Winter's Salvation

by Deyo, Jason

  “I really don’t want to leave this though. We have a good thing right now.”

  “No one is going to kick them out of the village and nobody knows when Elijah will be back, so this is kind of like the Wild West right now.” He squeezed her hands, “This was only supposed to be temporary anyway. The winter is soon coming and if my parents are alive they won’t make it through a winter in Maryland.”

  Naomi didn’t want to agree, but was scared for the children. “What do we tell the kids?”

  “Nothing. We don’t let this get out. We can’t let them know until we are getting ready to sleep. That way we will have everything packed and we can take off, without anyone else knowing.”

  Naomi agreed. “Then tomorrow night we leave.”

  “We’ll be ok. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you or the kids.”

  Chapter 16

  The Escape

  Eric had the hood to the Explorer open and was leaning over it pulling the oil dip stick out. They had just came back from a run and got some more clothes, warmer blankets and a bin of random toys they kept hidden in the motor pool, so next month Santa could drop them off in front of the tents for all the good little boys and girls of the village.

  “What’s up?” Jay walked behind him and then studied the dip stick. He was carrying a thick rolled up blanket in his hands.

  “It was running rough earlier. I just wanted to take a quick look, see if there were any obvious issues I was missing.” Eric wiped the dip stick with a dirty cloth and put it back in, just to pull it back out and examine it once more.

  “Joey forgot his blanky.” Jay said as he held the blanket up. Joey made it perfectly clear that he was going to keep this blanket and on the way back to the village he sat in the back seat and took a nap on it and drooled all over it, to seal his ownership knowing none of the other would want it after he laid on it.

  There were only three groups that would go out and they all tried not to claim and keep the best stuff for themselves, but all the groups did, on a small scale at least. Everything was to be given to Elijah and he was to distribute all of the goods evenly. This way no one could accuse anyone of getting the better items, but all the scavengers had the better choices as far as clothing, covers, toys or really anything they picked up and snuck into their pockets.

  “So it’s running rough?” Jay looked at him quizzically.

  “Yeah it wasn’t running right, so I added a little transmission fluid to it and checked the levels. I was going to take it out in a little, real quick, just down the road and back.

  “I’ll go with you.” Jay said as he tossed the blanket into the back.

  Eric put the dip stick back in and dropped the hood. “You don’t have to. I’ll only be a minute or two.”

  “Na I’ll go with you.” Jay said. Eric was about to argue against it, but Jay looked to him and demanded. “I’m going with you.”

  Eric got this vehicle for one initial reason many weeks ago. It wasn’t because it was large and had a big enough storage area to hold a lot of stuff. It was because he intended to claim this one as his own when he did decide to leave, but the current situation expedited his departure. It could also easily drive over undead and a curb or two without getting stuck and not have to worry about having their vehicle turn into a coffin.

  Eric got in the SUV and turned it on. “Did you feel that stutter?”

  “Nope.”

  The guard at the back gate opened it as they approached and once they broke the perimeter of the village Jay turned to him. “Ok, so what’s really going on? There aint nothing wrong with this truck.”

  Eric believed he already knew. He just wanted to hear it from him. “We’re leaving tonight.”

  “Where you going?”

  “We’re going north to Maryland, like I was originally planning when we first got here.”

  “You still going to look for your folks?” The statement came out slightly sarcastically.

  Eric thought about this and knew Jay didn’t mean for it to come out the way it did, but he was serious about the question. “To be honest I’m not,” He searched for the proper way to say it, but could not think of any way that would make it sound as if he had given up hope.

  “You need to see for you.” He finished his statement for him. “So you’re going to take the Explorer?”

  “Yeah. I found it and I’m the one that worked on it to make it run.” He was telling the truth. He removed the parts that had to be replaced from the Explorer on one of their excursions, and as he found parts from other vehicles, he would exchange them. On every trip he would fix another item until it could be driven back to the village. “No one in the village can know. We haven’t even told Sam or Drew yet.”

  “So how’s this going to work? You’re going to take off in the middle of the night and not expect anyone to know?”

  “Something like that.” Now that Jay knew it put Eric in an awkward position. If Jay would go back to the village and tell someone they would watch over the Explorer and not let him take any of the vehicles. “You can’t tell anyone.”

  Eric could feel Jay’s eyes staring through him. “Are you serious? Do your thing.” Jay spoke loudly, “You got to do what you got to do. Everyone knew that you wanted to leave, but you’re not leaving cause of those rednecks are you?”

  “Fuck no. That was just what pushed Naomi over the edge.”

  “I don’t think anyone believed Naomi wanted to go. How did she take it when you told her?”

  “She’s cool with it. She thinks it’s better that we go before I burn their tents down while they sleep, or they do the same to us, so we think it’s just time for us to go. We really only stayed here for as long as we did because Naomi hurt her neck and back pretty bad and we were all tired from running.”

  “We could take care of that other gang and those Hillbillies if you wanted us to?”

  “I’m not worried about them.”

  “So you’re going to start running again? You’re going to travel up through some of the most populated parts of the country to find your folks? That sounds pretty stupid risking your life and the lives of the others to go make sure your parents are dead.”

  “Fuck you.” Eric snapped back, “We’re leaving tonight; with the Explorer.”

  Jay sat back and fell silent. They traveled this road many times before and never saw a ghoul on it, but now one stumbled toward them in the middle of the road. The sun was just over head and shined down on the slumping figure. Eric slowed the vehicle and stopped in the middle of the street about thirty yards in front of it. “What are you doing?” Jay asked

  “I made this thing up the other day and wanted to know how it would work.” They both stepped out of the car and scanned the bushes and trees of the reserve. Jay strapped his machete to his side and Eric pulled from the hatch of the Explorer what resembled a long silver pitch fork. “Remember when that runner got me against the truck?”

  Jay nodded in response.

  “It would not push or pull the axe off it’s throat, so it was not able to grab me. I created this to see if they all would just keep coming.” He stumbled back on his words, “I had the idea and Mike actually welded it up for me. I didn’t really want to do it on a hunt, because this is a prototype and I just wanted to see how it would work.” He grabbed the six foot pole with both hands and started walking in the middle of the street.

  The wind blew in their direction and the tattered clothing that hung from the ghoul waved through the breeze. Shortly after seeing the tattered strands of clothing sway the smell of rotting flesh attacked their nostrils. The zombie moved very slowly having to struggle to maintain it’s balance and took slow concentrated step after step. This undead was just about rotten to bone. The first ones that got this disease, or virus, or demonic possession or whatever it was, were the ones that were the most decomposed. Even though they continued to function instinctively, their muscle tissues were being eaten, by bugs and literally rotting off of the
ir bones. This ghoul’s skin was taut on its face and was sculpted around each bone, portraying sunken temples and jutting cheeks. As it opened and closed its mouth the skin was pulled tight like a stretched balloon. It’s eyes were smaller, wrinkled and appeared to be sitting loosely in its eye sockets.

  Jay and Eric walked closer to it and it stopped, standing very still to listen for its welcomed visitors. They both stepped to the side of it to get from being downwind of it. As they moved a skin covered skeletal hand fanned out for them; with stretched out fingers that resembled dull spikes. The bony undead could see them when they got closer to it and as it went for them Eric positioned the ghoul catcher. He placed the silver U under its bony chin and pressed firmly against its neck.

  It’s arms were as thick as a chairs leg, but it reached out for Eric with growing enthusiasm. Eric did not have to plant his feet or even try to push to hold this one back. This zombie was falling apart in front of them. The weight of the tool itself could hold this one back. “Well since our specimen sucks this is how I was planning on using it.” The ghoul tried to move forward twisting its head back and forth. The U was ripping into the skin and parted it creating a gap in its throat three times the thickness of the catcher. The taught skin pulled the slice apart and bigger. “We could either hold it like this, but if we have a runner, I made it long enough, so if we put the butt end on the ground it will continue to walk up and not be able to get to us.” He put the butt end on the ground in front of him and secured the butt with his foot. The ghoul walked forward and the hook continued to raise its head, outstretching its neck. “When you got them like this, this would be the perfect time to bury that machete.” As soon as he paused the ghoul lost its footing from being forced up and fell to the ground.

  It laid trying to get up rocking back and forth on its back. Jay chopped through the front of its neck severing its spine. Eric laughed and tossed the catcher back in the Explorer. “Are you going to tell anyone?”

  “Really? No. You’re going to need me anyway.” He pulled himself into the passenger side of the Ford.

  “You want to come?”

  “Hell no! There’s this new Miss in town and I just haven’t had a chance to hit that yet. I got too much of a good thing here. We’re going to park outside the gate about a hundred yards from the fence and walk back. This way no one will dare go looking for it and secondly if they see us walking back from it, none of those other slugs are going to know how to fix it.”

  Eric put the truck in gear. “Thanks.”

  “I do hope you find your family.”

  “I know you do.”

  **********

  The weather in the village had turned from cool to wet, cold and extremely windy. The sound of a stiff breeze smashed against the high house on the staging and caused the scaffolding to rock, but with the exception of Eric, the rocking caused everyone inside to drift into a deep sleep. The rocking of the staging encouraged him more and more that this was their time to go. The reasons of why not to stay were weighing on his mind and one reason was, how is this place going to look after a major storm came through. The scaffolding they slept on was secure just as long as a strong storm doesn’t come through and collapse it or tip it over while they were in it. A piece of clear plastic taped to the sides of the window came loose in one of the corners and began to flap causing Sam to stir a little.

  From the clear plastic Eric watched the guards at the back exit next to the motor pool that separated him from the Explorer. From this window he was able to face the guards, and also the main dirt road that lead directly to the back gate. There were people walking around the village, but most of the villagers were fast asleep in their tents or wishing they could fall asleep with the heavy wind.

  The rounds the guards made consisted of walking to the two corners of the village on their side and glancing down the long fence of the village. After looking down the long fence ensuring nothing was clinging to it they would turn and walk back to the back gate.

  “Naomi, it’s time to go.” He shook her shoulder gently and whispered to her.

  Already being packed she gave a quick stretch and woke the children. She pressed her index finger against her lips and shushed into it signifying they had to be quiet. Eric had watched the guards and was anticipating they were getting ready to make their round, so he began to pack their pillows as they lifted their heads.

  “Did you see the atlas?” Eric gave up looking for it a long time ago, but in desperation started searching the small room again.

  Naomi shocked by the noise he was making, “You said you didn’t need it once we got to Baltimore. We can just head north and run into Maryland, it’s not a big deal. We’ll make do without it.”

  Without saying a word his body language gave into her logic. “It would just be nice if we had it, that’s all.”

  Eric put the pistol in the front of his jeans and rapped Drew and Samantha up in the blanket they shared. He ensured they had all the best coats and blankets he came across even though it violated the village rules. Naomi wrapped herself in one and then handed one to Eric. If they were planning on staying at the village he may have followed the rules, but his intention was not to stay very much longer, after it had gotten cold.

  They climbed down the staging and moved closer to the exit. Just as he had planned it, the two guards left the gate to patrol the sides of the fence. Eric removed the chain carefully from the two swinging doors that made the exit, but in the cool air the clanging of links rubbing across metal fence sent echoes down the vacant dirt street.

  With the swinging gate left open they ran from the village. They did not take the time to close it and ran as fast as they could. Their bags beating against their backs, they breathed heavy plums of breath into the air. Just a few steps away from the village a voice rang out. “Eric don’t make me run afta yahs.” Dan’s voice and horrible use of the English language was very distinct.

  “Keep goin I won’t be far behind.” Eric stopped and the three traveled on just a couple steps beyond him. He kept his blanket tight over his body hiding his body features. With the moon behind him the light shined bright on the guard, but the moon hid his own features in mystery.

  The fat guard walked up slowly shuffling his feet. He pointed the machine gun at Eric at his hip level. “Yall jus thought yall were gonna get up an leave without saying good bye?” If his horrible red and black flannel jacket didn’t give him away his even worse ability to talk sure did. “I believe you an my buddy have a liddle disagreement, an he wants to show you his side of the story.”

  “Look Dan we’re leaving. We thought it would be best if we did it this way.”

  Jeremy was the other guard on watch this night and he came running behind Dan with a baseball bat in hand. A bandage covered his nose making his voice nasally. “We’re not just going to allow you to leave. You are going to have to ask us nicely and maybe even give us a little something before we allow you to leave.” As he ran up Dan lowered the tip of his weapon.

  “Yah know, I could give two shits about where it is you are going, but I could really use a bit of nigger lovin.” Dan said as he waved the gun in Naomi’s direction. “What do you think Jeremy? She gives it up we let them go.”

  “That’s what I was thinkin.” Jeremy smiled showing two missing front teeth. Eric couldn’t help, but think he did that.

  Naomi and the children were standing less than fifteen feet behind Eric. She pulled the children in close and then forced them behind her using her body as a shield.

  Standing between them, but up the road to the village another figure walked toward them. Eric immediately recognized Jay from his long hair and also saw the machete swinging from his side. Something he had never noticed before from him was the shape of a pistol in his right hand. “Hey.” He said just loud enough to get Dan and Jeremy’s attention.

  With Dan waving the tip of the machine gun at Naomi and his children and now with his head turned, in one motion Eric grabbed the barrel lettin
g the blanket drop from his shoulders, and pressed his pistol against Dan’s forehead. “We just want to leave.” Eric barked quickly forcing the redneck to arch his back backward from the pressure of the gun.

  “Hell you probably don’t even have any bullets in that gun, you fucking pussy.” Dan’s partner said confidently as he started to step closer, wrapping his hands tighter on the bat. “And this don’t concern you Jay.”

  “He’s got bullets!” Dan hollered out.

  With his first step closer to Eric, “Do you really want to find out?” After a short pause, “We are leaving.”

  Jeremy took another step.

  Eric took a side step to widen his stance and looked Jeremy in the eyes. “Jeremy you will die today.”

  “I think you should listen to him Jeremy.” Jay said trying to be the voice of reason.

  Jeremy took a half step. Before his foot touched the ground he pulled the trigger and fired the shot into Dan’s head, the entire time never taking his eyes off Jeremy. As Dan’s body fell lifeless to the ground, he turned the gun on Jeremy and pulled the trigger. A single shot went into his chest and another quickly followed. The three bullets rang loud throughout the dirt streets of the village.

  “We cool?” He asked Jay

  “You my boy.” He nodded his head and walked over to the two bodies. “Take it easy out there. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  Eric nodded in appreciation and then they ran the short one hundred yards to the Explorer. The SUV started quickly and they began to travel to Maryland.

  Chapter 17

  Don’t Wait Up Too Long

  Maryland always had a smell and feel about it that felt like home to Eric and as soon as he stepped from Virginia into his home state a feeling of elation washed over him and a smile spread across his face. Taking one step closer to being home made him smile, but that step was greeted by a bitter cold sting over his face, as a strong breeze filled his hood like a balloon. The wind in Maryland was constant and strong. It felt to them as if there was an invisible wall that stopped the wind from entering Virginia.