The Beginning of the End

by Emily Allison

  "Right," Harper agreed.

  "Whatever Harper." He then rotated his head around like an owl to look at Reese. "How the hell would you know? Your black ass wasn't even close to the arena."

  Reese laughed again. "I'm messin' with ya. I'm just glad you brought another brotha around here."

  "Yeah that was the plan the whole time."

  "Either way. Thanks to whoever shot that SOB," Damon was getting tired of the banter between these knuckleheads.

  Victoria slung her arm around his shoulder and gave him a kiss on the scruffy cheek. "Thanks you guys, and maybe someday one of you can tell me the real story."

  "Well Damon was about to have—" Riley started.

  "Not now," Damon stopped. He yawned with his mouth open as wide as a lion roar. "Keep looking for a place to stop. I'm tired as fuck and done rubbing knees with your skinny ass."

  Harper steered the white truck down the country road until they drove into a small town devoid of life. A few straggling zombies shuffled towards the headlights, but Harper lost them easily. They were looking for somewhere that was simple to defend, big enough for all of them, and inconspicuous if Hagerty were to roll through town.

  "Hey that place looks good enough," Victoria pointed to the right, ducking her hand under the rearview mirror.

  It was a modern building with small rectangular windows and a single door facing the street. The shrubbery was unkempt, but winter had kept it from obstructing any hidden zombies. It looked quiet, but everyone in the truck knew looks could not be relied upon. After circling the property Harper parked next to the rusted blue dumpster out back.

  "Guns up, flashlights up," he ordered, then stepped out of the truck. His M16 clicked against his belt as he exited the vehicle.

  Damon waited for Victoria to move from his lap, then slowing followed. "What is this place?"

  Riley quickly read the sign. "Ha! It's a bank," he laughed. "Awesome. I'm gonna sleep in a pile of money tonight."

  "Reel it in." Harper had had enough of the marine's immaturity for the day...hell even the month.

  "Sorry. Can't."

  Reese and Matt popped their doors open and hopped out. Mathias joined the five at the thick glass door. It was a good sign when no zombie tried to attack them through the glass. Riley even gave it a little knock with his remaining hand.

  "This looks more comfortable than the wooden box I was in," Mathias said optimistically.

  "Don't remind me," Damon said. His eyes were sagging, barely able to stay awake. "Anyone got something to drink?"

  "Once we get settled, I'll take care of you," Victoria said sweetly, then she removed her katana from its sheath.

  "Oooooooo," Riley said making a kissy face.

  "Can we just get back to business please? We have spent enough time out here," Harper urged.

  “Don’t use your guns unless absolutely necessary. We don’t want another show like the one in the woods,” Damon said, forcing himself away from Mathias, needing to stand on his own. He wished like hell he still had his machete.

  There was a universal nod from the guys. Harper opened the door silently.

  The red glow from their flashlights covered the interior of the building. The lobby was small with a useless TV hanging against the far wall to the right. Brown and crispy philodendrons wilted over their plastic pots onto the cherry end tables. There was a teller line on the back wall to their left with four computers, some of which were toppled over, and the other walls were lined with offices. It looked as though there was a struggle in the building. Papers and furniture were overturned. There was some blood smeared on the brown marble of the countertops and more on the tile floor.

  “Keep a sharp eye,” Harper ordered.

  “No shit,” Riley grated, but that was where the joking stopped.

  “Fan out, Damon you wait here.”

  “I’m good,” Damon growled. It wasn’t all a lie. He was feeling slightly better after the water and the rest.

  “I’ll stay by him,” Victoria said with her sword shining the in red light.

  “Me too,” Mathias said.

  “Fine,” Harper whispered harshly then nodded for Riley to come with him. Reese and Matt would go to the left, Victoria and Damon to take the offices.

  Damon held his flashlight up, the red light passing over the black computers. He could feel Victoria brushing against his hip. They stepped around the teller line to see two dark shapes against the wall. The red light washed over the forms revealing the zombie form of a brunette picking the bones of a young man. By the look of it, both of them had been dead a long time. Both bodies were badly decomposed; maggots crawled over what was left of the flesh. It was strange, the zombie was oblivious to their presence.

  There was a scream. It came from his right. Matt or Reese was in trouble.

  Damon’s heart hit his throat.

  The zombie flipped its head up, her left cheek fell to the ground. Before she could wobble to her feet Victoria sliced her decomposing head off.

  Both Damon and Victoria could hear the moans and choking coughs from zombies. He set his flashlight toward the sound and both bolted to help. He could hear Harper and Riley joining them. When they appeared around the corner they saw Matt holding his arm and Reese bashing the head of male zombie with a baseball bat. Another zombie was making its way out of the men’s restroom which Victoria quickly intercepted. Matt’s arm was missing a hunk of meat the size of a fist, and his face was as white as a ghost.

  “No-no-no-no,” he repeated. “I don’t want to be a fucking zombie.” He started crying.

  “Son of a bitch,” Damon declared in the darkness.

  “I’m so sorry Matt,” Victoria said empathically while bending to give him a hug.

  None of them wanted to see anyone from the safe zone go. Matt had been with them for a few months, and a few months in this world was a lot.

  “Just don’t shoot me right now, alright?” he begged. “I mean just let me go-uh-yeah. I don’t want to know what happens to me yanno?”

  “If that’s what you want,” Damon said. He looked up at his friends asking with his eyes who wanted to do the inevitable.

  Harper stepped forward with his face stoic as ever. “I’ll do it.”

  Matt flashed a weak smile at him. “Thanks man,” he said through the tears.

  Damon’s chest hurt. He was getting dizzy again. Son of a bitch. He needed to lie down. He motioned for Victoria to lead him to the couch. “You, Riley, Reese and Mathias finish cleaning this place out. I have to lay down.”

  Victoria frowned at him, obvious she was against him being alone, especially after what just happened. Her pale face illuminated red in the flashlight glow. “I don’t th-”

  “I’m no help right now. Please just go. Harper is right here. Take this.” He pressed the flashlight in her palm and brushed a kiss of the back on her hand.

  “Fine. Just so you know, I’m against this.” She got up from the leather couch, leaving him in darkness.

  Before his eyes closed he heard a single gunshot resonate through the lobby. Then he slipped away in sleep.

  When Damon awoke it was pitch black and for a moment he feared he went blind, but a flash of red light suddenly filled his vision. Victoria was sitting next to him. He was on a brown leather couch, but not the same on which he had fallen asleep. He quickly looked around and realized he was in a large office, most likely a manager’s office. There were large generic paintings on the walls that resembled toddler masterpieces. A heavy cherry desk sat against the wall in an L shape across from him, dead plants laid in the corners. The tiny office trash can was filled with crumpled papers. The office was free from the odor of death and blood, smelling like spice and sandalwood. In the red light he sat up, the slick leather creaked as he positioned himself to see his companions. The loss of Matt was hard, but then again Damon wasn’t that close to him, or Jerry for that matter.

  “They’re playing poker,” Victoria said softly.

  Damon
watched the red lights hover like ghosts, all pointing toward the group of people sitting around a large circular coffee table. Each person held a hand of cards with the deck in the middle. Mathias and Harper were sitting side by side, looking massive in the low light. Riley was laying on his side, propped up on his elbow, legs stretching into the darkness. Reese looked solemn. At times he made more jokes than Riley, but not tonight. Just then he tossed his cards down, picked up his flashlight and went into one of the offices adjoining the lobby. The door softly shut behind him. Matt probably meant as much to Reese as Riley and Harper did to him. The surviving prisoners looked worried and drained. Their gaunt faces sagged and darkness massed under their eyes. Some managed the energy to play while others slept.

  Damon laid back down, having seen that everyone was safe for the moment. He was confident there wouldn’t be any more incidences on this day, and by the sound of it the rain had started again. A flash of white lightening lit up the lobby. The faces, the furniture, the blood, all highlighted by the storm, as a crack of thunder shook the building.

  “Wanna lay down?” Damon asked Victoria and scooched over on the couch for her to join him.

  Without hesitation she worked her sword off her back and laid it on the carpet beside the couch, close enough for an emergency, then snuggled close to Damon. He moved his arm around so that she could use his bicep as a pillow. She clicked off the flashlight.

  When she was comfortable Damon pulled her thin form to him, breathing in her rose scent. Her body was so cold against his hot skin. He felt her run her fingers over his rough cheek, down his neck, shoulders, bicep, abdomen, and…

  He caught his breath

  Her hand pressed against his package, and when he didn’t stop her she slipped her hand over the rim of his jeans to massage him.

  Heat flowed through Damon, and he instantly found her lips with his in the darkness. She matched the strength and intensity of his kiss while he palmed her ass with his strong hands.

  She broke away. “What about the others?”

  “Nobody can see a thing over here,” Damon huffed, perturbed with the delay.

  Her whispers were close to Damon’s ear. “I mean what if?”

  Damon smiled in the darkness. “They’d be jealous, that’s all.”

  “Damon,” she whispered harshly with a smirk.

  Damon pulled her down once more. She nipped at his bottom lip, which made him growl, then kissed her harder.

  “I’ll try not to be too loud,” Victoria whispered wickedly in his ear.

  The sun rose in a cloudless blue sky. The air was warmer still and smelled less of death after the rain. A gentle breeze helped carry it away. The team had decided to remain together after the Hagerty incident and the loss of Matt. Before they set out from the bank they decided Harper, Damon, and Victoria would go out to find new weapons and try to restock some of the supplies that were destroyed when the truck exploded. They would need another vehicle to shuttle all the survivors back to their new home. Riley pouted like a kid, but quickly became distracted when Reese said he was going to break into the vault, and just like that Riley was out of sight.

  Harper, Damon, and Victoria ducked out of the bank on foot and into the sunshine. The three moved down the center of the road in silence away from the bank. On their preferred list of goals would be a hunting, hardware, or farm implement store.

  Damon listened to the loose gravel crunching under their feet as they moved down the street, making sure to scan each car, doorway, alley, and behind dumpsters for any straggling zombie. To his left Victoria stalked with sword drawn, and on his right was Harper with a pistol in hand. The big man’s blue jeans and dark green T-shirt were covered with dirt and old blood. His grey eyes were all business. They parted when they approached an abandoned green sedan. The doors were shut, windows up and grime covered. The paint was dotted with dirt, the rain not able to wash away the months of accumulation, creating a natural abstract painting. Damon pressed a hand against the passenger window, shielding the light from reflecting in his eyes, and he saw a fuzzy pink rabbit foot dangling from a silver chain in the ignition. “Hey this one has k--”

  A face full of teeth slammed against the window, thumping against Damon’s hand. In a flash he snatched his calloused fingers away from the car with his heart in his throat. “Son of a bitch,” he cursed. He went to open the door to kill the zombie, but Harper stopped him.

  “Tires are flat,” the big man said, pointing to the front and rear tires.

  “Ah well, it would have been a tight fit anyway. No room for supplies either.”

  The three of them moved passed the sedan with the zombie tracking their movements like a lion eyeing a gazelle. The skin on its face was playdo on the glass, molding and pulling as its teeth clicked every time it tried to bite through the invisible barrier.

  The street was lined with either brick or vinyl sided buildings, mostly all were in good shape. For a farm town it seems like it had been updated. They passed an insurance office with a burgundy awning over the door, and on the left was an antique shop. Next was a bakery, then a pet shop across the street. Damon’s boots passed over the yellow lane dividers on the street. He ducked to investigate a red Taurus, but came up shaking his head. No keys and honestly he didn’t feel like hot wiring today.

  “Right here,” Harper said, drawing attention down a side street. “Looks like we may have hit the jackpot. Police station.” He signaled to his right. “And look over there, it’s a farm store.”

  “Nice.” Damon nodded his head in approval.

  “And it looks like we have some party crashers,” Victoria said moving forward with the katana angled out from her hip, forearms outstretched ready to strike.

  The shriveled form of a female in dingy purple track shorts and black tank top wobbled out front. Her brown hair was at one time in pig tails, one still intact while the other had fallen out. The blank stare from her white milky eyes was the usual for all zombies. Her bare arms were gray with death, except for the crusted purple wound on her forearm. The bite wound that had turned her into what she was. Her stiff knees propelled her awkwardly forward while she staggered. Damon watched as Victoria approached with purpose and took a deep breath. As the dead arms reached for her, she exhaled, and with a fluid swing, the top of the zombie’s head disappeared at eyebrow level. Before its body hit the pavement Victoria attacked the other zombies, two rotting males with bald heads pitted with decay. Although winter had just passed, the flies already found the death.

  Damon watched as Victoria finished the trio and waited for him and Harper to join her. Damon gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. It looked as though the coast was clear for now.

  “Where should we go first?” Damon asked the big marine.

  “We should secure a vehicle first. I’m guessing we are going to find something to take back with us here.”

  Vehicles lined both sides of the street. Harper went to the left while Damon and Victoria moved right. It was easy work, but Damon remained on guard. While they checked a baby blue, boat of a Lincoln Town Car, Damon found himself wondering what the scientist was up to and felt anxious to get back to the safe zone. Chloe crossed his mind. His chest tightened slightly when he wondered what she may be up to. He had to push it out of his mind, thinking she was better off there than with him. They checked another car. Locked. The next had all four doors open and blood smeared the front seats, but the bodies were nowhere to be seen. Back seats were empty, keys were in the ignition. Damon gave it a once over, double checking to see if he may have missed a zombie inhabitant. Satisfied, he sat himself down in the leather seat; with one hand on the steering wheel the other on the key, he gave it a turn.

  Nothing. The dash lights didn’t even come one.

  “Dead battery,” Damon said shaking his head. “This one ain’t going anywhere.”

  “At least there’s more to choose from.”

  “Right.” Damon hoisted himself out of the seat and moved to the next one
with Victoria.

  Damon heard Harper whistle for them. He glanced up to see the marine standing next to a ninety’s Toyota Caravan painted maroon and trimmed in gray plastic. Damon shook his head with a small smile on his unshaven face.

  “Ya know Riley is going to have a field day with this one.”

  “Yeah and I’m sure Chloe will refuse to ride it in.”

  “Oh yeah.”

  Victoria brushed against Damon’s side and sheathed her sword across her back. “It beats walking home.”

  Damon nodded with a sigh. It wasn’t the most stylish ride but if it runs and drives, he didn’t have a problem with it. “OK, so we found some wheels, now let’s look for the other stuff.”

  “I want to look through the police station first, good chance we’ll find firearms and ammo.”

  “After you,” Damon offered, letting Harper take the lead.

  The three moved back down the sidewalk to the tiny police station. The building was simply designed in the shape of a rectangle, painted beige with Police written in white over the door. Harper put his hand on the door and when they were all ready, he pushed it open. Once inside they moved passed the receptionist desk and stopped when they saw a body slumped back in the cloth chair. In the light they could see it was that of a zombie. Its head had been bashed in and old crusted gore was splattered on the desk. Damon’s eyes met Harper’s immediately.

  “Hagerty,” mumbled Damon.

  “Most likely,” Harper agreed.

  Victoria shook her head. “So I doubt there will be much left.”

  Damon’s stomach sank to his knees. “Well, maybe they missed something.”

  Harper shook his head but didn’t object to looking around. When they got into the weapons hold they weren’t surprised to see it empty. Damon cursed.

  “Check the officers’ desks. Maybe someone left a pistol or something.”

  They passed by the jail cells and noted a rotting body in one. The skin was shriveled, pulling against the bones. Damon surmised the body was an inmate that must have died from starvation. Poor Bastard. Damon checked the first desk and came up empty handed. Victoria went into the only office and opened each drawer of the huge desk. Nothing but papers. She brushed her hand under the desk and felt something metallic and smiled when she pulled out a glock.