Still Alive (Book 7): Zombie Perdition

by Bonds, Javan

  After a moment, the preacher realized he was trying to build up the excitement. So he played along. “Why do you say that?”

  Peacock wasn’t able to hold it in. He raised his hands in triumph. “The guest bedroom is stuffed full of buckets of freeze-dried food!”

  His fellow went on. “And there’s more than one huge gun safe. Shouldn’t take more than a few power tools to get into them... unless we find the keys.”

  Cocking an eyebrow, the pastor’s cheek twitched. “Yeah, but busting in’s more fun.”

  The bereaved father chuckled goofily. “That’s exactly what I was thinking, preacher!”

  Standing beside him, the soon to be bereaved father petitioned the one arm man. “You gotta let us know which ones are the best.”

  Why the Fuck would I know anything about freeze-dried food? I’ve never even ate the nasty shit! He smiled wide, “Certainly! We’ll go through it once we get it all back to the worship center.” Mike hurriedly closed and locked the diamond plated toolbox.

  Motherfucker, that was close! If either one of them had been any more jumpy, they could have easily made it around the bed before I got it shoved in there. Didn’t realize how much of a bitch it’d be with only one god damned arm. It’s nearly orgasmic to be so close to getting caught and barely making it. God, I can’t wait to tell Lauren!

  The supposed temporary replacement for The Man of God rubbed his neck. “Well, we’ve done the initial search. A crew can come tomorrow to pick everything up.”

  Alan looked in the direction of the water, “Sounds good. We just need to round up Eve.”

  Oh. Fuck! I forgot about that. And there’s only one truck, can’t tell them she must be riding with the other team. Fuck! Knew there was a reason we brought along a bunch of extra fools on the earlier missions. Guess I’ll know for next time.

  “Eve! Where are you, baby? It’s time to go home!” Mr. Peacock continually screamed in vain for his daughter. All three of them looked, but were coming up empty-handed.

  They found her fishing pole with a bucket of fish on the dock. No one noticed the empty candy wrapper floating at the edge of the shore. But no matter where they looked, there was no Eve. It was terrifying.

  Nearly in tears, Alan made sure to not look directly at his companions. “But where could she be? We would’ve heard her holler if a zombie come up. And if there was more than one of them, they certainly ain’t quiet. She knows better than to run off!”

  Brother Brown looked toward the island. “From what I’ve seen of her, your girl’s not stupid. I don’t think she went out into the woods or anything like that. Didn’t you say she was a swimmer?” Peacock earlier mentioned to his comrades that his daughter was on the swim team.

  The distraught man perked up at this. “Yeah! Maybe she decided to swim home. Just wanted to freak us out.” He chuckled, trying to convince himself everything was right. “I’ll bust her tail when we get home.”

  There we go. Tell yourself it’s all okay, you stupid shit. “See? No reason to worry. It might be mysterious sometimes, but God has His ways.” Only nodding, the faithful agreed with their holy man.

  Barely holding down an explosion of maniacal laughter, The Wolf started the engine. I know we have to take what’s left of the fucking Chinese dude to the retarded congregation tonight. After that, it’s time for some fun! Guess I’ve gotta get ready for the holy war tomorrow. But, you know, God does say to live one day at a time.

  ☠☠☠

  41

  Untouchable

  The female could not recall a time when the floating construct was not the center of attention. It dreamed of sitting atop that structure and slowly devouring Ezekiel Collins. Bringing unimaginable pain to the smooth headed pale one would be invigorating. Envisioning the death throes was beyond exciting. The target would scream and shriek in pain as chunks of bloody meat were ripped from it. Warm blood would run between the peevie's fingers as it took its time chewing and swallowing a piece. The terror would show through pheromones, making the meal even more satisfying.

  ☠☠☠

  The animal woke from its day dream just as the construct stopped moving.

  Figures began emerging. This time, none of them were wearing those shiny shells.

  They did, however, carry the sticks that shot flame out the end. There was no way they could be approached and overtaken. Not even by a large group of blue ones. The peevie that was once Warden Slice, followed the prey to an area surrounded by what appeared to be incredibly hard spider web.

  Similar obstacles encountered previously.

  Other blue ones climbed some of the other impediments.

  They were only gashed into ribbons by the handless claws at the top.

  The animal was not going to be fooled like others before.

  These pale ones remained untouchable for the time being. Eventually, they would move from this area. At that moment, the target would be devoured! Soon, soon there would be no escape. Ezekiel Collins would fall under this one's tooth and nail.

  What seemed like lifetimes had already passed, waiting a bit longer would only make victory and the meat that much sweeter.

  ☠☠☠

  42

  Memoirs of Benji: Two

  Occasional rumors would sprout up about large amounts of nonperishable food left in local ruins. More often than not, this scuttlebutt had at least some truth to it. Not every report ended up equaling a grocery store in quantity of food, a gas station full of jerky and candy bars, or even a single pantry lined with cans of Spam, but we left most locations with enough foodstuffs to make it worth our while.

  Though people on the island weren’t starving, I didn’t see a problem with getting what we could while we could. Even nonperishable food wouldn’t last forever. Besides, might as well use our fuel while it’s stable, right?

  ☠☠☠

  “Like, there was this dude telling me about a, like, food bank for the underprivileged, or something like that.” Amy was telling me as she zipped up her bodysuit. I couldn’t even blink.

  She snapped her fingers, catching my attention. “Hey, dude! Are you, like, listening?” I could only nod, chin still touching the floor.

  Tossing me my wide brimmed Fedora, she snickered. “Why do you like this so much, creeper?”

  Shrugging, I removed my shirt before putting the hat on my head. I smirked crookedly. “Hell if I know. But you know you do too.”

  Slipping out of the skintight leotard, she chuckled. “For reals!”

  ☠☠☠

  Both spent and drenched in sweat, I looked down at her, head on my shoulder. “What were you saying about a food bank?”

  The brown eyed girl looked up at me. “Totally, at Albertville Elementary.”

  I actually went to elementary school there. Well, when I was a kid, it wasn’t Albertville Elementary, it was West End Elementary. And the two-story building didn’t exist; it was just the old brick building with Governor George C Wallace’s name on it. Later on, my public education moved a few miles down the road to Douglas, but kindergarten through second grade was at West End.

  “You know where in the building it is?”

  “Like, I think they said, like, the old building.”

  Well, that’s just good luck. It’s another example of things that are supposed to be. I hadn’t been in the new building one time in my life. So we’d be stumbling around in the dark until one of us got bit. Wait... why can’t Devin just walk us through the school? I’m sure he would know the exact location of any peevies.

  I sighed. “Well... I guess I’m gonna need another shower.” Taking my time, my eyes trailed across her body. I sniffed. “Think you do too.”

  Mirthfully, she hit me with a pillow. “Whatever!”

  ☠☠☠

  After an extremely long shower, we took another one to actually clean off. Eventually, we were both able to suit up before starting out the door to our Jedi ride. Skywalker, the MH 60 Seahawk procured from the Albertville airport
, awaited us in the next hangar.

  It goes without saying, having a chopper always cut down on the area required for a landing. Skywalker also allowed us to make drops in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. Plus, the fact we could easily lay down some lead from a single position far above the reach of zombies was an added bonus. We didn’t need to worry about hellfire missiles when every one of our enemies was walking on its naked feet.

  The two of us walked into an already lit enclosure. My copilot, already wearing his Ghost Rider outfit, was similarly trudging to the helicopter from a different direction. I guess it was supposed to be a surprise. It wasn’t. At least, not for me. Why did he feel there was a need in keeping up the charade of not knowing I would be buzzing him in the next few minutes?

  He jumped up into the helicopter. “So where we rocking today, boss?”

  Playing word association, I spouted out the first thing that came to mind. “Malfunction junction.” No matter what I said, I was confident he already knew what would be happening.

  Get it? He said “rock.” Schoolhouse Rock? Well, at least he caught my drift. Was it expected we were going to a school. Anybody?

  “I guess we’ll be schooling some noobs, huh?” Ghost Rider joked.

  Me and Elektra climbed into the rear. Deadpan, I looked at him.

  “It’ll be elementary, my dear Watson.”

  “Albertville Elementary, it is!” Did anyone else notice I never told him which elementary school? Also, I never even stated our waypoint was a school! Maybe it was just a good guess.

  Before he started up the engine, our new heavy hitting tagalong appeared at the mouth of the bay. Without speaking, he made his way into the bladed Eagle and sat down on the bench beside me. Robert Coe, wearing the spandex of Captain America, and as always, sporting his sadistic looking brass knuckles, The Devil’s Pizza Cutter and his shield; he was a great addition to our team.

  “Robert,” I nodded. His reciprocation was quick.

  As Devin started up the rotors, I spoke as low as possible. “You know where we're going?”

  Coe shrugged. “Food closet at Albertville Elementary?” With the growing roar of the blades, all I could do was nod.

  Did Devin tell him exactly where we were going? Perhaps he was the “dude” that told Amy to begin with. Maybe he was just assuming.

  That brings up a better question. Why the hell was he sitting beside me? Did my copilot radio him earlier and tell him to show up? Possibly, he just stands around on the tarmac suited up as a superhero all the time, could’ve just seen us heading to Skywalker. Will these questions ever be answered?

  ☠☠☠

  Our helicopter touched down in a parking lot full of cars. Like Guntersville, the rest of the county, state, and entire country, everyone working here continued with business as usual until the blue tide washed over them. No one could escape by the time they realized they were being swarmed by ravenous cannibals. Can you imagine the bone chilling horror felt by a teacher when realizing the dozens of young children in the classroom were now the priority of the bloodthirsty blunatics slamming into the door?

  ☠☠☠

  Mrs. Victoria Haugen had been teaching for as long as she could remember. Seemingly, she had students in the past that were now grandparents. In the decades of her teaching career, she thankfully hadn’t been involved in one mass shooting, school bombing, or any type of direct violence at her place of work. It was doubtful a school shooting would take place at an elementary school in rural Alabama, but crazy things happened all the time. At least, there was almost a guarantee a current student wouldn’t be committing the act.

  Now, just a few years from retirement, she could look back to see the faces of countless children she helped to educate. In the previous year, the new principal of Albertville Elementary, Keith Sinclair, moved her permanently to the old building. This was the place used for secondary education, some adult classes, special education, and non-English-speaking students. Though some would see it as an embarrassing demotion, being fast tracked to antiquity, thrown under the bus with all the rejects, she felt it was supposed to be.

  Because the kids in her class were new to English, that didn’t mean she loved them any less. Every child deserves the same care and was just as worthy of an education as any other! Mrs. Haugen was glad to be a part of every one of these students’ lives. Years from now, they would remember her as one of the reasons they were productive members of society.

  Hispanic immigration into the area had been constant for decades. The recent influx of migrants from Haiti gave a new color to her group of children. Twenty-five youngsters learning English as a second language meant her day was just as full of words she didn’t understand as that of her kids. Near the end of the school year, teachers and learners alike were all growing accustomed to each other.

  ☠☠☠

  Though most had no idea what it really was, her students knew Cinco de Mayo was a holiday. There would be a parade through the halls, candy, piñatas, and the whole nine yards. Before lunch, her class would take part in the celebratory rounds through the building.

  Sombreros were placed on heads, Mexican flags were ready to be waved, and festive smocks were thrown on in preparation. The students got in line, starting to their right out the door.

  ☠☠☠

  Marching with vigor, her small part of the snaking school body came to the first corner. They’d be taking a left. Down a short part of the continuing hallway at their front, natural light from the main doors poured in. To their right, exterior doors at the end of an even shorter hallway were also open. On a cloudy day like today, the breeze running through the entire school provided much-needed air circulation.

  Suddenly, a monstrous, echoing roar sounded from somewhere outside. The terrible wail made every person in the school drop silent. Before the parade could continue, another, several, dozens, innumerable animalistic banshee screams started sounding. Completely unmoving, the eyes of her kids stared at Mrs. Haugen in puzzled fear.

  Twenty-five sets of horrified, innocent eyes stared at her. Over enunciating as she always did with her class, she spoke. “Okay kids, let’s go back to the classroom.”

  Beginning to turn around, the line hadn’t even made a full 180. A bluish, naked man came to the front doors. Seeing all the children, the former human screamed in delight. Panting and drooling, it began rushing through the opened main doors.

  At the same instant, Mr. Sinclair came out the doorway of the office, to the left of the front of the building. “What the hell are you doing, man? There are kids here!” The crazy blue man only charged him.

  Not expecting a lunatic naked man to attack him in front of children, the principal was tackled. Wrestling with the deranged individual, he got some sweat or drool in his eye. It wasn’t enough to bother or even noticeably affect Mr. Sinclair, but the nutcase immediately started lifting from the tangle.

  Shouts and screams of terror could be heard from within the office. This food was now closer and more accessible than the children down the hall. The naked attacker stood and started running into the administrative room. There was no easy way out for the staff.

  Having always been a supporter of constitutional rights, Mr. Sinclair thought everyone should be able to protect themselves at all times. He pulled the .380 from its secret ankle holster as he stood. “Freeze, freak!” Reentering the office behind the maniac, his pistol was pointed inside.

  After more exclamations could be heard from within, what sounded like pops from the pistol sounded. Some kids started screaming. There were even a few crying. Mrs. Haugen was seconds away from more firmly ordering the class back to the room.

  Still trying to look at where the nude aggressor was last seen and simultaneously to her room in the opposite direction, her command died in her throat. A symphony of bloodcurdling howls drowned out even her thoughts. More naked moonies materialized outside. Excitement could be felt as they noticed food in a chute and started running headlong from
the highway in front of the school.

  Mind racing, she tried to think of how to get her class out of this. Where should we go? What should I do to keep the kids safe? She remembered those infected people on the news. Something about that they didn’t like open spaces.

  Not a second to spare, the teacher made a decision, “To the lunchroom!” she hollered. Unbeknownst to Mrs. Haugen, her split-second determination is what saved the lives of her kids that day.

  ☠☠☠

  I stood behind the mini-gun, waiting and watching for any hostiles. West End was to my right, while the new building was further back and to the left. The old, one story structure was actually closer to the state highway than the newer addition. Good thing we’d be close to our getaway vehicle!

  From an aerial view, this building was just one large square. Surrounded by a covered sidewalk on all four sides, there were two large entrances on the front, northwest facing, and the northeast and southeast sides of the building. On our way inside, I found out West End had a new name. This structure was now the Albertville Community Learning Center. Always wondered what they used it for once the new construction was added.

  Finally deciding no peevies would be charging through the blazing sunlight in a superheated parking lot, I hopped from the chopper to the baking asphalt. The team followed my lead to the northern corner of the building; the temperature was considerably lowered under the awning.

  Standing on the covered sidewalk, my copilot followed, but he made clear he certainly wasn’t happy about being so cautious. To me, the safety of my team comes before completing the mission. I guess he knew things would just be on a tight schedule.

  If he knew what the exact outcome would be, why the hurry? Maybe he was unwilling to accept such depressing fallout. It was if he thought our actions could still affect the final score. Though it had been proven to both of us several times, he wasn’t yet ready to accept the dismal consequences set out by something beyond us.