Allison came back.
“Buckle up, intrepid road warrior and her loyal squire.” She said playfully. “Your fate is just around the corner!”
“And what is exactly our fate?” Lily asked.
“Oh, I don’t want to spoil that for you.” Allison answered. “Nothing you hadn’t done before, though.”
“What about Nancy, Amy and the baby?” Lily queried. “Are you going to torture them with needles and shots, to later starve them nearly to death?”
“Those were Shane’s ways, not mine.” Ally said. “I can assure you they’ll be treated fairly. Actually, little Amy will etch her name in the pages of history.”
15th MOVEMENT
Ike, Ivy and Jill stood on a hill, looking down. Athletic reanimated cadavers walked at random in a small square below. So far, they were not paying attention to their observers above.
“Those are what some people here call the Destructors.” The Boss whispered to his captives. “Basically, they are improved zombies or something.”
“What do you want from us?” Ike asked, also keeping his voice down.
“We need to explore other parts of this crappy place, see if we can find supplies we are running out.” The Boss explained. “But we can’t with those creatures in the way. And they are voracious. That’s when you come in handy.”
“What’re you going to do?” Ivy asked.
“I’d say it’s more like what you’re going to do.” The Boss answered. “You’ll roll down the hill, and while the Destructors are distracted eating your guts, my people and I will make a run for it.”
“Please, let the girl go.” Ivy said.
“Let the women go.” Ike spoke. “I’m all distraction you need.”
“Afraid I can’t do that.” The Boss replied. “There’re lots of critters down there. We need all three of you to keep them busy. Besides, they have a taste for fresh meat. Guess they’ll eat the little princess here first.”
Ivy hugged Jill as strongly as she could.
“Well, it’s almost lunch time.” The Boss said. “Let’s get this over with. Some of us are born to eat and some of us are born to be the food. You first, tattoo boy.”
Two men pushed Ike toward the steep slope down. He tried to fight them off.
“NO!” Ivy screamed.
A volley of bullets suddenly filled the air all around. The Boss and others in his group tumbled to the soil, covered in their own blood, moaning in terrible pain.
Ike and Ivy ducked instinctively. Ivy used her body to shield Jill.
But no bullets came in their direction. The old geezer from the sewer emerged, carrying an old Tommy Gun and shooting everybody, except for the couple and the girl, but he was only wounding his human targets. The noise produced by the weapon called the attention of the living dead below. They began to snarl and stagger up the hill.
“And some of us are born to be shot right in the balls, scumbags!” The old man said.
Then, he turned to the trio and said “I told you this is no place for greenhorns. Follow me.”
Ivy, Ike and Jill stood up. The woman took the girl in her arms and they all ran with the old man.
“Those zombies are going up the hill!” Ike said.
“I know.” The old man replied. “Why do you think I didn’t kill those no-goods? Some monsters will have themselves some rotten steak today, but they don’t care.”
In fact, the Destructors reached the wounded humans and feasted on them. The Boss and his lackeys screamed in agonizing pain, while their intestines were dilacerated by the furious enhanced creatures.
“Where did you get this?” Ivy asked, pointing at the Tommy Gun.
“It’s amazing what you can buy in here with only a few dimes.” The old man responded.
Ivy smiled.
“And where are we going?” She asked.
“I know a place nobody goes.” The old man answered.
He led them to a huge conglomerate of buildings that extended horizontally for miles. They circled the many rusty fences around the complex perimeter, until finding a hole in one of them, large enough so they could pass.
There were no tall constructions in there, only sheds, hangars and two-storey buildings.
They walked along parking lots, where some cars sat motionless, collecting dust and rust, surely in no conditions of use for a long time. Some buildings still kept signs of a past opulence, but most of them had broken windows and water seepage.
Some gardens still stood, but with their vegetation almost totally devastated, sharing space with dried up fountains and broken statues.
The whole place seemed to have undergone a small war.
The old man stopped in front of the metal doors of a building, located around the center of the complex.
“Cover the girl’s eyes.” He requested.
“I’m fine!” Jill complained. “I can handle anything!”
“Cover the girl’s eyes.” The old man insisted. “And try not to inhale so deeply.”
“It’s okay, peach.” Ivy said and delicately compressed the girl’s head against her shoulder.
The old man opened the doors and they got in. Ike and Ivy would have left the place that very second if the old man hadn’t closed the doors and locked up the latches.
“Man, what a stench!” Ike spoke, covering his nose with the t-shirt.
Ivy did the same.
“I told you.” The old man said. “And it gets better.”
The group passed by a large garbage bin. Ike did not resist curiosity and took a peek inside. He regretted dearly.
“Ah, damn it!” He screamed.
Ike pulled his head back so fast he almost faded. He bent down and had to put a lot of efforts not to puke.
One could build a whole human being with the content of that garbage bin, by sewing together all body parts and organs which had been disposed in there. Two, maybe three dead fetuses completed the picture unveiled before poor, unsuspecting Ike.
“Resist the temptation of sightseeing in here, young man.” The elder advised.
“Jeez, I played some escape games online that were not nearly as disgusting as this!” Ike spoke.
“The former occupants of this place must have done some very nasty things.” The old man divagated. “They probably created those critters out there.”
“And they said on the radio the poor countries did it.” Ivy protested. “What a bunch of liars!”
They continued down eerie, moist corridors. There were rooms on both sides, similar to jail cells. They could sense the smell was even worse inside such compartments. They looked empty, but nobody in the group wanted to get close enough to verify such hypothesis.
The long aisle ended in an ampler hall, hidden behind white curtains. The old man took the lead and opened one of the curtains and the group stepped inside. A strong smell of detergent rose up to their nostrils, which was actually a blessing.
They were in some kind of laboratory. Tables with straps filled most of the space, with test tubes and strange technological apparatus surrounding them. What seemed to be old blood stained part of the floor. There were also shelves on walls, bearing jars containing more dead fetuses, only those ones were conserved in formaldehyde.
“None of the horror movies I watched prepared me for this.” Ivy spoke anguished and nauseated.
“That’s why nobody comes here.” The old man replied. “By the way, name’s Benson, from good old Alabama, or whatever they call it now.”
“I’m Ike, she’s Ivy, both from Los Angeles, and half-pound here is Jill, massacre survivor and runaway.”
“I come from Brokenville!” Jill informed, but Ivy still kept the girl’s eyes protected from the horrors of their current location.
“Nice name.” Ike grunted.
“I’ve heard of it.” Benson revealed.
“What happens in there?” Ivy asked.
“I said I’ve heard of it, never been there.” Benson answered. “Now, let’s keep movi
ng. This is not supposed to be a tour.”
They crossed the laboratory, into another corridor. But this one had no jail cells. It led the group to an administration area, with cubicles, partitions, desks and chairs. Like magic, the stench was gone. Deep into a corner, a shining vending machine with broken glasses stood.
“I fill this up twice a month with whatever I can find in my rounds.” Benson said. “All food here is fresh enough. Knock yourselves out.”
“Sorry, but this little walk kind of spoilt my appetite.” Ivy spoke.
“Mine too.” Ike said.
But the same did not apply to Jill. As soon as she caught sight of the wonderful vending machine, she jumped from Ivy’s arms and helped herself.
“Don’t eat too fast, peach.” Ivy told the girl.
“Why did you say that?” Ike asked.
“It sounds like something a real mommy would say.”
“Why you keep calling her peach?”
“It’s cute.”
“My dad called me bunny.” Jill said.
“Peach is better.” Ivy grunted.
“Man, no offense, but this place sucks.” Ike observed.
“You’ll get used to it.” Benson said.
“Not happening.” Ivy spoke. “We’re not planning to stay.”
“You’ll have to.” Benson said.
“No way!” Ike retorted.
“And where do you figure you can go?” Benson asked. “You should’ve run back to that bathtub you used to get here and sped away as far as you could. Now, it’s too late for that.”
“We still can try to go back to the limo.” Ivy said.
“Those damn freaks in the sewer must have dismounted that junk down to the last screw by now.” Benson spoke.
“What for?” Ike queried.
“Oh, you can work all kinds of deals in here – trade parts for food, food for cigarettes, cigarettes for guns, sometimes feed people to zombies to get to places… you can even get drugs and booze. Oh, speaking which…”
Benson walked to a refrigerator and opened the door, although there was no power feeding the equipment. He grabbed a six pack.
“Want some of these?” He asked his guests.
“Why the hell not?” Ike took one beer can from the pack, opened the seal and down with it.
The old man turned to Ivy.
“No, thanks” She declined. “I settle for a Sprite, if you have them.”
“Oh, I got everything here!”
“Give one to the little girl, too.”
Benson put the remaining beers to rest and took the requested sodas.
“Are you not drinking with me?” Ike asked the old man.
“I’d rather stay sober in here.” Benson answered.
“Now you tell me.”
“Here you go, sweetie.” Benson gave a can of soft drink to Jill, who accepted immediately. “It’s hot, but it’s good.”
“How do you say?” Ivy spoke to the little girl.
“Thanks!” Jill replied.
“You’re really taking this mommy stuff seriously.” Ike spoke.
“And you’d better learn how to father her too, young man.” Benson said while handing a Sprite to Ivy. “This girl needs you both.”
“Yes, one reason more to leave this hellhole.” Ike grunted.
“Well, now that you’re here, you should try to make the most of it.” Benson responded. “This hellhole, as you said, is at the same time a curse and a blessing.”
“I really doubt it’s a blessing.” Ike murmured.
“It gives you a chance to survive.” Benson said. “It’s all you got. You can try to go out the walls, but for what? There’s nothing for miles, only those dang walking corpses. Even if you survive them, the days will burn you up and the nights will freeze your bones.”
“There got to be a safe haven somewhere.” Ivy said.
“At times like this, I doubt it.” Benson replied. “You see, people will do anything to save their sorry carcasses and most of them don’t give a damn to their next. It’s every man for himself. Sometimes, one can join a bunch who shares the same lack of principles and indecency, like the maggots you met. You can’t trust anybody these days.”
“I guess not.” Ike spoke, feeling a sudden wave of depression take over his soul.
“Well, my work here is done.” Benson declared.
He reached into the pocket of his worn-out jacket and produced a dirty, but stylish hat. He put it on.
“What do you mean?” Ivy queried. “Are you leaving us?”
“Yes. I must follow my way alone, can’t afford babysitting you guys. But you don’t need me anymore. You showed you got guts. Just don’t let them be eaten by no walking corpse.”
“Well, we can’t ask anymore of you.” Ivy sighed. “Goodbye then and thank you for saving our lives.”
“And for the grub” Ike completed.
“Don’t mention it.” The elder replied.
“Bye, Mister Benson.” Jill said.
“It’s just plain Benson, sweetheart. And bye to you too, stay safe.”
The old man turned his back on them and walked.
“Wait!” Ike shouted to the elder. “You’re not going the same way we came.”
“There are other exits.” Benson replied. “But if you decide to leave this place, go the way we came. Believe me, you don’t want to explore this place any further. By the way, if you do leave, stay away from the woods.”
“The woods?” Ike frowned. “What’s in there?”
“I heard rumors of some crazy tribal shit going on in those parts, like sacrificing people to gods and stuff.”
“Just when I thought this place couldn’t get any worse!” Ike murmured.
“Well, be seeing you.” Benson said.
And away he went.
“So, that’s it.” Ivy took a discouraged breath and collapsed down a chair, depressed and defeated.
“What’s wrong, love?” Ike asked.
“Jeez!” She replied. “Better ask what is right! We’re stuck in this desolate version of wonderland, surrounded by wild dogs, zombies and evil people, but we should be thankful because, after all, this is a paradise compared to whatever is waiting for us outside. It feels kind of hopeless.”
“Don’t worry.” Little Jill came to Ivy and caressed her thigh. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
Ivy could not resist a smile to such gesture of encouragement. She brought Jill to her lap.
“You know this better than anybody else, right peach?” Ivy gently tickled the girl’s body. “Quite a little adventurer you are, huh?”
“Yes.” Jill spoke between giggles.
“What exactly happened to you in that, what is it called, Brokenville?” Ike asked cautiously “If you don’t mind my asking.”
“Mommy and daddy took us there so we would be protected against the monsters.” Jill answered. “A man called Minister promised daddy a better life if we followed the rules.”
“What rules?” Ivy asked.
“The perfect people go to Ethereal and the imperfect people go to Eternity. That was what they told me.”
“This Ethereal must be a pretty empty place.” Ike commented. “Nobody’s perfect.”
“And this Eternity sounds a lot like the House of Representatives to me.” Ivy observed.
“The imperfect people are put to sleep.” Jill continued. “And they never wake up again.”
“What do you mean?” Ivy frowned.
“Some people that work for the Minister give them the sacred liquid. It takes the imperfect ones to Eternity.”
“I think I’m starting to get the picture here.” Ike said. “It’s a fanatic sect kind of thing. You were right to run away from there, little one.”
“I think it’s a little more than just that.” Ivy spoke and turned back to the girl. “Who are those men in suit who were chasing you?”
“They are the guards.” Jill replied. “They say that once we are there, we can onl
y leave to Ethereal or Eternity. They put things in us, so they can find us anywhere.”
“This is getting creepy.” Ivy said. “You said they put… things in you?”
“Right here” Jill rolled up her sleeve and pointed a little forefinger at her right forearm, a little above the wrist.
Ike bent down to have a closer look.
“Now that she mentioned, there is a scar here.” Ike noticed. “And it’s glowing a little bit.”
Ivy saw it as well.
“It has to be a tracer of some sort.” Ike said. “I thought those things only existed in movies.”
“This is way too sophisticated for a sect of fanatics.” Ivy decided. “If Jill here is bugged, how come they didn’t find us?”
“Maybe she’s out of reach or something.” Ike responded.
Ivy lifted an eyebrow.
“Or maybe they figure we are already in the hell we were supposed to be.” She said.
“Meaning…?”
“If I were a horror movie freak,” Ivy continued “I’d say that this place and this whole Brokenville deal are connected somehow.”
“You are a horror movie freak, honey.” Ike said.
“Then I must be right.”
“I’m a horror movie freak, too. And I think this theory of yours is a little far-fetched.”
“This freak show circus we are, the broadcasts on the radio, a town that brainwashes folks, come on, you watched your share of sci-fi movies! Do I have to draw you a schematic?”
Apocalily Series (Book 2): The Almighty Lady of Tomorrow Page 11