All Things Zombie: Chronology of the Apocalypse

by Various Authors

  Marx had solidified his point and returned his weapon to its rightful place at his hip. He may have never wanted to be a lord, but for better or worse lord he would be.

  ***

  Frankie felt alone, Marx helped her care for the boy, but he was far from alright and Frankie could tell. While the others were hunting, he spent most of his hours reworking the cooling suits. He even got them to function using only the inner skull cap and boots. She saw him test it one morning on a gathering horde; he walked and stood with them as if he was pretending to be one of them.

  She could tell that Sanchez resented her for his role in the ill-fated escape, she'd heard he and Shannon whispering about it in the night while they thought everyone slept. It broke her heart.

  Then there was Axle, who had virtually disappeared into his own pain. He slept day and night, and made no effort to sustain his body with food or water. They became a group divided in two, those who would care for Emery and those who would not.

  On the third day, Frankie was holding Emery through the fourth and most violent seizure of the day. She squeezed him tight and pried his clenched teeth open with the handle of her dagger, he stiffened in her arms, his fingers curling into claws and his body jolted. Marx stroked his head whispering promises of salvation. Empty words. Frankie thought, she was at her breaking point.

  “Hello!” someone called from the edge of the forest. He had dark brown hair cut low and sun-kissed, olive skin. Colonist were subterranean and pale as well... Ghosts, they weren't accustom to seeing people like him. He wore a camouflage cooling suit with a red and white banner stitched onto it. It had a blue corner that was covered in stars. Frankie said a silent prayer that he was one of those Government colonists.

  Sanchez, who had been sitting down sharpening his machete, bolted to his feet and pointed the blade in the stranger’s direction.

  “Holt!” he responded. “State your colony and reason for being up top.” Frankie was almost embarrassed by his actions, the soldier had an assault rifle strapped on his shoulder and could have made quick work of them had he wanted to. Instead he smiled at them, his hands up and palms forward.

  “My name is David Parker, I'm not with a colony, I'm a guide for the Government of the United States of America, the Mountain.”

  Frankie felt Emery shift in her arms, he was weak, but he opened his eyes just enough.

  “Just like Marx told us, Frankie, we're saved.” He managed a smile and Frankie smiled in kind.

  “That's right baby, we're saved.”

  ***

  4The Elbert checkpoint looked nothing like she expected, Frankie thought it would be underground, a tomb of stone and concrete illuminated by halogen tube lights. She expected a very military feeling operation, over run with security gates and soldiers; she hadn't been prepared for what she would see.

  In a small clearing of the forest, there was a large white farmhouse complete with free-range chickens and lazy dogs roaming about. There were a few soldiers, but mostly civilians, refugees like themselves waiting for guides to take them to the mountain.

  “We only have enough vaccine for those who are currently infected.” the nurse explained as she gave Emery some kind of herb to smoke and laying him down in his very own room. “The rest of you will be treated at the summit.”

  “So what he just smoked is the cure for the V-Neck t-shirt completely?” Butch asked.

  “Yes,” the nurse answered. “He can never be reinfected and when he does pass away, hopefully many decades from now, he won't return.”

  Sanchez and the brothers remained ill at ease by the number of infected people being treated, but Frankie simply wanted to do what she could to contribute. She changed bandages, tended animals and helped with dinner. She gave Marx a gentle kiss on the forehead as he wouldn't leave Emery's bedside, he'd fallen asleep in a recliner by the window.

  After a dinner that included southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, the creamiest mac and cheese she'd ever eaten, fresh corn on the cob and an actual can of beer like she'd only heard about from the old-timers, Frankie enjoyed a moment to relax and digest everything upon the swinging bench on the wraparound porch. She sat gazing up at the stars with her new friend Sara Holman.

  “What was it like in the Pascale colony?” Frankie took a sip of her third beer of the night.

  “It is exactly like Ryder, but we don't have an arena, our entertainment is of a more mundane sort.”

  “Have you come to Ryder for the games?” Frankie asked.

  “I did a few times years ago, I just wanted to see what the rest of the world looked like really, I always found the games to be distasteful.” Sara stared up at the clear night sky as she spoke.

  “Aye, I hate the games. Nothing resulting in someone's death should ever be referred to as sport.”

  “Fuckin' Aye.” Sara agreed. “Look at that sky Frankie, Can you believe we've missed that all these years hiding under the ground like fuckin' moles?”

  Frankie gazed up at the night. The Restoration Crew usually used the day to help shield them from the ghosts, but from time to time they would have to travel at night, she was always mesmerized by the immensity of it when given the odd chance to admire it.

  “It's breathtaking.” Frankie added.

  Frankie's stargazing was abruptly disrupted by the white noise of a hand radio as David Parker contacted someone.

  “Checkpoint two to Checkpoint one, come in.” The static gave way to clicking then returned with a response,

  “This is Checkpoint one, go ahead Checkpoint two.” the mechanical sounding voice fascinated Frankie. David stood up from the front stoop and moved around the corner of the house further peaking her interest. She continued to stare at the sky but her ears were on the radios.

  “When you get to Elbert have them send us some volunteers or something, we're really short-handed over here, we need men and medical staff, more Vaccine for sure. Over.”

  “How many Infected have you not been able to treat? Over.”

  “All were treated, but we've got nothing for the follow ups and we're at capacity, we're gonna have to start turning people away and you know I don't wanna do that. Over.”

  “No, no, buddy, we don't want it to come ta that, you guys musta got a horde of refugees. Over.” the man from Checkpoint one laughed.

  “I found a few and we were okay, but we got slammed about an hour later with Reffs from Pascale. Over.”

  “Okay buddy, just hang in there. We'll get you reinforcements A.S.A.P. It's going to take about a day though from here, you know that, so do what ya gotta do bud, okay. Over.” Frankie had casually strolled over to that end of the porch with her beer. She saw David hang his head in disappointment.

  "Okay, I'll do my best. Over and out.”

  “What's going on David?” Frankie's voice made the man jump and drop his radio. She smiled slightly. “Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.”

  “I didn't mean for you to hear that.” he pulled it up and pinned it back on his shoulder. “Don't worry miss.”

  “You can call me Frankie, sounds like you could use some help.”

  “We had been prepared for a high volume of people for months, but not a lot of people seemed to be getting the message we sent out, now that we sent all the helpers back, here comes everybody.” they both laughed.

  “I was an officer at Ryder. I would be more than happy to stick around as long as you need, until you get things under control.” The truth of the matter was Frankie was happy there, she felt useful and appreciated, “I am but one set of hands I know, but I'm a damn good set.”

  With that it was decided, Frankie would stay behind until things slowed down some at Checkpoint number two. She didn't tell the others until the guides came to escort them to the mountain. She told them not to worry and that she would be right behind them, but she wasn't sure she would, she wasn't sure if she ever had a real bond with Luis Sanchez or if Marx wasn't so hopelessly broken that he would break her as well. Emery was o
n the mend and Shannon.. Shannon was strong. Frankie convinced herself that they would be fine without her, but she promised them she'd be right behind them.

  One by one they hugged their Frankie goodbye without ever saying the words.

  “See you at the mountain.” Shannon said.

  “So long.” said Emery, and Sanchez held her tight.

  “Come back to us you hear me?” Frankie closed her eyes tight drinking in the smell of him. “That's an order.”

  “Aye sir.” she breathed and they shared their first kiss right there in front of everyone. Frankie had dreamed of that moment more times than she could count, but never in any of the scenarios where she found her lips on his, had it ever been a final kiss.

  When Frankie looked on Marx his gray eyes were red-rimmed and he too held her. She could feel his heartbeat and got the ominous feeling it would be the last they touched in this life. It was a feeling she couldn't define, but she had to force herself not to grieve before them.

  “I love you little brother.” Marx drew back and looked at her once more, and he said what no one would.

  “Goodbye Frankie.”

  CHAPTER FIVE: Welcome to the Mountain”

  “Welcome to the Mountain. Have you been exiled or escaped your colony? Are you on your own with little recourse or help? Have you or a loved one been bitten? You have precious little time to make a decision, so make the right decision, please try and get to one of our Mount Elbert checkpoints where our Restoration members will receive you. We are The Government of the United States and you are still our citizens, we care about your survival. We have food, we have shelter and protection, we have a cure for the Necrosis vitalis virus. You don't have to face life in the wild alone. Our Restoration members are restoring America on a state by state basis, and we now have locations in most major cities. If you are receiving this message you are nearest to our checkpoint number two. You will find restoration members there ready to assist you and guide you to our next checkpoint. Godspeed citizens, and God bless America.”

  The Mountain

  It was the end of another peaceful day on Mount Elbert, the onset of night had triggered the street lights and sent all the children indoors for the evening. Only the soft hum of the patrol cars remained. Vivian folded her long body against itself touching her cheek to her knees and folding her arms around her legs. She then stood and lunged forward with bent knee in the hero position.

  A knock at the door almost startled her, she had gotten so caught up in her yoga that she forgot it was seven o'clock. She wondered why he even bothered knocking when he was just going to let himself in anyway. He waited for her to call “Come in!” before he unlocked the door and opened it.

  “Ah, Jay Dare, how nice to see you.” she joked as if it was a surprise to see him, as if he hadn't been bringing her breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day for the past two years. Jay mused at her dry humor and set a bag of Chinese take out on her counter top. The smell of fried rice and steaming veggies made her mouth water as he forked a small helping onto her plate and a heap onto his own.

  Vivian made a conscious effort to smile and make conversation with Jay. She had long ago learned to discern her acceptable behaviors from questionable ones, she pretended to sleep when it was time to sleep and she pretended to have fun and be interested in the lives of her caretakers as they seemed to take an interest in hers and most importantly, pretending to be satisfied by the food they fed her.

  In the end, when Jay gave her the final checkup of the day and cleared out, he locked her back inside the lavish apartment; she poured herself a virgin bloody Mary and stood out on her balcony. Even at twelve stories up from campground level she could still see all the people in their rooms across the way with pinpoint accuracy, yet another thing she wasn't willing to share with her keepers. Sometimes becoming alive again was more difficult that being dead ever was.

  ***

  Emery held tight to Marx's hand as the giant iron gates slid to either side of the entry way. A man in a long white coat came to greet them.

  “Welcome to The Mountain. I'm Dr. Giles Barker and I'll be your guide for this tour.” The military and police presence was predominant there, jeeps whizzing to and fro shuttling groups of armed men. Nothing about this felt like the homey safe haven they'd left behind with Frankie. Frankie, how he missed her already.

  As they followed Dr. Barker into the beautiful building of steel and glass, Marx couldn't help but wonder if this fortress would be more of a prison than a sanctuary for he and his ,,, family?, if that's what they were. In this strange place where they knew no one they were vulnerable. They would have to become family. His brothers in arms were now simply his brothers, his Uncle's son was now his son, and Frankie had always been his sister in his heart. Marx found himself glad that she remained at the checkpoint, for this would have surely been a disappointment to her.

  “There is no homelessness in the Mountain, everyone is provided for here, and everyone is self-sufficient.” The doctor said. “But before we can fit you in to a comfortable spot inside Elbert, we have to get you all adjusted to what life is like here.” “That means running series of test to be determine your medical status, we will begin vaccinations and or treatments from there, we will provide you temporary housing and give you a food stipend that you will earn by volunteering right here at our base camp medical facilities. If it is determined that you're in need of mental health assistance, you will receive it free of charge, because a healthy citizen is a happy one.

  The first couple of weeks passed in a whirlwind of sights, information and new experiences. Marx was given an apartment on the outer edge of the base camp that he shared with Axle and Emery, whom he refused to be parted with. They weren't allowed to do very much until the results from their test came back from the lab.

  Emery was the first to be declared immune and was allowed to attend classes with the other children his age at the camp. Axle spent most of his days reading quietly and working out at the facility gym, he was a changed person and Marx never pushed him to be the man he use to know because he had changed too and those men, the ones they use to be had died in the catacombs that night alongside the ones they left behind.

  Marx stared out the window a lot. He loved that he could see the sky now and didn't understand how he could have survived all these years without it. He made shapes of the clouds in the day and connected the constellations at night, the world had been reborn and he felt a sense of hope in spite of himself. He would use binoculars he found in his closet to spy on other living spaces; he could see another part of the building from his window. It was a part of the facility that had balconies and reached twenty stories high. He would watch the lights go on and off from room to room as the shadows passed of people living their lives and not even realizing he existed; it was a strange feeling for the former Duke, one that he welcomed with open arms.

  One day as he used his new spy glasses to pry into the lives of the people in the high rise something caught his eye twelve floors up. A woman was standing out on her balcony and he almost hadn't seen her, she was dressed in white, but not like the doctors in the lab coats, she had on wide leg pants that flowed like a skirt in the wind, and a sleeveless shirt that didn't quite cover the skin of her stomach. She stretched and danced moving her body in forms he'd never seen, her wrist were adorned with large gold bangles that stood out against her bronze skin. She looked strange to Marx, she was very tall and had a mass of thick wooly hair that hung down her back and looked like a lion's mane. When she looked at him, he became uneasy. Marx did not want to be seen spying, he simply closed his curtains and lay down on the bed. This quarantine was threatening to find him dead of boredom.

  The all clear came on day two of the third week at base camp. The vaccine had taken hold and he was feeling no more side effects from it. Marx was actually a little excited to start his new job, whatever it may be, sitting in his room watching birds and clouds had its limits, but he was surprised to learn that he wou
ld be required to attend school after work each day. They called him to a room with Axle, Sanchez, Shannon and most of the people whom had arrived with them from the checkpoint the first day. He noticed a few of them were missing now. He also noticed Sanchez had made friends with some of them, he was happy for him.

  Giles Barker stood before them smiling and holding his clipboard.

  “Okay everyone, welcome to the next phase in your orientation... work and education.”

  “Some of us are already educated, trained even. Can we skip all of the high school formalities and get to the part where we kick some zombie ass?”

  “What’s your name?” Giles asked.

  “Cameron Chase of the Erickson Colony.” he flashed a cocky smile

  “Well let me let you in on something Mr. Chase of the Erickson Colony; we’re not in the business of

  “Fucking up Zombies,” or Ghost, or Nec-V's, or whatever creative little names you've dreamed up for them in the places you've chosen to run away from. Here at Mount Elbert, we're in the business of healing... People, human beings.” Giles looked to Marx and the rest of the refugees. “I'm going to try my best to play to your strengths, but not everyone is going to be satisfied, they rarely are.”

  One by one he assigned them to jobs that caused a massive grumbling among them. Sanchez had been assigned to guard prisoners of the Mountain, while Shannon got called on for food service. and Mr. Cameron Chase got landscaping. Marx strained to listen for his name over the moans of the crowd. He could see people in the mountain would never have to do shit jobs because they were giving them to all the newcomers.

  “Marx Ryder in the flesh. It's an honor to meet a real live American Colony Duke no matter what anyone says.” Marx was unsure how to take the so called compliment, he wasn't happy about Giles knowing who he was. “We have something special for you.”