The Week of the Dead

by Viktor Longfellow

  Walker had already made it down the ladder to the concrete floor as he grabbed a welding torch and began welding something on the side of a vehicle. “We’re making additions to our vehicles. Over there we are making weapons.” Devin looked down at a sweatshop of people pouring things into glass jars.

  “What are they making?” They made it down the second ladder. Devin watched as Walker welded fencing on the window frame of one of the vehicles. They moved along to the tables where people were filling glass jars with screws, lighter fluid, bolts, nails, some form of powder, and other random materials with a rag sticking out of the top. The next table was taking the jars and taping them to butane cartridges from a camp stove.

  “We took Walker’s idea and made it smaller,” Jamison said as Devin felt the heat on the back of his neck again.

  Another man had set up a stool with a grinding wheel on a table. He had the others finding all the axes, hatchets, and machetes in the store, and this man was sharpening them. Devin walked up and picked up a double-headed ax and began swinging it around. The man with the grinding stone stopped and watched him. Devin handed the man the ax. “You can keep it,” he said to Devin. The rest of the group came down from the roof.

  “What do we need?” asked Tank.

  They all look at Devin. “M’kay. I’ll start. We’re going to need radios, food, water, weapons, compasses, a phone charger for that phone, duffel bags, blankets, things we can barter with, like cigarettes and stuff, in case we run into something. See if there are any night-vision goggles. Walker is going to finish the vehicles. Redbeard, we can modify the armored car if you want. Jamison, I want you to do a weapons check and see who has what. Any questions?” The faces shook.

  “I need some shoes,” Erica said sheepishly. Devin looked at her feet and saw that she still had his massive boots on her feet.

  “I’ll take you, sweetie,” Tara said as she grabbed a pair of machetes from the sharpening table and gave Erica the smaller one.

  “We’re going to have some girl time,” Tara said as she walked with a sassy walk holding Erica’s hand swinging back and forth in a playful motion.

  “That’s your wife, huh?” Devin said to Redbeard.

  “Yeah, she is something else, isn’t she?” Devin still held his look of distrust. “Don’t worry, they’ll be fine. Ferret, go with them.” The tiny man nodded and went after them.

  PLAYING DEFENSE

  CHAPTER 51

  WEDNESDAY 0700

  FORT KNOX

  Josh arose to the smell of coffee. He looked around and saw Ethan chatting with some other people at a picnic table inside the room. Josh walked up to them. “Good morning, sunshine, how did you sleep?” Ethan said as he sipped on his mug of coffee.

  “Not as good as you apparently. What’s happening?” Josh asked as he rubbed his eyes.

  “Jenna and I were just conversing with our new friends about our misadventures. Josh, I want you to meet Mr. Harrison, his next-door neighbor, Phil, and Phil’s son, Paul. This gorgeous young lady’s name is Mia. Apparently, Phil tried to run Mia over with a snowplow, but Harrison here threatened him with a…what was it ‘a goddamned piece of rebar’?” Ethan changed his tone to sound like an angry old man, poking fun at Phil’s interpretation of Mr. Harrison.

  Josh awkwardly joined in on the laughter as he looked at Ethan’s cup of coffee. “Here,” Josh took the mug of coffee and took a sip. “No cream? Ugh.”

  “Not all of us are creamer fans like you, bro,” Ethan said taking the cup back. Josh wiped his tongue on the collar of his shirt trying to get the bitter taste of coffee from his mouth. “It’s over there,” Ethan said pointing with his mug.

  “So, seriously, what do you think is going on here?” Mia asked.

  The table fell silent. “Retribution,” Jenna said with a commanding tone. “We found a video of this guy who said he made these things. He said he wanted to limit the population. He wanted to weed out the weak people who couldn’t survive.”

  “Wow, he sounds like a Darwinist.” Everyone looked at Harrison when he finished his statement.

  “That’s what he called himself,” Ethan said as he put his cup on the table.

  “What do you know, man?” Josh asked.

  Harrison took a deep breath. “Charles Darwin said that only the strongest of the species will survive. Ever since the 1800s, people believed this as his theory of evolution.” He placed his hands around his coffee cup. “I’m sure this was just some fanatical fuck who took that too literally,” Harrison finished.

  “So you don’t know anything?” Josh asked placing his hands on his hips.

  “No, I don’t. I know I had different plans the other day when I started hearing screams come from my apartment building. Things changed when one of these things tried to bite me.” The mood changed when a group of men in camouflage came into the room.

  “We need any able-bodied person to the armory.”

  Ethan stood up. “Simmons, militia leader of Memphis, reporting.”

  “You’re taking that shit too seriously, dude,” Josh whispered in his ear.

  “Good, grab your gear, and meet at the North Wall,” the man said and exited the room.

  Ethan held Josh on the shoulder. “Bring your coffee. You’re going to need it.”

  The men met outside along with anyone who answered the call. “People, I’m going to make this short,” the man with a captain’s insignia said. “I’m Captain Michaels; these men are the 145th Airborne. There are some marines, army, national guardsmen around here, and then there are you. We will fight together to maintain this safe ground. Any man not defending the walls will be send to labor duty. Any man avoiding their duties will be shot on sight. Do I make myself clear?” Michaels was met with a uniformed “Sir! Yes, sir!” from those in camouflage while those in casual wear answered with a “Yes” or “Yeah.” “There are around five thousand of those biters trying to break in here and fuck you backward! We need to thin the herd! Grab your weapons, and find a spot. Dismissed!” The men scattered toward the weapons tent.

  “This is just fucking great!” Josh said.

  “Did you expect rainbows and sunshine, bro?” Ethan asked jokingly.

  “Yeah kinda did.” Josh and Ethan made it to the wall.

  They looked at the sea of blood-drenched moaning faces. “Oh shit,” Ethan said softly. “Kill them all!” Ethan shouted.

  Night had fallen. Ethan and Josh sat down to reload their magazines while the shooting spree continued. “Doesn’t look like we’re doing any damage,” Josh said.

  “We kill one, two more show up.”

  Ethan peered over the barrier. “I’ve got an idea,” he said to Josh. “Where’s Captain Michaels?” he said to anyone who heard him. Ethan ran to the wooden doors of the museum. He knocked on the door when he saw Captain Michaels through the glass of the door. Reynolds waved him in.

  “Captain, Ethan Simmons, commander of the southern—”

  “I don’t care.” Michaels interjected. “Why aren’t you on the wall?” Michaels continued.

  “I came here because of the wall. They’re dropping, but more are coming. I have an idea.”

  “We can’t fire at them from the helicopters. There isn’t enough fuel, and the rockets are too close,” Michaels responded.

  “I don’t want you to fire from them. I want a ride.”

  “And where do you expect to go? Away from here?” Michaels said with an angry tone.

  “No, sir, to that tank outside.”

  “That thing is a goddamn relic! And what makes you think I’ll hand over the keys to a goddamn tank to a goddamn civilian?”

  “Because I’m the only one crazy enough to want to get to that tank!” Ethan exploded as he slammed his fist down on the captain’s desk. “You want those things off the wall? Let me do what needs to be done!” Ethan continued. “General Bartlett made me commander of the militia, and it is my duty to make sure these people survive, so give me the goddamn keys, or find me s
omeone who could hot-wire a goddamn tank!”

  Michaels finished his glass of scotch. “There aren’t any rounds for that gun.”

  “I don’t need rounds.” Ethan smiled.

  Michaels looked at the young man. “Are you sure you can do this?”

  “No, I’m not. At Base Graceland, I promised my people they would survive the night, and they did. So I’m One-for-One now.”

  “All right, Reynolds, get me Phillips.” The major left the room. “Scotch?” Michaels asked.

  “Only if it’s neat.”

  “Good man. That’s how my daddy drank it.” He poured Ethan a highball glass of the amber liquid. “To seeing the next day,” Michaels said as he raised his glass and tapped Ethan’s.

  “What are you going to do?” asked Michaels just as Reynolds returned with a small man in camouflage. “Where’s Phillips?” the captain asked.

  “He’s dead, sir.”

  The small man saluted. “Corporal ‘Runt’ reporting, sir.”

  “You’re name is ‘Runt,’ son?”

  “No, sir. James McAdams, but everyone calls me Runt in the motor pool, sir.”

  “Well McAdams, how big are your balls?” Ethan interjected.

  “Pretty fucking big, sir!” Runt fired back quickly.

  “I’ll take him.”

  “Are you sure this will work?” Runt shouted over the sound of the helicopter blades.

  “Absolutely. You’ll get inside and fire it up.”

  “What are you going to do while I’m down there, sir?”

  “I’m going to make sure you don’t get eaten!” Ethan said as he and Josh closed the actions of their weapons.

  “Cease fire!” the helicopter pilot spoke through the PA system. The guns on the wall stopped as the tiny helicopter could be seen hovering above the tank.

  “I don’t know if I can do this, sir!” Runt said cautiously.

  “Sure you can! I’ll be right behind you! Now get your ass down there, Runt!” The tiny man slipped his butt off the side of the helicopter without arguing.

  Instantly, the creatures began trying to grab him as he clattered on the tank. Runt began trying to unlock the roof hatch of the tank. Josh and Ethan began picking shots closest to Runt while he flipped the hatch open. “My turn,” Ethan said as he fist bumped Josh. “See you when I get back.” Ethan leaped out of the helicopter and onto the tank. He pulled out his sidearm and started firing wildly into the angry mob of hungry creatures. Ethan found the hatch and climbed down, shutting the hatch behind him. It was dark inside the tank. He fumbled through his pockets and found a lighter. He flicked it a couple of times, and it struck the last time. In front of him, he saw Runt picking himself up off the floor. “You all right, Runt?”

  “Yeah, just took a bad step, sir.” Runt took out a glow stick and snapped it. Runt made his way to the driver’s seat and ripped open a panel. He began touching wires and fumbling around. The interior was green and red as the lights came on from the instruments. The antique screens warmed, and the diesel engine kicked over. Black smoke came from the engine snorkel as the exterior lights came to life. The lights caused the creatures to frenzy. The exterior lights were being fumbled and ripped apart by the creatures outside the tank.

  Josh motioned for the helicopter pilot to circle around the tank. The closed hatch minimized the sounds of the vicious world outside. “What now, sir?” Runt asked.

  “Run them down! All of them!” Runt kicked the tank into the drive and turned the tank into a steamroller. Tens and hundreds of the creatures were targets for the serrated tracks of the tank. Michaels’s voice came over the radio. “It’s for you, sir!” Runt handed the CB radio to Ethan.

  “Sir! We are in the tank!” Ethan said as he released the button.

  “Holy shit! I can’t believe you actually did it! Do what you can! Some the bigger ones are coming now!”

  “That’s just dandy!” Ethan said out loud.

  “What?” Runt asked from the driver seat.

  “There are some Alphas coming our way!”

  “Josh, how many are there?”

  “Twelve, at least!”

  “Eagle One, I am authorizing you to use extreme prejudice!” Michaels said over the radio. “Eagle One, understood.” The helicopter positioned itself above the tank and opened fire with its 30-mm cannons. The massive creatures began to charge the tank. The brass casings danced on the top of the tank.

  “Josh, what’s happening?”

  “We’re firing on. Hold tight! They’re charging you!” The first one pushed all the smaller ones into the side of the tank, tipping the tank toward one side.

  “Shit!” Runt exclaimed. “It’s ramming us!” Josh watched as the Alphas picked up the smaller ones and used them at tools to slam into the tank.

  “What’s that sound?” Ethan asked.

  “They’re using the little ones like rocks!” Josh exclaimed over the helicopter blades. “Move it, Runt!”

  Runt pressed on the pedal and mowed down some more as they made their way back and forth. “Eagle One, what’s the situation up there?” Ethan asked.

  “We’re out of ammo! The kid is out the door with a rifle!”

  “Wall Unit, open fire on the ones closest to the wall!” Those who were positioned on the wall switched to single fire and began picking at the beasts attacking the wall. “Four down! Four down! Some are breaking off to attack the wall!” Josh said excitingly. “Keep firing!” “Wall Unit, Kill the Big Fucks!” Reynolds and the captain were listening on the radio. “Sir, I have an idea.”

  “Then get on it!” Michaels commanded.

  Reynolds took three men with him and went to the weapons depot. The front door was pulled open, and they made their way past the modern weapons. They broke open another door that led to a rusted door. Reynolds and the three men kicked the door in tandem, knocking the rusted hinges off. He removed a tarp that had wooden crates underneath. He broke open the crates with the butt of his rifle. “These haven’t seen any action since Vietnam.”

  “Are you sure they won’t explode, sir?”

  “Guess we’ll find out,” Reynolds said as he situated himself.

  The men at the wall were having difficulties killing the Alpha creatures. “They don’t go down!” one said to another.

  “Stand clear!” Reynolds’ voice boomed. He clicked a valve and opened the line of his flamethrower. He threw liquid fire onto the beasts clawing at the concrete wall. “Burn you, fucks!” he called as he held down the trigger. After a few seconds, the motionless bodies fell to burning chars. Reynolds whistled at the smaller creatures on the outside of the wall trying to get the tank. Reynolds saw a child’s body that had become a creature. “Fuck you all!” He fell into an explosive rage. He screamed as the intense heat from the flamethrower made him sweat. The heads began to crackle and pop like blood-drenched pimples. The bodies fell limp on the ground.

  “Swing the turret!” Ethan exclaimed. Runt turned the turret toward the Alphas closest to them. “Throw it in reverse!” Ethan commanded. Runt did as he was told and pressed the pedal. The turret slammed into the first one’s head. “Bulls eye!” The second one climbed onto the tank and began punching the roof hatch.

  “Fuck!” Runt said as he felt a bolt from the hatch bounce into his lap.

  “What the hell man! You didn’t tell me they were that strong!”

  “I didn’t know they were that strong.”

  Again it slammed into the hatch denting it further. “Go fast!” Ethan commanded. The tank jerked forward.

  “It’s coming in!” Runt exclaimed.

  “Brake!” Ethan shouted. The tank slammed to a stop. Another punch came to the hatch. “What do we do now, sir?”

  “Josh, do you have eyes on me?”

  “Reloading,” Josh said from the helicopter.

  “No, get away from here!” Ethan screamed.

  “Know what you’re doing?”

  “I think so!” Ethan said. The creature grabbed the
hatch removing the final bolt and blindly threw it over its back narrowly missing Josh and the helicopter. The creature stuck its face in the tank. Ethan and Runt were standing there with combat knives. The creature’s shoulders were too wide to enter the hatchway. It forced an arm in. Runt took advantage of the moment. He grabbed the blind arm and began pulling it in the opposite direction from Ethan. Ethan took his knife and hacked at the eyes like he was wielding an ice pick. More and more, Ethan stabbed it. The more Ethan stabbed it, the more it screamed. Ethan pushed one final blow to the creature forcing his knife deeper and deeper in its skull. It let out a moan of pain that echoed off the interior of the tank. The creature fell limp against the side of the hull. “Whew!” he exclaimed. “We killed it!” he shouted over the radio. Ethan took the time to saw the head off the monster for good measure.

  THE RELIC

  CHAPTER 52

  WEDNESDAY 0600 CST

  FORT KNOX

  “What the hell are these things?” Josh said as he pushed the body onto the ground from the top of the tank. Runt and Ethan had stayed inside the tank for the rest of the night. They mowed down as many of them as they could until they ran out of fuel just as the wall units had finished off the rest of them.

  “I have a theory,” Ethan said as he exited the roof hatch.

  “What’s that?” Josh asked. “I think they are the little ones.”

  “What?”

  “The guy said that they mutated, right? He said he had to use animal proteins to attach to the thing to make these guys, right? What if whatever they were injected with caused them to mutate because it was in the hosts body?” Ethan explained.

  “I kind of follow you. What about that stuff they fed on?”

  “Blood?”

  “No, the stuff in the blood, angio- whatever? Could that make them grow if they consumed a lot of it?”