The man was moving toward his newly zombified wife. She was obviously disoriented by her fall to the ground and was staring off in the opposite direction. He called out her name and she whirled around and snarled.
"He's stupid," Jenni hissed.
Katie reversed slightly, shifted gears and floored the truck. "He loves her," she answered.
The zombie was running at her husband with her hands outstretched and her face an ugly, twisted version of its former self. Katie swerved in front of the man and the truck rammed into the female zombie and sent her flying. The creature tumbled wildly, limbs flailing. Katie slammed on the brakes and both women stared at the fallen dead woman through the windshield.
Jack gave a sharp little bark.
The woman lay on the road.
"You fucking bitches!" The man slammed his fist into the side of the truck bed and scrambled toward the door.
Katie ducked away from him as he tried to grab her through the open window. Jack jumped on top of Katie and barked fiercely at the man.
"You killed her! You killed her!" The man screamed shrilly.
Katie tried to get out from under the dog, but then Jenni climbed over her, shrieking back at the man.
"She's already dead! She's dead and you need to get in the truck before she eats your ass!"
"You're crazy!" The man sobbed and attempted to hit Katie. "You killed her! You killed her!"
Katie tried to get up, but Jenni was still over her. Jenni shoved the man to back him out the window as Jack continued to hop up and down on Katie barking.
"Get off me!"
The man and Jenni screamed at each other and Katie let her foot up off the gas. The truck lurched forward, knocking the man away and Jenni fell back into her seat. Slamming her foot onto the brake, Katie grabbed the steering wheel and pulled herself up. Jack scooted back, but kept barking out the window.
"She's up," Jenni said.
Shoving her blond curls out of her face, Katie looked down the road at the undead creature crawling slowly toward them. Its torn body struggled to move and the expression on its battered face was inhuman.
"Honey, honey!" The man ran past the truck toward the zombie.
"Fuck," Katie sighed in resignation.
"Run the bitch over and let him live," Jenni said.
"He won't come with us after I do that," Katie answered.
"Save his damn life and let him find his own way," Jenni answered. "We can keep him from being one of those things."
The man was getting closer to the dead woman.
"Katie, do it."
With a weary sigh, Katie shifted gears and the truck growled as it surged forward. As they passed the heart-broken husband, he realized what they were doing and threw himself at the truck. They heard him hit the side of the truck bed. Jack growled at the crawling creature in the road right before the truck's front left wheel rolled over it. Katie slammed on the brakes and without looking back, reversed over the zombie. They were jostled slightly around in the cab as the horrified howl of the man they were trying to save filled the air.
Jenni leaned out of her window and screamed at him, "She would have eaten you!"
Katie let out another sigh and the truck roared on.
Jenni fell back into the cab and sat staring out of the windshield. Jack twisted around to stare out the back window at the man screaming in agony over the decimated body of his former wife. Katie tried hard not to look into the mirrors.
"We were just trying to help," Jenni pouted.
"I know," Katie answered and ran her fingers through her hair slowly. She massaged the tender, knots on the top of her head with her fingertips and tried to relax. Her whole body was tense and painful. She had just run over a woman and reduced her to road kill. And yet, she had no regrets. In this new world, violence was the way to redemption.
If only she could have released Lydia...
Jenni looked grumpy as she propped her feet up on the dashboard. "He could have listened to us. We could have helped him."
"Not everyone understands what is going on," Katie said after a beat. "I'm still adapting."
Sighing, Jenni pulled the dog close to her.
They lapsed into silence and continued down the road.
2. Keep Moving Until You Stop
Keep moving, Katie. Keep moving, her father's voice whispered in her mind.
Had he really said those words?
She sighed and shifted in her seat. The air conditioning was blowing full blast making it nice and cool in the cab despite the hot sun blazing through the windshield. It was a pull on the tank of gas, but it was too hot to go without running it anymore. It was near four o'clock in the afternoon and the hottest part of the day.
Jack and Jenni had dozed off beside her. Jenni's head slightly rested on Katie's thigh and her black hair fell around her pale face. Her body was curled up under the hunting jacket. Jack the German Shepherd, no more than an overgrown puppy really, lay against her.
They were both snoring.
It soothed Katie's nerves for some strange reason.
Damn erratic weather had it cold in the mornings, roasting by noon, and cool in the evenings. Right now it was at full broil.
She had finally kicked off her shoes. Her sleeveless silk tank and navy blue trousers seemed brutally out of place in her new existence. She would need to find some better clothes soon. But where, was a good question. For miles there had been nothing more than farmland and forest and occasionally a house set back from the road.
On one small farm road, they had passed a farm that had its workers patrolling the grounds with guns. One of them had motioned for them to slow down, but Katie's gut had clenched at the sight of one of those workers heavily bandaged arm and they had sped by.
They couldn't take chances anymore.
But they weren't the only paranoid ones. They had to go around a very small town that had its roads blocked with armed men standing at the ready. A huge makeshift sign had read "No out of towners allowed." It made sense, actually, if the people from the big cities, like them, were trying to seek refuge in the countryside. There was no assurance that the city folk weren't bringing the infection with them.
Looming ahead of the truck were more hills and more trees. It felt peaceful and surreal. Usually at this time of the day she was either in court or buried under stacks of paperwork. Her tummy would be full of takeout food and she'd be text-messaging Lydia back and forth as the day went on.
Instead…
She looked down at Jenni and sighed.
Jenni unnerved her. She was a very lovely young woman with her dark hair and eyes and luminous skin. Jenni was a battered wife and the faint bruising on her legs and one arm only confirmed her abuse. And, as Lydia had often pointed out, Katie wanted to save the world and everyone in it. Already Katie felt very protective toward Jenni. She would do everything she could to take care of both of them and give them both a chance to live.
That thought gave her purpose, gave her the will to move on and not stare at the picture of Lydia captured on her cell phone.
Above the trees, an enormous billboard suddenly rose up.
Toombs Hunting Store-Stop now before you shoot!
She laughed at the sign and shook her head. Country people were one of a kind. She reached down and gently stroked Jenni's hair.
"We're gonna be okay," she promised the sleeping woman.
The truck crested a hill and down below was a town, if it could be called a town. Six buildings, four on the left, two on the right, lined the road. Behind the buildings were fields and trees and Katie could see a smattering of houses and trailers making up the town's "burbs".
A huge sign stood on top of the two story building on the right.
Toombs Hunting Store-Guns, Supplies, Licenses and More! Stop now before you shoot!
"Wonder if they have a zombie hunting license," Katie murmured as she slowly drove into the town.
The store was very old, at least 150 years old, with thic
k stone walls and heavy iron bars over the windows. A big iron door had Toombs with deer antlers on either side of the name painted in yellow letters. It looked like an old-time jail.
Letting the truck idle, Katie looked around at the buildings before returning her gaze to the hunting store. It was eerily quiet and devoid of any visible people.
Suddenly, a shot rang out and Katie jumped. Jenni screamed as she woke and instantly Jack started barking.
Katie was so startled she wasn't sure what was going on. Then she saw a small child laying right beside the truck, a neat hole blown through its head. Its torso and right arm were a mangled mess, as if its flesh had been ripped from its bones.
"Shit," she said.
"Are you bit?" A female voice rang out through what sounded like a bullhorn.
Jenni held tightly to Jack, both of them shaken. Jack was growling.
Leaning over them, Katie rolled down the window low enough to yell, "No! We're not bit! We're looking for some help! Some guns! Supplies!"
"Get out of the car slowly and show us," the voice answered.
"Don't!" Jenni grabbed Katie's arm. "They might hurt you."
"They shot the zombie. I think they're okay."
Jenni's hand trembled as she withdrew it and looked desperate.
"It's okay," Katie said again and whispered to Jack, "Stay," and slid out.
Holding out her bare arms, shotgun in one hand, she slowly turned around. She caught a flash of color and looked up to see two elderly people on top of the gun shop. The woman was holding the bullhorn and the old man the gun.
Jenni looked out at Katie fearfully, unsure of what was going on.
"And the other one."
"Jenni, get out. Leave the dog inside," Katie said firmly.
Jenni slowly slid out of the truck and slid off her bathrobe. Her arms were bruised, but it was clear she had no blood on her.
The elderly couple consulted each other and suddenly the old man disappeared from view.
"You better get back in the truck until he unlocks the door. Got more running around here," the old woman said through the bullhorn, then set it down and picked up a rifle.
Both women climbed back into the truck and Katie pulled the truck over as close as she could to the shop.
"They could hurt us," Jenni said softly.
"They would have already if they wanted to," Katie answered truthfully.
Two more shots rang out and Katie looked over to see two people laying dead near the doorway of an old fashioned grocery store. It was then that she became aware that there were more zombies trapped inside the grocery. The two dead zombies had stumbled out of a rotating door as they jostled about, trying to get to the tasty morsels on the street. Most of the undead were pressed up against the windows clawing at the glass.
The big metal door to the hunting store opened and an old man with thinning silver hair dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt motioned to them.
Turning off the truck, grabbing the keys, and snagging Jack's collar all in one deft movement, Katie slid out of the truck and hurried into the shop. Jenni slid out of the truck behind her, looking flushed and anxious, and followed her through the doorway.
"Name is Ralph. Wife is up top. Her name is Nerit," he said as he bolted the door behind them.
"I'm Katie, this is Jenni, the dog is Jack," Katie said.
"Nice to meet ya," Ralph said and immediately pet Jack, who gave him a big goofy doggy grin.
"Thanks for letting us in. We're pretty desperate for more weapons. We didn't have much ammunition to begin with," Katie explained.
"Got plenty here," Ralph said and motioned about the shop. "This is a hunting store."
"I can pay," Katie offered.
"Money means nothing now, missy. We can do business later. Come meet the missus. Relax. We're safe in here."
The old man wandered past them and started up the stairs.
All around them were racks and racks of rifles and cases full of guns. In the back of the store were all sorts of camping gear.
Realizing they were staying awhile, Katie followed him. Her hand gripped her weapon a little less tightly as she felt the tension in her body drain out a little. Jenni followed and slipped her hand into Katie's other hand as they climbed.
"Are you sure this is okay," Jenni whispered softly.
Katie cast her a reassuring smile over her shoulder. "About as okay as anything is going to be today."
When they came out onto the roof, the absolute beauty of the hills around them struck Katie. Endless, rolling green hills, lush and beautiful spread out around them.
A thin woman with long yellowish white hair stood near the edge of the roof, rifle in hand. A large tent was set up as well as some chairs and a small table. The old woman leaned over the table crossed out three names written on a notepad.
"That's the rest of the Greens," she informed her husband.
Katie slowly realized that the scenery was dotted with dead bodies: half-fallen into bushes, next to cars, in the doorways of nearby houses and of course, the little boy in the street.
"Out of towner came here bitten. Went into the store. Now they're all dead. Some got out and ran home. Infected their families. Got seventy in the town. We've shot twenty dead. No accounting for tourists," the old man informed them, hands tucked into his pants.
"You're both okay though," Katie said.
"Yeah. Store closed today. It's my birthday.” Ralph shrugged.
Nerit smiled at her spouse for a moment, then narrowed her eyes at something down the road and raised her rifle. Another shot rang out. She turned and crossed off another name.
"Last of the Millers," she said in a rich accent.
"Nerit is from Israel. She was a sniper in the Israeli army. Married her two years ago. Glad I did. Dead on shot."
Katie laughed and looked at Jenni. She was glad to see the other woman was actually smiling. Jack sauntered over to an old hunting dog lying nearby.
"That's Tucker. He won't mind the pup. He's too old." Ralph shook his head sadly. "Damn shame to happen on my birthday. Damn zombies."
"Car coming, Ralph," Nerit said.
They all drew close to the edge and saw a very fine silver car pull up. A man climbed out and looked around frantically. He was completely oblivious of the hungry zombies in the store behind him.
"Hello!" He spotted the people on the roof and started waving.
"Shit, it's the guy from the store," Katie said to Jenni.
Jenni narrowed her eyes. It was obvious she remembered the man who had been such an ass earlier in the day.
"Six-figure guy," Jenni murmured.
"Yeah," Katie said. "Wonder how he made it out here."
"Hello! I'm looking for Madison! The radio says that there is a rescue center there!" Six-Figure Guy kept waving at them, stirring up the zombies even more in the store behind him. He remained oblivious to their presence.
Ralph raised the bullhorn slowly. "Are you bit?"
Katie noticed the man's forearm was heavily bandaged. She looked at Jenni. The dark haired woman was staring at the man with a blank expression.
The guy looked at his arm. "I have lots of money! I can pay you for your help! I need to get to Madison and get medical attention." He took out his wallet and waved it around with his injured arm.
"Are you bit, son? If you are, my wife here can help you out," Ralph said.
"Well…" the man hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, but it is slight. I'm sure-"
The crack of the rifle made Katie flinch.
The man stood with a shocked look on his face for just a moment, then fell forward, revealing the exit wound of a nicely placed shot on the back of his head.
"He wasn't turned. We just can't do that," Katie protested.
Nerit looked at her. "Yes, we can."
"And you're going to have to," Ralph said softly. "If you're going to survive."
Katie stood, eyes blinking rapidly, and shook her head. "Oh, God." It was one thing to kill
the ones who had already turned, but innocents who were infected? Could she do that?
"His head just kinda popped," Jenni said in awe.
"Anyone who is bit is going to be one of those things. Gotta shoot them and put them down. Only way." Ralph stood with his hands tucked into his jean pockets looking somber. "Only way to keep safe and keep their numbers down."
Katie thought of Lydia once more and shivered.
"Now come on downstairs for a bit to eat. Sun is about to start down and we don't wanna have empty stomachs," Nerit said and walked past them with her rifle.
"She cooks good food. First we eat, then look at guns, maybe shoot a little, then sleep."
Jenni sighed contentedly, obviously relaxing. "I'm so happy we are here. It feels good to be around real people, not dead ones. Or stupid ones. We saw a few of those on the road."
"I'm sure you did," Nerit said sadly.
Ralph smiled at Jenni and put a gentle arm around her shoulders. "Glad to have company. Glad to help you two out."
The three of them walked back down the stairs leaving Katie standing in quiet contemplation. She looked down at Jack and returned her gaze. If she had a choice, to die quickly or turn into one of those things, which would she prefer?
Letting out a soft sigh, she rubbed her forehead.
"Jack, has the world gone crazy and everyone in it?"
Jack slightly whined
She nodded. "Thought so."
Together they followed the others down the stairs.
3. The World Ends
Katie followed the others down the stairs, Jack faithfully following her. Nerit and Jenni veered off into an old fashioned kitchen while Ralph continued down the hall to a comfortable living room. If not for the enormous flat screen TV it would have looked like the Norman Rockwell version of the perfect grandparent's home.
On the screen scenes of violence were playing while in the corner in big green lettering it read "MUTE".
"Got tired of watching. Too much talk, too little information," Ralph told her.
Katie stood mesmerized as the scenes of mayhem played out. Dutifully recorded by the media, visions of destruction and violence played. A reporter came into view, motioning at the city, obviously standing high above street level and out of the range of the violence. It looked like New York City. Throngs of bloodied, crazed people were running down the street, attacking cars, buildings and the people within. The army was firing at will into the crowd.
As The World Dies: The First Days-A Zombie Trilogy Page 5