Uncle Gary's Campfire Stories: Bayou Zombie Werewolves

by Visada, J. L. M.

  Colton found Bella in the back. There were other burnt bodies piled on top of her. One of the dead wore a melted stuffed animal like a mask. Colton looked around. He tried to figure out who the people were, but there just wasn’t anything left to identify them with. “I guess I’ll have to send them over to the M.E. to get identif…damn.” Colton walked back out of the building and got in his Explorer.

  “Well I guess this is what happened to the rest of the zombies.” Colton sat there in stunned silence for a few minutes. Then he put it in drive and started to drive away when a quizzical look came across his face. Instead of heading home, he turned at the first left and drove to the building directly behind the arts and crafts store. The main switch for the local area phone lines was housed there. Sometimes meth-heads and the homeless would sneak in to try and steal copper. He wouldn’t be getting any calls about that now. The whole place was burnt to the ground. “Well this explains why the landlines aren’t working. Guess we’ll have to stick with cellphones until someone fixes this. Of course right now there really isn’t a we…just a me. I suppose I could deputize Bobby. I should probably deputize Sarah too. It’ll be safer for them then. That way they can carry guns around. Besides, after all this I’m not ruling out that Bobby really did see that werewolf. Oh well…one problem at a time I guess. I’ll go get Bobby, we’ll head to LSU, and then hopefully we’ll find B.J. hiding in a lab or something. I just hope We’re not too late.” Colton pointed the Explorer back to his home, and started driving.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “Oh God…I think I’m going to hyperventilate!” The bride to be said in a stressed voice that was at least two octaves higher than normal. She had the veil, the church, the priest, the perfect floral arrangements, the father to give her away, something old, something new, something borrowed, and even something blue. What she didn’t have, or at least what hadn’t shown up yet…was her future husband.

  “Here, drink this.” One of her bridesmaids handed her a glass of tap water.

  “He’s twenty minutes late.” The bride said as tears started to well up in her eyes.

  Another bridesmaid spoke, “No-no-no-no! You can’t cry. It’ll ruin your makeup, and it’s too late for me to fix it. Now drink your water, and for the love of God try to calm down. I’m sure he’ll be here any minute. He probably just got stuck in traffic or something. An hour from now you’ll go from being Jennifer Scott Carhart to being Mrs. Ashley Williams.”

  Jennifer laughed and rolled her eyes, “You know James hates it when people call him Ashley, and it’s going to be Jennifer Scott Carhart-Williams.”

  Jennifer’s mother, Samantha shook her head, “His mother named him Ashley…he should be happy with it. What kind of man goes by his middle name?”

  “Warren Beatty, Grover Cleveland, Broderick Crawford, Bob Newhart, Gregory Peck, Steve McQueen, Robert Redford, Sylvester Stallone, and Orson Welles to name a few.” Jennifer answered.

  “Fine Mrs. Smartypants. I’m just saying that…well it’s probably best if I keep my opinion to myself on your wedding day. Lord knows you didn’t ask for my opinion so I won’t give it.” Samantha sighed.

  Jennifer rolled her eyes and swallowed the water. Her mother had been “not giving her opinion” about the man for the last five months. After all the complaining her mother did, Jennifer was ready to marry the man even if it was just to avoid hearing an “I told you so.”

  Ashley James Williams wasn’t a bad guy. He worked hard…usually. He was faithful…mostly. He was a good provider…sometimes. He even treated her like a queen…occasionally. The most important thing was that he loved her…every now and then. Most of the time she even loved him back.

  The man was handsome though. Jet black hair, an easy smile, and the brightest green eyes she ever saw, and she loved looking into those eyes when they made love. Of course when they fought, and they fought often, it was those same eyes that scared her. Those same amazingly bright eyes gave him a hint of madness. She was always a little afraid of what might happen if she kept up the argument, and so she caved in.

  *KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*

  Her father peeked his head in. “He’s here. We’ll start in fifteen if that’s okay with you? That way the guests can go to the restroom, or grab a sip from the water fountain.”

  “Okay Daddy.” Jennifer smiled. Relief washed through her. James hadn’t left her. He hadn’t just run off with cold feet. She was really going to be Mrs. James Williams.

  Ashley James Williams stood at the front of the church. He was wearing the rented tux Jennifer paid for. He felt like hammered shit. The hangover from last night’s bachelor party was in full effect. He’d still be wearing his sunglasses, but the pastor had given him an evil look and “reminded” him that sunglasses were not appropriate wedding attire. James slipped the sunglasses into his coat pocket.

  It seemed like the wait was taking forever. In the meantime, James watched people excuse themselves to grab a sip of water, or go to the restroom. With each passing minute, James really started considering running for the doors. He was pretty certain Jennifer wouldn’t speak to him ever again if he did run off. He was beginning to think of that like an extra perk with each passing second. Cold feet didn’t quite do it justice. It was all James could do to keep his knees from shaking.

  He was just about to run off when the music started playing. The bridesmaids came down first dressed in some kind of creamsicle orange dress that wouldn’t have flattered anyone, but that was the whole point. Jennifer wanted to be the prettiest woman there. So she intentionally put her bridesmaids in ugly colors so that she’d look even prettier by comparison. James nearly choked when he saw Sally Mae make her way down as one of the bridesmaids. He’d spent the night slipping twenties down her g-string, and then he banged her in the alley behind the club after it closed. His mouth went dry. If she told Jennifer what they did the night before then he’d be screwed. Their eyes met, and Sally Mae smiled. She must have recognized the concern on his face because as she walked past him to take her spot she said, “Smile loser…it’s your wedding day. Now get ready to make my cousin the happiest woman on earth.” She walked over and took her place.

  James sighed in relief, and then he saw her. She was dressed in a long white wedding dress. Her father, a fairly hefty man, was holding her hand as he walked her down. The veil covered her face, but he still just somehow knew that the woman was smiling underneath. At that moment she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Now his knees were really shaking, but not with fear. All he could think was how on earth did he ever get a woman like that?

  The pastor began the wedding. James was so nervous that he barely heard the words. When the pastor asked him to say I do…he almost said, “I do what?” It was the most nerve-wracking moment of his life, and then he was being told to kiss his bride. James flipped her veil back, and she was beautiful. Jennifer looked equal parts fairy princess and fashion model. He leaned in and kissed her. He was so happy that all he could think was that he was the luckiest man on earth, and that’s when she bit down.

  The crowd was clapping and cheering at first. It wasn’t until Jennifer pulled away with her new husbands tongue between her teeth that most of the guests realized something was wrong. Jennifer bit down, and then jerked away. James’ tongue tore off, and she began chewing. Blood spurted from his mouth onto her pure white dress.

  Some of the guests thought it was a practical joke. A fake tongue, and some fake blood. Sally Mae was one of those people. She laughed and said, “It’s the perfect man. Sexy, great hair, a big dick, wealthy, and can’t talk.” She was still laughing when the best man leapt onto her and started biting down onto one of her breasts. Sally Mae screamed as he tore away a chunk of her left tit. The nipple and areola hung out of his mouth along with strips of the creamsicle dress. “Get off me!” She screamed, but she couldn’t push him off. Two more groomsmen joined in. One latched onto her shoulder, and another buried his face between her thighs.

/>   “Oh my God…children shouldn’t see such things, and in a house of God!” Jennifer’s mother, Samantha, screamed as she tried to cover the six year old flower girl’s eyes. The flower girl grabbed Samantha by the wrist, and bit off her fingers. When Samantha finally got her hand away from the child she was missing three fingers. “Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!” She just stood there repeating herself over and over. That’s when Timmy, the eight year old ring bearer, made a running leap for her face. Samantha went back into the crowd, and when they finally stopped the boy had already bitten through her skull and was devouring her brains.

  Up until then some of the audience thought it was a joke, and others were too shocked to react. Unfortunately for them every moment that passed resulted in another guest succumbing to their infection. Anyone that had drunk the water was infected. That meant about a third of the guests were starting to develop a hunger that they didn’t quite understand.

  Some of the guests tried to run for the exit, but the ushers were already closing the doors to prevent escape. The doors opened inwards, and so when the crush of people tried to escape they only helped to doom themselves. All the people pressing forward against the doors kept the people in front from being able to open them. Panic set in, and they began fighting one another to try to get to the front. Some of the people in front were crushed against the door and suffocated. Some in the middle of the crowd were trampled to death. The rest were picked off one by one.

  Jennifer had her husband on the ground. He was still slapping at her and fighting to get away. He saw Sally Mae screaming and desperately trying to get out from under the three men. She looked back at him and reached out. Then his vision was blocked by the pastors’ smiling face. Lankester “Bubby” Merrin was there to baptize James. He’d been invited to dinner so many times that the pastor was practically family. He even had his own seat reserved at the dinner table. In a lot of ways Bubby was like a second father to James. He expected Bubby to pull Jennifer off of him, but instead the pastor latched onto his face and started chewing his way through James’ left eye.

  The rest of the infected pulled away people from the crowd and ate them. Wives killed their husbands, children ate their parents, friends killed one another inside Livingston Parish’s First United Church of the Immaculate Mary, Joseph, and John. One hundred and twenty-three people died screaming. When it was over blood dripped down the walls, the floral arrangements were sagging and shredded, and arterial spray covered Jesus on the cross at the front.

  “I’ve done over two hundred weddings, and I have to say this was by far the most fun I’ve ever had.” Pastor Bubby grinned.

  “Really?” The newly widowed bride asked. When the pastor nodded, Jennifer Scott Carhart-Williams started crying. “Oh Bubby…I’m so happy.”

  “I’m still hungry.” The flower girl said, “Can we have some more?”

  “Sure honey…just go find your parents and we’ll all go check some of the nearby houses.” Jennifer said to Josie with a smile.

  “Mr. Rivers and Mrs. Sanchez ate them…” Josie said as tears started to swell up into her eyes.

  “Don’t cry. Come on…you can come with me.” Jennifer smiled and took the little girl by the hand. She led her and the other forty-eight infected outside. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. It was warm, but not hot. “Well Josie…I don’t know what you think, but I think today is the perfect day for a picnic.” She looked down at the little flower girl. Josie smiled and nodded. “Well then, why don’t you take the lead and we’ll be right behind you.” Josie giggled and ran to the nearest home. Jennifer and the others followed. They spent the rest of the day wandering the streets, and going door-to-door.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “I’m so hungry.” Lula Mae whined.

  “Shut up. You’re annoying our master.” Jimbo snapped.

  The three walked down the highway. It was warm, but not hot. Danior plodded ahead of the two. He needed more people. He needed to be able to recruit as many as possible. Danior looked at Jimbo. He was normal looking enough, but there was something about his eyes that just screamed pervert. He’d never be able to really fit into any groups. The man was just too…off.

  Then Danior turned to Lula Mae. Wearing a dress that was far too large on her was enough to get most people’s attention, but using belts to make the dress fit better just made her stick out. It wasn’t as if Danior could say much though. Danior and Jimbo both had to raid Jimmy Jack’s closet once they changed back. Jimmy Jack had been a much larger man, and so the clothes just hung off them as well. They’d have to steal clothing that fit better when they had the opportunity. In the meantime they’d make do.

  “Master…I’m hungry.” Lula Mae groaned.

  “Shut up!” Jimbo yelled and slapped the girl.

  Jimbo raised his hand to hit her again, and that’s when Danior grabbed him by the throat. It was tempting to just kill the man and be done with it. If he had more options then he might just have done that, but right now there were only three of them. “No.” It was all Danior said before letting the man go, but it was enough.

  “I’m sorry Master. You know I just want to make you happy.” Jimbo pleaded forgiveness until Danior finally turned and walked away in disgust.

  Lula Mae was just about to ask again when they saw a McDonalds. They turned and went inside. Lula Mae practically skipped her way into the hamburger place. It was her favorite place to eat in the whole world. She loved the fries. Danior looked around. Tables were spread out all through the business. Kids screamed for their parents to get them something called a “Happymeal”, and parents called out food to the dead-eyed men and women that worked behind the counter.

  “Welcome to McDonalds. May I take your order?” A cashier mumbled. With all the scars and pitting on his face it looked like the man had fought a war with acne and lost. He was a tall black man with an obvious pooch around the middle. Danior tried not to stare too much at the man, but he couldn’t figure out why the man hadn’t pulled his pants up yet because they were hanging down so low that you could see his underwear. He finally decided that it must be because the man must be a homosexual, and he was advertising his sexual availability to other men. It was the only thing that made sense to Danior. He’d seen a few homosexuals in the camps, and on the train. They were much more careful about advertising their sexuality in his day. They might carefully talk around their sexual preference. Sometimes they’d slip in a word, and strangely if the other person was homosexual then he just immediately understood. It was as much for their safety. An unwanted sexual advance could end up getting them beaten, or worse.

  “I’m hungry. I want an Egg McMuffin.” Lula Mae answered.

  “It’s 10:34. I’m sorry but breakfast ended four minutes ago.” The cashier sighed.

  “But I want an Egg McMuffin.” Lula Mae whined.

  “What do you want me to do about it? Come back tomorrow.” The cashier snapped.

  Lula Mae pouted and walked away from the cashier. Jimbo grabbed her by the arm and yanked her over to a table, “What the hell is wrong with you? We don’t have any money.”

  “But I’m hungry.” Lula Mae began sniffling.

  Danior slid into the seat across from them. He looked around nervously. Things were so much different from the way they used to be. Cash registers didn’t have buttons anymore. Now they had lights, and pictures to guide the operator. There were pictures everywhere, and Danior began to wonder if people could still actually read. People didn’t say what kinds of food they wanted, instead they called out numbers. Danior tried not to look afraid, but he was out of his element. He could handle almost anything, but the statue of the redheaded clown in the corner creeped him out. Danior just couldn’t figure out what the redheaded clown in the yellow suit had to do with hamburgers.

  A thought wormed its way into Danior’s head. He needed fighters if he was going to start attacking cities and governments. The faster he could recruit, the faster he could become a real threat. D
anior watched as one car after another drove around the building to pick up food at the drive-thru. He watched as cars lined up, and grin began to grow on his face.

  “Fries! Fries! Fries! Fries!” The chanting got Danior’s attention. A brown-haired woman was leading a pack of disabled kids. One look told Danior that these people were different. The woman was obviously in charge. She seemed genuinely kind and almost motherly to them. Most of them were mentally handicapped, and many of the others were physically disabled. Some wore braces, some had crutches, and bringing up the rear was a strange looking seventeen year old. He was in a wheelchair. At first Danior couldn’t figure out how the young man was moving the chair, but then he realized there was a tube in front of his mouth. By puffing and sucking air, he could move his chair.

  Danior watched as he backed the chair against the door to hold it open while the last of the group made their way in. The last child grinned, “Thanks Damien!”

  “You are welcome.”

  Danior was shocked. The young man hadn’t moved his mouth, but he somehow still responded. The voice sounded mechanical, as if he was a robot. At first he couldn’t figure out how he was communicating, but then he saw the speaker attached to the back of the chair. They all made their way up to the front. “Johanna. Can I have a Happymeal?” One of the girls in leg braces asked. The brown-haired woman smiled sweetly and nodded. She then went one by one and gave the cashier their orders. Finally she got to Damien.

  “What do you want Damien?” Johanna asked. The young man couldn’t eat anything on the menu. He had a feeding tube that handled all his dietary needs, but letting him order something gave him an opportunity to be just like the other kids. Attempts at normalcy were important for people like Damien. It kept them from feeling like monsters, or freaks of nature.