“I’d love to come visit you. Maybe take you to dinner sometime. See a movie, even.” I laughed, but it was sad that it wasn’t a possibility anymore. “And I’d really like to get to know you better.”
I smiled. “I’d like that. But first, let’s survive the end of the world, ‘kay?”
“You got it. That’s a solid promise. I believe you are my patient now, right?”
I laughed and pulled the gun from my holster.
“Whatever you say, Doc. Let’s clear this place out and see if my friends were here.”
He followed behind with his axe.
26
We cleared the parking lot in less than three minutes, killing four Lifeless that were pretty bad off. We decided to leave the resort alone for now, working strictly outside. The grounds were clear but since it was surrounded by woods, it left us open to attack at any moment. Entering the through a side gate that led to the hot springs out back was easy enough, but the scene that enfolded wasn’t something I was prepared for. Four large hot springs sat before us totally empty. I couldn’t believe it. No one was outside at the moment the world ended? That was hard to believe. I helped Brock make the sweep, checking inside the locker room finding them all empty.
Where was everyone? I turned to Brock and shrugged my shoulders. Then I thought of the Walmart we had visited in that town. It had seemed like everyone was gone and all the lifeless were too, except they weren’t. I slowly walked back through the gate, back to the front of the resort as Brock followed. I peeked inside the window, trying my hardest to be quiet. They didn’t see me but they were in fact in there. I moved quickly and jumped away before any of them saw me. Brock and I had been quiet enough.
“They’re inside,” I told Brock. “If we are quiet they won’t attract any others that might be roaming around. Looks like someone locked them in there.”
I moved Brock away and pulled him out to the front, keeping clear of the large windows. He bent down and ushered me close to him.
“Who could have locked them in? And how can they alert other things? I’m confused.”
My first instinct was that the girls locked them in, but I couldn’t be sure. We hadn’t seen any sign that they’d been through there.
I couldn’t tell him about the Walmart incident without telling him about what was really happening. And telling him that might scare him off, but he deserved to know.
“Okay, so the end of the world might not be the actual end,” I began. “I’ve seen the ugly parts of life that most people don’t see. As a reporter I’ve seen true evil; murders, rape, money scams. This world we live in now, it’s a whole different level of evil. In my heart I know this isn’t the way we end. These things aren’t zombies, they’re demons. They’re here because they’re leveling the playing field, sort of. The Devil wasn’t having much fun with all the humans creating chaos and evil all of their own free will. He was bored. So he put his demons inside the dead bodies of humans. They can communicate with one another because the dead bodies are just a shell. Inside they’re demons and they’re evil, which is why they seem so hell bent on murdering us. I mean, did you see the one at the hospital?”
He slid down the building wall and I went with him. He looked shocked but nodded like it was sinking in.
“Why?”
“I guess the Devil was bored. He felt it necessary to wipe us out so God would create a whole new race of humans. God’s not standing idly by. He is the one sending the earthquakes, fires, tornados, and storms. I’ve seen a tornado hit random spots taking humans with it, twice. I think that he means for some of us to survive though. And I think you’re included.”
He stared at me blankly. I could see that he was trying to process it all but it was overwhelming. It wasn’t something you just believe instantly. I wrestled with the idea of it myself. It wasn’t until I saw things unfold before me that I actually believed the theory behind it all. Seeing Wasp Head really showed me the real demon behind the dead eyes.
“I have seen things that are unexplained in normal society. The world we know is gone, I can attest to that,” he began, as he stood up from his crouch. “The people in the hospital were killed so fast and with such force that it was impossible for a dead body to have that strength. They wiped out my friends and patients with a vengeance. I can see your theory behind such an attack. They weren’t human, with their red eyes and evil power.”
“So you believe me?” I was shocked.
“I haven’t said that, but there isn’t a better reason yet. I’ll do whatever I can to keep my mom safe and help other survivors out there.”
I nodded, looking out at the mountains before me. If I was going to make it to the girls I had to get going. I looked around at the amount of abandoned cars and wondered where all the people had gone. They just disappeared into thin air, but then again it could have been another act of God. I sighed.
“I have to go,” I told him. I didn’t want to have to say goodbye to Brock, there was something in him that I connected with and I wondered if I would see him again. It was funny how fast we clung to relationships when there were no other humans around. We either saw the evil in them or the good; but either way it was visibly faster now.
Brock walked back to his car with me and handed me a pack that had water and food for my trip. I missed my back pack that Lou made me, but that was gone now just like Snack was. I had to make do with this.
“I think that you really should take a car,” he suggested. “It would be faster. That way you don’t have to be out there on your own. You can still look for them on the way, but you will be safer.”
I hadn’t thought about hotwiring a car, but I could do it for sure. It wasn’t like there was anyone here using them or in need of them. I nodded.
“I’ll be fine. Take care of yourself, Brock,” I said, patting his shoulder. I wanted to hug him but I didn’t want to be too forward. So when he wrapped his arms gently around me and pulled me close, I stiffened in shock. Slowly I relaxed and hugged him back. He smelled like pine trees and honey and I sniffed him discreetly.
“I’ll never forget all that you’ve done for me,” I whispered into his shoulder.
He pulled back and looked into my eyes and said, “This isn’t goodbye, Kamile.”
His lips found mine and it felt amazing to be kissing someone who actually wanted to kiss me. I let all thoughts go of the world and the situation I was facing and just fell into his arms.
I pulled away and missed his touch immediately. I watched him get into his car and drive away with sadness in my heart. And I prayed for his safety and that I’d see him again. There was hope in Brock’s eyes; a hope that survival in times like these was possible.
Once his car was out of sight I found myself a small car and hotwired it quickly, once again thankful that Sam’s dad had taught me years ago. Leaving the beautiful Sol Duc was sad but I knew I’d be back there one day on my way to visit Brock and Bertie.
As I drove I saw the most beautiful scenery including waterfalls like I’d never seen before. This country was so lush and gorgeous, and I was so happy to be here. I passed a few demons who’s eyes followed me as I sped by. I flipped them off as I went, hoping they’d tell their master that I wasn’t going to lay down and die. The route through the mountain was a straight shot and I saw signs for Lake Crescent right away. I watched out my window for signs of the girls but saw nothing. My stomach was a nervous mess and my mind was filled with what ifs. What if I don’t find them? What if they never made it? What if I do find them and they don’t want me there?
It wasn’t until I saw the big beautiful lake before me that I realized where I was. I remembered driving up to this lake ten years before with Lou in her uncles suburban. We sailed through the windy roads, passing big beautiful cabins and happy people who waved as we passed by.
I remembered the small cluster of blue mailboxes that sa
t out before his street. And as I passed them now a thrill went through me; I was close.
I could feel it inside that I was almost there. The cabin was on a sort of cul-de-sac, sitting at the very end facing the big beautiful blue lake. There it stood, with the back of the cabin staring at me. I parked the car down the road and left my packed food and water behind. I pulled my gun, just in case, and looked for a semblance of life coming from the cabin. Nothing.
No smoke. No life. No noise.
I took the path leading toward the lake and front steps of the weathered wood cabin. The lake was still and peaceful. I stood there staring out at the water and wondered where my friends were if they weren’t here.
Maybe they were here and they stepped out. Or maybe they were looking for me. I sat on one of the large rocks that surrounded the cabin and cried.
It was my fault they weren’t here. I ran off, like an idiot, and they were probably out looking for me, in harm’s way. When I cried all of my tears out, and nothing was left, I got off the rock and went up to the cabin. The scene from the day we made the pact ten years ago played out in my minds memory. We sat there at that very lake and made a vow, one I didn’t adhere to. Who knew that it would come true? We sure didn’t.
The cabin was locked up tight, with boards covering the first floor windows; probably to keep out the lifeless or perhaps for privacy from them. If they didn’t know you were there, they would just move on.
I let the screen door slam shut and turned and sat down on the steps. I’d have to stay there since it was beginning to get dark. Then I’d go out and try to find them tomorrow. I could retrace the steps back to Bertie’s and back to the radio station. One way or another, I’d find my friends. I wouldn’t be alone forever. I would find out what happened to them.
When I heard barking in the distance, I absently thought that maybe someone else was home in their own cabin. Maybe tomorrow I’d go introduce myself and ask them if they saw Lou or Emma. The barking came closer.
I sat up and turned around carefully. Maybe a herd of Lifeless were coming my way and the dog was warning its humans. What I saw before me wasn’t what I thought I’d see. Snack was running along the same pathway I had walked with her little pink tongue hanging out. And behind her were Emma and Lou.
27
Emma stopped walking and Lou hadn’t seen me yet, so she turned to Emma and yelled, “Knees to your chest Emma, we gotta get dinner started before dark.”
When Emma didn’t respond, she too turned. I swallowed hard, nervous to hear her reaction. I didn’t expect what happened next. Lou screamed and ran toward me with open arms.
She grabbed me and hugged my neck so tight I couldn’t breathe, but I didn’t care. I cried in my best friends arms and soon felt Emma’s arms around me.
“We thought you were dead,” Lou cried. “How did you survive out there? Why did you run off?”
It was all questions I could answer later when I wasn’t a blubbering mess. They let go and Snack jumped and licked me ferociously, so I picked her up and kissed her soft face. I was so happy to see them all alive and healthy. I thought Snack died out there without me, but I should have known that the girls found her and saved her.
“How did you find, Snack? She was with me last,” I asked.
Emma wiped her tears and said, “She found us. She led us to where you last stayed the night. We found your pack and everything. When we didn’t find you, we thought the worst. We came here and have been posting signs for you along the highway, just in case. I always had hope, Kami.”
I nodded, knowing what that hope felt like. I had fears too, but I also had that belief that I would find them even in the darkest of times. It would have been nice to have seen the signs along the road I travelled but I didn’t.
Lou looked me over and noticed my red swollen skin. “What happened to you? And you cut off all your hair!”
I laughed, “You’ll never believe it. But can we go inside? I have a lot to tell you all.”
We held onto each other tightly as we walked up the porch into the cabin. It smelled of pine and it smelled like home. Emma lit the fire place and Lou started a pot of something delicious. Emma made my bed for me, which was the same one ten years prior. The cabin had three rooms, two upstairs and one below. I was upstairs with Lou next door. The loft overlooked the whole lake and you could see for miles and miles. The trees next to the house provided ample cover and the back of the house faced the road, so we could see anything coming right out of our rooms and the kitchen. I sat on my bed and let it all sink in. The path that we had begun nearly two weeks before had finally been revealed to me. We made it. Together we did it.
There might have been many obstacles in between, but we proved that true friendship could survive the end of the world.
I walked down, ate with them and told them all about Wasp Head and the horrific attack I had somehow survived. Then I told them about Bertie and of course Brock. I wondered if Brock made it home safely, but something told me he was all right. He was probably home with Bertie now and free of crazy Kami. He probably thought mine and Doug’s theory about all this was insane. But I knew in my heart, like Doug did, that it was the truth.
“Ohhh, Kami has a boyfriend,” Emma teased. “Does he have a brother?”
I laughed and ran my fingers through my hair, loving the freeness of it.
“No. I plan on going back to visit them and repay their kindness however I can. Bertie has a whole farm, maybe we can trade something for some fresh eggs.”
Emma smiled at the fact that there was fresh food and Lou patted my shoulder and said, “I’m real glad you had someone to take care of you, but I wish you’d never had run off. I tried to find you right after, but you were gone so fast.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “I’m so sorry about Ida, I should have told you right away. I should have let you be with her and say goodbye properly. I took that away from you and I shouldn’t have.”
Lou nodded. “I’ve made my peace with it, Kami. I’m thankful she had you to help her in the end. I’m not sure I could have done it. And I am glad I didn’t lose you, too.”
The rest of the night we spent our time talking about what they did while I was away from them; it basically included searching for me and finding the remains of the camp where I left Linda behind. They said they found military vehicles strewn about in masses of metal and the only thing that survived was a few weapons.
When Emma got tired and went to bed, Lou and I sat out on the porch to watch the lake and be in the silence of the night. I stretched out, finally comfortable with my surroundings. I felt like I was home when I was there. I knew they felt the same way because I sensed a peace about them.
“The cabin is stocked and we’re good for at least five years here,” Lou said quietly as to not awaken Emma. “We know there are a few other survivors on the other side of the lake because we’ve seen them a couple of times.”
I smiled at the thought of actual people just across the lake. It felt comforting to know that we weren’t alone. Finally we had found survivors!
“How about the lifeless?”
She nodded. “There were a few here when we arrived. Emma thought that her dad was here, but I don’t think he made it out of Port Angeles. There is always hope he’ll come later. It’s all just beginning really. It’s only been a few weeks and we have no idea what the future holds for us.”
She sipped her tea and looked up to the sky where the stars shone brighter than ever before.
“We found out that there are small pockets of survivors across the world but not many. The Navy kid Emma spoke to confirmed that it’s happening all over the world and that many countries are worse off than we are. The demons killed millions of people in just days and then freak accident’s killed the others. Of course the Navy isn’t claiming a biblical war as to its cause, they’re calling the Lifeless, Reanimates.
They think that something in the dead became alive again causing them to cause mass chaos and murder.” She rolled her eyes and I sighed.
“And what of the storms and earthquakes?”
She laughed, “Ah, yes, they’re claiming that’s due to the Reanimates climbing from their graves. They said that their top scientist’s think it caused a shift in the earth’s core. A bunch of bullshit if you ask me.”
So she believed the biblical war was the cause instead of the scientist’s philosophy, and Ida’s as well. It made me happy to think that she actually believed me even though I had absolutely no proof; besides a biblical crack-pot like Doug. She pet Snack and then looked at me.
“Glad you’re here, gal. It hasn’t been the same without you.”
I reached out and grabbed her hand. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than right here. She went inside the house placing Snack on my lap, knowing I wanted to be out here for a little bit more. At that moment, with the peaceful lake before me and the quiet night looming in the trees, I was ready for whatever God had in store for me. I wondered if the girls felt the same. If a storm hit or an earthquake took us away forever, I would be okay with that. I was finally with the people I was supposed to be with. And we finally made it to the cabin. We had survived the trip and we had lived up to our promise. Our pact of survival was complete.
****
Epilogue
We knew it wasn’t what the Bible had predicted about the rapture. We had no doubt that it wasn’t the end that was prophesized in the Bible. How did we know this? Because we were still here and so were many others. We had survived the great attack of the Devil and we had fought him with our very souls and won. In the end of the attack, he took his demons and he left, never to be seen again. The storms stopped, the body count stopped rising, and the world went back to normal, sort of.
It happened so fast none of us had seen it coming. For six months we were living in the cabin, surviving without electricity, running water, plumbing, and fresh food. Then one day, I had gone outside to check the traps that we set in the woods for rabbit when I heard the familiar shuffle of Lifeless coming toward the cabin. I looked up and counted three rotting corpses with red eyes. I whistled loud and Snack began barking like mad. Emma ran out with her newly acquired machete and started toward them like it was no big deal to kill a few demons on a Tuesday morning. Lou looked on from the kitchen window and shook her head at Emma’s candor. She swirled her machete in the air, showing off her new tricks. I sighed and pulled my axe from my belt loop—I had begun carrying one since I saw Brock with his. I slowly walked toward the group, giving Emma plenty of time to do her thing, when just like a switch was turned off, they fell to the ground.
The Survival Pact Page 19