by Tristan Vick
No, Kevin was certain that staying in the city was a bad idea. They had been managing it for several weeks, but it only got more and more difficult. Food was becoming scarcer, and as finding food became their main concern, the days simply turned into one long expedition after another to find scraps to eat. If they were lucky, they’d find a package of dehydrated noodles to share. If they were lucky. He knew that it was only a matter of time before their luck ran out.
The only relief was to be found in the forests and wilderness that surrounded Mount Fuji. It was this sacred mountain where he felt the other survivors would migrate to. He’d bet his entire week’s rations on it.
More than this, though, it also gave him a goal. A destination. A purpose. Something to keep him preoccupied so he wouldn’t spiral into the black void of depression every time he thought about Saeko and his failure to protect her.
That was another reason he wanted to get out of the city. He wanted to escape the damn ghost of Saeko that hounded him nearly every step of the way. He wanted to get as far away from her and the memory of her as possible. For that, he needed a change of scenery.
As a jumble of thoughts filtered through his mind, Kevin finally drifted off to sleep.
Even though she was exhausted, Kana found that she had a reserve of energy keeping her wide awake. What she wanted was a good fuck so she could get off and burn all this excess energy—release all her tension. But Kevin was already sound asleep and gently snoring. She grumbled to herself in disappointment and then curled into a ball, but it seemed that no matter what position she tried, up down, stretched out or curled up, she couldn’t seem to make herself comfortable. The stress of the week had really gotten to her.
After a few minutes of twisting and turning, Kana finally settled down into the seat and decided to try and force herself to go to sleep. She closed her eyes and suddenly she saw the visage of the small girl reaching out for her, begging her to help get free of the fence as the monsters slowly creeped up on her. Kana shot awake. Her heart raced a mile a minute inside her chest and she breathed heavily. Why now? Why when she was so exhausted did she have to think of this?
Upset, Kana grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself up tight, then closed her eyes again. Again, she saw the face of that Godforsaken young girl—the girl she had left behind. The girl she could have saved but. Kana wanted to forget the entire thing, but she couldn’t. She felt terrible. All she could do was cry silent tears until she finally nodded off.
39
Retreat to Greener Pastures
The Tokyo Area, Near Sagamihara
Rising early to get a head start on the day’s journey, Kevin and Kana had finally come to the end of the city. They earmarked this leg of the journey by noting that the landscape changed from a stark monochromatic grayscale, filled with nothing but brick and concrete, to a lush green tapestry of bamboo trees and dense leafy foliage. The greenery spread out in the valley before them as far as the eye could see.
“It’s beautiful,” Kana said, taking Kevin’s hand in hers.
Kevin held her hand in his, but didn’t say anything. He simply wanted to enjoy the moment.
In the distance, Mount Fuji rose into the sky, dominating the terrain with its unrivaled majesty. The air smelled cool and fresh. A stark contrast to the dank and musky smell of the inner city. Out here they could breathe. And the rich oxygen revitalized them.
Kana squeezed Kevin’s hand. They were nearly free of the infestation of the city and were about to enter the safety of the forest. “We made it,” she said, smiling up at him. “We actually made it.”
Kevin felt relieved too. Out here, away from the city, the dense bamboo forest would provide additional cover and protection for them. Together they could fashion weapons from the sturdy bamboo and sharp rocks. They could build a shelter and they could eat the bamboo shoots, mushrooms, wild radishes, and the assortment of berries that grew out in the wild away from the city. They could sharpen tree branches into spears and arrows. They could hunt and snare small game. It wouldn’t be a glamorous life, but they’d get by. They’d survive. And more importantly, they’d be a hell of a lot safer out here in the wilderness than in the depths of the hungry city.
Kevin’s pitch hadn’t been an easy sell though. Kana hadn’t shared his enthusiasm. Not initially, at any rate. She felt the city still offered the best hope for their survival. She had argued that the city had clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies they could raid for medical supplies should they get sick. Finding food would still be a never-ending grind, but, when wasn’t it?
Additionally, Kana hadn’t wanted to leave her rooftop garden which was taking nicely and, after several weeks, the bathhouse was beginning to feel like home to them. Kevin knew that she hated leaving it all for something less certain. But, eventually, she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was glad she had too. Especially now that they both knew she was with child.
“Do you remember where you were when it all happened?” Kana asked.
Kevin turned toward her. “Yes.”
Kana looked at him with curious eyes and waited for him to tell her his account of Z-Day.
“Actually, I was at the airport,” he began. “I had just arrived in Japan, and then suddenly there was a lot of commotion. Announcements started on the intercoms. First in Japanese. Then English, Korean, and Chinese. They said that all flights had been canceled until further notice. Not delayed, but canceled. Then all the televisions became bogged down with news reports of the crash. I remember aerial scenes of Tokyo Dome smoking with the wreckage of Flight 93Z, the wreckage of the plane clearly visible inside the stadium. I remember the fleet of firetrucks surrounding the stadium—as everyone worked valiantly to put out the fires.” After a brief pause, Kevin asked, “What about you?”
“I was at work, at my bank,” she replied. “Everything you described is exactly how I remember it too.”
Although they both skirted around it, there was more to the memories. At the time of the reports, there were things that neither of them wanted to accept, especially since it all seemed so outlandish.
“Then, a week later,” Kevin said, continuing on, “Saeko and I watched a man peel a fellow student’s face off and eat it. And the next thing we knew, we were fleeing for our lives.”
“I basically stockpiled my groceries,” Kana informed him. “And after all my food ran out, I waited four days and nights, chewing gum and eating dried seaweed, the only things I had left. Till I didn’t anymore. And when I felt so famished that I could hardly move anymore, I decided I should get out and look for food. And the very moment I left my apartment I was chased. And frightened out of my mind, I ran, and ran, till I thought my lungs would explode in my chest. Then, I realized I was lost and scared. But in the distance I could see the cracked dome of the Tokyo Dome. Finally, I thought. A familiar landmark. And, well, that’s the day I met you.”
Standing before the green grove of the forest, Kevin couldn’t help but feel a huge sense of relief. They had survived the worst of it. The outbreak, the pandemonium in the streets, the week long bout of nonstop chaos…they had survived it all.
Kevin looked over at Kana and asked, “Are you ready for this?”
“I’m ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
Holding hands, they stood before the towering bamboo glade, simply glad they had made it this far. “It will be slow going from here on out,” Kevin stated. “But if we can get another ten kilometers into the forest, we should be safe for the night.”
Just then, moans followed them up from the depths of the city. Kevin and Kana spun around to see a host of zombies flood out of the shadows, seeping out from the dark cracks between the concrete buildings, like a swarm of locusts. They watched as the creatures poured into the streets all around them. It was an entire herd, mindlessly lumbering toward them.
“Shit!” Kevin cursed as he watched the living dead flood into the streets from all sides. It looked as though someone had kicked open a cockroa
ch infested wall and an entire pile of grimy bugs came spilling out. There had to be hundreds of them.
“Run!” Kevin shouted, pushing Kana ahead of him. With frenzied steps they both dashed into the dense green forest of bamboo—running for their lives.
PART 7
AMERICA
BUFFALO, NEW YORK
FORT ERIE
40
Red Cadillac
Near County Fair Mall, Fort Erie
Sitting in the parking lot of the Sea-Doo water craft and Jet Ski sports store was a pristine, candy-apple red Cadillac ATS-V. It was the top of the line luxury sports sedan and one Jennifer Hurley had been eyeing for quite some time.
She would have bought one last year too if it wasn’t for the fact that her sleazebag of a husband Levi slapped her with divorce papers and froze all her credit cards. At the time, it dawned on her that if she didn’t win a large settlement from him, the car, the apartment in Vegas, and the yacht would all be but a fantasy. Now, here was her dream car, door hanging wide open as if it were inviting her inside. Its dead owner lay several feet away in the middle of the parking lot, wearing his insides on the outside. But to add to her stroke of luck, the car keys were still clutched in his balled-up fist.
As she pried the keys from his dead fingers, Jen wondered what on earth had compelled him to leave his vehicle. Was he trying to help one of the infected? Did he not understand what had transpired? Whatever the case may be, she was happy to finally get her very own Caddy.
Turning toward the car, she smiled. It was ripe for the taking, but she’d need gas. And clothes.
Turning toward the aquatic sports store, she entered the store. The bells on the doors chimed as she stepped inside. She stopped and waited for the sound to arouse any dead-heads, but nothing. The coast was clear.
There was a small bathing suit section where Jen found a bright yellow bikini and quickly slipped it on. Checking herself out in the mirror, her reflection nodded along in agreement at the bathing suit choice. It looked stunning on her. Brought out her sparkling blue eyes, too.
Tucking the keys into her bikini bottoms, the physical key dangling off one side of her spaghetti-strap and the locking mechanism dangling off the other, Jen spied some blue Crocs that were hanging on a rack and pulled them down. Slipping them on, she looked over at the window display of a glossy white jet ski with a red stripe running down the center and had an idea.
Walking up to the Jet Ski, she unscrewed the gas cap and took in a big whiff of fumes. A smile crawled across her face. Nobody ever thought to check the gas tanks of the model on display in the window. But the tank was full. Obviously, it was a rental like all the rest and so was ready to go.
Jen wandered into the back of the store and looked around for a gas container. Eventually she found a bright red plastic gas container with a yellow spout. She had seen people syphon gasoline in movies, and she wondered how hard it could be. She knew she needed to create a seal and get some suction going. Should be no problem for her, she thought.
Looking out the shop’s large glass windows, she noticed a green garden hose next to the building where they sprayed down and cleaned the rentals. She had a bit of gas and a nice car. Soon she’d hit the road and make her way to Las Vegas. Levi owned a penthouse suite there he used for business, and it was the one she was gunning for in the settlement. Now things between them were settled, so to speak, and she was going to make it to her home if it was the last thing she did.
Just then a moan cut through the shop and Jen spun around. Standing in the middle of the open room was a young stud of a zombie. He had bleached blond hair and a wicked six-pack. His pale white abs ripped with strength and his tight pecks spread across his frame to bold shoulders. It was the goddamn sexiest zombie Jen had ever seen, and she knew right then and there she had to have it. She wondered, could the dead still get boners? She thought she remembered something from a medical drama on some late-night television that said as much. She’d make sure to find out.
What were the logistics of fucking a zombie? For starters, she’d need to tie him down and gag him. Looking around the store, she saw a roll of duct tape conveniently sitting on the end of the counter. Duct tape was the perfect bondage tool.
The young zombie stud groaned again and Jen looked back at him, a devious smile curling onto her lips. She knew just what she’d do to him—all fifty shades of debauched gray—and she could hardly contain her excitement. Just the thought of getting off on his undead meat-stick drove her wild with anticipation and made her wet. It was as if her crotch was salivating for zombie cock.
Suddenly another moan broke out and Jen spun around to see a fat police officer stumble in through the back of the store. Shit, she thought to herself. Now there were two of them.
Glancing back into the mirror, Jen’s reflection said, “You can have your fun later. Now kill these motherfucking monsters!”
Jen’s attention snapped back toward the policeman. He had his gun securely fastened in its holster. He hadn’t even had time to draw his weapon before he got bit. Poor bastard.
Looking around, Jen spotted a wakeboard sitting on the shelf. Running over, she grabbed it and then, clutching it tight, spun around and swung it as hard as she could. She smacked Surfer-Boy upside the head and sent him toppling over. Then Jen made a mad dash toward the policeman and jammed the wakeboard straight into his neck.
“Grug!” the fat zombie complained as she smashed the board into its throat.
Stumbling back, the robust zombie’s back hit the counter, and before it could right itself Jen pounced. Again, the wakeboard came crashing down on the monster’s throat. And again. And again.
Suddenly the metabolic monstrosity fell over and hit the ground. Jen brought the board up high and then, screaming with all her might, slammed the board down on the creature’s neck.
There was a snap and a tearing of flesh, and then the head of the zombie policeman rolled away. Jen scrambled to get the gun out of its holster. Fumbling, she finally got the gun between her shaking hands and then turned and stood up.
“Grahgh!” The creature’s hideous breath blasted her in the face. She could forgive him for foul breath, but its spittle splattered her face and lips, which meant she’d become infected if she ingested any of it. Jen wanted to reel back in disgust, but she knew if she made any sudden movements it would attack her. After all, she’d been in this situation once before. Maybe, she thought, maybe if she did the same thing as last time …
Closing her eyes, she let her licentious spirit overtake her. Suddenly she felt more alive than she’d ever been. She felt electric. Opening her eyes, she smiled at the thing that stared at her in a frozen trance. Slowly she brushed her fingers up along its crotch, feeling the giant sleeping slug beneath the fabric of its green-palm-tree shorts, and ran her hand up his abs until her fingers found its nipple. Pinching hard, she twisted and pushed the monster back.
It staggered a few steps backward and then stopped. But it didn’t growl. It didn’t attack. It just stood there and eyed her curiously, like a confused animal.
Slowly, Jen set the gun on the nearby counter top and took a few steps back. As she stood looking at the monster, she had a strong premonition. A vision. She envisioned the stud surfer zombie picking up the gun and blowing out its own brains. The thought of it obeying her, submitting to her will, of dominating the simple-minded creature was overwhelming.
Looking right at him, her sparkling blue eyes wide and wild with excitement, she demanded, “Pick up the gun and put it in your fucking mouth.”
The blond zombie looked over at the gun, then back at her. Its face looked confused and it seemed reluctant to do what she asked.
“Do it!” she snapped.
The zombie stud shambled over to the counter and looked down at the gun sitting there, inviting its touch. Then slowly, as if it knew what it was doing, it picked it up.
“Now, put it in your mouth,” Jen repeated.
The blond zombie did exac
tly what she demanded. Jen couldn’t believe her eyes. How was this even possible?
The zombie looked back at her with its vacant eyes.
“Good boy,” Jen commended, smiling her vicious, tight-lipped smile that showed off her perfectly white teeth. “Now, pull the trigger,” she added, her voice dripping with twisted enjoyment.
BLAM!
The blond zombie hit the ground with a thud and the gun rattled on the floor nearby.
Jen gasped and took a step back. “How the fuck was that even possible?!” she blurted out.
Looking back in the mirror, she saw the smiling face of her twin gazing back at her and she knew. They both did. Just as her attorney Rachael Ramirez had proved to have a mysterious ability to heal, a resurrection power you might call it, now something inside Jennifer Hurley had changed as well. Now she had a special power too. A most terrible and exciting power, to be sure. She could control the monsters.
41
Streak of Bad Luck
Interstate 271, Outside of Cleveland, Ohio
The bus driver had had a heart attack and lost control of the wheel. Slumped over, his foot accidentally hit the gas at the same time his body twisted the wheel, and the bus violently veered left toward a discarded navy blue BMW X5 parked on the shoulder of the road just before the junction.
“Hang on!” Josh yelled.
Josh and Lindsey braced themselves as the bus collided with the SUV. The rest of the passengers screamed frantically as everything and everyone was jostled around inside the metal deathtrap.
The jolt of the impact was enough to cause the driver’s dead weight to shift and his foot to slam down on the gas pedal. Veering violently back toward the right, the bus picked up momentum as it began scraping along the guard rail of the bypass exchange ramp.