The Demon Dead

by Arthur M Wyatt

  “I’m sorry,” John said.

  “I’m going to look around some,” Amy said finally calming down a little. “There are some things I want to take with me. Photos and stuff you know.”

  “Ok, I’ll be outside if you need me. I’m going to go and talk to Tuck.”

  John rubbed her on the back for a second then went back outside. Tuck was sitting on the front steps smoking a cigarette. John sat down beside him.

  “What’s your story?” John asked.

  “Well….not much to tell,” Tuck said scratching his chin and looking at John with one eye closed. “Fifty six… widower… grew up just down the road a piece. Lived here all my life. I owned a successful auto body shop ‘till last year. Ran it for a couple more years after my wife died, then sold it, retired and moved out here.”

  “Any children?”

  “Nah, we couldn’t have kids. All my family’s gone and my wife’s parents died years ago. So it’s just me and Roy. We kind of keep to ourselves. What about you two?”

  “I’m from Charleston,” John said. “Mount Pleasant actually.”

  “Nice place. We used to go there a lot. Haven’t been since the wife died though.”

  “Amy is from Columbia.”

  “How’d you guys meet?”

  “I found her in the upstate. She had been at her Grandmother’s house. The Grandmother died. Two thugs kidnapped Amy. They were about to rape her. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

  “What about the two thugs?”

  “Dead.”

  “You kill ‘em?”

  “Yep.”

  “Good,” Tuck said looking at John and nodding his head. “You done good brother.”

  “I was up there on business when it started. I’m just trying to get home. My wife is hold up at our house with a neighbor. I don’t know how they are. The plan was to drop Amy off here and then keep moving. The longer it takes me to get there the less chance I have of finding her alive.”

  “You live in a highly populated area. You know the chances that she’s alive aren’t good right?”

  John let out a long sigh and looked down at the ground. “I know.”

  “So what’s the plan now?” Tuck asked.

  “She’s going with me. She’s going through some things in the house now to take with us. We’ll be leaving soon. We should be able to get to the coast before dark.”

  “You hope,” Tuck said. “No telling what you’re going to find between here and there.”

  “I know. We’ll take our chances.”

  “Suit yourself,” Tuck said. “I’ll stick around ‘till you leave. So you don’t have to worry about any surprises.”

  “Thanks.”

  John stood up and walked back into the house. Amy was in a bedroom putting some things in a small bag.

  “What do you have there?” John asked.

  “Just some photos. A couple of little trinkets of my mom’s.”

  “Take your time. We’ll leave when you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready,” she said looking up. “There’s no point in staying here any longer. They’re not coming.”

  “Ok, I’ll let Tuck know what we’re doing. Come down when you’re ready.”

  John left Amy again and went back outside. Tuck was leaning up against the truck lighting yet another cigarette.

  “Where did you get the truck?”

  “It belonged to the two thugs. I was traveling on that four wheeler in the back when I found Amy.”

  “Where did you get it?”

  “Borrowed it from a farmer.”

  “Borrowed it or took it?”

  “Took it I guess. He was dead. Sort of anyway. So I killed him. I mean he was dead anyway right?.”

  “I got you. Like when I killed those two dead people yesterday,” Tuck said laughing.

  “Right,” John said.

  Amy walked up behind them and opened the truck door. “I’m ready. It was nice to meet you Tuck.”

  “Same here.”

  John shook Tuck’s hand and got in the truck. He placed his foot on the brake and turned the key. A loud grinding and clicking noise came from under the hood.

  “Uh oh,” Tuck said, “bad starter.”

  John tried it again with the same result then beat his fist on the steering wheel once. “Shit! You have got to be kidding me,” he said disgustedly.

  “What is it?” Amy asked.

  “The starters bad.”

  “Pull the hood latch,” Tuck said.

  John pulled the handle unlocking the hood. Tuck opened it and leaned over the side. “Try it again,” he said.

  John turned the key again. The sound coming from under the hood sounding like metal grinding metal with a little glass thrown in for good measure.

  “Yep,” Tuck said standing up straight, “it’s the starter.”

  “Can we fix it,” Amy said getting out of the truck.

  “Nope. Not short of replacing it,” Tuck said.

  “What do we do now?” she said to John who had exited the truck and joined them.

  “We find other transportation. Nothing else we can do.”

  “Where?”

  “There,” Tuck said pointing through the trees. “Three vehicles at that house. We can get there through the woods.”

  “Lead the way,” John said.

  Heavily armed they headed out through the woods, Tuck in the lead. When they made it to the edge of the woods near the house they stopped.

  “Remember what I told you. There’s one over here somewhere,” Tuck said.

  As they stepped out of the woods and onto the lawn a voice called out from behind them. “That’s far enough. Stop it right there. Put your guns down and turn around.”

  Amy turned to look over her shoulder but didn’t make a move to put the shotgun down. Staring back at her was a man of about seventy-five. He carried a double barrel shotgun and the rifle slung over his shoulder appeared to be a large caliber rifle with no scope.

  “What are you people doing over here?”

  “Looking for transportation. Our truck is broke down. I’m Amy sellers. My parents own the house behind you. Did you know my Dad?”

  “Oh ok. I recognize you now I think. I remember seeing you on the dock in your bathing suit, so, forgive me if I wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention to your face.”

  Amy’s face turned red. John and Tuck looked at each other and smiled.

  “Is your Father here?” the man asked. “I met him a couple of times.”

  “Know we haven’t seen them. They left me a note telling me to meet them here at the lake but it looks like they never made it.”

  “A lot of people didn’t make it young lady. The fact that we’re standing here talking is a miracle in and of itself.”

  “Can we turn around without getting shot,” John asked.

  “Yeah, can’t be too careful. There are men out there worse than these dead things. Situations like this bring out the worst in people.”

  “Right,” John said, “and the best in others.”

  “Well put,” the old man said. “Well, come on, let’s see what I can do for you.”

  “I’m Tuck by the way,” Tuck said sticking out his hand.

  The old man just looked at it and kept walking. “I know who you are,” he said, “and I know where you live. What the hell kind of name is Tuck anyway?.”

  “It’s my last name. No first name... just Tuck. That’s what people call me.”

  “What’s wrong with your first name? Is it Francis or something?”

  Tuck kept walking and didn’t answer.

  “Yeah, well, whatever. My name’s Walt. No last name... just Walt,” he said without turning around.

  Tuck looked at John and rolled his eyes.

  They walked to the house and around to the other side where the vehicles were parked.

  “I have two cars and a truck. You can have your pick of the truck and the red car.”

  �
��A Volvo station wagon?” Amy said, “I don’t think so.”

  “Beggars can’t be choosy girly.”

  “That black SUV is mine. All wheel drive, GPS, backup camera. You name it. Course it doesn’t do me a whole lot of good now a days. Where am I going to go?”

  “I saw one of those zombie things walking around over here,” Tuck said. “Haven’t you seen it?”

  “That would be my nephew Kyle. He’s wandering around here somewhere. Probably in the woods. Don’t worry he won’t hurt you.”

  John looked at Amy then at Tuck. “Gomer,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “He did have that funny walk, come to think of it,” Tuck commented.

  “Kyle died on Tuesday morning. He was bad sick. He laid down on the floor and passed out, started squirming around, breathing funny. Then he stopped breathing and stopped moving. He was still for a few seconds then, all of a sudden, his eyes popped opened and he got up and just walked out the door. Been staggering around here ever since."

  "So he didn't lay there dead for a while before he got up?" Amy asked.

  "No. He stopped breathing then got back up at about the same time. Now with my wife, that’s a different story. She was dead as a door knob for almost an hour. She died right before my nephew… um… un-died,” Walt moved over to the SUV and leaned against the front fender. “I was sitting in my chair holding this shotgun waiting on her to get back up. I suppose I should have just blown her brains out while she was down but I was curious. Wanted to see what was going to happen. I had seen the news before the power went out and I knew what to expect but, I wanted to, see it first hand. When my nephew got up, like I said, he just turned and walked out the door. He didn't lay dead for an hour. If I hadn't been paying close attention I wouldn't have even noticed that he stopped breathing before he got up. But when she got up, she turned to me and started growling like, eyes wild as hell like a rabid raccoon, then she came at me. I knew she wasn’t just wanting a kiss so I dropped her with one shot.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Amy said.

  “Yeah, well, what are you going to do? It’s the end of the world, what do you expect. And you…” he said looking at Tuck. “I’ve seen you out there on your dock. Walking around at the edge of the lake with your dog.”

  “Why didn’t you signal me,” Tuck asked.

  “Oh ok, so you can come over here and eat my food?”

  Tuck didn’t answer. John stepped in to end the exchange.

  “We’ll take the truck Walt.”

  “Good choice. F-150, V-8, new tires, CD player and I just changed the oil. It’s a 1994 but it’s in damn good shape for having two hundred and sixty thousand miles on it. The Volvo was my wife’s. Always hated that damn car. Ugly as hell,” Walt said pulling the keys out of his pocket and handing them to John.

  “Thanks,” John said. “How about gas?”

  “Half tank.”

  “Is there anything we can do for you?” Amy asked.

  “Yeah, get the hell out of my yard…”

  Walt looked at them with a very serious look on his face then burst out laughing. “I’m just kidding girly.”

  “Oh,” Amy said with a forced smile.

  “Drive the truck around to the house and I’ll help siphon the gas out of the other one to fill this one up,” Tuck said. “Walt, after they’re gone I’ll be over there at my house. You can come if you want. We might have a better chance if we stick together. I figure you’re not nearly the asshole you want people to think you are.”

  “No thanks. I’ll be just fine here. And thanks for the compliment,” he said smiling and sticking his hand out to shake Tuck’s

  “Well if you get into trouble just shoot in the air, wave a red flag or something,” Tuck said shaking his hand firmly.

  “Will do,” Walt replied.

  “Good luck,” John said shaking his hand also.

  “You too.”

  John and Amy got into the truck and started it. Tuck climbed in the back. They waved one last time as they headed up the gravel driveway to the road. Walt turned and went inside his house.

  At the road john turned and drove the short distance to the entrance to the other house. Amy got out, unlocked the gate, and then locked it back after they had driven through.

  Back at the house they opened the garage doors and pulled their new truck into the bay. The other truck was pushed in and the garage doors closed again.

  By the time the gas tank was filled and all of their belongings were switched over it was 11:00 a.m. They went back into the house and prepared a cold lunch.

  “I wish we could build a fire you know,” Amy said. “I’m freezing. It’s getting cold early this year.”

  “I don’t see why you can’t,” Tuck said.

  “We wouldn’t want to draw attention to ourselves,” John said.

  “Draw the attention of what? I think we can handle any zombie that comes along and there aren’t very many out here. Build your fire.”

  “We need to get moving.”

  “It’s mid day John. Don’t you think we should wait and start out early in the morning?” Amy said. “Think about it. We have a safe place to stay the night. If we head out and have to stop for the night we may not be able to find a safe place. Or a warm place.”

  John thought for a moment. If he only knew how Susan was. The fact that Dean and his family, Tuck and Walt were surviving gave him hope. Susan was a very strong willed woman and he knew that if anyone could hold out she could. The way he had it figured she only needed to hold out two more days, and then he would be there.

  “You’re right,” John said finally, “we can’t push it. We’ll stay here tonight, get warm, get some rest and be ready for the road early tomorrow.”

  Amy put her arms around John’s neck. “Thank you,” she said then hugged him tight.

  “Amy you don’t have to go. It’s safer here. You could stay with Tuck.”

  “Oh no. You helped me now I’m going to help you. I told you already. I’m going with you so don’t even suggest that again. Got it?”

  “Got it.”

  “Ok, stop it before you make me cry,” Tuck said laughing. “I’m going across the lake to get a few things then I’ll be back. Me and Roy may as well stay here tonight. Concentrate our firepower just in case.”

  “Right,” John said. “That’s a good idea.”

  Tuck left to bring in firewood while Amy gathered blankets from around the house and laid them out on the floor in the living room.

  “I’ll sleep on the couch,” she said, “you two can have the floor.”

  John went into the spare bedroom and returned dragging one of the twin mattresses. He leaned it up against the wall then dragged the other in.

  “There,” he said. “I think this will do. We’ll lay them down when we go to bed.”

  Tuck came in with an armload of wood and placed it in the fireplace. Packing newspaper around the logs he lit them and soon a fire was roaring in the hearth. The warmth felt good.

  “I’ll be back soon,” he said and left the house.

  After he left they sat down on the couch. They were both exhausted from two and a half days without getting a good nights sleep. They slept the night before but fitfully. They sat there talking quietly until Tuck returned.

  He tapped on the door twice. John opened it and was greeted by the bark of a large dog. Roy burst through the door and made a beeline for Amy. She got down on the floor to play with the dog as he rolled over on his belly for a rub.

  “He likes chicks,” Tuck said laughing.

  “He’s so friendly,” Amy said.

  “Yeah, but don’t let that demeanor fool you. He’d die protecting you if he had to.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  Tuck laid a sack on the floor in front of the fireplace. “Marshmallows,” he said grinning. “Graham crackers and chocolate bars. Oh yeah, and…a bottle of straight Kentucky bourbon whiskey .”

  “What’s the occasion?” John asked
.

  “Life,” Tuck said. “We’re alive.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Amy said. “After a nap that is.”

  “I like the nap idea,” John added.

  “Ok you two take your nap. I’m going out for a smoke. Maybe I’ll walk over to Walt’s and see if I can talk him into the two of us pooling our resources together.”

  “Be careful,” Amy said.

  “Always.”

  Tuck left again as John and Amy settled back on the couch for a nap. The truck was fueled and loaded. All they had to do in the morning was get in, start it up and leave. They got up and pulled the couch over closer to the fire then sat back down. Leaning back and closing their eyes they were both asleep in a matter if minutes.

  They had been napping for almost fifteen minutes when they heard a gunshot echo through the woods. John jerked awake as a startled Amy jumped to her feet and grabbed the shotgun leaning by the fireplace.

  “Should we go outside and check?” she asked.

  “No, let’s wait. We don’t want to go out there and find ourselves in the middle of something bad happening,” he said as another shot rang out.

  They waited for fifteen minutes before hearing footsteps coming across the back deck. They stopped at the door. John kneeled and waited. His rifle pointing toward the door.

  There were two knocks on the back door then and urgent whisper.

  “Hey, it’s Tuck. Open up.”

  John unlocked the door and opened it slowly. When he was sure it was Tuck, he let him in and locked it back.

  “What happened,” John asked noticing the blood running down the left side of Tuck’s head.

  “Walt’s gone,” Tuck said. “Dead.”

  “Oh my God,” Amy said, “what happened?”

  “I got jumped while I was over there. I was looking for Walt. I found him laying in a puddle of blood in front of his building. One came out of the building and knocked me to the ground. I think it was one of those demons. It must have killed Walt. It attacked Roy before I could shoot it. Snapped his neck like a toothpick. I had to shoot him. He was mangled pretty badly. I put a bullet in Walt’s head too.””

  “Tuck your ear. It’s…” Amy stammered.

  “I know. It’s gone. Damn thing bit it off. I let my guard down. I should have been more careful.”