POW! (Book 1): The Zombie Days

by Wonder, Peter

  I headed up the stairs. When I got up to the door I opened it up without a second thought. On the other side, waiting for me was one of them. It was the store owner, I could tell by his name badge that said:

  EARL

  OWNER

  Goddamn it, Earl, I'm in no mood for your zombie bullshit right now. I picked up my—hand? Shit! I must have set my rifle down while I was helping to barricade the door and forgotten to grab it. My First Sergeant would have been pissed right the fuck off at me. The beast had me in his arms. I stuffed his chest back with my left hand and tried to keep out of the path of his vicious zombie mouth as I groped at my waist, desperately searching for my blade. He let out the most vicious zombie scream that I’d ever heard in my life or even in my nightmares. I could smell the rot in his breath.

  ***CRACK***

  ***CRACK***

  ***CRACK***

  "Fuck! It's on burst!" I heard Kyle shout. The zombie fell but, before he did, I saw Earl's eyeball explode right in front of my face. The other two rounds I felt hit the backpack that I was wearing on my front. I pulled it away to inspect the damage. Underneath of it I felt wet. I saw it dribbling off of me.

  Red . . .

  "PETER NO!!!" Cried Evelyn.

  I lifted my shirt to inspect the damage. I began to laugh as everyone stood there; just staring intently at me, wondering just what the hell was going on.

  "It's okay, guys! It's just a bottle of wine from the backpack! I'm fine, so no worries!"

  "Bullshit no worries, man! I was looking forward to that bottle!" Mac said, looking more than a little let down by the thought that he was now without booze.

  "Fear not, my friends. Since we're stuck here we may as well make the best out of it. I think it's time for a little bonding experience," I announced.

  After dropping the wine soaked pack from my front, I flipped my backpack around to my front and dove my hand into it. From the bag, I withdrew a bottle of scotch. "Let's enjoy tonight, guys. The first drink is for Cliff." I opened the bottle. "To Cliff!" I raised the scotch and then took a swig. The slow descending burn was a lovely feeling. I walked down the steps and passed the bottle to Evelyn. Once the bottle was out of my hand I wrung out my shirt and dribbled a little puddle of wine onto the stairs.

  "I'll be right back, guys. I still want to see what this upstairs area may hold in store for us."

  I turned and began to walk back up the stairs.

  "Not so fast!" Evelyn shouted behind me, following in my steps. "If you're going up there, you’re not going alone. After just now, I don't think it's such a good idea."

  "And you're going to come protect me, is that it?" She nodded. "Alright, then. You might want to pass that bottle off before our own friends turn on you, though," I said with a laugh.

  She took a big gulp from the bottle, pulled a face that made me want to laugh at her, headed back down the steps, and passed the bottle to Mac.

  "I think that I’m ready whenever you are," she said as she skipped back up the steps behind me. I reached around to her back and slid my hand slowly down to her waistband to retrieve the pistol she had stowed there. I looked at the pistol and switched the safety on after noticing that it had not been previously engaged. Luckily, there was no round in the chamber at the time. I would really have to teach her about better weapon handling sometime soon.

  I winked at her. "Now we're ready." I could tell she was excited, but I wasn't sure if it was from having alcohol, doing something dangerous, or just being with me. I grabbed her hand and we stepped through the door.

  The floorboards creaked beneath our feet, causing Evelyn to squeeze my hand extra tight.

  "Would you feel more comfortable following behind me?" I asked, teasing her.

  "I'll be okay, just keep an eye out," she whispered in a voice that was barely audible.

  The only light upstairs was from the open door we’d left behind. As we continued inward, we could see that this must have been where Earl the owner lived. There was a green cot set up in the corner and next to it was a table with what appeared to have been his last meal sitting on it.

  "Some stale Cheetos and a warm, flat beer? Dude was really living it up, huh?" I joked to Evelyn. She let me know she didn’t think this was funny by punching me in the arm. It was kind of her go-to move.

  I looked around the room to see what else there might be in Earl's bachelor pad. In the other corner was a footlocker, not unlike the ones I’d found in the cabin up the hill. I walked over to it and popped it open.

  "Holy shit!"

  "What is it?" Evelyn asked in a low and terrified voice.

  I reached down and picked one up to show her. "They're grenades! This is going to be fucking awesome!" I shoved as many of them as I could into my backpack. I'd send the others up later on to grab more.

  "I think this is going to be a good night. What do you say we go celebrate?"

  Rather than giving a verbal response, Evelyn stepped up to me and stuck her tongue down my throat. She had a good point. I didn't see any reason not to have a two-person celebration right here, right now. I wrapped my arms around her and started to lift her shirt off.

  "YOU TWO BETTER NOT BE DEAD UP THERE!" shouted Carolina from down below.

  "Fuuuuuck . . . I hate your mom so very much right now,” I said with a look of despair.

  "I hate to say it, but you’re not alone," she agreed as she adjusted her shirt. "We're coming. Pete just found something that could prove to be rather useful in the future," she shouted down as we headed for the stairs.

  "I've got something useful, alright," I said, slapping her on the ass.

  "Knock it off!" she whispered with a playful smile.

  We went through the door and down the stairs. We stepped over Earl's body. This might sound strange, but there were bodies everywhere you looked nowadays, it seemed, so we didn't even bother to move him. We were just happy he wasn't moving on his own anymore. He was now just another weird decoration in his own gunsmith shop. Everyone was just sort of lying around when we got downstairs.

  "Now this is a party!" I jested. "You guys find anything cool down here?"

  "Nah, homie. We've been trying to enjoy ourselves and take a load off, ya know, like you said. We got all night plus the morning to be productive," said Kyle, who was lying down on the counter.

  "I guess you have a point. But just so you know, there’s probably some really cool shit here. Do you guys want to know what I just found upstairs?"

  "God, yes!" said Kyle, sitting up.

  "Settle down, bro, I wasn't up there that long. Check out what I got, though," I said as I set my pack down and opened it up. "You sure you want to see this? It may blow your mind."

  "Just show us, ya fucking dick face."

  "A’ight, check it out!" I withdrew a grenade from the bag.

  "No way! Dude, that's what's up!" said Morgan. Everyone else smiled and made their little sounds of approval.

  "This ought to make it a little easier to blow shit up, eh? I can't wait to see what else this place has to offer! But, I suppose that it can wait until morning. It’s not like anything is going to go anywhere. This is our time to relax and have a bit of fun, right?" I grabbed a guitar that I had seen sitting behind the counter.

  "You boys and girls care for a bit of drinking, song, and dance? It's a party now!" I said as I strummed the guitar. "Any requests?"

  Chapter Fourteen

  I woke up the next morning with Evelyn lying across my chest. The night was a little bit fuzzy, so I felt free to let my imagination run wild. I stroked Evelyn’s hair. I could really get used to waking up to that smell every day.

  And then I looked up. That’s when the smile left my face. Carolina was sitting in a chair watching us. I really hoped that I didn't have a tent resting in my lap right in front of her daughter’s face.

  "Good morning," I said uncomfortably.

  "Mmmmm," was all that Evelyn could muster, thinking that I was addressing her.

  "You two
look awfully comfortable," said Carolina.

  Evelyn lifted her head in what might have been an effort to understand exactly what was going on. It looked like the two of us had found a private spot behind the counter last night in which to be alone and get in our rest for the night. Once we’d been found, Carolina must have quietly (or as loudly as she could manage, I truly have no idea) dragged a chair over to us to make sure no funny business would take place this morning. Luckily, I noticed her before I could come up with the idea on my own.

  Evelyn wiped the drool from her face and sat up. "Do we have any breakfast?" she asked.

  "I have no clue. Did you plan on making me something?" I asked. She smiled and leaned down to give me a kiss.

  "Sure, just let me hop in the shower and run to the store. I'll be back real soon."

  "Ah, you're such a tease! I bet you could make something real good, huh?" I asked as I began getting to my feet. I looked around the room and laughed as I saw Mac and Kyle lying in a corner huddled together for warmth; at least I assumed that was the reason. They had been drinking pretty heavily last night. Maybe the loneliness got to them.

  "How about you and your mom check for some breakfast and I'll check this place out a little better to find more supplies and maybe an escape route? I still hear the parade of the dead out there roaming around, trying to find themselves some breakfast, too."

  "Sounds good to me," said Evelyn, walking over to her mom.

  "Check it out; I'm off to a good start already. Under this counter is where Earl kept all of the ammo. When those guys wake up we can have them start reloading some magazines; that way we can stay prepared. I'm going to head upstairs and see what else I can find now that I have a little bit better light. Is it okay with you if I go up there alone? Or did you want to come make sure it's safe?" I asked with a grin.

  "I think you'll be okay, unless, of course, you need me to hold your hand, tough guy."

  "Nah, I think I'll live, but thanks for the offer." I picked up my rifle. "If I'm not back in three hours, send breakfast."

  I went up the stairs, stepping over Earl again. It was much brighter up here, which was quite nice. Evidently, the guys had come up and got the last of the grenades last night. There wasn't a whole lot up there, just the bed, the table, the footlocker, and a bookshelf with a bunch of old books sitting on it. Then I saw a string with a knob hanging from the ceiling.

  An attic? I pulled the string and a set of stairs dropped down. At the top of the stairs was a steel door with a keyhole in it. I climbed up to see if I would be able to just push it open.

  Locked.

  Well, the key can't be too far. Looks like I'll have to go check Earl's pockets. Fun times are surely ahead for me. I went back down the narrow steps and through the door to the stairs where Earl was resting comfortably with a step poking him right in his spine.

  "It sucks if you didn't get any last night, man, but you don't need to stoop so low as to try to bangin’ a corpse," Mac shouted up at me.

  "I just can't help myself, I felt like rubbing our mustaches together. Did you want to come watch, or did you get enough man love last night with Kyle?" I asked as I fumbled around Earl's front pockets. This looks good, I'm sure.

  No luck. The key must be elsewhere.

  “Man, fuck you. It was cold, okay?” Mac snapped back.

  Back up stairs. I doubted he would keep the key down in the shop where everyone else could roam around freely. I flipped his bed, hoping it had fallen out of his pockets while he slept or something.

  No such luck.

  I checked over in the footlocker. It looked like it was mostly just garbage left in there, now that the grenades were gone.

  I climbed the narrow steps just to double check and make sure the key wasn't, in fact, sitting in the lock as had been the case with the basement door at the school. On the bright side it turns out I'm not a total idiot. The key was, of course, not in the lock.

  That left the bookcase. I started grabbing one book at a time and shaking them upside down in hopes that a key would fall free.

  Kyle came up. "What are you doing, man? Looking for something to read? I’m surprised you didn’t bring Dune with you."

  "I'm looking for the key to that door up there. Start shaking some books.” Now, I was slightly frustrated that I hadn’t brought my copy of Dune with me, and I hoped that I would find one on this shelf.

  "Why, what's up there? Narnia?" Kyle asked.

  "That's the hope but, unless we find a key, we’ll never know for sure. Now start shaking some books, man."

  Kyle looked at me and then over at the books as if there was some obvious solution that I’d had missed. He went next to the bookcase and pushed the whole thing over right in front of me.

  "That’s a real dick move, man," I said, looking down at the fallen bookcase.

  "You think so? Look what I found down here," he said as he picked up the key hidden beneath the case and a thick layer of dust and lint.

  "I take it back. Your love of destruction is often a useful tool, and I thank you for it, sir. Don’t ever change yourself, because you’re perfect just the way you are."

  "Whatever, homo," he said, rolling his eyes.

  I snagged the key from his hand and headed up the steps again. I was quite pleased to find that the key did indeed fit into the lock. I twisted it to unlock the hatch and pushed the heavy metal door as it opened up to the rooftop.

  But why would he have kept this locked? I began to look around. I saw some buckets and imagined they were likely used as a rain catch; either from before we’d reestablished the water facility, or just in case of further disaster.

  Then, I looked at what I thought was an antenna; only it wasn't an antenna, it was just a pole with a thick, steel cable going from the top of this building to the one across the street. It looked like good ol' Earl had an escape plan ready for us. Too bad the poor fool never got the chance to use it for himself.

  Time to head back downstairs and let everyone else know that we can get out of here without using the front door. I turned around and Kyle was mere inches from my face.

  "This must have been his laundry room or something. Looks like these buckets were his washers and this line up here must have been his dryer," he guessed.

  "Sure, pal, that could totally be what it was," I said, trying not to laugh. "Either way, it's going to be our ticket out of this place. Let's go tell the others."

  I headed back inside. Mac and Carolina were busy loading magazines and eating from a can of peaches they’d found in the store. I guessed Earl wouldn’t be needing them anymore. I grabbed one of the peach slices out of the can and shoved the thing into my mouth before speaking—just to be polite.

  "Alright, kiddies, I found our way outta here. If you need something, toss it in a bag and let's roll," I said, speaking around the peach.

  Everyone started getting up and putting all of their stuff away.

  "What, did you find a helicopter up there? 'Cause that'd be dope, man,” said Mac.

  "Sorry, Mac. No helicopter, but we can play zip line."

  "Sold," he said with a smile, looking forward to a little bit of fun.

  I grabbed my two bags, as everyone else was still gathering their belongings. "I'll meet you guys up top."

  With my rifle and bags, I headed back up to the roof. I looked around to see what else might be up there. I kicked over a few buckets out of pure disappointment. I was really hoping that I would have found something cool behind the locked door, but I supposed I would have to settle for a way out. I could see all the way to the edge of the town from up here. It didn't look like a bad walk . . . until you factored in the walking dead that may be lurking out there.

  Kyle got up to the roof with me.

  "Alright, man. You want to go across first and help everyone get down safely?" I asked.

  "Sure thing, homie. Before you send anyone else, let me check inside to make sure it's all clear. I'll let you know what I find." He slung his rifle acr
oss his back, grabbed the cable that was connecting the buildings and headed toward the other rooftop. Everyone else was now on the roof watching Kyle as he made his way across the cable, hand over hand.

  "Man, this ain't no damn zip line. You're a damn liar, man," Mac grumbled.

  "I said we could play zip line, bro, not that there was an actual zip line."

  We watched Kyle drop onto the roof across the street. He went into the building by way of the door that led to an inside stairwell.

  "Does everyone feel like they'll be able to make it across the cable alright? I realize that this may seem like a bad time to ask such a question, but if the answer is 'no' there really isn't a better option that I can offer you." No one said anything. I must have a real knack for delivering news . . . or no one happens to care when I talk. I can't really tell.

  We stood there in silence for a moment, waiting for Kyle to reappear on the roof. "Ya think Kyle's alright over there, man? It sure feels like it's takin' him forever to come back out," Mac wondered out loud.

  "Nah, he probably just found the bar downstairs or something. If there was anything to worry about, we would have heard the shots by now,” I said.

  "Yeah, Kyle always was rather fond of shootin’, wasn't he?” Mac reflected. “Think I oughtta head over? I'd like to check on him just to be sure everything is alright. You know those piece of shit M16s can jam up on you at the worst of times. I'd feel better if the little dude had some back up."

  "You ain't gotta sell it to me, darkness. If you want to go, then go. I ain't your boss. Just don't take off without us is all I ask."

  "A’ight, man. See you on the other side."

  "Yup, we're right behind you, bud."

  Mac jumped up on the cable, looking a little disappointed that it wasn't a zip line, and made his way across the street. "Do you think zombies can look up?" I asked the girls as I gazed down at them in the street. It looked like an angry mob of trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.