Urban Decay

by Paxton Matthews

  "Probably this way," She muttered to herself. Silvie opened the window and right away, she could hear all of the rotters that were moving down Michigan Avenue.

  Silvia moved out onto the awning and held on for dear life. She climbed up onto the main part of the roof and crawled towards the chimney.

  "How in the world does Theo do this shit?" She said.

  Silvia latched onto the chimney, practically giving the thing a hug. "Okay, you're okay Silvia," She told herself over and over.

  Silvia looked right towards Michigan Avenue; the sheer number of dead things made her heart sink. Silvia almost fell off of the roof she was so stunned. After she composed herself, Silvie watched as the lumbering swarm made its way down the road. Then, Silvia saw the smaller groups of undead that broke away from the horde and shambled down the road that ran in front of the house.

  Silvie gasped, "Oh no." She crawled down off of the roof and made it back inside and ran downstairs to Macey.

  "What’s up?" Macey asked. "You look like you just saw a ghost out there, Silvia."

  Silvia caught her breath. "We are in deep shit."

  "Why?"

  "There are hundreds of rotters heading right for us."

  Macey shot up from the table, stunned. "You're kidding."

  "No."

  "What's going on out there?"

  "I don't know for sure Macey, but there's this mob of rotters, has to be over a thousand. A group broke off from the pack, and they're heading right for us."

  "What do we do?"

  Silvia grabbed Macey by the hand, "Basement, now."

  There were just too many rotters lingering around the building for them to leave. Theo and Erica would have to wait a little while.

  "All we have to do is take the alleys back home, right?" Erica asked.

  "I don't think that would be wise right about now," Theo answered.

  "Okay, why?"

  "I watched as that horde continued on down the avenue. And quite a few dead things were wandering away from the pack, walking on down the side streets. I don't know about you, but I can only handle one, maybe two of those things at a time."

  "Do you think any wandered on down the alleys?"

  "More than likely."

  Erica threw both of her hands up and then slammed the counter out of frustration. "Oh shit no."

  "What? What's wrong Erica?"

  "Macey and Silvia."

  "Fuck."

  "I hope none of the dead pricks wandered down our street..."

  "Or just a small amount."

  "They would know to run down to the basement, right?" Erica asked.

  "Of course, I hope."

  "Thanks, Theo, that helps."

  "What do you want me to say, Erica? That they're in a damn underground bunker, safe and sound? Cut me some slack."

  "Okay, okay. Calm down. I'm sorry. This is all my fault anyway."

  "How so?"

  "I just HAD to fill up some shopping carts with some stuff, didn't I? Greedy bitch."

  Theo shook his head at Erica. "Don't be upset with yourself. It wasn't a bad plan, just shit timing. Don't worry, as soon as the rotters clear out, we'll be on the move, and then we'll be back home with Macey and Silvia and everything will be okay."

  The two of them returned to the roof to wait for the undead in the area to clear out, but it was slow going. Very slow going. There were still too many rotters around for Theo and Erica to leave. Sure enough, there were corpses in the alleyway behind the store. One of the corpses Theo actually recognized: A waitress at the coney island down the street that he briefly dated.

  Her red hair was saturated with dirt, grime, and dried blood. She still wore her waitress uniform, and her right arm and been eaten away up to the shoulder.

  "Damn. Sorry, Tara," Theo whispered.

  "I take it you knew her?" Erica asked Theo.

  "Yeah, an ex-girlfriend actually. Not that it matters."

  Erica patted Theo lightly on the middle of his back. "Sorry," She murmured to him.

  "The relationship ended badly. I was still dealing with divorce number two when we met. But I didn't want her to end up like this."

  Back inside the shop, Theo and Erica noticed that the sun was starting to set. Neither one of them wanted to be spending the night inside the store with Silvia and Macey still at the house. There was the chance that they could try and venture out to search for Theo and Erica.

  "I can't stop thinking about them," Erica told Theo. "Reminds me of my old roommates."

  "I know, but what can we do? I'm hoping the rotters will be thinned out enough by the morning. If not, I say we just run like hell and get to the house."

  "I just don't want either of them to try and find us. Too damn dangerous right about now."

  Theo rubbed his head, thinking. "I don't think Macey would, but Silvia might."

  "Yeah, and she'd bring Macey along with her."

  Theo sighed, "Shit."

  The situation was driving both of them crazy. Both Theo and Erica couldn't stand not knowing what was going on back at the house.

  Erica peeked out of the front windows, "There's still too many to try and distract."

  "Okay, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here. We don't know if Macey and Silvia are out there looking for us. For all we know, the two of them are sitting in the basement, waiting for you and I to return."

  As Erica watched the sun going down and it getting darker outside, she got an idea. "What if we try to leave here when it gets dark?" She asked Theo.

  "Um, what?"

  "You and I both know that the dead pricks aren't the smartest, right? I'd be willing to bet that they can't see too well in the darkness. Maybe, just maybe, we can sneak out of here and get back home, using the night time to our advantage."

  Theo just shook his head at Erica not really knowing how to respond. "Whoa Erica, that's more than a little nuts. No offense."

  "None taken. But we might be able to pull it off. I mean, I really don't want to spend the night in here. And we do need to get back to Silvie and Macey."

  "We do, but we don't know what these things are like during the night."

  "Theo, they're not vampires. What? When the sun goes down they get some kind of magical powers?"

  "Since we live in a world where the dead are coming back to life and feasting on the living, knocking us down the food chain, that's not too far fetched."

  "I say we give it a shot."

  "And let me guess, since I'm the one that knows this neighborhood better than anyone, I have to come along too?"

  Erica nodded. "Yep. I don't know this area. You're gonna have to be the guide."

  "I just had to ask didn't I?"

  Theo didn't want to stay in the dollar store much longer either. He couldn't stop thinking of Mel and everything that happened to him. But Theo didn't want to risk sneaking out of the store in almost pitch black conditions and bumping into any of the dead things that were stumbling around. But as the sun went down entirely, Theo and Erica walked out of the store and stood out in the alleyway.

  "Man, it's so quiet out here, you could hear a mouse pissing on cotton," Theo whispered to Erica.

  "Ugh. Worst analogy ever," Erica replied.

  "If we go back inside, I can think of some more awful ones."

  Erica slapped Theo's right hand ever so slightly, "No, we're doing this." The confidence in Erica's voice was unmistakable, but Theo didn't share her boldness.

  Theo listened for any rotters, but there was nothing but silence all around them. The moon wasn't out, but there was a blanket of stars in the night sky, providing the two of them with some lighting. Theo badly wanted to turn around and go back inside the store. He and Erica would only have to wait a few more hours, and they could leave at daybreak, but Erica took Theo's right hand, and the two of them began walking slowly down the alley.

  When Theo and Erica were prepared to cross the side street and walk into the next alley, Theo looked to his right at that smal
l section of Michigan Avenue that was visible. He could make out the vague shape of a rotter moving around near the street corner. Theo watched as the dead thing shambled away from him and Erica, and wandered off into the middle of the road, disappearing behind some debris.

  "We're doing good Theo," Erica whispered to him ever so quietly. She could hear Theo's heart racing like a machine gun the evening was so quiet. "We'll be okay."

  Once they were safely across the street, Theo and Erica picked up their pace when they were in the next alleyway. The two of them weren't that far away from their home. The rocks crunched and moved under their feet as they made their way towards the street. Theo crouched behind a chain link fence and peered down the road, trying to see how many corpses were moving about.

  "Anything?" Erica whispered.

  "I can make out a few rotters, but it's very hard to see how many for sure," Theo answered. "I can't tell how many actually."

  "One more alley, and we're home free."

  "Don't get too excited."

  "Wet Blanket."

  "Can it."

  Theo walked out of the alley first, with Erica only a few steps behind him. They were walking single file rather than side by side. When they were in the middle of the street, a dead thing wandered right in front of Theo. Theo stopped immediately; frozen in place. It was a short female, Theo could tell that much. She looked to have a thick head of brown or black hair that sat in a tangled mess atop her head. Theo knew it was a rotter and not a fellow survivor from the odor and the noises that it made.

  She kept on making some kind of vile hacking sound as she stood there not more than a foot away from Theo. It was so dark out that Theo and Erica hadn't noticed the dead thing. Theo could feel Erica breathing heavily behind him. "This was your dumbass idea, Erica," He thought to himself. "Everything that we've been through and I'm gonna buy it out here from trying to sneak around."

  The corpse looked around, she was almost looking right at Theo. He gripped his crowbar tightly, ready to strike at the rotter, but she eventually stumbled past both Theo and Erica, eventually wandering in between two homes on the opposite side of the street.

  "Fuck," Was all Erica could muster.

  Theo led Erica across the street and into the backyard of the last house on their block. Erica had forgotten about the dead thing that they had put down earlier in the day, and she tripped over it. Theo had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing. Erica could see Theo's shoulders moving up and down as he laughed.

  "You ass," Erica said as she got up and dusted herself off.

  "My bad."

  Theo and Erica snuck through each yard until they were finally back at their house. They pushed the back door open, neither one of them wanted to risk knocking.

  "Hello?" Erica called out. Neither Macey or Silvie were in the upstairs. "Guys, you in here?"

  "Silvie? Macey? We're back," Theo added.

  "Down here," Silvia's voice called up the basement steps.

  Theo and Erica both sighed. They pushed the back door closed, moved the fridge back into place, and then ran down the steps. They were delighted to see that Silvia and Macey were both alright. Silvia and Macey ran up and hugged the two of them.

  "Oh man, awkward human contact," Theo said.

  Macey laughed, "Thanks Theo, it's good to see you too."

  "Did you guys see all of those rotters?" Silvia asked. "Holy shit that was a lot of them."

  "Yeah we did," Erica answered.

  "Had to be a thousand at least. I climbed out onto the roof to get a better look and saw all of them moving down the avenue."

  "How many do you think broke off from the pack and wandered down our street?" Theo asked.

  "Fifty, maybe more. I didn't have time to count, I really didn't want to get spotted by any of them."

  "Silvia and I were worried sick about you two," Macey said to Theo and Erica.

  "Likewise," Erica replied. "We were worried that the two of you might try and head out and come and get us. We didn't want that."

  "Funny you should mention it," Silvia said. "Macey and I were wondering if we should go and venture out there. Speaking of which, how in the hell did you two make it back here with all of those rotters out there?"

  Theo pointed at Erica and smiled, "It was her idea. I gotta give her credit, I didn't think it would work. I thought we were dead prick food for sure."

  "Since it's so dark out there, I figured that the dead things might have a difficult time seeing us. And I was right," Erica said.

  "That must have been intense," Silvia replied.

  "I'd rather climb Mount Everest blindfolded," Theo joked as he plopped down on his pile of clothing and threw his boots off. "There, that's better."

  "So are we gonna be moving around at night now?" Macey asked the group.

  "Oh no," Erica replied. "We got lucky that the moon wasn't out, just dim starlight. I suppose we could do it again if we had absolutely no choice in the matter. But other than that, I don't think it's a good idea."

  "Which reminds me," Theo said. "We have two full shopping carts that are filled with food and other supplies like candles and bandages that we were forced to leave behind at the store. I think we should go and get those ASAP."

  Silvia chuckled. "Why, are the rotters gonna take em?"

  Theo shrugged. "We don't know what else could be out there. Maybe another bunch of survivors. They could stumble on the stuff and not be too thrilled with the prospect of giving the things up."

  "Theo's right," Erica replied. "The sooner we get to those carts, the better. But right now, I'm going to sleep."

  Chapter 14

  Macey shook Theo awake late the next morning. He was surprised to see her. Macey's color had almost returned to her face, and she had changed out of her navy blue polo shirt into a dull pink t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

  "Well you're looking much better," Theo said.

  "I feel better too. I even convinced Erica and Silvie to let me come along with you guys to go get the carts," Macey replied.

  "Oh boy."

  "What do you mean, 'oh boy' what's the deal?"

  "Macey, we talked about this already."

  Macey just shook her head at Theo. "I'll be okay. Theo, I want to help out in any way that I can. I want to go out there with you guys."

  Figuring that an extra set of hands wouldn't hurt, Theo relented. "Alright, fine. It'll give Erica someone else to save besides my sorry ass all the damn time." Theo and Macey joined Silvie and Erica up in the kitchen.

  The four of them got ready to head out to go and get the shopping carts at the store. The only thing that Macey had in terms of a weapon was a small serrated steak knife that Silvie found in a kitchen drawer. For the moment, it would have to do.

  "I'm thinking we use Macey to push one of the carts along," Theo said before they all went out into the yard. "How fast can you run?"

  "I dunno, it depends. If there's a bunch of rotters on my ass, I'd say pretty damn fast," Macey answered.

  The others laughed. "That's what I like to hear," Silvia said. "Just stay close, and we'll keep an eye out for ya."

  "Theo, lead the way," Erica said.

  "Wow, if you guys are looking to me for leadership, we're screwed," Theo joked.

  "That's the spirit!"

  Macey's arm was still a little tender, but she was able to jump over the fences with the rest of the group. When they made it closer to the last house on the block, they ran into a problem: Two rotters were standing in the backyard.

  The dead things didn't notice the group as they had their backs turned and one of the corpses was staring skywards. Theo and the others ducked behind the garage and wondered what to do next.

  Silvia saw that the alleyway was clear of the rotters. "Should we just sneak around?"

  Theo shook his head, "No. They'll see us. And plus, we have to come back this way."

  "Hey Silvia, can I borrow your machete?" Erica asked.

  "Um, sure. I guess," Silvia answe
red.

  Erica and Silvia traded. The butcher knife for the machete. "Silvia, you stay here with Macey. Theo, you follow me."

  "Now what are you planning?" Theo wondered.

  "Just shut up and follow me. Damn."

  "Grumpy."

  Theo and Erica walked out from behind the garage and into the backyard. The corpses were still standing there, with the one dead thing still staring up at the sky. Theo took a quick look up to make sure that undead wasn't looking at an airplane or helicopter. There was nothing. All the dead thing appeared to be staring at was a plain blue sky.

  "Okay, what are you doing?" Theo asked.

  "Follow my lead," Erica replied. "Yoo-hoo! Hey, fuckface!" She shouted at one of the corpses. The two rotters spun around and rushed towards Theo and Erica.

  Before the corpses could reach the duo, Erica steamed forward, swinging the machete down into the skull of one of the rotters. The dead thing fell backward landing flat on the backyard grass. The other corpse reached for Erica. Theo swung the crowbar at its right arm, breaking it in half at the forearm area. Erica could see the bone piercing through dead things' rotten flesh. Theo then swung the crowbar like it was a baseball bat, landing the curved end along the bridge of the dead things' nose. The corpse's head jerked back and it fell, landing at Theo's feet. Theo spun the crowbar around, sending the pointed end down through the corpse's forehead.

  Theo looked back at Erica, "You and your damn plans."

  "Hey, it worked didn't it? I think you're just jealous you didn't think of it," Erica fired back.

  "Can we just leave Erica at the dollar store?" Theo asked Silvia and Macey.

  "And be stuck with you?" Silvia answered. "I don't think so."

  "Fuck y'all."

  The next step would be for the group to dash across the street and into the alleyway.

  "Are you ready, Macey?" Theo whispered to her.

  Macey was breathing heavily, "I don't know." Seeing what had just transpired with the two corpses, Macey was beginning to grow unsure of herself. She didn't think it was going to be this dangerous.

  "You can do it."

  "I dunno, I think I should head back home and stay in the basement."