by Tahnee Fritz
I make it to the old man at the door and he moves away and takes the bar off the door to unlock it. I grip the handle and take a deep breath before turning the knob. Once I open this door, there’s no turning back. There’s not going to be any turning around and taking the coward’s way out of this. I can’t be the kind of person to hide in a basement for the rest of my life. I’d rather take the risk of dying in a world full of monsters than dying in a pit of despair with dozens of other people who don’t know how to fight for what is right. I grit my teeth and turn the knob, pulling the door open toward me. The cool air once again caresses my skin and I take an incredibly nervous step out into the city I’ve come to despise over the last few minutes.
You know how I know there isn’t a God, because if there were one, I really think he or she would give me a god damn break for once in my life. I feel like I’ve gone through hell and back trying to survive in this world that people say God gave to us for a reason. If this is the vision he had for my life, then he really does have a sick sense of humor. He could at least let off the cruelness for a bit and send me a bone every once in a while. I could really use some kind of help with this whole trying to survive thing.
Especially right now.
I’ve got no one to help me. All of those people back in that basement they call a home, they’re too stuck on whatever fear is holding them back in order to fight for something that’s really important. Even if they’ve already lost most of the people they care about, fighting for the rest of the human population is reason enough to stop this city from destroying it. Why don’t they get that? Why doesn’t anyone else in the world see things the way I do? Why won’t anyone help me?
More questions I’ll never know the answers to add to my list.
I am really getting annoyed with those.
“Bridget!” I hear a quiet call from behind me.
My feet stop moving and I clench the gun in my hand. The voice was too quiet for me to recognize and I don’t want to take too many chances in this city in the middle of the night. Who’s to say that when I turn around, there’s not a vampire standing right behind me waiting to suck me dry. You never know what could be lurking around the shadows in a place like this.
I hear the footsteps getting closer. They’re right behind me and I quickly spin around on my heels, slowly raising my arm with the gun. I freeze when I catch eyes with Jim.
“What are you doing?” I ask, befuddled.
He tosses me a solemn look, “I promised Dillon I wouldn’t come back without his favorite cousin. I’m going with you.”
I force a smile to my face, “I honestly didn’t think anyone would come after me, but I’m glad at least you did.”
“I think your father would appreciate someone else looking after you while he’s gone. I might not be the best person in the world with a gun, but I am good at looking after those I care about.” He replies.
I raise an eyebrow, “You care about me?” a slight catch in my throat.
He slightly nods, “After you and your dad left, you were all Sherry could talk about. She spoke about you like you were her own sister. She looks up to you as if you were.” He smiles and chuckles a bit, “She even called you her hero. And if she cares that much about a girl she’s only just met, then so do I.”
“Thank you.” I say. “I wish it was more than just the two of us right now, though. I don’t think trying to save their lives is going to be an easy task.”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m not the only one who decided to come after you.” Jim says, then steps out of the way revealing a small group of weapon wielding travelers.
Seven of the other people in that basement chose to fight back with me, bringing my own little army from one to nine. Three of them are women, two my mother’s age and one a few years older than me. Two of the men are older and one is a little younger, maybe fifteen. Very brave for a kid his age, I admire that. I recognized the dark skinned man standing in the middle of his group. The only one carrying a black rifle and a small handgun.
I let out a sigh of relief and say, “What made you change your minds back there?”
Dwayne steps forward, “You made a lot of us realize that it was wrong of us to not do something about this. To not try to stop these assholes from taking our families or the lives of other humans. That’s not how our race will survive this world.”
“Good, glad to know you do care about the human race.” I say.
“More than you think.” Dwayne says.
“Well, thanks.” I say with a small smile.
I spin around and start walking down the street again. Jim is right by my side and I can hear the others following close behind.
“How do you know where to go?” I hear someone asking from the group.
I shrug, “I don’t. I just figured I’d start by checking out the gate first.”
“Smart plan.” Dwayne says, sarcastically.
“You got a better one?” I ask.
He shakes his head and keeps quiet. I don’t even really have much of a plan. I’m really just going with what I think is right. That gate is the only way in and out of the city unless there’s some secret tunnel I don’t know about. That’s likely, but I don’t have time to try to find out where it would be. Our best bet is to go to the gate, ask the guards very nicely to let us out so we can save our friends from the bad things they’re doing to them. Can’t stop myself from smiling and laughing a bit at that thought. Those guys are probably just like Nick and are ready to destroy any attempt at getting through to the outside. They’ll probably shoot us dead before we even get too far. We are repulsive travelers after all.
We’re not a very big group either. Nick’s army has many more guns and weapons to choose from to keep us from stopping them. I’m sure most of the few people behind me aren’t very coordinated when shooting a gun, but I’m really praying that they have good aim. If they’ve been cooped up in that basement for longer than I’d hope, then they haven’t been getting the shooting practice they should have gotten. It’s very important to make sure your aim stays almost perfect when you’re a traveler. Practicing on zombies tends to work very well.
I’ll just ignore the thought that my group is nothing but nine random people thrown together because I can’t keep my mouth shut about saving the person I care a lot about right now. I guess I have a way with words that I didn’t even know I had. Anyway, it’s great just knowing that this small amount of people chose to help me instead of staying back at that basement to rot away while the rest of the world falls apart. The world will still fall apart regardless what they choose to do with their lives, but what we’re doing here tonight is enough to save a small part of it.
There’s about fifteen guards surrounding the gate. All of them are wearing those ridiculous green outfits and combat boots with pretty big guns in their hands. Three of them are standing together and laughing about god knows what. Two others are perched in those watch towers staring out to the other side of the gate. The rest are standing around, trying to make it look like they aren’t bored, completely ignoring the fact that there’s a small group of people hiding behind a building watching them.
Idiots.
I take a deep breath and lean against the building. A few of the others are making sure their guns are loaded and ready to go. One of the women is staring out to the guards with a nervous look on her face. They all look nervous and scared. I’m scared myself. You’d be a fool not to be when you’re about to face a small army of actual soldiers with much bigger guns. I absolutely need to quit thinking about the bad things we’re going up against. It makes this so much harder.
“Bridget?” Dwayne whispers in my ear, “You’re the mastermind behind this little scheme. We can’t just hide behind this building hoping those guys out there will disappear. What’s the plan?”
I look into his dark eyes, then glance around the corner to the gate. The guards are out there pacing back and forth right next to the gate. I don’t know what to do. Maki
ng plans for things like this isn’t a strong point of mine. I normally try to go with the flow or, up until recently, go with whatever my father says is right. He was the plan maker. I was the one who did as I was told. I haven’t been able to prepare myself for something like this.
I’m not prepared for anything anymore. After losing my dad so unexpectedly and running into a guy I’m actually falling in love with, how can one be prepared for whatever happens next? This world is so random anymore and there’s nothing we can do about it.
I keep my eyes focused on the guards. They have a plan and they are prepared for things. They’re ready for a pack of zombies or a group of vamps to come knocking at the gate trying to come in. The rest of this city can sleep soundly knowing their army is well prepared for things like that to happen. If they’re ready for those monsters out there, then I’m one hundred percent positive they’ll be able to take on nine pathetic humans like us.
But, I might be able to confuse them a bit.
I take a deep breath and pull myself away from the building. I clench the gun in my hand and walk out into the street, heading for the gate. I can hear the others whispering to each other, wondering what the hell I’m doing. I don’t bother turning around to explain to them what I think I’m doing. I’m not even positive on that yet. My feet just keep moving down the street while my mind hopes beyond belief this night doesn’t end badly.
The footsteps of the others comes next. All of them walking away from that building, following my every move. My eyes remain on the guards ahead of us. Most of them are still in tuned with their conversations and they don’t even notice the impending threat coming toward them. The ones up in the towers aren’t even facing this way. There is, however, a young man, standing off to the side drinking from a canteen. He’s the one who notices.
“Hey!” he shouts with a deep booming voice, “What are you doing out here?”
I keep going, even after a few other guards turn their eyes our way. I hear guns being raised behind me and we advance.
“Stop right there!” another guard shouts at us.
We keep going, my heart pounding in my chest. I keep my gun at my side with no intention on hurting any of these people here tonight. That’s not part of my plan in life. The guards have their guns raised, but their aim is at our feet. I was hoping that would happen. Hoping they wouldn’t be monsters just like the real ones out there and take aim at a bunch of humans who are just fighting to survive.
“I’m ordering all of you to stop!” the first guard shouts.
I get within a few feet of the guards and we have no choice but to cease our walking. My own little army stands around me with their weapons raised high.
“And I’m ordering you to open the gate.” I say with a strong voice I don’t even recognize as my own.
One of the guards steps forward, closing the gap between he and I. He stands about a foot taller than me and his biceps are as big around as my head. If there’s ever a time to be intimidated by someone, it’s right now.
“I’m sure you can tell that ain’t gonna happen tonight, little girl,” his southern accent just as muscly as the rest of him, “Why don’t you go back where you came from.”
I shake my head and look up into his eyes, “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”
He tightens his grip on his gun and seethes, “Why the hell not?”
I take a deep breath and run my fingers through my hair, “You see, the place I came from, the place all of us came from, is on the other side of that fence.” I point to the road leading away from the city. “You might think that you’re not gonna open the gate for us, but I’m going to personally see that you do. There’s someone out there who I really care about and I’m sick and tired of people and monsters like you taking the people I care about away from me. So, like I said, you’re gonna open that goddamn gate so I can stop that asshole you call a boss from giving that person I care about to the vamps.”
He lowers his gun and scrunches his face in confusion, “What are you talking about?”
“I think you know very damn well what I’m talking about.” I say.
The big guy lowers his gun completely and shakes his head. The look of utter confusion has crossed his face and I’m beginning to notice that he really has no idea what I’m talking about. I glance around at a few of the other guards standing close by. The ones closest all have looks of befuddlement on their faces and they’ve lowered their weapons.
“You really don’t know what I’m talking about?” I ask.
Again, he shakes his head and so do a few of the others. There is one of the guards who obviously knows exactly what I mean. He’s the only one who’s standing mere inches away from me with a gun pointed at the right side of my head.
“I do.” He says with a quiet voice.
I can hear the people behind me shifting their weapons, aiming for the man with the gun to my head. If they could read my mind, they would hear me begging for them not to shoot him. All it would take is one wrong shot and I’d be dead. He wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger sending that small piece of metal soaring into my brain, taking my life as though I were one of the zombies. That’s not how I see my life ending. Especially not tonight.
“So, you know our little secret,” he says. “You know the truth about what’s keeping this city safe. I don’t understand why you care so much. They’re only travelers.”
I shake my head, “They’re people, just like you and they had a life until you helped destroy it. Trading them to the vamps, because they are travelers, how the hell can you live with yourself?”
He shrugs, “Very well actually. The vampires get what they want and I get to sleep soundly each night. It is quite the pity that you had to find out. When I saw you come to town the other day, I was really hoping I’d get the chance to have you. Unfortunately, I’m gonna have to kill you and your little friends back there because none of them have a clear shot at taking me out.”
“They might not,” the big guy in front of me says, “but I sure do. Let her go.”
The man doesn’t budge, doesn’t move an inch. Instead, he laughs and I can see his finger tightening around the trigger of his gun. I close my eyes and wait for this all to be over.
Funny, my life isn’t flashing before my eyes like I’ve seen in the movies. My family isn’t staring at me behind my closed eyes and I’m not face to face with whoever this God character truly is. There’s nothing except blackness in my head. I guess I’ve come so close to this moment so many times over the past five years, my mind has gotten used to it and no longer recreates the memories of my past. Not like I want to stare into the eyes of my family as I break their promises of keeping myself alive in this hellish world. That alone is enough to break my heart and kill me a little inside without this guy pulling the trigger.
The gunshot sounds like a cannon going off less than a foot away from me.
It echoes in my ears and I can’t hear anything else. I can’t hear my heart beating nor can I feel it. I’m not sure if this is real or not, I can’t tell if I’m actually dead. I’ve never had the chance to be dead before and I know if I keep my eyes closed, I’ll never know if I’m alive or not. One good thing if I am dead, it was painless and I didn’t have to suffer or anything. This still doesn’t feel right.
I don’t feel dead.
I feel like I’m alive and standing in the middle of the road.
Maybe it feels like that because I am still alive and standing in the middle of the road. I finally force my eyes to open and the man isn’t right next to me anymore. He’s actually lying on the ground at my feet with a hole in his head. There’s a large puddle of the red blood mixed with a little bit of his brains pouring out of the wound.
“Thank you.” I say with a sigh of relief over finding myself still alive.
The big guy lowers his gun and says, “You’re welcome.”
“I’m still gonna make you open the gate for us.” I say.
He nods, “You’re no
t going to make me to do anything.”
He turns around and heads for the gate. I follow him with my eyes, watching his every step as he gets closer to the metal fence. A few of the guards, whom I assume know all about Nick’s idea of keeping the city safe, rush to block my new, big friend from opening the gate. They aim their guns right at him, but he keeps moving. I clutch the gun in my hand and advance to the gate as well, hearing the footsteps of my group right behind me.
There are five guards total trying to block us from opening the gate. A few of the others step off to the side to get out of the way and three join us with their guns pointed at members of their own team. These army guys are way outnumbered and they know it. Their hands are shaking, I can hear the metal of the guns clanking in their hands. These men, who should have way more experience in killing anything with or without a pulse, are scared for their lives as a bunch of random people approach them with guns of our own. Amazing how the tide can turn so quickly.
I take a step out farther than the big guy and point my small gun at the man closest to the latch that will open the gate, “Open it.”
He keeps his hand on the gun and shakes his head.
I roll my eyes and take another step closer. He takes a staggering step backward, bumping into the fence.
“I’m not going to kill you,” I say, “I just want you to open the damn gate. There’s a decent chance that you’ll never see any of us ever again once we step foot on the other side, so you might as well open it.”
His eyes dart from my face to those of the people behind me. Just like those few zombies I’ve come across, he’s weighing his options. He has to know there’s no point in trying to keep us from doing what’s right no matter how much he thinks we’re wrong. There’s no point in ending his life when all he has to do is move out of the way so we can get through to the other side.
“Just open it, man. This ain’t worth it.” I hear a whisper from one of the others standing against the fence.
