by Tahnee Fritz
“What the fuck?” I say as I watch in shock.
Another zombie willingly attacks a vampire, tackling the thing to the ground and pulling it apart with nothing other than its teeth. The zombies seem to have no intention of coming after us. Their main focus is on the vamps. Something I’ve never seen before, yet always feared would happen. More of them tear into their pale enemy with their teeth and their fingernails, pulling their limbs from their bodies. Blood and body parts are flung all over the place while high pitched wails fill the air.
The vamps are starting to take notice of this. Some have even moved their attention away from us and leap through the air to fight the zombies. I watch in complete confusion as the vamps sink their teeth into the rotten flesh. The second that dead blood flows down their throats, they let go and a banshee-like shriek comes out. A few fall to the ground, their bodies twisting and turning in ways I’ve never seen a body move before. One falls close to us and I can see it fighting the effect of the dead blood. It writhes in pain, eyes a milky white color. The zombies’ mushy blood is destroying them from the inside out and they’re dying on the ground right in front of us.
Simply remarkable.
I am seeing, first hand, what happens when a vampire bites into a zombie. And I am so unbelievably grateful they aren’t turning into something so horrifying, my mind won’t let me imagine it. I can’t help except to feel somewhat relieved by all of this.
More of the vamps turn away from us and go about attacking the zombies. Many are subdued and destroyed before they can get in a good fight. The zombies are winning this thing for us, going against everything I ever thought to be right about them. I thought they stayed away from the vamps and went straight for those with a beating heart. Glad to know I was wrong about that.
I’ve noticed that more vampires are fighting the zombies and only a few are paying attention to us. Even those few are tempted to join their friends in the fight. We have a clear shot at getting away safely while the zombies do our dirty work. A few of the humans are already running through the woods, heading back to the highway that will take them to the city. Jim and Sherry are amongst them and Dwayne isn’t too far behind.
“Time to go.” Ryder says, tugging at my arm a little.
I nod and lower my gun. We leave the sight of the vampire-zombie war and listen only to the groans and shrieks coming from both of the monsters as they destroy each other. This has quickly turned into the most confusing, unnerving night of my life and it’s not even over yet.
Ryder and I keep running, our hands locked together. The other humans are ahead of us, running as fast as they can and not taking a second to look back. We’re all headed back to the city. It’s the only place we can go where we’ll be safe for the rest of the night. It’s too risky to start looking for a better place to stay for a while. With zombies close by and vampires always out this time of night, no one should take a risk like that.
I can see the moonlight shining through the branches of the trees above us. Enough light to brighten the way back to the highway. We make our way through the woods, avoiding the trees and jumping over whatever gets in our way. A few logs and branches that have fallen from the trees. We even have to hop over a large oak tree that has fallen in the middle of the woods. I wonder if anyone was around to hear it.
Forgive me for trying to think of something funny to keep my mind off the imminent death close behind us.
My lungs are burning, but I keep up with Ryder next to me. I can hear him heaving, ignoring the rules about only breathing through your nose when you’re running. It gets kind of hard to do that when you’re running at full speed trying to get away from flesh hungry beasts. No matter how hard I force my lips to stay sealed, they want to be open so I can breathe easier.
Other than the sticks cracking under our own feet, I don’t hear anything coming after us. I turn my head and glance over my shoulder, taking my eyes off the road ahead of me for a split second. I just need to know for sure that nothing is following. So far so good. I look back ahead of me, moving out of the way of a huge tree. Something’s blocking the way in front of us. Something so horrible, we practically trip over our own two feet in order to stop running.
The vampire, Zeke, hears our stammering steps and lifts his bloody face from Nick’s lifeless body. Blood seeps out of his neck and to the leaves he’s lying on. His eyes are wide open, staring up at the branches above. Zeke looks at us, showing off his yellow and black teeth in a gnarly smile. He stands and steps over his dinner and toward us.
I clench the gun in my hand as I stare into the lifeless eyes of the creature before me. Hesitation can’t stop me and I raise it up, forcing myself not to be afraid. After tonight, I don’t think I’ll ever freeze up when I’m face to face with a vampire again. My dad would be so proud of me. I take aim for the bastard’s heart and take a deep breath. My finger squeezes the trigger and I hear the click.
But nothing happens.
No gunshot blasting through the air. No bullet shooting into Zeke’s unbeating heart.
Absolutely nothing and it’s utterly devastating.
I pull the trigger again and again. A few more times, nothing happens. Only the annoying click of an empty gun. I’ve run out of ammo and the rest of it is back at the hotel.
“Shit.” I exclaim, lowering the gun.
Zeke takes another step closer and both of us take one backwards. Ryder holds my hand even tighter and we both watch this demon make its way to enjoy a nice meal of our blood. I was sort of hoping my life wouldn’t end this way. I never really imagined how my life would meet its end, but this isn’t the way I want to go. I’d at least like to be a few years older and enjoy the little things this life has to offer.
I guess fate has other plans for me.
“Stupid...human.” Zeke says, “Time...to die.”
In an flash of white, he bolts up to us before either of us can take a breath. All we feel is a gust of wind and he’s standing inches away. He tilts his head to the side and looks Ryder up and down, examining his body. I can feel his hand trembling in my own and there’s nothing I can do to calm him. There’s nothing either of us can do other than wait for it to be over. Zeke turns his attention to me and smiles again. Those jagged teeth, stained black with blood, tear into my soul as I count the seconds till everything is over. They are going by ever so slowly.
“You...first.” he whispers.
I shudder and in another flash he grabs Ryder’s arm and rips him away from me, throwing him a few feet in the air only to crash against a tree. I watch him fall to the ground, listening to the groan he makes as pain courses through him. I wish that would’ve knocked him out. I’d rather him not be awake when the vamp takes his life away from him. Zeke then grabs the collar of my hoodie and pulls me closer to his face. His hot, revolting breath caressing my skin, burning my nose and I try not to smell it. The gun slips out of my fingers as the tears swell up in my eyes. I can feel them drift down my cheeks as he shoves his nose closer to my face and takes in a big whiff of my scent.
“I will...enjoy this.” He seethes and I can see the smile coming to his lips.
He leans away from me and I look into his white eyes. It kills me to know this will be the last thing I see before the lights go off in my life. His ghastly, pale, vein covered face will be the image burned into my eyes as he sucks the life right out of me. He opens his mouth and gives me another repulsive smile. He lifts me off the ground and I have no choice except holding onto his arms as he shoves me against a tree right behind me.
A sharp pain jolts up my spine as my back slams against the trunk of the tree. The pain lingers and it feels like I have a heartbeat in my lower back. I have to shove the pain aside and face what’s next to come. Behind him, I catch a glimpse of Ryder gripping at his side from being thrown into a tree. He’s trying to gather whatever strength he has left. Trying to force the pain from his body and be my rescuer. I can tell the pain is too much for him to bear and he can’t even bring him
self to move more than a foot from the tree. His sad eyes look up at me while he keeps trying to fight the pain.
I hope he knows this isn’t his fault. The only person to blame for any of this is lying dead on the ground a few feet away. At least he got what he deserved and was able to experience the pain he brought upon so many travelers before us.
Zeke opens his mouth one last time and moves his face closer to my neck. I close my eyes and wait. This time, being so close to death, brings the thought of my family to my mind. Finally something flashes before my eyes when I’m about to die.
I can see them, standing in front of me. Each one has a smile on their face as they wait for me to join them. Mom has her arms draped around dad’s shoulders, tears in her eyes. Charlie tosses a baseball in the air, waiting for me to play a good game of catch with him. Maggie with her arms folded across her chest, her eyes lit up at the thought of getting to see her favorite little sister again. Dad’s the only one without a smile. Without the look of happiness to see his little girl again. He’s upset and disappointed with the idea that I’ll be joining them in a matter of seconds.
I’m not ready for this.
I’m not ready to admit to myself that I have failed every member of my family. I have broken my promise to dad about surviving in this world. I’ve broken that promise to everyone I’m seeing in my head. I was supposed to be the one who found a place to live the rest of my life in peace away from the monsters that haunt this place. Away from every horrible thing out there in the world that could possibly lead to my death. How can I die knowing I have failed to do those few simple things?
I feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. Feel Zeke’s breath as he gets closer and closer to my neck. Things seem to be moving in slow motion, making this dying thing so much worse.
I hear a loud grunting sound coming from somewhere around us. It catches the attention of my family in my head. All of them turn their heads toward the sound of the groans and I open my eyes just in time to see a zombie reach his arms out and yank Zeke away from me. My family disappears out of my mind and I fall to the ground at the base of the tree. I land hard on my wrist, spraining it and I wince as the pain creeps up my arm. I can get over it, though.
Zeke lets a shrill scream escape his throat and I look up at the scene. The zombie, a young man with a chunk missing out of his right shoulder and blood staining his ripped up clothing, has his arms tightly wrapped around Zeke. He has a good hold on the vamp and sinks his teeth into Zeke’s neck. He tears off a good sized piece of flesh then spits it out instead of swallowing it. He goes for another bite, then tackles the vamp to the ground. Blood and tiny pieces of skin spew through the air as the zombie tears him apart.
I look away from them and turn my focus to Ryder. He’s still holding his stomach, eyes glued to the zombie eating away at the vamp. I crawl across the ground, making my way over to him. He looks up at me when I make it to his side. I take his hand and help him sit up.
“Are you alright?” he asks, wincing with each word.
I nod, “Not really, but I will be the sooner we get out of this hellhole and back to the city. Are you alright?”
“I might have broken a rib or two, but I’ll live.” Ryder replies, I hate knowing he’s hurt more than I can fix. “I meant what I said back there,” he looks into my eyes, “I really do love you, Bridge.”
I smile, the gory sound of flesh being ripped to shreds slowly dissipating, “I really love you, too, Ryder. I always thought after losing my father, I would never feel love or happiness again. You gave that back to me.”
He lifts his hand and runs his fingers through my tangled hair. Our lips meet for a short, but still incredibly meaningful kiss. Probably not the best time for a kiss, after almost dying at the hands of the vampire who’s currently being ripped apart by a zombie. The sounds in the background are pretty gruesome and I’m sure it’s a bloody mess over there. This will, however, be one of the kisses I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The kiss that truly symbolizes how two people who only met a few days ago, can fall in love even when death stares them right in the face. I’ll cherish this moment forever.
There are footsteps approaching us. Staggering, unbalanced footsteps causing my heart to race once again. I peel myself away from Ryder and the two of us look up to see the zombie, blood dripping from his face and hands, standing a few feet away. The grey sweatshirt he’s wearing is cloaked with mud and black blood from one of his victims. There’s a slice in the sweatshirt right across the college logo. His black eyes blending in perfectly with the woods around us and the feeling of death reappears in my mind. We have nothing to stop this thing from devouring our bodies just like he did to the vamp.
He stares down at us. His lifeless eyes peering into our souls. My hands shaking as I hold onto Ryder with all of my life. The zombie growls and I shudder with fear. He takes another step then stops and a calm look overtakes his face.
He’s hesitating.
Exactly like some of the other zombies I’ve come across. Only this one isn’t weighing the options of attacking us. He’s actually stopping himself from jumping on top of us and eating our flesh and bones. Something inside of him, maybe the only human part that’s left, is holding him back.
I keep my eyes glued to his face and he takes a step backward. His head begins shaking from side to side giving us the notion that he isn’t going to snack on us tonight. I raise an eyebrow and the fear turns into confusion. The zombie turns around and begins walking away. I follow him with my eyes until I can no longer see him through the darkness.
I look to Ryder and say, “Again, what the fuck is going on?”
He shakes his head and shrugs, “I’m just as lost as you are.”
“What do you think’s gonna happen to the zombies now since they ate most of the vampires?” I ask, really hating myself for that popping into my head.
He shrugs, “I don’t know and I really don’t want to find out.”
“We should probably get out of here soon then, in case whatever bad thing they turn into comes along.” I say. “You alright to walk?”
“I should be.”
I take a deep breath, then pull myself to my feet. Ryder takes my hand and it takes all my strength to help him stand. He lets out a slight grunt from the pain coming from his ribs then drapes his arm over my shoulders. He grips his stomach, holding tight to keep some of the pain at bay.
“You two alright?” I hear a deep voice coming from in front of us.
Good thing I recognize that voice, my heart has had enough of beating itself into overdrive for one night. I’m surprised I haven’t had a heart attack yet. I look up to see Dwayne standing before us shining a flashlight in our faces. I squint a little when the beam hits my face and he quickly moves it away.
“I heard the commotion and came running back to make sure no one got left behind.” He says.
“We’re fine. Desperately need to lie down for a bit, but we’ll be okay.” I reply.
“I saw what that zombie did. Confusing as hell.” He says.
“Damn right about that.” Ryder adds.
Dwayne shines the light at Ryder and lingers for a moment. I can’t see the look on his face, but I have a feeling I know what he’s staring at. After everything that’s happened tonight, I’d probably question the scar myself. It does look a lot like a bite mark and would make anyone concerned about being around him. Considering how we were all just attacked by a bunch of man-eating monsters, anyone would jump to the only conclusion their minds could come up with.
Unfortunately, Dwayne is jumping to that conclusion right now.
“What’s that on your shoulder, boy?” Dwayne asks in a not so pleasant tone.
I can see the outline of his hand moving for the gun at his waist. This is a prime example of someone judging another person much too quickly.
“He’s not one of them.” I say, simply.
“It’s just a scar.” Ryder says, quietly.
“Looks more like
a bite mark than a scar?” Dwayne asks.
“It’s just a reminder of a horrible past.” Ryder states, he’s trembling again.
“We all have scars, just like him.” I say. “Some are just easier to see than others. He’s not a monster.”
Dwayne shines his flashlight at Ryder’s face once again. His eyes scan Ryder’s whole body looking for any sign that I’m wrong. The effects from being bit by a zombie start to show right away. Ryder would be on the ground, writhing in so much pain and agony he couldn’t stand it. Blackness would have overtaken his eyes and the screams coming from his throat would be unbearable. It takes longer to change into a vamp, I know, but the mark on his shoulder isn’t fresh. Still enough to get people to judge him too quickly.
At least I know the truth about Ryder and I know he’s not of one them.
“You sure you’re not one of those demons, boy?” Dwayne asks, taking his hand away from his gun.
“Positive.” Ryder says, letting out his breath.
“Good.” Dwayne lowers the light and begins to unbutton the jacket he’s wearing. “Some of the others in the city might not be convinced just because you say you’re not. It’s better to keep a scar like that covered to be on the safe side.” He takes off his jacket and hands it to Ryder. “You can give that back to me in the morning.”
Ryder takes the coat and says, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, now let’s get back.”
Dwayne turns and begins leading the way out of the woods. I help Ryder put the jacket on and he goes about buttoning it up. It’s a little big, Dwayne’s huge compared to him, but it’s better than walking around half naked. While he’s busy with the buttons, I take a moment to search for my gun. I dropped it by the tree where Zeke had me pinned and it landed in a small pile of leaves and dirt. I rush over, pick it up and brush it off. This cold piece of metal is the last thing my father ever gave to me, that isn’t food or shelter. It’s gotten me out of quite a few tough situations and will probably continue to do so until the end of time. I smile, thinking of all the times I’ve stood side by side with dad, shooting zombies and warding off the vamps. Some of the best times I’ve had in my life were doing those things.
