The guy in the middle put a finger to his lips. "Quiet. We were chased another two blocks before we managed to find this house. But I can hear them shuffling around on the street and I think one of them is downstairs."
"I'm Tosha," she said.
The woman looked at the man. "See? I told you it was her."
"Who are you?' Tosha asked.
He leaned forward and extended his hand for her to shake. "I'm John Murphy and this is my dad, Murph, and my very pregnant wife, Darlene."
"Darlene Bobich… the zombie killer," Tosha said with a laugh. "I remember you from St. Augustine. I tried to find you later on but the stilt houses were burnt down. I figured you'd been killed."
"It's not that easy to kill us," Darlene said. "I might not be able to move anymore but I haven't given up."
"When did you two get hitched?"
Both John and Darlene stared at one another before grinning. Even with the poor lighting, Tosha could see the two of them were very much in love.
There must've still been a zombie downstairs because they heard it crash into a wall loudly.
"That will bring friends," Murph said. "You shoulda let me go down there to kick some ass."
"I didn't feel like carrying you," John said. He stopped and looked at the open doorway. "I think a buddy just showed up."
Tosha stood and took her sweet time, gingerly tip-toeing to get a better look out the window and a view of the hallway. They were on the second floor and she could see many zombies on the street in front of the house, but nothing was moving on this level.
Not yet.
She went to the three and knelt down. "What do you want to do?"
John shrugged. "There's nothing we can do. We need to sit tight and hope they don't sense us up here. We're screwed if we wake up the neighborhood."
"Do we have any weapons?"
"Nothing we can use," Darlene said. "I have my gun but I've been out of ammo for weeks. The only thing we have is our fists, and that isn't much. Right now Murph and I are slower than the fucking zombies."
Tosha sighed. "Then we sit and wait until first light and try to get away. This is really going to suck."
"It will be a lot worse if one of them decides to wander up those steps. We'd have to fight them with bare hands, and it will attract attention," John said.
"Then we take turns listening to the noise downstairs and hoping no one gets curious or hears Murph snoring," Darlene said quietly. "I'll take first watch."
"What are we going to do in the morning? Which way were you headed?" Tosha asked. "I hear there is a safe zone to the south."
"That's where Doug talked about," John said.
Tosha snapped her fingers. "You ran into him, too? He was with some cowboy. I had a bit of a standoff with them. They let me go. To the north, I left some food and supplies I couldn't carry."
"We need to go south," John said.
"You'll run right into Doug," Tosha said. "He's probably already kissing the bosses ass and getting ready to usurp the command."
"And, if he sees me again, he's going to shoot and ask questions later. Shit. What do we do?" Darlene sighed and tried to sit up. "There's nowhere else to run to."
"We'll worry about it in the morning. Put our collective heads together." John turned to Tosha. "You've been to different parts of Florida than we have. Maybe after going over where you've been we'll find a spot. Or at least we'll know where to avoid."
"How are we going to get anywhere?" Murph asked. "I'm not getting any younger. And I'm certainly not looking forward to walking. We didn't get very far from the apartment before we were surrounded. I think we're in trouble."
Tosha slipped into the far corner to get as comfortable as she could. "We'll figure it all out in the morning. I'll take third watch."
Chapter Twelve
The Lich Lord stood on top of the stage and surveyed the crowd with a grin. He was enjoying the fear in their eyes as he paused before speaking. Many of the newer members of the community had never seen him in person. He'd been transforming for weeks, and only a small few had been able to enter the Ocean Center.
Russ and Jeff were on either side of the stage, both watching the crowd nervously. They both had reason to be scared. If something foolish were to happen tonight, they'd both be killed and used as examples. Tortured examples.
There was a light breeze coming from the ocean only a block behind him, swirling down Main Street and catching in the few ripped banners and awnings of the former biker bars, now home to a growing mass of the living.
He raised his arms and the crowd, rolled out before him and crowding to get a closer look despite their fear, silenced. He moved his gaze back and forth, taking his sweet time before opening his mouth and addressing his subjects.
"There is a tithe to be paid," the Lich Lord said in his deep voice, echoing it down the street. "One you, at first, might not agree with. Some might even gasp in horror when I say it aloud." He pointed across the crowd. "There are many of you who will decide you no longer want to stay here, under my watchful gaze, and wish to flee from this haven. I will not stop you." He looked at Jeff on the side of the stage. "No one working for me will impede your flight. I give you my word. But I do ask you to hear me out this night. Even if you decide this is no longer the place you thought it was, please stay the night. At first light, anyone who wishes to leave is more than welcome to take your chances on the outside. Just know this… I am not always going to be unique in this new world, and there are many who will simply try to kill everything in their path. I offer the freedom to rebuild your former life but make it better. No longer will you have to worry about electric bills and rent past due. No longer will you have to watch your children burying their faces in electronic devices, unaware of the world around them and existing in a virtual world. That is partly what brought you to the brink of extinction. I offer you all something you haven't had in a long time… hope."
He saw more curiosity than fear now, and he took a moment to pause and let his words sink in before continuing. "But there is always a price to pay for this freedom, so before I make my promises I must tell you what I wish in return. It is a payment some of you might not be willing to pay. I am fine with it. I'm not here to save the human race. Indeed, the human race is yesterday's news. I am the New World Order. I am the new and improved race, a step up in the evolutionary ladder. I offer you a world where you can be relatively safe, and learn to do things the proper way. To live off the land. To not worry about famine and artificial flavors and dying of diseases which can be controlled. And I can do this. But I am asking for my tithe."
Now the crowd was interested. He'd slipped in a few bullet points to get them to hang on his every word.
Now he needed to give them the ugly part. "My plan to keep each and every one of you alive is quite simple: I need living sacrifices weekly. I no longer have the sexual drive like you weak…" The Lich Lord smiled and put up a finger. "I no longer need to procreate. I do not wish to have a spawn, because I do not need it. I can live forever. I will no longer age and I no longer need to eat food or drink water or sleep. My body heals itself immediately. All I need is the blood from a living person."
A few in the crowd were shuffling uncomfortably.
He stabbed his finger in the air. "I will not harm anyone in this compound unless they cross me or do harm to anyone under my umbrella protection. I am the law. You will obey my simple rules or you will be fed to me. There will be no trials and there will be no leniency. That part is final. However, all I ask for us to live in perfect harmony is the finding of those who do not fit in with our vision. Our goals and mindset. Those who would try to destroy what we have or take without giving back in return. The goal is to move our territory one street per day, if possible, by gathering our forces and rebuilding from the ashes of your mistakes. It can be done."
The Lich Lord looked out into the crowd slowly. "And it will be done. Your goals will be as follows: to live, prosper, find a soul-mate among the
living, and be happy. It is not a hard goal. Increase in number, and build back the life before computers and a virtual world. Grow crops and raise animals. Truly live off of the land. Fish in the ocean and have large, group dinners each night with dancing and music and laughter. Does anybody remember laughter? I will help you achieve this nirvana. All I ask is for three captives per week to be sent to my sanctuary. None of you under my protection, either, unless you've done something to earn it. I will let you know where food and weapons can be found within miles of this spot, because I can do this now. I can do many wonderful things."
The Lich Lord glanced at Russ and then held up two fingers. "In two nights I will return to this pulpit. At that time, every man and woman will have his chance to record who his spouse is." He looked over at Jeff, who was grinning. "Each man will only get one woman, and so forth. Everyone knows who Azrael is. Go to him and he will record the names. No man can touch another man's wife, and vice versa. To do so… I think you already know. There will be no fear of rape or murder on Main Street. My justice will be swift. You will work in harmony and everyone will carry their own weight. In exchange, you will receive a place to stay, a home to call your own, and a seat at the dinner table each night. This is up to you. Again… if you choose to leave in the morning, no one will stop you. I give you my word."
He could see many people smiling and talking excitedly in the crowd.
The Lich Lord held up his hands. "I have one last matter that needs to be settled before we are done for the night… and it is of grave importance. Who believes in God?"
A few hands shot up in the air but most people looked confused, and scared looks dominated. The Lich Lord smiled. "This is not a trick question. Who was raised to believe in God in the heavens? I know I was." He put one hand in the air. "Faith has gotten most of us through these trying times. Faith has kept us alive in most cases. There is no shame in admitting you still love Jesus. But there is shame in denying your own self. There is shame in not seeing this all as a great test. Where did everyone go? Surely the entire world is not a monster." The Lich Lord dramatically looked up at the sky and pointed. "A select few were taken in the Rapture. A smaller group was left here to sort the souls of the living. I am one of these Chosen. I am in charge of seeing who is worthy enough to go to Heaven and who stays in Hell."
The crowd was in a quiet frenzy. He could see many voices rising in opposition of the blasphemy he spoke, and those who thought his words rang true. It didn't matter what the reality was, because he had them where he wanted them.
"But we are going to be tested yet again. There is someone out there who will destroy us all. Someone who will wreak havoc in our new world and we'll bow to our knees before he strikes us dead. And he will." The Lich Lord paused. "We will face the Antichrist. Unless we can defeat him before he is born."
The look of confusion in the crowd was priceless. He had them in his palm again. "There is a woman… an evil woman some call the Zombie Killer. I have seen her in visions, destroying anything in her path. Some would think she was a false prophet, trying to save the human race. I know better. She is trying to eliminate those like me so those like you will worship at her son's feet. She is ripe with child. Once this monstrosity is born, he will annihilate this world. We need to find and stop them before it is too late."
"Where can we find her?" someone from the crowd shouted.
The Lich Lord smiled. "She is pregnant with this Devil. And we need to find her. She is traveling with a man who will become the guardian of this evil being, and a crippled old man who will teach it how to use the power to destroy the world."
"Darlene is her name," a burly man in the crowd said loudly.
"Darlene?" Russ asked.
The Lich Lord nodded. "Yes. Darlene Bobich is this carrier of death. You need to search her out and bring the child to me. Mother and son alive, so I can dispose of them properly. I can sense her. All of my kind can feel her, though, in the wrong hands, she could tip the balance of evil in this world. It is of utmost importance she comes to me."
"I've seen her. Recently," the man said. "I spoke with her and told her about this safe haven. She might come this way."
"We can take no chances. At first light, take this man and a large contingent of warriors to where she was last seen. We need this taken care of," The Lich Lord said to Jeff on the side of the stage. "Don't bother to return unless you have her with you. Is that understood?"
Jeff nodded and looked across the stage at Russ. "I'll give you my selection for wife before I leave."
The Lich Lord knew the two men would eventually battle, and he didn't care about the results. There was always going to be conflict. It would lead to one of them becoming sustenance for him. A human could easily be replaced.
"Those who stay will begin an aggressive growth campaign led by Azrael. We're going to push west and over the bridge, because on Beach Street we can set a perimeter for the survivors heading our way. We will begin to grow at an alarming rate, so we need to be prepared. With Jeff gone, I will choose a temporary leader for supply runs… I believe your name is Claude. And Bryan will also be on the team. I'll pass along my demands via Azrael at first light. Be ready to go."
The Lich Lord nodded and left the stage, moving away from everyone before a question was asked or someone had a comment. He didn't care nor need their opinion, because it really didn't matter at all.
Chapter Thirteen
Darlene woke and struggled to push up against the wall. It felt like her bladder was about to explode. She looked down at her bloated figure in marvel. Was it her imagination, or had she gotten even bigger overnight? This was going to be a big boy.
She turned and looked at John, who was snoring softly beside her. He was going to be a great dad, and she was lucky to have found such a wonderful man, especially under the current situation. Darlene didn't want to wake him but there was no way she could navigate down the stairs and find somewhere to urinate by herself.
"John," she whispered and leaned to him. "John, wake up."
"I'm up, Jesus Christ, gimme five more minutes," Murph said in his sleep and rolled back over on the hard floor.
Darlene felt sorry for him. She knew he'd be hurting all day today, but wouldn't complain except as a joke. The old man still had his pride, and he'd do his best to do his part in keeping them alive.
She finally shoved John and smiled when he jumped up, ready to fight.
"Relax, killer, you're fine," she said.
John, still groggy and trying to blink life into his eyes, slumped back onto the floor. "My back is hurting. We need to either find a five star hotel or give up. I'm getting as old as my dad."
"But you complain twice as much," Darlene said. "I need to pee. Really bad."
"What's stopping you?" John asked with a grin.
She made a fist. "I'm going to punch your lights out and then piss on you."
"You get kinkier each day you're pregnant. I like it," John said.
"Help me get down the stairs before you die…" Darlene stopped. "Where is Tosha?"
"Shit," John said. "Who had last watch?"
Darlene was about to speak when she heard a muffled footstep on the stairs below. She didn't know if it was Tosha and she froze. They weren't armed and only John had a chance to fight off zombies.
John pointed at the left side of the door for Darlene to go to.
"And use what to fight with?" she whispered.
He shrugged and went to the other side, holding up his fists.
Someone was coming slowly up the steps, taking them one at a time. Not a zombie by the steady footfalls. Darlene couldn't risk walking across the room and letting whoever was coming up know they were here. She sidestepped to her left and away from John, hoping if she moved quietly she would be out of sight when the person got to the top of the landing.
Darlene was shaking, her hands trembling. She'd never felt this helpless or scared in her life. She felt powerless because of her present condition. While she wa
s thankful to have found John and gotten pregnant with his baby, the thought of something unquestionably evil walking up those steps and killing the lot of them was more than she could stand right now. She wiped fresh tears from her face, stifling a sob.
John must've seen the look on her face because he looked at her with concern.
Darlene managed to slide over to the far wall and angled out of sight of the door, but Murph would be clearly seen from the hallway.
She pointed at John's dad just as the person stopped in the hallway. There was no way they would miss Murph now, and as if to help them and make Darlene almost throw up, Murph rolled over and snored loudly.
"I hope you two are in there with the old man, because he can be heard from two blocks away," Tosha said from the hallway.
Darlene relaxed. "You bitch."
Tosha walked in with a grin and a black garbage bag, putting it on the floor and kicking Murph's heel so he woke and stopped making so much noise.
"Where have you been?" John asked.
Tosha put up her hands. "Sorry, dad, I lost track of time. I was with Julie and Buffy at the mall. Am I punished? Are you going to spank me again?"
Darlene didn’t like Tosha talking like that, even joking around. She was glad Murph, pulling himself up, broke the awkward silence.
"I need to rain the main vein," the old man said.
"Dad, really?"
"Lighten up, John-John. Help me down the steps so I can drain the lizard, though, before I piss on myself."
"I need to go, too," Darlene said. She was amazed she'd held it this long.
"I'll get breakfast ready," Tosha said. She pulled some cans from the bag. "I had a secret stash I kept from Doug and Cowboy. I thought I'd never get a chance to get it, but luckily I hadn't gone too far before I ran into you three. I also found us some wheels."
"Nice, but I have to go," Murph said.
Darlene followed John and Murph down the steps, ashamed to be such a burden to John right now. She had to use the wall to keep from toppling over and crushing both men to death with her weight.
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