I don’t think that I should have Norman in the front. I take him into the back of the truck. I take the keys that I find on the crate, unlock it, open the crate, hide Norman inside the crate, but he refuses to get in so I slowly push him in. I close the crate, lock it, and drive towards the town. I see the entrance, step out of the truck with my hands up, and the gate opens.
Several armed people walk out of the front gates. They are dressed in regular civilian clothing, and they carry rifles and handguns. An Asian man approaches me as the others stand behind him. He has a shaved head with a long black beard, and he has colorful tattoos all over his arms. The tattoos are mystical. He wears blue nail polish on his long nails. He appears friendly as he smiles.
“Welcome, pretty girl! I love your furious red hair. You can put your hands down. I trust you won’t go crazy on us. Who has been doing your nails? I’m sorry for being nosy. You must be looking for shelter, well, you found it. We call this place Luther. It was named after one of our fallen brothers. You’re not the first person to come to our gates. I’m the gatekeeper around here, and you can call me Jazz.”
“That’s an unusual name, Jazz. I’m in desperate need of a place to stay. I won’t stay long; I promise. I have supplies. I can pay you. I will do whatever you want.”
“Relax, girlfriend. I know how it is out there. This is what it’s all about, so we need to share and protect each other. There are too many people with the same names around here. It can get confusing, so each person has one name only. It has to be approved by me. You can stay with us. You will be guarded and disarmed. We don’t know you, but I’m sure you’re a good girl. What should we call you?” Jazz asks.
“You can trust me, Jazz. I’m just a lost girl trying to find her way in the world. I want to contribute here, and you can all call me Kilborn since it really is my last name. I hope that’s fine with you.”
“Kilborn, I like it. I also love your red hair, girlfriend. If you don’t mind, my people will have a look to see what’s in the back of your truck. They will also park it for you. Don’t worry about it. They won’t take your stuff. We just want to make sure we know what we are bringing into our place. It’s always better to be safe than dead.”
Two men have a look in the back of my truck.
“Clear!” they shout.
My truck is being parked, and I’m escorted inside as the gates close behind me. Jazz shows me to an office. We reach the front door of the office, and Jazz walks inside and shuts the door as I wait outside. After a few minutes, Jazz opens the door.
“Here you go, girlfriend. Don’t let me down. I will be thinking of that beautiful red hair of yours. I have got to fix your nails, and I look forward to seeing you soon, Kilborn.”
Jazz shows me inside the office, and I make my way inside. Jazz leaves and closes the door behind me. A black man sits comfortably in a leather chair. He is clean-shaven, wears business attire, and he smokes a cigar as he stares at me.
“Have a seat. I hear they call you Kilborn. I’m Masterson. You’re too pretty to be out there on your own, and I’m surprised that you’ve made it this far. You must be a fighter. My brothers and I fortified this short stretch of street from scratch. We came from a family of construction workers. The world changed; they died, but I’m still here. We named this place Luther. It was named after one of my fallen brothers. He was killed by people who wanted our supplies. I’m running things around here, and I like to keep my appearance in good taste as you can see.”
“Are there ever any fights in this place? How safe is it?”
“The war is not here. The war is outside our gates. The walking dead were everywhere, but we managed to clear the area. I’m sure the dead will be back since they always come back. It’s like some sort of curse around here. It isn’t a large hold up here, but it is home. We have collected a lot of weapons and supplies over time. If you want your place here, you need to earn it. Remember to have faith, and pray every night before you go to sleep. Remember that Jesus loves you, and there is enough housing for everyone here. You can have your own home here. We keep an eye on you for a little while until we get to know you better. Do you have any other questions?”
“When can I see my new place? I’m exhausted. I appreciate this, and promise to contribute as much as I can.”
“Come with me, Kilborn.”
We walk out of the office, and Masterson shows me to a tall woman.
“This is Sheila. She will give you the grand tour.”
“Hello,” Sheila says.
“Nice to meet you, Sheila.”
We shake hands, and I can feel her strong grip and man hands. Sheila has a strong masculine voice. I wonder if she has taken steroids since she has a freakish physique. Sheila towers over me, but she towers over most of the people around here. She looks around thirty years old and has long golden hair. Her hair is in a long ponytail, and I think it looks cool. She has a spiritual tattoo on her left arm, wears black spandex pants and a tank top. She carries a machete and two handguns. Sheila seems like a real bad ass, and I doubt there is any guy in this place that can kick her ass since she’s very strong and intimidating. I bet she can take out many zombies on her own. Sheila looks down at me as she escorts me down the street.
“I wonder how a little girl like you survived on your own. You don’t look like a girl that can hold her own. Even I had a hard time on my own. I knew a lot of little girls who couldn’t even cross the street and make it back alive. This place isn’t much, but we do our best to keep things running smoothly. I came here desperate and hungry. They took me in, and now I’m one of the heads of security. People here have their own homes. There are still several empty homes here. We have gardens in the front and the backyards as you can see. There are some families here, and they live in one home. We always make our decisions together, and you can’t go unless we decide. This place isn’t a place where you can come and go as you please. We have a curfew at night, and constant security so that people can sleep with their eyes closed. Everyone does their part around here, so I’m going to assign you as one of the food preps. No offense, but you don’t look like you can handle a security gig. You will have to work your way up. Do you have any questions?”
“How often are you under attack here?”
“We haven’t been attacked by other people in a while. The dead ones usually come in large numbers. The last attack was a while ago, but the dead ones can’t seem to breach our barricades. We made wooden spears so that we can use them to pierce the dead ones in the head. You have to destroy the brain. It’s better to conserve ammunition and keep things quiet. How have you stayed alive all this time, Kilborn?”
“I’ve been lucky, but there have been many rough times for me. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m fortunate to have found this place. I’m glad to be around people again.”
Sheila shows me where I will be staying. Several people are moving my belongings into my new home. Sheila and I watch as things quickly get moved inside. The crate Norman is hiding in is being moved as Sheila watches the crate as it is carried inside the garage. She suspects nothing, and I’m surprised that they haven’t tried to open the crate. They must trust little innocent looking me. Sheila prepares to leave as they finish loading my stuff.
“Your truck will be parked with all the other vehicles. We hold all the keys, and there is no reason that you should want to depart so soon. It’s deadly outside of Luther. You can go and get settled in your new home. Tomorrow we will have an assembly, so that people know who you are.”
“Thanks for the tour, Sheila. I look forward to meeting the people of Luther.”
Sheila walks away as I walk into my new home and close the door. I open the door to the garage, free Norman from the crate, and he groans as he gets up and roams around the garage.
“We did it Norman! We made it inside! The first thing I will do is feed you, and it won’t be easy, so try to hang in there, Norman. I don’t know how long we will be here, but I will do my best to
feed you whatever you want.”
Norman looks at me and groans. I take him inside the house and hide him in the basement. I walk upstairs to peek out the living room window. There are two people guarding my home, and it is getting dark outside. It looks like people are starting to make their way home. The curfew will probably be starting soon. This place is not so bad, and it seems safe here. They must have worked their asses off since it looks like a lot of work was put into barricading the area. I have to start planning ahead, and Norman needs to eat something fresh. I will sleep on the couch tonight, but I don’t feel that safe in my new home. I feel my eyes getting heavy as I try to get comfortable on the couch.
Morning is already here, and it is raining outside. I slowly get up, and wash myself. I suddenly hear a knock at my door, and I open the front door. I’m escorted to an assembly that is happening across from me. Masterson and the rest of the people of Luther are present. I stand next to Masterson as the people of Luther gaze in my direction.
“I would like to introduce a new member of Luther. She is joining us for at least a little while. This is Kilborn. Let’s show her that we are a family. She came to us the same way as most of you came to me. When you came knocking on the doors of Luther, and you came asking and begging for help. You came desperate and alone. Let’s welcome Kilborn, embrace her, and show her the way. There is only one way to do things around here. Things are done the way we all decide. Making decisions together is how we roll around here. We do things the Luther way. May God bless all of you. Praise the Lord! Remember that Jesus loves you! I want all of you to carry on.”
People begin to walk away and continue with their day. Masterson focuses his attention on me.
“You can carry on too, Kilborn. I don’t think you have anything to hide. I believe you can be trusted.”
“You seem very passionate. What else did you do before the world went south?” I ask.
“You seem really interested about my life. I participated in Sunday sermons, of course, Bible study is one of my passions, and I also love art. I believe in this place. We can survive, grow old, and die of old age. We can only get stronger. I hope you believe in this place, and I hope that you have faith in me.”
“I believe in you, Masterson. I want to survive and see Luther grow. We can beat the dead. I look forward to seeing this place get stronger. Things can only get better.”
“Believe me, it will. Luther shall prevail as long as I am alive. The people are strong. They believe in me. They will do anything to keep Luther safe. We have nothing without Luther, so try to keep that in mind. I have a Sunday service for the people of Luther. It’s right across from us, and unless you are blind, you can see a small cross on the door. I turned that house into a small church. It’s a nice place, so I hope to see you there on Sundays.”
“Does everyone in this town believe in the same thing?”
“I try to do my best to make them believe. It’s not easy to preach to people that don’t want to listen. We still have one thing in common since we are surviving against the dead, and we all work together to survive. That’s what brings us together, like a family. That’s what matters at the end of the day.”
“I hope to see more people in your church. I’m more than happy to be here. What should I do now?”
“You should spend the next several days walking around and getting to know the people of Luther. Watch how things are done. You can learn a lot. When you are ready, you can start your chores that we give you. There is no rush. We have more than enough hands at work. So go ahead and be productive.”
“Thanks for everything, Masterson. I won’t disappoint you.”
Masterson walks away, and I start to roam around. I have to see how this place works before I start my dirty business with feeding Norman. I don’t feel bad about what I’m doing. Most of these people won’t make it in the new world. I’m doing them a favor, and I don’t want to stay here forever. They probably won’t let me leave. I want to explore the world, and I don’t want to be caged up like an animal. I need to know what caused the world to fail. I want to know if there is a cure, and if someone is working on one. I will continue my journey for an answer. I believe that someone must know something. I have so many unanswered questions, and I must find the truth, even if means killing a lot of people. I will never have peace of mind unless I find out the truth. My journeys will continue until the day I die.
Chapter 13
People focus their attention on me as I roam around Luther. They must be fascinated with the new girl, yet they will quickly get used to me soon enough. The people here work hard to keep hope alive. They maintain the gardens, stay organized, and clean their front yards as if the world has not changed. I hate that there is a curfew, and I hate that they have their own laws here. There doesn’t seem to be enough freedom around this place. People here seem to act like they are the only ones in the world, and they don’t seem to be concerned about what is happening outside their sanctuary. The place is secure since I see people on top of the barricades as they watch for the zombies or others to attack. I see a guy approaching me, who has a perverted looking smile on his face, yet he is pretty cute, and I wonder what is on his mind.
“Nice to meet you, Kilborn. I’m Titanic.”
I can’t believe he would use the name Titanic as his name. He must be a real romantic. Titanic is Caucasian, young, tall, and thin. He has messy brown hair and green eyes. He is not armed with a gun, but he has a hunting knife on his side.
“Nice to meet you, Titanic. Why do you call yourself Titanic? Are you the king of the new world?”
“I just thought that it would be cool to be named after a ship. I wanted a memorable name for people to remember me by. I work the food prep around here. I thought I would show you around.”
“I would love that. Thanks so much, Titanic. I already remember your name.”
Titanic escorts me to the food prep area that is a few houses down from us. We walk to the backyard. There are several people at work. There is a small farm in the back. They are raising pigs and chickens. I’m impressed.
“This is an interesting set up you have here. I can’t wait to get started. I’m pretty hungry.”
“You will start soon. I just wanted to show you around because I really want you to be comfortable around here.”
We continue to make our way around the area. He shows me around other parts of Luther. It suddenly gets dark out, and it begins to rain. People start to disburse to seek shelter from the heavy rain. Titanic and I sprint to my front door as we watch people run to their homes for shelter.
“It’s amazing how dark it gets when it starts to storm. I should probably get going, but you could always invite me in. Are you willing to spend some time with me?”
“You should come inside, Titanic. I need some company, and you know how lonely a girl can get, right?”
“You’re right. I think I will stay for a bit so that we can get to know each other since I’ve had my eyes on you.”
I open the front door and lock it. We have a seat on the couch in the living room. Titanic begins to make unwanted advances on me. I let him. He puts his arm around me and advances towards me for a kiss. I stop him.
“Let’s slow down. We need a drink before we do anything we will probably regret. Don’t you agree?”
“I could sure go for a cold one. Too bad, there is none. I guess we will just drink the bottled water.”
“Do you have a family here at Luther?”
“Yes, I do. I live with my parents. They must be wondering where I am. I will tell them I met the most beautiful girl.”
“You’re so sweet to me. Why are you such a nice guy? Most guys never said such pleasant things to me.”
“I have nothing but respect for women. I know I came here trying to make out with you, but I won’t do anything that you don’t want to do. That is a promise.”
“Titanic, you are the sweetest guy. I have never ever met anyone like you. You are very unique, and I
’m sure that people tell you this all the time.”
“Let me sing for you, Kilborn. It would mean the world to me. I’m very good. I used to sing in a choir. I always wanted to be famous.”
“This is too much. I don’t deserve this. Please sing for me. I would love to hear that beautiful voice of yours. Go ahead.”
He stands up. Titanic begins to sing for me.
“You are so beautiful to me, my sweetie! You are my lovely rose! I think everyone knows!” he sings.
Titanic tries too hard and continues to sing with passion. His voice is passionate; his eyes sparkle, and he finishes after a minute.
“Your singing really bites. Maybe you should get some singing lessons since it would seriously improve your singing. I’m just joking, Titanic. That was something that I’ve never experienced before. Wow, you certainly have talent, and you're very romantic. You should sing to everyone around this place since you could cheer them up. It might help them forget about the hard times. You can make a difference. I’m sure that they would appreciate it.”
Titanic smiles as he pulls something out of his pocket.
“That’s a fabulous idea, Kilborn. I will sing to them. I know this is going to feel weird since we just met, but I was wondering if you would like to be my wife. Kilborn, will you accept this bracelet? I know it is not a ring. It is all I could find. This is a pretty good bracelet considering the world we live in. You should really think about it because I would make a great husband. You will make a beautiful wife. What do you think?”
I’m shocked that Titanic just proposed to me. I’m speechless. I should let him know that I’m not interested. I really don’t want to break his heart. I’m sure he will understand. I don’t want this to go on. I need to tell him how I feel about this situation. “I appreciate the offer, Titanic. You are very handsome, but I wouldn’t make a good wife. I know I wouldn’t. I’m a very independent girl. I’m sure you can get plenty of the girls around here. You will find someone that is right for you someday. I’m not the girl for you. I know I’m not. It’s not that you aren’t sweet. I’m just not ready for anything serious. Please accept my apology. I feel so bad about this. Are you okay?”
Protecting Norman (Book 1) Page 13