by Crisp, M. L.
Mike struggled to his feet. “Go lady, fuckin’ go already!” Randy begged.
But Allison sat immobile, staring at the sight in front of her. Randy brought his leg over, punching his foot on the accelerator. The truck lurched forward. Mike collided against the grill of the truck with a thud. Allison screamed. Mike was now on the hood of the truck as it sped forward. His face pressed against the windshield. Randy moved his foot over and slammed the break down. Mike went flying off the truck, and landed a few feet away. Randy hit the gas again, it felt like going over a speed bump as the truck drove over Mike’s body.
Allison was hysterical now. Randy hit the brake, put the truck in park, and clenched his hands around Allison’s wrists. “Lady, look back there. Those things are running our way. It’s a tough break what happened to your husband, but shake it off! If you can’t, then switch places with me and I’ll drive. If you don’t’ want to do that either, then get out of the Goddamn truck!”
Allison saw the figures getting closer, and Mike was getting back up. She nodded, “no, I’ll drive, just let go of me.”
Randy released his grip, Allison put the truck into gear, and drove forward into the night.
CHAPTER 3
Allison stared into the darkness as she drove. Randy had tried to speak to her a couple of times, but she just ignored him. He got the hint and eventually nodded off in the passenger side. He wanted to know where they were going. The truth is, she wasn’t sure herself. There were other farms in the area, but she and Mike had always kept to themselves most of the time. So she didn’t know these people beyond exchanging the occasional pleasantry. Showing up there out of the blue, in the early morning darkness would likely get them shot.
That is, if any of them were even still around. Before reception went out, a FEMA official was telling everyone to report to the nearest military base for protection. If there wasn’t one within one hundred miles, then he said to stay in your homes, and await further instruction.
Allison wondered if they should try to make it to Altus, there was an Air Force base there. But Mike hadn’t thought it was a good idea. But she imagined most in the area had done just that.
About a mile from the farm, Allison had seen Ted’s car in the middle of the road. The driver’s side door was open. She considered stopping to see if the keys were still inside, and if they were, to just tell Randy to take that vehicle and they could go their separate ways.
But it was just a fleeting thought, it was pitch black, and she really didn’t want to be alone. Even this stranger made her feel a little safer than being by herself.
The sun was finally peeking over the horizon. Allison glanced at the gas gage, the truck was practically on fumes at this point. They were coming up on Roscoe’s. An old ‘hole in the wall’ gas station/convenience store. She pulled up to the gas pumps, and shut off the engine.
Allison looked at Randy, his mouth open, snoring away. She hadn’t noticed his brown, nicotine stained teeth before. But in the morning sun, it’s all she could notice. She got out of the truck and slammed the door. Randy awoke with a start, his head whipping around, and his grip on the baseball bat growing tighter.
Randy got out too, his eyes lingered on Allison as she stretched and yawned. “Hey lady, any ideas on where to from here?”
“Not just yet.” She replied.
“I reckon I got me some ideas. We passed a little motel awhile back, maybe we can head back. Hold up there for awhile.”
“Maybe.” Allison said, but the truth is, she had no intention of staying in that dump. Now that it was the light of day, she was thinking maybe she would take Randy back to Ted’s car, or just find him a new one. Then he could do whatever he wanted.
“First thing’s first, we need gas, and then we can talk about it.” Allison said.
Randy walked past her, to the entrance of the store, he reached down and pulled at the door handle. It was locked, “stand back.” He said to Allison, raising the bat, and smashing it into the glass door. It took a few whacks, but it shattered, and Randy reached in and unlocked the door.
They entered the store, Randy in the lead. Allison watched him as he went down each aisle. He didn’t see anyone, then he went into the bathroom, there was just one unisex one. A little bit later, Allison heard a flush, and Randy came back out. “It’s clear, but if you gotta’ use the shitter, or do some kinda‘ female stuff, you might oughta’ give it a few minutes.”
Allison crinkled her nose, “I’m fine, but thanks for the warning.”
Randy walked toward a cigarette display, and grabbed a pack, ripping it open. He picked up a lighter by the counter, and lit his cigarette. He took a long drag, and exhaled. “Oh man, that hit the spot!”
He took two more long drags, the last one consuming the cigarette to the filter. He crushed the butt under his boot, and pulled out another one, this time biting the filter off and spitting it out. He extended the open pack toward Allison, offering her one.
“No thanks, I don’t smoke.”
“You don’t say, seems like a good time to start.” He said, and laughed a strange, hiccupping type of laugh.
Allison tilted her head. “You hear that?” She asked.
Randy pursed his lips, smoke billowing out of his mouth and nose. “Nah, can’t say as I…wait, yeah, I do. It’s coming from over there.” He pointed to the back of the store, his cigarette clenched between his index and middle finger.
They both walked toward the sound, it was muffled, but audible. At the back, there was a walk-in freezer. It was closed with an unlocked padlock in place.
“Well lookee’ there. You don’t reckon there’s zombie in there do ya’?” randy asked.
Allison bit her lip. “I’m not sure, but I guess we should check. I mean, if I was stuck in there, I would hope somebody would help me out.”
Randy frowned. “Fuck that, I say we gas up, grab as much shit as we can, and hightail it back to that motel.”
Allison didn’t say anything, she just reached forward and pulled the lock out of the door. The big metal door burst open, and an old man tumbled out, falling to the floor. He grabbed hold of Randy’s pant leg.
“Shit!” Randy yelped, and swung the bat down on the old man’s head.
“Owww!” The old man cried out in pain. He looked up, seeing Allison. “Mrs. Haggerty.” He whimpered.
Allison lunged forward, but Randy was already bringing the bat down on his head again. This time, crushing the old man’s skull.
Allison pushed Randy back, and knelt down beside the old man. Allison looked up, her eyes seething with anger. “You idiot, this was Roscoe, the owner of the store. He was alive!”
Randy was matter of factly wiping the blood from his bat with the end of his un-tucked shirt. “No he wasn’t, he was a motherfuckin’ zombie! He was trying to bite my leg.”
“He was trying to stand up! I heard him say my name!”
“You sure lady?”
“Of course I’m sure! I know my own name!”
Randy adjusted his ball cap, and then shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry, I guess I boned up.”
Allison quickly stood back up. She screamed at Randy. “Boned up? Boned up? Is that all you have to say? You fucking moron!”
Randy’s brow furrowed. “Look, lady, it was an honest mistake. My adrenaline was going, I didn’t hear him. Maybe if you hadn’t just opened the door after I told you not to, he’d still be alive!”
Allison looked back down at old man Roscoe. She and Mike used to stop by here all the time to pick up little things. It was a lot closer than the grocery stores in Mangum. She always told him he could call her Allison, but he insisted on ‘Mrs. Haggerty.’ His blood was pooling on the floor, inching closer to her feet.
Allison stepped back, she wanted to berate Randy some more, make him understand what he had just done. But she knew it wouldn‘t do any good. “Whatever, I’m going to go turn the pump on.”
“Ok. I’m gonna’ start piling all the supplies outside
the door, then we can just back the truck up and throw ‘em all in.”
“Fine.” Allison said without turning around.
“Oh, and lady.” Allison turned and looked at Randy. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again! You understand?” Randy asked, with a cross look on his face.
Allison just turned and kept walking, she was afraid she would lose it if she responded. She found the pump controls, and switched it on. First, she filled up a gas can that was in the back of the truck. Might as well have an extra gallon, just in case, she figured.
Allison filled up the gas tank, and watched Randy carrying the supplies out of the store, and laying them at the entryway. A lot had happened in the last few hours. It had all happened so quickly that she hadn’t had time to take everything in. But as she watched Randy, she was noticing things that had escaped her before.
His uniform. It was too big. It hadn’t occurred to her before, but now, with his shirt un-tucked, it was obvious. It looked almost like a dress on him. His pants were also clearly for someone of a larger size. His belt was pulled tight, and even then, the pants barely stayed up.
He had also taken off his ball cap. His hair was long and stringy. Allison wasn’t sure, but she assumed that correctional officers would have stricter grooming standards. Not to mention his general demeanor. Her intuition was setting off alarm bells.
The tank was full, Allison placed the nozzle back on its perch. She stood there for a moment, rolling everything over in her mind. Whether or not this man was actually a corrections officer didn’t matter to her anymore, she didn’t want anything to do with him.
She got in the truck, closing the door as gently as she could. Not wanting to draw Randy’s attention. She went to start the engine, but the keys weren’t there. Randy must have swiped them when he got out of the truck. “Damn, why didn’t I take them with me?” Allison thought to herself. “Stupid!” She said out loud.
Allison took a deep breath, exhaled, and got out of the truck. She walked up to the store. Randy was placing a box of cigarettes on the ground. He looked at Allison, his long, stringy hair falling in his face. “Hey. Looks like somebody already got all the best shit, like canned chili and Vienna Sausages. You know, most of the meat. I guess that’s why that old fucker was in the fridge, they must of stuck him in there while they looted the place. There’s still plenty of junk food though.”
Allison smiled. “Great! Um, do you have the keys?”
Randy wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Yep, you forgot ’em, so I grabbed ‘em when I got out of the truck. We don’t want nobody stealin’ our truck, now do we?”
Allison wanted to scream that it was not ‘our’ truck! But her smile remained fixed. “Yeah, no doubt. Good thinking. But I need them so I can bring the truck around.”
Randy looked back at the truck, and then back at Allison. “Nah, just help me get everything moved out. Then we’ll get ‘er loaded up.”
Allison almost frowned, but managed to keep her smile in place. “If you want, but I think it would go faster if I pull the truck back here. Then you can hand stuff off to me as I put it in the truck.”
Randy mulled it over for a moment, “I reckon you’re right, that probably would be faster.” He reached in his pocket and fished out the keys, handing them to Allison.
Allison’s hands closed around the keys, she turned and resisted the urge to run back to the truck. She walked toward the truck, Randy admiring the view from behind. He smiled, and turned around, about to go back into the store for more supplies. But then he whirled back around, snatched up the baseball bat leaning against the wall, and began walking after Allison.
“Hey, wait up!” Randy yelled.
Allison just kept walking, she was almost to the truck. She broke into a run, and jumped in the drivers seat. She quickly stuck the key in the ignition and turned the key. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Randy sprinting toward her. She put the truck into gear, and stepped on the gas.
“Oh no you don’t bitch!” Randy bellowed, as he slammed the baseball bat against the driver’s side window. Glass shards showered Allison, but she tried not to pay attention. She gave it more gas, but the truck didn’t move. Randy grabbed her by the back of the head and smashed her face into the dash board. Allison felt pain shoot through her whole body, and could feel blood pouring from her nose and mouth. She was dazed, and for a moment, she thought she would lose consciousness, but she couldn’t, not now! “Fuck!” She screamed, the parking brake was still in place.
Allison quickly released it, and the truck jerked forward. But Randy’s arm was still inside, he was running alongside the truck, trying to pull himself into the cab. The truck gathered speed, but Randy lifted his feet, and hung on. He grabbed desperately at the keys, “I got plans for you bitch!” He hollered.
Allison put her mouth around his wrist, and bit down as hard as she could, as she tried to keep control of the truck. Randy howled in pain, but didn’t let go. The truck swerved off the road, into a wooded area. Randy’s outstretched legs connected with a tree, snapping his kneecaps.
Randy let go and fell to the ground, screaming in agony. Allison slammed on the brakes, just avoiding crashing into another tree. It all happened so fast, she hadn’t quite realized that Randy had let go. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, blood dribbled down her chin, and onto her nightie. She had a coppery taste in her mouth, and could feel her right front tooth wiggling. She slowly reached up, and felt her tooth, it broke in half into her fingers. Her head whipped around, looking for her attacker, and she noticed him a few feet behind the truck, sprawled on the ground. His legs swinging out in opposite directions.
Allison got out of the truck and walked back to Randy. She leaned over him and examined his mangled legs. The bones were sticking out at each kneecap.
Randy glared at her, “nice goin’ bitch.” He said, through clenched teeth.
Allison looked at his pockmarked face, a single tattooed tear mingled with the real ones. “You’re not really a correctional officer are you?”
Randy laughed, his nicotine breath washed over her, “course not, I’m a con. A screw did escape with us, like most guards, he was a goddamn fatass. Guess that’s what gave me away, these size ‘48 pants.”
“That, and you just seemed like a piece of shit.” Allison said.
Randy guffawed, “right back at ya’ cunt.”
“What were you in for?”
“Rape, it was a bullshit charge though, bitch wanted it.”
“I’m sure. No wonder you wanted to stop at that fleabag motel.”
“Bitch, you don’t know what yer’ missin’.”
“Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea.” Allison said, and got up and walked back toward the truck.
“Where you goin’ bitch?”
“Away from here.” Allison said, not turning around.
“You can’t just leave me here!”
“Watch me!”
“Come on lady, that’s some cold shit!”
Allison swung around, “you were going to rape me!”
Randy looked hurt and indignant, “even if you really didn’t want it, I wasn’t gonna’ kill ya’, like you are me. Leavin’ me out here in the open like this, to die like a goddamn animal!”
“Like you’ve never killed anyone before, isn’t that what that tear tattoo means?”
“You’ve watched too many TV shows lady. I ain’t never killed nobody!”
“Roscoe.”
Randy was silent for a moment, “lady, I’m sorry about that old codger, but I didn’t hear him say ‘Mrs. Haggerty,’ I fuckin’ swear on my momma’s grave I didn’t!”
“I never told you my last name.”
Randy sputtered, “ok, ok, I fuckin’ heard him, damn woman, you can’t just leave me here!”
Allison smiled a humorless smile. “You should have said mike told you our last name.” With that, Allison turned and continued on to the truck.
Randy watched her get in, pul
l the truck around, and drive off into the distance. As he saw the truck come to a stop, and turn back onto the main road, his face contorted in pain and terror. “Come back! You fucking bitch! Come back!”
CHAPTER 4
The orange fuel light flickered on as the truck entered Mangum city limits. Allison frowned as she looked at the boarded up storefronts on main street. The sidewalks were deserted. Normally the odor of onion burgers sizzling on the ancient grill at the Hamburger Inn wafted through the air of the town square. But not today. Mangum was always a quiet little town, but now it was desolate.
The truck coasted to a stop, Allison scanned the area as best she could, it appeared to be empty.
She grabbed the baseball bat and stepped out of the truck. She rifled around the bed of the truck and found an empty gas can. Thank goodness she had filled it up before, otherwise she wouldn’t have made it into town.
She set down the street, it felt strange walking in nothing but her nightie.
Despite the situation, Allison grinned as she walked. She could just imagine how the town gossips tongues would be wagging if they saw her walking down the street like this, practically naked.
Finally, she reached the entrance to the little country store, it was locked. She stepped back, and swung the baseball bat, shattering the glass window. A bleating noise pierced her ears, it was the burglar alarm. She quickly turned on the gas pump and filled up the can.
She had just began her trek back to the truck when she heard it. The sounds of moans, inhuman grunts, and footfalls. She saw them coming from the residential area, she bolted down the street. Her foot landed on a shard of glass, and blood poured from the wound. She didn’t dare stop.
Panting, she arrived at the truck, those things were too close, there was not time to refuel. She desperately looked around, the nearest buildings were most certainly locked. She threw down the gas can, and gripped the bat, which was useless against a crowd this size. She opened the door and jumped back in the cab of the truck.
Moments later the creatures were upon her. They pounded furiously at the windows. Bloody hands reached inside the broken driver’s side window. Several climbed into the bed of the truck and pulled at the sliding window. The latch gave way to the strength of numbers. Arms reached into the truck, grabbing at Allison.