by Brown, Derek
“Sir, please, I didn’t even know anyone was here, I was only trying to escape them, please let me go and I’ll be on my way. I have a family I need to get back to, please sir.” I gasped from the pain and I pleaded with him.
“Oh you have a family do you? I had a family once but there dead just like you are about to be. But you are going to help get those assholes off my front door step first. See thing is they seem to like fresh bait more than anything else and if I can get them far enough away then they won’t find their way back here. But I think we need a bit more blood out of you, did you know they react to blood it is like fuel to them. They move towards it quickly like it is oxygen it drives them. So I am going to have to hurt you a bit more but don’t worry you still are going to be able to walk. See, my friend, I have done this before and it keeps those damn things away from me. I am going to tie you to the back of the truck and you run while I drive. Sound good to you? Don’t worry the last one was an old lady she only made it two blocks before she fell collapsing and then those things devoured her. But I think you’ll make it much further don’t you think?” He leaned close as if he was going to get an answer, when he didn’t get one he hit me across the face with his fist. “I asked you a question now, answer it, dammit!!!” He hit me again and then again I felt his fist meeting my body and I tried to bring my head down to protect myself as much as I could. In my mind I swear I saw Emma standing over me wiping the tears from me face she was telling me to hold that it was almost over. I was so caught up in the vision that I didn’t even notice when he stopped hitting me and he threw water on me again. “See now you made me hurt you too much, I doubt you can make it two blocks. Dammit asshole, get up I need you able to move. Now you listen good your job is to lead those things away from here. I am impressed you sure can take beating though.” He untied me then pulled me to my feet and I could feel the pain rippling across my body in waves it hurt to stand up almost as much as it hurt to breath. He tied my hands in front of me with one end of a long white rope that was covered in old dried blood but was quickly mixing with my fresh blood. He kept the other end and then led me out the door and to the front door of his house. Once there he quickly looked outside and turned around smiling. “We are all clear buddy, are you ready? And here we go!” I wanted so badly to wipe that sadistic smile off his face and make him eat that shit eating grin but I didn’t say a word. I was too busy trying figure out to get out of this mess; I had somehow managed to get myself in. He led me outside and towards his beat up old white ford truck. Then he tied his end of the rope up to his truck and hooked me to the back of his truck. Then once he made sure I was secure he stepped back and pulled my knife out and cut me across the chest a superficial wound but it was bleeding. “We can’t be too careful we need them smell the blood buddy, alright gentlemen, start your engines!” He clapped his hands together in glee, it was clear to me that he had lost his mind as he shouted out. Then I saw them coming those things were moving towards us with a purpose, clawing and sniffing at the air in my direction. He jumped into the truck and the engine roared to life and then I felt the truck leap forward as he placed his foot on the gas pedal. He was going slowly at first and it was take some much effort to force the protesting muscles in my legs to move forward. I didn’t know how long I could keep this pace up as slow as it was. Then I turned around and I saw those things chasing us and I picked up my pace finding strength in fear. The gaping mouths of those things that used to be human still haunt my nightmares. He was right my blood was like water to a dehydrated man walking through the desert for them. They are staggering after us with sounds of growling and grunting following me. Then as we were turning onto a side street that an idea formed in my head and the light bulb came on. I knew it was going to be a long shot but has we turned I noticed I got more stack in the rope and I figured a long shot was all I had at this point. So I patiently waited until we turned again. It wasn’t a long wait though apparently this sick maniac had a planned route. Ahead of us he must have cleared cars out of his way. I saw about 500 feet in front us was a cleared left hand turn. I tensed up ready to pounce and then just as he turned the truck to the left I sprinted quickly and jumped onto the back of the truck. He slammed on the brakes yelling “That’s cheating, get off the truck now or I’ll come back there and make you.” When I didn’t respond he jumped out of his door and began to stomp towards me. His face was red and the anger was making his carotid artery on his neck pop out. I didn’t wait for him to get to close before I leaped in the air over the bed of the truck and landed hard on his chest with both my feet. He fell over backwards onto the ground with me on top of him. There wasn’t much I could do with my hands tied in front of me but I sunk my teeth into his throat right at the carotid artery. I used my teeth to tear his skin apart with all the force I could muster. Then after my teeth broke his skin I clamped down harder until I could feel the warm blood pumping furiously out of the artery. He was screaming and trying to push me off then I saw one of my knives stuck in his belt. So I managed to grab my knife off of him as I rolled off him onto my shoulder. Moving the knife in my hands I turned the blade up and then I slowly I cut myself loose. I turned around and I could about eight of those things about 20 feet away from our struggle. He was rolling around trying to stop the bleeding but it wouldn’t stop. There was just so much blood and it was pouring out of his body on to the pavement like a river of blood. I bent down to whisper in his ear, making sure that he could hear me.
“Reap the whirlwind.” Then slowly I got up and into his truck and turned it around slowly driving away. I drove past the horde of those things they really could smell their prey. In their lust they didn’t even give me a second glance or try to move towards the truck. I followed the clear path back to his house and pulled up. I stumbled out of the truck and limped into the house. I was exhausted but I locked the door before I fell onto the ground and passed out cold.
I woke up to my daughter playing with my face trying to get me out of bed she was saying. “Hurry up daddy it’s time to wake up. It’s sunny outside, agh Daddy get up…” Then she was screaming “Daddy they are going to get me.. Please Daddy save me!!” I shot straight up and it took a few moments to realize that it had all been a dream. Well the part about my daughter, when I looked around and realized I was still naked it all came back to me. I was beat up, sore, and I felt like just lying there on that carpet floor and not moving but I forced myself to get up. I managed to stumble to the bathroom and I almost jumped for joy when I saw that he had a bathtub filled with clean water. There was a bucket and it looked like the previous owner would bath by dumping a bucket of water on himself in the corner of the bathroom. So I followed suit and picked up the bucket and poured water on myself and I used the soap and shampoo in the bathroom to clean up and get all the blood off of me. After I was all done I looked at myself in the mirror and what I saw was a face that was beat up and bruised with lacerations. I sat there looking at myself and I broke down all I could think about was my daughter and my wife and how was I going to protect them. I was failing them and I felt like I was losing the things most precious to me. I began to sob and tears ran freely down face, I began to realize that I didn’t have this under control and I felt powerless to do anything. My eyes were red and blood shot as I starred at myself in the mirror and I saw myself falling down a dark black hole. I saw a world where I couldn’t protect my family. I realized I didn’t even know if Emma was okay and I cried even harder. I was losing control the fear and realization of this world that we now lived in was setting in and I felt lost and alone. I stood there looking at my eyes in the mirror wondering if this was the end, if this shit hole was where I would lose it. A shiver went down my spine and goose bumps up arms and it seemed like time was standing still like the world was holding its breath to see what I was going to do. Should I give up now, should I lay down and die? Thoughts that have plagued me my entire life, questioning whether I am good enough, whether I am fast enough, tough enough, strong enough. It
seemed like I could see these questions were jumping off the mirror surrounding me begging me to just give up. I am not going to lie to you now I felt like ending it all there, this world, this pain, I felt feed up and done with it all. I don’t want this world! I don’t want this pain! I slammed my fist into the mirror breaking it into little glass shards flying everywhere. As I stared into my eyes in the broken mirror a tiny ray of sunshine came in through the window and I swear I heard Emma demanding a family hug from Scarlett and me. I swear I heard her and I remembered the conversation she and I had when I told her I had gotten into Register Nursing school she told me she was super proud of me, my five year old daughter was super proud of me. I began to laugh and cry at the same time, overcome with emotions. My whole body was shivering and shaking as I wiped the tears away. I almost broke down right there and just stopped, just said fuck it all. Looking into the mirror I noticed a razor sitting on the counter and I quickly grabbed it. I looked at it for a moment contemplating my life in the blink of an eye and then I had a thought. I brought the blade of the razor up to my face and slowly I brought the razor up to my head. I very careful began to shave the hair off my head and it was almost as if I was shaving the doubt away. Afterwards I stood there looking into my reflection I realized in that moment that I was built for this world. I could survive in this world and I could protect my family in this world. With my medical background, my military background, and all the bullshit I have been through in life. From the day I was born up to this moment everything that had happened, every shitty decision, every wrong turn had only been in preparation for now. I would show no mercy this world because this world was not what it had once been it was now time to be hard, cold, calculated, and unforgiving. That would be the only way we were going to survive all of this. So I shook off all doubts and I went and found my clothes and as I pulled my Army ACUs on and I felt the responsibilities that come with the uniform fall upon my shoulders once again. I began to look around his house more closely. I was able to find three handgun pistols, a crossbow, four rifles, and a bunch of food items. So I loaded it all up into his truck and I drove home to my wife, to my home. On the drive I tried the radio just to check and I did manage to find a station that was still was still broadcasting it was the Blaze the political talk channel 96.7 FM. The radio came to life and the voices were speaking about the NF6, they were saying that the CDC’s last report was that this bacterium was worse the 1990s Ebola outbreak. The report stated that once infected the host would die but that then you would see movements as the bacteria began eating away at the nervous system which is what was causing the bodies to stumble and move around after the patient was considered brain dead. The report said to stay away from the infected patients no matter what even if they were your loved ones. The CDC was doing everything it could to figure out how to fight the bacteria but no breakthrough had been made yet. No antibiotics that we had available now would even slow down the spread of the bacteria. Then the report ended and another report came on describing strange weather reports, glowing clouds and rain made of ash. It was all being contributed to the nuclear blast in Russia, although the country was still dark with no communications, it was thought that the nuclear explosion there was affecting weather across the globe. The reporter on the blaze station stated that scientists had theorized that a nuclear blast would have several secondary effects with worldwide implications including an EMP blast which would have rendered almost all electronically equipment useless in 200-500 mile radius surrounding the blast. It also was theorized that the weather systems of the entire world would undergo drastic changes and we might only now be seeing the beginning of the strange weather. As I was making my way through the cars towards my house and I noticed an orange haze in the sky it was in the southeastern part of Fresno. I drove home as quickly as I could and pulled up to the curb out front of our blue and white trimmed house. Scarlett rushed out and threw her arms around me before I had barely got out of the car, knocking me down to the ground. Anthony had to help get me up and they were both asking me what had happened without giving each other a moment to speak.
“Damn bro what happened to you out there?” Anthony said as he reached his hand out to help me up.
“You are never going believe what the world is coming to out there.” I walked inside and I began to tell them everything that had happened. I also expressed that we had to be more careful, for the world out there was not safe any longer. It was a world where only the strong survive now.
“Damn, you need to stop coming home crawling, I thought you were supposed to be tough.” Anthony clapped me on the back with his hand as we all laughed.
“Yeah, yeah laugh it up Mr. Funny Guy.” And I limped into the house with Anthony and Scarlett next to me.
March 12, 2014
I haven’t had much time to write we have been very busy trying to board up the house. The orange haze has turned into dark smoke rising high into the sky, I wonder what is burning, it must be huge though, judging by the amount of smoke and how long it has been burning. We sit around listening to the radio constantly it has become our obsession. The reports are our life blood that keeps us going to just know what it is going on in the world outside. The reporters have been reporting non-stop on the Blaze unfortunately the news they are giving is not good news. The riots have continued across the nation and there was a wild land fire that was burning out of control across central California. Reported cases of the NF6 were reported to be in the millions according to the CDC. Government officials are urging everyone to get to the National Guard Safe Zones the one closest to us was located at the Fresno Airport and while we had all discussed going there I firmly believed that it would be a bad idea to go there. I just thought about bacteria and how it grows and festers in tight, warm, compressed spots. The Safe Zone was the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and I for one wanted no part of it. The phones haven’t been working, so I have no word on my daughter and I grow weary of waiting. But it is not safe to travel by day or night between the infected as they are now being called, the rioters, and looters all over the place. I have to get back to work so much to do but I’ll write more as soon as I can.
March 16, 2014
It started raining red liquid today, at first a couple drops but then a mighty storm began and large red rain drops came pouring down on. We all stayed inside and watched it felt like the world was ending, blood raining down from the heavens. The smoke is still rising into the sky and we fear that whatever is on fire is still burning even with the rain falling. Tensions are high in the house and we are all arguing with each other about what we should do. Anthony wants to move and just keep moving believing that no place is going to be safe. Danielle wants to just stay where we were at because we at least know it’s safe for now. Scarlett and I aren’t sure what we should do; I think we are just trying to hold it together right now. I am trying to pacify Anthony at least for now because we still have the radio reporting in news for us. Plus we have water and power still, but I fear that it will not last long with no one going to work. The stations are only going to last for so long before they give out. I saw a special once on the Discovery channel that said that water pumping stations and powers stations could theoretical continue to operate for four to six months without direct supervision. But I don’t know how long it has been since people stopped going to work. We don’t know if anyone is maintaining the stations. There is so much going on that we do not know. In this case ignorance is not bliss and it could end up being the death of us all.
March 17, 2014
News came over the radio waves today there was a breakout from Fresno County Jail it is unknown who or how many inmates escaped. The radio reporter just warned everyone listening to be careful and not to trust strangers. Honestly as if anyone was trusting strangers in these times anyways but it was a good warning nonetheless. But the news that there was breakout makes me think of Michael and I wonder if he was still alive. I had almost forgotten that he had been transferred to Fresno afte
r the riots at San Quentin. I know that with him being admitted to the Psychiatric Ward meant that he was considered a danger to himself and others and he would have been admitted to a single cell. Chances are that he will die in the Psych Ward; I mean I saw him he was infected of that I have no doubt. The reports so far are that the infected are essentially brain dead expect for the basic life function skills. There driving force seems to be feeding, cases of them eating flesh of humans and animals alike have flooding in on the radio. It is all so crazy to think about everything that has happened in the world. In all the chaos it is easy to forget things these days. But every day I think of Emma and I have been speaking with my wife about me making the trip to go see her. Scarlett says no that it’s not safe or she says that she is coming with me if I do go. But I tell her I am going to have to walk there all the reports indicate that the highways are completely blocked with abandoned cars. I can’t leave though unless I know Scarlett is safe and right now that just isn’t an option.
March 18, 2014
We are beginning to hear less and less reports on the radio station. Not that it matters all we hear are stories of death from every corner. It stays that the Safe Zones are still secure though but that all who enter must go through a strict entry screening. The days are beginning to drag on but at least the crazy weather seems to have taken a break. The smoke as all but disappeared and so at least one fire has been put out. We have not seen a single rain drop in days neither a red one nor a normal one. We are playing broad games to pass the time but even those have become something of a chore. I can tell Anthony is going stir crazy pacing back and forth. Danielle spends almost all day holding Dallas and staring into space. Scarlett is scared to death and is shutting down I think. Through it all I don’t blame any of them. I can feel the pressure mounting like boiling water about to hit the boiling over point. So I came up with idea that we start training with the weapons that we did have at least the bows and swords. I had five swords that I have had for years and while they need some sharpen they could come in handy. We pulled out the six compound bows that we had and all the arrows. The three crossbows and all the knives that could be used as weapons out and we grabbed the guns that we had. We had the M-14 carbine, nine 9mm pistols, 3 shotguns, 7 rifles (2 FAL, 1 G3, and 4 AR 15), 1 Remington 700 with an adjustable scope on the guns side. We actually had a small armory going on here and I felt good about that. Due to the fear of the noise that the guns would make we decided that we would train with the bows, swords, and knives first. Luckily I had two wooden practice swords so we wrapped towels around them and went into the back yard to begin our training. It was going to take time but I believe that by practicing we could improve our chances for survival.