The End

by Herman Grobler

  Luke just stands there, he doesn’t regret it for one moment, he didn’t enjoy it, it didn’t give him any pleasure though now he knows he did everything he could for his brother, he decides that it’s enough and raises his knife ready to put Jason down for good.

  With his knife ready, Luke hear one loud gun shot, he stares down to his stomach where blood is flowing freely, he stands up slowly and see a man with a rifle, recognizing him as the man that was on Jason’s side when he killed Maggie.

  “Put down your weapon!” Martin said loudly.

  “Just end it now, I have nothing left,” Luke said softly as he starts charging at Martin.

  Another shot fire and Luke falls, beside from small kicks Luke shows no sign of life, Martin walks over to him, and pulls the trigger one more time just to make sure and ends any suffering that there might be. Martin regrets not coming earlier; Jason is bloody and looks terrible, Martin could spot three major wounds, a stab wound that is bleeding heavily with a stab wound straight through his hand and a small cut at the back of his head.

  Martin feels Jacky for a pulse but she is already dead, he pulls Jason up and assists him back to the Fort where Emma helps half way.

  “What the hell happened?” Emma asked shocked and worried.

  “The man that murdered his daughter, came back to finish the job,” Martin said.

  “He just lost his other daughter too,” Martin said.

  “We can show our emotions later, for now we need to get him back and stitched up and you need to return and look for William,” Emma said loud and seriously.

  Martin washed the blood of his hands, putting on a new shirt knowing that Jason is in good hands, he could only wonder what happened, while wondering, why such a young man will have such a big grudge against someone.

  Martin actually feels the pain for Jason, knowing that he is in good hands, he might as well be better off dying, once he wakes up he will be lost and tormented by the way he ended up losing both his daughters. Martin grabbed a few bottles of water just for incase they want some if he finds William and the other unless they are already dead to.

  Martin heads back to Fort Zachery its late and only Taylor and Conway is back, Martin feels happier at least there is a bright side for the horrifying day, and Conway is alive and well. Martin shares the good news that they found Ashley and that they managed to get her to safety; he also shares the bad news and what happened to Jason and his two daughters.

  Martin and Conway teams up and searches for William together, two hours later they start to return, not giving up but it’s getting late and the streets are wild and dangerous, with those things in mass groups lurking around every corner.

  William has been waiting several hours for a large group to pass, it’s hard to wait this long, it’s extremely boring but the coast seems clear, fearing if he doesn’t go now and take the opportunity he won’t get another one anytime soon.

  “William is that you?” Danny asked slowly with heavy breathing.

  “Danny, your alive I can’t believe it!” William said rushing over but pauses as he sees Danny clearly.

  “I know it’s looking bad, it turns out that I have caught the virus after all,” Danny said.

  “We can get you help, we can go out and search for someone, I am sure if we are still alive, many others will be alive to and one among them must be a talented doctor,” William said crying still hugging Danny tightly.

  “Willy, look at me, I’m turning into a monster, and no one can help me now,” Danny said.

  “I should have never left your side, I am so sorry,” William said crying.

  “You did what you had to do, I would have done the same thing, I would’ve escaped too if you were in that bed dying,” Danny said.

  William can’t believe how much Danny changed and yet here he is still feeling, still caring, Danny requested one thing of William. He passed over a revolver and told William to shoot him and end it, he refused the very second Danny finished his sentence, not yet William said, we still have time, we can at least spend some time, as those things bang on the glass door, knowing they will break through any second.

  William stares at Danny, his skin is literally falling of his arms and partially around his neck with weird hairs growing out of his body, blisters and large lumps growing on his arms legs and chest, with long over developed bones sticking out by each nail like claws, his eyes is yellow and bloody. This transformation is new and will be discussed with Emma as soon as he returns.

  William and Danny stares at the glass door as it starts to crack but they only start to fear the outside after hearing a loud roar and intense breathing. Those things stopped banging against the door, before the two could even wonder what was going on, they see this large creature, this tall man is muscular with red eyes and gray skin featuring the same black hairs running down his shoulders the same Danny had growing.

  His one arm is skinny, like it was normal where the right one was larger and deformed with big claws, eyes red of the blood, running down his face, he roars and starts clawing the creatures around him. This new thing truly deserves the title of a true monstrosity, he kills everything and all of them savagely, it’s fast and over within seconds. He smashes against the glass door, shattering it into pieces; having so much weight that you can hear each step the monster takes.

  Before William could think of a plan he opens fire shooting the titan five times, it doesn’t show pain and it keeps on coming, William was about to suggest a new plan but he was too late as Danny got up to face this creature head on, knowing he has some new developed strengths as well. He puts up a good fight by using the bony claws to cut into the chest of this beastly titan but with one whack, Danny slams against the wall, he got up and quickly to rejoined the fight.

  William is left with no options but to help Danny, grabbing a pipe striking it multiple times, the beast ignores it entirely, the beast grabs Danny by the head as he applies pressure, crushing his head entirely, the blood runs down his large arm as he holds up his latest victim high up in the air. William is shocked and angry, he starts pounding the beast on its back and at this point it was obvious to William that he is doing absolutely nothing to it.

  They beast turns around and grabs William, turning him around holding both arms, the beast kicks William with full force, William leaps into the air landing on his back, dead on sight, his back broken and three ribs sticking out of his stomach region. The beast quickly retreated and ran away a few minutes to soon. Martin arrived on the scene figuring that Danny did this to William yet that won’t explain what happened to his head, broken and mushed up.

  Martin and the others returned with the bad news, both Danny and William was found dead, Danny was already changing, he bet that the two had a fight and killed each other somehow in the process. It’s hard to explain as he wasn’t there to witness to event, Martin explains to Emma and the rest of the people.

  Conway and Ashley happily together, the very next day the men were assigned into one big group, to kill the remaining mass numbers in Key West, it took a total of 12 days, the entire area was a rotting, bloody mess with a stink that lingered for days where ever they went in Key West.

  The stink forced everyone to jump in and help dig deep holes, where they will dump the bodies and set them on fire, before closing it up again. It was a long job that lasted a total of 18 days, leaving everyone exhausted and tired. Danny was buried alongside William within the square of Fort Zachary, the entire group had proper burials for William, Danny and Jacky, even though Jason couldn’t attend their funerals, he was still in recovery and too weak to move, he was still extremely grateful.

  The group figured there was only one last thing to do and that’s to figure out who to lead them, a new smart leader is crucial for the groups survival and all of them knows that, Emma refused to be on that list and suggested that each one should have the opportunity to show what they have to be a leader.

  Even though lives was lost, strangers and loved ones, the
group still carries on and will never forget the day they got attacked and lost many, whoever took the charge of being leader, must focus on getting things set up, most importantly plan ahead for maybe the next big attack.

  Chapter 13: Leadership

  It’s been a month since William’s death and the group needs to find the best candidate to take leadership, all knowing that they will be lost without a good leader to lead them through the bad times and the good times.

  The new leader will have a lot of new responsibilities, it was expected that some of them would decline on the spot; this won’t be held against them by anyone, its understanding that people will be scared, especially when you know all of them will be counting on them to make the right choices.

  Samantha, Samuel, Emma and her mother declined to be on the list to run for this opportunity, none of them felt like they would do a good job, except for Jason but due to his recent injuries he won’t participate either, this came as a relief too many, not because of his injuries. Conway knows Jason for a short while now, Jason sure would make a good leader, but since the passing of his daughters this man is mentally broken, beating himself up every day. It’s crucial to have a leader with the right mind set that will make the hard decisions responsibly, if this leader couldn’t then he surly will fail.

  Bobby on the other hand is disqualified from this election automatically and will remain locked up until a new leader has been selected. Emma hopes that the man simply dies or gets executed even though she knows that probably won’t happen, everyone here except for Bobby seems to be pretty decent that won’t go through the trouble to make one suffer, they won’t go through the fact that they will have to live with it. Emma truly hopes that the least the new leader can do is exile him from the entire group and of the Fort.

  Martin will most likely hate this idea after all they are brothers, yet again Emma still noticed he too was extremely angry at Bobby when Martin received the news, what Bobby really did to Danny, he really wasn’t impressed you could see it in Martin’s eyes.

  For the remaining candidates Emma developed a method that might prove accurate, each one will have 3 days to bring their skills to the table, each one will need to prove they have what it takes. It doesn’t have to be anything that require a lot of decision making, all they need to do is show what they can do that will benefit the entire group and not just themselves.

  Upon voting, the method will be in place and effective tomorrow, though many didn’t like this method and was seeking an easier way in. Many of the candidates automatically fell away, Emma expected a lot but not this many, the method is already working on the first go by separating the weak from the ones that’s willing to try hard, confident that this is going to work out perfectly.

  The following is the only ones left that are willing to participate, Martin, Markus and Conway that didn’t want to participate either if Ashley and Jason didn’t convince him to.

  The following 9 days was hard and the running was close, Emma suggested to everyone that 3 more days can be added, a total of 12 days, it was time to vote for the one that did the best, providing and protecting, though there were no real threat, but each one had enough time to give examples of their ideas and how they will protect the group in case of attacks.

  Martin has the upper hand when it comes to eliminating these creatures fast and easily using basic weaponry that everyone can use, using carved spears that can be made from any straight stick fast and easily and possibly from steel later in the future. He had many other methods each one with their downfall as Emma explains to the people, like the spears easy to make and you can keep your distance while killing them silently, yet what about close range or when there is many that attack you at once, weapons like that only have reach and distance, close range and this won’t work.

  Martin also didn’t introduce any defense against a large attack, everyone knew how many had died without the proper protection, he also introduced the same method of scavenging for food the old hard way, finding canned food, but everyone knows sooner or later they will need to go further and further away and the further you have the go the longer it will take the more dangerous it will get.

  Markus had pretty much the same idea about defense and only to use a gun when needed, with the same scavenging idea, but instead of traveling far, they travel to spots and bundle the food up in safe areas, where they can easily return to and fetch the needed food, still a long process if you had to ask Emma.

  Conway in the other hand has the most ideas, very well thought out ideas, very creative, for defense against an attack, small homemade weapons will do just fine if it’s one or two it can even be more if they are spread out wide since they are still pretty slow, he also included an entire plan that was tested out on one small group. This include many old techniques that were used in the old day, using cans of fuel and anything flammable, this will only be used if it’s an absolute must, if they somehow managed to get passed that crack, drums and cans can easily be tipped over from a roof to set them on fire, most will be dead before even reaching the Fort.

  Conway explained his entire plan, even mentioning that his plans won’t be without flaws but if you have to think about it, the only thing that needs to be insured when planning the front line defenses would be to slow a big horde down, while splitting them up into smaller groups; the trick won’t be to kill them because eventually if the horde is too big, that contraption to kill them will fail eventually fail over time. Not saying that it isn’t a good idea but its best to get them in small groups and burn them with the fuel, we can easily lure them into blocks barricade with cars and set them on fire before they could even think of getting close and when they do pass most will be injured and half dead already, keep in mind they are slow even when they do run, they aren’t that fast and only pose a dangerous threat if they were in large groups.

  As of food its best we start gathering livestock, it’s a huge risk Conway explains, but once they find clean animals to breed with, especially while there is still canned food left, by the time we need to go out looking for more food we would have enough livestock with young to start slaughtering. Conway knows this can work as he has seen many animals that looked perfectly fine and with no doubt, had no diseases or anything that can risk their health.

  He also planned a vegetable garden, though he didn’t talk much of this, he was still unsure and had to work on the plan before they could put it to work and grow their own vegetables, some research needs to be done first.

  The people ready to vote likes his ideas, theory’s and plans, Martin can see that they are extremely happy about it, at first Martin didn’t like it at much but came to terms that this guy is willing to take risks for everyone, he might just prove to be a very good leader after all.

  The people are talking, it’s like they are all gossiping, while the three wait patiently, almost an entire hour passed before they came to a decision, Emma stood up and thanked everyone that tried but there can only be one leader and the one with the most votes is Conway.

  Martin feels slightly upset but at least he knows everyone know he at least tried and he himself is happy that he tried and did this without any cheating, this was a good change, and he can only hope that Bobby will be treated the right way, otherwise there will be consequences.

  Ashley and Jason is happy for Conway, as he gives a small speech, after the speech most knew they made the perfect choice in a new leader, a lot of work will need to be done, if Conway wants to prove his good leadership material.

  “What did I get myself into, you know I only did this, because I expected I wouldn’t make it,” Conway said worried.

  “I mean, there so much more responsibilities now with so many decisions to make, making the right one will be the hardest,” Conway said.

  “I know, at least try, maybe it won’t be that bad,” Ashley said as she holds him tighter.

  “She’s right you know, don’t be scared just do what you really need to do,” Emma said.

&nb
sp; “No matter what you decide, there were always going to be consequences, as long as there is a good reason for them everyone will understand,” Emma said.

  “Guess you’re right, though I have reason to be worried, I mean I know none of you as none of you know me,” Conway said.

  “You’re smart and you have proven yourself to us, that you will be good as a leader,” Emma said.

  “If you say so, then I guess its ok,” Conway said laughing.

  “Trust me you will do great, beside I already have a problem you need to worry about,” Emma said.

  “Is it about Bobby?” Conway asked.

  “Jip that’s the problem,” Emma said.

  “To keep things humane, let’s just consider some facts first,” Conway said.

  “I have been doing my investigation and none of them really knew Danny, most of them agreed that Danny pretty much kept to himself,” Conway said.

  “That gave Bobby no reason to do what he did,” Emma said.

  “No it didn’t, but what if you didn’t Know Danny? What if you didn’t spend much time with him, you know, to get to know him? What would you have done?” Conway asked.

  “I would have treated Danny the same way, I would have still cared,” Emma said.

  “Right and you did and it only got worse, what did you expect the people will think? If you weren’t a nurse with experience with sick people, I bet, deep down inside you, you would have felt the same to insure the protection of your daughter,” Conway said, keeping things as calm as possible.

  “Your right, I would have done the same, if he posed any risk to my family, still it was way too soon to tell if he contracted the virus or not and then this guy, that knows nothing just goes and kill him,” Emma said.

  “Even worse, this guy didn’t kill him immediately, he tortured him first, what guy that’s concerned about people will torture first and then eliminate the threat?” Emma asked.