Living Dead 2.0

by Radovick, Ronda

  “I'm on my way.” Will and Keith came to the creek. Once Will turned off of the grass and onto pavement, they picked up more speed. He drove the truck right into, then along the creek. They turned onto the grassy embankment, then through some trees. After they turned around some rock formations, Keith recognized where they were. They had come out behind Granny's place. It only took minutes to get to Ms. Clea's place. They rushed into the house. Rose asked, “Did you find them?” Keith said, “Honey. They were gone.” She looked disappointed. She replied, “ Well. You will go out later, right?”

  “No. Rose. We'll go back out, as soon as the coast is clear.” Will said, “ There are others out there, Rose. We ran into road blocks. Some one is trying to get people to step out of their vehicles. I think they were planning to rob us.” She looked from Keith to Will. Then, back to Keith. She said, “Where at?” Will said, “Jasper Road.” She replied, “Do you think that they are moving round doing it?” She was concerned. Granny walked into the room. She looked concerned, too. She added, “So... If people are already stealing from others on the roadways. They will probably kill them, too.” She looked to Will. “What do you think about it, Will?” Will looked over at Granny. He agreed, “I think that you are right, Ms. Clea.” Granny looked down at the pants that she had in her hand. She had been sewing before Will and Keith walked into the house. She continued, “So, then. Maybe, we should all put our heads together, and be ready for them. Just in case, they make it here.” She looked up at Will. He had known Ms. Clea since he was a young boy.

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  His parents and her family went way back. He agreed, “I think we should do just that, Ms. Clea. I didn't get a look at em. But, I know that they were waiting for us to get out of our vehicle. Just, up on Jasper Road. Don't know how many we are up against.” She said, “Hm. Jasper Road is seven miles away. They aren't far. We need to think on this, for a while.” He said, “I was thinkin on the way here that, we could start using the trails between our properties to go back an forth. And, do what we can to close off the front parts of our lands.” She shook her head up and down in approval. Keith and Rose said nothing. They listened to the conversation, in silence. Will continued, “I have some ideas, but...” Granny asked, “ What are your ideas?” He said, “Well, I was going to suggest us moving some shipping containers here. I don't know if I can do it alone. We can cut what wood we need form our own land. Pull it back with the horses. And, when we run out of shipping containers, we use any other steel we can find. We can get it down if we really work at it. At least, for the front parts.” Keith cut in, “I will help. But, how will we do it with the roadblocks?” Will said, “I know of another way. But, I don't know if it will provide enough raw material.” Rose cut in, “What about the the Brick Yard? We can take Old Cedar Road and go in the back. It's all fenced off. If there are any of the dead there, we lead them off with a car, first. Then go in, load up the trucks with all the materials. Then, we leave. When we go, we lock up.” Will rubbed his chin. He was thinking. Keith said, “We can take a ride there, and check it out. If it looks too dangerous, we find another place.” Will added, “ Rose is on to something. We have three places that I know of that we can use. The last time I went past each of them, it was as if no one had been in any of the three places for a long time. If there are dead in the first spot, we move on. Come back to the first spot if we have to, later.” Keith asked, “ What places do you have in mind?” Will answered, “ A trucking company, an old storage yard for the train cars, and shipping containers, and the brickyard that Rose had just mentioned. Apart, each place may not have enough materials to wall in our lands. But, together, they all will have more than enough. If we run into the dead, Rose has a good idea. We lead them away. If we map it all out first, I think that we'll do okay. But, I need to scout the brush, first. Try to figure out who tried to ambush us.” Rose agreed, “It sounds like a plan.” Will said, “Well, if we try this, we need everything planned. I will take Elvis out in the morning. You feel like joining me tomorrow, Keith?” He pointed to Keith and himself. He continued, “Rose, things are different, now. You need to be here to help Ms. Clea with the kids. Keith an I can go out in the morning and scope out the area. See what we can find. So, I am going home for now. You all keep your radio on. I will, too. Keep you doors locked. Rose, tomorrow, I'll show Keith here, how to get to my place through the back. We won't stop looking for Dawn and Tom. Granny, try to get some rest. Stay close to the house. Talk to you all tomorrow.” He turned and left. When he walked into his house, Stella was sitting on the sofa waiting for him. She stood up. “What happened?” He sat down. He rubbed his chin. “Things are getting worse out there. We ran into two roadblocks. One on Jasper Road. The other, back where we had come from, just minutes before. Who ever is doing it, is trying to lure people out of their cars to rob them. And, they have to be organized. They have to have numbers, too. Keith and I are going out in the morning to try to find materials to close off our two properties. And, we'll look for Dawn and Tom, too.” Stella cut in, “ Dad. That is a lot of land to close off. Even if you guys can find enough materials and actually get it all back, it will take us a year to get it all set up.” Will said, “ We are going to take materials from the trucking company, the brickyard, and the storage company. We are going to use the trucks with the lifts, and we'll bring load after load of materials here. The three combined have enough materials to wall in what belongs to Ms. Clea, and us.”

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  Renee studied the street view, from both directions. The dead were gone, for now. Except, the car-zombies. They were a constant reminder of what the world was now like. The dead move slow. She had figured that out, from the start. If she could stop any of them from getting close enough to her to grab her, then she would be able to make it around them, to make it the Sandovals' home. She assessed the distance between her house, and her neighbors. She knew that they could put their heads together. Aidan had already agreed to getting out of the area. Renee went outside, and walked across the street. She kept looking over her shoulder for the dead. She stared at the frightening scene in the car. It sickened her. She held a platter of food in her shaky hands. She didn't want to drop it. She didn't know if her neighbors had food. She walked around the big military supply truck. She followed the sidewalk up to Mrs. Sandoval's home. She rang the door bell, and looked over shoulders, again. After a few minutes, the door swung open. Renee saw her older neighbor standing in the door way. Rosa opened the storm door. She nervously looked around. “Come in Renee. It is too dangerous out there. “ Renee stepped inside. She said, “Hi Rosa. Is everything alright over here? I made you all some roast pork and mashed potatoes. I was not sure if you guys were okay with food. I can pick up the platter, later.” Rosa took the food, and said, “Thank you, Renee. Please, sit down.” Renee followed her, and sat at the dining room table. Rosa went into the kitchen, and came out with a cup of coffee. She said, “There is cream and sugar, there.” She pointed to the table. Renee took the cup, and eagerly drank the coffee. “Hm. Thank you, Rosa.” She awkwardly, looked down at her cup. Rosa said, “How are things at your place, Renee? Aidan told me about Marcus. I am sorry.” Renee said, “Thank you. I wanted to talk to you about that.” Rosa asked, “About Marcus?” Renee said, “ No. Leaving the area. We are not safe here. None of us are. Marcus was going to give me some property out in the country. It was supposed to be for our anniversary. Chloe gave me the documents. I have to find it, though. You, Aidan, and your friend could come with us. It is not safe here, Rosa. Our power is fluttering on and off. Soon, I believe, it will be cut off, all together. Then, the water, too.” Rosa listened to her. She said, “I will talk to Aidan about this. It might be okay. But, we don't know what is out there.” Renee said, “I know. I worry about that. But, if any of us are here when the lights go out. It may be much worse. Chloe says that, it's a huge place. She says it's hidden in... the country.” Aidan and Nina walked into the room. Aidan said, “Is everything okay Renee? You should
not have come outside. It's dangerous out there, now.” Renee answered, “So far. And, I know it's not safe out there. That is why I am here. I have a proposal for you guys.” Aidan looked back and forth between the two women. “What proposal?” Rosa said, “ Aidan, She has land outside of the city.” Renee cut in, “ Remember what we started to talk about at my house? I have to find it. Chloe knows the way. You could all come with.” Aidan looked over at Nina. Then, back at Renee. He said, “Renee, this is Nina. Nina, this is Renee. She lives across the street. She has been our neighbor for years.” Nina said “ Hi Renee. Nice to meet you. Well, I wish, maybe, under different circumstances.” Renee said, “Me too. Nice to meet you.” Aidan asked Renee, “ Do you know anything about the land?” Rosa cut in, “Marcus was going to give it to her as a gift. She just found out about it.” Renee said, “It has a home on it. Chloe says that it's pretty big. I know it might be crowded. But, it is not safe here for anyone. So, I thought that I would extend the invitation.” Aidan listened to her, as she spoke. He had thought that it was a good idea when they spoke about it in her home. She was right. It was not safe, anymore. And, the power was starting to run out. He asked, “ When are you leaving? How far is this place?” Renee said, “It's about forty miles outside of the area. Chloe knows more about it than me.”

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  Aidan addressed his aunt, “Tia, are you up for it? It is going to be really hard sleeping in cars, and camping out.” He looked at Nina. “Are you up to it?” She said, “ If it is safer than here...” Renee said, “No one will sleep in the car. Chloe says that, it's a very large home. She says that, there are other buildings on the property, too. It'll take some adjusting to, but it is not safe here. I could not leave you guys. You are like family to us.” She paused, and waited for an answer. Rosa said, “Yes. I think that we should go. Can we bring some of our things, Renee?” Renee said, “Of course. Whatever you want to bring.” Aidan and Nina exchanged a glance of approval with each other. They didn't know what to say. “Well.” Renee stood up. “Think about it. We leave tomorrow, or the next day. Unless the water goes off. Then, we'll have to leave sooner.” She walked to the front door. The others followed. She peeked out the windows to make sure that there were no zombies walking around outside. Aidan said, “ It looks clear out there, Renee. If any dead come up on you, I got your back. Don't let them grab you.” She opened the door and turned to Aidan, “ Thanks, Aida. See you all later. Let me know what you guys want to do...” Aidan followed her to the sidewalk, just to make sure that there was no threat to her, as she made it to her place. He stood still for a moment, and watched her hurry across the street. After he saw her go into her home, he hurried back inside, and closed the door. He peeked through the blinds, just to double-check. He turned from the window, and went back to the dining-room table. He sat down across from Nina, and his aunt. He said, “So...” The two women looked at him inquisitively. He looked at Rosa. Then, he turned to Nina. He waited. Nina replied, “Do you want my opinion concerning your neighbors invitation?” He sad, “Yes! But, it will take some adjusting to. But, I was thinking the same thing that Renee has been planning.” Rosa said, “It won't be our home, but she is right. Aidan, we need to go. Renee said, that there is a home there. It is scary out there, now. But, she is offering us refuge.”

  He replied, “I know. If we can get out of the line of fire, it will take some adjusting...but, we can do it.” Rosa said, “Then, it is settled. Renee said, that her power was flickering. Like it went out, and then, came back on. The same thing happened here, just today.” He said, “If most of the city is dead, or gone. And, there is no one to keep the power plants going, those few left using it, get what energy is left in the lines. Either that, or some are still running the power plant.” Rosa said, “Hm. So, you think that the power will be gone soon, as well?” He said, “Yes. And, we don't want to be here for that. Renee is right. No heat in the winter, no way to cook. If we go out side.... and, we will have to, just to cook and collect water. We will have to go through those things to do it.” The two women exchanged a concerned look. Nina said, “I'll go along with whatever you two decide.” Rosa asked her, “But, what do you think, Nina?” Nina said, “Well, I agree with Aidan. If we can get out to the country, we stand a better chance of, at least, avoiding more of those things. If things don't work out at your friend's place, maybe, we can find another.” Aidan said, “It is going to be hard. We don't know the country life. When I was still active, they sent us everywhere. There are ways to quietly set up shop somewhere. There are plenty of places we that we could set up, where it's safer than any populated place. When I went out to get gas the other day, I turned down Center street. It was filled with those things. There was no power there. I broke into the gas station to grab some gas. Before I could get the gas, I had to lure off the dead. Then, back track and manually pump the gas straight from the pump.” Nina asked, “You mean, when you came back with all of that gas and supplies?” He shook his head up and down, “Yep.”

  Rosa said, “Aidan, do you think that we can do it?” He said, “Tia. You and Tio taught me how to fish and hunt. To do all of the things that you two had to do to make it in your day. Why did you two teach me all of that stuff?”

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  She said, “So you would know how to take care of yourself. We could see that things were changing here, like in our country, before we escaped the socialist government. We just wanted to know that you would not need to stand in a bread line somewhere, when we were not around anymore.” He kissed her on her forehead. He said, “Tia. The world as we know it, just ended. I know how to locate, and purify water. I can hunt. And, thanks to my training when I was active, I can shoot, too. We have to get out of here.” Rosa stood up, and said, “Who is going to tell Renee?” He said, “ I Will. I am going over there after we eat. I see she brought food. Nina, you can come with me. You should meet them.” She said, “I met Renee. Not her family, though.” He said, “Let's eat, and then, we can bring her dish back there.” They ate the food that Renee brought them. After Rosa washed the platter, Aidan and Nina walked across the street. They walked up to the door, and before they could ring the door bell, the door swung open. It was Renee. “Come on in.” They walked in, and Aidan handed her the platter. She said, “Thank you. Hope it was alright.” Nina replied,” It was very good. Thank you, Renee.” Renee said, “ You are welcome. I am glad that you liked it.” Aidan said,” Yes. It was pretty good, Renee. We all talked about your invitation. We will go. But, are you sure that there is room for us?” She said, “Yes. Chloe knows where it is. She has only described it to me. And, she assures me that, we have plenty of room. There might be one problem, though.” They all exchanged a look. Aidan asked, “What is it?” Renee said, “I don't know about furniture. This was supposed to be a surprise for me, from Marcus. Chloe said that, he was going to give it to me for our anniversary. She said that he bought it at an auction.”

  Just then, Chloe, Ben, and Jose walked into the room. They all stopped. Chloe said, “Hey, Aidan. So are you guys going with us?” Aidan answered, “Yes. I think so. Your Mom says that your new place does not have furniture. Will there be room for the three of us?” Chloe said, “ There is some furniture. It's the old stuff that was there when Dad bought it. He was going to move it all out and surprise Mom. And yes. It's huge. There is an old school building, and some other buildings, too.” A look of sadness came over Chloe when she mentioned her father. Renee said, “You didn't tell me that. How much stuff is there?” Chloe shrugged, “A lot of old stuff. Dad said that, you might want to keep some of it. It looks... Victorian-ish.” Renee repeated, “Victorian-ish? Are there enough beds?” She said, “I guess. I can't remember it all.” Ben cut in, “We can crash on the floor.” He pointed to Jose, and then, back at himself. Aidan said, “We will work it all out, Renee. I' ll do some scouting after we get there. Can we all sit down, and talk a little more about this?” Renee said, “Sure.” Everyone sat down. Aidan started speaking, first. He ask
ed, “Have any of you been out there, since everything was shut down?” They all exchanged a look of fear. Ben and Jose, at the same time answered, “Yes.” Jose continued, “My Mom... she, changed. She is one of them. And, Ben's parents, they never came back. Chloe's Dad...” He looked at Chloe, and stopped talking. Ben cut in, “We know it's bad out there. That is why we want to get out of here. Have you been out there, since it got bad?” Aidan shook his head up and down. He said, “Yes. It is bad. I have been scouting almost every day for a week, now. It is getting worse by the minute. We need to be ready to go before the power and water goes out. If we don't. We won't make it. None of us. Which, is why I wanted to talk to you all. Who knows how to shoot?” They all looked a little scared to answer. Renee said, “We have a gun.” Aidan asked, “But, can you shoot? If we get out, and start traveling, we can run into those things, or we can run into other people. If those other people are desperate, they will kill for a car, or maybe even, a drink of water. We have to be ready for anything. It will get worse, before it get better. Once we get out into the country, we can fish and hunt. But, we still will need to be careful, even out there. Are you all up for it?”