by TW Brown
“Evan,” Betty appeared, peering down at me from the railing above, “Michael is here.” The relief in her voice was obvious, and she even managed a hint of a smile.
A moment later, the boy appeared beside her. Selina moved up behind the boy in what looked to be a rather protective stance. I doubted that she would let the lad out of her sights for a while.
“There is food everywhere,” Selina crowed, and then looked around as if she expected a zombie to materialize out of thin air and attack her. “They even have a kitchen up here,” she added with a loud whisper that echoed off the domed ceiling above.
From somewhere in the house, I heard the deep ‘woof’ of Chewie. Instantly, Selina turned and dashed from sight with Michael on her heels. I saw a look of worry cross Betty’s face as well.
“Chewie, come,” I said in a voice that was just a shade over conversational tone. Within seconds, I heard the click-clacking of claws as she emerged from wherever she’d been rooting around upstairs. As soon as she saw me, she reared up on her hind legs a bit like a horse and then swaggered to the staircase, descending them with her rolling gait.
She reached the bottom and trotted over to me. I accepted my wet swabbing of her massive tongue. After I ruffled the fur around her neck, I pointed to the floor. Obediently, she flopped down and then stared up at me with her dark brown eyes.
I let the small bag drop from my shoulder. I found it a bit strange that the contents of the bag represented everything I now owned in the world. When I set it on the floor, I heard the distinctive jangle of busted glass. Kneeling, I unzipped it and saw that the picture frame had gotten shattered. Probably when that mountain of undead flesh fell on me.
“Dammit,” I breathed.
A shadow fell across my bag and I looked up to see Carl standing over me. His eyes drifted to the picture and then back to me. I saw what almost looked like condemnation cross his eyes, then it was replaced by something else.
“If you try to hold onto the past, it might eat you alive from the inside.” Carl’s words were not harsh, nor were they steeped in pity. It sounded like he was honestly just trying to give me some good advice that he felt might help me.
I pulled the busted frame out and shook the rest of the glass free. Without acknowledging him or saying anything, I got up and ventured into the house. I was pretty sure that I could find a frame somewhere in this mansion that would hold my picture of Stephanie.
***
I stood on the balcony and stared out into the distance. Fires still burned everywhere, but I could also detect clusters of light that seemed too coordinated to be just random lights or fires. To the right of where we were currently located, there was a sprawling complex of houses.
It was one of those types where every house looked almost identical to the ones on either side. There might be subtle differences, but you could be assured that the identical floorplan existed someplace else in the little pop-up neighborhood. All of the so-called yards were about the size of a postage stamp and the backyard was pretty much confined to the deck.
From that direction is where we heard the most noise. Since darkness fell, I’d heard a variety of shrieks and screams that gave me the chills. They weren’t the “I’m being eaten alive” sort; nope, these were the kind that indicated something dark and sinister might be happening. Sometimes, there was the pop of a gun, and the scream was suddenly silenced.
I noticed that the zombies were drawn to all this noise. A steady stream of them stumbled and shambled along up Johnson Creek Boulevard. While it was clear that they were drawn to the sound, I was a bit surprised that they did not necessarily try to take the shortest route. They followed the path of least resistance versus direct lines.
That proved true until about an hour ago. I’d just finished taking a shower. I don’t think warm water ever felt so good. Carl explained to everybody that we might not want to get used to it. With the power out, the hot water heater would not be providing such luxuries any longer. More good news came in his revelation that it would not be long before the systems of pumps and such that circulated water throughout the city would be going away soon as well.
I was slipping into some clean clothes courtesy of the former residents when I heard a chorus of moans that told me there was a rather large mob approaching. I’d watched them as they appeared to home in on all the sounds coming from over in that little neighborhood. Unlike the singles and smaller groups that had passed, this group made a beeline for their ultimate destination. When the first of them started up the hill, I felt my heart leap into my throat.
The moon above was peeking through a few drifting clouds, but it was easy to watch this huge pack of walking dead as it mowed down everything in its path to reach the houses where all the noise came from. Eventually, I began to hear what sounded like wood snapping and cracking. It took me a moment to realize that had to be the sound of fences being folded over like so much balsa wood.
A short time later, there was a flurry of gunfire. Shouts and screams began to erupt from that area. It wasn’t long before I began to hear the scream. And not just one or two. There were several, one piled on top of the other to create a chorus straight from the darkest nightmare.
I kept thinking that it would have to stop…there should be an end. Could there really have been that many people that close? But that made me wonder just what kinds of people they were. There is no way they didn’t hear me, Betty, and Selina as we almost met our doom. What did that say about them as human beings? That they could hear us in obvious danger and simply ignore it.
Hypocrite, the voice in my head chimed.
And it was correct. I was listening to people being ripped apart and eaten alive by a horde of the walking dead, yet I did nothing. I stayed put on this balcony and just wanted it to be over. I wanted the screaming to stop. I wanted that last person to die so they would be quiet. So what did that say about me?
There was a roar that almost sounded like a bear, then a barrage of gunfire. The smaller pops of handguns, the low booms of a shotgun. Then, for just the briefest of moments, there was silence.
And then the scream.
My mind painted a variety of pictures that would illustrate what I’d heard. But unless I actually went over there, I would not know. A peculiar sense of curiosity overwhelmed me. I knew right then that I would have to go over there and see for myself.
Certainly not right this minute. I would go in the morning when it was light out. We’d already discussed the fact that this was a pretty good place to ride things out. At least for the time being. We would need to venture out to some of the surrounding neighborhoods and hunt down supplies. The bright yellow Hummer in one of the bays of the six-car garage would serve nicely. We could bring back a decent haul in that vehicle and also not have too much concern if we had to go off the beaten path such as it was.
At last, the final scream faded and I was standing there alone, on the balcony, staring towards the dark outlines of that nearby neighborhood. I could see flames flickering in the darkness and I hoped that it would not be blown this way if it grew into something larger.
“You should murder the sick people.”
The voice from behind me made me jump. My hands were patting all over my body for a weapon that I was not carrying. It took me a few thundering heartbeats to realize that it had been Michael speaking. His dark shape was standing in the open door to the room I’d chosen for the night.
“What?” I wasn’t sure that I’d heard him correctly.
“They are bad, and if you don’t murder them, they will eat us.” The boy continued to stare at the floor as he spoke, but his words were crystal clear.
“Okay?” It came out almost sounding like a question. Still, that seemed to satisfy the young man. He gave me a nod and walked away.
I stood there for a moment, debating on whether to go after the boy and maybe see if I could get him to talk. In the end, I decided to just let it be. I turned back to the neighborhood and discovered that the
re were now at least three houses ablaze.
I could feel a sense of growing concern. Those houses were now massive fires with the flames shooting skyward several feet. Perhaps it would be best if we began making preparations for a hasty exit. I knew all too well just how fast a fire could close in and force you out.
There was a good-sized grove of pine trees between the houses and our stronghold, but I did not think it to be a good idea to wait for them to go up before we reacted.
I was not even two steps out the door when Betty appeared from a few doors down. Selina was beside her holding a well-worn and faded stuffed giraffe. The woman was wearing some sort of nightgown that did not look at all comfortable. It was clearly a few sizes too small.
“Evan?” It was just my name in the form of a question, but it spoke volumes.
“Let’s change plans,” I said, trying to sound calm and cool. “Instead of picking through this place tomorrow, I say we do it now and start packing things in the Hummer. Make food and water a priority.”
“We’ll get dressed and be right out.”
I shook my head after she and Selina disappeared into the bedroom they’d claimed. I had donned a pair of sweats with the local soccer team logo emblazoned on them. Green wasn’t my favorite color, but clean clothes were nothing to scoff at. Besides, beggars can’t be choosers.
I headed down the stairs to discover that Carl was stacking plastic container boxes by the door. He set down the one he’d been carrying and then stepped aside. I was surprised to see Michael toting a much smaller box and setting it alongside everything Carl had stacked and ready. Carl looked up and saw me coming down the stairs.
“I was up and started getting some essentials when those yay-hoos started carrying on. Thought they might bring trouble, so I started loading up early.” Michael gave the man a tap on his side. “And this little guy decided to help.”
I stared down at the unlikely pair for a moment before shaking my head and joining them. “Should I start taking what you have here out to the Hummer?” I asked.
“It wouldn’t hurt.” Carl gave a nod and then headed back into the depths of the house and areas I had not yet even begun to explore.
For the next hour, I loaded the large containers into the gigantic H2 Hummer. I’d never seen the logic or reason for owning something like this. I was certain that it devoured gasoline like nothing else, and that would be a problem once we left and took it on the road. It had been a relief to discover that the tank was full, so at least we had that much fuel to get us someplace when we bugged out of here.
Eventually, Betty and Selina arrived. They did a mix of helping me and loading more boxes. I think Betty just wanted to be sure that a few of the discoveries that she’d made in the kitchen found their way into this loadout.
She’d been like a kid in a candy store as she’d gone through the pantry. And I had to admit, whatever it was that she’d whipped up for us to eat earlier this evening had been beyond amazing. She’d admitted to being a bit of a Food Network addict. Apparently she’d attended a few culinary classes over the past few years.
As the sun began to peek it head up and push some light through the scattered clouds, we had managed to load a considerable amount of supplies into the Hummer. And when I say ‘We’ I mostly mean me. I was just shutting the door when Selina bounded out to me.
“Carl says we can relax,” she gushed, almost out of breath and panting heavily.
“What?” I had no idea what she was talking about.
The front door opened a bit further and Carl stepped outside. “The fires are burning out, and the wind is keeping them away. It looks like we will be okay. Plus, when the rain gets here, I think it’ll settle things down.”
I looked to the sky and then back at Carl with a perplexed expression. From what I was seeing, the clouds were clearing. Carl must’ve caught my look and understood my doubt.
“This baby never lies.” He pointed to his right knee. “Messed it up real bad about ten years ago. Hurts like a sumbitch sometimes, but it is the best barometer that I’ve ever known. Never been wrong so much as once. When she gets to singing, I know we’ll have rain within about six hours.”
I wasn’t gonna argue. And, truth be told, I was glad that we weren’t leaving this place just yet. I still felt like I could use about another week’s worth of sleep. And Chewie had been in heaven once we discovered the indoor pool downstairs.
“If you say so,” I said with a shrug, and then headed inside. Less than four hours later, the skies opened up and let loose with a downpour of almost biblical proportions.
10
The Dog
I looked out the window and allowed at least a small sigh of relief. The housing development that had been swarmed over by the zombies early this morning was only smoking in a few areas. For the most part, it looked like the fires had died down, largely due to the torrential rain that had swept through the area. At the very least, they weren’t spreading.
Everybody had gone off to their own separate rooms at some point. That left me alone with Chewie. As I stared out the window, she sat beside me. Every so often, she would whimper. That made my next task very clear: I needed to find a veterinary clinic. I wasn’t sure what she would need, but hopefully I could figure out what sorts of medications were antibiotics. Also, she needed that tail cleaned and bandaged properly.
I realized in that moment that, just a day ago, I’d bemoaned being burdened with two children. Yet, it wasn’t for either of them that I was about to set out into the Portland Hellscape on a mission.
I knelt down and brought her large, broad head around to me and looked into her eyes. “I’ll take care of you, girl,” I promised.
Her response was the anticipated swabbing of her tongue across my face. I hugged her, and felt her body lean into mine. It was a display of mutual love and comfort. It is also what obliterated the emotional dams I’d hastily thrown up since this nightmare began.
I felt the first tears trickle down my cheeks, and then the floodgates opened and I began to sob unlike any time I’d ever experienced in my life. I honestly have no idea how long I cried.
At some point, I’d pulled out my newly framed picture of Stephanie. Not that I could actually see it through the tears. I held it in my lap, then I hugged it to my chest. Those two actions were repeated countless times as I wept for everything that I’d lost.
It wasn’t just my future wife; she’d been my friend, my companion, and fellow adventurer. Add in the fact that she’d just discovered she was pregnant with our child, and there were actual moments where I did not know if I would be able to catch my breath from crying.
Eventually, and after however much time had passed, the tears lessened. Whether it was from the fact that the well had run dry, or if perhaps my psyche was now ready to begin the slow healing process, I have no idea. What I do know is that the tears eventually abated.
Chewie had sprawled out on the floor just a few feet away, her muzzle resting on her massive paws. She was regarding me as if to ask me if all that crying nonsense was over.
“I think I’m done for now, girl,” I whispered.
She seemed to understand, and gave a loud huff before her eyes shut. A moment later, her snores competed with the sound of the rain. Eventually, they won.
I got up and scoured the room that I’d chosen. Apparently it was the master bedroom. There was an enormous closet that was probably as large as Stephanie and my bedroom had been. Most of the clothes I found were useless…unless I was going to be attending a board meeting sometime soon, which I seriously doubted.
On one of the shelves, I spotted a box stenciled “Ski trip” and pulled it down. There were plenty of snow suits and gloves, all things that would come in handy, but not quite what I was searching for. One of the vehicles that we’d discovered in that massive detached garage had been a custom-made Harley Davidson motorcycle. Again, I was guessing it to be valued at well over two or three years’ worth of what I made as a salary.
Somebody with a bike like that had to have leathers. I just did not see how they wouldn’t.
In the third box that I pulled down from the shelf that ran around the perimeter of the closet, I hit pay dirt. The bonus came when I was able to confirm that this guy and I had been very close to the same size.
It took some work and a bit of baby powder on my skin that I’d spotted on the master bedroom’s personal bathroom, but at last I was outfitted in a full set of biker’s leathers. There were even riding goggles, gloves, and boots. All of which I donned.
I stepped out into the bedroom and threw my arms out wide. “What do ya think, Chewie?”
The Newfoundland lifted its head and regarded me with bleary eyes, then dropped her head back onto her paws and resumed her nap. I gave her a dismissive wave and then turned to check myself out in the mirror. I looked like much more of a badass than I knew myself to be. Still, I also felt like I had at least some minimal protection from the walking dead. Maybe a set of chomping teeth would grab hold, but perhaps they wouldn’t tear through the leather before I could pull away.
That was the hope.
After pulling out my few meager belongings from my carry bag, I attached my Ruger’s holster to the belt I was wearing. It wasn’t perfect, but at least now I had easy access to my handgun. Also, I’d been able to fashion a better loop for my hand axe which now hung from my right hip, opposite my Ruger.
I found a small box and dumped in all my loose bullets and then slid that into a large pocket inside the heavy leather jacket I now wore. Now it was time to go find Carl. I wanted him to know that I would be slipping out to try and locate a veterinary clinic.
He ended up being easy to locate. The man had set up a hammock in the main entry hall. It had a metal frame and actually looked rather comfortable. Curled up underneath it was Michael. The slow and steady rising and falling of his chest indicated that the young boy was probably asleep.