Surviving The Aftermath (Book 1): The Dead Linger

by Roberts, Liz

  “What just happened there?”

  “I haven’t a clue. I saw the same thing you did.” Kurt muttered.

  “Casey did you rig that … or somehow … . .” Kurt trailed off.

  “No. That wasn’t me. But we owe someone huge thanks for saving our asses. Look.” He pointed out.

  The Zeds were drifting as fast as they could towards the noise and new smoky scent that filled the air. None of the survivors could believe what they had just seen. Everyone had to keep from jumping up and cheering as the quickly and quietly cleaned up their areas, tried to restock and re-patch everything. It was getting late now, dusk was starting to creep in across the sky, turning everything pink and gold, smoke could still be seen in the distance. They figured it wasn’t more than a few miles or so away, someone from the area said there was a Kwik Trip gas station right in that area. The others began filing back into the building to eat dinner, get some sleep or set up for their night watch. Casey stayed up on the roof with a few others, he just wanted to keep watch, just in case something else might happen. He didn’t want to let his guard down just yet. A few of the others continued to stay on the roof with him. They began getting things organized again, picking up ammo shells, resettling sandbags into to place. Casey walked most of the perimeter on the front side of the stores all the way to the end and saw the damage that was done over there. They lost 6 more guys today, it was always a fatal blow when they lost people, and it wasn’t like they were finding any new ones to replace the dead. As he came back to his starting point Tom, Kurt, Oscar we’re all sitting around cleaning guns.

  “I could do this all day.” Oscar said out loud.

  “Yeah that’s only because you can do this with your eyes closed.” Replied Kurt smartly. Oscar bumped his knee into Kurt’s and gave him a wink. “Oh I know I’m good, right.” Oscar added with his cocky grin. Kurt tried to hide his adulation at this little exchange.

  “Anyway, aside from the casualties, I think this all could have been a hell of a lot worse.” Tom said trying not to notice the guy’s exchange and the brief glimpse of Kurt’s excitement.

  “Absolutely. Did someone go down to check the damage?” Kurt asked. Casey sat down by them now.

  “Yeah I asked Andy to get some guys with and try and repair the fencing and bring the bodies back in if there was anything left. I hate leaving our people out there.”

  “You know we are going to have to make a supply run soon.” Tom put in.

  “Yeah it’s always when you least expect it.”

  “So when are we gonna hit that hunting store? You know we are running dangerously low on bullets, and this last little fiasco didn’t help any.” Oscar said.

  “Fucking A, we know Oscar.” Tom said exasperated, this was the constant talk with them, about ammo running low. Everyone knew they needed more, it was just how would the acquire it. They even, by some random chance, stumbled across the machinery and fixings for making bullets, the old school way, but they lacked the crucial ingredient of gun powder. They were always on the lookout for this.

  “You know we should try and hit the army base.”

  “Oh here we go again. Are we gonna have this same run around Oscar? Just because you were some sergeant or major … ”

  “Lieutenant.” Oscar interrupted

  “Whatever. It doesn’t mean dick anymore. You said yourself that place is a good 3hrs north of here, and it has probably been picked over.” Tom finished.

  “But we don’t know that.” Kurt added.

  “So we risk more lives and fuel for a trip were unsure of?” Silence met this comment.

  “Don’t we do that every time we leave the building?” Casey said quietly.

  “You know what I mean Casey. At least we have good intel for most of our other trips. We’ve got no info on this place.”

  “We have 3 soldiers that use to be stationed there. I think that actually says a lot.” Casey replied. “I’m not saying we go tomorrow, this will take planning and time, but it’s something we should consider.”

  “What if there are other survivors on the way?” Kurt added for extra measure.

  “I just worry, that’s all. It’s nothing against you Oscar.” He indicated towards him. “I guess I just don’t want to risk not coming back to my family on a fool’s errand.” Tom put in.

  “Well we won’t add you to the list of volunteers for that gig. I’m going to get supper.” Kurt stood and walked away.

  “Kurt wait up.” Oscar hustled after him.

  “You know what I mean right Casey?” Tom tried appealing to him.

  “I know what you’re saying, but you make it sound like us single guys, or anyone else without a family, that it’s ok for us to go out and risk it all. Hey I don’t want to die any more than you. Just because my family isn’t here with me doesn’t mean I have a death wish, and I shouldn’t have to be sacrificed to save you.”

  “That’s not fair, I didn’t say that. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy here.”

  “I’m just saying that’s how it sounded when you were saying it. Look Tom you’re my best friend I don’t want to fight. But we might just have to face the fact we’ll have to start taking greater risks in order to survive.” Casey put it plainly.

  “I know. You’re right.” Tom put his elbows on his knees and held his head up with his hands. “I just want them to have a decent life, as much as can be with the situation.”

  “I’d feel the same way if they were my family.”

  “They are your family Casey, we’re your family.” The guys gave each other a nice manly pat as the situation deemed, because it was obviously becoming far too emotional.

  “Casey, Tom, they made dinner if you interested.” One of the younger men, Mike, came up to inform the rest of the people on the roof. “Thanks, I’ll be down soon.” Casey said as he stood to stare at the smoke, now grayer and slowly lifting into the air.

  “Hey what’s that?” Mike said quickly pointing over to some houses that were heavily covered in a strategically built wooded area to make the place looked nice at one time, but was now overgrown. It made a natural looking separation between the businesses and residents.

  “What?” Casey now curious asked. Trying to see where the boy was pointing.

  “There, under the trees, I saw a flashing.” Mike now insistently pointing, knowing he saw something. Tom stood too next to them looking.

  “I don’t see anything.”

  “I think you need some rest kid, maybe some time inside away from the videos too.” Casey, putting his hand on the boys shoulders to direct him back downstairs for some much needed rest.

  “Damn it you idiot, look again.” Jill whispered. Using her flashlight to signal what must be a sub-par S.O.S, the one and only code she knew from movies, towards the few people that were left on the roof of a Menards building attached to a bunch of other buildings. Jack and her had stashed the car and hoofed it on foot a few blocks, quietly in and out of the shadows to try and not attract any extra attention that they worked so hard to keep away. Finally they saw the people up on the roof of the store and now they’d been trying to get their attention for quite some time now, and it was getting riskier and riskier as the sun set. A few zombies were still trolling the parking lot and who knows when they would finally notice them under these trees here.

  “Hey wait, the one sees us. I swear he’s pointing right at us. We should go now, go into the open, they can open a door or something.” Jack started to rise with excitement, anticipation coursing through his veins.

  “Wait.” Jill grabbed him back down. “They’re leaving, look. Crap! I swore they saw us too. We can’t be stuck out here all night. We have to find a way into one of these houses or some shelter somewhere.” Jill was in pre survival mode, racking her brain for an alternate plan.

  “No, they see us. Look. Flash the light again, their right up on the edge now. Do it flash it hurry before they look away.” Jack positive of what he sees. She blinked the light again, i
n her horrendous Morse code.

  Then they both held their breath and waited. Suddenly two guys on the roof bent over and unfurled a large, no, a huge white sheet that fell off the side of the building. It read: SAFE HOUSE. That’s all Jack and Jill needed to see. Grabbing their back packs and the other few items they carried, they slowing scooted from out under the trees and quickly, but quietly they ran to the front corner of the building facing the parking lot. There were two garage doors and one started to open and Jill began to relax too soon, when Jack tripped half way to their goal.

  Of course zombies noticed this as they could smell the fresh blood in the air from Jack’s scrapped up hands and knees. Two men with guns were out and on Jack fast, helping him up and scooting Jill along.

  “Don’t worry dude we got you covered.” One of the strangers said. He was carrying a rather large gun.

  “Survivors are in, secure the door.” A large gruff voiced man started ordering. That’s when Jill and Jack were surrounded and slowly separated from each other. They were in what can only be described as a box, with another garage door in front of them. A few people were checking them over for bites or other zombie like wounds. Cleared, they were ushered through the second set of garage doors, and towards a dozen people, with more following behind the others, firing off dozens of questions. Someone was taking her bag she was clenching on to, another trying to put a bottle of water in her hands. Where was Jack, where did they take Jack, she had to find him and make sure he was ok.

  “Jack!” She hollered. Jill started breathing fast and hard, struggling and pushing against the hands that were holding her, she no longer heard separate voices just a ringing in her ears, and those goddamn fireflies again, she noticed they were walking toward a building and a door, and her vision started narrowing the closer they got to the building, that’s when she realized she was about to pass out. This was the 2nd time in as many days and Jill already hated fainting.

  Jill finally woke up. She was outside, she sat up in the grass looping her arms loosely around her knees. There was a nice warm breeze and she could smell fresh cut grass. Looking around taking in the sight of houses with fences, well groomed yards, the trees swaying in that breeze, the day couldn’t have been more perfect. Suddenly the silence, the stillness hits her. It seems almost unnatural, where are all the ambient noises that accompany a Saturday in the suburbs. Kids should be playing outside, dogs barking, people jogging or walking, neighbors talking. But yet there was nothing. Something is wrong. Suddenly very alert Jill is up and sprints in the house behind her.

  “Mom! Mom, something’s wrong outside.” Jill calls out as she’s opening the door to her house. Her mom is sitting at the kitchen table, papers around, as if she’s filling out bills.

  “Mom I’m not sure what’s happening … … “ Jill trails off and she grabs her mother’s shoulder to turn her around and look at her. She stumbles back as Jill gazes at her mother’s rotting corpse, obviously having been there awhile. It’s all dried up, the clothes hanging loose on what’s left of a fleshless body, her lower jaw hanging open in a mocking scream. Jill rushes to the living in hopes to find her father, he’s there. His corpse poised sitting on the couch as if watching TV, her oldest brother sitting next to him. She spins around the room, her sister’s corpse sitting on the floor her other brother propped up at the computer. Jill puts her hand up over her ears, shaking her head, trying to keep herself from screaming, as all the skeleton heads slowly pivot to look at her. Jill can’t hold it in anymore and a scream is ripped from her lungs.

  “Wake up, wake up damn it! Your fine, your fine, stop screaming.” A woman was shaking Jill’s shoulders.

  “Where I am?” Jill manages to push groggy the words out all at once.

  “Your fine, you’re safe, those things can’t get in here. Are you thirsty?” She asks Jill

  “Parched.” Jill sighs and lies back down. Suddenly realizing she’s by herself, with no Jack.

  “Where is he? Where’s Jack??!!” She’s back up sitting.

  “He’s fine too, probably eating in the lunchroom. He’s been worried about you, kept coming over and bugging me about you. Is he your brother or something?” She asks.

  “No. I found him when I fell through the roof of his house.” Jill states. She sees the woman staring at her quizzically.

  “It’s a long story.” Jill settles back down as she is handed some water and two Tylenol, she gulps it down quick, dribbling some down her front.

  “Take it easy there. I know you’re dehydrated, but you have to drink slowly or you could make yourself sick.” The woman tells her.

  “I’m Beth,” They shake hands. “I’m a nurse and was working when all this stuff started happening. I don’t have many supplies but I can take care of most ailments”. Beth was telling Jill as she took her pulse listened to her heart.

  “My name’s Jill … “

  “Yes Jack told us.” Beth cut her off. “You seem to be fine except for the dehydration, you’re not malnutrition which is an accomplishment but your sleep deprived and that ankle of yours has seen better days, but it’s very colorful. We can ice it and re-wrap, sorry no crutches around here. I’ll take you over for some food, hydrate you bit more and then it’s sleepy time with that ankle elevated” Beth stood and started helping Jill up as she wobbled a bit.

  “You’ll probably feel funny for a bit, but we’ll help you out around here. I’ll show you the lunch room and where you’ll be sleeping.” Beth helped Jill up and out the door into a well-lit hallway.

  “Where are we, it looks all sterile and clean.” Jill said looking up and then down the hall.

  “We’re in the back offices of Kohl’s department store, I’ve been working my butt off to make this place fit for treating people. Don’t ask me who thought of it, but one of the guys in charge had the idea to set up shop here. It’s brilliant if you ask me. We’re connected to Menards and the lumber yard out back, so we can build things, pick n save is down the way, a dollar store and TJ Maxx, my personal fav. We have the front part of the building surrounded by some fencing and barbwire. It keeps the zeds from pushing on the windows and doors like they use to. God it would make the alarms go crazy, you couldn’t ever sleep.” Beth was explaining more as they went through another door and out into a large vast room which must have once been the store itself. Racks of clothes were still up in some areas, but most of the place was walled off and split into other smaller rooms. The front doors, being all glass paned, were boarded up with sand bags stacked neatly in front of that.

  “Wow, so you guys have been living here how long?” Jill asked looking all around and up.

  “Most of us have been here since this thing started, a little over a year now. Those first few weeks, we kept on finding survivors, or they’d find us. We have CB radios and were just talking on those things day and night looking for anyone still alive. Others show up more sporadically. A few leave now and then, thinking they can find something better, or maybe they just get antsy or want more freedom. They never return once they leave.” Beth murmured. They walked over to the Pick’n’Save that had been turned into the lunch/cafeteria area, with the cooking areas already set up it just seemed to fit. Shelves had been removed or pushed to the side. The produce section, long ago out of fresh produce had been turned into a large pantry with can goods and other non-perishable items stacked. Numerous tables had been set up and that’s where she saw Jack, sitting with others at a table, before she could move he was up and running towards her.

  “Holy Shit I was worried.” Jack now hugging her fiercely, almost the same height as her, Jill noticed. Had he always been that tall?

  “Man you scared the hell out me, your eyes rolled back and everything. I thought you were bit. Thank the lord Casey was there to catch you, you would have hit the ground hard.” Jack went on explaining further.

  “I’m starving, who’s Casey? What are we eating?” Jill had her arm around Jack as they all headed to the table he was just at. She sat
down and Jack brought her a nice helping of something that looked like a casserole and smelled good.

  “What are we eating?” Jill asked again.

  “It’s like a spam casserole, it’s so good, I haven’t had meat in forever.” Jack said as he started to plow through his meal again. Jill admitted that even though it was only spam and some potatoes mixed with other random veggies, it was the best spam casserole ever. She hadn’t seen a veggie in so long, it all tasted so good. And someone had brought over a fresh loaf of sliced bread, it was still warm, and there was a bowl a fruit someone set on the table, apples and bananas, how the hell did they get bananas? Jill about cried from the deliciousness of everything. With her mouth full to bursting Jack made introductions around the table, suddenly embarrassed, Jill shook the other men and women’s hands.

  “I’m sorry, I do have manners.” She uttered while sheepishly swallowing a bit.

  “It’s ok, we understand there’s not much out there.” Cindi, a lovely blonde haired young lady said. Jack seemed to be quite taken with her, Jill noticed. The conversation seemed to flow, it was nice and light. Just sort of a brief history of how Casey found Tom, his wife Vikki and two daughters Cindi and Susie, stranded on the side of the road and they made their way to these semi looted and abandoned stores, which were already occupied by Kurt and a few other guests. They all seemed to describe those first few days as a blur, which was the way for most people now a day, how they managed to patch up the windows and doors, rid the stores of zombies and begin the slow process of cleaning up. How funny it was that everyone banded together, no questions asked and got the job done. This was not Jill’s normal experience when she came across the living. It was often chaos, people sneaking around and stealing from others. She actually saw feral children in abandoned cities, she tried to help one boy who must have been 6 or 7, all he did was growl and try to bite her. Now that lunch was over they were being given the “tour” of the facilities by one of the other guys. Kurt, one of their new hosts showed them the stores and told them of the changes. They had re-structured most the stores for efficiency. Kohl’s was the sleeping/living area, just a general lounge area, furniture and TV’s were set up, games and other activities. Menards had become a giant warehouse/machine shop, they built everything there now. Pick ‘n ‘save with its massive coolers and freezer units and been turned into the cafeteria, and cooking facility. The Dollar store became a nice weapon storage place and area for meetings. Since TJ Maxx already was a large clothing store, any article of clothing they found or had was stored there.