by Tahnee Fritz
“What about the vampires?” George’s father asks.
“What about them?” I ask.
“Can you cure them too?”
I shrug, “I don’t know. Haven’t had the privilege of running into one since this happened to me. But, I did cure a zombie somehow, I’m sure anything is possible.”
He takes a deep breath and says, “Okay, let’s say I believe you. Let’s say you aren’t just another monster trying to hide out in a village filled with humans waiting for the perfect time to attack,” his eyes are deadlocked with mine, “How do you suggest we get the rest of the people here, or the world, to believe that you are some sort of cure for the zombies? You can’t expect something like this to go over very well at all.”
“Well, if it goes bad, at least I’m already dead. What more could they do?” I reply.
The old man smiles and says, “Okay then. It might take some convincing, but at the bonfire tonight I’ll pull Adam aside and see what he thinks. It’s best to keep this secret small at first. He’ll know what to do from then on and he’ll figure out if he wants to believe your story. I mean, you got the eyes and the lack of a heartbeat, girl, but a cure for the zombies, that’s far from believable without seeing it actually happen.”
“I agree.” I say.
We might have one person on our side. It’s still questionable, but I don’t think he’s going to kill me. Not right now anyway. I think I can trust him enough to attempt to spread the word about this cure through the village. That actually seems like a pretty tall order to fill and I can only hope, with every fiber of my being, this man will do what he says he’s going to do and get another person to believe this. Otherwise, I can kiss this weird new life of mine good-bye.
* * *
I hid inside the house for most of the afternoon. The smells coming from outside were too much for me to handle. Human blood is mouthwatering and just being in this house with three others, is enough to get that familiar frenzy boiling in my gut. I can’t risk that frenzy turning into something I can’t control.
I’m still so new at this.
One day isn’t long enough to learn everything about being part of the undead. I’m a new kind of undead. A kind that can control their hunger much better than the vamps and zombies. Still, I can’t take that risk and I absolutely won’t let myself kill human.
The bonfire started a few minutes ago. The sun is starting its descent and the sky is slowly growing dark. The people in this small community have armed themselves with guns in case something chooses to go bump in the night. George tells me that once that happens, the group packs up and finds someplace new. A place to start over until the next horde destroys it.
I’ve never met people who live like this. It doesn’t seem like a very fun way to live. Once you get used to something and really like it there, something bad happens and you have to get used to something else. Makes me glad my dad and I never stayed in a place long enough to get used to it. Hell, I’ve lived in Des Moines for a year and I’m still not used to it. There are just certain things in life we have to force ourselves through in order to survive. I’m sure this isn’t the life these people had planned out.
I’m a prime example of that one.
I didn’t plan on losing my family or going from place to place hoping to be safe for a day or two. I never thought I’d have to live as someone who may or may not hold the key to human’s survival. Then again, I never wanted to live a boring, sit behind a desk, pushing paperwork day in and day out kind of life either. I wanted to live in the moment. Be the one who tells the stories of all the amazing things that happened all over the world. Instead, I became one of those stories the world will share till the end of time. Not quite sure how I feel about that just yet. Give it some time and it might sink in.
I finally found the right moment to go outside and join the rest of this civilization. The smoke from the fire drifts up my nose as I hop down the two steps to the dirt on the sidewalk. George and Rose are waiting for me by the bonfire and I can see them sitting on an old wooden bench waving for me to join them. His father gave Rose some clean water and soap, along with new clothes so she could freshen up. She no longer looks like something the zombies discarded. She looks human. I was offered the same, but refused. I don’t feel dirty or gross. My clothes might beg to differ, but the rest of me feels clean and amazing. My hair is still so soft and tangle free, never how it used to be. That, and there’s no sense in wasting something good on someone that’s not exactly human when it should go to the living.
I walk to the bench and force a smile when Rose and George notice me. Both of them have a piece of chicken to munch on. Everyone surrounding the fire has either chicken or beef to eat as their dinner. I’m sure it tastes amazing, but I’d rather have something a little more rare.
The eyes of the crowd are glued to me as I sit down. They’re still getting used to seeing two newcomers in their community. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m a strange girl wearing sunglasses when the sun isn’t shining or that there’s blood stains on my jeans. No, it must be that we’re new here. That’s all it is.
“Hungry?” Rose asks as I sit beside her.
I raise an eyebrow and pass her a smirk, “Believe me, what I’m hungry for would be frowned upon here.”
“I’m glad you have a sense of humor about your situation. George’s father is already trying to convince that Adam fellow about you.” She retorts.
I shrug, “My sense of humor is the last thing to die on me. Besides, I’ll need it when I’m held at gunpoint for being a monster amongst a clan of humans. Might make my last few moments of breathing tolerable.”
“Bridget, you can be so cryptic when you want to be. Is this how you were before you were bitten? When you lived in the city?” George asks.
“Quite a bit.” I say with a smile.
“You would think being undead would change all that.” He says, taking a bite of his meal.
“You would think that, but you’d be wrong.” I reply.
“It doesn’t look like your father is having much luck over there, George.” Rose says, staring across the street.
His father is talking to that guy, Adam, by an old light post. I can tell he’s having issues trying to get Adam to understand everything. By the way that man is glaring at me, I’m sure it won’t be long before the guns in this place change their aim to me.
“He has to believe us.” Rose says, quietly.
“Oh well, just finish eating and we’ll head over there.” George goes back to his small meal and Rose takes a sip of water.
I keep my eyes on Adam. His arms are folded across his chest and I can see his lips moving. They’re too far for a human to hear what’s being said. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not one of those anymore. I stare at them, focusing only on what they are saying and drowning out the others around me.
“I can’t believe you let your son bring one of those undead creatures to my community. You’re going to get us all killed, Greg.” Adam argues.
Finally, I got to learn George’s father’s name. Through this entire day, he never once thought to mention it.
Greg frantically shakes his head back and forth, “I don’t think she’s going to kill anyone here. I sat down with them and not once did she give me any sign of hurting me, my son or that other girl. It might seem hard to believe, but I think they’re telling the truth. I think she might actually be a cure.”
“I don’t care what you think. If that thing doesn’t have a heartbeat, it doesn’t deserve to live anymore.” Adam says.
That hurts a little. Never been called an “it” or a “thing” before.
“Please, Adam, you and I have been friends for years. Right after this thing really went out of control.” Greg sounds like he’s begging, “I’m asking you to just give me a chance. Just hear them out and if you don’t like what they have to say, I’ll give you my own gun to kill that girl.”
I can see the look of frustration o
n Adam’s face as he contemplates what his friend is trying to tell him. He doesn’t seem at all convinced by any of this and I wouldn’t blame him for pulling that gun out of the holster on his belt and shooting me in the head. I’d probably consider doing the same thing.
“I’m sorry, Greg,” Adam states, “maybe if there was more evidence and not just that red head’s word about the other one being a cure. Maybe then I could believe it. I just can’t and I have more important things to do right now. That thing is your responsibility and I’m going against my better judgment by not killing it right now. Whatever happens with it around, is on your head. I’ll let you make the call on letting it live or not.” He walks away from his friend and heads for one of the houses.
Greg solemnly looks down at his feet, ashamed at himself for not getting Adam to believe him. Good thing we didn’t tell the whole world right away. It’s hard enough trying to convince one person to convince someone else about this thing. It might be best if I left before these people get too suspicious of me.
“Your dad couldn’t get him to believe us.” I say, turning back to stare at the fire.
George passes me a confused look and says, “How do you know that?”
“I could hear them.” I reply. “I think I’m just gonna go before they kill me.”
“What? You can’t go.” Rose protests.
I stand from the bench and say, “It’s for the best. You’re human now, so you can live the life you want and be happy. I don’t have that privilege anymore.”
I don’t get more than one step away from the bench before the breeze comes swooping in. An array of wonderful scents fill my nose. The humans, their blood, the salt of their skin. I want it so bad, leaving would definitely be the best choice for me to make right now. All of this temptation isn’t good for someone like me. I just want to make this last little aroma stay with me for a while.
I let another whiff of their scent fill me up and I close my eyes so I can feel what they would taste like. I imagine it’s the best, sweetest taste in the world. Better than any rabbit or zombie on the planet. Probably more filling as well. This would be so much easier to leave if my stomach wasn’t trying to keep me in place. I take another sniff of the air and my eyes open again.
There’s something familiar looming on the air. The same thing I noticed earlier when I thought my mind was playing around with me. It’s stronger this time and I know it has to be real. I know he’s got to be here somewhere. I’d never forget his smell, not in a million years. I move further away from the bench and the fire, scanning the area for a sign that might point to him. Something to tell me he’s close by and I’m not going crazy with my imagination.
There’s a hint of fear mixed in with his aroma, only making me nervous about what he’s going through. I take a few more steps down the middle of the street, sniffing the air as I walk. I’m getting strange looks from a couple kids passing me by, but it’s easy to shrug them off when I’m so focused on finding the source of this scent. The further I get away from the fire, toward the way out of this place, the stronger the smell gets.
Something catches my ear and I stop dead in my tracks. A voice. One I’d never forget. He’s yelling for help and I know he’s got to be close. Maybe he’s running from something. A zombie or a vamp most likely, but maybe he’s running here. I could save him. I could stop whatever is chasing him.
“Help!” his voice is definitely louder this time and I’m not the only one who can hear it.
The talking behind me steadily grows quiet. There’s a few hushed whispers from people trying to figure out who is calling for help. I can feel all of their eyes staring the same way I am. The sun is practically gone now and the whole place is dark. Too dark to see with these damn shades on anymore and I take them off, hanging them over the collar of my shirt.
“Someone help us!” I hear him calling again and I can now make out the sounds of his footsteps.
He’s not alone.
* * *
He’s definitely not alone, like I said a moment ago. I sniff the air and can tell he’s with a friend, another human. There’s also something dead running right behind them. The closer they get to this village, the louder their groaning gets. Zombies, but I can’t tell how many. I guess it could be worse. I expected vampires to rip into this village considering as how everyone’s out right now. It’s a good thing zombies are chasing them instead of the vamps. I’m pretty sure I can handle this.
I take a step forward, hearing the mechanical sounds of guns being cocked and ready to go. If only they knew what I am capable of doing, they wouldn’t need the guns. I just need time that I don’t have to get to the undead before these people start shooting at what could be alive in a few minutes. With me and this cure in the picture, I can’t just sit around and let these humans destroy a chance at getting the world back on track. I might be a little dead myself, but I still want the human race to survive.
They are coming into view. The humans around the fire gasp and a few run for the houses to gain safety. There are three zombies, two male and one female. They don’t appear to be too badly decomposed. My cure will hopefully work on them, if I’m given the chance. The two people they’re chasing, two people I thought I’d never see again, are running at top speed trying to get away. These zombies are slightly faster than most and are catching up rather quickly.
They get closer and a few men come around me. Their guns are aimed and ready to go once the zombies get close enough. I turn my head from side to side, frantically looking at the eager faces ready to kill something that doesn’t need to be killed. Man, listen to me showing compassion for a zombie. Those things have ruined my life more than once and here I am caring about them all because I hold a cure for their illness.
“Don’t shoot them.” I say, getting a few awkward sneers thrown at me, “I got this.”
I highly doubt they’ll listen to my words, probably even shoot me in the process of trying to take out the zombies. Still, I have to do this. I have to do what it takes to bring back three people who hopefully remember none of their horrible lives as a zombie. If they’re anything like Rose, they won’t.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hear a male voice calling from behind me as I walk.
It’s easy to shrug them off as I walk swiftly down the street, keeping my eyes on the one person I’m really doing this for. He needs my help once again and dammit I’m going to give it to him. I can see Carter pumping his arms and legs, trying to outrun the zombies behind him. He’s ahead of Ryder, but keeps glancing behind him to make sure his friend is still there.
Ryder, to think I’d never get to see him again and here he is, running toward me. He might not know it’s me just yet, but he will. I watch him move his legs faster, looking over his shoulder to see the zombies coming up on his tail. His eyes don’t see the pothole he’s headed for and there’s no way for me to stop him from twisting his ankle and falling to the ground.
Of course, that’s exactly what happens. Life can never be easy when you want it to be and I have to pick up the pace.
Carter doesn’t notice that Ryder has fallen behind. He doesn’t even see me when I rush right by him. My legs are moving so fast, I can’t tell if I’m really moving them or if the world is spinning faster so I can get there. The zombies are closing in on their prey. He’s trying to pull himself up, crawling away from them. All of the creatures stop running and know they have what they want without even trying. Their growling gets louder and Ryder rolls onto his back, staring up at the things about to devour him. I can smell his fear more than anything else and it has the monster raging deep in my gut. It’s even more pissed off than when I won’t feed it.
One of the male zombies closes the gap between him and Ryder. I can smell the death protruding from his skin. That rotten scent drifts up my nose only driving me into an even deeper frenzy. It must know that nothing is allowed to put its gnarly hands on the man I’m in love with. I’m the only undead thing allowed to touch him.
I’m still a few yards away when I leap through the air and dive into the male zombie standing over Ryder. I tackle him to the ground, toppling over him, and landing on my stomach a few feet away. The zombie doesn’t pass me a second glance as he pulls himself back together and goes for Ryder once more. I’m beginning to notice that these things have no desire for my flesh whatsoever. The other two going after Ryder are paying no attention to me at all. This might be a good thing. I don’t have to worry about zombies or vampires trying to eat me anymore.
I jump to my feet, thrusting myself through the air and bringing the zombie down again. I hear a crunch when his shoulder hits the concrete, but that can be fixed once he’s human. I pin him to the ground, feeling his claw-like fingernails digging into my boots, not strong enough to break through the leather. He growls at me, trying with all his might to push me off of him. This thing might be strong, but I’m even stronger. I grab a handful of the stringy hair on his head, forcing him to sit up and look at me. The black eyes stare back and he spits his nasty saliva on my face.
“That’s not very nice.” I say, then take a breath and bring my mouth to his neck, sinking my teeth deep into his skin.
I can’t believe how hungry I’ve gotten since last night. I break the skin on his neck easily, letting that dead blood pour down my throat. It’s so amazing, so disgusting, yet all so filling at the same time. His groans are drown out by the frenzy taking over my mind and destroying every ounce of me that’s human. All I want is more of this. More of this nasty new thing called a meal. It’s refreshing and the only thing to calm myself.