by Thomas Baker
"In that short period of time Eddie seemed to have fallen into some state of shock. He just sat there staring down at the bloody towel he was clenching in his hand...or maybe he had finally realized what was happening. He looked up at me with an almost depressed stare. Like the light was fading from his eyes."
"I remember asking him if he was good, he barely nodded his head yes. I twisted the cap off the bottle and sat it on the sink beside him. He just kept nodding his head yes without saying a word. I backed out of the bathroom and started to close the door. As I did I saw him grab the bottle, but he never said a word."
"I locked the bedroom door as I was leaving, hoping that when he turned he wouldn't be able to figure his way out. I knew my apartment was no longer safe. I went back in the living room, grabbed my bags, tucked my gun in my waist and then grabbed my car keys, water and for some reason my wallet from the kitchen counter. Habit I guess."
"As I headed out the front door I kicked something. I looked down and saw Eddie's keys. I figured well, Eddie wouldn't want his four month old Navigator going to waste, it was much nicer than my Malibu. So I grabbed his keys and headed for the stairs. As I reached the landing of Eddie's floor I was caught off guard. Standing right outside the open door to Eddie's apartment was this gigantic naked zombie dude. I mean this guy was a good six foot six and a solid three hundred pounds. My guess was he must not have had too many complaints in the bedroom department either..."
The whole group chuckled at JT
Gus was laughing the loudest of them all. "Speaking of units. There was this guy I used to work on an oil rig with, last name was Droste. And that guy could use his schlong as a nine iron! I remember one night we were all out on the town drinking and trying to get some tail when all of a sudden some little gal came a runnin and a screaming from the bathroom. I guess ole Drostes python was more than she was bargaining for cuz that fella came running out behind her and begging her to come back in...hahaha I wonder what ever happened to good ole Droste and his pink submarine."
The whole group kept laughing. Tears were coming out of JT's eyes. Whew it hurts but it feels good. He willed himself to get back under control.
"Anyway," Gus continued, "didn't mean to interrupt. What happened between you and your new boyfriend there JT?"
JT seized his opportunity to chug back some water before he went on.
"Well, I sat there for a few seconds wondering if he could even see me. It's like he was staring right through me. I sat the jug of water down I was carrying and reached for a bat. The second I did he charged me, and he charged me a hell of alot faster than I was expecting him to. Before I knew it we were falling down the stairs together. We rolled as we reached the bottom of the stairs. He started snapping at me. It was like being attacked by an angry bear. Luckily I was able to use his size to my advantage and roll him over and off of me."
"I was trying to get to my feet when I saw him coming again. I grabbed my bags and ducked as his weight carried him over me but he was able to grab my shirt. I quickly spun around a light pole and was able to break his grasp. I made a run for Eddie's Navigator. I fumbled with the keys in my pocket, trying to find his but I kept pulling out mine. Doing this I somehow set off the panic button on my piece of shit car. As luck would have, the sudden noise drew his attention towards the parking lot. I hauled ass down the sidewalk a few more feet to the car ports where Eddie rented a spot for his ride."
"I decided I was going to take him out. Partially just to see what it would take, partially to make sure he didn't attack anyone else. I threw my bags in the back of the Navigator and unzipped my softball bag, pulled out one of my bats and got into a ready position. I crossed back to where my car was still honking away. I came up on him as he was wandering around my car, seemingly confused by the noise. With one smooth swing I connected perfectly with his jaw line, sending blood and teeth flying through the air. The broken bits fell to the ground like little hail stones. The hit knocked him back but didn't seem to really phase him. As he looked back in my direction I swung again, this time bringing the bat down right on top of his head with a wet thud. I felt his skull give way as he sunk to his knees. And then it was time for the final swing."
"I stepped into it like I was swinging for the fences. CRACK! There was an almost sickening thud as the bat connected for the third time directly into his face. He just kind of knelt there not moving and then slowly fell forward."
"What's sad, if I am going to be honest, is I stood there for a moment almost enjoying it too much... Anyways I made my way back to Eddie's Navigator and slid the bat back into its pocket on my bag. I threw the bag in and climbed into the driver's seat. I realized then, I left my water jug behind when porn star zombie tried to audition me. But I opted not to go back for it. My noisy car was attracting more unwanted attention."
"I clicked the safety off my gun and sat it in the passenger seat. As I looked forward out the windshield I saw a female zombie in a bikini and laughed at myself. I realized in all the zombie movies I had watched, I had never seen a naked zombie or a bikini clad one. I laughed even louder as I started the car and from the iPod hooked up to Eddie's stereo I heard...and this is the best part and it's one hundred percent truthful. What's in your head? What's in your head? Zombie. Zombie. Zombie eh eh eh."
The ones who knew the song laughed hard.
"Yeah right. You're just messing with us now," Tyrone said.
"I swear on whatever you would like me to and a stack of Bibles. That is what really happened," JT concluded.
"That must have been some really intense shit," Thomas said.
"Shucks, if you knew my ex-wife, that sounded less intense than every day since I married her," Gus chuckled. "What about you Thomas, how did you get here? That's a story this old man is curious to hear. Especially if it involves our kooky camp leader Harold."
"Shoot, it wasn't much different than what you guys have been talkin about. I am or was a truck driver, how ever the hell you're supposed to put it now. I happened to be home, off the road, in my little crackerjack apartment when it all went down."
"I woke up that morning with a two alarm hangover. The night before I had went to the honky tonk hoping to go home with some tail. The only thing I went home with was a pounding headache."
"I was rooting through my bathroom cabinets for something to help, when an explosion rocked my building. I looked through the tiny bathroom window and saw smoke just billowing down the road. I thought that it might have been one of the old grain elevators in town that went up."
"Then I looked to the right, towards the parking lot. That's when I saw someone with a pistol shooting at several other people. One of them a kid, he couldn't have been no older than nine."
"I grabbed my cell and called 911. It was busy. At first I didn't even think about how that isn't suppose to happen. I just hung up and tried again. I quit after about the fifth try."
"I just sat down on my couch, as the sounds of gunfire and explosions continued outside. I wasn't home enough to have a TV, so I switched my radio on. The Emergency Alert System was playing on every channel on the dial. Once in awhile a newscaster would get on. They talked about all the things you brought up. The Outbreak. Staying away from anyone who look infected. Then people attacking and biting other people. Those who had been dead were getting back up and attacking others. In a weird way it reminded me of the old radio program that people believed was real. You know, the one you have heard about where the people listening thought it was a real alien invasion."
"Anyway, I just kept sitting there, listening. I guess I had become numb or something. I finally got up to get something to eat and noticed it was getting dark outside. It seemed to have gotten quieter too. I grabbed my keys to my semi, my hat and decided I was going to go out. Stupidest decision of my life, and I have made some doozies."
"I drove my semi down the most congested streets I have ever seen. If I would have had a cab attached I probably wouldn't be here, tellin you my story. I had gone o
nly about ten miles in thirty minutes. People were running around, like headless chickens. There were wrecks everywhere. The entrance ramp to the highway was jammed. I sat there, stuck in the middle of the road, wondering why I had left my apartment. Then I looked in my mirrors and started to panic. An army of those zombies were coming up behind me. Of course at the time I didn't know what the hell they were. They looked like ants, taking over a picnic, the way they covered everything, and everyone. As soon as I saw how they were tearing the living people apart, chowing on their guts like a fat kid diving into his birthday cake, I was getting out of there one way or another. I floored it, ramming cars and running over anyone who got in my way. I was beyond caring at that point. It was pure luck that I made it out of the city. I...I don't think I want to talk about it any more. Man, I wish I had a beer or three right about now."
Thomas fiddled with his trucker cap, and then rubbed his hands together in front of the fire. He kept thinking about continuing on, maybe even warning how Harold might have a few screws loose. He didn't though, in fear of what Harold might do if he heard. He had a good thing going here. Besides, if Harold was a nutter, one of them would figure it out. Then they all could deal with it together. He was only one man.
Once Thomas was done speaking, silence fell over the group. Hannah could hear the sounds of the living forest all around them. Something howled off in the distance. It made her think about how much things had changed in the last few weeks. She was about to say how maybe they should call it a night when Gus spoke up.
"We haven't heard from the ladies yet. How about you Ashley. We're out here mostly because of you. What do you want to share darlin'?"
"You know what, I guess this was a bad idea after all. This isn't what I had in mind. I thought...it would be more fun. Maybe Dusty was right," Ashley said. She pulled her good leg up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knee.
"I usually am, cheerleader." Dusty's smile was smug.
"Hot damn, we can go back to my original idea then. Who wants to start singing row, row..." Gus kidded.
"I don't want to talk about what happened," Ashley interrupted. She was almost in tears. "None of this was suppose to happen. I had my life planned out. I had just started college. I was one a great cheerleading squad. I was going to-."
"Ashley you don't have to..." Hannah started. Her eyes got watery with the pain her friend. She had know Ashley almost all her life.
Ashley glared at Hannah, then at the rest, before going on.
"No, I'm tired of all of this. I'm so angry, and when I'm not angry I'm frightened. I was going to have the things I never had growing up. I was going to live in a nice house, drive a nice car, and have nice things. Anyone who'd mocked and ridiculed me before, were going to envy me and my life."
As Ashley talked she went faster and faster. She was almost breathless by the time everything spilled out.
"Now look at me. This fucking life I'm living now. When that time of the month comes I have to hunt through trashed stores, hoping that no one else has stolen all the fucking tampons yet. I get hurt, do I get to go to a doctor? No, I have to have hillbilly JimBob trying to fix me up. I sure as hell didn't plan on dealing with the fact I could die just about any day. Eaten by something as ridiculous as zombies. Or that I would be stuck with a group of assholes like all of you."
At this point Ashley was so upset she could hardly be understood. Her breath was catching and hitching at this point. Hannah knew this little rant was out of fear. She'd let Ashley get it out of her system, then go to her later. Once the terror and frustration were worked out, Hannah knew Ashley would be sobbing in her arms. It could be a long night.
"I'm just done with it!" Ashley got up and half stomped, half stumbled off, back into the cabin.
"Civilians," Dusty sighed as he leapt up. "Thank God this little bonfire is over with. I'm ready to hit the sack."
Most of the group got up and left. Hannah could feel how awkward it had gotten as they all went without a word. Only herself, JT, Gus remained.
"Gus, what do you think is wrong with Dusty?" JT asked. "Do you think he has to work hard at being such an asshat, or is it his natural talent?"
"Maybe his mommy didn't give him enough titty when he was a baby," Gus joked, then he got serious.
"You know I was stuck out there with Sargent Pepper for awhile before meeting up with you. Since you are asking, I have a theory. I think he went AWOL when the world went to hell. Maybe he feels guilty about it. his is his way to try and cover it up. He may talk like Mr. Tough Guy, but look at the way he acts. He has saved my old behind more than once. Everyone here he's protected at one time or another. I think when it comes down to it, he'd put his life on the line for any of us. Even you JT."
Hannah nodded, thinking about her first meeting with Dusty. Sticking a gun in her face, that was the wrong way from the start. His attitude and the way he talked pissed her off, just like tonight, but Gus had a point.
JT poked the fire with a stick. "Yeah, but does he have to be such a whiny bitch. I try holding my temper, but that guy just rubs me raw."
"You should be letting a fine woman do that," Gus said, winking at the two of them.
Hannah gently poked Gus in the side with her elbow. "Gus! Not while a lady is present!"
"Sorry dear. I didn't know you college girls had such virgin ears. "
"Good night, you men." She chuckled as she walked away.
It was nice to get that good feeling of laughter. Now Hannah steeled herself to deal with Ashley.
Harold continued crouching down on one knee among the trees until he was sure they had all gone inside. He had watched the group through the underbrush. He declined joining them earlier, even though he could have learned what they were really up to. His headache kept him away. It had began pounding from the time he'd gotten up. It got worse and worse throughout the day.
He had gone outside after trying to rest in his room. He thought fresh air and being out among the stars might relax him. Then he heard their voices, carried through the still night air and his curiosity took hold.
He had crept up close while Gus was just finishing his story. He listened to the rest of them speak with ferocious intensity. Their lives were so much different than his, like alien beings living on other planets.
Was this what life under government control was like? It didn't seem nearly as bad as his parents, all his reading, and the talk radio shows he listened to had made it out to be.
He continued watching. At one point he saw Ashley get close and cozy up with the black kid. His face became a mask of rage, his hands balled up into fists. He felt like his skin would burst from his body, like he wanted to run out of the bushes and attack them all.
A little later Ashley became very upset and stormed away. The rest of them went off as well, some staying later than others. He felt so sorry for Ashley. He hated to see her suffer. Then an idea occurred to him. There was no reason for her to have to be bothered by such things. He could help her and show her the love that he felt for her. With this thought in mind Harold stood up. He took his time going back to the cabin, doing his best not to be seen or heard.
Once inside, he stopped outside of the girls bedroom door. He found himself wanting to steal one more glance at Ashley before heading back into his room. However he could hear faint talking and sobbing coming from the other side of the door. Instead he entered his bedroom. He laid back on his bed, locking his fingers behind his head. His headache was gone and a joyous smile spread across his face.
Hannah stirred, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She looked beside her and saw Ashley was still sleeping soundly. After going off in a tiff after the campfire, Ashley and her had talked most of the night. Hannah decided she wouldn't wake her, so she slipped out, grabbing some clothes as she did. She went into the bathroom, changed and then went out to check if anyone else was up. She crept out into the living room and found everyone else must have beaten her up and started their day.
Hannah
walked out onto the porch and found Gus sitting and chatting with Mike while sipping coffee. Out in the grass, JT and a beaming Tyrone were tossing a football back and forth. It all brought a smile to her face as she walked up behind Gus and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Well hello there darlin'," Gus said, grabbing one of her hands. "I can't believe I'm drinking honest to goodness hot coffee."
Hannah realized more and more how much Gus reminded her of her Grandpa. Okay maybe her Grandpa wasn't quite so vulgar when he was alive, but Gus made her feel safe and cared for just the same. After all they had been through, she thought they were starting to become like a family.
"It all seems a little surreal doesn't it Gus?" Hannah asked.
"That it does. It sure is nice to be able to relax a bit and be around people who aren't trying to kill or eat us," Gus answered.
"You're lucky we found you. This is the best place I've discovered since the Outbreak happened," Mike added.
"Don't let your guard down," Dusty advised, walking around from the side of the cabin."You let your guard down, you die. So I wouldn't get too cozy if I were you."
"Well good morning to you too there Sergeant Sunshine," Gus shot back, bringing laughs from Mike and Hannah.
Dusty just shook his head as he walked away. "Well unlike the rest of you I'm going out to do something useful. Do some recon of my own, see if this place is really as well protected as Harold says it is."
"Are you really? After last night, I thought you would be off pouting in a corner someplace, polishing your gun," Gus cackled.
Dusty grimaced and walked away, shooting the bird at Gus over his shoulder.
Hannah giggled as she patted Gus on the shoulder and began to head down the stairs off the porch.
"I'm gonna take a little walk and enjoy the beautiful weather this morning. Will you keep an eye on Ashley for me? After last night, I just let her sleep in."