Dying Days 4

by Armand Rosamilia

  "You want to eat the children," Russ said quietly.

  "No. I want to drain everyone Jeff and his men can bring to me. I want to stay immortal. I want to outlive everyone on this rotting planet. I have a higher purpose you can't even begin to imagine. But I will not share my power. I am the oldest living zombie since many others have died. I am the most powerful, and I intend to stay this way," the Lich Lord said.

  "You called yourself a zombie."

  The Lich Lord chuckled. "I use the word jokingly, since I am now so much more."

  Russ could see a shadow detach from the darkness and move slowly towards him.

  "I will address my followers two nights from now. Gather them outside the building. I have many plans and I will need their help. In exchange I will allow them to live and prosper and will never hunt them… unless they have done something wrong. And as long as they continue to bring me what I crave."

  Russ stood his ground even though he was shaking.

  The Lich Lord was coming at Russ slowly and when Russ saw the two glowing red eyes he nearly turned and ran.

  "You see, Azrael, I need new things with each new day. My growth is not complete but I can see the end of the proverbial tunnel. I'm no longer interested in the flesh of mortals, just the blood. I need it to survive. I look at the sexual drive as a fading memory, a last sin before I could break the chains of mortality. It was a test, a last spark in my brain I needed to release and get out of my system."

  "The zombies will stop raping the living?" Russ asked, watching as the Lich Lord took another two steps. "But they'll still try to bite us?"

  "Eventually I'll need a sacrifice. I need the blood to keep me going. I need to keep gaining strength. There can only be one of us left, don't you see? A god. But what does every god need?"

  "Followers," Russ said quietly.

  "Exactly. And I will become your god. In return I will protect you and help you to thrive and repopulate the world in my image. We'll hunt down those who oppose my rule, and we'll create a better place. With a god walking among you."

  Russ gasped when the Lich Lord walked closer and he could see the twisted new features of his master: his eyes burning red, his canines now elongated and his skin a pale ivory, smooth and nearly featureless. His physical appearance was jarring.

  "You look like…" Russ managed to say but looked away, the skin so white it almost glowed.

  "This is evolution. Homo Superior. What every human should strive for. But it won't come to pass, because I intend to keep everyone in check. I allow you to live and you allow me to grow. Without me, the zombies would run amok and destroy your little haven. I offer you protection and stability."

  "And all you ask is the blood," Russ said. He glanced behind him to the doors, which had been covered with newspapers and sheets. "Why is it so dark in here?"

  The Lich Lord said nothing but Russ could see him smile from only a few feet away.

  "You can't go out in the light anymore, can you?"

  "I don't need to. I no longer need to sleep, eat or breathe. I can read your thoughts and sense everything and everyone for miles. You might see this as a limitation, but I see it as a positive. I don't need the hateful sun on my side. I am not a sun god, I am god. Someday this world will be plunged into absolute darkness."

  You're mad, Russ thought.

  "Very much so. Aren't all the brilliant ones, through time, raving lunatics? Go and spread the word of what you've seen and what I've said. Some will attempt to kill me but they will not succeed. Others will kneel before me and I will vanquish the enemies, even now, heading towards us."

  Chapter Four

  The last two zombies did a sweep of the two vehicles to make sure no one was missed. Reluctantly they began walking down A1A at a leisurely pace and heading north.

  When Tosha was sure they were both out of sight and not going to double back and none of their undead buddies were hiding in wait, she scampered down from her perch in the dunes and made a beeline to the van, which was still entangled in the chain and two cars.

  She quietly opened the side door and saw the dying woman first, her throat gushing blood and her eyes wide with fear as she tried to stop the flow. "Help me," she whispered to Tosha with her ruined vocal chords.

  Without a thought, Tosha slammed the butt of her rifle into the woman's head, making sure she not only died but she wouldn't be coming back to undead life. She figured it was the only real way to help the woman. Tosha pulled her body out of the van and slipped inside, smiling at her find.

  The rear of the van was filled with metal cans of all shapes and sizes, the labels peeled off of most of them. There was a cardboard box full of plastic bottles filled with water, and a collection of knives duct-taped to the inside wall of the van.

  Tosha popped her head back outside to make sure she was alone and sighed. The black SUV was back, driving slowly down the road, toward her spot. She'd been seen. She lifted the carbine and aimed at the SUV, which stopped fifty feet from her.

  She knew she couldn't run. If she did, they'd follow her in the SUV. She had no idea how many people were actually in the vehicle because the sun was glaring off their windshield. She decided to take her chances and stand her ground. "Driver, exit the SUV slowly, with your hands up, or I will shoot. Now."

  The driver's door opened slowly and Tosha saw a pair of cowboy boots hit the pavement first. The man walked around the open door, hands in the air and smiling. He was wearing faded blue jeans, a gaudy Hawaiian shirt, cowboy hat and mirrored sunglasses. His face was covered in a graying beard. "Gosh, ain't you a pretty one? I bet under all that dirt and shit you got a rockin' body. Am I right?"

  "Say another word and I'll put a hole through your stupid grin, cowboy."

  He kept smiling and nodded.

  "How many more people are in the SUV?"

  Cowboy held up one finger.

  "Is it your girlfriend?"

  Cowboy smiled. "Not at all, sugar. I'm speculatin' you'll be my girlfriend before this is all over with."

  "It's going to be all over with if you keep talking shit and don’t just answer the fucking questions I'm asking," Tosha said. She was beginning to think this was a mistake. This guy was too cocky. She looked around suddenly, making sure no one was sneaking up on her.

  "Little paranoid, darlin'? It's just me and my boss. We got ambushed not too long ago by a bunch of smart zombies, and we managed to high-tail it to safety. Now, we're coming back to collect the food and weapons, which are ours." He dropped his smile. "Do you have a problem with anything I'm sayin'?"

  "Nope, Cowboy. Only the part where you think you're still entitled to this shit in the van. The way I see it, you walked away and left it for me to find. I found it. Now it's time for you and your boss to drive away and leave me and my new shit alone." Tosha raised the rifle and smiled. "Unless you want me to go through the SUV as well. I have no problem shooting you in your pretty face."

  Cowboy was smiling again and slowly reached up and tipped his hat in Tosha's direction. "I appreciate you noticing my physical charms."

  "I didn't…"

  "You said I had a pretty face."

  "I was being sarcastic. Tell your boss to get out of the car slowly," Tosha said, wanting to kick herself in the ass for letting him sit inside this long. With the glare of the sun, he could be loading a bazooka and she'd be unaware. "I want to see his hands."

  Cowboy turned slightly and waved at the SUV before turning back to Tosha. "You must be quite the killer to have survived this long. What's the chance you put down that pea-shooter and we chat for a bit?"

  "No chance. Shut up."

  The passenger door opened but no one stepped out.

  Tosha aimed the gun in the direction of the windshield. "He has to the count of three to exit the vehicle or he will be painting the back window with his blood. I can't make this any clearer. No stupid moves."

  "No need for threats," a man yelled as he slowly got out of the SUV and put his hands on his head. "We'r
e all in this together, ma'am. I'm living and breathing like you are. You're not my enemy and I'm certainly not yours. We're in this together."

  "Not from where I'm standing," Tosha said.

  The man was tall and had definite strength despite his age, his face and head clean-shaven. He was weathered, sun-burnt and had creases in his leathery skin. He only wore a tight gray t-shirt and a pair of worn blue jeans with a pair of black sneakers. His fingers were covered in rings and his forearms covered in ink. He was smiling but even from this distance Tosha could see there was nothing pleasant about this man.

  He also looked familiar but Tosha couldn't place where she knew him from. It was rare these days to run into anyone she knew… and it was not too common to be talking to living, breathing people in the last few months.

  Both men stood in front of the SUV and looked amused.

  "Stop smiling," Tosha yelled, knowing how stupid and desperate it sounded. "I want you both to strip down."

  "Can I get dinner first?" Cowboy asked. "I'm a cheap date, honey, but I ain't that cheap."

  "I'm going to shoot you."

  "So you've said. Only I don’t think you will, because we have something you need," Cowboy said. "Besides the obvious sexual attraction, I think we share a common goal."

  "What would that be?"

  "Staying alive. There's a rumor a group has secured a sweet spot a few miles south of us on A1A. We were heading in that direction when we were attacked by a mob of zombies. We lost everyone in the attack," Cowboy said. "Why not come with us?"

  Tosha laughed. "I don't think so. I'm not interested in you two losers attempting to rape me, and as much as I'd enjoy cutting your dick off and shoving it into your buddy's mouth, I'm not interested in the work involved. Take a hike."

  "You're making a mistake," the other man said. "We could work together and get to safety. I'm sure of it." He looked around dramatically. "I don't see you driving anything. How do you plan on carrying everything from the van?"

  "That's not your problem," Tosha said quickly. "I'm thinking I load up the SUV and drive away and leave you two to rot."

  "I won't let you do it," the man said. He looked at Cowboy. "You might as well shoot us and be done with it, because I'm not going to be weaponless and be attacked by zombies. You'd be doing us a favor by just pulling the trigger, but you'd be killing us in cold blood. I have a deal for you."

  "You're in no position to offer me a deal," Tosha said, but she was interested to hear what he had to say. She knew there was no way they'd give up not only the supplies, but their mode of transportation as well. But she wasn't stupid enough to shoot first and ask questions later.

  "It's getting really hot out here. I have air conditioning in the SUV. Can we come to an agreement already?" Cowboy asked.

  The other man laughed. "The deal is simple: the three of us load up the SUV with the supplies and head to safety."

  "That's not much of a deal, especially when I have a gun pointed at your balls. Here's my deal: you walk away with those balls and I get the supplies."

  The man nodded. "Fine. We're going to get back in the vehicle and drive away. You can keep the food. And figure out how to move all of it by yourself, especially with the area filled with intelligent zombies."

  "I'll figure it out," Tosha said. "I'm in a good mood, so I'll tell you what… get in your SUV without funny business and we'll simply step away."

  "I like that. I can live with it." Cowboy smiled. "But someday you and I are goin' to have a proper date, little lady. I have a weakness for redheads."

  "I won't say it again… go away."

  The other man nodded and put his hands down slowly. "We'll meet again, Red. I'm sure of it."

  Tosha was waiting for one of them to do something stupid. She casually took a step back so she could dive behind the van if she had to get away.

  But both men turned and walked back to the SUV.

  "Wait," Tosha called out.

  Both men turned and looked at her.

  "I know you," she said and pointed at the other man. "Where have I seen you before?"

  He smiled and shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'm not originally from around here. Ever been to Upstate New York?"

  "I'm from Harrisburg. I've never been that far north. But I know you from somewhere," Tosha said. She was starting to get an uneasy feeling. She was sure she'd seen him somewhere before, and not in a good place.

  He nodded to Cowboy and the two of them went to climb into the SUV. "Like I said, Red, I'll see you again. Soon. My name is Doug Conrad."

  Chapter Five

  Jeff Hurleson pulled over onto the side of the road and put his hand up, stopping his team. When he shut off his Harley, they all did the same. The five men dismounted and stretched their legs, keeping close to Jeff as they kept their eyes on the few zombies wandering around the parking lot to the flea market.

  "Haven't we been here before?" Claude asked, the oldest of the group. He'd been a member of Hell's Angels (according to him, at least) but Jeff only took him along because he was muscle, even in his late fifties. He was also a mean drunk and Jeff was hoping if any one of them found alcohol they'd keep it from Claude.

  "We've been in most places," Jeff said quietly. He pulled his baseball bat and sword from his makeshift holsters on his bike and stared at the destroyed flea market buildings. "But we need to keep checking. Maybe we missed something."

  "This is a waste of time," Claude said.

  Jeff casually pointed the sword at Claude. "I'm sorry but did I ask you what you'd rather do? Are you late for something better? Got a hot date? I'm in charge and don't forget it. We go in and we try to find something we can use. We have one hour. Then we move down I-95 toward Port Orange."

  "We've picked Port Orange clean as well," Claude said. "I say we shoot down further south and see what we can find."

  "And we will. Eventually. Right now we do what I say." Jeff looked at the other three men with them and they looked away, knowing if anyone else said a word he'd be even more pissed. Claude just didn't get it. He wanted so badly to be the leader, but he didn't have the blessing of the Lich Lord behind him. Of course, Claude also whispered about rising up and killing the Lich Lord, as if that would help them. The old guy just didn't get it.

  There were a few zombies that had spotted the group and they would slowly be surrounded, but Jeff wasn't worried. A horde coming at them would be very bad, but they hadn't seen a mass of them in weeks, especially once the intelligent ones started arriving.

  "Someone take out the zombies and keep our bikes safe," Jeff said and his eyes fell on Claude. "I'll leave it to you."

  "I want to go inside and explore," Claude said. "I don't want the grunt work. Bryan always gets the cleanup jobs."

  Bryan, the smallest of the group as well as youngest at barely twenty, looked away at the open slight.

  "Bryan is coming with me," Jeff said. "You'll do as you're told, or I'll let the Lich Lord know you didn't think his plans were good enough."

  "You think he scares me? One bullet to the head will end him… same as anyone," Claude said, but Jeff could see he wasn't nearly as cocky as he wanted everyone to think he was.

  Jeff smiled. "Not a problem. As soon as we return I'll make sure you get a private audience with him. Make sure you bring a weapon, because you'll need it." He turned to Bryan. "Who was the annoying dickhead you came in with?"

  Bryan put his hands in his pockets and looked down. "My brother, Garret."

  "He had beef with the Lich Lord," Jeff said.

  Claude waved his hand. "Yeah, yeah, we all know what happened with that idiot. He couldn't keep his mouth shut. It was his own fault, and, if you remember correctly, I was the one who had to toss his broken body over the gate and watch the zombies finish him off. But he was a fucking idiot. No offense, Bryan."

  "I guess none taken," Bryan said quietly.

  "We're wasting too much time. I gave you an order. You either get in line or face the consequences once we go back
to Main Street. The choice is really yours," Jeff said. "Bryan, stay on my ass. Everyone else hit the building on the left. Claude…"

  Claude waved his hand. "Fine, I'll go kill stupid fucking zombies while you guys have all the fun. I'll remember this, though. And when I'm in charge, you can bet your fat ass you'll be the one tossed over the gate," Claude said to Jeff with a grin.

  Jeff walked away before he attacked the douche bag. He didn't want to lose his cool in front of the other men but he was going to get even sooner rather than later.

  "I hope you brought your clean diapers, Bryan, because you're going to need them in there," Claude yelled. "Good luck, little boy."

  Bryan caught up to Jeff and Jeff could see the young man was shaken up.

  "Forget that jerkoff," Jeff said. "Let's get this done so we can get back."

  "Are you going to turn him in?" Bryan asked as they entered the dark building, turning on their flashlights. "I hate his guts."

  "At some point, he needs to be dealt with. I'm not sure when I'll get to do it, though. The Lich Lord doesn't want me to dole out justice. I need every able-bodied man to keep the line and help when I'm out and about," Jeff said. "As much as I want to put a bullet in his head, I have to wait. Someday I'll get the clear to do it."

  "You're the only one who told the Lich Lord they wouldn't kill Claude," Bryan said simply as they kept moving through the building, shining their light into the ruined stalls and spaces. It was empty, long picked over by scavengers.

  "True," Jeff said slowly. He stared at Bryan but the young man was busy searching next to him. What was the kid getting at? Jeff didn't think he had the balls to do anything on his own, but these days you never knew what another man was capable of. "I gave my word I wouldn't touch anyone without leave from the boss. It also trickles down to the men under my command, you know."

  Bryan stopped and shined the light at Jeff's face. "Is that an order?"

  Jeff shrugged. "I can only tell you what I've been told. If you decide to do something on your own or take matters into your own hands, I cannot help you. And I won't sacrifice my neck for someone else. That's all I'm saying about it."