As I reached the fourth ring she still didn’t answer except the voicemail did, so I left a quick message and ended the call.
She’s probably still at the party, I thought. I sat beside the toilet seat, restless and exhausted. I dialed nine-one-one and just told them that there’s a blood crazed maniac somewhere on campus. I kept it short. I didn’t want to go back out there, and I didn’t want to deal with the feds.
I felt like a total wreck so I took a quick shower. Afterwards, I couldn’t calm down. My mind kept replaying the scene over and over again, while I kneeled beside the toilet. After hurling a second time, I just sat there with my face on the cool ceramic tub, and my eyes shut …
The next morning, after waking up, I realized I had slept on the bathroom floor. I straightened my hair quickly and put on eyeliner, as I was kind of late to my class, especially to my mid-summer exam.
Usually, at this time, I hear metal music blasting from the walls of the dorm next to me. But today there was no sound, just silence. Maybe it was just one of those days where she wasn’t in her dorm. It could be something normal. Why was I even overreacting?! And why today, out of all days, am I noticing or even caring if she played metal or not?!
I rushed out of my dorm to my class. On the way, I noticed there was no one in the hallways. It was very, very empty, aside from the papers strewn across the floor everywhere. Was there some college reunion I didn’t know about?
I finally reached my class, but, to my surprise, there was no one. Not even the professor who’s a bit strict about being late to his classes. I frowned, confused. Was everyone at the murder scene that I was at last night? Maybe, I thought to myself. But I had this eerie feeling that something was definitely wrong.
Instead of going outside, maybe, I thought, just maybe my class was in the library taking the test since it would be quieter there. I headed towards the library. I was not going back to that disturbingly macabre scene.
To my disappointment though, as I entered the library, I realized something was really, really wrong because the library was also empty.
Where is everyone? They can’t all be outside gawking at what happened last night?! There wasn’t even a single librarian! Computers were smashed against the floor; papers were everywhere too.
Something is undeniably wrong. I don’t think anyone is outside. There would be a loud commotion coming from outside if there was. I passed by the aisles of books until I spotted a librarian whose back was to me. Finally, I thought.
“Um, Ma’am, excuse me, but do you know where everyone has gone?”
She didn’t answer. She just stood there with her back towards me, leaning forward against one of the shelves. My heart sped up as I became more terrified by the moment.
“Ma’am?” I spoke, worriedly creeping closer.
Suddenly, she twitched and slowly turned around to face me. My books dropped from my hands as I gasped in horror. My mind refused to accept the picture before me. She was missing an eye, part of her nose and her lips making her look just like a decade old corpse. She was covered in dried blood and smelled like death.
“Are you okay?” I heard myself ask her stupidly.
She didn’t answer me, and a part of me hadn’t expected one, but she groaned as she started lurching towards me mechanically. Seeing the way she jerked stiffly about like a rusted robot, moving towards me, would give me nightmares for the rest of my life.
I backed away as I suddenly realized that there was no way to communicate with these people. Why? Because they were zombies. I finally understood. They were dead. And all they did was eat human flesh like brain dead cannibals! According to movies and books the only way to kill them is to either shoot them in the brain or decapitate them. In any way as long as you destroy the brain. Twist it, smash it, snap it, shoot it, drill it, chain-saw it, anything - as long as you detach the spinal cord from the brainstem, killing and shutting down all nerves.
As she reached for me, mouth wide and arms reaching, I stepped to the side, grabbed her head between my hands, and using every bit of strength I had, I twisted her head until it snapped. Her body fell to the ground with a thud, obviously now dead, or no longer undead.
“Oh, shit,” I cried, wondering if I’d went mad. I ran out of the library back to my dorm, trying to call Jannette. “Come on! Pick up your goddamn phone!”
As I packed, I dialed Janette’s cell for the twentieth time while shaking like a leaf. I packed my laptop (will I even need it?), clothes, and important belongings.
Suddenly, I heard her ringtone outside my door, and, for some reason, was so glad that I had my door locked. Listening, I heard her voicemail pickup. The ringing stopped, I dialed again. I mean anyone can have the same ring tone, but I wasn’t mistaken. It was her. She was now by the door. It went to voicemail once again.
That’s when I heard a scratching at the door, sliding down to the knob. My heart raced just as fast as the thoughts in my head. My paranoia had chosen this moment to spike. I imagined that she was standing there, just on the other side of my door, scratching and reaching for the doorknob. I feared it wasn’t locked and she would stumble in at any moment.
I fanatically tried to calm my beating heart before I had a panic attack, and became my best friend’s dinner.
It was then she tried twisting the doorknob, but it wouldn’t budge. She kept trying to open it, but fortunately the lock held, so she stopped. I waited in silence, I was even holding in my breath.
I dialed her number again, but this time it sounded far away. At that moment, I hoped it was safe for me to leave. I finished packing as fast as I could and got out of there quick.
As I made my way through the hall, I wondered if zombies had memories. Or had she seen me coming back to my dorm? How did she know to twist the doorknob? Maybe because her brain had not yet rotted away to jello she could understand some things, or was it instinctual in some way?
Stumbling into the courtyard the movie-like view became reality. Cars were either wrecked or abandoned. More papers were scattered and the deafening silence was growing as chills ran over me. I suspected everyone was now dead or have become the undead.
Walking past unattended cars, trying to find a safe and drivable car, I felt so afraid. More afraid than I’d ever been before.
Not even a minute had passed before I found a black Hummer, unlocked with the keys still in the ignition. Thankfully, it was drivable. It looked new. It looked safe enough, but the doors were wide open. I cautiously closed all of the doors, all the while watching my surroundings. After I got in and started the ignition the doors locked automatically.
As I took a deep breath in, I looked for a way through the mess, and appreciated the fact that it ran and was full of gas.
Overwhelmed by all that had happened since last night, and feeling a bit safe for the moment, I laid my head down on the steering wheel, and breathed out feeling helpless, lonely, and completely confused. Where would I even start? I thought about heading to Phoenix, Arizona to go see my parents.
I raised my head when suddenly I saw Jannette in front of me. I ignored the ill feeling in my heart, and put the car in reverse while my tears began to fall. She raised her eyes at me as if she heard me play with the gear.
“I’m sorry,” I told her as if she could hear me. I backed up, but she followed, banging against the hood with hunger. I wanted to end her misery. I couldn’t stand to watch her like this. So, I did what any good friend would do (even though she was dead, it was still hard for me). With eyes closed, I drove over her, and left everything that used to be normal behind.
I spotted a vacant grocery store just twenty minutes down the road. The lights were on but not a person was in sight, dead or alive. Is everyone really dead? Did the attacks happen just last night? How come I didn’t hear it in the news earlier yesterday, or was I too busy studying for the final to even care to notice? Was it too late for anyone to announce a warning?
Parking across from it, I turned off the ignition and clim
bed out. The emptiness of the city sent a chill through me. Maybe it was the vacancy or my fears, but it couldn't be the cold. It was the middle of a warm June day.
I beeped the car doors to lock, and wish I hadn’t. I began to hear ominous sounding movements coming from all around me. Not able to figure out where the sound was coming from, I tensed in my spot and was ready to make a run for it if anything ever happened to come out. But then the sounds subsided and I relaxed. I didn’t know I’d held my breath until now.
I looked left and right and made my way towards the grocery store while keeping my eyes and ears on alert. As I pulled the door open, I was glad it didn’t chime.
Slowly, I walked past the security cameras and picked up a small basket to put a few things in. I thought it was funny that the music was still playing despite the events that had occurred.
I didn’t dawdle, but went straight for the important aisles. I just wanted to load up and get the hell out of the store. It was super creepy being the only one in here, and awkward.
I headed towards the canned food aisle, and took two minutes trying to figure out just what to take with me. Do I take fruits and veggies?
Okay let’s think rational Lillian, I thought. You’re in the middle of a freaking apocalypse, possibly the end of the world, so that leaves you to survive on food that’ll.... last you a while. Of course, I’m not a fan of canned veggies, so I’ll just skip out that part, and move on towards the fruit. I can deal with canned peaches and pineapple. Is three of each enough? The hell with it! Make it five each. I mean these can last for months!
As soon as I’d made up my mind, I hurried over to the drink aisle and grabbed three big bottles of water. I was sure that would last me. Damn basket was so heavy it took two hands to hold it.
I should have grabbed a cart, I thought to myself as I went straight to the personal hygiene area. I grabbed the essentials; deodorants, mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, and a thing of expensive razors. The cheap kind were worthless.
Might as well dump in a box of wax strips too, and...ehrm, pads. I took a mini aid kit as well.
Moving on to the junk food area, I suddenly had multiple options to choose from without worrying my wallet. Even though looking at all this food that’ll last weeks and months, I was already crying from the inside for my weight. I promise you weight, I will not betray you, my thoughts cried. Then, my eyes spotted honey buns, and surely I couldn’t back down in taking a whole box of them.
My basket suddenly began to overflow; I was hauling it behind my butt from how heavy it had gotten. Again, I told myself I should’ve just taken a cart. On the way out, my eyes stopped at some cards and books. Hmmm…
I put in a set of poker cards, and placed down the basket as gently as I could on the ground, and began to look at fiction sections I’m into. I could use a little erotica as well as some supernatural, paranormal romance. My romantic life is pathetic, I know. But it’s nice to get out of what was once called reality...Is it even reality anymore?
I picked only a few books out, but greedily wanted more. I only had two hands and the basket took both.
I spotted a book with the title Idiots and Automobile on it. “Prepare your Automobile for the Apocalypse. A Guide for Idiots in the Lack of Car Fixtures and Upgrades.”
Skimming through the book I realized it really was what I thought it was. It was an instructional manual on fortifying your vehicle. It was in the fictional area but looked just like the non-fiction Dummies books.
It explained how to upgrade or fortify my vehicle from windows to engine. Glancing at the cover I wondered if it was a coincidence that it was a book for Hummers from nineteen ninety-two to two thousand ten…
Wait a minute, what year is my Hummer? It doesn’t look like the brand new high tech ones, but it sure does look like a military version. At the back of the book I looked at the photos of the Hummers they describe in the book, and turns out that, after matching the photo with the Hummer outside, I am driving the H1 Alpha Wagon two thousand and six version.
If there’s one thing I wish I could’ve learned while growing up is knowing at least a little bit about cars. I barely knew shit. I mean, what the hell is an oil change? Isn’t diesel for eighteen-wheelers?
Suddenly, as bad as it sounds, it seems I have a lot to learn about the car I’ve taken. The thing already looks like a beast. It was huge compared to my Subaru I used to drive (I miss my old version Subaru). I picked the book and carried it under my arm, and picked up the heavy basket.
Just as I passed the security towers, the alarm started blaring. Fuck! my mind shouted. I pushed open the doors, and the bells managed to fucking chime. Suddenly, growls and shrieks came from everywhere! My heart went in panic mode as I failed to take my car keys out from my jeans pocket.
I saw maybe ten come at me - five from my left and five from behind. I placed the basket down without making anything fall out and dropped the Dummy book from underneath my arm.
Without thinking, I turned and ran to the right, down the street I’d driven down earlier. Letting my legs guide me, I used my arms to push me faster. Ten fucking zombies behind my ass. I can kick ass, but I’m no superwoman that’s for sure.
What to do, what to do, my mind raced at just how the hell to lose them. Shit. I didn’t even have a weapon. Why didn’t I think about taking a gun first?!
All I could do right now is make them follow me to the end of the road, and make a circle around the block. My skin had goose bumps at just how close their shrieks sounded behind me. I will not become food!
Finally, reaching the corner of the block, I made the turn to the right, and continued to run without stopping. It was mostly stores around here and some wrecked cars that I had to skip around.
I made the next turn on the corner to the right. They were obviously still behind me running fast, as I could hear their growls and shrieks from around the bend.
Suddenly my eyes spotted a gun store titled “Walter Fyrearms and Huntin’ Knyves.” Well, thank you hillbilly Walter! I didn’t hesitate to go in pushing open its heavy door. Jesus, why’s it so heavy? Maybe my arms are just feeling like jello.
I was glad the lights were off but there was some light coming in from one of the open windows.
I jogged to the counter and then jumped over it, and squatted low on my knees. I was surprised to find a half-eaten corpse laying on the floor.
I gasped at the scene and tried not to scream. The dude had his eyes open as he looked towards the ceiling.
Blinking to hold back the horror, I struggled to erase the image from my mind. His chest was hollowed out and several empty shotgun shells lay on the floor beside him. Three zombies lay nearby, their skulls caved in. Without looking at him, I reached down and closed his eyes for him.
Ugh, my stomach wanted to vomit from the intoxicating smell.
I opened my eyes and concentrated on the outside noise. My eyes watched them pass by in a blur one by one. Jeez. My spine-tingled.
Sensing the coast was clear, I stood up on my feet and slowly looked around. The place was too dead and too quiet. Without wasting another minute, I grabbed a duffel bag from behind me, and put it on the counter beside the register. I looked at what was in stock.
I was definitely taking a mini revolver from Governor from the glass case. I loaded it and put it in the duffel bag with a whole box of its ammo. I looked behind me and it was endless amounts of machine guns, shotguns, and sniper rifles with scopes.
I didn’t want to take an extremely heavy sniper so I was going to go with my instincts for a decent one that can shoot from long distances.
My eyes landed on the Mossberg 100 ATR. Loaded it, took a box of its ammo, and put it all in my duffel bag.
Now on to machine guns...I need one that could shoot semi-automatic. My eyes landed on two UZI SMG’s. I loaded both, took six mags, and put it all in the duffel bag. Moving on to handguns, there were so many to choose from. The Beretta 87 Target was definitely my choice, and t
aking two of these babies were a priority.
I loaded their clips, and pulled back each of their caliber to have one in their barrels, and shoved them in my duffel bag along with ten other clips. And last but not least I moved on towards the shotgun; my ultimate favorite. My eyes quickly landed on the beauty of the Mossberg 500 Pistol Grip. I fully loaded it with its shells, and pumped it. I placed in three boxes of its shells in the duffel bag, and slung the shotgun on my shoulder. And how could I not take the Lever Action rifle .22.
I shoved a couple of shells in my front and back pockets for backup in case I needed more for a reload. Finding a pistol strap, I wrapped it around my thigh, and picked an extra gun - SW1911 Pro Series. I shoved a box of its ammo in the duffel bag, and grabbed a very large and sharp hunting knife.
Just when I began to slide the bag over the counter and sling it over my shoulders, it’s weight dragged me down to the floor. Shit! I can’t run with this. What are my options?
It took all the strength in my arms, but I managed to carry it. Being too heavy, I was able to get to the middle of the store, and gave up on it. “Ok, I’ll be back for you,” I said with determination. Great. I’m talking to a bunch of guns. What’s next...apologizing to food while I munched in its holiness?
Just when I’m about to exit the store, my eyes spot a PSE SMOKE 01200 Crossbow. Ooh. I picked it up and felt its weight. Not too heavy and not too light but perfect for a girl like me. How do you load this thing? I saw beside its other brothers’ different sizes of arrows. Hmmm…
I picked a long feathered black one, placed it in the middle, and pulled back it’s cocking rope till I heard it click in place. I looked through its scope to see how well it adjusted, and it can go far. Hmm, pretty nifty.
I flipped it around to look for the safety on the crossbow. I turn it off and pull the trigger on accident as the arrow flew swiftly, making me gasp. My eyes followed it to where it landed on the guy’s head that was standing undead just a few feet from me. Once the arrow pierced his brain his head was pinned to the wall.
The World At End (Book 1) (Left Alive for the Dead Series) Page 5