Jeffrey McElyea's Zombie Compilation

by Jeffrey McElyea

  “We have crops and salvage as much as we can. No cannibalism. We grow and grab.”

  “Where do you salvage?”

  “Far away.”

  “Why not move far away to get closer to what you want?”

  “Can’t say my allies are eager to move thousands of undead.”

  “How often do your people come back from scavenging?”

  “Most of the time, everyone comes back if they pay attention and do things correctly and swiftly. We’re not struggling to get by. We do just fine.”

  “Let’s get started.”

  Josh, Mack and the rest got acquainted with everyone and left with everything. Ian, Scott, Heather and two others led everyone for miles through dead fields and abandoned country roads before reaching a small door on the side of a sturdy, high wall.

  “Be quiet while walking through,” said Ian. “The zombies will see you but can’t get to you.”

  Mack grinned as he and his comrades walked through the long narrow walkway between the containment walls. Several metal fences kept the zombies at a distance. Nicole stopped to stare at a zombie that reached for her through a small opening in the first fence.

  “It used to be a woman,” Mack said as he stood next to Nicole and watched. “There’s nothing human about it now.”

  “I wonder why they try to eat the living,” Nicole replied.

  “That’s a great question.”

  “God has to be pissed.”

  “I think God has abandoned us. Now, you can become a zombie by being too close to some of those things.”

  “What?” Ian asked. “I don’t think so.”

  “It’s true,” said Josh. “Some of the dead are carrying worse and more contagious diseases than the average shambling corpse. If you get too close to the wrong one, it’s over.”

  “Okay,” Scott said, clearing his throat and using hand gestures to keep everyone moving. “We need to get through.”

  At the end of the long and noisy hall was a door. Through the door was a surprisingly large and stable community. Everyone looked normal. People were tending to crops, patrolling the area and fulfilling a variety of complicated duties.

  “This is the best thing we’ve seen since the world went to hell,” Josh said to Ian as he examined his surroundings.

  “You’ll get to know who you need to know. Just assist the others with what they need.”

  “Will do. Thanks for the opportunity.”

  “No problem. Get some rest or whatever. Welcome to your new home.”

  13

  Over sixty people made up the residents living behind the encased zombie horde. For months, these people did everything possible to gain the slightest bit of comfort. There was always something to gain or a problem to solve.

  Cliques were formed within the community. Those who farmed together stayed together at all times. There were big and small salvaging teams. Due to typical rivalry and greed, there was lowkey and often ignored tension. Josh, Mack, Joey, Nicole, Landon, Zack, Icepick, Irene and Blake chose and familiarized themselves with their new roles.

  Blake, Irene, Landon and Nicole were beyond traumatized and tired. They stayed in the community as guards and farmers. Josh, Mack, Joey, Icepick and Zack decided to merge with a smaller scavenging team. Mack discretely and wisely suggested to have expendable people on their team. No one disagreed.

  Josh, Mack, Joey, Icepick and Zack joined three men in a long expedition to an abandoned town twelve miles away. Little ground was covered before crossing paths with a large incoming horde. Led by the three locals, Joey and the other four took refuge in a house next to some railroad tracks. Mack fired off a shot before the team went inside.

  “Smart thinking,” said Joey. “They’ll pass through while searching for the sound. We’ll be able to keep going soon.”

  “That’s hilarious,” Randy said as he took a swig from a canteen.

  “How’s it hilarious?” Mack asked.

  “That horde is headed towards the enemy stronghold.”

  “Damn. Lucky break for us.”

  “Yeah. Glad our enemies don’t know there are so few of us. If they knew, they’d mow us down. No one wants to fight the opposing side. It’s a goldrush. Obviously not for gold, but for resources and recruitment. My two brothers have done plenty to sabotage them. Our enemies are still far superior to us in almost every way.”

  “I’m sure they’re not too happy about being robbed and losing seven people.”

  “Death to all opposition. I don’t like it, but that’s the way it must be. Terrance is good with his swords. He can thin the undead without breaking a sweat.”

  “I’m a bit of a swordsman myself. Josh is an awesome bare knuckle fighter.”

  “That damned sickness going around makes melee fighting a bad idea.”

  “Yeah. Some were lost due to that. Seems life is back to back bullshit. I thought life was hard before God deserted humanity.”

  “We have a doctor.”

  “You’re shitting me.”

  “I shit you not. My other brother is a physician.”

  “Damn. You’re a beacon in the dark, Shawn.”

  “Don’t tell anyone,” Shawn said nervously.

  “We won’t,” Mack replied. “We really won’t. I understand the severity. Your secret’s safe with us.”

  “Let’s wait here for a while before moving on,” said Terrance.

  A big mirror rested on a bedroom wall. After taking off his mask and seeing his reflection, Joey shook his head in sadness and disappointment.

  “Damn. I shouldn’t have looked. We look like shit. We’re out of shape and malnourished. We’re greasy and nasty. We look like needle dope addicts.”

  “All of us suffer from mental illness,” said Shawn. “After what we’ve endured, I find it surprising that we are still capable of making rational decisions.”

  “Adaptation or evolution?” Mack asked, scratching his grungy scalp.

  “We’re not in the greatest shape,” said Icepick. “Our clothes reek, as do we. I’d kill for a hot bath.”

  “Why the name Icepick?”

  “It’s better than Penelope.”

  “What about Penny?”

  “No, Mack.”

  For hours, Zack sat in the small bathroom upstairs while Mack and the rest stayed alert. Mack, Josh, Joey and Icepick knew something was wrong when they entered the bedroom. The three brothers acted strangely.

  “Zack is gone,” Terrance said while staring at the floor.

  Joey ran into the bathroom to see that Zack had hung himself from the light fixture. His belongings neatly sat on the sink. Joey grabbed everything and stumbled back into the bedroom.

  “What happened?” Mack asked.

  “He killed himself,” Joey answered with a stricken expression. “I need to leave. Can we leave?”

  “We should leave,” Shawn answered. “This house sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s likely our enemies know about this place. Lingering here is stupid.”

  The seven moved further into the open danger, further from safety. Rain poured down hard on the survivors. Only Mack enjoyed the rain. Machete in hand, he danced about and giggled.

  “Your cousin is very ill,” Shawn said to Josh. “He should not be out here.”

  “He knows what to do,” Josh asserted. “He was unstable far before the dead started to rise. He’s saved my ass plenty of times. He’s quick, ruthless and wildly observant. He’s unstable but surprisingly intelligent.”

  “Regardless, he is not okay.”

  “What do you think should be done about his behavior, doctor?”

  “He’s been mumbling about the most ludicrous things. Cooking and eating people, eating the hearts of the dirty to become clean with glory and similar disturbing things. He should go back.”

  “No more talking about this.”

  “This rain is too much,” Icepick said aloud. “We can’t keep going.”

  “No choice but to keep going,” Mack disagreed
. “I don’t think our enemies would be bold enough to trek through such heavy rain.”

  “I believe Mack is right,” Shawn announced. “We should push to the second checkpoint.”

  “What’s the second checkpoint?” Joey asked.

  “An abandoned gas station a few miles from here. We can’t stay there for long.”

  “Look!” Terrance yelled, pointing at a massive wall of zombies hobbling their way.

  Trying to help find a suitable hiding spot, Randy led everyone for miles. They hid in a small park behind a grocery store. Exhausted, the fatigue stricken rested atop a long rectangular roof sheltering several picnic tables. The roof was barely high enough to keep the undead from finding anyone lying flat across its surface.

  The group shivered in the rain for what seemed like days before the sun broke through the clouds.

  “I’m sick,” said Icepick.

  “You’ll be ok,” said Terrance. “You need to get warm, though.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “Let’s build a fire beneath this roof. We can’t go on like this. Whomever doesn’t help with the fire should keep watch.”

  No one wanted to leave the heat of the fire. Eventually, the group pushed forward and rested on top of a bus.

  “How much longer until we reach the gas station?” Josh asked.

  “Should reach it soon,” Terrance answered. “We’ll definitely need to scope out the area when we get there. There are loads of unchecked buildings that have been untouched since the initial zombie outbreak. Scouted the area six months ago but couldn’t get in where we wanted to. Too many undead in the area at the time.”

  Upon arriving, the gas station was crowded with bandits. The only reasonable choice was hiding beneath a bridge and waiting for them to leave.

  “Ever seen them before?” Mack asked Randy.

  “No. Those raiders appeared to be desperate. Probably killing, looting and repeating. They seemed to be unwell. Our enemies have made life hard for good people and lunatics like them.”

  “We’re exposed in more ways than one. Could travel when it gets dark.”

  “No, Mack.”

  “I’ll just kill the bandits and take their stuff.”

  “It’d be seven against at least a dozen.”

  “We can take them. They’re cocky, careless, intoxicated and completely unaware.”

  “Mack’s right,” said Shawn. “Victory could be taken. We’d have to be fast.”

  14

  “Landon’s lost it,” Nicole said to Heather while they helped build a short wooden wall. “He sits inside that old camper all the time. His wife had to be killed.”

  “Did she turn?”

  “No. She went crazy. Evil crazy.”

  “I’ve seen that happen a lot. Always happens to good hearted people who lose control or are given too much power.”

  “Something should be done about him.”

  “You know him, right?”

  “I know he’s trustworthy.”

  “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind having someone to talk to.”

  “You sound like a therapist.”

  “Funny thing is I used to be one.”

  “You should talk to him then.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “That isn’t who I am anymore. All I am now is someone trying to stay alive and kill anyone threatening the safety of this place.”

  Nicole found Landon inside the furthest rundown apartment building. He was sitting on the stairs.

  “Landon, you need to stop this.”

  “Everything needs to stop.”

  “Not everything’s going to. Come on, Landon. You got me through a lot. It’s time to keep living your life. I need you.”

  “Okay. I’ll guard the area. I don’t think I can do more than that, though.”

  “You just need time to heal. Patrol and guard the area, get to know people. Try to stay focused on the here and now.”

  “You’re right. I’ve been slipping. Thanks for the pep talk.”

  “That’s what friends are for.”

  Blake and Irene worked on the wall with Heather and Nicole. Ian and Scott were usually plotting with a few people. Landon was rejected by all he tried to associate with. He was unaware of his profuse shaking. It didn’t take long for everyone to find out about his condition. Two were assigned to watch over him, to kill him if he negatively altered anyone’s safety. His weapons were seized. He spent most of his time alone and in the corners of the settlement, babbling insanities and making odd screeching sounds. Some believed he’d come through, but none trusted him.

  15

  “This won’t be a difficult hunt,” a young man said to his two friends as he looked through the rifle’s scope and passed it to an old man.

  “Three people with rifles,” the old man said before handing the rifle to the third man hiding behind the fallen tree. “It’ll be a turkey shoot. Let me take the shots.”

  “Okay. Red, let Gary take the shots. Once they’re down, loot the bodies and come right back.”

  “Why won’t you two come with me?” Red asked. “Are you two planning to kill me?”

  “No,” the tired man answered. “Stop being a paranoid idiot. We only have three shots. Gary is the best marksman.”

  “You’re right. I understand. I’m ready. Do your thing, Gary.”

  Gary stared through the scope. He fired the bolt action rifle, reloaded and repeated until all three men in blue were dropped. Red hopped over the fallen tree, thoroughly searched the bodies and returned to his comrades.

  “Good job,” the tired man said.

  “Thanks,” Red replied as the rifles, backpacks and ammunition were shared. “I think we make a great team. Can I make the cuts?”

  “Yeah,” Gary answered. “Cut the healthiest looking one. Get arm and leg pieces. I really can’t handle anything else.”

  “I’m ready.”

  “Go.”

  Red jogged over to the corpses, chose the least sickly-looking candidate and went to work. He hummed a tune while removing thin slabs of flesh from the arms and legs. He then placed them on a piece of thick cloth and neatly folded it up. The cloth was placed in a dirty plastic bag.

  “This is too easy,” George said with a smile. “All we have to do is kill and take what we want. What a great world to live in.”

  “We need more people with us,” said Gary. “I know you don’t like that idea. I also know you won’t like the changes that come with it. Won’t be able to act crazy in a large group of people.”

  “I won’t be able to eat people anymore. That’ll suck. Maybe we should join the bandits. They won’t care about what I do.”

  “That isn’t a good idea. Your best choice is to join a group of timid people.”

  “Timid people annoy me.”

  “Timid people annoy almost everybody. It is the best idea. We’ll gain their trust and wait for opportunities to arise. Until we find a big group, stray zombies will remain as a big problem. There seem to be more and more of them with each passing week. That usually means a huge horde is coming in our direction.”

  “Fine. Let’s join up with some timid people. The ones coming in and out of that wall seem like easy targets. They’re enemies of the people dressed in blue.”

  “Just because they’re enemies of the blues doesn’t mean they’ll be friendly to us. It’s still our best chance. Get rid of the meat, Red.”

  George, Gary and Red approached one of the manmade doors on the wall and waited. Several minutes later, the door opened and the three walked inside.

  “Who are you people?” Ian asked.

  “My name’s George. This is Gary and Red. We got attacked by people dressed in blue clothing days ago. We’re all that’s left. There were forty of us. We’re screwed if you don’t let us in.”

  George, Gary and Red were introduced to the community while Josh, Mack, Joey, Icepick, Shawn, Randy and Terrance rested after a breath-taking battle with the
bandits. None of the attackers were killed or wounded. Nonetheless, the attack took its toll on Mack.

  16

  “I am powerful,” Mack repeated as he rocked back and forth in a corner. “I am the lord of war. I am among the strongest. I will always win.”

  “May I speak with you about the things you’re saying?” Shawn asked. “I want to help you, Mack.”

  “I’m fine, doctor. Leave me to my thoughts. I just killed twelve people. Leave me be.”

  Joey, Josh and Icepick were awakened the next morning by screaming. Mack, Randy, Terrance and Shawn stood at the ready. In seconds, four people came into view. Their faces were pale and covered with boils. They screamed and let out psychotic laughter as they neared the gas station’s entrance. Terrance shot a woman in the head and waited for the rest to get within range. One after another, sickly people ran at them and were shot down. An eerie silence followed.

  “There will be more of them!” Terrance yelled. “There are always more of them.”

  Terrance was right. Thirty-six crazed sickly people charged the team. None got close enough to do any harm.

  “We have attracted every zombie within quite a distance,” Shawn warned. “We have to go immediately.”

  “Why’d they come after us?” Mack asked.

  “They’ve gone mad,” Randy answered. “Strays are coming our way. Keep up with us. We’ll get on the firetruck in a parking lot up ahead. Don’t get caught up and surrounded.”

  Mack stayed close to the bulk of the group and quickly shot any undead that got too close. He noticed Icepick was falling behind. She grew tired, got separated from the group and had stopped to fight five zombies that had surrounded her.

  Mack sprinted to Icepick and slashed the back of her leg with his machete. He ran off as the ravenous monsters forced her to the ground and ate her alive. He tried his best to catch up with the others but was cut off by eleven zombies between him and the firetruck.

  Out of options and thinking quickly, Mack shot and kicked the beasts to create an opening. He cried for a moment as he reached and climbed the firetruck.

  “Where’s Icepick?” Joey asked.

  “She’s dead,” Mack answered as he hyperventilated. “Tried to save her but couldn’t. I tried so hard to save her.”