped his handgun within her reach. Next, he pulled up a wicked looking, black scattergun, dropping several enemies per shot.

  When both of the heroes were a few yards in front of her, she reached out for the pistol and stood. “Wait for me!” Roark hurried to get even with them before adding her own piece to deal satisfying destruction.

  ☠☠☠

  A lull in the action came, giving them all a moment to breathe before entering the stairwell. Without looking at her, he spoke to the barely clothed female, breathing heavily. “I’m Paul. This is Elliott. What’s your name?”

  “Mary... Roark.” she responded.

  Wanting to ask what the bloody hell was going on in this hotel; he knew to avoid that topic. Thinking of it would lead to her picturing the times of molestation by the peevies. Rawlings chose the immediate. “So... any surprises waiting for us on our way out?”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t think so. Well, besides The Protectors.”

  After a thought, he knew she was referring to the infected. Must be what these people call the zombies. Don’t know why they’d build a religion around monsters covered in shit. Not even going to ask about the fucked up cult rituals. God knows what she’s been going through since all this shit started.

  Putting up a hand, Paul stopped the trio. They stood completely stil
l, listening for anything in silence. There was absolutely nothing. Maybe we got them all!

  Before cracking the door, he took in his two compatriots. Elliott stood with a pistol in each hand, waistband full of side arms and loaded magazines. The newest addition, Mary, carried a Springfield XD 9 millimeter and the gore-covered fire axe he had seen her with initially. Though he didn’t realize she brought it with her, he was glad to have another armament in the group. Maybe it’ll come in handy! According to The Screenwriter, it was supposed to be.

  “You guys ready?” Rawlings called. In answer, three pistol slides were heard clicking back.

  ☠☠☠

  The door flung open to reveal... absolutely nothing. No blunatics could be seen charging up the stairs. Silence was painfully loud when it was the one thing not expected to be heard. It was as if there was no nest beyond the lobby or even in the city. Perhaps, Paul thought, everything since May 1 was a nightmare.

  Creeping to the edge of the landing, he looked over the side to see only pounds of diarrhea splattered all away from the closed entrance from the first floor. Could there possibly be not one of them left? Did we really kill all of them? If that’s true, I’m not staying in this godforsaken hotel any longer!

  Rawlings feigned excitement. “Looks like that was all of them. Hooray!” It was almost a killjoy not to be confronted with swarms of the undead... especially when anticipating them.

  Ever cautious, he walked down the first flight while keeping his AA12 aimed at the door below. Pistols remaining at the low ready, Elliott followed. Behind him came the barefoot Mary, occasionally glancing over her shoulder, just to be sure they were safe. It really did seem they were home free.