by N. M. Black
But as I turn to look to see who else was infected, I realize there wasn’t another like him.
The last bullet was intended for my little girl.
Present day
I make my way back to where the fence was damaged last night in the attack, having all the supplies I need strapped to my ATV. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but it looks intentional. The last thing we need is the infected getting in, or worse, looters trying to take what we have.
When the small group of us took over Base Borden, we got everyone around to build a community in a secured location where we could sustain a life and ride out this shit storm.
Everyone used to joke about the zombie apocalypse and how fun it would be. How people can’t wait for it to happen. I’m sure they didn’t think of how many loved ones would die or how much suffering people would go through, or how little you would end up having. The constant fight to stay alive against all odds.
What started out as a U.S. Government experiment to kill off low-class citizens in areas with high percentages of people on Welfare, to control the ever-growing population, ended up creating the zombie virus.
It was rumored they had tested different strains on inmates on death row, but the final strain wasn’t tested against different medications or narcotics that are consumed by the population. Around the country, a variety of side-effects began to present themselves immediately in the areas where the virus was released into the water mains, one of them being what became the Zombie Virus.
Within weeks, almost the entire human population was wiped out and in its place was desolation. To try to battle the overgrowing zombie population, they tried making their own anti-zombie army, but in the process creating a whole new set of monsters they couldn’t control. The virus began to evolve with each bite, creating different strains and new breeds, forcing the virus to adapt to its environment. In some cases, where insanity and hopelessness was spreading, the sick getting sicker, crazy getting crazier and in some cases, PTSD going untreated and evolving into Pandorum. The mind slowly feeding on itself and creating something sinister. But once those types of people were bitten, they generated breeds of zombies damn near invincible.
Governments crumbled, taking whatever resources the world had left to save themselves and those higher up. I guess they thought they would have everything under control at this point in the outbreak, but they can’t control the spread of the virus. It reached us in Canada within a week and not long after that it was worldwide. There is no way to contain it, and there is no cure. Now, we all do what we can to survive till our time is up.
The sound of a raven’s shriek in the distance pulls me from my thoughts, putting me on high alert as I reach the damaged portion of the fence. I relieve Chris temporarily as he wanders off to get a hot coffee or something. These temperatures are no fucking joke in Canada and he’s been out here most of the night guarding the breach, since there wasn’t enough light to fix it until now.
I sling my rifle over my shoulder as I start unloading the supplies, but as I’m about to grab the wire fence, I hear rustling in the distance. I jump to the side of my ATV, my rifle already in hand, and my finger hovering over the trigger. I scan the trees for movement, but I don’t see a damn thing. The forest of evergreens provides a lot of coverage and being out in the open like this is unsettling. The snow doesn’t allow for a quick exit, so this is not a good situation to be in.
The wind whips around me, scattering flurries in every direction reminding me that I don’t have much time before the storm settles over us. The elements seem much harsher than before the outbreak, mainly because we don’t have all the conveniences we used to have, to help battle weather changes.
Bea and Lucie did well going through homes and remembering to get into people’s old bins of seasonal clothing to ensure everyone is taken care of, but it doesn’t always cut it. Like today, when my old military thermometer reads -25 degrees Celsius, these thin gloves ain’t doing shit to help stave off the cold from starting to settle in.
After several minutes of me scanning back and forth with nothing coming forward, I take a deep breath and stand. Slinging the rifle back over my shoulder, I begin the repairs on the fence. It’s in worse shape than I was expecting, and it looks like it was cut with a decent set of wire cutters. The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I need to get this fixed and secured before whoever did this comes back.
Shaking off the biting cold that’s making its way through my many layers, I focus on my task and try to get done as quickly as possible. I can’t for the life of me figure out how the infected can run around in whatever clothes they turned in, some being fucking t-shirts and shorts, and not catch hypothermia or some shit. I thought for sure this weather would kill them off, kinda like an ice age situation and we could start over. But I severely underestimated the infected and the virus itself, proving time and again its adaptability.
Finally finishing the fence repair and double checking to make sure there is no other damage, I start to pack up, when I hear something in the bushes again. This time it sounds much closer and does not sound small. I pull out my radio and call to the others that are on fence duty.
“Everyone keep watch of the perimeters. The fence damage was not an accident. There’s a lot of commotion out here by the south end. Grey, I need you out here. Over.”
“Is it the infected trying to get in?” Someone responds.
“I’m not sure at this point. I’ll do a quick sweep when Grey comes out. Over.” I reply before tucking my radio away.
I don’t want to worry anyone, but this doesn’t seem like the workings of the infected. This was deliberate, and the intention was to let others in, whether it be other humans or infected I don’t know. The infected are smarter than what the movies and books always portrayed. They are unpredictable, and some are fast. Never underestimate them.
Suddenly a shrill scream pierces my thoughts and I jump, weapon ready and taking cover. Immediately I push the alarm button on the walkie talkies, alerting everyone that we have incoming. I can’t be sure, but the scream sounded human.
Seconds later, I hear some running and the others take their points along the fence and behind me. In the distance, I hear the sound of more ATV’s. The distinct sound of guns being cocked simultaneously behind and beside me is comforting.
From the trees bursts a woman, followed by a mass of walkers hot on her tail. She throws her hands in the air and screams “NOT INFECTED!” as she comes barreling towards us at a shocking speed considering all the snow.
I don’t hesitate as I start shooting those closest to her, hoping to give her a fighting chance to make it to us unscathed. Fuck, she’s fast. Even while carrying a large backpack, she’s able to stay a safe distance from the infected trying so hard to reach her.
Due to the scarf covering her face, only her eyes are visible. A wave of recognition comes over me as our eyes meet, and my heart practically stops. I’ve seen her before..
I focus on clearing a zombie free path, all while trying to steal glimpses of her as she continues running towards us, desperately trying to figure out how I could possibly recognize her.
There’s just something about those eyes. Something isn’t quite sitting right in my gut about this. I am rarely fucking wrong when I have a gut feeling and my gut is telling me to keep my eyes open.
We were attacked last night and now as I’m repairing the damage, one of the largest herds of zombies I’ve seen yet, come crashing through the door.
And she fucking lead them right to us.
I’ve walked through wasteland after dying wasteland, the days starting to blend together and my strength slowly depleting. I’m not sure how much longer I can go on. I haven’t eaten in days, but I refuse to give into the hunger that is trying to consume me and take away the last stitch of control I still possess.
The cold is starting to get to me. I haven’t felt my toes in days, almost sure they have fros
tbite. Leather isn’t the most popular choice in conditions like these, but it prevents teeth from penetrating and breaking the skin.
The wind is seeping in and cutting through each layer, chilling me to the bone and causing my teeth to chatter uncontrollably. I desperately need to find some form of shelter and heat soon, or my situation will become dire. It’s not safe to have a fire in the open when you’re traveling solo, making most nights, days too, practically unbearable. But I can’t afford to stop, and neither can they.
I can see just about 50 yards in front of me there is a very large group of infected moving in the same direction I am. Thankfully, in this climate they don’t seem to move as quickly, but there is still more of them than I can take out alone,
Although I’m immune to their bites now, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt like a bitch, nor does it come without consequences, thanks to ‘The Cure’.
Looking around for some form of escape and coming up with nothing, I realize I’m gonna have to climb until they pass. I could go around them, but since I’m not exactly sure where I'm going, I don’t want to stray from my path and miss the base.
I take a seat on one of the lower branches, hoping to keep out of the wind that seems to have picked up. Snow is beginning to fall in large white fluffy flakes, impairing my visibility.
The herd of undead are just passing below me now, I grossly underestimated the size of the group. There has got to be almost a hundred. I really hope that the base I was heading to has some heavy artillery, because they are definitely gonna need it with these guys heading their way and more to come.
If I can tuck in behind the herd and go unnoticed until we reach the base, maybe I can help thin them out and they will see I’m no threat to them. Newcomers are not always welcomed anymore, especially if you’re ex-military. And for good reason.
After the outbreak, the Government did nothing it should have to help save humanity. Instead they decided they would play god and try to create their own creature stronger than the one already created. Consequences be damned.
They gave military staff something called ‘The Cure’. The Cure was meant to prevent us from changing if bitten but also give us extra strength so that we could defeat them. Never expecting how fast the virus could spread, they didn’t have time to test ‘The Cure’, but administered it anyway with high hopes.
Those of us injected are immune to the bites only because we are technically, part zombie now. Most ended up going completely mad and were uncontrollable. The virus controlling their every instinct, causing a Pandorum affect. But that was not the case for me. I too have their strengths and am immune to their bites, but I have one of their weaknesses as well.
Instead of changing into something when bitten, my body fights the virus in ways that I don’t always have control over. It feels like I’m starving to death, pains so bad I fold in half, rendered completely useless. I crave blood and flesh, I remember how it tastes from the venom coursing through my veins. Nothing can sate the hunger.
As if on cue, my stomach suddenly growls in protest, bringing me back to my frozen sanctuary. I sit up in the tree shivering, struggling to stay warm, praying that this group of walkers would hurry the hell up and pass, so I can get to those people and warn them. And maybe get a blanket.
But there is just so many of them, that I’m not sure how long-
CRACK!
What the….
SNAP!
Shit….
Suddenly I’m free falling to the ground. I can’t help the scream of pain that is ripped from my throat when I land on my back in the hard snow. The wind forced from my lungs as I hit the ground with a loud THUD, drawing a lot of unwanted attention.
I don’t have time to react or brace myself as debris from the tree falls around me and I take a hard hit to the head, I try to shake it off because I have to move, and I have to move fast. Alerted, the undead are coming right for me, some beginning to swarm now as I fight to get out from under the pile of debris.
Fingers clawing, teeth snapping, trying desperately to get at me as I pull out my gun and fire a few rounds taking out those closest. I have a silencer, so I don’t worry about drawing anymore attention, but it buys me enough time to get to my feet and start running. I run just out of reach, directly beside the group of undead in an arch, too fast for them to catch me. A welcomed side effect from ‘The Cure’.
I make it to the front of the group and speed up to keep a buffer between me and thousands of teeth, anxious for me to falter. I see a gap in the trees and what looks like a fence not far beyond that. So I push harder to make it through the tree line wading through at least two feet of snow.
The infected are not far behind, and they have picked up their pace trying to get a meal on the go. With the undead right on my heels, I break through the trees, into a clearing. I immediately lock eyes with huge a man holding a large rifle, crouched behind an ATV.
Throwing my hands in the air I scream as loud as I can, “NOT INFECTED!”
Well...not entirely true.
I see his eyes register my words and he starts to take out the sprinters that have managed to catch up to me and are too close for comfort. I don’t know this man, but I don’t doubt his skills as he expertly shoots directly around me. I don’t look back or at anything other than those eyes as if they were the light I was heading for this whole time.
As I get closer, I notice more bodies holding weapons and shooting in my direction trying to thin out the massive herd of zombies. The snow is making it very difficult to navigate through the clearing. I’m guessing it also helps slow the undead as well, giving them time to take as many out as they can before they breach the fence..
I see movement out of the corner of my eye and just as I swing my arm out, gun in hand, the zombie’s head is blown clean from his shoulders, sending fragments of skull in every direction. I turn back and catch a smirk on the man's face. He is quickly becoming my hero.
Hero? Focus Adira. Jesus Christ, the first male human you’ve seen in months that isn’t using you for a human shield or lab experiment and suddenly you’re a 16-year-old girl again.
Suddenly, a blinding pain rips through my leg and I go down hard. As I try to sit up to see what is happening, a dark shadow covers me and leans down, wrapping a large meaty hand around my shoulder. Before I can react, my head throbs and begins to swim, nausea causing me to lurch forward.
I reach up to touch the source of the throbbing when my vision blurs and everything goes black.
“I’m not taking any chances. You don’t think it’s coincidence that our fence gets cut last night, we get attacked, then suddenly as I’m fixing it, one of the largest herds of infected come crashing through the forest with her leading the way?” I ask throwing my hands up in frustration as the doctor tries to give me shit for shooting our current prisoner.
There’s a reason I’m head of security and she’s the doctor. I make the decisions no one else is willing to make. Call me an asshole all you want, but we have been safe here for almost a year because of it.
“Well, you didn’t need to shoot her and give her a concussion. I’m pretty sure the bullet wound through the thigh incapacitated her.” Dr. Tanner sneers.
“I didn’t give her the head wound, Doc.” I snarl at her as I flip her the bird and turn back to the tv currently playing Friends episodes while I sit outside the hospital room waiting for the woman to wake up.
Dr. Tanner rolls her eyes and goes back in the room and flits about the currently unconscious woman. Checking her vitals and administering her IV, marking everything down in her chart and placing it in the tray outside the door.
Once she’s gone, I grab the woman’s chart and see what I can find out. There’s not really a whole lot to go on since she isn’t carrying ID nor been awake long enough to tell us who she is. I haven’t even had a chance to see her fully yet since we brought her in, as the doctors rushed her off to tend to the bullet wound and the gash on her head.
My curiosi
ty gets the best of me and I finally get the chance to take a closer look at her. I step inside the room and walk towards her bed. Her features are small on her face but still pronounced. Thick luscious lips that have a natural pout and that bottom lip I want nothing more than to nibble on. Just thinking about it has my dick twitching in my cargo’s. Fuck, that’s a first in a long time.
I stare at the woman in silence, taking her in as I let myself remember what it was like to have someone. The touch of soft skin beneath my fingers, and what it would be like to sink deep inside her. Reaching down I have to adjust myself, barely able to fight back the groan that is making its way up my throat at the thoughts going through my head. As I am thinking of all these things, my wife and daughter’s faces suddenly flash before me, but also a pair of emerald green eyes.
Her eyes. Eyes I stared into as they destroyed my life.
My lungs deflate and all the air rushes from my body. The blood pounding in my ears, practically deafening.
Now I remember her.
I have fought hard since that day trying to forget what happened. I have drank a lot of what can only be described as jailhouse toilet wine, trying to pass out so I wouldn’t dream. So I wouldn’t remember. And in one brief moment, all the pain, all the anger, everything I worked so hard to get under control comes flooding in and takes over my entire body.
Filled with abhorrence, the pain slithers back under my skin and pumps through my veins like poison. The darkness threatening to take over yet again.
The last woman in the world I ever wanted to see or expected to cross paths with, and here she is, alive, right before my eyes. She took my first life away from me, I will be fucking damned if she does it again.
Grabbing my stuff, I radio Grey telling him to get his ass here because I’m leaving. I can’t stay here a second longer, because I am definitely not in control of anything at the moment. The need to cause her harm is overwhelming and I need to get as far away from her as possible.
