The Dead in River City

by S. A. McGarey

  “You ok?” Alan asked Kendra

  “Hmm? I’m all right. As good as can be expected.” Kendra replied, half-delirious.

  “We need to get you fixed up.” Alan said, still focused on his driving.

  “Lets see if we can find this community first. They could probably fix me up well enough.” She replied.

  “Here’s hoping.”

  After driving on even further, Alan spotted his goal. It was a tower just off the freeway that used to have a steakhouse on the top floor. Now that he thought about it, it would be a good place to make a settlement in this kind of environment. He expected that it would be defended and fortified. He pushed the bulldozer as hard as he could, trying to get there as fast as humanly possible.

  Time continued to pass and Kendra was dozing off. Alan was getting close to the tower. Some of the zombies were still following and to make matters worse, there were now some in the path of the vehicle. Alan had little choice but to push forward. He lowered the dozer blade close to the ground and prepared to ram the Dead Ones.

  The dozer blade hit the small group with enough force to split some of the bodies in two. Their heads survived, and their brains remained intact, but at least their mobility was severely damaged. The jolt from hitting the zombies shocked Kendra out of her drowsy state.

  “The Hell was that?” Kendra shouted.

  “Me. Running over Dead Ones.” He replied without a second thought.

  “Whoa… nice!” She replied, impressed with his zombie killing techniques.

  The bulldozer rolled up to the tower, and bursts of gunfire erupted from various points on the tower, aimed down at the Dead Ones chasing the bulldozer. The walking corpses began to fall and some of their heads exploded under the hail of gunfire. Alan kept the bulldozer moving towards the tower as the bodies hit the concrete, permanently dead.

  The bulldozer shut off as a voice came from the tower. “Are you infected?”

  “No, we’re clean!” Alan yelled back. “My companion needs medical attention, she is injured!”

  There was a short pause. “Let them through.” The voice finally said.

  The door of the tower opened up and two guards stepped out, ready to escort Alan and Kendra in. Alan carried Kendra through the door, and prepared to take her to whoever was in charge of this little tower-town.

  “You know I can walk, right?” Kendra said as they went inside.

  “I know. I’m just being a gentleman.” He replied.

  Kendra reached her head up and gave Alan a kiss.

  “You’re so good to me.” She said, cracking a smile that she felt she hadn’t worn in far too long.

  14

  Alan stood in the elevator as he held Kendra. The elevator was clunky and seemed unstable, but it was the only way to get where they needed to go. If they’d kept it running day after day, he supposed it would work for the moment. After a few moments, the elevator groaned to a halt and the door opened, revealing the leader of the tower community.

  “Welcome, visitor.” The leader spoke as Alan exited the elevator with Kendra. “Welcome to Refuge.”

  “Refuge?” Alan asked, slightly confused.

  “The name of our community. We named it Refuge, because that’s precisely what it is. It is a refuge from the outside world… the world of the dead.” The leader of the community explained.

  Alan nodded. “I’m Alan, and this is Kendra.” He said, motioning to the body in his arms.

  “I am Robert.” The man replied. “Robert Vaughan, governor of Refuge.”

  Robert Vaughan was a big man with dark skin. He could look both menacing and friendly in the same instance, and fill a person with both dread and comfort. His voice was deep, yet soft, filled with wisdom and power. The populace of Refuge did not fear him; they respected him.

  “What can I do for you, Alan?” Robert asked.

  “My friend needs some medical attention. We’re running out of places to go. The Dead Ones are everywhere.” Alan replied.

  “We will attend to your friend.” Robert said, signaling one of his assistants to take Kendra to the medical bay. “You make stay here with us. We will see to it that you get a room.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Vaughan.” Alan said, handing Kendra to Vaughan’s assistant.

  “I do have business to attend to. Is there anything else before I go?” Robert asked.

  “Just one thing, come to think of it.” Alan spoke. “I need information on someone. Any way you could help me?”

  “We have a makeshift library, compiled from the knowledge of all of our residents. I would check there.” Robert replied. “Check floor 10, they may be able to help.”

  “Thank you.” Alan said, turning back to the elevator.

  “Your friend will be on the 7th floor, in the medical bay. She should be patched up in a few hours.” Robert added as Alan stepped on to the elevator.

  Alan nodded silently as the door closed. He pressed the button labeled with the number 10, and prayed that this impromptu library would have something useful. He needed info on Malcolm Graves, and he needed it now.

  The elevator shuddered as it descended to the 10th floor. The door creaked open and Alan stepped out into the library of Refuge. This library was unique, as there were no books of any kind. There was a small number of computers and not much else. At a battered old metal desk, a single person sat. She was slightly older, around the middle of her natural lifespan. Alan could only guess that she ran this so-called library. Alan thought that it seemed like as good of a place as any to begin his search for information.

  Alan strode over to the desk, and spoke to the only other person in the room. “Excuse me, would you mind helping me with something?”

  The woman looked up from the pad of paper she’d been writing on. “Yes, of course. What can I help you with?”

  “I need some information on a person. Would it be possible to search on these computers?” Alan asked the woman.

  “Of course.” She said, somewhat delightfully. She rose from her desk and walked over to the computers, with Alan following her.

  Sitting down at the computer, she spoke again. “Who is it you are looking for?”

  “A man by the name of Malcolm Graves.” He said.

  The woman paused, as if the name was familiar to her, and then continued searching the database for him. “There isn’t much, I’m afraid. This database is compiled from the knowledge of all the residents of Refuge. We add to it daily, but there are wide gaps in our knowledge. All we have on Malcolm Graves is a few eyewitness reports of people who had met the man. You may be able to talk to one of the people who met him and see if they know anything.”

  Alan scowled, disappointed from the lack of information. “Where can I find these people?”

  “Hmmm.” She studied the screen of the terminal. “One of them is on floor 8. The name is Luke Jones. The other is on floor 13. Their name is Helena West.” The woman wrote down the names and locations of each person, and handed it to Alan.

  “Thank you for your time.” Alan said, pocketing the paper as he headed to the elevator.

  Alan stepped through the old elevator door and decided to try floor 8 first, as it was closer. Truth be told, he hated that elevator. He was always convinced that it was going to break every time it moved. He pressed the button marked ‘8’ and waited as calmly as he could for the elevator to finish it’s trip.

  Alan stepped off the elevator on the 8th floor. This floor seemed to consist of residential areas. He studied the piece of paper he’d pulled from his pocket and searched for the room of Luke Jones, one of the people who had met Malcolm Graves. Alan hoped that Luke could tell him something more about Malcolm.

  Finding the door, he silently went over what he was going to say to Luke. He knocked on the door and heard a person moving on the other side of the door. Alan had hope that the answers he sought were just on the other side of this door.

  The door cracked open slightly, clearly restricted with a chain lock. A fac
e appeared in the crack between the door and the frame. The Caucasian male on the other side of the door then spoke. “What do you want?” His tone seemed slightly irritated.

  “My name is Alan. I wanted to ask you about Malcolm Graves.” Alan answered.

  Luke’s eyes widened at that sound of that name. Without a word, the door shut and the chain on the other side was undone. Then the door swung open fully and there Luke Jones stood, ushering Alan inside. Closing the door, Luke spoke to Alan.

  “Why do you ask about that man?” Luke queried.

  “I’ve had several run-ins with him. I want to know more about him. He may yet be dead, but I have no way to verify it.” Alan replied.

  “Dead, you say?”

  “Yes.” Alan said. “I last ran into him in one of the abandoned libraries in the city. I managed to hit him with a small crossbow bolt, but I have no way of knowing if he died. All that is beside the point. I want answers as to who he is and how he controls the Dead Ones.”

  “I know what you mean about that last part. When I ran into him, he exhibited that same control. I don’t know how he does it.” Luke said.

  “Is there anything else you can tell me about him?” Alan asked desperately.

  “Nothing definite.” Luke answered. “I noticed that he seems foreign, like maybe he wasn’t born in the country.”

  Alan pondered that thought silently. He thought back to when Malcolm spoke to him. The voice definitely had some kind of slight accent, as if he were trying to conceal it with a native accent.

  “Thank you for the information, Luke.” Alan said gratefully.

  Alan readied himself to leave. As he left, Luke spoke to him once more. “If he is still alive…” He said. “Put a bullet in him.”

  Alan nodded, and turned to leave. The information wasn’t much, but it was something. He thought that perhaps the other person, this Helena West, might know something more. Alan returned to the elevator, and rode it up, nervously, to the 13th floor.

  Working his way to Helena’s room, he desperately hoped that on this unlucky 13th floor, he would find enough luck to get one step closer to solving the mystery of Malcolm Graves. Alan quickly found Helena’s door, and knocked on it. He never heard her moving on the other side of the door, but the door opened nonetheless.

  Helena west stood in the doorway, with her fair blonde hair flowing down passed her shoulders. She was still in her sleep clothes, which was little more than a t-shirt that was too big, and loose shorts. Alan looked away slightly, feeling uncomfortable looking at her in her current wardrobe.

  “Helena West?” Alan spoke, avoiding looking at her directly.

  “Yes, that’s me. Who wants to know?” She replied.

  “I’m Alan. I had a question for you.” He said, still avoiding eye contact.

  “I have one for you too.” She said. “Why won’t you look at me?”

  “Huh? Oh, I’m sorry.” He began. “I’m just a little uncomfortable looking at you in that clothing.”

  Helena was confused. “It’s not revealing or anything. What’s the problem?”

  “It just feels kinda inappropriate.” Alan explained.

  Helena nodded slightly. “I can understand that. You have that geeky good guy vibe. What can I do for you?”

  “I wanted to ask you about someone. His name is Malcolm Graves.” Alan told her.

  “Oh… him.” She said with a sour look on her face as she walked to the room’s closet.

  “So I take it you know exactly who I’m talking about?” Alan asked.

  “Yes, I do.” She replied, looking through her closet for something a little less awkward.

  “Can you tell me anything about him?” Alan continued.

  “There isn’t too much to tell, really.” She said, pulling a t-shirt and jeans from the closet. “He was just a really weird guy. He kinda weirded me out.”

  “How so?” Alan queried.

  “Well…” She began, taking her clothes to the bathroom to change. “I met him one night a few months back. I was out at a restaurant, eating alone, when I saw him across the dining area.”

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing at first.” She closed the bathroom door almost all the way, muffling her voice as she changed clothes. “He just sat there for awhile. After maybe half an hour, a waiter appeared at my table with a bottle of wine. He told me that the gentleman across the room ordered it for me. I looked to where Malcolm sat and he waved at me. I was flattered so I invited him over.”

  “Ok, then what?” Alan asked eagerly.

  The door to the bathroom opened, and Helena stepped out in the jeans and t-shirt. “Is this better?” She asked. Alan nodded before she continued.

  “Malcolm came over to my table and sat down. He was actually somewhat charming and seemed very nice. I knew he was a bit older than me and I had no real intentions of anything going past dinner, but I figured I would at least humor him. As the evening went on, we talked, and he actually kept me entertained. We ate, drank, and just had a good time. As I readied to leave, he asked if he could join me. I let him walk me home.”

  “I’m guessing that’s where things went south?” Alan wondered.

  “Pretty much.” She continued her story. “The entire walk home was fine. Malcolm was still kinda charming, and even a little mysterious, especially about his work. When we reached my home, I thanked him for the company and proceeded to go inside. He didn’t exactly want to stop though. He wanted to come in with me, and he kept saying that I was perfect. He even called me a ‘wonderful specimen’ at one point. I was freaking out, so I ran inside and slammed the door. Malcolm wouldn’t leave though. He pounded on the door, tried everything between charm and rage to get inside. I called the police, and they sent a patrol out, but by the time they arrived, he was gone.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Nope. Never saw him again.” She replied.

  “When did you say this was again?”

  “I don’t remember exactly. Maybe 5 months ago.” She answered.

  Alan pondered over what she had told him before speaking. “Thanks for the information.”

  “No problem.” She said. “What’s your interest in him anyways?”

  “Had a couple run-ins with him. I was trying to figure out more about him. I actually might have killed him, but in case I didn’t, I thought it would be good to know more about him.” Alan explained.

  “Is that all you needed?” She asked him.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “Alright.” She said as Alan stood to leave. “See ya around, Alan.” Helena said.

  “See ya.” Alan said as he left the room.

  Helena closed the door and smiled. It felt good to make a friend.

  15

  Alan returned to the creaky elevator and took it to the medical bay to find Kendra. The floor was mostly quiet, the only noise coming from the people in the medical bay. As Alan entered the room, he saw Kendra sitting in one of the chairs close to the wall. Her face lit up as she saw Alan. She now had a makeshift cast on her arm from where she’d landed from her fall. Alan walked over to her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

  “I’m glad you’re ok.” He said, wrapping her in his embrace.

  “The doctors and nurses said I would be ok. Everything is stable enough, despite them not having very many supplies.” Kendra said. “I’m glad you’re finally here.”

  “Me too.” He replied quietly.

  “Did you find anything about Malcolm?”

  “A little, yes.” He said. “Robert pointed me in direction of two residents of Refuge. I spoke with both of them, and they each gave me some information.”

  “Anything useful?” She asked.

  “Well, one of them said that Malcolm could definitely control the Dead Ones.” He replied. “The other told me about her experience and I think there’s more to Malcolm than meets the eye. I think he’d been experimenting on people long before the bombs fell.”

  “Experi
menting?” She asked, confused.

  “Yes. I think he might be connected to the creation of the Dead Ones.” Alan answered.

  In that moment, both of them sincerely hoped that Malcolm Graves had perished at the library.

  “So are you cleared to leave?” Alan asked her.

  “Yep. They already told me I could go. I was just waiting for you.” She replied.

  “So I guess the question is where to go now.” Alan thought aloud.

  “What do you mean?” Kendra asked. “Did Mr. Vaughan not tell you?”

  “Tell me what?” Alan answered.

  “He’s given us a room here in Refuge, for as long as we need it.” She explained. “He stopped by a little bit ago and told me so. All he asked is that we help the Refuge militia in the event of an attack.”

  “That is very generous of him. I’ll have to thank him for it later.” Alan said, caught off guard by the act of generosity. “Where is the room?”

  “Mr. Vaughan told me our room was on floor 15. He said he’d come by later this evening to check on us.” She confirmed.

  “Let’s get going then.” Alan spoke, helping Kendra out of the chair.

  Alan and Kendra walked side by side, with her good hand held in his. Hand in hand, they made their way to the old elevator. They stepped inside, and we the only two souls inside. The doors closed, the button for 15 was pressed, and instantly, Alan and Kendra’s lips connected with a kiss. It was a kiss full of the love that they shared, augmented with the passionate flame of newfound adoration.

  A few moments later, the kiss broke, and words flowed from Alan’s mouth.

  “I was so worried about you. I’m glad we got you taken care of.”

  “You really do care about me, don’t you?” She replied, wrapping her arms around Alan.

  “Always.” He told her, holding her tight.

  They kissed again, and to both of them, it felt just like falling. That is, until the realized that they actually were falling.

  The elevator than Alan had been so paranoid about had finally given in. It was falling approximately 9 floors, and time felt like it had slowed to a crawl. He didn’t scream, and neither did she. Instead they both looked to their instincts to save them. In the enclosed space of the elevator, there was nothing to save them. Realizing this, Alan held Kendra close, and tried to protect her from the impact.