The Z-Day Trilogy (Book 4): Zombie World

by Mark Cusco Ailes

  Rapid fire began to ring out from somewhere in the distance. He looked in front of him and saw the shambler’s attention had been diverted, and they were turning to follow the sounds of the gunfire. Without wasting another minute, he ran in the direction of the gunfire, hoping whoever was firing the shots would see him running and not shoot him. He watched as several of the shamblers were struck, causing them to fall to the ground. Over a dozen still had their attention on the gunfire and continued shambling in that direction. Randy felt relieved; somebody was clearing a path for him to get to safety.

  He caught up to the carnage. Dozens of shamblers were lying motionless on the ground with holes bored into their foreheads. The gunfire was moving away from him. He was sure nobody had noticed him as he ran toward it. He followed the trail of dead shamblers until he heard the sound of a motor idling directly in front of him. Above the sound, he heard something like flesh being torn away from bone. He had a sickly feeling he knew what was happening. He moved cautiously toward the sound until he saw his brother lying underneath his bike with sprays of bright red arterial blood shooting upward. Three shamblers were crouched over his body, tearing at his flesh. His brother was lying motionless in a pool of his own blood. He wanted to cry out to him to see if he was still alive, but he knew he wasn’t, and he didn’t want to alert the shamblers to his presence.

  He turned to head in the opposite direction and abruptly stopped. A young man, covered in tattoos was standing there pointing an M16 at his head.

  “You should have minded your own business, boy,” he said menacingly. He fired a single shot, hitting Randy in the right kneecap. He watched as Randy went down to his knees. “I was going to shoot you in the head, but I think you deserve to be ripped apart by those creatures. Have a nice day.” He lowered his weapon and sprinted away from him, firing a couple shots at nearby shamblers as he left.

  Randy watched as several shamblers turned their attention toward him. He tried to stand, but the pain was too much for him to bear. He stole a glance toward his dead brother. It was the last thing he saw as the first bite was taken out of his shoulder.

  “What movie are you watching?” asked Ted as he walked into Mr. Shelton’s office.

  Mr. Shelton turned off the movie and looked at Ted. “This was the last film I made in America before the outbreak. It’s called ‘The Return’ and it was supposed to be released a few months ago. Now I’m planning on releasing it here at the park once the theater is operational.”

  “I heard it will be ready to open by opening day. They have some last-minute details to iron out.”

  Mr. Franks stood up and walked closer to Ted. “I see you’re on top of things around here. Is everything ready for tonight?”

  “I believe so. There haven’t been any reported problems with the rides. all the attractions are operational and employees are getting ready to go on duty. There are also going to be several reporters at the park tonight to talk to you.”

  Mr. Franks smiled. “Make sure you give them the grand tour and inform them the park will be officially open to the public a week from tonight. Make sure the VIPs know they will have their special day next Thursday, the day before the park officially opens. I want everything to be perfect for them.”

  “It will. I don’t foresee any problems.”

  “Good, now if you will join me on a tour of the park.”

  It was late afternoon when the park finally opened for the families of the employees. Long lines were already forming at the rollercoasters as Mr. Franks and Ted stood watching the excitement. Mr. Franks was confident the park would be a big hit with the visitors from around the world. A great deal of money had been spent downplaying the events that had taken place in America. He wanted the rest of the world to know nothing like that would ever happen at his park. Nothing had been overlooked when it came to the safety of the park and its visitors. He looked at Ted.

  “I want to witness the ‘Zombie Terror’ interactive ride firsthand and see exactly how the zombies will react to it. I’ve been informed by park employees it’s the greatest ride they’ve ever been on.”

  “I’m sure it will be a big hit around here. I went on it once myself and enjoyed it. It really brings you up close and personal with the zombies.”

  They stood in front of the entrance to the ‘Zombie Terror’ interactive ride. Mr. Franks was proud of it. He had a large part in the creation of it. It was designed to be the thrill ride of the century. He got inside the first car and told Ted he wanted to ride it by himself so he could feel the full effects of the ride. Ted watched as he got in the car and it slowly made its way along the track away from him.

  Mr. Franks was amazed by how smooth the ride was. He was expecting something entirely different. His engineers had spent a lot of time improving it until they had met his expectations. It continued down a rail until it curved to the right and headed toward the first building where a zombie was chained around the neck to a large pole at the entrance to the building. As he slowly passed the building, the zombie became agitated and tried to free itself from its restraints and get at him inside the car. He laughed as he passed it. This was exactly what he had been expecting with the zombies. If the rest of the zombies acted the same way, he knew he had accomplished what he had set out to do. The car continued down the track and into a wooded area where it encountered several more zombies chained to trees. Each one he encountered appeared to be more agitated than the last. The car continued through the trees to a small mock town built specially for the ride. There were zombies securely chained in every direction as if a large horde had attacked the town. The car continued through the town and around all the zombies. He was pleased by the reactions of the zombies to his presence. The experience gave him chills shooting down his spine. He knew the ride was ready for opening day. It was now one less thing he had to worry about. The ride ended and he got out of the car and was immediately approached by Ted.

  “The media is here to interview you at the entrance to the park. I’ve already informed them you were on your way.”

  Mr. Franks adjusted his black tie and looked at Ted proudly. “Well, let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”

  A crowd of reporters from several countries were anxiously waiting for him when he arrived at the front gate. Each reporter had a cameraman and an interpreter with him or her in case one was needed. Each one was anxious to get the interview with Mr. Franks underway.

  Mr. Franks took his place at the front of the entrance standing in front of two large displays depicting zombies walking through a darkened cemetery. He stood silent, glancing at the sea of reporters who were focused on him. He smiled and cleared his throat.

  “First off I want to welcome each and every one of you to my zombie park. This park is unique. A great deal of time and effort went into its design and construction, and promises to provide entertainment like never encountered before. I learned a lot about zombies while making my zombie movies, which have grossed over a billion dollars at the box office. This park will get you up close and personal with the hundreds of zombies you’ll find through these gates leading inside. I know there are concerns about the park because of what happened in America. I promise you, we have the safety of our guests in mind. We have gone to great lengths to make sure nothing happens here like it did in America. We have added security personnel and security cameras are posted throughout the park. Nothing will happen inside the park without somebody knowing about it. You probably saw how tight security is around the beach as the boat brought you to the island. We have security personnel located around the entire shoreline of the island, and of course, more cameras. I know once you’re inside the park, you’ll find it’s one of a kind and is entirely safe to visit. I will now answer any questions you may have.” Several hands were raised. He had already been expecting a lot of questions. He looked at Ted and whispered, “Here comes all the questions about security.” He turned his attention back to the crowd. He pointed to a short, Chinese young lady wearing a blu
e business suit. “Go ahead with your question.”

  “You claim the park is safe. How can you make such a claim when I’ve been told the same thing was claimed in America? Their zombies still got loose and attacked people.”

  Mr. Franks paused for a moment and looked around the crowd. “Their zombies got loose because they had a breach. They didn’t have adequate security for the park. They made many mistakes and they paid the ultimate price. I understand your concerns. This is why security is our top priority. We don’t want the same thing to happen here, and we’re not going to let it happen here. It’s as simple as that. Our park is secure, and I promise you we won’t have a repeat of America happening here.” He paused to think for a moment. “Does anybody have any questions that don’t involve security?”

  One hand was raised. Mr. Franks pointed to the tall man wearing a tan suit. He said he was from Brazil, and he wanted to know why anyone would want to build another park when the one in America failed, and did he think people would actually come to the park knowing what had happened there. Mr. Franks knew that question would be asked, as well, and was ready to answer it. He adjusted his tie and tried to remember how he practiced answering the question.

  “I asked myself the same question. If I build it, will they come? I asked several of my colleagues this question. I admit it was a controversial idea. I had mixed answers to my question, but I had to make the decision myself. It all boiled down to the foreign box office. All of my zombie movies did well in the foreign market. That is what I solely based my decision on. So, yes, I think they will come to my park. People are naturally curious about zombies, and I don’t think the mishap in America will keep them from coming here. The park has everything for the family to enjoy. Our restaurants serve the finest in ethnic foods, and we have tour guides hired from several different cultures so there won’t be a communication problem. Our designers have thought about everything that could go wrong and solved it before it ever became an issue. Look, we built and now I’m sure they will come. We already sold out of our VIP tickets for the park’s grand opening next Thursday. Each one of you will be receiving a ticket for Thursday before you leave so you can report here on opening night. There isn’t much more I can say to convince you that our park is completely safe. You’ll have to come inside now and make the decision for yourself. I will take you on a tour of the park and explain its entire operation to you. Now, if you will keep any of your remaining questions until the tour is over, we will now commence the tour.” He led the large group through the gates where a tram in the shape of a large coffin was waiting to shuttle them to the command center where the tour was about to take place.

  Julie sat watching as Kylie and Carl rode the bumper cars, crashing into each other and laughing. She was relieved to see Kylie having fun. On the other hand, she still had a dilemma over when she was going to tell them their parents were dead. She knew the longer she waited, the harder it was going to be for them. She watched as the ride ended. She waited for the children to join her.

  “Why aren’t you riding any of the rides?” asked Kylie, sitting next to her.

  Julie sighed. She never was much for going on rides at amusement parks. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t like them; it could have something to do with the time she witnessed a young boy expel his stomach contents in front of her after riding a rollercoaster, or the time when she was younger she witnessed people stuck on a tall ride. It really could be just about anything. This park didn’t make her want to ride any of the rides. It was a morbid place. Every ride had some theme relating to death. She let Kylie drag her to her feet.

  “You need some licorice ice cream, Aunt Julie, or maybe even chocolate with sprinkles.”

  “I guess that sounds all right.”

  Kylie held her hand on the way to the ice cream parlor. There wasn’t much of a line when they got there; most of the children at the park were on the rides. Julie read the reader board on the types of ice cream being served. Once again, everything was themed. Some of the names were strange to her. There was Creepy Crawlers Custard, Skeleton Sherbet, Spider Sorbet, and Monster Milkshake. She couldn’t understand why anybody would want to order ice cream with those ridiculous names. All she wanted was an old fashioned chocolate ice cream cone with sprinkles. She didn’t want to eat anything with a spooky name attached to it. After they received their order, she sat at a table near the front window and observed Chris ordering a burger from the outside burger cart. She knew exactly what he was ordering–a double cheeseburger with extra bacon, a large plate of nacho fries, and a large cola. He was a creature of habit. He rarely changed what he was going to eat for lunch or dinner. She turned away to keep him from seeing her sitting there. She didn’t feel like having a conversation with him right now.

  “I’m getting tired,” said Carl, putting his spoon on the table. “I want to go home.”

  “Really?” asked Julie. “It’s still early. Isn’t there any more rides you want to go on?”

  “Not tonight. I have plenty of time to ride them. I live here now. I guess going on rides is the only thing I’ll be able to do for the rest of my life.” He paused for a moment. “You don’t have to worry about telling us about our parents. We both already know they’re dead.”

  “What do you mean? How do you know?”

  “They would have contacted us by now if they were still alive. They wouldn’t do this to us if they were still alive.”

  Kylie looked at her brother in disgust. “How can you say something like that? You don’t really know they’re dead.”

  Julie knew she couldn’t keep the truth from them any longer. If she did, she knew they would resent her for the rest of her life. “It’s true. Both of your parents have died.” She focused her attention on Kylie to see how she was responding to the news. Kylie kept eating her ice cream as if she hadn’t heard. “Honey, you did hear what I said, didn’t you?”

  Kylie remained silent for several minutes before replying. “I heard you.”

  “Is there anything you want to ask me?”

  “No,” she replied softly. “I know my mother was bitten. She probably turned into a zombie and killed my father.”

  Julie stared at her surprised by what she had said. “Did somebody tell you that’s what happened?”

  “Carl did.”

  Julie turned her attention to Carl. “Carl, why would you tell her something like that?”

  “Because I don’t lie to my sister, or keep secrets from her. She needs to know we’re now alone in this world. We have to take care of each other now.”

  “But you’re not alone. You have me now to look after you.”

  Carl stared at her. “You kept a secret from us. You should have told us about our parents. Besides, you’re busy around here. You won’t have time for us. We’re only going to get in your way. I’m sure you don’t want to take care of us.”

  “Now wait a minute, young man! How dare you say something like that to me! I was going to tell you about your parents when the time was right. Also, I’ll never be too busy to take care of you. I love the both of you and that’s why you’re here with me on the island.”

  “An island with zombies.”

  “I’m sorry about that. I know it will be hard for the both of you to be here. It’s something we’ll have to deal with, but I promise you you’re perfectly safe here. I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

  “What happens if they get loose? I don’t want to get bitten like my mother did.”

  “Listen Carl, that’s not going to happen, and if they do get loose, I’ll get the both of you to safety. I’ll get you to the boat and take you off the island myself. Don’t worry. I’m going to look out for the both of you.” She thought about the possibility of the zombies getting loose on the island. It had crossed her mind before, and she had some concerns about it, but Mr. Franks reassured her it couldn’t happen. When she first began her employment on the island, she had a recurring nightmare about the zombies getting loose an
d attacking the park’s guests. Even though she tried to shield it from her mind, it constantly nagged at her. The dream always started inside a church during the zombie outbreak where twenty parishioners–some deep in prayer, others huddled safely together sobbing. A constant barrage of pounding sounded on the tall front doors leading outside, which had been barricaded. The preacher stood at the altar reciting a verse from the Bible. She remembered he said Jesus loves you. Jesus has always loved you. She recalled he stopped short to listen to the pounding on the door before continuing. “There was a woman whose heart wasn’t pure. She had been and continued to be a sinner. She made a dishonest living off of the misappropriated property of others. In other words, she was a thief.”

  More pounding echoed on the doors causing a bench being used as a barricade to topple over. Two men in the back row secured it back in place.

  The preacher continued with his sermon. “On one particular night, she broke into a house where she knew the family wouldn’t be at home. She had been watching the family’s routine and took note of the nights the house was left empty. On this particular night she was planning to rob it. Once the family was gone, she broke into the house. It was pitch black inside. She was in total darkness. It was like the darkness that she constantly lived in. It was like a tall, darkened wall separating her from Jesus, from her salvation. She had a small flashlight to light her way to the TV. She didn’t stop with the TV. She knew money and jewelry could be found in the bedrooms and that’s where she went, following the small beam of light. She found the master bedroom and found a jewelry box sitting on top of a nightstand. She knew she had found what she had been looking for. She was about to make her way toward it when she heard a faint voice. ‘I love you and Jesus loves you’. Unaware there was somebody in the house, she panicked. She shone the light around the room but she was alone. Once again the voice broke through the darkness. ‘I love you and Jesus loves you’. She broke into a sweat and waved her flashlight all around looking for the voice in the darkness.”